How I exercised this weekend * PIC

This weekend I did an 8 bridge pedal with 20,000 other bike crazies through Portland Oregon; the city of bridges that I currently call home.

We got lost going to the starting line so we tacked on 6 miles to the start of this fun ride plus one bridge crossing right from the start. We got going and all was well till bridge #8. We were supposed to be on the 10 bridge route but a flag volunteer sent us the wrong way so we ended up at the finish line a bit sooner than we were supposed to. My husband and friends were a little bummed. I however was elated. Seriously, it was like a prayer had been answered. The ride we ended up doing was 27 miles and then the 5 miles home (another bridge) with a small 1 mile detour... add it up. Yea, my booty was getting cranky. I had one little asthma attack and thankfully had my inhaler. I got a few muscle cramps in my calves. But most of the time I was all smiles. I could NEVER have done this 3 years ago. NO WAY!  But I did this year.

I about gave up a few times. My self doubt was creeping in and I was so fatigued. My husband and friends reminded me that I could do it. They always push me so much further than I think I can go. It was hard and it hurt. Oh god it hurts today!!!  Ibuprofen, water and relaxation are the only things on my agenda for the rest of the afternoon.

Anyway. I just wanted to show you what one bandster who loathes "exercise" does for movement.
The first pic is me trying to look tough. Pre ride and full of smiles. Look at those guns!! Ignore the fools I'm standing with.

BTW- the guy in the pics wearing the orange helmet with gumby glued to it is my husband. He's naturally a skinny jerk. When I found him, he was all of 124lbs. He's a healthy 155 now days and knows what a vegetable is.  John the guy in the red shirt is not naturally thin. 5 years ago John was 320lbs. He is now a marathon runner and works very very hard to maintain his weight loss by running, biking and doing the insanity workouts. Oh and two years ago he became a vegetarian. His wife in the other pink shirt has been a 115 lbs since grade school. She's been vegetarian for 12 years and I am literally twice the woman she is.  Makes you think...

Awesome job Tiff!!!!  You look great!  And I bet you'd do it again, right?  I did a marathon (on bike) in the pouring rain, and although I was thinking it was complete insanity at the time, when all was said and done - I started looking for another one, LOL....

Congratulations - you've come along way!

Thanks. I would do it again, just not the longest one. I'm thinking the 13 miler (6 bridges) would be perfect. The 26 (8 bridge) would be a good challenge I could meet. But I think I'd opt out of the 36 miler until I've trained a bit more. I'm really hurting today.

Hey Tiff -- I thought about you all weekend.

I had business in Beaverton last Wednesday and Thursday -- and my husband flew into PDX on Thursday night and we spent the weekend over near LLoyd Center.

We rode the Max and walked about 25 miles in 3 days --- it was such a nice break from the Tucson heat.

I wish we had planned ahead more so that we could have rented bikes to do the Pedal -- but alas, we had to be at the airport at around noon yesterday.

Saw lots of pedalers on the Max and hoped that you had a great time and stayed injury-free.
Seeing your pics made me smile big!!!!!

You go!!!

Darn! I wish I would have known. We could have met up for coffee or something here in town. Next time. 

the race was relatively injury free, for me anyway. I saw a gnarly wreck about a mile from the beginning. It wasn't pretty for any of the folks involved.

I'm glad the weather was nice for you while you were out here. Not too cold, not too hot- wait... you're from Tucson. i don't think we could get too hot for you. Glad you had a good visit.

Wow! Very impressive job, Tiff. The npictures were great. Keep up the good job!

wtg Tiff

Wow, Tiff, great pics and stories.  So far, my fav workout is Zumba.  I also walk, but with the exception of the last few days, our summer has been so brutal, I just couldn't do it.  I will start back up in probably mid September when it cools off.  The bridges in your pics are amazing.  So glad you enjoy!

Just AWESOME Tiff!  Way to go.  You do so many fun activities!  My daughter would like me to go biking with her, but my butt really didn't like it the last time I tried about 2 years ago. hahaha
You look great.  I'm glad you hung in there and completed the ride!

Hugs,
Kristi

Way to go, Tiff!

I belonged to a long-distance bicycling club a long time ago. The most I ever rode in one day was 100 miles (a "century"). I thought about giving up more times than I could count, so I know how hard it was for you to stay strong and keep going. You are truly inspiring!

Jean