Olympics

Into the Victoria Market first thing as usual, but a bit earlier than usual. I think we really must be boring and predictable people you know, because half of the stall holders we visit weekly seem to know exactly what we want, and even make comments like “you’re a bit earlier than usual”!

I decided to go for a bike ride before lunch today, as the weather forecast was for showers later in the day. I went for a great 31.5km ride, mainly along the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail and Shankland Valley Bike Path. It was a good, hard ride, quite a lot of ups and downs, and a stiff headwind for the second half. I am finding that if I push myself on the bike, I can get my heart rate up to an average 80% of max for a ride, which is just as high as for a normal run for me (a run is higher if I push myself). The bike riding is much easier on my knees too, and I’m really enjoying it – as much as my running. The night bike rides I’ve done after work the last couple of months have been as good “stress busters” as my running has been too. I guess what I’m saying here is I think the trend established last month of “less running, more riding” might become more permanent. I will still run, but think that riding will continue to become a larger percentage of my exercise routine.

For you other cyclists out there – what sort of speeds do you ride at ? I’m averaging 26.4 km/hr for the year so far (that’s 16.4 miles/hr), but have no clue whether that is slow, fast or in between.

After lunch we went over to DFO – we went looking for shoes, but came back with cookware – bizarre!

Only lasted about 5 minutes on the Olympic Games opening ceremony last night – yawn, boring – turned over to Law & Order re-runs on Foxtel. The events today though have been good, three of my favourite sports watched today; the Opals doing great in the basketball, a great finish to the road race in the cycling and victories to the men and women in the beach volleyball.

Is it just me, or is everyone else a bit confused at what the Olympics represents. I thought it was amateur sports, but some of the highest paid sportsman in the world are there in a number of sports. I think they should just let everyone compete in all sports, that way it will be “the best of the best”.

The other thing I don’t like in the Olympics are any sport where a judge is making the decision – for example diving, gymnastics, synchronised swimming (is that even a sport) – I prefer the sports where the result is obvious (crossing the line first, scoring the most goals etc.).

Aischai has tagged me with the following question;

What’s something you’d love to say to your younger selves of 2, 5, 10, and 15 years ago? (Doesn’t necessarily have to be the same thing each time.)

2 years ago (August 2006), age 47
At this point I was about 1 year past the end of my weight loss journey (ie 1 year into maintenance mode), training for my first half-marathon and having huge self-doubt about whether I could complete the 21.1km. What would I say – “Just get out there and train, you’ll make it easily”.

5 years ago (August 2003), age 44
At this point in my life I had liver problems, had been told by a specialist that I needed to lose 20kg, but was not really doing anything about it. I was trying to eat better, but was not really exercising. Interestingly, the medical diagnosis was not the epiphany I needed, but a little later (June 2004) I went on a two week business trip through Asia, with a female work colleague who was 9 years my senior. Really struggling to keep up, as we did lots of touristy things in the heat and humidity of China and Singapore was the wake up call I needed. What would I say – “Just get out there and exercise, you’ll probably die soon if you don’t”.

10 years ago (August 1998), age 39
At this point in my life I was a 39 year old IT Supervisor, 40kg overweight, but in a total state of denial. I think I was happy, I had a beautiful wife, two great kids, a good job – but I had no idea that life could be so much better if I was actually fit and healthy – I mean I thought I was fit and healthy. I was coaching two basketball teams, so I had to be fit and healthy, right? What would I say – “Lose some weight you fat bastard, stop kidding yourself”.

15 years ago (August 1993), age 34
At this point in my life I was a 34 year old IT Supervisor, 40kg overweight, but in a total state of denial. I had two kids who were 4 and 7 years old. They were probably just getting to the age where I really could have been a much more active, participating father if I was not 40kg overweight. What would I say – “Lose some weight you fat bastard, then you’ll be able to keep up with your kids a bit better”.

The one thing that inspires me most about a lot of my blogging friends is that they are embarking on their weight loss journeys at a much younger age than I did. I wish I’d done it 20 years earlier than I did, so well done guys – you’re all obviously smarter than I was when I was your age!