Sunday, February 27, 2011

Another Long Ride.

I asked Hubby this morning if he thought we could get to daughter L's place by going out the back roads and how far it would be.  He brought up http://www.nearmap.com/  and said it looked doable and was maybe a bit more than 9km there.
I suggested we do it...so we did. 
It was real road all the way except near her place where the km long *no through road* was a bit of a sandy track.  It took us 45 minutes to get to her house.
Asked her if she wanted to ride back with us so after a bit of a rest the three of us started back.  The sandy *no through road* was a bit harder for me on the return ride and there were a few boggy bits that nearly had me off the bike and on the ground.


About half way home L was talking about interval training so every now and then one of us would say "next white posts" or "yellow sign"and we'd all go as fast as we could 'til we got to next white posts or yellow sign then we'd ride normal speed until some bright spark set the next challenge.
We were back here in around 50 minutes, all 3 of us hot and sweaty with sore bits.  We all jumped in the dam to cool down, had a bit of a swim around, a bit of a play...
All good fun but I am now SO SORE!!   

Not sure when we will do it again but it won't be anytime soon. 

Maybe next weekend...

L is here and has just said that it took her, wait for it, 35minutes to ride back to her place.  She did say it wasn't much fun though and I can imagine.  She said she went pretty fast and was really trying. 
 I will not even try and match that time.
   Though I do think I can get it down to around 40...maybe...but not this week.

Friday, February 25, 2011

10km Bike-ride...Can I Do It?

Dunno but I'm about to find out.   Hubby is working out the back of us this morning and I have asked him to drop me off 10km from here.   So if I want to get home it will actually be a matter of having to.  I can't even sit on the side of the road and wait 'til he knocks off as he is working somewhere else afterwards, in a different direction.

I haven't been doing much but did have a bike-ride with L. a few days ago.  That would have been a quite a few k's.  This will be a benchmark type of  ride and will determine if I can ride to L's place, then back again, or not.  

And why 10?  It seems like a nice rounded number.  I know I can do 5 and 8 seems a bit whishy-washy.  So 10 it is.  A bit of a challenge anyway.  I hope I can do it without too many side effects...Will report back when I get home.   How long does it take to ride that far?   Will soon find out!



Well we're here...Too late to change my mind now.



Bye bye *support* vehicle.


Now it's just me, the bike and the long road home.



10km Bike-ride...Can I Do It? YES, I CAN!       Woohoo!
And I did it in less than an hour (48minutes) so I am pretty pleased with that.  I was hoping that it wouldn't take too much longer than an hour as it is going to be hot today and I need to be home. 

How was it?  While I was riding and whinging in my head about how hard it was it seemed like a lot of hard work and not much fun.
Now I am home and showered and coffee'ed...I'm thinking that it wasn't that hard so maybe the speedo in Hubby's car is wrong and it wasn't really 10 km's from here.

Some people are just never satisfiedHappy

Monday, February 21, 2011

Been Slack.

I have had a real *nothing much* week but have a bike-ride planned for later today.  I am going with someone so it will definitely get done.  Don't know what time she will get here though.  Hope it wont be too hot.

Not sure why I have slacked off.  I just can't be bothered.  I think because not enough results are being felt I am seeing it all as a waste of time.  I need to get my head back into it and am working on the thinking this week.

7PM.   L was ready to ride home late afternoon and I was ready to go halfway with her. She now lives waaayyy out of town, not sure how far but way more than 7km's.(I think!)   We rode along the railway road, some of that was sand, that's a bugger to ride through, over corrugations, past a *no trespass* sign, oops!  It was halfway in sections but not sure if it was halfway in k's.  I should measure it out and write it down so I remember.

Anyway we get to the next road and she has about the same distance to go to get home and I need to turn around and travel the same distance that we just did.  So bye bye L, we'll do it again soon.

This road that we were on is a track from one road to the next and there is another track/road after that to the road L lives on.  The second track/road is a decent gravel road with no signs.  The first one is gravel but is not a good road and half way there is a *no trespassing* sign, yep no sign until you are halfway through, so we decided to keep going.   This sign is only recent, like in the last couple of years, this track used to be used quite often.  But I did feel like I was doing the wrong thing all the way back ( I was!!) and am thinking that next time we should add the extra km and go out to the highway and back in again at her end.  But I haven't ridden on the highway before, L has and she mentioned big fast trucks going past. 
So do I feel safe but guilty or in danger from traffic but with a clear conscience?  Yet to be decided.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Is Age A Barrier To Fitness?

I was talking with a bloke the other day, he is a couple of years younger than me so around 50, about me trying to get fit.  He says it's a waste of time because I am now at that age where nothing will work and of course I can't do what I used to, I am getting older.  He doesn't seem to think that I will ever be fit, that I have left it too long.  I disagreed.  We had a pleasant discussion and agreed to disagree.  He did say that he exercises a few times a week and does daily stretching but he believes that all his aches and soreness is a direct result of his age.
I think that the fitter I get then the less aches I will have.  That is what I am hoping for anyway.

I would hate to think that we couldn't improve on our health and fitness just because we are getting older.  Surely it doesn't matter what your age is, it just matters that you are doing something more than you usually do.  If you believe this bloke and stop trying what will happen to you?  I think you will continue to get unfitter with each year and eventually all you will want to do is sit and watch TV.
Mind you, if  was sitting watching TV I wouldn't have had that fall yesterday so I wouldn't be hurting as much now.  lol.

I know people who are over 70 and they are fitter than me.  Other over 70's I know will never be fit or healthy.  They aren't interested in even trying to improve anything.  I wonder at the different thinking but know which 70 year old I want to be like.  I hope my mind is strong enough to keep me moving because it is easier not to but better for me, I think, to keep persevering.

I want to encourage anyone that reads this to not give up trying.   And if it looks like I am going to then you all have permission to give me the good kick that I deserve to get me going again.

I believe that moving is good for us all, regardless of our age, and the more we do it the easier it will get so the more we will want to do...I also know that it is sometimes hard and doesn't seem worth the effort...but it is.

Sometimes we all need reminding, me more often than most.  Now I will go for that ride...

Monday, February 14, 2011

I Had A Fall.

Probably my own fault but...It hurt.  Lots.  I nearly cried.  Had to laugh though as people saw me and it probably looked funny.  But I so wanted to cry.

Yesterday we had been *exploring*  going places we hadn't been before and I had my Tone Walker shoes on.  The ones with the rock-rolly soles.  We were walking along this hard stone path and I wasn't looking where I was going and the next thing I know I was falling down.  I landed on my hands and knees and in a quite a bit of pain.  As Hubby was helping me up I saw that the people in front of us had urned around, probably  to see if I was OK so I put on a brave front and said I was.  And I was it just hurt.  A lot.  I have sore knees and a chunk of skin missing from my left palm and last night noticed my left ankle was a bit dodgy but apart from that I am fine.

I must have stepped on an uneven bit of path and because the shoes aren't flat they carried me forward too fast and I fell.  I have nearly fallen before wearing these shoes over rough ground so I need to remember that though they are great for road walking I will need to take them off when going over uneven surfaces.  Or be a bit more careful and watch where I am going.  That would work too. lol.

I made it to the water though and had a swim in water that was so cold it numbed everything. 

All good.

Back Into It.

Well since Wed and the lollies I have eaten a lot of stuff that I don't usually eat and it shows in how I feel.  Eating crap make me feel like crap and I don't want to do anything so I don't which makes me feel worse and so I eat worse...But I will get back into it today.

It was Sunday before I actually did anything worth reporting and that was a 45min walk through the bush.  A short swim and a bit more walking.   There will be walking today and I want to get a bikeride in somewhere but I am a bit tired and sore so will see how I go.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

I Ate Lollies Instead Of Biking.

Only a few but now I feel sick.  Serves me right, aye.

It's now 8pm so might not get anything done.  I am watching MKR and on the computer.  I should be on the bike.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Enough Riding to Last The Week.

I tentatively asked Hubby to ride to Hamel with me this morning *knowing* that he wouldn't but he surprised with with a "yes, lets get going"  So we did.

I can't remember how far it is from here but the last time I rode out there was a few years ago with daughter L.
It was a good ride and took us 40 min to get to Hamel hall.  We walked about a bit as I needed to get the kinks out then started for home.  Went down a different way, checked out the organic vege selling place then onwards back home.  It took 50 minutes to get home, we went slower, added a kilometre to the distance...

My bum was so sore!  Hands were sore, puffed out...it was fun and I have suggested we do it again.  I got a look but I think we will.

Sunday, Monday

Sunday.  Nothing again today.  Not sure why...I thought about it...

Monday.  A bit over 30min on the hard ex bike while reading and then at night I was sitting on the lounge watching MKR and suddenly thought "Get on the bike" so did 35min on the easy ex bike.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Saturday.

I have done1 session x 30min on the ex bike and then a 10min session. 
It is only 2pm so should be able to get another one in sometime today.

Instead of another go on the bike I walked to the corner and back.  Under 35min. 

Friday, February 4, 2011

Friday.

I seem to be all tired out today and cannot get into anything.
So no biking or walking.
Even the mowing was an effort.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Thursday, 3rd.

Thursday.  I taped Biggest Loser last night and will watch it in segments today while using the ex bike.  Legs and hands are still sore and I still have mowing to do so will see how I go.   Hoping for at least 3 x 20min.

20minutes.  First lot done!

"I've been busy"  *" Doing what, eating chocolate?!"*  I cracked up, so funny.

I have sweat pouring off me and I have absolutely had it.  I think I need those trainers here to make me get to the 2nd 20minutes.  Instead I have done 5 then another 10.  In my defence (excuses?) I have the tension on the bike up more than earlier and will do another 5 as is but will lower it for the last 20.  OK, last 5 of the 2nd 20 - Done!

Now for some mowing...

And I have just done a *hard* 30minutes on the ex bike.  I started 5 minutes late and thought I'd get in 25 min watching BL and was ready to quit at 8 oclock but the bleedin' show goes for an hour!  Not me though.  The tension was quite easy but even after an afternoon sleep I was totally done.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Tuesday, Wednesday Moving.

Tuesday.
I decided to do the corner and back walk today, just to see how long it took.  And guess what?  I am sure I have the time right but not sure how it was managed.   After all the whinging I did about this walk taking too long and giving up doing it, I did it this morning in 35min.  How funny is that!! Whinge, don't walk, walk faster. lol  In the afternoon I was watching a TV show I taped and was on the ex bike while the show was on and off doing jobs during the ads but on again when the show was on.  I would have peddled for way more than 1/2 hour just not all at once.


Wednesday.
I was thinking about the walk yesterday and the time it took so did it again this morning to check that I had it right.  UNDER 35 minutes!!  I am so pleased with that.
It looks like riding the ex bike got me walking faster.  Who knew!
.
I think all the mowing and whippersnippering over the last few days are starting to affect me as I have tried a few times to do more than 10minutes on the bike but my legs are too sore and I haven't been able to.  So maybe 20minutes, on and off, on the hard ex bike.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Getting Flexible. Again.

Many years ago I was one of the most flexible people that I knew.  Mind you, I don't know many people but it still felt good.  Then I started having more severe back trouble and a physio told me that I was TOO flexible and to stop doing the things that I did.  I think she should have said that my gut muscles were too weak and to work on getting them stronger.  I still think it is more a weak muscle issue than a flexible thing.

I can still do the *fingers, knuckles, palms* thing but not off a 6inch step anymore.  I can't quite manage it while wearing my Tone Walker shoes though I can in normal shoes that aren't as high.
I can no longer do *bend backs*  Or handstands where you go over and then stand up.


I used to read by sitting on the floor, legs spread and elbows on the ground.  I used to be able to put my head on the ground, between said spread legs.  Alas, I can no more...But I want to be able to do those things again.  Not the handstand thing, my arms and wrists wouldn't hold up to that but the F.K.P and head on the ground things.
Is it possible?   Dunno.  Can't see why not.
Is it sensible to even try?  Depends on who you ask.
Should I just accept that I am older, unfitter and not even try?  No!!

I am going to try and get my head on the ground again.  Regardless of how sensible it is.  It is something that I really regret not being able to still do.

So for the month of February I am going to spend a couple of minutes, a few times a day, trying these.

If I am sensible about it I shouldn't do any damage to the back.  And I can be sensible so there shouldn't be any problems.

I think the *fingers, knuckles, palms* thing will be the easiest but I'm going to give both a decent try.