Week 31
August 8, 2016
Day 204
Strength Day
3 pull ups. In a row. That's all I have to say.
Day 205
Exercise: Bike/Run
Time: 1 hour 30 minutes/1 hour 15 minutes
Distance: 24 miles/6.5 miles
It rained today, so I was forced to bike indoors. I hated it so much that I decided to do my run outside even though it was still raining. Despite being soaked, I still enjoyed exercising outside. There is something more natural about being out in creation while exercising. It's more cathartic. Truthfully, I've been looking for a way to use the word cathartic ever since I learned what it meant ("providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions"). Not sure I used it right, but we're going with it. The point is running outside makes me feel better. That's all I'm trying to say.
Day 206
Exercise: Bike/Run
Time: 1 hour 20 minutes/1 hour 5 minutes
Distance: 19 miles/6 miles
I biked on the roads again, which I'm enjoying more every day, but you'll notice there is a huge difference in how far I went today and how far I went yesterday. The moral of the story is that being on a real bike is way harder. While simulating a bike ride in the safety of the gym is a decent exercise, it's a whole different experience when you're on a real bike and a real road. There's a life lesson in there somewhere...
Day 207
OFF
Garmin and I are having some trouble. We slept together last night, but this morning she was completely unresponsive. No matter what I did, she ignored me. I even pushed her buttons to try to get some sort of response, but nothing. I kept trying different things, but I couldn't turn her on. Now, I'd be lying if I said this was the first time I've had this sort of girl trouble, but that doesn't mean it doesn't still hurt my pride a little.
Anyway, she's completely shut down right now, and I don't feel right exercising without her. Tough off day emotionally.
Day 208
Exercise: Bike
Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Distance: 40 miles
Garmin came back to me today. All she needed was some power and a little electricity. Once I gave her the spark she needed, she was eager to get back to work, so we went for a long ride together.
In other news, hills exist. Biking is a blast when you're bombing hills around 40mph, but biking is not a blast when you're climbing hills around 4mph. Life is really just a series of hills though isn't it? Some days the uphill climb is a struggle, but other days the downhill bomb is easy. I learned today that when I'm climbing I get focused on the pavement in front of me and I hate every second of it. On the other hand, when I'm bombing I look around and enjoy the scenery. The truth is that the scenery, and the peace and joy that come when I enjoy it, is always there. My pleasure is determined by the perspective I choose. Whether climbing or bombing, I can choose to focus on pavement or pine trees.
I know which one I'll enjoy more, but I still have to make the decision of where to look. We all have that same decision every day.
Day 209
Exercise: Bike/Run
Time: 1 hour/1 hour 47 minutes
Distance: 15 miles/10 miles
Remember earlier this week when I ran in the rain? Yeah I ran outside again today, and even though it didn't rain, I was equally wet as I was earlier this week. I was completely covered in sweat from head to toe. Every article of clothing I had on was soaked. I had to wring the sweat out of my socks and shorts. Yes, that's gross, but that's where I'm at today. Somewhat overwhelmed by sweat and sogginess.
Day 210
OFF