Thoughts on my final day of maternity leave. Oh the places you go.

Tomorrow I start work again, after 11 months off.  I left grumpy and giant and very pregnant.  I'm coming back happy and tired and very not pregnant.  The last two weeks were not the exciting recovery period I had hoped for, and I'm certainly not "refreshed and ready", but I have done some fun things, culminating with an extremely fun day of mountain biking.

How fun?

This fun

I don't feel like I can or should really "sum up" 10.5 months of twins.  But the last few weeks were pretty extreme for different reasons.  Bedroom moves, weather, summer, childcare, school, teething, birthdays... it was (and is) a lot.

Lilah got a copy of Oh The Places You'll go for her birthday.  I forgot just how great a book it is.

I'm going to stick some of it in here, because I think Dr. Seuss was writing this book for nearly 40 year old me.  The kids are a bit meh.  I am loving it.

You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights!

You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead
Wherever you fly, you'll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest

Except when you don't
Because sometimes, you won't

I'm sorry to say so
but, sadly, it's true
that Bang-ups
and Hang-up
can happen to you.

You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch
And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch

You'll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
and the chances are, then,
that you'll be in a slump

And when you're in a Slump,
you're not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

--------

Today, on my last day of maternity leave, I did the following (with Andy's help, because he was off today too):

• Moved the babies into their new bedroom
• Organized baby toys and furniture in the new baby bedroom (including moving the baby bookcase out of our bedroom!)
• Went for a walk with Andy and babies in backpacks
• Had lunch with Andy and babies at a local coffee shop
• Took a bath
• Read during the day
• Used the hydrating face mask I was given when the babies were born.
• Replied to all outstanding texts
• Paid the painter for painting the babies room

It's currently 7:30pm.  I am going to spend the next hour potching in the house, putting things back in their right places, listening to podcasts.  At 8:30 I intend to read, at 9:15 I intend to be asleep.  And tomorrow morning at 9am I'm turning on teams and concluding my last ever maternity leave.

Weekend Warrior - Sunday Edition (& Meal Plan)

 Currently writing from the sofa where sun is streaming through the window.  This morning I went mountain biking with my friend who had never mountain biked before and she was amazing and I had the best time.  I need more sun and more mountain biking friends.

Yesterday I did an abundantly slow parkrun at 38 minutes for a 5k.  I know that doing 1 parkrun a month is probably not enough to improve, and doing exercise once a week is not enough to improve either, but I wish I felt at least marginally better when running while not ill and not tired.

I was very tired post-parkrun, which also seems odd given how it was basically park-walk.

On Friday I listened to this episode of Deep Questions and I've decided I need to be much better about my remote work discipline.  So often I find myself in the almost meditative state of replying to emails, sending teams messages, fininshing one random thing from my inbox.  I know that this isn't efficient but I love the tiny series of accomplishments I get from the bits and bobs. BUT, no one is going to promote me because I responded quickly or wrote 60 emails in a day.  

I need to be a lot better about big picture. 

And, I need to be better about using remote work to my advantage. I'm already quite flexible with kid-chaos, but the fact that I can carve three hours out of a workday to watch kids means I should be able to carve 40 minutes to go for a run.

Next week I've got Yoga on Monday and dinner with some former colleagues on Wednesday, hopefully writing club on Thursday.

Yes, all of this is going to make my 9:15 bedtime tricky.  Maybe sleeping 10-6 is fine too.  Or 10:30-6:30.  

Our Meal plan is less than exciting this week:

Monday: Bean Stew (Andy)
Tuesday: Tacos
Wednesday: Lasagna (this is ambitious, it may just be pasta) 
Thursday: Out with friends, Andy is making Potatoes for the kids
Friday: Grandma cooks dinner (Salmon?)

What's on your meal plan this week?  How has your February been for sports?

Saturday: Mountain biking!

Today I met up with my new MTB friends for a ride around Forest of Dean.  It was an excellent day of riding, and I am now completely shattered.  Remember when I could do lots of riding and then stay awake past 8pm?  Me neither.  It was the right kind of rainy - atmospheric, not too cold, and enough to keep the ground damp but interesting.  We did some great routes (with some interesting roots) and it reminded me that I need to get out on my bike more... and get out more.

Although I am supposed to be in the office one day a week I have a had a series of illnesses and rail strikes which have further limited my office attendance.  I realized today that my mountain biking adventure was the first time I've been more than 3 miles from my house in two weeks.  I probably need to both get outside my door more, and get outside my neighborhood more.

I liked Kay's recent post on adding and subtracting goals each month, and especially the idea of going outside for 20 minutes every day in November.  I have had good luck with monthly goals - like that time I flossed every day in the month of April and then stopped flossing immediately after.  Sorry dentist!

Tomorrow is another day - let's see how sore my legs are.  Maybe tomorrow is the day I finally do some stretching?  Today's biking made me realize how much I miss sport and exercise, but I still don't see how I can fit it in my life right now without removing an existing obligation (ie work or childcare) or personal preference (like eating breakfast and dinner with my family at least 5 days a week).

The Best Weekend - September 2022.

I am wondering, does knowing you're having the best time, with kids at the best age, make it better than experiencing the same thing without knowing it?

For example, I never pegged myself as a particularly good athlete, and then I read back a bit, and I actually was pretty good!  Not world record good, not even competitively good, but definitely good.

And now I find myself in parts of life that are just so enjoyable.  But this time, I am so very aware of how enjoyable they are.  Perhaps that's what (late) 30s is about?

Friday was beers and lasagne night, with a long and enjoyable FLOM (Family Logistics and Operational Meeting)

Saturday morning was off to Dirt Farm for their ladies day.  Oh my gosh was it a good day.  It was beautiful, the uplift was amazing and I GOT AIR which is great because I am a forever roller of things.

I met these two amazing ladies at the Bike Park Wales day a few weeks ago.  One of the bummers about having kids with your mountain biking buddy is that you loose your mountain biking buddy... and I didn't have other MTB buddies.  So, now I found some, and I am very happy for this

And then I headed home for pasta bake and kid time.  We had the inaugural fire pit fire.  The kids were very excited.

Sunday was kid day while Andy went to Cwmcarn for a ride with Dave and Ceri.  The kids were on top form.  They played by themselves.  Here's Isaac "keeping an eye on Lilah"

We also had some drawing time:

And finally, dinner was burgers outside next to the fire, because fire pits and family are the best:

I'm currently plodding my way to the end of the stoicism book.  Perhaps my new found appreciation for things is a bit correlated with that book?  I have some thoughts on it.  But that's for anther post, as it's 6:30 and I'm sure the pitter patter of thumping feet will sound soon.

My first trip to Whites Level - Mountain Biking at Glyncorrwg (Afan Argoed)

Today I was supposed to rent a car to go see my sister who lives in Oxford, I was supposed to help her move, and I was supposed to pick things up from Oxford and bring them back to Cardiff.  But when I woke up the sun was out, and the weather was supposed to get up to the high 50's (8 degrees C), and my brewer half and friends were all headed to Whites Level for a morning of mountain biking.  I called my sister at 7:30am to see if we could reschedule, and when she didn't answer (probably due to sleeping) I assumed she was okay with my change of plans and I packed my bike and jumped in the car to Glyncorrwg!

The initial ascent was closed due to forest things, but after treking my bike up a hill I was back on the trails.  It was a truly stunning day!

Dave says "look, blue sky!"

I was a bit nervous on the single track because I had never been before and I was by myself - I try not to slow the boys down when they are biking and I am very slow on the ascents so I usually just head off before them and then let them pass me.  Whites level seemed a bit more technical than Y Wal - mostly because of the stones and pebbly bits.  I'm just figuring out how to ride over roots, riding over stones is a whole different story.  

Here's me looking happy and pale and with my eyes shut after the final ascent:

Then we hit the descents together. It's well noted that I love Y Wal - but Whites level is a serious contender.  It had a bit of everything - some steep, some fast, some flow-y, some rocks.  It even had some awesome boardwalk bits!

(I stole this picture from the internet)

Whites level had something for everyone.  I've never been anywhere that was so custom built for mountain bikers.  The final descent was the best I've ever done - straight across the side of a mountain, looking over the beautiful Welsh valleys.  I felt like I was roaring down but Strava tells me it was 10mph - I'm sure I will go even quicker next time.

I managed the whole trail without any crashes today, which would possibly indicate I'm not pushing myself enough.  There was one bit that I didn't like - too many rocks and I couldn't see my line (line = the path I'll cycle to not fall off) but instead of slowing down I pedaled faster and made it over without any problems.  

As a wise man once said "If in doubt, go flat out!"

Today I watched this same wise man take the trail without working back brakes.  He went flat out.

Then he got to the bottom and tried to do a wheelie.  You can't do a wheelie without a back brake.  He ended up flat out... on the ground. We all laughed.

All in all another excellent day at Afan!  And I'm sure my most loveliest sister (who also is my blog editor), will understand a Californian in Wales's need to be outside on a bike when the sun is out!

Ben is top 50 on Strava now for the final descent. Nailed it!

Mountain Biking at Forest of Dean (Pedal a Bike Away - Trail Centre)

Today seven of us headed to Forest of Dean  for a bit of mountain biking.  The great thing about Forest of Dean is that they have a number of different tails for all abilities.  They have green trails and family trails and red trails and downhill trails.  It's one of the only places I know where the on site cafe has downhillers next to dads with toddler tandems next to middle effort bikers like me!

I went for the Verderer's Trail first - 7 miles of blue single-track.   It's not as difficult as Y Wal, partially because the climbing is easier and partially because the actual track is easy.  Then again, Y Wal is Red and Verderer's is Blue, so it should be easier.  Forest of Dean was described my one of my friends as "flat and boring" which it kind of is - until the descent.

The descent from Verderer's Trail is fun.  It's enjoyable and fast.  Nothing is thrown at you, everything flows smoothly, and every feature is fun - nice little bumps to keep you rolling, nice smooth burms to slow your speed, small drops that lead out to long gentle descents.  Verderer's Trail is just mountain biking fun.

This is a contrast to the descent off Y Wal, which I would describe as fast and challenging - I often feel like I'm attacking the side of the mountain.  It's filled with adrenaline and fear and speed and curves and semi-technical challenges that keep me scared and focused and exhilarated.

Verderer's Trail does not put the fear in me, but I feel awesome at the end, rather than exhilarated.  It's a subtle difference I know - but I like both rides - but for different reasons.

It was also a really nice day to be on a bike.  It was muddy and cool but not raining.  It was my first time biking alone - three of our group went off downhilling, and three were going much faster, so I was happy to pootle along by myself.

After finishing on the Verderer's Trail I tried the Red Freeminer's Trail - about 4 miles of Red grade singletrack.  It was a good chance for me to practice cycling over roots and some of the technical skills that I'm not so good at.

It was good for learning, but not good for fun.  After finishing the Red I pushed up once more and blasted the descent of the Blue again, because it's FUN.

Someday, when I'm better, I'll be able to rip it out of the downhills at Forest of Dean. Until then, I leave it to Ben:

Y Wal - Mountain Biking Afan Argoed on a Wet Winter Day

On Sunday my Brewer Half and I headed to Afan Argoed for a quick blast around Y Wal - 11 miles of lovely single track with some of my favourite descents - and even climbs! - in Wales.

Y Wal is mountain biking pleasure.

It was raining heavy on the drive, but once we started cycling the rain disappeared and we were left with a nice winters day!  The fog was immense in bits - Afan has parts where you go through forrests and trees and the fog adds to the striking ambiance!  Especially when the trees open and you tear through puddles and bumps on a scenic hillside - if that's not perfection I don't know what it!

Y Wal did have more fireroad ascents than I remembered, but they're all the better to practice my climbing on....

...Or my standing next to a bike and posing.

Of course I strava'd the day, and was quite happy with 12 Personal Records and 28 Achievements!

The only minor hiccup was on the last turn of the last decent.  One thing I'm still not confident on is Burms - curved bit of track like this:

(that is not me.  that is a good biker)

And especially when they go into a downhill.  But I was feeling confident.  And so I saw a burm and a decent and I slowed down to get off and walk, but then I decided "NO!" and I said to myself "Self, you can do this!" so I did not get off, I decided to pedal through... heeding the words of wiser men than me...

"If in doubt, go flat out..."

And as I tried to gain speed I realized I had second guessed myself too much, and I was not going to make it - not because I couldn't, but because I hesitated.

I asked my brewer half to get me some water to clean my knee.  Instead he grabbed my camera from my backpack and started taking photos.

Luckily I saw the humour in the situation. Also lucky is that I was wearing cheapie Tescos leggings.  Unfortunately I knocked my crank off and so I had to walk the bike back, but luckily (AGAIN) I was pretty much at the end of the trail anyways.  

So that was another awesome ride at Afan, I will get back and do Whites Level (another slightly more difficult trail) at some point soon, but I think my bike (and knee!) need a bit of TLC first!

Mountain Biking Sunday - a trip to Glyncorrwg and an abandonment of W2

Sunday was beautiful!  The sun came out and it stopped raining and I managed to get my bike in the car by 8:30am for a trip to one of the most beautiful parts of South Wales - Afan Argoed!  I was trying to complete the (overly) ambitious Wall 2 - 27 miles of black grade trail with 3,000 feet of climbing and  "two of the most demanding descents in the UK" according to the website.

To be honest, if I had looked at the website before I started I probably wouldn't have tried.

But I did it!  Well I did some of it.  I did half of it. But this doesn't really matter - I'll only do better next time!  The important bit was this:

The view was amazing!  Many people call the South Wales Valleys "Gods Country" and though that's often mocked by Cardiff people, they have a point.  It's beautiful!

My Strava was less impressive - I'm getting quicker downhill, but my climbing and stamina are crap.  I also forget that unlike road biking, going downhill on a mountain bike takes almost as much effort as going up hill. 

The only rest was when I took a gently sloped fire road down a hill for a while.  This was counteracted by realizing I missed a turn and grinding it back up the hill for a while.  

Next time I'll probably just do Whites Level - It's about 15 miles and will probably tire me out enough.  Looking forward to the next nice weekend!

PS - I'm sorry about the stupid shirt that I'm wearing.  I once went on a mission to get a shirt from every state.  I had a few, but the only one left is the above "Idaho? No, Udaho" shirt.  Embarassing!