Spandex sucks, but I’m riding 50 miles anyway
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
I am OK with anonymously admitting that I lean toward the lazy side with most forms of exertion. That includes serious road biking. I do not like the hot sun bearing down on me. Traffic freaks me out. It is tiresome always to be the slowest one in my group. I get confused with gearing.
I’ve kissed the pavement more than once. And my body just isn’t tone enough to wear Spandex without my being self-conscious. When biking, I do not particularly enjoy my own company. My attitude annoys me.
But they suggest that you start where you are now. My program works on my attitude first. Called “Incentive Biking,” the program begins with mapping out trips that incorporate indulgent rewards of food. As I’m just starting out after a sedentary winter, the rides need to be short but long enough that I can reasonably convince myself that I earned a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Just talking about food puts the idea front and center. I baked two cakes this week—an avoidance strategy, I’m sure. Calorie input definitely exceeds output.
Monday, May 23, 2011
For the last seven days, I’ve been working on the self-talk that’s been getting in the way of enthusiastically jumping in with both feet. First, I had to come to terms with fear of injury or death. Followed by the idea I have significantly more important things to do. Rounded out by wallowing in thoughts of how aging has betrayed my body.
Usually this self-talk is strictly between me and me, so I’m not exposed to an alternative viewpoint. But because my friends and colleagues know my goal is to train for the 50-mile ride, they invariably inquire about my progress. The embarrassing, candid response is that I have made no progress. But after sharing with my friends, I feel encouraged. It seems that my fears of injury and death are a bit more common than I thought. We are all geniuses at rationalizing procrastination. And, by golly, we pretty much all have something that aches, throbs or otherwise reminds us that the clock will never turn back.
Because it has been so cold and rainy, I decided to work on my core strength. I spent five minutes with the hula-hoop, balanced on one foot then the other while brushing my teeth, and pulled out my beginner’s Pilates DVD. Plan for this upcoming week is to wear my pedometer and do the Pilates DVD. And I’ll continue to work on attitude.
The Elevations Buffalo Bicycle Classic, which raises funds for scholarships, includes ride distances of 14, 35, 50, 70 and 100 miles. To learn more about the Sept. 11 event or to register, click here.
I am OK with anonymously admitting that I lean toward the lazy side with most forms of exertion. That includes serious road biking. I do not like the hot sun bearing down on me. Traffic freaks me out. It is tiresome always to be the slowest one in my group. I get confused with gearing.
I’ve kissed the pavement more than once. And my body just isn’t tone enough to wear Spandex without my being self-conscious. When biking, I do not particularly enjoy my own company. My attitude annoys me.
But they suggest that you start where you are now. My program works on my attitude first. Called “Incentive Biking,” the program begins with mapping out trips that incorporate indulgent rewards of food. As I’m just starting out after a sedentary winter, the rides need to be short but long enough that I can reasonably convince myself that I earned a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Just talking about food puts the idea front and center. I baked two cakes this week—an avoidance strategy, I’m sure. Calorie input definitely exceeds output.
Monday, May 23, 2011
For the last seven days, I’ve been working on the self-talk that’s been getting in the way of enthusiastically jumping in with both feet. First, I had to come to terms with fear of injury or death. Followed by the idea I have significantly more important things to do. Rounded out by wallowing in thoughts of how aging has betrayed my body.
Usually this self-talk is strictly between me and me, so I’m not exposed to an alternative viewpoint. But because my friends and colleagues know my goal is to train for the 50-mile ride, they invariably inquire about my progress. The embarrassing, candid response is that I have made no progress. But after sharing with my friends, I feel encouraged. It seems that my fears of injury and death are a bit more common than I thought. We are all geniuses at rationalizing procrastination. And, by golly, we pretty much all have something that aches, throbs or otherwise reminds us that the clock will never turn back.
Because it has been so cold and rainy, I decided to work on my core strength. I spent five minutes with the hula-hoop, balanced on one foot then the other while brushing my teeth, and pulled out my beginner’s Pilates DVD. Plan for this upcoming week is to wear my pedometer and do the Pilates DVD. And I’ll continue to work on attitude.
The Elevations Buffalo Bicycle Classic, which raises funds for scholarships, includes ride distances of 14, 35, 50, 70 and 100 miles. To learn more about the Sept. 11 event or to register, click here.