3.5 mile run and a 30 minute bike ride

3.5 miles around Welles park with  a little walk in between.  7 mile bike around Horner Park including about 5 hills.  30 minutes.

Will Caviness at the Chicago Marathon

I took this picture of Will Caviness, a NC firefighter who was running the Chicago Marathon in order to raise money for a burn center.  It was taken at about mile 13.3.  He collapsed later in the race and died at the hospital.

Will Caviness Chicago Marathon 2011

Video of him starts at 3:16:

Will Caviness



Flat Tire Adventure

As I was biking around Chicago Avenue and the lakefront trail, I hit something with my rear tire.  It didn't sound good.  Instead of immediately turning around and heading home,  I proceeded down to Grant Park to watch the Chicago Marathon setup. Mistake!  On my way back, around Chicago Ave., I heard a hissing noise coming from my rear tire.  I biked as fast as I could in order to get some extra distance in before the tire gave out.  Not more than 200 yards later, my rear tire was completely flat.  It was 8:30 am, and I was in a hurry to go to yoga, which I needed to leave home for at 9:30 am.  So, I called Lakeshore Bike at Irving Park and the lake, but they were closed.  So, I decided to take the "L" home since a new inner tube wasn't going to happen.  I walked my bike to North Avenue and LaSalle, needing to break the $20 bill that I had brought, in order to pay for my $2.25 train fare card (they don't give change at the "L" station).  Anyway, I spotted the Green City Farmer's Market just north of North Ave.  So, I bought a $0.50 pepper with my $20 and got $19.50 in change.  With change (and a tiny pepper) in hand, I quickly realized that I was only a block from the southern terminus of Lincoln Ave, so I could take the #11 bus pretty much all the way home.  However, once I got to Lincoln Ave., the #11 whizzed by me, and the chances that another one coming by was not likely for at least 15 minutes or so.  So, my next best option was to walk the crippled bike to the Fullerton Brown Line station.  Eight blocks later at the station, I got a fare card, slid it in the handicapped entrance and opened the gate.  I carried my bike up the stairs, then had to wait about 10 minutes for the Brown Line.  After sitting in a seat by the door and riding for 15 minutes or so, I exited at Western Ave, and ran/biked using my bike like a scooter.  Got in the house at 9:15, just enough time for a shower and a protein shake .  I left right at 9:30 for yoga!

Here is a picture taken just before I hit the object on the trail that started the leak in my tire (by the way, this is a dangerous position I am in, not recommended if you don't want to get yelled at by other bikers!):

Lessons learned:  Always bring a spare tire and a pump, on every ride.  You will eventually get a flat and it is not fun.  Always carry a cell phone, a few singles for a fare card, or a fare card.  Also, don't get a running injury so you have to bike.  Then you can avoid all bike related mishaps!

10/11/11 Update:  Got the tire repaired that evening at Lakeshore Bike.  Was able to bike down and watch the marathon with friends the next day.

16 mile bike - Is biking easier than running?

Bike workouts seem to be easier than running workouts.  Maybe it's the constant braking and coasting with biking as compared with the "always on" nature of running.  However, bike training has taken on a whole new dimension with my discovery this morning of "Cricket Hill" at Montrose Harbor.  Cricket Hill has an steep bike trail from the base to the summit.  I did two summits on cricket hill with my bike which really got my heart rate up.  I will try and get a lot more Cricket Hill "summits" in over the weekend as I need to get better workouts when bike riding.  On to the pictures from today.   The first few were taken around North Avenue beach and the Fullerton Ave. Bridge. The last picture below is from a film that was shooting at North Avenue Beach this morning.  By the way, the shins are getting close to healed.  I think I should be able to run next week (knock on wood!)

 Fullerton Ave. Bridge

Early Morning 13.1 Mile Bike

North Avenue Beach Pier 6:30am

50 minute Bike Ride to North Avenue Beach

Nice thing about biking is that it's easier to have my cell phone along.  Picture from my bike ride around 6:30 am.  North Avenue beach.

Another Lakefront Bike

1 hour ride to Oak Street Beach and back, 12.75 miles.

Lakefront BIKE ride

Rode to Fullerton and the Lakefront Trail and back.  Plan is to do this every day for the rest of the week, slowly increasing mileage.