Fat & Slow

... and doing something about it.

Gahhh. I rode with some friends up Mt. Hamliton on Saturday and I was simply awful. Slow, lethargic, so much so that I couldn't even reach the freakin' summit. Well, to be more precise, I didn't want to reach the freakin' summit. I was tired!

Then I got on the scale the next day. 160 pounds - double gahhhh.

I'm tired of being the last one up the climbs all the time. It's time to do something about it.

I dug out my long distance cycling book and my RBR book and did some web surfing, and it's becoming apparent that I need to build up my strength this winter, especially my leg strength.

So, I'm starting a resistance training program. I came across a nifty site called SparkPeople which has a good exercise database, and together with my books and web searches I set up a training plan that hopefully I can stick to & will show some results. I'm not using any weights at the moment, but maybe at some point I'll incorporate light dumbells.

SparkPeople also has a food tracking function similar to Weight Watchers online. I'm going to use this to keep track of what I eat. Maybe I can get under 150 lbs once and for all -- a girl can hope.

Boo hiss, California!

Keith Olberman said it much better than I - read (or better yet, listen) to what he had to say here.

Here's an excerpt:
If you voted for this Proposition or support those who did or the sentiment they expressed, I have some questions, because, truly, I do not understand. Why does this matter to you? What is it to you? In a time of impermanence and fly-by-night relationships, these people over here want the same chance at permanence and happiness that is your option. They don't want to deny you yours. They don't want to take anything away from you. They want what you want — a chance to be a little less alone in the world.

Back home

Lee & I are back home after a week in Massachusetts visiting with family and attending my niece's wedding.

Dang, it's beautiful out there. Too bad they have winter. :^)

My niece Nicole's wedding was lovely. It was held at Jiminy Peak in the Berkshires. The ceremony was a combination of Catholic and Jewish traditions - Nicole's husband Michael is Jewish. I gave a reading (since I'm Nikki's godmother). I'm happy to report I didn't trip on my high heels going up and back from the chuppa.

I was thrilled to finally meet Michael, he's a sweetheart. Best wishes and mazel tov to the couple!

And it was great to be re-acquainted with the family after a long separation. Stay in touch now guys, y'hear???

SFR Winters 200K in the books

On Saturday I rode the SF Randonneurs 200K from Hercules to Winters & back, with V and Mel.

It rained overnight and more rain was predicted. I thought of bringing Pokey w fenders but I hadn't ridden him in ages & I had no time this week to check him out. So Dusty it was. Turns out we were sprinkled on only a little and the wet roads dried out by late morning. I was awfully grubby though, and Dusty is a mess. So it goes.

I had a great day. I was feeling very good and I (almost) never had those negative thoughts that plague me on long rides. Many of the roads we followed I'd ridden on at one time or another, so it was nice to go though sort of familiar territory. I did lots of rides with Sarah & Bill out this way, and they were in my thoughts a lot but luckily, SK's singing wasn't. We even went along much of the same route SK and I rode for the Jelly Belly ride, a training ride we volunteered to help lead many moons ago (which was memorable in an oh-my-gawd-can-you-believe-that sort of way ...).

It was one of those days when big ominous rain clouds would pass overhead but then be gone before they actually dumped on us. When the sun came out it was clear as glass, and the many vineyards we passed were starting to develop their fall colors. The repaved Wooden Valley Road was an absolute joy. Cruising along Wooden Valley with a big silly grin on my face, I couldn't help but marvel at how fortunate I am to be a cyclist living in the Bay Area.

The only big blah was after the penultimate checkpoint, when we were hit with the brunt of the afternoon post-storm wind as we were heading along the Carquinez Straight. Lake Herman Road was an absolute bear - generally uphill and full face into the wind. Gaaaaah. After the Lake Herman torture fest the four of us (me, Mel, V and Andrew) kindof-sortof stuck together and managed a paceline of sorts before the bridge thru Vallejo and after the bridge thru Rodeo.

But we finished, and all was well. I was DFL but so what, I felt great and it wasn't all that late - at least I didn't need the lights I brought :D

I'm really happy that I finally seem to be getting into the long distance groove. Three down!