With Kiddo#4 in school, I am now blessed with two whole hours to myself four days a week.
Just think about that for a minute. Relish that.
Two hours a day when I’m not concerned about whether someone’s sticking crayons in his nose and running around shouting “Take me to your leader, O Luminous Mom!”
So I’m biking again. I put myself back on the bike, and I head out. My goal at the start of the summer was to improve my stamina. I can do laps around the loop here (exactly one mile) or I can head out for my short-form bike ride (to the cemetery or through the park) or I can do the long-form bike ride. (That’s the one I say is completely uphill, like a mobius route.) I’ve also started biking up the state route until it ends, then turning back.
Okay, so since I’m supposed to have an insightful takeaway for each blog post, even if that’s only “Wow, she’s whacked,” here are my bullet points.
- It is easier to do a huge bike ride if you break it off in milestones. When I start the ride, I know there’s no possible way I can do that whole long ride. But I can make it to that mailbox. And then when I’m at that mailbox, I look ahead and I can probably make it to that curve. And so on. I’m a wimp and could never bike that whole distance, but only a total loser wouldn’t be able to make it to that tree.
- If you bike 2.5 miles away from your house, you pretty much have to bike five miles.
- Make the ride modular. After you’ve done three and a half miles, it’s easy to say, “I’ll just swing around the park rather than go straight home.” (Adds a mile.) After four and a half, it’s easy to say, “I’ll just take the loop rather than go straight home.” (Adds a mile.) Do that often enough and suddenly you’ve exercised.
I know, I know — bullet points and exercise. It’s almost like we’re being all educational here. I’m sorry. I’ll be back to my snarky self tomorrow.
That’s what I’ve learned to do while running, if I can’t just drop out and let the mind go… and I’ve managed to explore some fun territory I wouldn’t have if I’d just stayed on “the route” – the dam in town, little roads along the lake… It’s fun AND exercise. Who’da thunk it? 🙂
And you have a mobius route too, eh? Funny how those things crop up…
My Patient Husband swears it’s not really all uphill, but it feels like that, and the worst parts of the uphill are at the end of the loop. :-b
Milestones seem to make it easier for me when I’m on the treadmill. I set it for intervals and it seems to make the time go faster.
I’m a little worried that if/when I have to switch to a treadmill or a stationary bike that I’ll give up way too soon. Maybe intervals are the way to go for that as well.
Intervals help on the treadmill. I hate the treadmill. I would run outside every day if it didn’t ever get cold.
I completely agree with your point that if you bike 2.5 miles away from the house, you have to go five miles. That’s part of what makes running outside easier.
Intervals are awesome. I listen to podcasts while on the treadmill or walking. Just one more interview… Mom used to read on her stationary bike; I think she went for time rather than speed. Look up “walking desk”, where they set up a desk over the treadmill and walk leisurely all day.