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The Reluctant Ride

The Reluctant Ride

Lisa Eirene

About Lisa Eirene Lisa lost 110 pounds through calorie counting and exercise. She swims, bikes, runs, hikes and is enjoying life in Portland, Oregon. Her weight loss story has been featured in First Magazine, Yahoo Health, Woman's Day and Glamour.com.

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18 Comments

  1. Amber Starr @ Love, Laugh, Live Well

    Unfortunately my city is not very safe for biking and running. There are certain areas and some trails in town, but I wish that there was something that was withing walking distance to my house. I definitely do not feel safe running by myself near my house. There are a just a lot of creeper people and too many people let their dogs run free (husband has had to run like heck to get away from them so it just freaks me out). Our city is working right now on making it a more pedestrian safe city so I’m really hoping all the plans go through so we will be able to move about town much easier (especially for biking because we have no bike lanes and narrow roads!).

    1. Lisa Eirene

      That’s scary! Luckily I haven’t encountered any scary dogs. I am definitely lucky that my neighborhood is relatively safe. The traffic on the other hand, is not as safe.

      That’s cool that your city is as least trying to make it better.

      1. Amber Starr @ Love, Laugh, Live Well

        In all honesty our town is quite safe compared to most, but there are just a few really shady characters that live nearby and houses are somewhat sparse. I’m just paranoid that no one would see if something happened because there are not many people around.

        Yeah, the new transportation system would be great! I really hope that the city decides to adopt it. 🙂

  2. Beth @ Beth's Journey

    My city is relatively safe depending on where you go. I do ride/run alone but only in the daylight, and I always carry ID and my phone with me just in case!

  3. Jill Mace

    Good for you for riding even when you didn’t feel like it. Sometimes that is the hardest part of the exercise itself!!! My city is not great for biking. I do ride- usually with a friend. We have to worry about encounters with dogs. I will ride alone- but I won’t run alone. I guess I feel like I can “get away” faster on my bike than on my feet. We live in a safe area-you just never know though! One thing I plan on doing once I am able to ride again is riding to the store, getting groceries for dinner and riding home. I love having a “destination”.
    Oh-do you have a recipe for the baked acorn squash? It looks so good!!!!!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I plan on biking to the store this summer whenever I have to pick up “just a few things.” The store isn’t far from the house and it’s silly to drive.

      For the squash: I cut it in half, scoop out the guts and seeds. Then put them face down in a pan with water. I baked the squash about 50 minutes at 400 degrees and they were done. Then I just scrape out the squash. It’s really easy.

      1. Jill Mace

        Thanks Lisa! Can’t wait to try it!!!

  4. The Boyfriend

    Beth,

    You may want to invest in a Road ID bracelet. Lisa and I both wear these.

    http://www.roadid.com/Common/default.aspx

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Good idea. I always wear my road id.

  5. Lori

    Our small town is not really a cycle town. There is a bike path, but most motorist think bikers should not be on the roads, even when the roads are designated bike lanes. I had someone yell out the window to me to get on the sidewalk. Guess I am supposed to cream a pedestrian rather than in a bike lane?? I just am always hype aware, so I trust no car or other biker. I ride alone a lot, too.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Well that’s just rude! I’m surprised. It’s definitely not safer for a cyclist to ride on the sidewalk! Might as well just walk if you’re gonna do that…

  6. Diane Fit to the Finish

    Our city is actually a little dangerous – even though it is small. I tend to stay close to home or go with friends!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Where do you live Diane?

  7. cindylu

    I feel safe running in LA day or night (at a reasonable time, of course). If I run after dark or at dusk, I wear reflectors on my wrist. I had a close call last fall with a distracted driver. I always take my iPod, but I keep the volume low enough to hear traffic and people around me. I wear a Road ID on my shoes. On long runs (2 or more hrs), I might take my cell phone and some money just in case. I also let my fiance know how long I should be out. He knows my usual routes since he runs too.

    The only thing I worry about is car traffic. I don’t even get catcalls or harassed on the street by men. I’ve heard some women say this happens to them. I considered moving last year, but knowing that my neighborhood had some good running routes and was pretty safe kept me in the same place.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I’m glad you feel safe. It would suck if you didn’t. It kind of restricts things. I’ve never had catcalls from cars, that I remember, but I’d like to think I would be flattered. LOL

  8. Jennifer

    My city isn’t the safest, by a long shot. A rapist was reported last summer (I think?) and since then, I haven’t run early in the morning or after dark by myself. I wish I could. I love walking in the evenings since it’s so HOT here all summer.

    Btw, those pork chops look DELISH! And I haven’t had acorn squash in far too long!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      That is definitely scary. I’ve taken self-defense classes in my personal life and I’ve taken one required for where I work. I feel like I’m pretty good shape. If nothing else–I could certainly run away pretty fast. When I run outside I make sure my head phones are really low so I can still hear everything around me. I carry a phone, Road ID, pepper spray. My neighborhood is really safe thankfully.

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