RAGBRAI Recovery

I’ve been struggling to find the motivation to get back out there on the trails again after RAGBRAI ended.

I’m going to be completely honest with you; I think I’ve been on a bike about 5 times since I dipped my tire in the Mississippi. And two of those were on the stationary at the downtown Y, one was on my dad’s bike in Ames and one was on my other hybrid bike…

I officially “got back on the horse” if you will, Friday when I reattached the pedals and rode down Grand, around Grey’s Lake and over to Mullets for pancakes and eggs with a few of my favorite friends.

The mostly downhill trail to Mullets wasn’t bad, I didn’t have padded shorts, but it was only a 7 mile round-trip. Tackling that last hill up Terrace Hill wasn’t pretty though… I passed a girl running over near Grey’s Lake, and a mile later, I’m huffing and puffing in granny gear up my final (and really only) hill when I collapse on the front lawn of my apartment building and hear someone coming up behind me fast. IT WAS THAT SAME RUNNER GIRL! She damn near passed me.

Safe to say my quads aren’t what they were a few weeks ago, and my rear end sure isn’t happy with my Brooks seat anymore. I almost felt clumsy on my bike again… like it didn’t quite fit me anymore.

I suppose I have a few months till I need to become one with the bike again, but I don’t want to miss out on this great weather. I know Iowa. I know it will be snowing and the sidewalks will be treacherous once again in a few short months.

Considering tackling a new challenge, maybe a run… But I hate running, so that might be out of the question. I told myself after RAGBRAI I would let myself cool it on the cardio and increase my strength training and yoga. I really love yoga, but I just don’t see myself being good at it. With biking I felt like I was better than a good chunk of people who didn’t care to spend 2 ½ hours on a bike.

Now that I think about it, maybe I just need to put in the work and I could be good at anything. Time to stop wasting the summer “recovering” from RAGBRAI and just have fun with activity. Ah, who wants to go for a walk?

Last day of RAGBRAI

I'm on the bus riding home from RAGBRAI 2011. I had a great time and I have so many memories I can't wait to blog about.

Today my team had to meet at 2:30 to ride to the dip site together, so I got an early start and rode fast with a few of my teammates. We stopped for a fantastic lunch in Wilton, but other than that, we booked it to the river.

Davenport is one of those towns in Iowa that everyone should visit once, and it was even more special today because it seemed like everyone was cheering us on to the finish line. I thought at one point, this must be what it feels like to finish a marathon... But then I realized that a marathon lasts a few hours. This lasted seven days.

I have a huge feeling of accomplishment as I ride back home today. It was a hard week for me, and for many of the other riders I talked to. I asked one person if they thought anyone on the whole ride thought it was easy, and they replied, "Biking doesn't get easier, you only get faster.

I want to thank everyone in each town that greeted us like we were kings and queens. Community members that stood in the heat and humidity to serve us water and pie by the side of the road. You all made this, my 9th RAGBRAI, a memorable one.

RAGBRAI Day 6

Sorry the blog is so late tonight. I got into camp pretty late myself and then took a shower and ate at the country club. I'm just packing my bags for the final time and mentally preparing to speed to the finish line.
Today we had a relatively flat morning with cool temps in the morning and some wicked sun in the afternoon. Since it was such a long day, most of the crowd was still out when it got shady again... Just in time for me to tackle some major hills about 20 miles outside of Coralville and on into town.
I rode most of the day with my new friend Barb who is on her first RAGBRAI. She rides with Team Cow and she wore horns and ears on her helmet. We encouraged each other and chatted along the route. At one point, about 40 miles in, I said, wow, you're really pushing me! And she said, I was just thinking the same about you! So we had been riding a little faster than either of us were comfortable with, but we had a good time chatting and lost track of the miles.
Once we got into the Amana Colonies area the landscape changed. Neither Barb nor I could quite put our finger on it, but it became very rustic, a little less corporate and landscaped. The scenery was incredible. It's definitely a place I want to visit again soon.
That's one of the best things about RAGBRAI. It gives Iowans, and out-of-towners a sneak peak at what an Iowa vacation would be like, without some hokey commercial.
Tomorrow is the last day, and I have to meet my team at 2:30 to dip the tires in the Mississippi. I'm worried I won't make it in time! Even on the shortest days I've gotten in around 3, and tomorrow isn't short... or flat. Wish me luck! And if you see me and my bike hitch-hiking from the east... Pick me up!

RAGBRAI Day 5

Day 5 was still hilly but it was short and cloudy. I got into camp pretty early and got to relax before dinner.
The one thing that's been on my mind all week is the camaraderie of RAGBRAI. The teams epitomize the support that everyone on RAGBRAI has for each other.
My team, Team Skunk, gathers each night to chat, and no less that 20 people ask me how my ride went each evening when I get in. When we see each other along the route we yell, SKUUUUUUUNK! The other day I yelled to some teammates along the road and a girl nearby said, "like a live one? ew..."
Another team that's stood out to me this year is the Air Force team. They wear identifying jerseys and are hardly ever riding solo. Whenever anyone is broken down alongside the route, there's always an Air Force guy there helping. One girl I talked to said her sister got three flats on the first day and an Air Force guy helped her every time. I mentioned that to an older Air Force teammate and he just said, "That's what we're here for!"
Another team that I came across is a Pie Bingo team and they have a bingo card that they fill out along the route. You can spot them on the route because they have giant slices of pie attached to the top of their helmets. They say the hardest pies to find are the cream pies.
I've yet to see a rider from Team Gumby... my nemesis. They are so lazy! (Or at least my 4-year-old self thought so...)
I have two more days on the road before I dip my tire in the Mississippi on Saturday!

RAGBRAI Day 4

Today's route left from Boone and arrived in Altoona. It was a short flat route, but it was another hot day and we fought a head wind most of the afternoon.
I met up with my parents between Luther and Slater and they rode into town with me where I met a friend. We rode most of the way together save a few miles.
Once I got into Altoona I rode quite a while in the wrong direction before I found my camp. My dear friend Elizabeth picked me up at camp to have a warm shower and drop off some smelly clothes at my own apartment.
Trying my hardest to stay mentally strong for the next three days. I've reserved the right to ride the Sag Wagon if I have to, with the excuse that I'm desperately sunburnt and I wake up with Angelina Jolie lips.

RAGBRAI Day 3

Today was a turning point in my RAGBRAI journey. I met a lady named Mary and rode almost the whole ride with her. The time flew with someone else to share the misery with.
Second, and possibly the best RAGBRAI miracle is that my mom's friend lives in Boone, and she invited me over for a shower and a steak dinner! And my parents came to visit. I'm sitting here right now and we're all visiting. I'm eyeing the leftover chocolate chip cookies.
The day was pretty flat except for Twister Hill. A guy passed me on the way to the hill after about 6 miles of signs warning us, and he said, "It's a bad sign when they've named the hill..." I agree. Hills with names are bad news. According to the signs it was about 1.5 miles of hill. I think I made it about .5 miles. I walked a mile up a hill.
Last note of the day: I saw Lance Armstrong! I didn't realize it until I was back at camp and the guys were saying that they saw him riding with a double wide pace line and everyone was in white. A pace line is just a line of riders drafting off one another and a double wide one is rare. Especially going about 25 mph down the left side of RAGBRAI! But I remember seeing that pace line... So I saw Lance.
I didn't do the Karras Loop, which makes the 70 mile day a century (100 miles). Just incase you were wondering.

RAGBRAI Day 2

First of all, I would like to give a little shout-out to my photographer, Roger. He has been a trouper dealing with spotty internet service and non-existent cell service. He even offered to bring me a salad today, because I can't handle another pork chop on a stick.
It was another hot hilly day. A few of my teammates took the Sag Wagon, and I'm not going to lie, I might very well be one of those sometime this week.
I've realized that the last 5 miles are the key to my success. Yesterday I was almost done with RAGBRAI all together. I was sitting in the shade without water and I had no clue where the campground was.
I had turned my map around and around. That's when I saw a little unassuming church with a sign that said, "Welcome RAGBRAI". I thought to myself, they at least have a water fountain. They did have a water fountain. They also had ice cold water, free pie and great conversation.
Today, the key to my success was a bomb pop in Willy. It hydrated me and inspired me to keep going. I made it the last 7 miles in record time and I busted it up the hills like Lance Armstrong.
Well, tomorrow is the Karras Loop, the option to do 100 miles. I will not be participating. I'll be luck to make it 70 some.

RAGBRAI Day 1

We rode from Glenwood to Atlantic today. And it was HOT! It was HOT and HILLY and I have HEARTBURN. The thing about all of this is that I can't complain in my camp, because my team has a whiner award... and if I complain they will give me a pacifier to wear all day. I don't need a pacifier tan.
It was so hot and hilly that I considered who could come get me and what the repercussions would be of just up and leaving RAGBRAI.
I saw some cool stuff. The largest bike in the word was Lewis, at the top of a hill... And there were two guys with "ordinary" bikes. I had to ask around camp what they're called, and there's some debate. But ordinary sounds the best. But they have giant front wheels and one little tiny bottom one. I should have watched to see how to get on the bike. It's still a mystery. But props to those guys.
Also, I heard a rumor that there's a woman with one leg riding a bike. Not a hand crank, not a recumbent... She is rocking a real deal road bike! I want to meet her SO BAD. If nothing else just to shake her hand. This day almost ended in tears for me. I can't imagine doing the whole ride on my right leg.
Well, I have to get back to my team. Wish me luck on day 2. I hear it's going to be hilly...
FYI: Iowa's NOT FLAT!

I'm Leaving... For RAGBRAI!

All my bags are packed I'm ready to go

I'm standin' here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye

Looking at my bags packed I hear this song… Not the John Denver version, definitely the Armageddon version. When I was younger I owned about 3 VHS movies,( and now I own about 3 DVDs). But Armageddon was one of those. I watched it more than I’ve ever watched any other movie.

But It’s true, every place I go, I think of you! I’ll be blogging and constantly thinking of a tweet to send out to our viewers and my followers. Anything tagged #RAGBRAI13 will show up on our webpage at http://www.whotv.com/sports/ragbrai/.

I set up my tent in my apartment this week. I works. I tried to set it up on top of my bed, (the wood floors just weren’t appealing,) but it hit the fan.

I dropped off my bike at the load site this evening and I leave for Glenwood tomorrow morning. Here are a few great tips I’ve gotten in the last few days

-Hydrate!

-Ear plugs and eye mask are a must-have

-If you hurt, stop. For, at least, a little while.

-Strike up conversations. Not only does it make the miles fly by, you hear some amazing stories.

Now the time has come to leave you. (but I’ll be blogging all week!)
One more time let me kiss you (or shake your hand)
Close your eyes I'll be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone
About the times, I won't have to say…

See you on the road! RAGBRAI XXXIX

Remembering RAGBRAI

This is the last of three installments of my childhood RAGBRAI pictures. (I promise.) I am remembering so many little things about RAGBRAI as a kid, and I'm so excited to make new RAGBRAI memories as an adult.
As far as training goes, I have recorded about 250 miles since I got sick in June. This week I'm going to taper off as the week goes by, with a few 20 mile rides at the beginning and a slow 6 miler Thursday and Friday.

RAGBRAI at age 3 for your Viewing Pleasure.

It's just a few short days away from RAGBRAI and I'm getting excited. I did a 20 miler and stopped for lunch with my co-worker Krystle and then we went on a 15 miler. Chatting with Krystle made the time FLY, so I'm going to be looking for some Chatty Cathys along the RAGBRAI route.
I'm still editing old RAGBRAI pics, so feast your eyes on these babies.



















































































































People loved me at age 3. Hoping I get the same welcome this year!

A Million Spokes: A RAGBRAI documentary

I follow Bikeiowa.com on Facebook and they posted a story about this documentary about RAGBRAI.

It’s called A Million Spokes, and when I watched the promo I cried… There have been a lot of emotional stories that we’ve covered here at WHO-TV lately, soldiers killed, tragic deaths, and none of these make me cry. I feel like a terrible person, but I just have to hold it together to tell their story and I just never have a moment to let the tragedy get to me. But there’s a man in the documentary who lost his wife 5 months after they all rode RAGBRAI together and he comes back to ride in her honor. They show him scattering her ashes in the river and I lost it.

Watch the promo here:

The Fleur Theater in Des Moines is showing the documentary from July 15^th through the 21^st. Definitely a flick I’m going to catch. They’re also showing it in Carroll, Boone and Grinnell during RAGBRAI.

This is what Bike Iowa had to say about the documentary:

This feature-length project was filmed during the largest, longest and oldest bicycle-touring event in the world RAGBRAI.

The annual bicycle ride takes place over seven days in Iowa. Every year, over 20,000 bicyclists descend on the state to partake in an adventure that is singular in its ability to attract some of the most unique people you
will ever meet. We explore RAGBRAI through the eyes of a host of characters like Ray, Chau, Erik and many more. Some come for the
challenge, some come for speed, some come just to party. Not everyone rides for the same reason but the common thread is the ride. It becomes far more meaningful to the riders as they build community along the road.

RAGBRAI Memory Lane

During my RAGBRAI training I've thought of so many little RAGBRAI memories from when I was young. I went back to Ames over the 4th of July and went through my scrap books and found loads of great photos. Here's the first set of memories:

RAGBRAI is exhausting.




















No really, it's exhausting!














I ride with Team Skunk. Here's a great family photo op.








Keeping cool. Notice the orange thing I have in my mouth. That's the first thing I'm looking for on the RAGBRAI journey. It's an orange flavored sherbet that's out of this world. There are so many photos where I'm tackling one of these bad boys.





Santa and Rudolph hanging out on RAGBRAI. He didn't bring me any presents, but when I lost a tooth on RAGBRAI I got a few empty beer cans under my pillow... It sounds bad now, but I think it was just a recycling joke.








Check out the fanny pack.



















My fine photo skills. Mom and dad look great though!








Sweet shades! I made those sunglasses holders on the bus trip out to the first town and sold them to anyone and everyone.

I might do it again this year. You know, snack money.





Family looking great. I see my dad has one of those tiny-brim hats. I wonder where that thing went!











Food in one hand, money in the other. I also made that headband. Sold a few of those too. Wish I still fit in those shorts.














My dad and I on the tandem.












A slave to fashion, even at a young age.

















RAGBRAI is getting closer! I had a few emails about logistics when I got back in the office today. If you haven't heard, My name is Alisa and I work here at Channel 13. They're sending me on RAGBRAI and I've been chronicling my training here on my blog and on Twitter at @alisa_who. Look for me on The Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa!

Lance Armstrong to Ride RAGBRAI

He’s been accused of making some bad decisions, but Lance Armstrong is a world renowned cyclist and a household name in a sport that doesn’t have many familiar faces.

After two years off, Armstrong is tackling RAGBRAI once again. His manager says he’ll ride a few legs in the middle of the route somewhere between Carroll and Grinnell with overnights in either Boone or Altoona.

This will be the 7-time Tour de France champion’s fourth RAGBRAI. He rode in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

What do you think of Armstrong? Will you be excited to see him here in Iowa?

The Mono Saga Continued:

Wednesday came along and I went into work. I hadn’t trained in over a week, but I was beat. I still hadn’t eaten and it was almost impossible to swallow water. My boss sent me home as soon as I walked in. I sounded like I had swallowed a tennis ball.

I went home and crashed for an hour and called the doctor. That first doctor wasn’t available, but another one had an appointment so I headed back in. They did the 3rd negative strep test… They poked around… The doctor wasn’t sure what was going on but he said the tonsils might have to come out.

Thankfully this doctor was aggressive. A doctor after my own heart. I bent over for a shot in the rear, I got some vicodin and some heavy meds. We made an appointment Friday to check my tonsils but he said, “if these get any worse, get your behind back in here EARLY tomorrow.”

I went home and tried to get comfortable. I still couldn’t keep food down and I slept a total of 4 hours even with the vicodin. I woke up Thursday and couldn’t handle it. I went back to the doctor, falling asleep in the waiting room; I laid on the butcher paper in the smaller waiting room as they took blood and did more tests.

The doctor came back quickly, but I knew what was up. I could hear him in the hall. I had Mono, but then he threw a curveball. I was severely dehydrated and my tonsils were taking over my life. I had to get to the hospital for observation and some serious rehydration!

My mom came from Ames and drove me to the hospital. I sat there rehydrating for hours before the doctor came. He prescribed some steroids to get the swelling down and a cocktail of drugs to battle what he decided was Mono and Tonsilitis.

I was in the hospital for two nights and I’ve been laying low ever since. A cupboard full of soup and a freezer full of popsicles are nursing me back to health.

I had to email the people at the Copper Creek Tri and let them know I’d be gracefully bowing out of competition this year. So, I’m still waiting on that elusive first triathlon.

The Doctor is closely monitoring my spleen and all my other inner functions with weekly blood tests so I can get back to training for RAGBRAI as soon as possible. As of now, I’m pretty nervous. I feel like I was struggling to balance the tri and RAGBRAI before I got sick, and now that I have time to focus on RAGBRAI I just hope it isn’t too late.

I laid in bed last night a little bit thankful that I wasn’t trying to figure out where to park for the tri, and if I needed a wet suit, and how exactly transitions would shake out. But now my thoughts have turned to camping gear and how I’m going to charge my cell phone on the RAGBRAI route.

All that’s left to do, this month before RAGBRAI, is to power full steam ahead. Getting ready for the greatest party in Iowa!

The Demise of the Tri

I’ve been training hard since January for both RAGBRAI and the Copper Creek Triathlon. I started back in January at the YMCA downtown taking spin classes and getting in the pool. As it warmed up I added some runs at Grays Lake and took the bike out on the trails.

I was feeling confident, I started early, I loved riding my bike, I was really getting the hang of the running and swimming and I was starting to envision myself at the transitions and I was looking at wetsuit rentals. But then something happened that I wasn’t prepared for, I hadn’t trained for it and nothing in my Triathlon Magazine even mentioned it…

A few weeks ago I started to wonder if I was overtraining a little. I was sleeping a little more than usual, I was forgetting things and I was a little snippy with my friends and family.

I was in Ames visiting my parents and my throat started to hurt so I went to the family doctor. She gave me a strep test but it came back negative. Apparently sometimes it shows up negative but you actually have it, so she gave me a Z-pack to treat the strep anyway, told me to TAKE IT EASY and sent me on my way.

Five days later I was getting worse. I couldn’t eat or sleep. I hadn’t eaten anything solid since Sunday and, it was extremely painful to drink. So I headed back to a doctor in Des Moines on Sunday. He decided it was Mono, but it was too early to test, so he said, TAKE IT EASY, come back on Friday if you’re still sick.

I told him I was two weeks from my tri.. When would I be able to get back into it? He took one look and said, “I think you’re going to have to skip the tri.” In my weakened state I burst into tears. I felt horrible for this very professional, serious doctor. He sorta walked out, and then walked back in and got me a tissue, and walked out, and walked back in and stumbled over an explanation and then walked out and sent a nurse in after me.

I finally pulled myself together, I just needed a few pity tears to make up for the blood and sweat I had shed getting ready for the tri. To be honest, I had a little hope left in me that I’d wake up the next day feeling 100% and I’d be able to rock it out. But that wasn’t the case.

Now you know, I’m skipping the Copper Creek Triathlon. RAGBRAI, however, is still in the plans. But I need to take a nap. I have a long road to recovery. The rest of the story is coming soon!

Is That a Cow or a Buffalo? High Trestle Trail Take 2

I went out to the High Trestle Trail again today for a “long ride”. My RAGBRAI training has consisted of about 3 short rides (between 6 and 12 miles) and one long ride, ranging anywhere from 15 to 30 miles each week. I’ve also been running and swimming to train for the Copper Creek Triathlon, so my RAGBRAI training hasn’t been as relaxed as 4 days a week might seem.

Last time I was at the High Trestle Trail it was for the Grand Opening, and I started from Woodward. This time, I took a shorter drive to the Ankeny trail head.

I got a late start and didn’t reach the trail until 11:30. By 11:30 it was 90 degrees in Ankeny, but I was stocked with two water bottles, a Luna bar, a granola bar and a banana.

The ride out was easy. I thought I had gauged the wind right and was fighting a slight side wind, but once I turned around I realized I was wrong. A 21 mph tailwind assisted ride out turned into 9 mph back fighting, tooth and nail, and I got passed by an old guy on a mountain bike just out for a stroll.

The “Oasis” between Ankeny and Sheldahl is about 7 miles out of Ankeny. If anyone has driven in and out of Chicago, you might know the toll-free stop called the Oasis. With that in mind, I was expecting a well staffed gas station complete with a Starbucks and a Panda Express… There was an outhouse and a water fountain…

Don’t get me wrong, the outhouse was pretty spacious and the water fountain was cold and it was actually three fountains… one for papa bear, one for mama bear and one for baby bear and the dog. It was also a welcome stop both out and back.

I spotted some wildlife that made me raise my eyebrow… a bright neon turquoise bird and some buffalo… Yes, buffalo. At first I tried to convince myself that the cow just hadn’t shed its winter coat… And then I realized I’m from Iowa, I know more about cows than the typical person. This was definitely a buffalo. (One time I was actually playing some sort of brain teaser game while living in Chicago and there was a question about a cow that no one knew but me. Iowa represent!)

Some of the folks in Ankeny had decorated their yards along the trail with stuffed animals riding old tricycles or advertisements for local bike shops. The same guy who had the buffalo had a yard full of interesting knickknacks like this old Pepsi machine. It was a worthy photo op.

I enjoyed the trail starting at Ankeny, but I think I prefer starting at the other end, in Woodward. The high bridge is at that end and you reach a new town about every 5 miles. The road from Ankeny is a lonely one, but definitely worth the trip.

An Encouraging Word for Kids Learning to Ride a Bike and a Thumbs up for ROCK AND ROLL!

Thumbs up to @meganpralle for tweeting this video. Follow her (and me) on Twitter! I'm @alisa_who

Setting my Sights on Saylorville

I had a medium sized ride scheduled for today and I couldn’t stomach another in-city ride, so I headed north of town to Saylorville. The Neil Smith Trail rides along the east side of the lake and is a little, as my friend Heather said, “bumpy”.
I found a parking lot off NW 66th and unloaded my bike. I’ve been trying to break in my Brooks leather saddle for a while now; I always forget to use the conditioner on it. So I slathered that on and set off on the path.
As I rode through the woods I quickly realized I was headed in the right direction. A little head wind and a slow rolling (bumpy) climb meant I would be in for a treat on the way home. I stopped to take a few scenic pictures and unabashedly sang along to my classic rock Pandora station, something I don’t feel comfortable doing when I’m saying, “on your left” every quarter mile.
I saw only about 8 people on the whole 70 minute ride, but the highlight was cresting the first hill to catch a group of gentlemen relieving themselves in plain view off the side of the trail. Hey guys, ladies bike too… At least stand behind a tree.
Once I got back to my Jeep I loaded up to head home. To the west, the road home, to the east… Casey’s. When I was younger, my parents would coax me on long rides with the promise of a sprinkled doughnut halfway through. Ever since, I can’t turn down a Casey’s stop after a long ride. I saw that brick building and flipped the turning signal… Quick.

If you’re headed out to the Neil Smith trail, here are a few tips:
1. Know where the trail’s closed. I attempted to ride out here the other day but got stuck at the Birdland Levee construction site. This time I drove out to the south tip of the lake and parked in a designated trail parking area.
2. Keep your mouth shut! I don’t mean, keep this gem a secret, I mean literally… Keep it shut. There are bugs all over.
3. Stop at the stop signs. This applies to all trails, but I noticed that with all of the rolling hills and curves, and so few stop signs, that a few of them caught me off guard. Coming out of the woods full speed doesn’t give crossing traffic much time to stop for you… especially when they don’t have a stop sign themselves.