Eat. Sleep. Work. Exercise. Repeat.

I found this list somewhere and I'm trying.

I'm trying to get more sleep. I'm keeping up with my water intake. I'm working out six days a week. I'm trying to read for fun. 

Damn, though, if it isn't exhausting. What do you think? Here's what I've got going on:

Monday: Work. PT. Eat. Sleep.

Tuesday: Work. Swim. Eat. Sleep.

Wednesday: Work. PT. Eat. Sleep.

Thursday: Work. Workout. Swim. Eat. Sleep.

Friday: Work. Bike. Eat. Sleep.

Saturday: Workout. Swim. Farmer's Market. Errands. Eat. Sleep. 

Sunday: Relax. 

Add in some nights when there's more work after exercising and it's just a blast. That list up there? Yeah, not everything gets done. But I'm checking off the boxes most important to me. 

So my house might have a little dust; my desk might be a little cluttered. Life's about setting priorities and making yourself happy. Right now, for me, my free time is exercising. Some days I might feel the urge to switch it up. But I make those calls and I do what's best for me. 

In the end, you can't be all things. In the end, all you can do is try your best. It's all we can ask of ourselves, right?

What's on your list? What are you working on this year?

Happy New Year!

I think I finally figured out some new year resolutions for 2015. Is it normal to have more than one? It is. I think it totally is. Right?

It is. I'm convinced. Anyway. Here's my list.

I think it's quite ambitious, especially considering I can't even run right now. Like doctor's orders, not allowed to run. It sucks but that's why I'm doing physical therapy. And it's not like all of those things are going to be done in January. Clearly. I mean a triathlon in January? In the Northeast? Can you imagine? I'd be a popsicle before my whole leg was in the water.

No, I fully anticipate taking the majority of the year to do these. I'm sure I'll go crazy with the recipes early on in the year, but I did fifty-two so it could be a weekly thing. I'm super excited for them already, I think I'll start planning them soon. 

What's your resolution for this new year? Any crazy ones?

[My resolution list was made using the following fonts and textures: Homestead Display. Sketch Serif. Autumn. Tree Bark Textures.]

Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, Down the Ditch We Go

At the beginning of the summer, Ryan and I set a goal to hit 1,000 miles of cycling by November 1st. We're making good progress, with a little more than 730 miles under our belts, including today's ride. Which ended a little bumpy.

You can see our route here:

You see that climb right around mile 30? I think that's what just about did us in...

Our goal today was to hit 41 miles, which would be our longest ride to date. Ever. We started off really strong with our best pace yet going up the hills in miles 2-3. Most of the pauses in the beginning are due to us getting stuck at lights. Although after the initial hills, we did take a break. 

We took plenty of water and a few snacks. One of which I'll be sharing sometime soon. I can't wait to share it, because lordy is it good. After reaching Route 40, we took a break and had our snack, which may have also been the problem...

Anyway, 40 has rolling hills which are tough after huge hills right before it. And as you can see, we had been riding for nearly three hours already. In reality, we'd been on the road much longer (probably about three and a half hours because of stops and lights. 

Just after mile 36, Ryan was tired and struggling on the last of the hills on 40 until we hit the downhills that led the way home. We were coasting down a hill after going up the other side. Rye turned around to see where I was, because I normally pull up the rear, and he always, ALWAYS, goes right when he does it. Well, he turned right and jumped off the pavement onto the grass just off the road. Trying to over correct, he turned right (like you would do before swinging back left) and his right turn was down a 10' deep ditch. Well, he was about 3' down the hill before he ditched his bike and did a somersault down the rest of it.

Scary? Sure. He get hurt? A little bit. He okay? Thankfully, yes. And I thank the Big Guy, my parents live right down the road (like two miles from where we were) and just happen to have a bike rack. 

My dad graciously picked us up and brought us the five miles home. Ryan's gotten babied since he got home, with multiple concerned calls from my family, quad rubs from me, and icy hot on his shoulder and neck - which got the brunt of the somersault. 

We finished our day with pizza. Because after earning 1,800 calories, why not?

What are you doing this weekend? Is fitness on your to-do list?

In case you were wondering, here's my splits for the ride. Even though I'm really slow on hills, I'm proud of them because I freakin' did thirty-six miles today and didn't give up. 

This is my life?

Sometimes I sit back and wonder when my life changed. Maybe while I was busy sleeping...but right now, it's pretty damn good. 

My mom turned fifty-one today and we're going for pedicures tomorrow.

Ryan and I biked ten and a half miles then "ran" two, the beginning of our training for a duathlon and eventual triathlons. 

And then tonight, standing in the kitchen eating a snack after all that, he randomly bursted into song. I joined in and we sang the entire Spongebob Squarepants theme song. 

Sometimes I can only look back, smile, and feel so incredibly blessed.

It Must've Been My Lucky Day

I should've played the lottery, because I was batting 1,000 yesterday.

I hope you read that with as much sarcasm as you have in you. Yesterday was mean and cruel. But it definitely could've been worse, so thank God it wasn't.

It started with a headache from lack of sleep, coupled with a stomach ache. Recovering with some breakfast, I made it into work on time.

Only to find that my boss's computer had shit the bed. Blue screen of death. The kicker? IT was backlogged and my boss is less than cordial, so they brushed him off all day. I smile a little because he deserved it. Hearing him say, "I'm sitting here at ZERO productivity," was hilarious. Mostly because he's at 10% productivity otherwise.

I frown because I then had to make a presentation for him. One that I had to sit down with him to complete (even though I could've done it myself) but he wanted to see how I compiled it. HE DIDN'T EVEN WATCH. And of course, this presentation was part of a larger one, so while he was on his lunch break I brought it together (recreated one chart) and made it look better than his original one.

Sitting here, I was going to type, "after a day of doing my boss's job..." but then I do that anyway, it's not new. Sigh.

After I finally get home, Ryan and I get ready for our bike ride. Instead of packing it up on the car to ride along the Corning Preserve, we decide to head up Route 4 / 32. The day was finally turning around. Great pace, flying through Waterford. We get to 6 miles and turn around. Less than a mile up the road, a bird shits on my leg. Sigh. Yep, it got better and better. 

Me, not knowing that it was bird poop, thinking it was a bug, flipped out and tried to wipe it off my leg. Now my hand has bird poop on it.

Ryan wanted to stop and put air in our tires at the gas station on our way home. I was not stopping, I had a date with a chlorox wipe. 

On our way back we had some serious headwind and I was getting tired and hungry. EIGHT BLOCKS FROM HOME, there's a traffic light to go to the local Burger King and Price Chopper. It was red. I down shifted. Checked out the cars at the light, no signal lights, great. Light turns green. I shift up and keep pedaling through the light. The first car goes, puts on signal light, turns. INTO ME. 

Thankfully, she realized that she was starting to RUN OVER A PERSON and stopped her minivan. 

I couldn't. I just couldn't. She stopped and rolled down her window to ask if I was alright. My quick reply of "Fine, thanks," was probably not enough but I was more than ready to go home and I was truly physically okay.

When I finally arrived home, Ryan told me that she had put on her signal light after she started to go and turn. At least I wasn't blind. He also mentioned he yelled, "Watch out!" Which I didn't hear.

Today, I'm glad to have that behind me. Because one, I don't have to get shit on by another bird for another twenty-six and a half years, and two I'll be sticking to bike trails now. Any run-ins I can avoid with cars is going to be wonderful.