I’ve always been a “bit” active, belonging to a gym for 25 years, going through phases where I would get into pretty good shape and then something would happen and I would let it go. It seemed like was always trying to “get back into it” In 2007, I had my first real injury when I stepped in a Groundhog’s hole (apropos for today) and snapped my Achilles tendon. Needless to say, that was a game changer. I spent months recovering from the surgery and rehabbing. It was horrible. I felt sorry for myself and just didn’t take care of my diet or exercise (I could have gotten some but chose to just do nothing) Finally, in 2009, I had had enough and started on a serious effort to get back in shape. The first thing that I did was changed my exercise time from post work to pre work. My boss at the time, Heather, had been prodding me to go early in the morning. She swore by it. I swore by my coffee and the New York Times. I don’t remember why I finally decided to try the morning routine but she was right, there is no better time. It definitely requires adjustments including going to bed by 9:30 PM and having all my clothing, work items and lunch in the car the night before but, it is worth the adjustments. I started in with weight training and elliptical workouts and dropped the 20 lbs I had picked up. Boredom, however, was starting to set in.
Around that same time mid 2010, I took a seat on the Board of Directors of Youth Outlook http://youth-outlook.org At my first meeting there was a lot of discussion about Team Youth Outlook and the Ride for AIDS Chicago 2010. I knew it was a big bike ride and there was fundraising but I didn’t pay too much attention. The RFAC ended and I went to a thank you BBQ for Team Youth Outlook. As I talked to the team members, I got excited about maybe riding my bike 200 miles over two days (a double century) and being part of Team Youth Outlook and the RFAC 2011. So, I signed on. The team trained throughout the cold, rainy spring of 2011 and I discovered that I had it in me to do the ride. I was actually one of the speedier ones on the team riding my old, 1985, Nishiki road bike. Heck, the thing was almost brand new as I had never used it. In July 2011, the RFAC took place and I completed most of it. It was very, very hot and humid and I misjudged my electrolyte intake and cramped up the first day 70 miles into it. The second day, which was actually hotter, I did the whole thing. Never knew I had it in me.
So this year starts to come into view and I needed a new goal. I find that a solid goal really keeps me in line. I had been running a little, getting knee injuries, and then running a little more. That does NOT work. Consistent, focused, planned training seems to be the only way to really escape injuries. Focus on form, not time. Focus on the body, not speed or distance. Running is strangely addictive and I love it. Bike riding is nice but you have to concentrate so hard on the traffic that it is hard to take a moment and look around. Running allows for more observation and is more meditative. I had run 5K’s and wanted more. So with all that said, 26.2 seemed like an obvious goal.
Punxsutawney Phil says 6 weeks of winter. I say 6 more weeks of training without heat!
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