BIKE: Mike
TIME THERE: 27 min.
TIME BACK: 28 min.
WEATHER: clear, -10C, 7 km/hr wind there; clear, -3C (-7C with windchill), 11 km/hr wind back.
WHAT I WORE: warm-up pants, turtleneck, waterproof shell, running gloves, balaclava
NOTES:
Maybe it's the time of year. Maybe it's a hormonal thing. Maybe I'm not eating as much as I should, given how much I exercise on a typical weekday. Maybe it's just that my life is fucking exhausting. Or maybe it's all of the above. Whatever the contributing factors, the result is the same: I'm tired, and I'm feeling down.
Last night my daughter was up at 3:00 am. Although she went back to bed without my intervention, she was on-and-off up for the rest of the night, which meant that I didn't really get much meaningful sleep after 3:00 am. And my ride to work today felt okay, but the ride home was really tiring. My thigh muscles were slightly achey and burny from the moment I mounted my bike, and they didn't get any better as I made my way home. I felt like I was fighting the wind both ways, even though I wasn't (I was biking into the wind on the way home only, and even then the wind was pretty mild).
My daughter throws a tantrum over everything - EVERYTHING - and most of the time I have the patience to deal with it appropriately. Now, though, my tolerance for that kind of behaviour is virtually gone. So when I took her grocery shopping this evening after work and she threw a tantrum as I put her in the car, then again as I took her out, then again when I prevented her from running away from me in the parking lot, then again when I tried putting her in the grocery cart, then again . . . well, it was pretty well a constant tantrum, including the whole time I was making dinner and trying to eat it after getting the groceries. By the time I put her to bed tonight I just wanted to cry, and maybe I would have if I had the energy. But I just don't have it in me to do even that.
GAH! And my fucking cat's breath is HEINOUS! He's sitting at my feet as I'm typing and the odor emanating from his mouth is ghastly. I can smell it all the way up here! What the hell??
I think I'm going to try going to bed at 9:00 tonight. Maybe if I can just get one really good night's rest, everything will be bright and cheery again in the morning . . . or maybe I just need a fucking vacation from my LIFE!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Week Twenty-Five - Day Three: The Pale Sickly Grad Student Becomes an Athlete!!
BIKE: Mike
TIME THERE: 27 min.
TIME BACK: 26 min. (woot woot!)
WEATHER: A few clouds, -5C (-11C with windchill), 15km/hr wind there; clear, 2C (-3C with windchill), 19km/hr wind back.
WHAT I WORE: fleece pants, turtleneck, waterproof shell, double gloves, balaclava
NOTES:
I am a pale, unathletic woman who managed to put on 90 lbs between grad school and having a baby. I have never participated in sports, not even as a child, except for my years of fairly uncompetitive horseback riding (which my brothers insisted was not a sport, and certainly not athletic). Since starting my bike-commuting efforts in September, I've managed to lose 36 lbs of that 90 lbs I've put on over the past few years. Despite this, I still consider myself quite out of shape, unfit, and by all means unathletic. Bike-commuting is a mode of transportation to me, not a sport.
Until today.
Today, I began chatting with a couple of my fellow grad students - one even a fellow mother - about a radical idea: why don't we team up and do a triathlon as a team? The other PhD mama would do the running, our Master's student friend would do the swimming, and your beloved obese HealthyBiker - moi - would do the cycling. The more we talked about it, the more excited we got, and we started looking into this more seriously.
We now have our eyes on a specific triathlon - a "sprint" length (about half the distance of a regular triathlon) women's-only race that will be held in the first week of September of this year. The cycling component of the race would require me to bike 20 km. Since I routinely bike 16 km a day (although not all at once!), I'm hoping it won't be too much of a stretch for me to try for 20 km all together, especially without all the start-and-stop work I have to do when biking in traffic.
By then, I'm hoping I'll be a whole lot more svelte and close to - if not already at - my target weight and fitness level after my year-long commuting challenge ends August 31st. And because it's only a half-length triathlon that we're doing as a team, it seems like a great little introduction to cycling as a sport for me. And I even get to do it with friends!
The more I think about it, the more excited I get. ME - an ATHLETE!! How cool!! And best of all, every day that I ride into work is another day of "training" for the big race. Now, all we have to think of is a team name. Sadly, the most fitting one we've come up with so far is The Pale Sickly Grad Students. Maybe we should be The Book Worms instead. Or maybe The Registered Psychos! Because we're all working towards registering as professional psychologists . . . get it?? Eh??
Meh. Our name could use some fine-tuning . . . The important thing is, I'M GOING TO BE AN ATHLETE!!! Woo hoo!!! Maybe this will be a whole new chapter in my life - the chapter that involves me turning from a pale PhD-educated artist (I am, if you don't recall, a filmmaker) into a jock! Ha! Who knew?? My jock brothers will be so proud . . .
TIME THERE: 27 min.
TIME BACK: 26 min. (woot woot!)
WEATHER: A few clouds, -5C (-11C with windchill), 15km/hr wind there; clear, 2C (-3C with windchill), 19km/hr wind back.
WHAT I WORE: fleece pants, turtleneck, waterproof shell, double gloves, balaclava
NOTES:
I am a pale, unathletic woman who managed to put on 90 lbs between grad school and having a baby. I have never participated in sports, not even as a child, except for my years of fairly uncompetitive horseback riding (which my brothers insisted was not a sport, and certainly not athletic). Since starting my bike-commuting efforts in September, I've managed to lose 36 lbs of that 90 lbs I've put on over the past few years. Despite this, I still consider myself quite out of shape, unfit, and by all means unathletic. Bike-commuting is a mode of transportation to me, not a sport.
Until today.
Today, I began chatting with a couple of my fellow grad students - one even a fellow mother - about a radical idea: why don't we team up and do a triathlon as a team? The other PhD mama would do the running, our Master's student friend would do the swimming, and your beloved obese HealthyBiker - moi - would do the cycling. The more we talked about it, the more excited we got, and we started looking into this more seriously.
We now have our eyes on a specific triathlon - a "sprint" length (about half the distance of a regular triathlon) women's-only race that will be held in the first week of September of this year. The cycling component of the race would require me to bike 20 km. Since I routinely bike 16 km a day (although not all at once!), I'm hoping it won't be too much of a stretch for me to try for 20 km all together, especially without all the start-and-stop work I have to do when biking in traffic.
By then, I'm hoping I'll be a whole lot more svelte and close to - if not already at - my target weight and fitness level after my year-long commuting challenge ends August 31st. And because it's only a half-length triathlon that we're doing as a team, it seems like a great little introduction to cycling as a sport for me. And I even get to do it with friends!
The more I think about it, the more excited I get. ME - an ATHLETE!! How cool!! And best of all, every day that I ride into work is another day of "training" for the big race. Now, all we have to think of is a team name. Sadly, the most fitting one we've come up with so far is The Pale Sickly Grad Students. Maybe we should be The Book Worms instead. Or maybe The Registered Psychos! Because we're all working towards registering as professional psychologists . . . get it?? Eh??
Meh. Our name could use some fine-tuning . . . The important thing is, I'M GOING TO BE AN ATHLETE!!! Woo hoo!!! Maybe this will be a whole new chapter in my life - the chapter that involves me turning from a pale PhD-educated artist (I am, if you don't recall, a filmmaker) into a jock! Ha! Who knew?? My jock brothers will be so proud . . .
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Week Twenty-Five - Day Two: The Daycare Dilemma
BIKE: Mike
TIME THERE: 29 min.
TIME BACK: 28 min.
WEATHER: overcast, -6C, 6 km/hr wind there; overcast, 2C, 9 km/hr wind back.
WHAT I WORE: fleece pants, turtleneck, waterproof shell, double gloves, balaclava
NOTES:
Since beginning my bike-commuting challenge in September, I've typically driven my daughter to daycare, driven home, gotten my bike, and then biked to work. I would then bike home, pick up the car, and drive to pick up my daughter from daycare at the end of the day. I was never a fan of this system because I was still using my car every day, even if only for a total of 2.5 km, and I was having to scrape the frost off my car windows every day, which I really don't enjoy.
This week, now that it's gotten milder out and it's not so awful to have my daughter exposed to the elements for 10 minutes at a time, I've been trying different methods of transporting her to and from daycare. I tried pulling her in a sled as I half-walked, half-jogged there, though with all the melting during the day and freezing overnight we've had, the terrain is either pavement or pockmarked ice, and neither are great for dragging a plastic sled over. Also, the sled doesn't have straps in it so my daughter can easily roll herself out of the sled or - more likely - throw a tantrum and fall out of the sled inadvertently, hurting herself in the process. This isn't a good thing. Result: sled - FAIL.
I tried biking with my daughter in the bike trailer, but this was a terrible idea. You see, the way to the daycare is all along side roads, and these roads are maybe 1/4 pavement and 3/4 ice right now. I was sweating with nerves the whole ride as I tried everything I could to keep my balance and not tip the trailer on the icy, uneven roads. I tried riding on the road, which felt awful because I had to swerve all over the place to try to avoid the most dangerous parts. I also tried the sidewalks, which weren't any clearer than the roads and had the additional issue of people parking trucks in their driveways so that the back ends completely blocked off the sidewalks and forced me onto the road anyway. This felt remarkably unsafe, and as much as I'm willing to take calculated risks while biking myself, I am absolutely not willing to put my daughter at risk in the same way. Result: Biking - FAIL.
Finally, today I tried taking her in a jogging stroller. This is not the best jogging stroller - something I bought from Costco for $125 a couple years ago, and it has seen much better days. In fact, at least two components of it are broken: the handle that collapses the stroller so it's storable is completely out of commission, so I can't fold the stroller down for storage, and the brake lever must be tied up so it doesn't continually fall into place and make the stroller brake unexpectedly. Despite these obvious downsides, the stroller has proven it can handle the rough, icy terrain, it provides a comfortable ride for my daughter, and it allows me to get in an additional 2.5 km walk into my day on top of the 16 km of biking I do, all without fearing for my or my daughter's life along the way. So . . . Result: Stroller - WIN.
Sure, it's not the best, and it still requires me stopping at home between work and daycare to "change equipment" - shift from stroller to bike, or vice versa - but it looks like the best option so far. And I only have to leave the house about 10 minutes earlier than if I were driving, which is completely do-able, as I discovered today. The long-term forecast says that the temperature is going to drop again next week, so perhaps I'll have to drive for a few days so my daughter doesn't freeze, but with the exception of those colder days, it seems I may have solved the daycare transportation dilemma! Now, here's hoping the stroller lives long enough to get me through the rest of my bike-commuting challenge . . .
TIME THERE: 29 min.
TIME BACK: 28 min.
WEATHER: overcast, -6C, 6 km/hr wind there; overcast, 2C, 9 km/hr wind back.
WHAT I WORE: fleece pants, turtleneck, waterproof shell, double gloves, balaclava
NOTES:
Since beginning my bike-commuting challenge in September, I've typically driven my daughter to daycare, driven home, gotten my bike, and then biked to work. I would then bike home, pick up the car, and drive to pick up my daughter from daycare at the end of the day. I was never a fan of this system because I was still using my car every day, even if only for a total of 2.5 km, and I was having to scrape the frost off my car windows every day, which I really don't enjoy.
This week, now that it's gotten milder out and it's not so awful to have my daughter exposed to the elements for 10 minutes at a time, I've been trying different methods of transporting her to and from daycare. I tried pulling her in a sled as I half-walked, half-jogged there, though with all the melting during the day and freezing overnight we've had, the terrain is either pavement or pockmarked ice, and neither are great for dragging a plastic sled over. Also, the sled doesn't have straps in it so my daughter can easily roll herself out of the sled or - more likely - throw a tantrum and fall out of the sled inadvertently, hurting herself in the process. This isn't a good thing. Result: sled - FAIL.
I tried biking with my daughter in the bike trailer, but this was a terrible idea. You see, the way to the daycare is all along side roads, and these roads are maybe 1/4 pavement and 3/4 ice right now. I was sweating with nerves the whole ride as I tried everything I could to keep my balance and not tip the trailer on the icy, uneven roads. I tried riding on the road, which felt awful because I had to swerve all over the place to try to avoid the most dangerous parts. I also tried the sidewalks, which weren't any clearer than the roads and had the additional issue of people parking trucks in their driveways so that the back ends completely blocked off the sidewalks and forced me onto the road anyway. This felt remarkably unsafe, and as much as I'm willing to take calculated risks while biking myself, I am absolutely not willing to put my daughter at risk in the same way. Result: Biking - FAIL.
Finally, today I tried taking her in a jogging stroller. This is not the best jogging stroller - something I bought from Costco for $125 a couple years ago, and it has seen much better days. In fact, at least two components of it are broken: the handle that collapses the stroller so it's storable is completely out of commission, so I can't fold the stroller down for storage, and the brake lever must be tied up so it doesn't continually fall into place and make the stroller brake unexpectedly. Despite these obvious downsides, the stroller has proven it can handle the rough, icy terrain, it provides a comfortable ride for my daughter, and it allows me to get in an additional 2.5 km walk into my day on top of the 16 km of biking I do, all without fearing for my or my daughter's life along the way. So . . . Result: Stroller - WIN.
Sure, it's not the best, and it still requires me stopping at home between work and daycare to "change equipment" - shift from stroller to bike, or vice versa - but it looks like the best option so far. And I only have to leave the house about 10 minutes earlier than if I were driving, which is completely do-able, as I discovered today. The long-term forecast says that the temperature is going to drop again next week, so perhaps I'll have to drive for a few days so my daughter doesn't freeze, but with the exception of those colder days, it seems I may have solved the daycare transportation dilemma! Now, here's hoping the stroller lives long enough to get me through the rest of my bike-commuting challenge . . .
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Week Twenty-Five - Day One: Junk in the Trunk
BIKE: Mike
TIME THERE: 28 min.
TIME BACK: ?? (forgot to check time before leaving - I do know it was definitely less than 30 min. though, given the time I left work)
WEATHER: clear, -10C, no wind there; clear, 0C, 9km/hr wind back.
WHAT I WORE: fleece pants, t-shirt, fleece jacket, double gloves (cotton mini-gloves under running gloves), balaclava
NOTES:
I was packing some serious junk in my trunk today. This is what I packed into my panniers this morning:
- breakfast: a small container of dry oatmeal
- lunch: a medium container of chili, an apple, small bag of carrots, All-Bran Snack Bites, string cheese, small can of diet pop
- 500mL milk (for coffee and oatmeal for the rest of the week)
- makeup bag
- business-casual grey pants and purple button-up blouse to change into at work
- wallet
- glasses
- pack of gum
- cell phone
- lip balm
I had the pleasure of going to the movie store over the weekend without my daughter, just being able to hop on the bike and go without panniers or a bike trailer or a screaming toddler riding behind me. I was amazed at how much lighter the bike was without panniers. I'd completely forgotten what it was like to ride without them, and it was amazing how much of a difference that loss of junk-in-the-trunk weight made in how easy and fast riding became. Who knew it would make such a difference??
I stopped by the university's student-run sustainability office today at lunch, as a helpful HealthyBiker blog reader told me about the drop-in bike mechanic hours held there. I took Mike in and watched him get a really good cleaning, one I've never been able to give him so far because I've lacked the proper equipment (mostly, a brush that looks vaguely like a hoof pick). I learned how to clean him up properly and take care of his chain and the importance of a good lube that's properly suited to the weather (apparently, the lube I've been using this whole time is not a great one for winter because it tends to freeze in cold weather!). I also asked how to change his brake pads, as those will need replacing pretty quickly, and got some great advice from the mechanic on site. It was really educational, and what a delight to know that this resource is on campus - even in my building! - and that I can stop in whenever I need to for advice or help or whatever I might need to keep Mike healthy and happy.
I'm learning - slowly. It's nice to have a hobby, something aside from work and parenting towards which to direct my attention and effort and capacity for learning. The sad truth is, I haven't really had one in a very long time, probably not since starting university. So it's nice. I don't even mind the greasy fingernails that inherently come with it. :)
And, of course, the added bonus: I'm losing my junk in the trunk. This time, I'm not referring to my panniers.
TIME THERE: 28 min.
TIME BACK: ?? (forgot to check time before leaving - I do know it was definitely less than 30 min. though, given the time I left work)
WEATHER: clear, -10C, no wind there; clear, 0C, 9km/hr wind back.
WHAT I WORE: fleece pants, t-shirt, fleece jacket, double gloves (cotton mini-gloves under running gloves), balaclava
NOTES:
I was packing some serious junk in my trunk today. This is what I packed into my panniers this morning:
- breakfast: a small container of dry oatmeal
- lunch: a medium container of chili, an apple, small bag of carrots, All-Bran Snack Bites, string cheese, small can of diet pop
- 500mL milk (for coffee and oatmeal for the rest of the week)
- makeup bag
- business-casual grey pants and purple button-up blouse to change into at work
- wallet
- glasses
- pack of gum
- cell phone
- lip balm
I had the pleasure of going to the movie store over the weekend without my daughter, just being able to hop on the bike and go without panniers or a bike trailer or a screaming toddler riding behind me. I was amazed at how much lighter the bike was without panniers. I'd completely forgotten what it was like to ride without them, and it was amazing how much of a difference that loss of junk-in-the-trunk weight made in how easy and fast riding became. Who knew it would make such a difference??
I stopped by the university's student-run sustainability office today at lunch, as a helpful HealthyBiker blog reader told me about the drop-in bike mechanic hours held there. I took Mike in and watched him get a really good cleaning, one I've never been able to give him so far because I've lacked the proper equipment (mostly, a brush that looks vaguely like a hoof pick). I learned how to clean him up properly and take care of his chain and the importance of a good lube that's properly suited to the weather (apparently, the lube I've been using this whole time is not a great one for winter because it tends to freeze in cold weather!). I also asked how to change his brake pads, as those will need replacing pretty quickly, and got some great advice from the mechanic on site. It was really educational, and what a delight to know that this resource is on campus - even in my building! - and that I can stop in whenever I need to for advice or help or whatever I might need to keep Mike healthy and happy.
I'm learning - slowly. It's nice to have a hobby, something aside from work and parenting towards which to direct my attention and effort and capacity for learning. The sad truth is, I haven't really had one in a very long time, probably not since starting university. So it's nice. I don't even mind the greasy fingernails that inherently come with it. :)
And, of course, the added bonus: I'm losing my junk in the trunk. This time, I'm not referring to my panniers.
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