Tag Archives: giveaway

Summoning Strength

There’s a lot going on the work front right now, so I needed to summon some strength this morning.

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I absolutely summon strength through my sartorial choices, so this morning I put on the dress I was wearing when I interviewed for this job and my marathon necklace. (Yes, this photo is in the bathroom stall. Too paranoid to do one outside the stall for fear of being caught.)

I also summon strength through my workouts. I never thought I’d say this, but waking up early to work out is becoming much easier (except yesterday. I totally overslept for Physique 🙁 ) This morning, I woke up before my alarm and took out my bike, which I’ve decided to name Bruiser (since I will likely fall relatively often) for 9.12 miles to attempt to burn some stress. I rode up to Central Park, rode the loop and rode back, and it took me about an hour. I have no idea if that’s slow or fast, and I don’t care to know right now, so don’t burst my bubble. I’m tracking my speed and distance to see how I improve, but I’m not ready to compare myself with others yet.

Knowing that loop so intimately, I knew exactly where the uphills and downhills were. I expected that the uphills would be easier on a bike, but they actually felt much harder than they do running.

I’ll do a more in-depth post on the differences I’m noticing between biking and running (other than, you know, the wheels and that big pole between my legs), but one immediate difference is that it’s much harder to stop and take pictures. Sorry.

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I also summon strength through eating my healthier versions of comfort foods.

I picked the winner of my Starbucks giveaway this morning! I used a giveaway winner plugin, and it chose…

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Me. I shit you not. While I may buy myself a Starbucks gift card anyway, I figured I should pick a real winner…

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So Sara, please email me so I can get you the gift card!

My Badass Bike

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I just got it, but I do <3 my bike.

After a few trips to the bike store, I finally bit the bullet and bought a bike! (Thank god for tax refunds!)

I went with the Giant Dash 3, a performance hybrid. It’s basically as close as a hybrid can get to a road bike without actually being a road bike. Which means it’s comfortable and has straight, not curly bars, but is light and fast.

Riding it home afterwards was absolutely terrifying. Riding down 9th Ave at rush hour? With a heavy purse on my shoulder? I am so glad I didn’t die. I dropped off my purse and headed back out for an 8ish-mile ride to Battery Park and back.

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Dog not included.

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I asked the nice guy in the bike store what I absolutely couldn’t walk out of the bike store without, and he said all I really needed were lights, if I ever rode at night, and a helmet. I already had a helmet, so I bought the lights. I also bought a water bottle holder (pink, since the bike is blue) and a lock.

Things I didn’t buy immediately but foresee in my future: padded shorts, a rack for the back in case I want to take it grocery shopping.

Things there is no chance in hell I will buy: clips. I am too clumsy to clip in and out.

So since I just dropped a nice wad of cash on this baby, and we’ll be spending a lot of time together, he needs a name. (Yes, I named my cars, too. I had a blue Jeep named Bluebird and a red Volvo named Ruby. So yes, I am that girl.)

And that’s where you come in. Because I love you so much for reading my ramblings everyday, I’m buying you a present. Just one of you, just for suggesting a name for my bike.

I’m sending one winner a $10 Starbucks gift card. You can buy approximately 3 spinach feta wraps with this.

All you have to do is leave a comment suggesting a name for my bike. The only two criteria for the name:

  • It has to start with a B. (Its full name will be B___, the Badass Bike.)
  • It should be a gender-neutral or a male name. Though this bike is for a lady, the bike itself is a dude.

Just leave a comment by 11:59 PM EST on Wednesday, April 27, 2011. I’ll pick the winner Thursday.