Spring in New England is simply the best! I love to see nature and people come alive. I see people walking, biking, and running that I haven’t seen in months. Hope springs eternal this time of year. As I sit here, the tree outside our kitchen window is in full bloom and the most beautiful male cardinal is perched right in front of me. Our Rhodesian Ridgeback grew tired of watching him and curled up on his bed.
Lori just departed for her early morning run…she’s the most disciplined runner that I know. Because moderation is still a word I don’t understand, my running continues to be erratic due to nagging injuries. Once I enjoy a pain-free run I want to try to make up for lost time and regain my lost fitness in one fell swoop. My goal is to take some time completely away from running and allow my body to fully recover.
I have been riding my road bikes and enjoying covering greater distances and taking a brief respite at the top of a long climb…of which there are many in Grafton. Cycling also compliments my running by strengthening my legs without causing too much collateral damage. I was reminded this past Sunday that I have to plan my hydration and fueling as carefully as when I run. I experienced a major BONK just a few miles from home and wreaked havoc on my blood sugar levels by going from one extreme to another. It prevented me from golfing, kayaking with Lori and Rider, and riding my motorcycle as I was in such a lethargic state for the remainder of the day…lesson learned!
The Grafton Gazebo 5 Miler (http://www.active.com/running/grafton-ma/22nd-annual-grafton-gazebo-5m-road-race-2011) is this Saturday @ 9:30 a.m.. Lori and Rider will be running it and I’ll watch the race unfold from my mountain bike. I would like to pull Macie Jo in our bike trailer but Lori vetoed that idea outright. Based on the number of times the $400.00 Burley trailer has been used, it certainly wasn’t the best purchase. Because Rider has long ago outgrown it and Macie Jo is close behind, we’ll likely use it to ride to the local grocery store with gas prices approaching $4.00 per gallon.
I have been commuting to work near Providence, Rhode Island on my motorcycle. It has reduced my fuel consumption in half and is undoubtedly the best way to start and end the day. I’m planning another trip down to North Carolina in June to ride the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway and then to explore the best motorcycling roads in my home state of West Virginia. Later this summer I’ll be riding through Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
Staying fit provides a greater degree of safety while motorcycling. I’m far more alert and better able to respond to dangerous situations. I recently had a marine standard horn installed on my BMW motorcycle to alert inattentive drivers that I’m in the vicinity. I continue to be astonished by the volume of drivers texting, complete oblivious to the outside world.
Movement of people increases exponentially as the days lengthen and the temperatures rise. Movement improves so much about people and so much about life. Sustaining movement should be the goal of everyone. Lori has mastered the art of movement and I’m her observant student!
The Marathon Solution 