RUNNING/GARDENING/Only a little Biking

Running

Our team completed the Ragnar relay last weekend, the 197 mile relay from Madison to Chicago.  I ran over 15 miles, across 3 runs.  It was a great team and so fun and Back on My Feet raised over $15,000.

Before the race

 

 

First run, hot afternoon, 6.3 miles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second run, night, very dark. 3.8 miles

 

Last run, early, cool morning, 5.5 miles

 

 

 

 

Gardening

The Monarch Garden has exploded with greens.  I made my first donation to Vital Bridges.

 

Biking

I reached my goal of $1,000 in fundraising for the AIDSRIDE, thanks everyone!  It is in one month, I need to train!  If you would still like to donate, my other team members still need donations and I could forward the info.

 

Gardening/Biking/Running

The garden is HUGE already!!!!

Biking

Bike the Drive happened, it included my mom's first solo bike ride, about 10 miles on an adult trike:

 

 

 

West Town- I will complete my last course for the 8 week bike overhaul class tonight.  Then my projects will be to fix up that trike and fix up and crappy old mountain bike as well.

AIDS Ride- I tried clip pedals for the first time a couple weeks ago for a training ride and it was great!!!  Can't wait to practice with them more after Ragnar.

Running-
The Ragnar relay is happening in less than 2 weeks!!! I ran 3x in one day on Memorial Day to know what it would be like.  I ran 7 miles at 8am, 2 miles at 4pm, and another 3 miles at 9pm.


 

Updates

Cycling

AIDSRide-I did a 40 mile training ride last Saturday, and an additional 14 mile round trip to the ride.  This was hard.  I am now considering toe clips or clipless pedals.  I need to make sure to eat more in the morning.  I was exhausted for the rest of the day.  I am doing good on fundraising, but still need a $150 more.

West Town Bikes class- I am halfway through the 8 week bike course about all components of the bikes.

Tricycle- Here is the old tricycle I got.  It will be good for hauling vegetables and for people who don't ride 2 wheelers to ride around the park.

GARDEN

Monarch Garden is doing fine.  The seedlings seem to have taken hold and some of the seeds are already sprouting...

VOLUNTEERING

BOMF- I just signed up for a new race called Ragnar to support Back on My Feet.  It is a huge relay over 2 days to run 197 miles combined from Madison to Chicago.  Each person runs 3 legs for a total of 13 to 20 miles each. http://www.ragnarrelay.com/race/Chicago

 

First Attempt at Making Bread

I made a simple French bread,  The loaf turned out a little smaller than I expected, but had a good hard crust and soft inside, so I am pretty happy.  It tastes pretty good.  Maybe a corn bread next...

Monarch Garden Opens

 Both these 5x10 plots are mine this year.  This was how I found them.

I planted like every kind of leafy green I could think of: collards, chard, curly kale, spinach, a few lettuces from seedlings, and dinosaur kale, red lettuce, and bok choy seeds

 The whole garden is looking pretty decent after the first volunteer work day.  People are still a bit timid to plant lots of things in case it still gets very cold once again. 

Vegas Pics, Woodburns

I am excited for the weekend.  It appears there might actually be some warm weather in Chicago. This should lead to a large Critical Mass ride tonight.  Monarch Community Garden officially opens tomorrow and I will begin planting.

Here are some pics from Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. There is a video of a ride on the Stratosphere and a link to a video of me finishing the half marathon at the end:

Look at this guy, a BILLIONAIRE matching change for charity.  I hope I can be this generous one day. He spent millions on Newt Gingrich's and Romney's campaigns last election.  He was interviewing his next pick for the Republican nominee for president upstairs the week before.

Here is the link for the race finish:
http://www2.backprint.com/evanpilchik/123363/1582#:

Here are some pictures of woodburnings I have made: