It's Action August! I made it up over the course of the day yesterday. In order to participate in this month-long challenge, you simply need to do some kind of physical activity for 10 minutes each day in August. Days with more than 10 minutes are strongly encouraged, but each and every day must have at least 10 minutes.
"So what kind of physical activity?" you ask. It's all up to you. You can go to the gym or ride your bike or just walk around the block. If you like, you can even aggressively vacuum the rugs (my rugs, come on over here). Just as long as you are honest with yourself that you were "on purpose" moving around in some fashion for 10 minutes straight. Or more. Sometimes, go for more.
Brilliant huh?
Here's the catch. If you realize it is time for bed and you have forgotten to do your Action August, you have to stand next to your bed and march in place for 10 minutes. I bet after a day or two of that, you will remember to take a walk somewhere far more interesting the next day.
So join me. Just ignore the days you missed. Or add on some minutes later. But as of today, just move it.
You may be wondering how I did on day one. Well, I thought up the plan during the day while I was at work then had to go straight to meet mom for a garden tour. In the car, I called P and told her the plan. "You're on," she replied. So, what can a girl to do when she is stuck in a car and will not be home until nearly bedtime? Can you guess it? Ten minutes of...butt crunches! All the way down 696, I was crunching. And judging by the soreness in my tush, they must have worked.
ps - Don't you love the name? I was originally going to go for Ass-shrinker August but this seemed a bit more public-discussion friendly.
Showing posts with label training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label training. Show all posts
Thursday, August 02, 2012
Friday, November 18, 2011
Spin bunnies
In spin class, it is quite obvious who is a year-round spinner and who also rides outdoors from their spinning style.
The spinners are bouncing up and down, shifting side to side and never still on their bikes. While it looks fun and probably burns a few more calories, if they ever hit the road they could be on the ground in about a second.
The bicyclers, on the other hand, are much less inclined to pop up and down and only occasionally shift from side to side a bit. Also, they often wear jerseys instead of cute little tanks. Because lots of pockets are necessary to hold the little locker key.
Then there's me. Completely in-line with the bike, absolutely stable, at most times absolutely nothing moving but the legs. If anyone was noticing, it would be so obvious. My spin style screams Tandem Stoker.
The spinners are bouncing up and down, shifting side to side and never still on their bikes. While it looks fun and probably burns a few more calories, if they ever hit the road they could be on the ground in about a second.
The bicyclers, on the other hand, are much less inclined to pop up and down and only occasionally shift from side to side a bit. Also, they often wear jerseys instead of cute little tanks. Because lots of pockets are necessary to hold the little locker key.
Then there's me. Completely in-line with the bike, absolutely stable, at most times absolutely nothing moving but the legs. If anyone was noticing, it would be so obvious. My spin style screams Tandem Stoker.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Training - Finally!
Sooooo...you were thinking this was all about my quest to be a supergirl and sharing my training in the process. And you were noticing that there seemed to be a lack of, well, any training. That, my friend, is about to change.
We are actually well into our training for Seattle to Portland (200 miles in 2 days - ugh!) But the weather has not been cooperating much at all. We have been having some gorgeous days - during the week. And then thunderstorms and winds gusting up to 40 mph to celebrate the weekend. We made it all of 5 miles once when M decided it was too nasty out. And if he doesn't think it is riding weather, it must be absolutely horrid. I've seen him head out to ride in a blizzard.
But, finally, this weekend - sun!
So here is a summary of the training:
Saturday: 67.8 miles. Let's just say 68 shall we?
M was thinking of racing the 6/12 hours of Stoney on Saturday. But Friday, I got it into my head that I really just wanted to ride the tandem. I called him and he said if he didn't race, he would really torture me on the tandem. For some reason, I agreed.
When we started at the lovely hour of 9 am due to someone slacking around and making us late. Not it! (If you say not it, even if you were it, you are no longer it right?) Since I had agreed to pretty much give up all control of this ride, the route was planned by M. The idea was to go on 13 Mile to Meadowbrook then wind into Northville. From there, we would head all the way down to the other end of Hines to visit the gardens, come back to Northville, then go around Walled Lake (the long way) and head home. Doesn't this sound like a LONG bike ride?
Later M told me that he was worried at the beginning because I was not really helping at all. But after one stop to change gloves (yeah, I brought extras) and fix my seat, I decided to improve my mood and we made it to Northville without incident. At this point, I was thinking, "ALL the way down Hines? Really?" but the problem is that the cute little community gardens are ALL the way down Hines. And I love the gardens. I will pretty much agree to anything to get M to ride the gardens route. You go until Hines is done and slip onto the bike path. Over the river and through the woods, past the parking lot and around the corner are these funny little plots, each fenced off with something different. Handmade scarecrows watch over every veggie you can imagine, lots of weeds and random little flowers tucked in too. This is where we get to stop and rest and I wander around to see what is growing this week. Warning - if you ride with me, you will eventually be forced into a garden walk in the middle of your bike ride. It is unavoidable.
Surprisingly, I was still pretty energetic at this point. We hopped back on the bike and discussed (negotiated) the further biking plan (cracking this woman up in her garden bed - wish I remember what was said). We finished out the path which dumps you out on Michigan Ave. You turn right away to go one street over and have a little tour of Dearborn. And to my delight, this. Like hundreds of dogs, all on their best behavior and strutting their stuff.
We then wound our way to Hines and headed back. Into the wind. And my butt started to hurt. I told M that I thought I needed to stop to eat something and he said to wait and I pouted. Which means I pushed much less hard on the pedals. Up the hill. But M was determined to get to the stop he had designated and was not giving in. I threatened to pass out and fall off the bike. Nope. Then we got to the stop and I pouted a bit more until I saw this cute little bird who was feeding her babies and we had to be friends again so I could show M the bird. Also, I ate an apple which always improves my mood. Also, M decided I really needed to eat some more substantial food so we should stop in Northville to get lunch. And gluten-free lemon cake from Tuscan Cafe. See, I had to be nice after that.
We made it to Northville. I am not going to pretend I didn't start having a little discussion about my butt and how it was tired of the bike seat. And I doubt M would pretend that he didn't just ignore me. We were at 50+ miles and the longest training ride we had done this year so far was just under 40. So I was getting a bit tired.
Before breakfast, we stopped into Town & Country bike shop to check on the Cadabra. It's a long story, but M won it from Kona (through the Fat Cyclist) about a year ago. Apparently there were production or shipping or we never really figured it out delays. The rep kept saying the bike was coming and we kept waiting. You'll never guess - the bike had finally arrived! Of course, we couldn't take it with us since we were already on a bike, so we said we would come back later. An here's the best part - over lunch, M said we should go back the shortest route so he could hop in the van and come back to get the bike. HAHA! Saved by the bike!
We still had a bit of a ride in front of us, plus a stop at CVS to pick up Epson salts for my planned long recovery bath, but we made it. We hopped in the van and went right back to Northville (weird) and fetched the new cool bike. I got the have the first ride in the parking lot. It has a full suspension and is all bouncy. Cool!
Than, the biggest surprise of all, I went home and didn't fall over and die. I gardened until it was dark.
Sunday: 24.something. Let's just say 25.
We arrived at the TNT team meeting place at just before 8. The team was not riding until 8:30, but M had to work later so we were starting off early and cutting it short. We rode for an hour when I decided I was just done. In no uncertain terms. Apparently my bike shorts had rubbed on my butt cheek the day before in a weird way and I was not pleased (TMI?) And we still had to go all the way back. I felt guilty until M said he hadn't thought he was going to get me to ride as far as he had, so I decided that he had gotten a bonus and we headed back. We passed the team going in the opposite direction and everyone yelled go team. Yep, we are a cult, but a good one.
I went home and napped. A lot!
Then went to buy a plant. Which apparently means three plants and two little 4-packs of herbs.
So there you have it. Training. And I have heard a rumor that there will be more next weekend.
We are actually well into our training for Seattle to Portland (200 miles in 2 days - ugh!) But the weather has not been cooperating much at all. We have been having some gorgeous days - during the week. And then thunderstorms and winds gusting up to 40 mph to celebrate the weekend. We made it all of 5 miles once when M decided it was too nasty out. And if he doesn't think it is riding weather, it must be absolutely horrid. I've seen him head out to ride in a blizzard.
But, finally, this weekend - sun!
So here is a summary of the training:
Saturday: 67.8 miles. Let's just say 68 shall we?
M was thinking of racing the 6/12 hours of Stoney on Saturday. But Friday, I got it into my head that I really just wanted to ride the tandem. I called him and he said if he didn't race, he would really torture me on the tandem. For some reason, I agreed.
When we started at the lovely hour of 9 am due to someone slacking around and making us late. Not it! (If you say not it, even if you were it, you are no longer it right?) Since I had agreed to pretty much give up all control of this ride, the route was planned by M. The idea was to go on 13 Mile to Meadowbrook then wind into Northville. From there, we would head all the way down to the other end of Hines to visit the gardens, come back to Northville, then go around Walled Lake (the long way) and head home. Doesn't this sound like a LONG bike ride?
Later M told me that he was worried at the beginning because I was not really helping at all. But after one stop to change gloves (yeah, I brought extras) and fix my seat, I decided to improve my mood and we made it to Northville without incident. At this point, I was thinking, "ALL the way down Hines? Really?" but the problem is that the cute little community gardens are ALL the way down Hines. And I love the gardens. I will pretty much agree to anything to get M to ride the gardens route. You go until Hines is done and slip onto the bike path. Over the river and through the woods, past the parking lot and around the corner are these funny little plots, each fenced off with something different. Handmade scarecrows watch over every veggie you can imagine, lots of weeds and random little flowers tucked in too. This is where we get to stop and rest and I wander around to see what is growing this week. Warning - if you ride with me, you will eventually be forced into a garden walk in the middle of your bike ride. It is unavoidable.
Surprisingly, I was still pretty energetic at this point. We hopped back on the bike and discussed (negotiated) the further biking plan (cracking this woman up in her garden bed - wish I remember what was said). We finished out the path which dumps you out on Michigan Ave. You turn right away to go one street over and have a little tour of Dearborn. And to my delight, this. Like hundreds of dogs, all on their best behavior and strutting their stuff.
We then wound our way to Hines and headed back. Into the wind. And my butt started to hurt. I told M that I thought I needed to stop to eat something and he said to wait and I pouted. Which means I pushed much less hard on the pedals. Up the hill. But M was determined to get to the stop he had designated and was not giving in. I threatened to pass out and fall off the bike. Nope. Then we got to the stop and I pouted a bit more until I saw this cute little bird who was feeding her babies and we had to be friends again so I could show M the bird. Also, I ate an apple which always improves my mood. Also, M decided I really needed to eat some more substantial food so we should stop in Northville to get lunch. And gluten-free lemon cake from Tuscan Cafe. See, I had to be nice after that.
We made it to Northville. I am not going to pretend I didn't start having a little discussion about my butt and how it was tired of the bike seat. And I doubt M would pretend that he didn't just ignore me. We were at 50+ miles and the longest training ride we had done this year so far was just under 40. So I was getting a bit tired.
Before breakfast, we stopped into Town & Country bike shop to check on the Cadabra. It's a long story, but M won it from Kona (through the Fat Cyclist) about a year ago. Apparently there were production or shipping or we never really figured it out delays. The rep kept saying the bike was coming and we kept waiting. You'll never guess - the bike had finally arrived! Of course, we couldn't take it with us since we were already on a bike, so we said we would come back later. An here's the best part - over lunch, M said we should go back the shortest route so he could hop in the van and come back to get the bike. HAHA! Saved by the bike!
We still had a bit of a ride in front of us, plus a stop at CVS to pick up Epson salts for my planned long recovery bath, but we made it. We hopped in the van and went right back to Northville (weird) and fetched the new cool bike. I got the have the first ride in the parking lot. It has a full suspension and is all bouncy. Cool!
Than, the biggest surprise of all, I went home and didn't fall over and die. I gardened until it was dark.
Sunday: 24.something. Let's just say 25.
We arrived at the TNT team meeting place at just before 8. The team was not riding until 8:30, but M had to work later so we were starting off early and cutting it short. We rode for an hour when I decided I was just done. In no uncertain terms. Apparently my bike shorts had rubbed on my butt cheek the day before in a weird way and I was not pleased (TMI?) And we still had to go all the way back. I felt guilty until M said he hadn't thought he was going to get me to ride as far as he had, so I decided that he had gotten a bonus and we headed back. We passed the team going in the opposite direction and everyone yelled go team. Yep, we are a cult, but a good one.
I went home and napped. A lot!
Then went to buy a plant. Which apparently means three plants and two little 4-packs of herbs.
So there you have it. Training. And I have heard a rumor that there will be more next weekend.
Monday, April 05, 2010
Crabby
In case you were tempted to think that I am happy all the time, you are wrong. Right now, I am crabby. Here is why:
1. Poison ivy on my ankles
2. Poison ivy on my arm
3. No more little cupboard with itch medicine in cute little packets
4. Could have my own little cupboard, but M won't hang it up because it is not repainted
5. Tired of school until 10 pm three days a week
6. Assuming in May, it will be four days a week so am extra tired in anticipation
7. But no one from CCS has returned my many emails telling me when the next semester starts, so cannot make any plans because I don't know when school starts again
8. Should be sleeping because have to work tomorrow
9. Can't sleep because awake from school and itchy
10. Everyone else is going on fabulous vacations and I have no money to travel
11. Cuz it is all going to pay for school until 10 pm all the time
12. And I couldn't even make travel plans since I don't know when school starts anyway
13. Not that I could afford it
14. And have no idea if, after all this school, I can get a job anyway
15. Cuz I'm old
16. And found a white hair the other day
17. Along with wrinkles
18. And fat
19. Which I assume has multiplied quite nicely today due to eating all those cream eggs
20. There are no cream eggs left to eat
21. And the chance of ever having time to work off the fat is slim to none
22. Which is a big problem since I am supposed to ride 200 miles in two days in July
23. On the back of a tandem so won't M be surprised when I collapse halfway from lack of training
24. Probably not - he has already noticed my lack of training
25. And commented - though may not be doing that again
26. And I have to wear a long-sleeved short to work tomorrow due to scratches on my arms from the tree removal this weekend - which compliment the poison ivy well
27. And I am pretty sure most of those damn trees are going to grow back in and give me trouble for years - because that is what they do according to the magical Internet
28. Plus, if I do get rid of them, deer will probably eat the new plants
29. Which I can't get anyway, due to no money and no time
30. So why bother?
See, I am an absolute joy to be around right now. At 11:35 pm when I should be asleep. M just rolled over and commented that the typing woke him - excuse me while I go be a crab in person.
oh and
31. Also, my toenails are not painted
1. Poison ivy on my ankles
2. Poison ivy on my arm
3. No more little cupboard with itch medicine in cute little packets
4. Could have my own little cupboard, but M won't hang it up because it is not repainted
5. Tired of school until 10 pm three days a week
6. Assuming in May, it will be four days a week so am extra tired in anticipation
7. But no one from CCS has returned my many emails telling me when the next semester starts, so cannot make any plans because I don't know when school starts again
8. Should be sleeping because have to work tomorrow
9. Can't sleep because awake from school and itchy
10. Everyone else is going on fabulous vacations and I have no money to travel
11. Cuz it is all going to pay for school until 10 pm all the time
12. And I couldn't even make travel plans since I don't know when school starts anyway
13. Not that I could afford it
14. And have no idea if, after all this school, I can get a job anyway
15. Cuz I'm old
16. And found a white hair the other day
17. Along with wrinkles
18. And fat
19. Which I assume has multiplied quite nicely today due to eating all those cream eggs
20. There are no cream eggs left to eat
21. And the chance of ever having time to work off the fat is slim to none
22. Which is a big problem since I am supposed to ride 200 miles in two days in July
23. On the back of a tandem so won't M be surprised when I collapse halfway from lack of training
24. Probably not - he has already noticed my lack of training
25. And commented - though may not be doing that again
26. And I have to wear a long-sleeved short to work tomorrow due to scratches on my arms from the tree removal this weekend - which compliment the poison ivy well
27. And I am pretty sure most of those damn trees are going to grow back in and give me trouble for years - because that is what they do according to the magical Internet
28. Plus, if I do get rid of them, deer will probably eat the new plants
29. Which I can't get anyway, due to no money and no time
30. So why bother?
See, I am an absolute joy to be around right now. At 11:35 pm when I should be asleep. M just rolled over and commented that the typing woke him - excuse me while I go be a crab in person.
oh and
31. Also, my toenails are not painted
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Un-Training
A fabulous time was had by all at the first indoor cycle training for the Summer 2010 TNT MI Bike Team. At least, that's what they tell me. Yeah, um, I was in bed. Apparently, I told M to go without me and he actually listened. This never happens. But I am not the most pleasant person in the morning (ask my mother, I have never been, ever), so I can't blame M. I wouldn't want to have to wake me up and drag me to training. Wait, that's exactly what I should have done...
This means tomorrow I will have to ride on the stationary bike all by my lonely self. At the gym with lots of other people who sometimes grunt while lifting weights and blow their noses while they are riding their stationary bike. In a really gross way. That can penetrate through my personal cloud of iPod music. Because I can never get that one bike that is upstairs near the running ring (and not near the grunting) no matter how many mental signals I send to the old guy to be off it when I get out of the locker room.
I may as well ride, because I'll be at the gym already. For the past four months, I have been employed as a Campaign Coordinator with TNT. I refer to my position as the Weekend Marketing Girl since it better describes what I have been doing. The day after I was laid off, I was contacted by the then director of TNT who said she heard the bad news and wanted to let me know about an opportunity to do promotions for two months at race expos. She encouraged me to send my resume to the person doing the interviewing. It sounded like a good plan, something to keep me busy and bring in a little bit of income while keeping the week free for job hunting. Resume, interview, adorable Thank You card and I got the job. Possibly because I have a pink sequined cowboy hat with a tiara that I promised to wear to draw attention to myself. Two months turned into four months. I've spent the past 15 weekends hanging out at various races, expos, farmers' markets, parades and wherever else we could find, promoting the TNT program and telling people about my experiences with the Team. At first, it was a little scary. While people tell me they think I could talk to anyone, I was rather intimidated by the whole thing. Once I told myself to get over it, I've got to say, I loved nearly every minute. I've talked to hundreds, maybe thousands, of strangers about a cause I believe in and heard their stories of how they have been touched by blood cancers. People are now coming up to me and asking if they met me at previous events (it's the hat). Hopefully that means they also remember TNT. Sometimes it made me sad too. At one expo, a woman came up and said her father had been diagnosed with lymphoma two days ago and she needed to do something to feel like she was helping. We hugged for a long time.
This is my last weekend. For my final, for now, appearance as The Girl in the Pink Hat, I'll be at Livonia Rec Center during the Indoor Tri. Handing out Power Bars, mini Body Glides and lots of stories about TNT. I'm going to miss it, but it is time. Keep in mind, I have been at races and such nearly every weekend since October. And I have to be there to set up before registration. Which is often really early in the morning. If you can't remember how much I love early mornings, go back to the first paragraph. Plus, now that training is starting, I need weekends free. To wake up early for that - or at least try.
So, why am I so into TNT? Why do I force myself to wake up at insane hours on the weekend? Why do I use my free time to raise money, train with my team and even take a job working for them? Last weekend at the Plymouth Ice Festival, I was joined at the booth by some volunteers - Jewels and his girlfriend Diane - from a past bike team. Jewels had been fighting his battle with cancer at the time of our ride and was our honored hero. He told me he was now one year into remission. He looked so fabulous and I couldn't stop telling him so ("Everyone says that. I must have really looked like sh*t back then." "No, but you looked tired." "Well, I was!") That's why I keep doing it. Because I can.
This means tomorrow I will have to ride on the stationary bike all by my lonely self. At the gym with lots of other people who sometimes grunt while lifting weights and blow their noses while they are riding their stationary bike. In a really gross way. That can penetrate through my personal cloud of iPod music. Because I can never get that one bike that is upstairs near the running ring (and not near the grunting) no matter how many mental signals I send to the old guy to be off it when I get out of the locker room.
I may as well ride, because I'll be at the gym already. For the past four months, I have been employed as a Campaign Coordinator with TNT. I refer to my position as the Weekend Marketing Girl since it better describes what I have been doing. The day after I was laid off, I was contacted by the then director of TNT who said she heard the bad news and wanted to let me know about an opportunity to do promotions for two months at race expos. She encouraged me to send my resume to the person doing the interviewing. It sounded like a good plan, something to keep me busy and bring in a little bit of income while keeping the week free for job hunting. Resume, interview, adorable Thank You card and I got the job. Possibly because I have a pink sequined cowboy hat with a tiara that I promised to wear to draw attention to myself. Two months turned into four months. I've spent the past 15 weekends hanging out at various races, expos, farmers' markets, parades and wherever else we could find, promoting the TNT program and telling people about my experiences with the Team. At first, it was a little scary. While people tell me they think I could talk to anyone, I was rather intimidated by the whole thing. Once I told myself to get over it, I've got to say, I loved nearly every minute. I've talked to hundreds, maybe thousands, of strangers about a cause I believe in and heard their stories of how they have been touched by blood cancers. People are now coming up to me and asking if they met me at previous events (it's the hat). Hopefully that means they also remember TNT. Sometimes it made me sad too. At one expo, a woman came up and said her father had been diagnosed with lymphoma two days ago and she needed to do something to feel like she was helping. We hugged for a long time.
This is my last weekend. For my final, for now, appearance as The Girl in the Pink Hat, I'll be at Livonia Rec Center during the Indoor Tri. Handing out Power Bars, mini Body Glides and lots of stories about TNT. I'm going to miss it, but it is time. Keep in mind, I have been at races and such nearly every weekend since October. And I have to be there to set up before registration. Which is often really early in the morning. If you can't remember how much I love early mornings, go back to the first paragraph. Plus, now that training is starting, I need weekends free. To wake up early for that - or at least try.
So, why am I so into TNT? Why do I force myself to wake up at insane hours on the weekend? Why do I use my free time to raise money, train with my team and even take a job working for them? Last weekend at the Plymouth Ice Festival, I was joined at the booth by some volunteers - Jewels and his girlfriend Diane - from a past bike team. Jewels had been fighting his battle with cancer at the time of our ride and was our honored hero. He told me he was now one year into remission. He looked so fabulous and I couldn't stop telling him so ("Everyone says that. I must have really looked like sh*t back then." "No, but you looked tired." "Well, I was!") That's why I keep doing it. Because I can.
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