9 January 2009

I haven't ridden the last two days, but today I mounted up and rode farther, faster, maintained a lower heart rate, and burned more calories than any ride this year! (A whole NINE days!) Went 25 miles (never left the garage) and watched two episodes of BoB. I love having a trainer!
I posted my happy photo not just to scare anyone off, but to compare with what I look like when May rolls around and I am 35-40lbs. lighter. I carry quite a load when I pedal and it's got to go! I am rubbing the paint off of my top tube with my belly! Not to worry though, I am already showing progress. I haven't had any concentrated sweets this year (cutting out the sugar!) and trying to make better food choices. I know I need to allow for the occasional scheduled slip-up, but a can of Coke is probably the worst thing I have had thus far. Wish me well!
Be blessed, be safe!

8 January 2009

Somehow, I am managing to stay out in front of this thing: eight days into the new year and I am a pound and a half ahead of my goal! Got on the scales when I got up today and weighed in at 270.5lbs. I know that's heavy, but that's actually down 10 pounds from Christmas Day so I am happy. I just have to keep going. My goal is to be down below 240lbs. by the time I do Mt. Mitchell on May 18.
I didn't make it to the trainer yesterday, don't know if I'll make it out there today. I want to get to where I am on it every day, but several 12-hour long night shifts can hinder that. If I don't make it out there tonight, I am definitely back to pedaling tomorrow!
Be blessed, be safe!

6 January 2009

Another episode of BoB, another 15 miles. I am pretty happy with the fact that I have now ridden three days in a row, woo-hoo! Starting to see a pattern! That's what it will take to get my fat heiney up Mt. Mitchell. The pattern, I mean; 15 miles a day will never cut it. It was tough getting started today, for the first two miles my butt kept screaming at me for taking a month and a half off. I showed it; I sat there and kept pedaling until it shut up. So there.
Be blessed, be safe.

5 January 2009

I hopped back on the trainer today for another 15 miles. I want to get some good miles in regardless of what's going on outside, and I want to do way better than I did last January. But, it's easy to get bored on a trainer if the scenery never changes.
So, I have this box set of "Band of Brothers" I bought several years ago that I have never completely watched. Each episode is around an hour long (perfect!) and tells the story of men and women who quite literally saved the world and made it possible for me to have a garage attached to a decent home, where I could ride my bike and watch a movie.
These folks are heroes (I reserve the title "Savior" for One alone) to whom we owe a huge debt of gratitude. I am grateful. And as I train, sweat, hurt, and complain, I'll try to remember the images of these guys training, and what they were training for; and I'll shut my hole and keep pedaling.
Be blessed, be safe.

4 January 2009

Made a great compromise tonight; I set my laptop in front of my bike/trainer and I got to ride while watching "X-Men 2" with my son. I couldn't ride the whole movie, been off the bike too long. But, I spun for an hour and then sat with the boy and enjoyed the rest of the flick. Managed to push out 15 miles and had a good time doing it. I want to spend a lot more time on my trainer, so I just may get to see a few more movies; ah, the art of multi-tasking!
Be blessed, be safe!

2 January 2009

I read several biking blogs, most of which inspire and shame me all at the same time. One which I read, at http://arcticglass.blogspot.com/ , is a young lady in Alaska, who is tougher than nails! While not daring to dream of some of the extemes she has endured (check her out!) she is one of several biker/bloggers to track her mileage. Therefore, I shall publish my (piddly) mileage for 2008, with the goal of totally blowing them away in 2009!

January 104.11
February 101.04
March 44.21
April 342.38
May 325.37
June 451.51
July 301.75
August 178.03
September 187.43
October 82.46
November 32.67
December 22.87
Total 2173.93 miles for 2008.

In my defense, I spent the first several months of '08 trying to finish nursing school (graduated May!), passing NCLEX (successful, 1st try, June!), and orienting to my new job as an Emergency Nurse at the only Level 1 Trauma Center in the Midlands of SC (finished middle of November!); so, I have been busy. But, now that all this trivial nonsense :) is out of the way, I am ready to ride!
Be blessed, be safe.

Happy New Year!

Hey, the New Year is here and it's time to start fresh! I have been planning on this and you know what happens when you plan? Something else happens! I got my trainer for Christmas (sweet!), worked all night New Year's Eve, then woke up sick! So, no ride on NY Day :( .
I did, however, make my weight goal for NYD, how about that? I actually managed to DROP a few pounds over Christmas. Yeah, I don't believe it either, but it's true. So, I am starting my year at goal, with the plan to focus on weight loss through January and February, and then in March I will head for the hills! I want to lose 35 pounds by May 18 and finish the 2009 Assault on Mt. Mitchell in 10 hours or less.
All I have to do now is recover from this bug I have and get some strength for pedaling. It'll come.
Be blessed, be safe!