• I'm Caitlin! Welcome to my little corner of the blogworld. Nice to meet you! :)
  • A Little About Me…

    My name is Caitlin, and I'm 26 years old. I love running, delicious food, writing, friends, traveling, cold beer, and the great outdoors.

    This blog documents my food and fitness habits as I strive to find balance in my busy life. In September 2009, I resigned from my corporate job to freelance and write a book based on my other blog. I live in Charlotte, North Carolina with my wonderful Husband (who is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine) and two dogs, Maggie and James.

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  • Contact Me

    Feel free to reach out at caitlinjboyle@gmail.com
  • Training Plan

    I am currently training to run a sub-23:00 5K on September 4, 2010. Check out my Speedy 5K training plan for a summary of my workouts. I'm also training for my second marathon (Thunder Road in Charlotte) on December 11.
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Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 04:59 AM

Sunrise Ride

Good morning!  I was up before the sun and had a lovely bike ride with Megan and a reader named Gina!

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We met up at 6 AM, and it was pitch dark out…  It was cool and breezy, too!  I really do think that watching the sun come up during a bike ride (or run) is the perfect way to start the day!

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Megan and Gina!  Gina really impressed me with her cycling skills – she’s fast!

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Me!

 

It felt so good to MOVE again! It’s been three days since I’ve run, much longer than normal between workouts.  It was hard to wake up my muscles, but they loved it.

 

  • Duration: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Distance: 20 miles

 

Before my ride, I had PB toast with coffee.

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And afterwards, I had a bowl of granola with fruit:

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This granola is so good — it’s a Quaker brand from Costco. 

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And melon!

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Operation Beautiful

 

"Where in the USA is Monica?"  Monica from Run, Eat, Repeat is taking a cross-country tour!  She is driving from California to Maryland from July 10 to July 17, and along the way, she will be spreading the Operation Beautiful love!  On Monday, she hinted that "this place represents the first 150 of American history, " and "Monica is definitely in a Rush to get to this next stop!"

 

If you guessed she was going to Mount Rushmore, you are corrected!

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Here are the clues for the next destination of "Where in the USA is Monica?":

 

1.       Monica may need extra tape for the post-its so the wind doesn’t blow them away!
2.       The Obama girls are going to miss out on reading these Operation Beautiful notes since they’re not in town!

 

Can you guess where she’s going?  Head over to Operation Beautiful to see more notes!  I love the positivity today.

Posted by: Caitlin 37 comments

Posted in: All Posts

37 Comments on “Sunrise Ride”

  1. #1 Sarah (Running To Slow Things Down)
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 5:13 am

    Good for you for getting up before the sun! That's the perfect way to start the day, in my opinion. :-)

    Breakfast looks delicious too…love a good bowl of granola!! :-)

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  2. #2 Stacey
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 5:23 am

    There is nothing better than getting in 20 miles WHILE the sun comes up :) Don't you feel so accomplished?! Enjoy the rest of your day!

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  3. #3 Carolina John
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 5:24 am

    Sounds like a great ride!

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  4. #4 leslie
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 5:28 am

    i always feel that way too when i have to go a couple days in between exercising. feels so good!

    20 miles at sunrise sounds like a beautiful way to start the day.

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  5. #5 Christina
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 5:30 am

    That is an awesome Mount Rushmore pic!

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  6. #6 Bec
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 5:34 am

    so much fun, what a great way to start the day!

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  7. #7 Shannon (The Daily Balance)
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 5:42 am

    awesome ride! How nice that you logged in 20 miles today before most people woke up!

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  8. #8 D10
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 5:48 am

    Sounds like a perfect way to start the morning. Great job to all three of you ladies.

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  9. #9 Anna
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 6:01 am

    What a perfect start to the day! I enjoy reading your blog and the good example you set for us all :) I started my day with my first blog post ever and I am really excited about it. I know you are super busy, but if you have a chance check it out- annaseats.com.

    [Reply]

  10. #10 lookingforserenity
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 6:18 am

    That granola is Quaker? yumm it looks good- I might have to pick some uo!

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  11. #11 Tammy (Defining Wellness)
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 6:29 am

    Sunrise bikerides are incredible! I go to the Atlantic City boardwalk every year to do a sunrise ride — it's so peaceful and beautiful.

    [Reply]

  12. #12 skinnysweetpea
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 6:30 am

    Cute braids! I agree- nothing better than starting your day off with a bike or run and watching the sun rise! I need to do that more often. Love your leaf plates!

    [Reply]

  13. #13 Kristie Lynn
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 6:33 am

    Chi-land, yay!

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  14. #14 Katie
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 6:33 am

    She's coming to my city-the beautiful Chicago!!

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  15. #15 brandi
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 6:36 am

    Chicago :)

    great job getting up and riding this morning! it's awesome that you've found so many exercise buddies there!

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  16. #16 Mel @ She Runs Brooklyn
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 6:54 am

    It's awesome that you guys have a group to workout with. I might start summoning the Brooklyn/NYC ladies to join me in the morning!

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  17. #17 JEAN
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 7:02 am

    I wanted to tell you that you have inspired me to throw out the scale and just worry about feeling good about myself, not the number that pops up every morning!

    I really love your blog!

    [Reply]

  18. #18 K from ksgoodeats
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 7:18 am

    Way to go with the early morning ride!!

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  19. #19 Mrs. LC
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 7:23 am

    Awesome bike ride this morning! I won't be around to wish you good luck and read your recap on Sunday, so good luck now and I'll be thinking of you guys during your tri! xoxo

    [Reply]

  20. #20 Danielle C.
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 7:30 am

    A sunrise bike ride or run IS the perfect way to start the day. It's hard for us in Washington in the Summer though, the sun starts coming up much closer to 5am (and doesn't fully set until closer to 10. I do like the extra day light (though it is horribly dark in the Winter).

    [Reply]

  21. #21 Angie (Losing It and Loving It)
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 7:33 am

    Looks like a fun ride!

    Ahh she's coming to Chicago. Cool!

    [Reply]

  22. #22 insideiamdancing
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 7:39 am

    what a great way to start the day!

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  23. #23 Rose
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 7:45 am

    Now that's a perfect way to start a morning! The scene behind you looks beautiful.

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  24. #24 Niki
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 8:02 am

    Yay for a great bike ride!!

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  25. #25 BethAnn Caputo
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 8:05 am

    love that quaker granola…p.s. check this out..one of my reader's sent it to me!

    http://webecoist.com/2009/05/08/10-weird-and-gross-ingredients-in-processed-food/

    so disgusting!!

    [Reply]

  26. #26 hopeinpeanutbutterandoats
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 8:22 am

    mmm that granola is my FAV! i love the sweetness to it!
    glad you had a good ride. have a fab rest of the day

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  27. #27 Jenn Eats Nutritiously Now
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 8:40 am

    Looks like you had a fun ride. Glad it started your day out great!

    [Reply]

  28. #28 Laurie
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 9:07 am

    What kind of bike do you have? I'm really interested in getting started in cycling but the only bike I have is the one I use to get around my college campus. I believe it's a 4 year old Walmart bike that my neighbor was gonna throw away so I took it. Probably not the best "road bike." Thanks!

    [Reply]

  29. #29 Trainer T.s Fitness
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 9:10 am

    Glad you had a nice ride and with one of your readers. Your such a role model!

    [Reply]

  30. #30 Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 9:14 am

    laurie – i have a giant. all the brands are pretty good at the level that i ride at — i recommend looking for one that you can buy used (from craigslist. expect to spend around $300. mine was $350, originaly $1200. we got the husband's new (a fuji) for $550.

    [Reply]

  31. #31 Lora
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 9:40 am

    omg thats fast! how did u ride so fast? 20 miles takes me almost 1 hr 45 lol! i need to pick up my pace!

    [Reply]

  32. #32 eliza
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 9:44 am

    Chicaggggo!:)

    [Reply]

  33. #33 Joelle (The Pancake Girl)
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 9:49 am

    You are so making me want to go for a bike ride! Thanks for getting back to me with all of your bicycle tips yesterday, much appreciated.:)

    [Reply]

  34. #34 Jess
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 1:05 pm

    So luck all you girls live in the same place to ride together. So jealous!

    I'm betting she's in Chi town!

    [Reply]

  35. #35 Angharad
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 2:23 pm

    Um, loving the England footie shirt!! Yay!

    Morning workouts – I have such mixed feelings the night before/when I wake up but I always feel so good during and afterwards!

    [Reply]

  36. #36 roseyrebecca
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 2:59 pm

    I love morning bike rides.

    [Reply]

  37. #37 CALORIES DON'T HAVE FANGS!!!
    on Jul 16th, 2009 at 5:52 pm

    The Quaker granola looks awesome, Caitlin. What kind of milk do you add?

    [Reply]

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