Climbing Club - April Goals

[SadieKate]

It's okay to bring up the rear on the hills -- I do it all the time!

I'm usually (but not always) the last one down, but that's okay. It just averages out in the end and then I don't have to listen to my husband whine on the climbs.

[Starfish]

Well, got in 1011 feet today. Only went 8 miles, and it took me almost an hour! Kind of a sad little ride. I had set out to do more, but felt pretty crummy and decided to do a nice recovery swim tomorrow and live again to fight another day.

[Starfish]

Hi fellow climbers!

I could use a little encouragement and/or advice. It has been a week since I have been on my bike or worked out , and I don't think I will make my goal for the month. I am in the midst of serious house packing/sorting, and dealing with siblings, and trying to grieve my parents, continuing to work of course, etc.

I know that I need to be gentle with myself right now, and I also know that one of the best things I can do is keep moving toward my biking goals. My goal event is not for another 16 weeks, so it is too soon to throw in the towel! Yet, I feel like I have lost so much fitness in the past week or two, not to mention mental momentum.

Any words for me?

[Veronica]

You have a lot going on in your life. It's okay to take some time off. But you also have to take time to do things for you. You know you can go for a ride or a swim without it being a workout.

I see you do an after school program. Is it all academic? Can you make some of that time playtime? Every now and then I play with my students at recess. It's fun for everybody.

V.

[Starfish]

Veronica, thanks.

The after school program is all academic, unfortunately, although we do some funky lateral thinking exercises, so I try to get some laughs in and so forth. I have been wondering if I should try riding my bike there. I am at two different schools, so the rides would vary. I am just a little concerned about bike security, frankly. Maybe I could sneak my bike inside with me. My other excuse there is that we are having a lot of dreary, overcast and rainy days. I have become weary, not with riding in the rain so much, but with the intense clean-up on my bike!

I had been doing a lot of cross-training...swimming and so forth, and for some reason, I just haven't in the past couple of weeks. I simply need to get moving again, and cutting out the time for it.

One thing that is good: I also do janitorial work in our business at night, so I get in about 3 hours on my feet and moving around. It is not a workout, but at least it is activity (if not exactly play time!)

[Starfish]

PS: Warning to anyone who is wonderful enough to reply...I am a bit down. I am in that space where I know a lot of what would help, but I am fighting negative internal responses to very good suggestions. I know from experience I need to dial it waaaaay back and start again with tiny little baby steps, laced with a dose of real TLC for myself.

[Veronica]

I keep my bike in my classroom. My principal likes that I'm a "poster child" for a healthy lifestyle.

Hang in there, don't beat yourself and DON'T eat a bag of chocolate chips a week. I'm speaking from experience.

V.