You shouldn’t need a new year to make promises to yourself that you will not keep. You can do that any day of the year! So instead of playing “lies Jess told herself,” let’s set some goals!
Out with the old //
In with the new //
Continue //
Piece of cake, right?
… for a lot of Jess-patting-herself-on-the-back-for-riding-her-bike. I mean, I ride my bike but I don’t commute on my bike often enough. It’s a 6.5 mile ride from my place in Ukie Village to the brewery in Ravenswood. It’s a very pleasant ride up Damen. Except for my archnemesis: that godawful bridge over the north branch of the Chicago River, where a gust of wind is always waiting to push me back. To a lot of people, daily bike commuting isn’t a big thing, but for me it’s a challenge and something I’ve always wanted to do. (I use my steel ‘72 Schwinn Suburban as an excuse too often: it’s too heavy for a commuter bike!)
So, yeah, I biked on Tuesday and Thursday. My goal is to communte by bike at least twice a week to start. Sounds easy, sure, but once it gets hot outside and the brewery becomes a 90 degree oven, you spend your day trying not to faint and not itching your heat rash. That’s when the ride becomes just a smidge less enjoyable. That’s when the bus or the car with it’s air conditioning becomes a treat you wait for all day. So I figure riding 25 miles a week, just to work, starting now will make it easier come July when the humidity and the glaring sun burn off my motivation.
So yeah. Twice a week. Announcing a goal on the internet means I’ll do it, right? (Not necessarily.)
I love traveling, I love exploring new cities. Sadly there isn’t enough time or money to visit all my good friends who have spread themselves out across the States. Maybe now that I have a job with great people who are flexible, I might be able to escape. Time will tell, but I better start saving now. Here are my travel goals:
A lot of places. NOLA and Fest are the only two where lodging is an issue, so I guess thats not too bad.
I’m one lazy SOB when it comes to “working out.” I’ve had a Bally’s membership for almost four years and never go. Sure, I walk whenever possible, ride my bike weather permitting, work on my feet for 40 hours a week, play volleyball sporadically, etc. I am not sedentary but I am certainly not the athlete I once was. I don’t like it, but I haven’t made any real changes. I just said goodbye to the muscle, said hello to my “womanly curves” and did my darnedest to embrace them. It hasn’t been that bad really, I’ve always been in the 90th percentile (if you catch my drift).
But lately, I’ve been affected by some serious (self-imposed) negativity and desperately needing to distract myself. I needed my brain to shut the fuck up . So I tried running yesterday before work. I turned on some Rage and hit the pavement. But only found more distractions: sub-par sports bra (bounce = ouch), shorts that were riding up, wondering if running a block and then walking two was acceptable or was I failing… I spent 20 minutes outside in the sunshine and arrived back at home, feeling energized and positive, by no means defeated. Here I had found my challenge - conquer running. Something I have loathed and despised for my entire life, especially after years of playing competitive sports where running was punishment.
I looked into it, and big duh!, turns out it takes time to ease into this sport that has alluded me for so long. In fact, about 10 weeks to get to where you can run a few miles at a time. Whew! All is not lost.
Then my best friend who lives out in the burbs recommended this podcast. We are officially starting this Sunday and plan on kicking each other’s asses into gear from afar. Wish us luck!
Any advice for novice runners? Email me! the.anhalt [at] gmail [dot] com
