Since it's thanksgiving (I'm a couple of days late) I want to list what I'm thankful and tell you some of my thoughts about this time of year. I'm thankful for warm shelter as the weather cools, and thankful for the bountiful food. It's wonderful to have family to rely on and to help guide me in my decisions. I'm thankful for my Wii.
I feel so blessed to be able to express myself openly and without penalty, especially for my faith. I'm thankful for God's grace and mercy that allows me to be saved and in a relation to Him, without having to earn it. I'm so thankful that I can grow, struggle and learn, instead of having everything simply provided for me. I'm thankful for those fought and struggled to allow me to live in safety and freedom.
And, of course, I am thankful (and very excited) to be able to part of Sea to Sea with the CRC next summer as we bike from coast to coast. This is such an amazing opportunity and a wonderful chance to see that country while also raising awareness (and funds) to end the cycle of poverty throughout the world.
This summer I read Banker to the Poor by Muhammad Yunnus. I explored the thoughts he provoked on my other (general purpose) blog. In his book, Yunnus discusses in depth what he started to change Bangladesh's economic landscape from a very impoverished country to a land where individuals have the capacity to better their life.
Check it out!
Quickly, here is the route that I am guessing the tour will take right now. Mainly this just gives a overview of where we're heading. This is based just on where the tour will be each Sunday, indicated by the markers.
Take a look!
It's that time of the year. With less daylight and impending cold wet weather, it's time to move indoors. But I'm presented with new choices as I haven't actually been diligent enough in the past to exercise in the winter. The biggest decision is how. Well, I've decided upon rollers upon a recommendation from a friend and good reviews online. One of the advantages is better balance and smoother strokes. However it requires more concentration in order to avoid falling off
I tried it for the first time last night. It's difficult. Especially at first. After a few minutes I was a lot stable, but I was holding myself very stiff. With time, I know I will become very comfortable and will have incredible balance and very consistent strokes by the end of summer. (This picture isn't my place, but it is a similar roller setup as mine)
Another bonus is that my back stairwell has a landing that is the perfect size for my setup while allowing me to grasp a wall to start or steady myself.
(Image courtesy of Steven N Fettig)
This week is my Sea to Sea preparation week. So, one of the things that I finished planning tonight is my training goals and schedule for the 233 days until we start the tour.
I am posting my goals in order to have everyone keep me accountable as I have set some aggressive goals(at least it seems like it to me).
Training Goals:
- Bike 2000 miles from Jan to Jun 30
- Increase no more than 10% per week
- Done increasing by June (250 miles per week)
- From June 14 to June 26 I will bike the 68 miles a day/ 360 miles a week
- Aim for a target heart rate of 135-160
- November 45 mile/week; 180 miles/month
- December 80 m/w; 320 m/m
- January 100 m/w; 400 m/m
- February 120 m/w; 480 m/m
- March 140 m/w; 560 m/m
- April 160 m/w; 640 m/m
- May 3 180 m/w Goal #1 met by May 1
- May 10 190 m/w
- May 17 210 m/w
- May 24 225 m/w
- May 31 250 m/w Goal #3 met at this point
- June 7 270 m/w
- June 14 300 m/w Goal #4 met at this point
