There are a hundred great reasons to go to the gym. Best of all is increased health, which is mostly seen in the physical, but is evident to the gym goer in emotional and mental gains as well.
Today wasn't a great day at work. Having to face the music in certain aspects can be stressful, and can emotionally drain an otherwise good and productive shift. For me, it kills the motivation to do anything beneficial for myself. Yes, there are lifelong issues there... So thinking about a trip to the gym at midnight wasn't terribly exhilarating. But I went anyways. It does help having a gym rat partner, and my wife was ready to go, so I couldn't just say no. Besides, all these motivating blogs, and I just fall apart because my boss gets mad at me.
Treadmill for ten minutes. Squats. Bench. Curls. Reverse curls. Lat Pulldowns. It wasn't until I was on the rowing machine that I realized work had become a forgotten memory. At least for the moment. Exercising, focusing on movement, isolated muscle control, breathing, counting the slow reps... it all creates a moment oblivious to what is happening anywhere else, anytime else.
I was drowning in a fountain of sweat, muscles convulsing in agonizing oblivion, and it was beautiful.
At least I'll have bulging muscles while I stand there tomorrow, again repeating, "Yes Sir. No Sir. Thank You, Sir. I understand, Sir."
Sunday, July 22, 2018
Monday, July 16, 2018
Burning the Midnight Oil
I haven't been on the unicycle in two weeks. Shame on me. Two weeks ago, it was 100 degrees outside. Every day. I can handle heat, but strenuous exercise in that stuff is beyond ridiculous. I found plenty to do inside.
Then last week, things changed, and it all started with a large pizza. We've been getting fresh vegetables from a CSA, so my wife bought a large cheese pizza, cut up fresh veggies, sprinkled on some fresh herbs, and oh my!! Well, after the pizza there may have been some apple pie. And maybe a little ice cream. I don't remember, it all gets a little fuzzy sometime during the fourth piece of pizza. Did I mention the wine?
This was a heartburn night. I knew it was coming. One of those awful "wake up in the middle of the night with the throat on fire" nights. Every commercial ever made about food on the attack could have been rolled up into this one evening of delectable misery. Then the bulb just came on. A great moment when the idea flashes so bright it sunburns the inside of your skull. It was ten thirty at night. I looked at my wife and said, "Let's go the gym". Planet Fitness is open twenty four hours. I knew I needed to digest what I had crammed down my gullet. Going for a walk was not an option. This was an exercise emergency! She gave the idea a quick once over, and agreed.
The gym wasn't nearly as crowded as it had been during the late mornings when I am freshly awake. Since I work second shift, I don't set an alarm, I just get up when I wake up. This timing depends on how tired I am when I get home at night, and how many episodes of "Fixer Upper" I can cram into one late night sitting. Going in the mornings has not been consistent. Going at night was certainly more relaxed. We treadmilled for a bit. She went on the bike, and I did other exercises, ending with some rope pulling. On my way out, I grabbed an overhead bar and just hung, giving myself over to everything gravity could do in a single moment. The ensuing belch turned a lot of heads, and I slept like a baby.
It later occurred to me that going to the gym at night was an option. We like to discuss all options, no matter how ridiculous they sound, because even if we discard the idea, we glean a lot from out of the box thinking. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. If I go to the gym when I get off work, the timing is always consistent. I can go every other night for five nights, and get three nights of workouts done with two nights between for rest. I haven't been tired coming home. I usually sit up and watch television for an hour or two anyways. And snack. Hrmmm.
Last week I made two nights. Last night was my first night this week, with no interruptions in sight for the next two workouts. I gotta tell ya, I love it. I could count the number of people on two hands. Atmosphere was relaxed. Equipment was available. During the drive from work to the gym I was pumped, psyched, and ready to decimate. Which I did.
I had to adapt my mindset to a new idea, and I love it. This works.
P.S. I have a great doctor. He's really fit, but he's a twig. He always questions why I need extra protein. He's about to find out.
Then last week, things changed, and it all started with a large pizza. We've been getting fresh vegetables from a CSA, so my wife bought a large cheese pizza, cut up fresh veggies, sprinkled on some fresh herbs, and oh my!! Well, after the pizza there may have been some apple pie. And maybe a little ice cream. I don't remember, it all gets a little fuzzy sometime during the fourth piece of pizza. Did I mention the wine?
This was a heartburn night. I knew it was coming. One of those awful "wake up in the middle of the night with the throat on fire" nights. Every commercial ever made about food on the attack could have been rolled up into this one evening of delectable misery. Then the bulb just came on. A great moment when the idea flashes so bright it sunburns the inside of your skull. It was ten thirty at night. I looked at my wife and said, "Let's go the gym". Planet Fitness is open twenty four hours. I knew I needed to digest what I had crammed down my gullet. Going for a walk was not an option. This was an exercise emergency! She gave the idea a quick once over, and agreed.
The gym wasn't nearly as crowded as it had been during the late mornings when I am freshly awake. Since I work second shift, I don't set an alarm, I just get up when I wake up. This timing depends on how tired I am when I get home at night, and how many episodes of "Fixer Upper" I can cram into one late night sitting. Going in the mornings has not been consistent. Going at night was certainly more relaxed. We treadmilled for a bit. She went on the bike, and I did other exercises, ending with some rope pulling. On my way out, I grabbed an overhead bar and just hung, giving myself over to everything gravity could do in a single moment. The ensuing belch turned a lot of heads, and I slept like a baby.
It later occurred to me that going to the gym at night was an option. We like to discuss all options, no matter how ridiculous they sound, because even if we discard the idea, we glean a lot from out of the box thinking. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. If I go to the gym when I get off work, the timing is always consistent. I can go every other night for five nights, and get three nights of workouts done with two nights between for rest. I haven't been tired coming home. I usually sit up and watch television for an hour or two anyways. And snack. Hrmmm.
Last week I made two nights. Last night was my first night this week, with no interruptions in sight for the next two workouts. I gotta tell ya, I love it. I could count the number of people on two hands. Atmosphere was relaxed. Equipment was available. During the drive from work to the gym I was pumped, psyched, and ready to decimate. Which I did.
I had to adapt my mindset to a new idea, and I love it. This works.
P.S. I have a great doctor. He's really fit, but he's a twig. He always questions why I need extra protein. He's about to find out.
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Tuck Roll on Radner
Almost made it home. First time to upd coming home on Radner was last week. The heat got to me. Today, it was pure exhaustion.
There are numerous routes I can tackle on any given day. Some have more traffic, some have narrower, tree-lined roads with little space to ride. Some have sidewalks with lots of traffic lights and annoying push-button-and-wait-thirty-seconds crosswalks. Today was trees and no space day.
Its actually the route that takes me to my church, about 1.5 miles. It involves some hills that I don't get with other routes. I also flail my arms a bit more when traffic drives by, just to let them know that something odd is nearby. When first attempting this route years ago, it took me many tries to successfully make it to the church without falling. Now, on my first attempt in a few years, there was only one fall, and it wasn't a hill, it was a storm drain. My goal on this route is secondarily to not fall, but primarily it is to ride up the church driveway. The exit is a bit steep.
I have done it before a few times, but not many. My legs are usually burnt from the hills, and the on-average uphill ride there. Today got me halfway up the exit side of the driveway. I pondered tackling the other half, but an emotion washed through me. I was ok. I was ok with not pushing the limits, not bursting through the imaginary boundaries that I had placed before me. I would save the next attempt for another day. I rode down the drive, walked across the busy street, hopped on, and wondered when my next break would be.
Well, I kept wondering, because my legs kept pumping, my core kept balancing, and my brain kept telling me I could make it home. On this, there was no emotional give.
The physical give did, however, come. I was almost within sight of my house. One last corner, and the triumphant ride onto my driveway. Nope. My legs finally gave out, I went down, and thus the title. I did a decent tuck roll on the asphalt, stood up, and, like the day of much heat, walked my unicycle the rest of the way.
Now, you may ask, I've blogged a lot about goals, and making sure to reach them, be successful, etc. What makes today different? What makes not finishing off the church driveway ok? What makes walking 500 feet home ok?
You would need to see me when I walk up the three stairs to my porch. Today, I didn't roll the unicycle up the stairs. I dragged it. I didn't sit down in the chair. I plopped. When I walked into the house, it wasn't really walking. It was at least as difficult to walk then as it was to ride just before the upd. I was absolutely exhausted, and loving every bit of it.
This is a journey. Not every day is going to show ultimate goals attained. The success for today is getting on the stupid thing and riding. The success for today is beating a mental roadblock that said the route is too intimidating. The success for today is riding myself to exhaustion.
My wife pointed out the road rash on my shoulder and above my knee. I was wearing a shirt and kneepads, so it could have been worse. My response to her was, "If you don't have scars, then you've never tried." Yeah. T'was a good day.
"Knowledge is power, and action is powerful."
There are numerous routes I can tackle on any given day. Some have more traffic, some have narrower, tree-lined roads with little space to ride. Some have sidewalks with lots of traffic lights and annoying push-button-and-wait-thirty-seconds crosswalks. Today was trees and no space day.
Its actually the route that takes me to my church, about 1.5 miles. It involves some hills that I don't get with other routes. I also flail my arms a bit more when traffic drives by, just to let them know that something odd is nearby. When first attempting this route years ago, it took me many tries to successfully make it to the church without falling. Now, on my first attempt in a few years, there was only one fall, and it wasn't a hill, it was a storm drain. My goal on this route is secondarily to not fall, but primarily it is to ride up the church driveway. The exit is a bit steep.
I have done it before a few times, but not many. My legs are usually burnt from the hills, and the on-average uphill ride there. Today got me halfway up the exit side of the driveway. I pondered tackling the other half, but an emotion washed through me. I was ok. I was ok with not pushing the limits, not bursting through the imaginary boundaries that I had placed before me. I would save the next attempt for another day. I rode down the drive, walked across the busy street, hopped on, and wondered when my next break would be.
Well, I kept wondering, because my legs kept pumping, my core kept balancing, and my brain kept telling me I could make it home. On this, there was no emotional give.
The physical give did, however, come. I was almost within sight of my house. One last corner, and the triumphant ride onto my driveway. Nope. My legs finally gave out, I went down, and thus the title. I did a decent tuck roll on the asphalt, stood up, and, like the day of much heat, walked my unicycle the rest of the way.
Now, you may ask, I've blogged a lot about goals, and making sure to reach them, be successful, etc. What makes today different? What makes not finishing off the church driveway ok? What makes walking 500 feet home ok?
You would need to see me when I walk up the three stairs to my porch. Today, I didn't roll the unicycle up the stairs. I dragged it. I didn't sit down in the chair. I plopped. When I walked into the house, it wasn't really walking. It was at least as difficult to walk then as it was to ride just before the upd. I was absolutely exhausted, and loving every bit of it.
This is a journey. Not every day is going to show ultimate goals attained. The success for today is getting on the stupid thing and riding. The success for today is beating a mental roadblock that said the route is too intimidating. The success for today is riding myself to exhaustion.
My wife pointed out the road rash on my shoulder and above my knee. I was wearing a shirt and kneepads, so it could have been worse. My response to her was, "If you don't have scars, then you've never tried." Yeah. T'was a good day.
"Knowledge is power, and action is powerful."
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Be Assured of Your Goals
It wasn't me. Really! The unicycle decided all on its own that it wanted to tackle the long hill again, and it wouldn't be dissuaded. Fine.
It was hot. Not as hot as it could have been, or will become further into summer, but it was still hot. 82*, and 42% humidity. A nice day for a ride, with a good soaking sweat bonus. I made it to the bottom of the hill without incident. A few honks and waves, but no upds, no landing on my back in front of people, none of that kind of thing.
The hill was the hill. It hadn't changed since my last blog. There was still traffic. There is always traffic. I had started in the Home Depot access road. I have to stop there because its a busy access point, and there's a curb that I can't hop off yet. Past Home Depot, I traversed the intersection, rode between Red Robin and Big Y, and across the slanted front parking lot of Interskate 91. No stopping now. I rode around the asphalt curb, and glanced up the hill.
The only change from yesterday was a construction sign right in my path. Across the street was a utility truck working on a pole, with a policeman standing duty. I flailed my arms a bit, indicating a left turn, because I had to ride into the traffic lane to go around the sign. Cars were going quite slow at this point anyways, so no worries. Back out of traffic's path, I looked up at the rest of the hill.
I saw the top. It beckoned me, as it did the last time. "I'm still here. Still waiting." The long hill was daunting. I can always feel it in my legs when the mental doubts creep in. Gonna fall again. Too tired. Too far to go. Too hot. Then discipline takes over. I begin my mantra: "Sit in seat. Chin up. Wiggle fingers. Breathe." My focus narrowed. The road before me and my mantra were all that existed. The top of the hill came quickly. Up. Over. Done.
To achieve a goal, I can't just be at the top. Somewhere on the top isn't good enough. I never want to call my achievements into question. I will typically crest the hill and not stop until there is a decided downward slant, or unarguable leveling. Only then is there accomplishment. I apply this to other goals in life as well. Achievement must be unassailable. Anything less, and tomorrow has the same goal.
I made my goal of the hill. I didn't make my goal of finishing every ride by riding onto my driveway. The heat got to me, and I started to really feel it about a half-mile from home. The dehydrated lightheadedness was the worst symptom. I upd'd about 500 feet from my house, and walked it home. Safety first. There's being able to ride home, and there's being able to ride tomorrow. Today, I chose tomorrow.
3.04 miles (minus about 500 feet).
"Knowledge is power, and action is powerful."
It was hot. Not as hot as it could have been, or will become further into summer, but it was still hot. 82*, and 42% humidity. A nice day for a ride, with a good soaking sweat bonus. I made it to the bottom of the hill without incident. A few honks and waves, but no upds, no landing on my back in front of people, none of that kind of thing.
The hill was the hill. It hadn't changed since my last blog. There was still traffic. There is always traffic. I had started in the Home Depot access road. I have to stop there because its a busy access point, and there's a curb that I can't hop off yet. Past Home Depot, I traversed the intersection, rode between Red Robin and Big Y, and across the slanted front parking lot of Interskate 91. No stopping now. I rode around the asphalt curb, and glanced up the hill.
The only change from yesterday was a construction sign right in my path. Across the street was a utility truck working on a pole, with a policeman standing duty. I flailed my arms a bit, indicating a left turn, because I had to ride into the traffic lane to go around the sign. Cars were going quite slow at this point anyways, so no worries. Back out of traffic's path, I looked up at the rest of the hill.
I saw the top. It beckoned me, as it did the last time. "I'm still here. Still waiting." The long hill was daunting. I can always feel it in my legs when the mental doubts creep in. Gonna fall again. Too tired. Too far to go. Too hot. Then discipline takes over. I begin my mantra: "Sit in seat. Chin up. Wiggle fingers. Breathe." My focus narrowed. The road before me and my mantra were all that existed. The top of the hill came quickly. Up. Over. Done.
To achieve a goal, I can't just be at the top. Somewhere on the top isn't good enough. I never want to call my achievements into question. I will typically crest the hill and not stop until there is a decided downward slant, or unarguable leveling. Only then is there accomplishment. I apply this to other goals in life as well. Achievement must be unassailable. Anything less, and tomorrow has the same goal.
I made my goal of the hill. I didn't make my goal of finishing every ride by riding onto my driveway. The heat got to me, and I started to really feel it about a half-mile from home. The dehydrated lightheadedness was the worst symptom. I upd'd about 500 feet from my house, and walked it home. Safety first. There's being able to ride home, and there's being able to ride tomorrow. Today, I chose tomorrow.
3.04 miles (minus about 500 feet).
"Knowledge is power, and action is powerful."
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Taking Advantage of Failure
I hadn't ridden this particular hill in a few years. Probably four years ago. At that time, I had a 24" unicycle. My daily rider now is a 29". It is much better for me to ride, being a bit larger, but a little more difficult to push up the longer hills. I've been in the mindset to push myself lately, so I figured what the heck, I'll tackle the hill, see how I do.
Every hill is a long hill when you just started riding after a few years break. At the end of the summer, it won't be so long. Its also on a busy street. Boston Road in Wilbraham is THE main road, and there are sidewalks in only a few places. The long hill has none. So not only is it taxing on the body, but traffic is right there to encourage me to be careful.
To get to the long hill, I rode to Friendly's. Walked it across the intersection, where an old gentleman stood and watched me try to mount, along with all the diners inside Friendly's. I actually fell on my back once. Don't ride a unicycle if you can't handle public displays of humiliation. Got going, past the Ford dealership, walked across the street, rode through Home Depot and Big Y parking lots. Hello, long hill.
Most of the ride up was fine. Legs started to feel it about half way up, but I was good. Then, out of nowhere, upd. Unplanned dismount. I was able to run it out, so no ground contact, but even then, a car stopped and asked if I was ok. Thanks. Then the disappointment hit. I know, it was only my first attempt in four years. I was crazy to think I could make it up the first time, but hey, I am crazy like that. That split-second of dejection started to grow, and then I heard a commotion...
Three-fourths the way up this long hill, where I fell, is a daycare. As it happens, there were a few kids standing at the fence, watching me ride. They started shouting. Other kids came running, and a few teachers as well. My heart smiled, and I walked the unicycle to a level spot in the parking lot entry. After a few attempts to mount, I was able to ride a short distance in the parking lot. My legs were still burning from the hill. The kids all cheered! As they were scooted inside for lunch, they all yelled goodbye to Mr. Unicycle Man. I waved and yelled back at them as I rode off into the sunset. Well, into traffic, at least.
The rest of the ride was uneventful. I finished with wobbly legs, the signature of a good unicycle ride. I didn't make it up the long hill, and couldn't be happier about it.
3.04 miles
PS: Without realizing it, I made my 3 mile goal quite easily. The hilly 5 miles, not so easy.
"Knowledge is power, and action is powerful."
Every hill is a long hill when you just started riding after a few years break. At the end of the summer, it won't be so long. Its also on a busy street. Boston Road in Wilbraham is THE main road, and there are sidewalks in only a few places. The long hill has none. So not only is it taxing on the body, but traffic is right there to encourage me to be careful.
To get to the long hill, I rode to Friendly's. Walked it across the intersection, where an old gentleman stood and watched me try to mount, along with all the diners inside Friendly's. I actually fell on my back once. Don't ride a unicycle if you can't handle public displays of humiliation. Got going, past the Ford dealership, walked across the street, rode through Home Depot and Big Y parking lots. Hello, long hill.
Most of the ride up was fine. Legs started to feel it about half way up, but I was good. Then, out of nowhere, upd. Unplanned dismount. I was able to run it out, so no ground contact, but even then, a car stopped and asked if I was ok. Thanks. Then the disappointment hit. I know, it was only my first attempt in four years. I was crazy to think I could make it up the first time, but hey, I am crazy like that. That split-second of dejection started to grow, and then I heard a commotion...
Three-fourths the way up this long hill, where I fell, is a daycare. As it happens, there were a few kids standing at the fence, watching me ride. They started shouting. Other kids came running, and a few teachers as well. My heart smiled, and I walked the unicycle to a level spot in the parking lot entry. After a few attempts to mount, I was able to ride a short distance in the parking lot. My legs were still burning from the hill. The kids all cheered! As they were scooted inside for lunch, they all yelled goodbye to Mr. Unicycle Man. I waved and yelled back at them as I rode off into the sunset. Well, into traffic, at least.
The rest of the ride was uneventful. I finished with wobbly legs, the signature of a good unicycle ride. I didn't make it up the long hill, and couldn't be happier about it.
3.04 miles
PS: Without realizing it, I made my 3 mile goal quite easily. The hilly 5 miles, not so easy.
"Knowledge is power, and action is powerful."
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
AIM High!!
I have a friend who has a fitness blog. Its something I've wanted to do for a long time, yet haven't had time. Well, now I have time. The more important portion of having time is actually taking time to exercise. Blogging runs a far second.
As I came up with the blog title, I noticed something, which I'm prone to do: The acronym for "Alan In Motion" is AIM! Thus, the title of this post. Little things like that really add to my enjoyment of writing. By complete coincidence, my blog title speaks volumes about what's inside, what motivates me, and on the flip side, what kills my efforts and decimates my successes. I need to stay focused. I need to AIM.
Starting last week, I began riding my unicycle again. I've said it over and over... I believe it is the single best exercise a person can do. Having only one exercise option for the rest of my life, it is far and above... unicycling. For those who don't unicycle, stair climbing (without holding the handles) would probably be the closest comparable exercise.
Monday of last week, I rode a mile. First time riding this year, second time in two years, and it went quite well. I took the usual break at the half mile mark, and made it home easily. The next two days weren't as easy, but I made it, with only one upd. That's "unplanned dismount", or fall, in uni-speak. Fortunately, I know how to tuck-roll. My wife is getting on her bike again, and Friday night we rode two miles on a bike path. I missed a few days, but it was a good first week.
This weekend, I read about a ride in Greenfield, sponsored by fellow employees, and benefitting the hospital we work for. The shortest ride is 10 miles. Ouch. Its hard for me to even think about riding 10 miles. I've only done it once before, and it was brutal. The 1.7 miles this morning? Not so bad. I think I can easily work up to three miles by the end of June. My goal for the year so far has been to ride a hilly five mile route. Can I make a ten mile ride by August 19? Woof.
So where do I set my aim? My goals for this summer:
1) Unicycle three miles by the end of this month. That gives me just over two weeks.
2) Ride the five mile hilly route by the end of July.
3) Ride ten miles on August 19th.
That's shooting for the stars. But we gotta have goals. Success is measurable. Steps to success are measurable. Do you have goals? What steps are necessary to get there? What hinders your progress? Knowledge is power, and action is powerful.
Ready? AIM... Fire!!
As I came up with the blog title, I noticed something, which I'm prone to do: The acronym for "Alan In Motion" is AIM! Thus, the title of this post. Little things like that really add to my enjoyment of writing. By complete coincidence, my blog title speaks volumes about what's inside, what motivates me, and on the flip side, what kills my efforts and decimates my successes. I need to stay focused. I need to AIM.
Starting last week, I began riding my unicycle again. I've said it over and over... I believe it is the single best exercise a person can do. Having only one exercise option for the rest of my life, it is far and above... unicycling. For those who don't unicycle, stair climbing (without holding the handles) would probably be the closest comparable exercise.
Monday of last week, I rode a mile. First time riding this year, second time in two years, and it went quite well. I took the usual break at the half mile mark, and made it home easily. The next two days weren't as easy, but I made it, with only one upd. That's "unplanned dismount", or fall, in uni-speak. Fortunately, I know how to tuck-roll. My wife is getting on her bike again, and Friday night we rode two miles on a bike path. I missed a few days, but it was a good first week.
This weekend, I read about a ride in Greenfield, sponsored by fellow employees, and benefitting the hospital we work for. The shortest ride is 10 miles. Ouch. Its hard for me to even think about riding 10 miles. I've only done it once before, and it was brutal. The 1.7 miles this morning? Not so bad. I think I can easily work up to three miles by the end of June. My goal for the year so far has been to ride a hilly five mile route. Can I make a ten mile ride by August 19? Woof.
So where do I set my aim? My goals for this summer:
1) Unicycle three miles by the end of this month. That gives me just over two weeks.
2) Ride the five mile hilly route by the end of July.
3) Ride ten miles on August 19th.
That's shooting for the stars. But we gotta have goals. Success is measurable. Steps to success are measurable. Do you have goals? What steps are necessary to get there? What hinders your progress? Knowledge is power, and action is powerful.
Ready? AIM... Fire!!
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