Posts from — April 2006

Saturday I woke up with not enough sleep, but still eager to do my scheduled 80 mile bike ride. I had to get an early start, since I had plans with my parents around noon time. Unfortunately, I am never very good working out when I do have my requisite 8 hours sleep. As I started my ride, it was soon apparent that my body would not do what my mind was commanding.

From a clinical point of view, I find this mind/body disconnected fascinating as well as frustrating. I kept finding myself slowing down, almost unaware that this was happening. No matter how much I wanted, I just could not get my legs to spin faster or harder, nor raise my heart rate about 63 percent. Rather than go for a third loop of the Prospect Park, I just went home. As I started to climb the stairs to my bedroom, I was sort of stumbling and thought how I was going to ride 80 miles, when I can’t even make it back to bed for a nap.

I did get some riding in later in the day. It was with my children just before dinner time. We rode to a section of the park that we have yet to explore. The place is kind of hidden and had several circular ponds lined up over 200 yards. Each pool served as a perfect racing oval for my kids to have a running race around. I think they are starting to get the competitive spirit, as this was the first time they were eager to race on their own and did so several times. It was a delicate balancing act though, as each child would get upset if they lost to the other. I had to figure out how to handicap the race for my younger son, so that the race would almost always end in a tie. However, if I handicapped too much, then my daughter would get upset about how much of a head start my son got. We spent a few minutes going over good sportsmanship, but at their ages, such lessons don’t really sink in as of yet. Hopefully though, the foundation has been laid.

I’ve had occasion as of late to walk around Union Square early on Friday evenings. Each time I am amazed at the number of 20 somethings that are out and about headed to various parties, clubs, bars, etc.

I find it disconcerting to know that I am 20 years removed from this scene. Perhaps this realization is what drives late thirty/early 40 year olds to pursue endurance athletics. It’s a way of showing they still have the stamina to go out and party with the best of them, albeit in a much greater physical sense. It’s as if, yeah I can go out and party all night, but can you post an 11 hour Ironman?

Perhaps it takes more effort to party all night long. I do remember feeling more tired after a night of carousing, than I did after completing an Ironman. Let the 20 year olds go out and poison their bodies with bad food and cheap liquor. I’ll take my nutritionally balanced meal, go to bed and head for the hills on my bike at the same hour the 20 year olds are stumbling home.

I only wish I knew then what I know now. I am sure I would have found it infinitely more satisfying to think back to the races and places I’ve competed, rather than how sick I got after downing too much Tequila.