Pennsylvania Ride - US 202 Parkway Trail

Ah!!  It finally happened today . . . the first warm, sunny weekend descended upon the Lehigh Valley.  So what did I do?  I made the gut wrenching decision to leave the Trikke in the garage . . . GASP!! WHAT?! WHY?

Well, there’s a significant new trail that opened over the winter that I’ve been wanting to explore.  So I did . . . albeit on my bicycle.

Winding curves and rolling hills

The US 202 Parkway Trail spans nearly 9 miles from Montgomeryville, PA to Doylestown, PA.  Its 12 foot wide ribbon of asphalt parallels the newly constructed Route 202 byway.  It’s fenced off from the highway for safety, and they’ve planted new trees alongside it that will eventually give it some shade.

One of my coworkers lives nearby, and has been urging me to check it out.  But she warned me it was quite hilly, hence my decision to take the bike instead of the Trikke.  And that turned out to be the right decision . . . for today at least.  When facing a new trail, particularly a longer one, I often do like to scout it out on bicycle, as I can cover more ground and handle more difficulties that way.

I’ve been working out indoors for most of the winter, yet I know I’ve been slipping from where I left off last year.  The US 202 Parkway trail is constantly climbing up and down, with very few flat spots to be found.  I’d say it averages between a 2 and 4 percent grade, but there are some steeper hills at both ends.  The hill to climb the bridge crossing Route 309 in Montgomeryville has a sign warning of its 6.5 percent grade.  Fortunately, this is as steep as the trail gets.

A final challenge before the finish line

If you’re an experienced Trikker, you can certainly handle these hills.  As of last year, I could’ve handled all but the steepest of them.  However, I’m nowhere near being able to handle an 18 mile round trip worth of hills.  When I heard about the generous width of the trail, I had really hoped I could host one of this year’s LSM rides there, but that will have to wait.  However, if I ever reach a significantly better level of fitness, it has occurred to me that this would be an optimal trail for a future endurance Trikke ride.

I started my ride in Montgomeryville, and was feeling quite weak and rundown by the time I reached Doylestown.  I realize now this probably wasn’t the best choice for my first ride of the season.  The return trip took forever, and I opted to walk up some of the hills.  I would not let this discourage you from trying this new trail though if you feel you are up to the challenge.  You can certainly ride on a shorter segment of it, because riding on hills like this is a great way to get you in shape.

There’s a few other things I’d like to make you aware of if you check out this new trail.  It has frequent road crossings, most over busy 4-lane roads.  The dual crossover by the shopping center in Montgomeryville is particularly tricky.  Although there are crossing signals, you still need to be very careful as there are cars coming from every direction sometimes.

Given the trail’s newness, it is also lacking some amenities that you might take for granted on a more established trail.  None of the parking areas have porta-johns, and except for the Montgomeryville end, there’s really nowhere to stop to take care of business if needed.  There also aren’t any benches or picnic tables, save for a few at the parking areas.  These are minor issues, and it’s possible they will be remedied in the future.

You can see the map of my ride here:

http://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/179728602

Lake Archer on the campus of Delaware Valley College

I started at the parking lot where Route 309 meets Route 202 in Montgomeryville.  I did the short round trip to the southwest end of the trail then took it northeast to Doylestown.  I missed the required zig-zag to stay on the trail where Route 202 crosses Lower State Road.  Hence I followed another spur that led to the campus of Delaware Valley College.  But it lead me to the serenity of Lake Archer, where I was able to enjoy a short rest on a bench before my return trip.

Overall, I’d say the US 202 Parkway Trail is a welcome addition for a populated region that does not have the extensive trail network I enjoy at home in the Lehigh Valley.  It’s over an hour drive for me to get there, so I won’t be there too often, but as my fitness improves it’s certainly going to be a nice place to hone my hill climbing skills.  Perhaps it’ll also be what motivates me to one day host a Trikke endurance event on the east coast for hill climbing enthusiasts.

Skiing . . . With Just One ‘K’

Those of you who have been reading this for a while certainly know my passion for riding my Trikke.  But do you know how I became interested in it in the first place?  I’ll forgive you if you think it was simply something I discovered out of my desire to become fit.  It certainly fulfills me in that sense, but most people don’t know that I initially discovered it out of my desire to learn to ski.

Please bear with me as I take a detour down memory lane here.  I’ve wanted to ski since I was a young girl watching the downhill races during the Winter Olympics and on ABC’s Wide World of Sports.  The excitement of it fueled my adrenaline, and the athletes made it look so fun and effortless.  I wanted to become one of them.

I did not get my first chance to ski until the winter of 1996-97, when I joined some co-workers on a trip to Blue Mountain Ski Area.  From where I lived at the time, this was a 3 hour journey, and I couldn’t wait to make the most of the opportunity.

I may have weighed 80 pounds less back then, but I was a bona fide couch potato.  It was an icy day on the slopes, and I was poorly dressed for the occasion.  Despite taking a lesson and practicing on the bunny slope, I quickly learned that skiing was far from effortless.  And when you’re wet, cold, and your out-of-shape legs are about to collapse, it’s anything but fun.  My first run down the full beginner’s trail would be my last.  I fell more times than I could count, and was shivering from being quickly soaked to the skin.  I lost my nerve, opting to walk down the last few segments of the trail rather than risk hurting myself on skis I could not control.

And that was the end of my dream to ski.  I put it behind me and moved onto safer ventures, like racing cars (on my Playstation), and slaying vicious dragons (also on my Playstation).  I was glad I had tried to ski, for I would’ve never known what might have been otherwise, but my feet were thrilled to be back on flat and non-slippery ground.

So I thought I’d put skiing behind me . . . until I moved to the Lehigh Valley in 2007.  Once I was living where I could reach Blue Mountain and Bear Creek within 20 minutes, and the Pocono ski resorts within an hour, I discovered that my childhood dream stubbornly refused to die.  But I had a problem, I was even more unfit and overweight than I was when I first tried to ski.  If it was difficult to do then, it surely would be impossible now.

Or would it?  I also had many fond childhood memories of sledding and tobogganing on local hills, and knew that by now someone clever must have invented another way down ski slopes that required less physical ability than skis and snowboards.  After a few seconds on Google, I had the answer to my lifelong dream.  It was called the Trikke Skki.  And boy did it look fun!!

I watched videos of people riding it, read people’s reviews of riding it, and concluded that it really was a viable way for lesser fit people like me to ski.  There was only one problem; none of the ski resorts in my area allow it.  Although that slammed the door shut on one dream, it opened another.  It was through this search that I learned about the 3-wheeled Trikkes that we’re more familiar with.  And boy did they look fun too!!

So I bought one a little over a year ago, and with it my journey to fitness began.  You know the story from here.  I’ve lost over 40 pounds, and gained a lot of strength and confidence.  And if you haven’t already guessed where I’m going with this, my newfound strength and confidence brought me back to Blue Mountain last Monday to have another go at my dream of learning to ski.

And I’d have to learn the old fashioned way, with two skis strapped to bulky ski boots and metal poles in my hands.  I would have felt a lot more confident on a Trikke Skki, but I also needed to overcome the old fears that have kept me off the mountain for 16 years.

This time, things went much better.  I picked a warmer day (yes, 39 degrees counts as “warmer” here in the northeast), dressed in layered and somewhat waterproof clothing, and got myself a great instructor.  Because I went early on a Monday, I had his undivided attention as he took me through the basics, then out onto the beginner slope where I’d lost my nerve a decade and a half earlier.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t afraid as I started to careen down that big hill.  But with his skillful mentoring and my better fitness, I found myself enjoying a controlled carve down the trail.  I didn’t even fall!  By the time he took me back up the lift and down another short trail, I was breathing heavily but had a huge smile on my face.  I no longer had to wait for the resorts here to allow the Trikke Skki to get out there and have a fun time.

I took a short break, and did 9 more runs down Vista and Easy Out before calling it a day.  If there’s any question as to whether downhill skiing is legitimate exercise, I can tell you that my muscles ached well into Thursday morning.  Riding the Trikke and lifting kettlebells certainly helped prepare me for this, but skiing itself is even more demanding.

This has been a much-needed breakthrough for me, and I am already considering buying a season pass for next winter.  This has been one of those winters that I’ve only gotten outdoors to Trikke on one semi-warm weekend, so there is a legitimate need for me to find something to enjoy outside during the colder months.  I still have a lot of room to improve my skiing, but it is empowering to know that I am now able to work on it.

In the meantime, I confess that my heart still yearns for a Trikke Skki, and I still wish the resorts here would start to allow them.  No doubt snowboarders once faced this same challenge and overcame it, but I worry that there’s not enough people clamoring for the Trikke Skki to get the same results.  For now I’ll enjoy the heck out of my three-wheeled Trikke most of the year, but will have to embrace skiing with two blades and one ‘k’ if I want to make the most out of my winters.

Starting Your Spring Success Story

You don’t need me to tell you what a long and grueling winter it has been here in the Lehigh Valley.  Everyone I know is starting to climb the walls in anticipation of spring.  We never know exactly when that first nice day will arrive, but we know it will be soon.  It could happen next week, or it could take another month.

So when that first warm day finally graces you with its presence, and you eagerly mount your Trikke for the first ride of the year, how will you know if your efforts at dieting and exercising over the winter have paid off?  What exactly does success look like after you’ve been cooped up indoors all winter?

I’ve decided that I can’t measure my fitness level by where I left off last fall.  Despite my devotion to my kettlebell workouts all winter, I need to face reality and admit that I have still lost some ground.

• 2012 Record Bike Ride = 23 miles
• 2012 Record Trikke Ride = 21 miles

Instead, I need to look at where I was last year this time.  And boy was I a mess!!  Years of sedentary living had taken their toll on me, and my first bike and Trikke rides were short ordeals that left me breathless.

• 2012 First Bike Ride = 6 miles
• 2012 First Trikke Ride = 2 miles

It’s great to reflect upon last year’s journey, because it’s clear I made great strides towards a healthy lifestyle.  Although there’s no mathematical formula that can tell me where I should be at the start of 2013, I’m looking for a number somewhere between last year’s minimums and maximums.  I’m also going to base it on what I felt an average ride was for me for most last summer.  With that in mind, here’s how I will define my success going into this spring:

• 2013 First Bike Ride Goal = 15 miles
• 2013 First Trikke Ride Goal = 10 miles

Technically I’m cheating a bit here, given that I already did a 10 mile Trikke ride a month ago when we had an unseasonably warm day.  But time has passed since then, and being able to repeat that distance will let me know that my efforts since then have paid off.

You should also take a step back and assess where you feel you should be with your riding when those sunny, warm days return.  Setting your expectations for your first ride will also help motivate you to keep up with your indoor workouts in the meantime.

Speaking of which, how am I doing with my indoor workouts?  Those of you astute enough to realize I missed my scheduled post last Monday might be wondering if I’ve fallen off the wagon.  Well, luckily I haven’t.  Last week was one of those “life happens” types of weeks, and I just ran out of hours before I could post.  However, I’m happy to report that I’m on target with my exercise goals.  I have completed three kettlebell workouts for each of the last two weeks, and I feel fantastic!!  This brings me to the end of the 5^th week of the 6 week long Kettleworx program, and the finish line for that goal is in sight.

So how are you doing as you prepare to emerge from your winter hibernation?  What will your success story look like as you ride your bike or Trikke for the first time this year?

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No Space? No Equipment? No problem!

You just finished shoveling away the latest round of snow that fell yesterday, and now you’ve heard that even more is coming tonight.  As you wearily put your shovel back in the garage, your eyes fall on your favorite Trikke, all folded up and enjoying its winter slumber.  As you gaze at it longingly, remembering how happy you were riding it on those gorgeous spring days, you wonder if you’re up to the challenge of getting back on it this year.  You’ve packed on a few extra pounds from those holiday feasts, and your muscles have weakened while you’ve rested in bed fighting the cold or the stomach flu.

Rokk-It Red and Lean Green settled down for a long winter's nap

Although it’s often hard to believe, spring really is just around the corner, and it’s time to start thinking about getting yourself back in shape so you carve your Trikke through a nice, long ride when that first warm day arrives. You find yourself wondering just how much of a setback this winter has been to your fitness.

You will definitely lose muscle mass during long spells of inactivity, but a week or two off in the winter may not be as catastrophic as you think.  The time it takes for your muscles to start to atrophy varies due to many factors, including your gender, the type of training you were doing (endurance versus power), and whether you are a recreational athlete or a competitive athlete.  Take a look at this article to assess where you might be, and then commit yourself to an indoor exercise plan until the weather becomes more Trikke-friendly again.

I went a full six weeks with no exercise of any kind this winter, but I got back into the game in early January with my kettlebell workouts.  While I did feel a slight regression, I was nowhere near as unfit as I was a year ago when my fitness journey was just beginning.  In fact, during a workout last week I got that delightful burst of energy again, letting me know I had re-crossed that hurdle where exercise goes from being a miserable chore, to being energizing and uplifting.

I have been touting the benefits of kettlebell workouts for a while now, but I realize they may not appeal to everyone.  Perhaps you have a similar situation to mine that restricts your indoor exercise options?  You can’t afford a gym membership, you don’t want to go to the gym because you don’t like the atmosphere, or you don’t feel it’s worth joining one for just those few months of the year that Mother Nature conspires to keep you indoors.  But you also find yourself living in a small house (or apartment), and you don’t want to toss your comfortable recliner to the curb just to make room for a new treadmill or elliptical.

My kettlebell workouts are ideal for doing in cramped indoor conditions, but if you’re looking for something else, here are 27 otherexercises you can do in the comfort of your own home without purchasing any additional equipment.  Using nothing but your body and a floor mat, you can customize a fitness routine from a variety of squats, lunges, crunches, planks, pushups, and more.  This is also an exercise plan that you can take with you when you travel.  If you need some extra motivation, print these out and tack them up along with some photos of you on your Trikke.  Know that you are doing these workouts now so that you can enjoy more miles of carving later.

I’m talking big here, but how am I actually doing with my New Year’s resolutions?  Well, I’m still a bit “off” in the eating right and having fun categories, but I’m happy to say that I’m really back in the groove with my exercise routine.  I’ve already started moving from the 5 pound kettlebell up to the 10 pound one for a number of moves, and I feel like my fitness is back where it was before I stopped in late November.  The number on my scale stubbornly refuses to budge, but I can’t help but wonder if that’s because I’m building more muscle mass again.  What matters most is that I feel fantastic again!  I’m starting to look forward to my workouts, and I’m feeling energized upon completing them.

The finally tally for January is as follows:  14 Trikke miles (2 rides) and 9 kettlebell workouts.  Considering I spent the first week of the year battling a head cold, I’m more than happy with this result and am looking forward to even more success in February.

Hang in there through these final weeks of winter, and keep your eyes on the prize of being fit enough to Trikke on that first warm day.  Heck, here in the northeast anything above 40 degrees without snow or ice on the ground will meet my requirements for being “Trikkeable”!

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Is it Spring Yet?

Thinking of spring . . .

Okay, I’m going to do this Monday Mashup a bit differently this week, because unfortunately the progress on my three New Year’s resolutions for last week can be summed up as FAIL, FAIL and FAIL.  I did do two Kettlebell workouts, but that’s about the extent of my success, and it’s not fair to you to make you read the assortment of reasons and excuses for the rest.

Clearly I need some new inspiration to get me out of the winter doldrums, and I’m willing to bet that you’re in the same boat.  Hopefully you’ll find the fitness success story of Nina Mosby as inspiring as I did.  Her journey began much the same way as mine did.  A few years ago she weighed in at 265 pounds, the result of a busy but sedentary lifestyle.  She began biking with her son, sister, and nephew, and the enjoyment of riding made her feel like a kid again.  This was the catalyst that sparked her new, active lifestyle.  She has lost 100 pounds from bicycling, and now leads group rides.

I started at a similar weight to Nina, and although I’ve been stuck on a plateau for a few months, reading her story gives me hope that I can still lose more weight and meet my goals.  I also like the mention of Nina leading group rides, because leading Trikke rides is something I’ve started to do.  It’s easier to commit to an active lifestyle when you are enjoying it in the company of friends.

There was no LSM ride here this month because of the dismal weather, but I am already starting to plan the year’s rides.  I’m making a firm commitment towards starting them back up in March, and will throw a last-minute one in for February if the weather looks promising (or at least marginally tolerable).  I hope you are planning to join some of these rides, and now is the best time to give me some feedback. Where would you like to ride?  What is the best time of day for you to ride?  I know us Trikkers are spread out geographically in the northeast, but I’m hoping I can come up with enough locations that give everyone a chance to join us.

Well, this week is a new week, and I’m not giving up on my New Year’s resolutions.  I hope you are sticking to yours, and if you aren’t, here’s your chance to renew your commitment.

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A Slight Stumble

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A Slight Stumble

Progress on my New Year’s Resolutions:

Exercise: Goal met via 3 Kettlebell workouts.  Although I admit it’s been a bit tough to motivate myself to do them, I’m glad I did.  I am feeling stronger and more capable than I was two weeks ago, although I am still taking frequent breaks between exercises.

Calorie-Counting: FAIL!  I am over my calorie count by an indeterminate amount.  I got very busy at work in the early part of the week, and also spent most of the week in a mental funk.  These two things kept me from entering my calories in to the Lose-It! app, and also led me to make poor eating decisions involving candy bars and donuts.  This is the time when most people lose their initial enthusiasm for their resolutions, and will declare their efforts a failure because of a small slip-up.  Although it’s frustrating, I’m looking at this as just a small stumble on a longer journey, and I will vow to come back strong next week.

Having Fun: Goal met – Knowing this was my last week before returning to my part-time studies, I made an extra effort to do some enjoyable things, and more importantly, I tried not to feel guilty for it.  Last night, I treated myself to dinner at SaladWorks then went to see Zero Dark Thirty.  This was an enjoyable and much needed night out for me.  I also downloaded Bejeweled to my smartphone, enjoying an old favorite that I hadn’t played in years.

As we struggle through the winter blues, remember that you are not alone if you have succumbed to it. Warmer days are ahead, but for now we must battle the blues and let ourselves recover from any of the seasonal viruses may catch.  Here’s some articles about how others in the Trikke Community are coping with the same woes:

Even in Southern Cal, A Trikker Chick can get the WinterBlues

The Serendipity of Cold December Mornings

And if you are thinking of hitting the slopes for the re-located TrikkeSkii Inn, here’s a great primer for you.

For the next week, remember to keep the bigger picture in mind.  It may not be a lot of fun working out indoors, but keep doing it so you're in top form for riding your Trikke when the good weather returns.

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My Maiden Monday Mashup

Puzzled by the Mild Weather

As we conclude a mild weekend here in the Lehigh Valley, I am happy to report that I am feeling better and have enjoyed my first two Trikke rides of the year.  My weekend visit to a friend in Delaware allowed me to rack up 14 miles of riding in her neighborhood, which is blessed with flat, smooth pavement and light traffic.

Combined with the two kettlebell workouts I did earlier in the week, I have succeeded in doing 4 days of exercise this past week.  This surpasses my New Year’s Resolution of a minimum of 3 days a week, so I am happy with my progress.

I have to confess that I wasn’t as good in the eating department.  Although I honored my commitment of using the Lose It! app for calorie counting, I ended the week 4,177 calories over budget.  Yikes!  In a way I don’t regret it though, because my friend’s cooking is superb.  I rarely get treated to a homemade meal, so this wasn’t something I was going to pass up.  The important thing is I tracked my calories, held myself accountable, and know that as of tomorrow morning I will get myself back on my diet plan.

It’s easy to forget to mention my third resolution of “having fun”, because it’s not as easily tracked with statistics and smartphone apps.  Because this was my last free weekend before resuming my part-time college classes, I made sure to get plenty of fun and relaxation in.  The two Trikke rides helped immensely with that, as did learning to play a home-made board game with my friend, playing fetch on the beach with her dog, and beginning one of the new jigsaw puzzles I bought at Puzzles in Lewes, DE. If you’re ever in the area, be sure to check out this delightful store that is full of jigsaw puzzles, games, and other novelties.

Because New Year’s resolutions are still fresh in our minds, I’d like to share an article I found on Simple Ways to Motivate Yourself EveryDay.  Motivation may come effortlessly the new year, but gets harder to maintain as the drudgery of our normal lives creeps back in.  Refer back to this anytime you feel yourself slipping with your goals.

Winter is now returning to the Lehigh Valley, and I know my Trikke will probably be parked for a while again.  But this weekend has recharged and rejuvenated me in so many ways.  That brief taste of spring should hold me over until the good weather returns.

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