Another Spring; Another Challenge

If I may be so bold as to borrow a famous line:

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
The band is playing somewhere, and hearts are light,
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout;
That somewhere is right here - today I got my bike back out.

Up until Monday, my bike still hung from the ceiling of the garage where I put it away last October. My bike shorts (not spandex shorts, I'm not that into biking, but regular athletic shorts) still rested in my drawer. My helmet remained on its hook, waiting to be used again.

But on Monday they had their chance.

For the first time this year, the sun came out and gave us a 60 degree day. For the first time in 2014 I mounted my bike, earbuds blasting music by The Baseball Project, and set off for a ride. And as I rode, it struck me that it was opening day. Opening Day 2014 and I was setting out for my first ride since the last game of last years World Series in October. I won't get into how depressing that could be that winter lasts five solid months here. I won't mention how frustrating it is that I haven't worked out since the RedSox won their last game.

Instead, I moved on to figure out how I can re-motivate, and I didn't have to look far.


Opening Day.

World Series.

Lets play too.


So, I'm challenging myself (and you, if you think you can) to put in 162 workouts in the next 214 days.

162 workouts between the first pitch in March and the last out in October.

Perhaps this was not the best thought out challenge, because 162 in 214 comes out to about five workouts a week. But while I'm taking a hard stance on the number, I'm playing it cool with the type.

So take a bike ride. Go on a run. Walk around the block. Even pull the kids in the wagon up the block 20 times. Whatever it is, just get out and get moving.

Then head over to Daily Mile and record it.

See how you do.

I dare you.

I'm Going to Pump *Clap* You Up!

No, I'm not heading to the gym with Hans and Franz, I'm pumping up my bike tires. And you can too!

Every year as summer comes around, I think about the delicious Christmas ham and that bird we stuffed and gorged ourselves on in November. I think about the cold-weather climate I live in and how animals store up fat for their long winter hibernation. I also think about how I used to be a runner, and about 40 pounds lighter. To be fair, that was when I left high school - college happened (we all know how that goes), I've gotten married and started raising two kids, and about 15 years have gone by. Never-the-less, every summer I long to get back to fighting shape, but every year, something stands in my way.

• Left-over Easter candy sits in the cupboard
• Rotten weather sours my appetite for outdoor exercise
• Unaccommodating work schedules mix with child-care needs
• Gym memberships are expensive (then you add in child-care costs)
• I'm 30-something and my knees are already starting to go
• That third S'more and Porter at the weekend campfire look really good

Whatever it may be though, I struggle to get out and get healthy. Not this year.

This year I have a bike. And this year I am riding it. To this point, I have been riding for the last three weeks, about four days a week, and averaging about 5 miles a day. In fact, I'm feeling pretty good about it. To make things even better, I got a challenge. Publicly called out to put in 360 miles by the end of the year.

Seeing as I had already started riding, I thought: "What better way to stay committed than by bragging about how far I ride online?!" That's what the internet is for anyway, right? That and trolling... It doesn't take much to get out and work out if you're properly motivated. And right now, I'm motivated. The folks over at Dads Round Table got it started, and I'm committed to finishing it.

360 miles sounds like a lot, and if I trail off come winter, it might not happen.

But it only takes three months for something to become a habit.
That's a fact.
Don't ask me how I know.

Fine, I read it on the internet, but regardless... three months gets me into September, and the weather is still nice in September. As the weather does turn into fall and then winter, I'll be into the rhythm of going out every day, and if I can't ride the bike, I'll be up for a jog around the neighborhood.

Until the point I can't ride due to snow and ice, I'll just have to push myself to get ahead of the curve on mileage. You know, average 25 miles a week instead of 13. Ride five days instead of four. Skip that third s'more... but not the porter. I like my porters, leave them out of this.

Are you motivated? If not, why? What would it take for you to get out and get started? Why not join me in the DadsRT360 challenge?