11/12 behind us for this year we label 2007

We love to measure things. It's the competitive nature that we have.

I dread wintertime. I know it's necessary. I should embrass it I know. I'm hoping maybe this winter I can. I've battled asthma for years and cold air would lock up my bronchials bigtime. But I haven't smoked any cigarettes in over 18 weeks. I've been cycling and running. So hoping that maybe I could try skiing this winter, if the weather gets cold enough for long enough. You just never know what winter will bring to this part of the planet.

Got my bike, shoes, pedals, trainer, etc today. Took the day off from training. Stayed up too late last night. I'm hoping that this is gonna keep a smile on my face for sometime to come. I just hope I'm not cryin come Monday. The little bit I was on the bike in my shoes and clipped in I realised that I have some muscles that will get a workout over the next few days. Gotta get the towels washed and dried. Think there's gonna be a whole lotta sweatin' goin on this weekend!

What a great End of Week!

My Cards won their last game of the season. It's been disappointing after last year. But what an adrenaline rush and a W!

Not sure I can drag my body out of bed. It's midnight and I typically get up at 5 in office by 7. Hmmmm, have to wait and see what happens!

I just want to pick up my bike and play on it all weekend. Well, there are other things I want to play, too!

Oh yeah. I spent some of tonight plugging in my mileage into a spreadsheet from end of Aug to now. Interesting stuff. Wish there was more! There will be come Springtime!

Thank Goodness it's Friday!

Just a little disappointment

is easy enough to handle. My cycling shoes didn't make it in yesterday, so picking up the new bike is on hold until they arrive. I have to say it must be for the best for some reason I may never know.

The sun is shining brightly this morning and the skies are clear. It will be a great day, even if it is getting colder.

I've still been putting in my daily miles on my stationary while I wait for my new road bike. I've increased my time to 30 minutes and think I'll bump that up again when I get to the new bike and put it on the trainer.

Hubby asked me about my diet last night. What I'd had to eat for lunch, etc. Seems he is concerned that I'm not eating right. I told him that I don't like to eat beef more than a couple of times a week (been limiting that for over a year now) and I'm eating breakfast most mornings (kicks off your metabolism) and a good lunch. I dont' want to eat a big meal at supper time each night. Important thing is either having healthy snacks or no snacks.

Hope I don't have to wait too terribly long. :-)

Some Randomness while waiting for my new bike

I get to pick up my new bike tomorrow after work! I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve.

So, I'm sitting here feeling like a big slug. It's that time of the month (which by the way needs to end 'cause it holds no useful purpose any longer).

I've sat here for the last 3 nights and craved and talked about having one of those new Dark Snickers or one of my favorites, Midnight Milky Way. Hubby has a bowlful of chocolate something or other ice cream every single night. He offers to fix me a bowl and I say "I'd love one, but no thank you".

When you stop smoking it is so easy to continue that hand to mouth motion with food instead of cigarettes. I used Dum Dums while I was on Chantix and for the next couple of weeks. I still grab at least one every day or so.

I drove to the little country store around 6:30, after I rode my stationary. I bought each one of those candy bars. I ate dinner and had one. I'm trying to convince myself I can't have 2 candy bars in one day!

I've been good and am working very hard to stay focussed on this fitness regimen. I don't think I'm totally overboard with watching what I eat, 'cause I am not going to give up my beer at night. Crazy, I choose beer over a second dark chocolate candy bar during that time of the month. Actually, I choose beer over most of the junk food I used to eat all of the time. :-)

Wish me luck, only 55 minutes til bedtime. This time tomorrow I'll have my new bike and placed on the trainer in my basement. I'm a lucky girl!

Feel all giddy, like a little kid

I ordered my bike, shoes, pedals, and trainer yesterday. Have an appointment to pick everything up on Wednesday and have the bike 'fit' to my body. I was happy to keep everything close to what I set as a budget - $1,000. Sounds awfully extravagant, but then I look at some of those bike prices and realise what an investment you can make. I've since thought about my purchase and still need to get a rack for my car and would like to have a gadget to put on my trainer, keep track of speed/distance. Friend told me that's not necessary, which I guess is true.

I could spend a small fortune with this fitness stuff. Apparel is so expensive. Now, I've never been one to worry about 'looking the look' when doing stuff. But a decent pair of bike shorts is $50, a good sports bra is $40, a pair of lightweight gloves with grips is $25. We don't need to add all the other garments that wick away moisture, like socks, shirts, jackets, leggins, etc.

Feel guilty, because I didn't ride yesterday. So, I've gone out today and ran the neighborhood 2 laps in 20 minutes with a 4 minute cool down walk. Plan on getting on the bike indoors in a bit.

I'd love to have some lofty goal in front of me. Say a triathlon in X amount of time. But after running the neighborhood and reaffirming my unfitness, I am humbled and happy to be tobacco free and working on it. My breathing is still laboured when I run, that may never change. I seem to remember having a lot of tightness even in the HS track days. I don't get that feeling while riding, guess it's just not the same cardio workout.

Addendum: got on the bike intending on 25 minute ride. As the end of the ride was approaching remembered an earlier email exchange with a friend, who loves to say TITS (time in the saddle). Doesn't understand why people measure miles. I think we all like to measure something. Mileage, time, and speed have always made the hard statistics. I worry if I only log time, I may not be getting the intensity I should. Anyway, I logged 6.8 in the 25 minutes and then decided to go for 10 miles or 45 minutes, whichever came first. I got the full 10 miles in 38 minutes, which cracks me up, cause I felt like I pushed really hard the first 25. I didn't slow as much as I thought I would in the last 13 minutes. I'm starting to get very juiced about bringing home the new bike and getting setup. I hope I have no problems walking on Thursday or Friday. Once I get those pedals, I'll be working new muscle groups. Hello gluteus maximus!

Next post is probably gonna be less about this fitness stuff and more contemplative, retrospective, or maybe not.

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!

We spent the morning at home, with no need to rush, read the paper online, watched an old movie on TV, etc. Then I started cooking the one dish I made around 11:00.

The temps dropped all day, so I didn't try to get outside and run. I did get 6.8 miles on the stationary which felt good when I finished. Then I soaked in the jacuzzi.

It turned out to be a nice and quiet Thanksgiving for us. My sister hosted along with her 2 sons. Mom came, along with my brother and his youngest daughter and then hubby and me. No one else, neither of my 2 or my brother's 2 oldest. (Unbeknownst to me, I behaved badly before my trip to Europe and so my oldest is unhappy with me). Hubby texted the youngest happy turkey day wishes. She texted back that she was cooking a feast, her first turkey! I'm happy for her and sad for me that I missed not being there to witness it.

Today, I slept in til 8. Vegged online a bit and then rode my stationary. Temps didn't go past 40F today and started in low 30s. I took off a little after noon and went to a cycle shop. Talked to a friendly and knowledgeable young man about entry level road bikes. I started to order, but decided to come home and let it sink in overnight. Gonna get hubby to go with me in the morning and get it ordered. I need shoes and clipless pedals, look into a trunk rack for my car, and a training stand for riding indoors.

I stopped by Dick's Sporting Goods, thinking I'd purchase some running/riding gear for cold weaterh. Geez! The top was $49.99 and the pants were $49.99 on sale. I think I'm shopping online a little later. I do want to have warm clothes that wick away the sweat and moisture from the skin, but $100 and still not have your ears or hands covered and not thinking about a windbreaker or hoodie, too! I don't care to make any fashion statements. I mean, I'm gonna be sweating and huffing and puffing for goodness' sake.

:-) I'm terribly excited about getting a nice bike to ride. Weather is supposed to be back close to 60F next weekend! They said if we get everything ordered, all should be here by the weekend. Wouldn't that be just perfect?!

What a fantastic morning!

The temperature was 60F at 5am this morning. I got out of bed about 4:50, fixed a pot of coffee, checked email, packed my bag and headed downtown. I exited the office building at 6:10 and enjoyed a balmy run to the waterfront and back. I ran 2 blocks and walked one all the way to the park and part of the way back. I finished the last 6 blocks with a run 1, walk 1. I felt very good with this run, not terribly out of breath like times past. I wish my BFF could've joined me. I'm sure we'll get together soon enough.

Hope to get some miles on the stationary tonight. Though I'd love to get out on the road, it will be too dark to chance it when I get home.

It's still overcast right now, but the high today is forecasted for 75F. We all know not to get too comfy with these temps. It will be snowing on Thursday afternoon I am sure. Guess I should invest in some running clothes for cooler temps and some gloves, too. There is a Turkey trot early Thursday morning here. A short run (2 miler) a long run (5 miler) and a 2 mile fitness walk. I'd love to do that if I had the right clothes (and it doesn't rain).

I'm so glad to be home and starting to get back to a regimen. I feel so much more energized and alive.

Here's to a terrific Tuesday!

I got home about 4:30. It was 73F and gorgeous. I started the grill and got on my stationary. Put in 6.8 miles in 25 minutes and burned 246 calories. It was difficult for me. Too long since last ride for that length and/or intensity. I felt great when I was finished, though. Legs weren't too hard or sore. I kept pushing every few minutes.

Tomorrow is a half day for work. May just work from home, so nice to have that flexibility. Morning is supposed to start at 58F, so I'd love to get out and run the neighborhood early. If it's not raining I'll ride outside, if it is I'll ride indoors. Need to make up for missing too much while in Europe. I also need to make sure I don't add fat layers this weekend with all of the food that will be in my face.

Friday - I want to shop for a new road bike.