Quote Originally Posted by Crankin View Post
Well, I do lots of short rides. I mean really short, 10-15 miles. One day a week I usually do a short ride at 5:30 AM, as I can't commute any more.
If I get one medium-ish ride during the week and one longer ride on the weekend, I'm good, plus a couple of really short ones.
I've lost my riding partner (Hirakukibou) for the summer, as she is leaving on her cross country tour (the nerve of her ). It's easier for me to go out with her and do 40 miles at 6AM on Wednesdays and be back in time for my afternoon clients. If I do the group ride, it has to be a start place close to where I live and I have to skip the lunch. I will do some of these this summer, but, it stresses me.
I stopped worrying about this stuff after I was sick a few years ago. I spent one summer mostly doing errand rides and I think after that, I realized how quickly miles added up, I started doing more short rides just for fitness.
Between the rides, my classes at the gym, and some hiking, I'm good. I know I get antsy if I miss a couple of days, but sometimes, as my DH says, we want to be "regular" people.
Out of curiosity, Crankin, how many hours do you work a week? It sounds like your schedule is, in the very least, more flexible than your standard 9 to 5. Not that I think that it's my job that's holding me back--because I've ridden plenty in years with a standard job--but I do envy your ability to ride at least one weekday morning. I'm taking better advantage this summer of a work-from-home option, but thus far, I haven't used either the time I save in the morning with my commute or my lunch hour to work out.

I agree with you that a life change--in your instance, an illness and in mine, a move and marriage--can sometimes change the way you look at your fitness routine. I rely a lot more on running, resistance training, yoga and other shorter workouts than I once did. I'm riding less, but honestly, I'm probably stronger in some respects now. My main goal is consistency week to week, versus bragging rights over a century ride. It's not that I don't miss those long rides and high mileage weeks, but I've had to revise my goals so that they aren't self-defeating and can be more flexibly implemented.

For me, a fitness routine is great and has served me very well at times, but when that routine ends up invoking depression and frustration when I just can't stick to it, then I need to be more flexible with myself because it otherwise can become self-defeating. I keep coming back to my fitness goals with a few tweaks here and there, and that's what matters most over the long haul.