Excuses excuses

[indysteel]

Life. Sometimes there are just things that take priority, like taking my pets to the vet, meeting with a friend I haven't seen in ages, or dealing with a home repair or project. When I was single, I was able to be a lot more regimented, but for whatever reason, life has gotten more complicated and my time harder to manage post-marriage. Some of that is just coincidental. For instance, my cats have had a lot more health problems in recent years. Some of it isn't. The house I owned before getting married was easier to maintain, but our current house just takes more time and energy. I have gotten better over the last 9 months or so at sticking to my plan, but it's taken some work and there's still room for improvement. I've also revised my expectations. I used to ride 100-130 miles over two rides every weekend, weather permitting. Now, I'm pretty happy to get do one ride in the 40-mile range each weekend. I sometimes miss those long weekends on the bike, but not enough to insist on doing them.

Oh, and I don't like rain (I'll run, but not, ride in the rain), thunderstorms or too much wind either.

[Crankin]

I'm pretty much like Indy and I still manage to ride 3K miles a year.

[jessmarimba]

My excuses are usually from broken bones...I can't seem to stay healed for more than 8 months or so! And the doctor is very fond of "well, you can ride but you can't fall" - which for me means just stay off the bike.

But I'm focusing more on running at the moment and I often don't have time for both. I need to work out a schedule where I can bike commute a couple days a week and still run after work.

[lovelygamer]

Winds over 20mph and pouring rain would discourage me. I have dealt with both once I am out, but if it's happening before I leave the house..I might not go. One day, I did go to work knowing it was raining. I pedaled so fast I thought my heart would burst and I made it in between the raindrops all the way. It's only 2 miles.

[indysteel]

I'm pretty much like Indy and I still manage to ride 3K miles a year.

I'd really like to get back to that much mileage (I used to ride in the 5k range). If it weren't for my long commute, I think I could do it. The commute just sucks my time and energy. I end up finding it easier to get on my spin bike or run, than go for a ride. And I don't have enough time in the morning to do anything. Grrr. We just need to move!!!

[Catrin]

...I still manage to ride 3K miles a year.

This is my goal this year, along with the mountain biking and gym work (and hiking when I can). I just need to go a full season without injuries large enough to take me off the bike or have to back off on it, hoping this will be the one

[limewave]

There's too many to list!

I try and make exercise a priority. In other words, I put it on my list of things to tackle first. If that means I ride the trainer at 5:30 AM because I have a busy day, that's what I try and do. Or if I have an hour for a lunch break, that's when I ride--save the laundry and grocery shopping for later that night, not vice-versa.

On the weekend DH and I both want to ride, I always schedule my ride first. I cannot tell you how many times I get back from my ride and DH is too busy, tired, distracted, or something unexpected has happened and he doesn't end up riding.

[indysteel]

On the weekend DH and I both want to ride, I always schedule my ride first. I cannot tell you how many times I get back from my ride and DH is too busy, tired, distracted, or something unexpected has happened and he doesn't end up riding.

This is what I most need to work on. In the winter, when I'm mostly doing my own thing, I'm pretty diligent. But when cycling starts up again, I too easily let DH's agenda dictate my own. He has other hobbies and projects and he typcially has no desire or interest in spending both weekend days on the bike, but there's really little reason why I can't just ride on my own, even if it's just for a short ride. Heck, I rode alone all the time before I got married. Part of my reservation has been guilt. If he's doing work around the house, then I should, too. It's the morning hours though, when he has a tendency to just putz, that I should make better use of.

So, yeah, I guess my excuse is my husband...and that's just not a very good excuse under the circumstances.

[Crankin]

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.

[indysteel]

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.