At this point in my fitness journey, I decide that I need to plan at least one day in seven to rest. This helps my feet stay healthy and gives my body time to recover from the stress of this much continuous motion. If you haven’t already or are feeling a little lost in where we are on the path, check out my previous posts, 2020 in 2020 and 2020 in 2020 Part 2.
As I started really packing on miles on the bicycle, when I would return home, I would crash out in bed sometimes for hours. I am not really a middle of the day napper. Usually the only time I can sleep when the sun is out is when I am sick. But these after fitness walk/rides naps told me I was really testing my limits physically. I know that sleep and rest are part of overall health. I struggled with giving up time to sleep, but am also grateful that during this unprecedented time in our history I could listen to the demands of my body. So I slept.
I was walking 3 miles/day, 6 days a week. And my cycling went from that first 3 mile solo ride, quickly to 10 miles round trip, then 12 miles, then 14/16 miles in four short weeks! I use an app called Strava to help me track the bike miles and it also connects me with other local cyclists. I am even competing in a smaller goal in June of 600km to help keep me motivated.
When things started to open up around the country again, one of the first things that re-opened here in the resort was the fitness center (and the pool!). I discovered I really liked being outside and trying to beat the heat. I really liked getting my fitness work done in the mornings because everything after that just felt like a bonus. I did go back into the gym though to add strength training sessions for my upper body. Walking and cycling are enough for the time being for the legs, but very little of what I was doing worked my upper body. So three times a week, I also lift light weights. Why not? If I am going to kill myself with exercise might as well make it balanced.
And every week goes something like this. Monday: I’m so excited to get out there and go for it! Tuesday: it’s a good day. Wednesday: um, well, this is still fun, right? Thursday: did anyone get the license plate of that truck that hit me? Friday: you have got to be kidding me! Saturday: I can’t…you must…I can’t…you must….Then, finally it’s Sunday! Which I have now affectionately named, Slug Day. I literally try to move as little as humanly possible on Slug Day. Watch TV, write in my journal and stay in my pjs. I have even started preparing food in advance so that I don’t have to cook on Slug Day either. There will be a whole post soon on Food in 2020!
All this rest though did not prevent the inevitable. In the second week of June, one of my biggest fears was realized. I was pushing further than I had traveled the day before on the bike. There are gates you have to go through on the canal path. Usually its not a big deal, but a few of them are pretty narrow. This particular gate was completely open on the canal side, but still pretty narrow. Basically, if you slid off the path you would end up in the canal.
I approached, slowing down to about 5 miles/hour and kersplat! The gravel gave way, the bike went one way and I went the other.
That was the day I learned why gloves are also an essential safety item while riding. But knowing that if I didn’t ride home that day I would probably give up entirely, I picked the bike up and tried to pedal. Nothing happened. Reminding myself I was totally glad nothing seemed to be broken on my person (other than a little skin) and neither the bike nor I had actually ended up in the canal, I tried to pedal again. Nothing seemed to be happening. Did I hit my head? Um, nope, the chain had come off the bike in the fall. With a few choice swear words and a healthy dose of prayer, I got the chain on relatively easily and the third time I started pedaling, we were on our way. It was 7 miles back to the RV. My hands were raw, it was about 95 degrees and tears were threatening the whole way. But I made it back! I cleaned myself up and had a good cry. Took my nap and got up the next day and went 2 miles further than I had the day of the fall.
That’s when I knew something inside of me had changed forever. What started as a half-hearted attempt at being a good friend had become so much more. The old me would have given up at blisters or a sore bottom or heat or a chain falling off or especially the trauma of actually bleeding for this goal that didn’t start out as my own. Never before had losing 20 pounds and getting off medication motivated me to actually get off the couch and move. There is so much more to my journey this time. I have changed how I eat, how I sleep, how I move, even how I think.
I have no idea why this time, this goal. I just know that I am willing to do just about anything to reach 2020 in 2020. If you’re interested in following my adventures subscribe to my mailing list for the latest updates:
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