With my recent blog post about losing your running mojo, I took some advice from the Mickey Miles Podcast. I didn’t really think that I was doing it; it was more something that I wanted to do with my kids for something fun. But I took my bike out and have been riding it at night after dinner with my kids for 3-4 miles. It’s not a “training” ride; but it’s getting out and moving and adding variety to my exercise.

During my run last Friday I listened to the podcast about getting your mojo back and one step was about adding variety to your workouts to switch it up and to help you get out a rut. Last spring I started riding my bike for 6-10 mile rides because I was considering doing a triathlon. That’s no longer on my radar, at least for this year, but I do enjoy going for a bike ride.

My kids are getting older now and sometimes just riding their bikes in the driveway is just plain old boring for them. I also want to do activities for myself like running; but want to include them. They can’t keep up with my training runs; but I decided to take them out with their bikes along the same route that I run. I thought of this because my son recently asked me if he could run with me. I knew he wouldn’t be able to make the distance in the heat, but biking isn’t as hot for them.

The first time I asked them if they wanted to go they were so excited! It was a drizzly Saturday afternoon but they didn’t care. We got the bikes ready and I had them walk theirs up the hill since our road is such a major cut through. I rode alongside them and then we were in a safer area where they could ride. My son loved it the most. He was yelling “Wheeeeee” along the road where we had freedom to ride faster and then he was laughing and yelling out how much fun it was! That made my day.  Then I decided the next day that we should do it again. It was another drizzly evening and I had just done the treadmill and some weights but wanted to get outside despite the cloudy day. It was just as much fun as the first time. But it was even better because we saw deer jumping through the high grass, rabbits out by the road and you could smell nature because everything was wet from the rain.

After work on Monday I went for my run and told the kids that I would take them out after dinner. So we hit the road again around the same time as the night before and it was fantastic. The sun was setting, there were lots of deer out and my son said it was “Magical” when we were riding. I am enjoying the daily routine of going for a ride with them at night. It’s awesome that now they are older and I can do things with them like this. I wish my husband can join us; but he can’t right now and that’s ok. It’s special time I can spend with them.

So this looks like it is going to be a daily event for us, as long as the weather holds up. And maybe we can explore other roads in our neighborhoods that don’t have as much traffic on them.  Look at the beautiful views we get at twilight!  When was the last time you went on a bike ride?!