Friday, February 25, 2011

Life On A Bike, Thursday, February 24th, 2011

Another day on the stationary bike, 34.2 miles. I rode and it felt weird. Like I was going in slow motion, I just didn't ride that fast today in the 104 minutes on the bike. The legs feel good, the hip and the back are ok. I can't wait to get outside, hopefully next week I can ride to work for the first time this year. Plus only my third time outside this year.

I finished the Michael Waltrip book. That was a good book, I highly recomend it, his insights into the 2001 Dayton 500 were awesome. I started another book, Ron Darling's, The complete pitcher.

Well somehow I really need to cut this out, I have been eating way to much snack foods. I had Oreo's, Snickers and Milkey Way's this afternoon after work. Plus to cups of soda at work. I mean, I had a good start, my usual yogurt for breakfast. A double cheeseburger for lunch. And a couple of grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner. Plus a whole bunch of water. What am I doing wrong that I can't loose this gut?

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Life On A Bike, Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011

Well, today I went 35.6 miles on the stationary bike. The back hurts a little right now, but the legs feel good. I could've gone more.

Well I continued to read Michael Waltrip's book. There is only one problem, I still can't watch the 2001 Daytona 500's final lap without getting emotional. The death of Dale Earnhardt senior, still hits me when I think about it. Reading about it in Waltrip's book, hit home the way he said it, I started to cry while peddleing. It has been ten years since it happend and I still can't watch it or think about it.

Life On A Bike, Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

Today, i went the furthest I have gone all year long, 34.2 miles. It was on the stationary bike, and took 105 minutes. You know what though it felt good. I started to read the book by Michael Waltrip, and got almost halfway thru it. Good book, so far, looking back on his career. Still have to get to the point were the crash in the 2001 Daytona 500 happends. That will be hard to read as I am a big Dale Earnhardt fan.

The legs feel good, and even the hip feels good. It was really hurting me at work today. I don't know why but when I ride the day before the hip and back don't hurt nearly as bad. I guess I get stretched out or something.

I have one more thing on my mind. I have riden for the past three years for the American Kidney Fund in honor of my father, Alan. He is a dialysis patient for the past seven years. Some friends have been donating a penny for every mile I ride throughout the year to the Kidney Fund. The Fund has helped my family a lot with money and equitment.

I say this because my father has been in the hospital for over a month now after suffering a stroke on the 17th of January. It is really hard not to have him at home. That is the reason I didn't ride for a month, I was so busy with him that I let myself go. I need to get my life back together, and do things for him and in honor of him. Basically grow up, and take care of myself more than I already do. I miss not being able to have him encourage me to go and ride the bike at the gym every night. It is hard to see him in the rehab hospital day after day having to relearn how to speak and how to eat. He still doesn't have complete control of him face and him speech is slured. It is really hard to watch, that with him dialysis, makes me wonder how much more good times there will be with him.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Life On A Bike, Sunday, February 20th, 2011

Life Is Good

I am really enjoying getting back on the bike, yes even the stationary bike. I would much rather be outside riding but oh well. Today I went 22.8 miles in my 1:05 on the bike.

The only problem was that the left knee was hurting a little but oh well. I did go a little harder then I did the day before.

Life On A Bike, Saturday, February 19th, 2011

I rode again on the stationary bike. Time went by really fast while having my music going and reading a book. I went 22.4 miles.

Unfortunatly after I finished I sat in the gym for over an hour, reading that book. And just got home, oops. oh well,

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Life On A Bike, Friday, February 18th, 2011

Twice in one week, I rode, yes!!. Finally trying to get my life back together. The weight that I have put on is really making life hard. My right hip is killing me when I walk. It doesn't hurt at all when I ride. My back is hurting on that side, and my knee.

Tonight, I went and rode the stationary bike for an hour. 21 miles of fun. Finished reading the book 1984 finally. Plus I started, a book about Chris Coste of the Philadelphia Phillies. He survived thru 11 years in the minor leagues

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Life On A Bike, Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

It's been way to long since i've been on the bike. Since my father has been in the hospital, I unfortunatly haven't really taken much care of myself. I haven't exercised at all. I haven't eaten healthy or even really watched what I ate. I need to get back to being healthy. Mainly because the extra weight is hurting me. My back and hip are very painfull right now.

Today, I rode from home to Good Samaritain Hopsital in Downers Grove. I took, Warrenville road to Finley. Then Finley up north to Butterfield, or actually the frontage road next to there. It was really wet the entire way, with the big snow melt. Traffic really wasn't that bad, as I only got honked at once. Then onto Main St and to the hospital. The hill just before the hospital wasn't much fun, but oh well.

It was 8.1 miles there, mainly because I had to find a place to lock up the bike at the hospital. Visited with dad then had to come home before it got too dark. I had my lights with me and I used them the entire way home. It was around 48 degrees today, and felt good. I went the same way home, but had to make a few adjustments because of rush hour and the diffrent direction that I was coming from.

In all I went 16.1 miles of fun. The funny thing is my hip really didn't hurt when I was riding, it's killing me right now while I sit and type.

It is back indoors the next two days, with 20 mile per hour winds, and having to be at work at 7 am.

month 26..6, year 267.9, hours 24:53, total, 11,184.2

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Life On A Bike, Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011

Well, it's been awhile since i've been on the stationary bike, and I felt it. First off we had almost two feet of snow last night, so I spent four hours today shoveling out two cars. I was exhausted from just that.

Then for some reason, I decided to go and ride the stationary bike. Well it was a good decision, but hurt. I haven't riden in almost three weeks, because of my father and me having broncitis. I rode the stationary for a half hour tonight, felt good for the first 15 minutes on low hills. Then I had to go and do flat land for the other 15 minutes. I made it 10.5 miles, unfortunatly throughout the ride I was coughing big time.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Been a long time since I posted

It's been a long time since I posted, and it really has been a long time. Well two weeks ago my father had a stroke, so i've been dealing with the day to day stuff. Plus a day or two later I came down with bronchitis. So there went any riding, untill I get better. It's been two weeks, and i'm still coughing and hurting from being sick. Hopefully tomorrow I will get on the stationary bike. I know I will have to rebuild basically just like it was the begining of the offseason.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Life On A Bike, January 16th, 2011

Today, i rode the stationary bike again at the gym. I went 27.3 miles, plus doing ten sit ups. I rode a little longer because I felt like finishing off a chapter in the book 1984. The legs felt good, I just wasn't able to go that far. I don't know why, but oh well at least I went.

month/year 241.3 hours 22:18

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Life On A Bike, Friday, January 14th, 2011

Ive riden 9 out of 14 days this year, that is actually pretty good for me. Im still behind last years total, but I dont care.

Today I rode 22.5 miles on the stationary bike, doing light hills, legs feel pretty good. Read more of the book 1984, got done with the 65 minutes of hell, and stayed at the gym to finish the chapter.

month/year 214, hours 19:48

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Life On A Bike, Thursday, January 13th, 2011

Today, I felt like shit in the morning and afternoon. I had the day off work so I just slept most of the day. I must be coming down with something or another. I woke up in the afternoon and so far feel pretty good.

I rode on the stationary for the usual 65 minutes of hell. Did 22.7 miles of light hills. Legs feel pretty good, tired, but good. Read another 20 or so pages of the book 1984 while listening to music.

month/year, 191.5 hours 17:44

Life On A Bike, Wednesday, January 12th, 2011

I havent riden in a couple of day, for really no reason at all besides being lazy. I really should ride at least five out of the seven day of a week. I need to loose the weight.

Tonight I got off my lazy ass and went and rode 21.7 miles on the stationary bike. My legs feel good, but I just didn't have much energy. I should've riden farther but oh well.

Was listening to music, and continuing to read the book 1984.

month/year, 168.8, hours 15:39

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Life On A Bike, Sunday, January 9th, 2011

Since I have been off the bike for three days, i knew I was going to ride today. The thing I didn't know about was that it would be outside. Well when I left home around 11:30 it was 18 degrees out, with no wind. I went out and did my normal training ride towards Aurora and back.

This time it was cold, I was having a little trouble breathing originally. Probably because it has been two months since I have riden outside. Oh well, after like seven miles I started to feel a little better. Then I had my big hill on the training ride to deal with. Made it up that and all the way to Mitchell Ave. Decided to go and visit a friend first before I went for a hot chocolate. So I went into Batavia and visit my friend, plus refilled my water bottle too. It made for an extra eight miles or so, no big deal.

Got back on the bike and went to my normal turn around point at the 7-11 in North Aurora, Butterfield and Mitchell roads. Got a hot coco and rested. The main problem is my mouth was so cold I couldn't really tell how hot it was, so I burnt my tounge on the hot coco.

Made it back home in one piece. Really didn't feel the cold that much untill around the 25 mile mark or so, when my legs started to get cold. I ate one power bar, one hot coco. Four bottles of water. I had one five layers on top, plus three layers on the bottom.

33.7 miles tonight, 10.1 average, 21.7 max, 3 hours and 18 minutes.


year/month 147.1, hours 13:18

Life On A Bike, Saturday, January, 8th, 2011

Havent been able to ride for the past three days. Thursday and Friday, I was working the entire day, and got home not in condition to ride. Today, I am having some physical problems. My back is acting up again, I have a nerve problem in the back that I have had for years. It acts up on occation. Plus my hip is hurting, so i'm taking it easy, should be able to ride tomorrow night, hopefully

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Life On A Bike, Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

Five for Five on the year

Today I went farther than I have all year long, 23.4 miles. The legs feel good, plus I burnt over 1,000 calories. That can never hurt considering my size. I did light hills again

The main problem of the day was the book I was reading. I never realized the 1984 was as depressing as it is. Im only through 60 pages and I really am interested in the book, but it is just so depressing to me.

month/year 113.4, hours 10:20

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Life On A Bike, Tuesday, January 4th, 2010

4 for 4

It took some convincing but, I went and did my hour of torture on the stationary bike. I made it 22.8 miles on the day, the legs feel pretty good. Burnt almost 1,000 calories, hopefully someday I will start to actually see the numbers on the scale go down. It would be nice.

I started reading the book, 1984 by George Orwell. No, not because I wanted to, but because I have to. I'm going to start back at school next week, and that is the assignment for the semester. A big research paper and everything. Oh well, at least i'm finally going back to school. Trying to get my life back together, after one of the worst years of my entire life. The only thing I need still is to get another job, one that will make it so I can actually support myself. It would also be nice to be able to put some money away for once.

month/year 90, hours 8:15

Monday, January 3, 2011

Life On A Bike, Monday, January 3rd, 2010

Day three of the year on the bike. Went 22.3 miles, legs were nothing tonight for some reason. They felt like they were buzzing in the knees. I had no power or anything, so I was down to flat resistance the entire hour.

month/year 67.3, hours 6:10

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Life On A Bike, Sunday, January 2nd, 2010

2 for 2 on the year

I went 22.4 miles tonight on the stationary bike doing light hills. I was reading a book about Satchell Paige, while listening to my music. The legs feel pretty good still, it's just that i'm really starting to get bored with being inside all the time because of the weather.


month 44.9, year 44.9, hour 4:07

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Life On A Bike, Saturday, January 1st, 2011

First bike ride of the year, it felt great. Legs feel good, suprised at how short it felt. I mean I was reading throughout the lightly hilly ride. I was reading a book about Satchell Paige.

I went 22.5 miles, so I am well on my pace to reach my 5,000 miles mark for the year. Yeah right like I can claim that after one day. Oh well, we shall see.

month 22.5, year 22.5, hour 2:05

Life On A Bike, Friday, December 31st, 2010

Wow, what a year. This is perhaps the best new years eve i've ever had. Just me and some friends riding the bikes at the gym. Also the least amount of trouble and the most sober i've been on new years in a long time. I might actually remember what I did for once.

Well, I went and finished another year of cycling. My second full year, with 22.3 miles. It was great, talking, listening to music, and reading a book. My legs feel great. The workout was light hills again, as it seems to be no problem to do while reading.

month 360.3 year 3500.4, hours 329:25

well another year is done, im at 11,239 since 5/29/08