Back on the Wagon

After taking a good month or two off from all forms of exercise, I've started everything up again. Monday I took a wet ride to and from work on my underused bicycle - I'm at 107 rides for 2,747.05 miles at an average of 17.29 mph for the year. I'd like to get to at least 3000 miles on the year, under the logic that the amount you spend on your bicycle should equal roughly the amount of miles you ride it - 3000 miles justifies a $3000 bicycle.

I'm not buying a $3000 bicycle, of course, but I am looking at the 2008 Kona Sutra ($1199), the Trek 520 ($1239), and the Surly Long Haul Trucker ($?) as possible bikes for commuting and the bike ride across America that I've been kicking around in my head forever - but that'll require a 3 month work hiatus to do right.

I also ran a couple miles last night - I was on a plan to work my way to regular 5k running (3+ miles) before I starting making excuses not to exercise. Luckily I was able to push through and complete the two mile run without any walking, which puts me right back where I left off. That was quite a surprise.

So hopefully I'll continue with this plan, alternating running and bike commuting days, and I'll fight off the extra 10 I've gained, plus some. I've found that attempting to consistently eat well just doesn't hold up for me - I don't have the willpower lately - so exercise is the answer. Exercise is always the answer though.

Yeah...

weekend

This blog is useless as anything other than a personal diary. Anyway.

Friday... oh - I had these restaurants.com certificates that I had acquired using my leftover United air miles, and one of the places on the list was Deano's, which is where we drink all the time. I had never had a full on meal at Deano's because the prices there are a little high, I think, but now, with the help of free money, I thought Gina and I might check that out. Plus I know that at Deano's I'll never have to wait in line to eat, which is something that I just don't like to do.

Anyway, we ate and had a few beers and it was all sort of whatever. Afterwards we headed home we were both asleep by 10 pm.

Saturday we got up nice and early and headed downtown to The City Cafe, for a breakfast using slightly unusual and tastily-fresh ingredients. Breakfast was $25 for the two of us (which is kind of high for breakfast I think), but that place in now my new favorite place ever, and I'll gladly continue to pay that. Every guest at my house is now going there.

I had some pancakes made with I don't know what with some squash butter sweet fruit I dunno awesome. The pancakes were served without syrup and didn't in any was need syrup and yeah it was just great.

Then we jumped in the car, heading north and listening to old This American Life episodes, on our way to Fort Wayne, IN and Warbird for a brewery tour. I'd write about the tour here but that's for the other blog. Afterwards someone put a ding in my car door and I don't want to talk about it. I did my best to stomach that whole thing. I'll probably go get an estimate today - I've got a scratch in my bumper that needed fixed anyway, though for some strange reason that was a lot easier to deal with.

After Warbird was a trip over to Mad Anthony Brewing Co for more beer and food. None of that was very remarkable, and one of our party found a twist tie in his chicken sandwich.

We got home around 8 or so Saturday evening, and we went to Kroger to buy cat food. Then I played FIFA till like 1 am.

Sunday I was awoke by the work pager, and had to make a trip downtown to fix a stupid thing. Then I drove out to Dunkin, watched my tivo'd Fulham match (0-0), and started into eating an endless parade of crap. Three donuts, leftover fried chicken pieces, over to UIndy for SIUE vs. UIndy (a 1-1 tie, entertaining), nachos at the game, over to Key Cinemas for Ten Canoes (um... nah) and a full bucket of popcorn, to Dairy Queen for a post-film ice cream cone, home for couch time and FIFA, Tell Me You Love Me, a bbq sandwich, and then... a full row of Oreos. I think I ate something else unhealthy in there too.

191 this morning. Usually I hover around 185. Lowest was 178, but that was last year.

Back on the wagon today, maybe - I've been saying that for a good month now. I'm gonna run tonight, I had taken a week or so off because of my cold.

Bikes are gaining appeal again, though only in pictures - I'm at 54 miles this month, which is like one and a half day's worth in June. Actually I did 640 miles in both May and June. Talk about falling off...

Thinking about hiring that trainer still.. After the DC trip.

Franeytown + 1

This weekend I'll be headed back to the wonderful and charming Trenton, Illinois area for what is sure to be the second wedding event of the summer, when James and Sarah get married and another Franey is added to the mix. Too many Franeys is never a bad thing - it helps with the Franeytown tax base - soon we will be able to afford my official city Chevy Lumina (the one with the golden hawk riding atop a flaming bear (not a homosexual joke) or whatever).

Then late Saturday evening Gina and I will head back to Indy, because Sunday we're going to a'brewin' (one word) and I've gotta work that around Chelsea/Man U @ 11 AM. Yar.

Went to Brugge last night. Hmm. Nothin' doin' here.

Also, did you know that I run every other day now? It's true. I haven't said much about it because I wasn't sure I'd stick with it, but I'm starting to learn to enjoy it so I think it's safe to mention. I'm on this training program. I'm due to start week 5 today. That may get delayed a bit.

I've got proper fitted shoes and everything. The folks at Gray Goat must love my consistent outpouring of dollars. Hi Jason. I know a lot of Jasons.

I'm using the Nike+ thing (which we've rigged to work with my Asics shoes) and almost every time I get an encouraging post-workout message from someone truly inspirational, such as Lance Armstrong, who says stuff like "way to go you just completed your longest workout yet". Sometimes it's a gal, but I'm not sure who she is because I missed her saying her name. That's not very inspirational at all. Nike + is kinda cool though, because it logs how far I've gone and pace and all of that, and I don't have to bother typing things out like I do when I log bike miles on bikejournal.com (99 rides this year, 2,610.25 miles, 17.29 mph avg).

I'm a bit embarrassed that my mileage and speeds are that low.

So yeah. I'm riding to work as much as my sleep schedule will let me (23 miles round trip), running, and eating a ton of crap and not losing any weight whatsoever (185 seems to be where I'm stuck.)

Wow this was rambling. I'm gonna hire a trainer after the year rolls over, I think. That's expensive. Anyway. I've got what I'd call a "fat jacket" on my torso that I'm trying to destroy. I wonder if I'm sorta getting too old and I'm supposed to have a fat jacket. F you, fat jacket.