Bikes, Swimming and LESS of me!!

July is upon us and I'm settled into a good summer routine.  My knee is 99.9% feeling fabulous and I've even started to run.  The 151 lbs I weighed in January is now down to 140-139. It's been a looooong tenacious road in this department. My hummingbird metabolism is all but a memory and it's been tedious getting back to where I can wear my normal clothes. The biggest PITA now is being forced to wear this carbon brace when I mountain bike, trail run or ride my cross bike in the trails. Anything risky that may force me to twist and snap my graft. (shutter) Are you wondering if I'm miffed that It wasn't offered in pink?  You bet.  For $1000????  The good news is I don't have to wear it past my anniversary/surgery date of Oct 10th and then and only then, can I have a ceremonial toss to a landfill.

So yeah, I got a  mountain bike and here it is for the 2 or 3 of you that missed the social media image overload I made you endure. It's supa nice as you can imagine. Nothing that comes out of Seven Cycles is anything but. I waited foreverandaday for this bike but now that it's in my grips, it's just an amazing bike and honestly, it is way too much bike for the noob mountain biker that I am. I am forever grateful to Rob Vandermark, Patria Lanfranchi and everyone over at Seven Cycles who had a part in making this bike for me, 'specially Mikey Salvatore who hinted I should ask for a pink bike. I've taken 2 clinics and doing my best trying to get out on it as much as I can to (try) and master some of the basics of mountain biking. It can only make my cyclocross skills a smidgen better, right? 

                                                                                                        

My Honey 29er

                                                                                                             

Nighty night my sweet Honey

Remember that paddle board lying unpacked screaming to be taken out 2 posts ago?  Finally, It went on it's maiden voyage Fourth of July weekend by me. Gripping the deck with my toes, I got right up on that sucker and never fell off!  Another toy I didn't know squat about but have fallen in love with. You wanna get your back, abs and arms rock solid? SUP. It's fun and relaxing yet you are working out  by trying to keep yourself stabilized on the board while fish gazing and working on your tan!

In other news, The Nubble Light Challenge is less than 5 days away and I've been working hard to prepare for the distance along with the temperatures the unpredictable Maine waters can toss at you.

My friend Elaine Howley, an experienced English Channel swimmer has been dragging me out to open water swim with her in Nahant and South Boston.  I even managed to sneak in a 5k swim down in Mashpee for training. It was held in a pond but it was more like an ocean and I loved every second of it.  I even got FIRST in my age group!!  Ok.. I was the only woman in my age group there. Humpf! What the heck?? I guess they all slept in because it was windy and raining.

Ok, so wish me luck this weekend!! My plan is to stick to Elaine like those crotch protectors in new 

swimwear.  She won't be wearing a wetsuit ( way tougher than I) but she's a pro at navigation and a purest in

the open water.  

Thanks for checking in!