Thoughts from my 40

Yesterday I set a new record on my bike. Last week I mentioned to David I was considering doing my first 40-mile bike ride- and he didn’t think I could do it! So I did 40.5 yesterday :)

My ride:

40.5 miles

16.9 mph average

around 2 hours 20 minutes (might be a few minutes off..)

approx. 1,900 calories burned (!!!!)

I did half on a local park's bike trail and half on a trail next to an expressway. It was nice having such different scenery throughout the ride. On my path I saw a deer, armadillos, turtles and birds of every color!

I love running and there will always be a special place in my heart for the feeling of my feet hitting the pavement. But cycling was a nice alternative with my shin splints. As it turns out, it’s completely addicting.

During my ride I thought of how biking is different from running. Here’s what I came up with from my personal experience:

-Biking is more expensive (umm, the bike- and upkeep)

- You can carry more things with ease on a bike

- Biking is tougher to prepare for (I had to break down my bike in my backseat)

- Biking is pretty much road bikes for road and mountain bikes for
rougher paths (with running you can take one pair of sneakers through many different environments)

- Biking will take you farther. The sights I saw on my 40 mile ride were beautiful and vast. With running I could see much less during one long run.

- Biking requires more equipment- helmet, goves, special shoes, etc.

- I think bikers are just as friendly as runners- instant connections

- Biking is easier on your body. My bad knee didn't start hurting until 2 hours into the ride- and I was pushing myself hard.

- I feel safer on my bike (riding away from something 20mph is pretty good)

- Biking is just as addicting as running!

Are you dedicated to more than one form of exercise? How do you balance it? Or do you prefer one main form of exercise?

ps- I tried the Vanilla Bean GU halfway through my ride. I didn’t think I’d enjoy it but it was awesome! Tasted like cake icing, really. I felt so much more energized immediately! I felt like I could go for 50 miles! I’ll definitely be buying more GU gels.