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!!