Anyone else feel this way?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I think the point is really that no matter what our shapes, we all **should** be able to wear what makes us feel good without worrying much about others' opinions of how we look. That might mean tight biking shorts, baggy shorts, sarongs, whatever. "Feel good" as in physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, or in any combination.
I used to always wear lipstick and/or some kind of light face powder, felt naked and pale without it. But nowadays, makeup usually does not fit very well into my typical day anymore. Too busy having fun and living! Just jump into my riding garb in the morning, grab that sunscreen tube and slather up, go ride my bike, sweat, shower off, sweat some more, and get working while gulping cold water at my desk. I feel great not bothering with that anymore, and to tell the truth, I somehow feel more attractive anyway now because of my sunbleached hair, my "naked face" and the new glow of health I feel exuding from within.
Sure, sometimes I still put some powder and lipstick on, but now I feel just as good without it too.

[Dr. Liz]

This may be only somewhat germane, but as a Masters ski racer in the winter, we get all shapes, sizes, and ages, both men and women. Our oldest guy is 90+ and our oldest woman is 83 (and she is my hero – I SO want to be ski racing when I’m 80). Everyone wears speed suits (the skin-tight spandex thingys). Everyone. And again, we all are shapes and sizes. Yes, we’ve got the zero-body fat ex-World Cup racers, but we’ve also got the other extreme. No, a 90+ year old guy in spandex isn’t going to make the cover of GQ, but he’s out there doing it. All of us young’uns are thrilled to see him (and all of the other racers) on the course, and no, we don’t care what he looks like. We just care that he finishes.

And frankly, most of us masters racers are not exactly young (I’m 35, and am considered young - most of our racers are 45+ years old, and our most competitive age groups are the 45-70 year olds) and we are showing the effects of age and gravity. But it doesn’t matter. We all just revel in the fact that we are all out, everyone racing at whatever pace they feel comfortable, in whatever shape they are in, but sharing the experience of participating in a sport that everyone loves.

I agree that you should wear whatever you feel comfortable in. But don’t sacrifice comfort (i.e. padding in the Right Spots) for fear that you don’t Look Right. Maybe there are some jerks in the world who might make negative comments, but, frankly to h*ll with them. 99.9% of the people are just thrilled to see other people out on the road. And if you are comfortable, you’ll get out on the road (or trail) more. Which is the whole point, right?!? So ride in whatever is comfortable. And enjoy yourself.

[run it, ride it]

There will always be someone faster, stronger, and fitter than you. No matter what your level.

There, now that that's out of the way--what do you have to worry about?

I was the slowest member of the varsity cross-country running and track teams at my university (top team in Canada). I gave every fibre of my being into training, but just didn't have the genetics for speed. Still, I felt so inadequate, like I wasn't trying hard enough. I could keep up, but just barely.

I only lasted one season. My body couldn't take training at peak capacity daily and my asthma worsened with stress. One day I just blacked out and couldn't move and realized then and there I had to take a break. I thought it would be a week. That was three years ago. My body still isn't quite right.

In recovering from varsity, I couldn't even wear a timer when I ran or I'd just get frustrated. It took two years for running to be fun again.

I used to think a 60-minute run a poor excuse for off-day training. Now I only wish I could run that long without a struggle. If I saw myself from my varsity days, I'd think, "wow, what an amazing athlete" even though at the time I was so rough on myself. I'd kill to have those legs back! But hey, I'll tell you what's more exciting than getting your period and boobs for the first time: getting them back after you've run them away!

Whatever fitness level you're striving for, remember--your 'fittest' isn't always your healthiest. Don't compare yourself to a standard you can never reach. Just accept that it's there, then compare yourself to yourself.

And oh, the asthma... it makes me so angry. It makes me angry that my body isn't fit enough to get oxygen into itself normally. I get so angry I just run harder and harder, and it gets worse and worse. I've tried inhalers, but I still came within inches of collapsing daily at track practice. I think it might be partially psychosomatic--my body needing a 'valid' excuse to stop.

Push yourself, and push yourself hard. It'll hurt, too, or else you're not doing it right. But don't -damage- yourself. I had a coach tell me (one year after varsity, when I started Modern Pentathlon training), as I limped more and more on an old injury with each lap of the track: "Stop. Don't think of right now--think of ten years from now. You want to be able to run. Don't come back until your injury gets better." He lost his best athlete on that advice--might as well have sent me out to pasture.

So you know what? As you're huffing and puffing up that hill, you're doing your body good. You're losing weight that holds you back. There's no doubt of that. You've got perspective of yourself now, yourself then, and yourself in the future. Don't lose it for goals that are unattainable. It'll only set you back further in the long run!

[Denise223]

Hi Ladies!

WHAT A FUN, FUN RIDE WE HAD TODAY & YESTERDAY !!

Yesterday was 15 miles & this afternoon was 20 miles . And, we have both been doing so much better with hills, shifting, etc.... Ben is a LOT better on hills than I am, but that's okay. Without question, I am getting stronger.

I feel TOTALLY much different when riding NOW, than I felt when I first started out 2 months ago. Things just seem to be "clicking".....almost feels as if I've been doing this for years.
Ben is having an awesome time, too, with everything !

We are enjoying our time out on our bikes TOGETHER, sooooo much!! Really, it is so enjoyable!!

We enjoy riding out on beautiful country roads !! I cannot express in words what it's like..... Such peace

We love being able to go "at our pace"..... stop & look at things we find beautiful, that we wouldn't ordinarily see if we were in our car. Riding past farms with cows, sheep, llamas, horses.......listening to the sounds of nature.

Incredibly blissful !

Originally posted by Cassandra_Cain: I'll skip the long rant, but simply put, we don't have buy into this media and societal crap about having to look like air-brushed models! We are real people, real women, and our bodies should be a source of pride. After all, at least we are out there, working and using our bodies for healthy and fun pursuits like riding

Well put, and I'm in total agreement !!

Cassandra.....the blue sky in the photo WAS beautiful, wasn't it???
Out here in MA, we've had so much icky weather of late, that it really was a treat to be riding around on such a pretty day. Has the sun where you live come out of hiding yet?? (fingers crossed ).

Originally posted by wanttoride: Denise, I want to say you've been quite the inspiration to me. I seem to run into your threads which motivates me to get on my bike.

Hi there ! I'm really touched to hear you say that. Believe me, when I bought my bike (4 summers ago), I was scared to death more than anything to ride it, never mind riding "on the open road"!
My husband bought a bike so I thought it would be good to get one too; it would be something we could do together.......

So, as my earlier posts say, I only rode around in empty parking lots for 3 summers!
I have no idea why it took me 3 summers to find a bikeway close to home, but.....that's where Ben and I took our first "real ride" together on June 5th, 2006.

You're right -- the women here on this board are fantastic!! Everyone is SOOOOOO SUPPORTIVE !

Feel free to post as often as you'd like to -- and, if you want to PM me, please do that as well.

Bikingmomof3 & Lisa S.H. Thanks about the photo. I'm not real photogenic, so I was pretty happy with it too. And, that area is really pretty .

It's amazing, if you go West out of Boston for 10 miles, you are then transported into towns that are just like those that you'd find in Vermont & New Hampshire. Very, very picturesque!

Lisa S.H. I personally don't care for makeup, myself. I haven't worn it in years. I hate taking it off. Perhaps some mascara would "bring out" my eyes -- maybe on a special occasion.

I definitely will put on sunblock -- No way I'll forget that !

beebs Thanks for the info on the DVD's. One thing IS for sure -- you'll lost that 20 pounds with cycling.
I'm still huffing & puffing while going up hills, BUT.....it really has gotten SO MUCH EASIER, with time!

When we were at around mile 15 today, a car on my left was slowing down, and I could "feel eyes" watching me. The woman in the passenger seat said, "what kind of bike is that? That's the exact bike that I want -- I really, really want one with a straight bar."
I told her what kind I had and that I recently saw my exact bike at a shop, and gave her the name of the shop.
She happened to be very overweight, too. I came to a stop so that we could converse for a bit.

She was very excited about it all, and her husband seemed very happy as well.

Who knows?? Maybe there will be another biker on the road soon .

Have a peaceful evening everyone!!

Denise

[beebs]

Yesterday I went for my first proper ride in ages ,sporting my black lycras and a proper cycling top I took to the road ..... and yes there was some huffing and puffing and the only white bit left on my face was the massive grin as I sped at my modest top speed down a hill and past a farm. The smell of cow poo hung in the air as passers by looked on in bemusement at the crazy loon chuckling to herself on her bike!!! Yes, that loon was me and I don't care because I am hooked, I am going to take my bike everywhere now ,when I would have used the car to quickly nip out I will use my bike! Isn't riding great!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

YAY! YAY to all of us!!!!

[Denise223]

Hi Everyone!

Beebs: It sounds like you had a great time last Sunday . Have you been out since then?

Ben and I enjoyed a 20 mile ride yesterday afternoon..... But, the first 5 miles were the toughest for me - my legs hurt/they felt very weak, my breathing was a bit of a problem (but, SOOOOOO much better than before, definitely!).

Ben asked if I wanted to turn around, but, I really didn't want to do that. The first few miles have always been the most difficult for me.

The road we started on was a bit hilly -- I stopped about 8 times in 45 minutes, whether it was to catch my breath, have a drink, blow my nose. They were "necessary stops" too -- I didn't feel as if I could've pushed myself.

After 5 miles, I felt perfectly fine and was really enjoying myself and, at the end of 20, felt I could go another 7 - 10 miles.

So, perhaps this has to do with "not warming up"??

If my problem is what this sounds like, what exercises do you suggest for a good warm up?

Thanks for your help!

Have a great day.

Denise

[latelatebloomer]

" Too busy having fun and living! "

Personally, I think that's the sexiest look of all.