Staying Healthy

... in all ways.

We sure get rusty in the Winter, even though we think we're keeping our conditioning by doing gym machines or trainers. We don't. Winter is Winter, and offseason is offseason. And it's tough to break that rust off of us every Spring. Every time I think I have a solution, it never comes out right, and instead I have to count on enduring the ravages of Winter, maintaining some fitness, and having early Spring enthusiasm to get back to shape (the earlier in Spring the better). Winter comes to every season, every year, but Spring is not far behind.

The same is true with life in general. Every now and then there's a tough "Winter" that happens and hits us hard... and tries to snow us in. But we know in our hearts that it's followed soon by a Spring. The question is how to deal with Winter offseason... how to maintain some level of sanity... and how to remember to go back outside early in Spring. Winter can come from people, relationships, career or other stressors. Offseason training can range from pills to mental fortitude, thought control, praying and therapy. Spring is getting back to life and back to the peer group. And the key is positive enthusiasm and self-motivation, just like in riding.

Personally, I've had to lose 15 pounds of weight and 5 years of memories this Spring... and am on the way there. I'm breaking free from that rust.

- © 2008 by Willy
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Do Nothing

Brother Andre was seated next to his walker when he smiled and said "This place is for the birds!" As the nearby wren sang his song, we continued to chat outside the cafeteria. Birds of all types flew around, attracted by the undeveloped area. The wind russled the shrubs into lulling noise, and we relaxed.

The monks' way is a low-key, low-effort, low-activity way of life. Time stands still in a monastery. Yes, they pray a lot... just like they eat a lot... and some have assignments to do, but there are big gaps in between to relax and do nothing.

One of the young monks was walking around very slowly outside praying the rosary in complete detachment from the world around him while I lapped him repeatedly, fast-walking the perimeter in a sweat.

I rushed in to the conference room while greeted by a sweet, simple, very slow and calming version of the Kyrie, to await a priest and his prepared speech on the Passion church history.

The Abbott quietly stated in his Holy Saturday homily "we simply wait in silence for the glory to come." This correlates with the "sometimes the best thing we can do is nothing" statement going around.

Their lifestyle, and these statements, drives hyperactive codependents like me nuts.

Nothing? I don't get it, but there might be something to it.

- © 2008 by Willy
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Start of Bicycle Commuting

It's finally reached the right conditions to start daily bike commuting to work and elsewhere. I've been monitoring The Weather Channel with bated breath: 40 degrees overnight, no initial rain and a rain forecast of 50% or less. Last night's forecast finally showed this, so I was thrilled... I had not bike commuted since October. I pumped the fat tires, laid out shell and lycra, set alarm clocks and went to bed early.

On awakening, I was as excited as a kid going to Six Flags. I flicked on headlight and blinkies, and started off down my mountain. In five minutes legs were cold but fingers were truly frozen (gloves and long johns tomorrow). Car traffic was light, there were no bugs, some birds were awake, met one walker, and had bad night blindness due to passing car headlights... but sunrise twilight started halfway into the ride.

I rode on shoulders, sidewalks and grass. The traffic cooperated when I signaled that I needed to take the lane to get to the checkpoint. A little later I waited on the shoulder for a gap in order to do a left into my bldg.

I took it easy but made the commute in the same 35 minutes it took me last year. I chained the bike to the fence, changed clothes and became a regular working stiff drinking his morning cup but with a big grin. I was happy... and appreciative to have survived the traffic one more time.

The way out had less traffic, since I left early to make a doctor's appointment. The sun was warm, traffic was light, and it was fun showing off my bike garb to the doctor's staff. But climbing up my home hill afterwards was exhausting and slow... I guess I am out of shape after all.

It sure was a great small adventure, and I hope to continue it on a daily basis.

- © 2008 by Willy
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End-of-Winter Hike

Yesterday I had planned to do another social bike ride but couldn't do it because it snowed 2 inches the night before, very unusual for this time of year in the South. I went to the gym instead and did a spinning class and an additional hour of cardio machines. I'm trying to increase my cardio endurance to start the season right. I even put a new battery in the Flight Deck.

My bike goal is to do long-and-slow solos, credit-card camping, on weekends... bringing this up to a solid week of beach-to-home. I've also scheduled two long hikes... a week in the Rockies and a week for rim-to-rim Grand Canyon.

This morning it was beautiful sunny but freezing when I got up, so I put on boots and down, went to breakfast and followed that with a 4-hour 8-mile hike that included two 1,000-foot climbs. I'm proud of myself, but boy, do my feet hurt tonight!

Today I took it easy, left my mp3 player and heart rate monitor home, and enjoyed the bird sounds and the melting snows and ice gurgling into runoff. Took some pictures, and lots of filmclips... I love the way water sounds relax me.

This is definitely my favorite time for hiking.

Life is good again.

- © 2008 by Willy

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Gratitude List

Making a new Gratitude List every time depression or anxiety present itself is a terrific coping strategy that forces a positive outlook and a positive attitude. Also, there's something said about this rewiring your brain. Key is to keep the gratitudes positive and always tell myself the truth. Here goes today's...

I'm grateful because I'm in control of my own life and have nobody to tell me what to do. Although I do have responsibilities and obligations to meet, there is no nagging or bitching at home or work.

I'm grateful for my programming by The Creator since birth for thirst for knowledge and self-reliance... I do stuff rather than depend on others. I'm grateful because I do not have to bother my friends.

I'm grateful because I have faith and do believe in God and His miracles.

I'm grateful that what I do, I do well... and that I love what I do. And I'm grateful to be very well respected in my technical field.

Managerially I'm trusted with significant power over people's careers. I'm grateful for this trust I've earned from my peers and management, and for the grace to keep my composure.

I'm grateful to be able to do the right thing, no matter what (I'm not politically correct).

I'm grateful for my blessings... the many mentors and angels I've had, that I'm a part of. Without them, I wouldn't be me. And for my helpers who I myself mentor, and who will inherit my work; thus for all the students and teachers I've had, formally or informally and for all my coworkers, friends and acquaintances; for all my dependents and failed relationships, and for my enemies too, because they also shaped my life.

Thus, I'm even grateful to have fallen in love, although I'm not doing it again because it about killed me.

I'm grateful because I do love good, kind people, although I suffer no fools. That I can be kind and generous with time and money, and that I can sympathize and empathize with friends and family and help when needed.

I'm grateful that my two kids are gone, learning self-reliance by separating from their mamma-daddy (me!). That I was able to influence them in a positive way, and that they have grown up nicely.

I'm grateful because I've been able to remain physically active and healthy. I weightlift, yet am limber and flexible, and yet still, my cardio doesn't suffer. I'm able with 100-pound dumbbells as well as 100-mile rides. I'm grateful because I've been able to deal with accidents, injuries and deterioration... and continue.

I'm grateful that I am at peace with myself and thus can get a good night's sleep.

I'm grateful because I make a decent income, have a plan for retirement, live in a nice, comfy house with a terrific view of the city, close to work, in a small town with plenty of outdoors opportunities close by, and do take a lot of adventuresome vacations.

I'm grateful to have contributed to life.

I'm grateful for my massage therapist, my dry cleaner and my maid... all long-term regular gifts to myself.

I'm grateful because I have common sense, which I have found uncommon in the populace.

I'm grateful that I'm not crazy. And I'm extremely grateful for having a good sense of humor, which has kept my life interesting and me sane under tough circumstances [wink!].

- © 2008 by Willy
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I, Robot

Finishing up leftover errands from yesterday took me most of the morning, which was fine, since the day had been getting sunnier and warmer throughout.

I put on last night's ragtag clothes... no use sweating up clean clothes... with wool socks and traditional Vasque leather full boots tightly laced. After breakfast with 2 cups of coffee and extra water I strapped heart rate monitor, mp3 player, camera, GPS, shades and pole, and started walking to the trailhead... why drive if I have all day to hike?

Two weeks ago, I did a relaxed 3-hour hike on a beautiful day in which all 3 hours were spent fighting thoughts rather than enjoying nature.

Today, thoughts constrained and focused on the task ahead, I started the climb. Timing my breath to the single mp3 song paced my walk cadence... short steps when steep, long steps when level, all the time keeping the cadence. My mission being to move, there was no paying attention to birds and nature today. When my breath and heartbeat became labored, I concentrated on the song and kept going like the machine that I am. Being a new trail for me, even though it's behind my back yard, I had a tendency to go slow and careful, which I fought. Towards the end, when fatigue could have taken its toll, I smiled, forced myself and found the energy to keep the cadence. No rest today. I was in pain but these were growing pains... I'd grow physically and mentally. I was again a machine at operating temperature and pressure, doing constant work. The Energizer Bunny had nothing on me.

Rock after rock, the trail continued for hours... step by step done mechanically... until the sun set.

No need for thought control today.

I did it.

- © 2008 by Willy
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Back to Social Bike Riding

I haven't done much social club bike riding lately, but rather solo rides. So, today my buddy Roger talked me into getting back into the fold.

It was a gorgeous day by the 10 am start time. Sun came out at 9 and the temps rose dramatically.

There were the two usual group starts: the hardbutts and the slowpokes... some with cruisers... thus there were variations within the group.

My strategy was to look over the group pre-start and opt out if I detected an undesirable person, but that wasn't needed.

We rode 40+ miles in 4 hours, including 2 long breaks, for a 14 mph total average. My last half-hour was done in survival mode, since this was my first long ride of the season, previous rides being 2 hours or less. I've got to get more serious at gym cardio and bring my endurance and average back up.

Roger stuck with me at the head of the slowpoke group, even though he's thin and strong enough to have gone on with the hardbutts. The winds were manageable, road surfaces mostly good, traffic was light, and there were no dog incidents. I enjoyed talking with Roger and some others but just barely tolerated the few chatty ones (I'm used to silence during a ride). The good thing about group rides with a leader is that he's planned the ride, that you ride with a bunch of enthusiastic people, and that it was nice to be outside riding on different roads to a different destination.

Tomorrow I'm hiking my mountain for several hours, solo... I miss my solitude.

- © 2008 by Willy
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