Look out, Lance Armstrong!

For the first time in nearly 12 years, I own a bike.While I'm first a runner, I want to incorporate biking into my repertoire of athletic pursuits. I don't necessarily plan to race in any triathlons any time soon, but I'd like the option if I so choose. And as I train for the Chicago Marathon this summer, cross-training will be a major component of my training program. Whereas I used to only run, I'm going to bike and strength train two days a week.

And it should be interesting. 

I'm the kind of bicyclist who on my honeymoon in Hawaii had to ride with the guide at the front of the group because I biked too slowly, and our group could go only as fast as the slowest rider.

Even last night, as we biked 3/4 mile to Lake Michigan and then back home, my knees shook out of nervousness. I was sharing the road with cars. Scary stuff. I grew up in a town of 2,500, so I'm not used to sharing the road with cars. On the rare occasion that I met a car, it was moving slowly. Since I was a kid, I could bike on the sidewalk without getting hassled by the two cops that worked in town.

During the ride on my new wheels with my husband, Ben, he passed along the following tips:

1. Do not bike in the middle of the lane.

2. Do not take busy streets without a chaperone, er, I mean Ben.

3. Be aggressive. B-E aggressive.

We don't even need to address the helmet issue. I got a deal that included one, and I would have bought one had it not. My life is too important for me to not wear a helmet.

Look out, Lance. Brady's comin' for ya!

On a side note, my mom (Becky) and aunt (Lori) raised nearly $200 at a staff meeting today for the Multiple Myeloma Resarch Foundation on my sister's and my behalf. This money, combined with some cash my mom received from friends, will put us at approximately $1,550 raised since Februrary. Now, that's pretty awesome.