Bicycling seems to be the next big thing.
Bloggers are into it, cyclists are rampant on Atlanta streets, and my friendsย all seem to have taken up the sport.
Naturally, I had to try it.
My friend Summer agreed to lend me a bike (along with a helmet and padded shorts) and take me out for a trial run ride. ย I was really nervous because my Achilles was killing me and I’m running a 5K this morning… followed by a softball tournament and then my high school reunion.
Definitely don’t want to be too injured/sore to run/play/party! ย But I broke out theย KT tapeย and away we went!
Pedaling Cycling is much harder than I expected. ย Summer did say this was a hilly course, but whoa. ย Thank god I’m not new to exercising – I refused to walk the bike up a hill!
What I should have been more nervous about was the storm! ย We made it 11 miles and realized we were about to get hit.
That last 4 miles we were going as fast as we could into the wind. ย I literally almost got blown over! ย Lightening, tree debris hitting us in the head and littering the path, crazy temperature changes… I was running on nothing but adrenaline at the end.
Recap:
- 15 hilly miles
- 1.5 hours
- Near death experience
- Celebration beer and a sandwich
I’d totally do it again.
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After a long week I like to “treat” myself with a fun breakfast. ย Nothing says fun like cupcakes!
These are so easy to make – simply core an apple and top with your choice of deliciousness. ย Choosing your icing topping is the best part.
I iced mine 2 ways:
- Mixture of Greek yogurt, almond butter, and chia seeds, topped with chocolate cookie crumbles
- Vanilla whipped cottage cheese (see recipe below), with chia seed sprinkles
Yes, I picked the cookie off and ate it first like an impatient 5 year old.
Fun fact: My mom used to call me Tinkerbell… hence the mug. ๐
Both were fantastic, but I think the whipped cottage cheese was my favorite. ย It was almost cheesecake-like!
The vanilla and apple sweetness was perfect with the tangy cheese and lemon combo.
ย ________________________________________________________________________________________
Vanilla Whipped Cottage Cheese
- 1/2 C cottage cheese
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp lemon zest
- 1/4 packet of Stevia
- 1/2 T chia seeds
In a blender (I used the Magic Bullet short container) combine all ingredients. ย
Blend until the cottage cheese becomes smooth (you may need to stop and scrape down the sides).
Enjoy as a snack or as icing on your favorite treat!
***
This may be TMI… but my butt is SORE. ย And now I must go run. ย Wish me luck!
What is your favorite “treat” breakfast?
Do you bike? ย Any tips for a novice?!
Mark says
Good luck in your 5k and hope you have fun at your reunion!
I love biking, been doing it for years.
JL goes Vegan says
Wow, what an intro to riding! LOL Love that you loved it. Cycling is my favorite part of triathlon training. It’s the only one of the three sports in which you can squeal “Weeeeeeeeeee” when going downhill ๐
Balancing Sylvia says
Sounds like you had a great ride. Scary or not ๐ I’ve actually never had a treat for breakfast. Breakfast always revolves around eggs which make me happy but aren’t exactly a “treat.” Maybe I should?
Cait @ Beyond Bananas says
This may sound a little mean… but I giggled a little envisioning your riding on a path.. into the wind..with tree branches, leaves, debris, etc falling everywhere and hittin gyour.
OBVIOUSLY this would not have been funny if it had resulted in injury, but since you are okay.. I giggle ๐
Have a good run!
Laura says
Don’t feel bad – we were laughing once we realized we were not being taken to Oz! ๐
Anonymous says
When I lived in AZ, there were cyclists EVERYWHERE! I wish I had taken advantage of the energy while I was there bc here in the NE it’s not so common. I’m glad you had a fun experience!
And I love the apple cupcake idea. I can’t wait to create my own fun toppings!
Parita says
You know the drill…that was me ๐
Alayna @ Thyme Bombe says
Yikes! Crazy bike ride! I watched our neighbors tree split in half during that storm so I know how crazy it was. I still haven’t tried the whole apple as cupcake thing, looks like a yummy breakfast. My treat breakfast will always be a giant bagel with too much cream cheese.
Allie says
My ankle is almost identically taped right now (in neon orange…for sports fan reason rather than last-in-stock ๐ ). I think it’s helping quite a bit, but that also might just be in my head…
No advice on biking, because I am quite terrible at it, I’ll stick to my running which doesn’t involve gears and chains and spinny things that can go horribly horribly wrong (yes, I have a bad history with bikes ๐ )
Laura says
I swear by that tape! I ran this morning with no problem. Who is the orange for?
Matt @ The Athlete's Plate says
Get some bike shorts!
Laura says
I need super padded – the pair I borrowed didn’t cut it!
Matt @ The Athlete's Plate says
What brand?
Pearl Izumi owns.
Laura says
Haven’t gotten that far yet…
Allie says
You are right.. nothing says fun like cupcakes ๐
Biking is always harder than I expect it to be too! Good luck on the 5k!!!
Parsley Sage says
Very cool ‘cupcake!’ And well done hitting the bike. My exercise of choice ๐
Hayley @ Oat Couture says
Oooh I like the ‘cupcakes’!! What a good idea! ๐ And i’m totally with you on cycling being way harder than you think! Especially heading into gale force winds! :/ Very glad you survived! It would be killer if you didn’t get to show off your new do at your high school reunion! ;D Have a great time and good luck for your 5k!! Hope you have a great run!
Lisa @ Healthful Sense says
That looks fantabulous!! Oh my. now i’m hungry. Have a great weekend!!
Jenny (Fit Girl Foodie) says
What a clever cottage cheese icing. So healthy and delicious ๐
Callie {Rawxy} says
Love cycling. Some people run to clear their mind, but I cycle.
However, last night (funny timing), I went out for a ride and within 5 minutes of my ride (about 20 mph) This Beotch comes flying out of a parking lot – didn’t pause, didn’t look – Basically, I clipped her car and did a nice side slide… Seriously, I’m still surprised I didn’t deck her… haha! She was hysterical and I was just hysterically pissed ๐ So the point here, is cycling is awesome, but drivers can make it suck at times!! No bueno.
Laura says
OMG! Are you ok?! I would have hit her back. ๐
Ashley @ the fit academic says
I’ve just recently started cycling and although I didn’t like it much at first, I think I’m really starting to get into it! I only have a mountain bike so I think thats a big part of the problem. A friend let me borrow her “real” cycling bike while she went out of town & I think I’m hooked! Now I need to get one of my own!!!
Laura says
I hear a road bike makes a big difference. They’re so expensive though!
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun says
What a cute and fun breakfast/snack! And biking scares me. I don’t know if I will ever get ballsy enough to try it. Plus I have no gear to borrow to try it.
Errign says
I LOVE mountain biking, but man oh man, my first few rides of the season, my bum really hurts, padded shorts and all! Great idea on the breakfast cupcakes. ๐
melissa says
My class and I call muffins breakfast cupcakes. ๐
These look delicious!
Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking says
Oh those cupcakes look awesome! I agree after seeing them I am getting hungry!!
E @ Act Fast Chef says
Yum! To me, they actually look like donuts ๐
Claire @ Live and Love to Eat says
*LOVE* the whipped cottage cheese idea! My physical therapist put that tape on my injured ankle last week and I could really tell a difference! I’m thinking of buying some myself!
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
Ahhh getting stuck out on the trail is so scary when it starts to storm!! My dad likes to go for walks on the Greenway which is 4 miles long..and one time we got to the very end when it started POURING with extreme wind and we had to walk the entire way back. No umbrellas or anything. It made for something we could laugh about afterward though! ๐