Just One Pound

It means a lot to me to receive donations from people I have never met.

Less then eight weeks now to the 320km cycling Challenge. The Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer.

Training has been my mantra. Time now to spin my wheels on reaching my minimum donation goal so I can ride.

I’ve struggled with reaching out.

Initially I heard the event company that organizes the ride takes 70% of the funds raised. That has since been clarified. It's 30%.

The stigma attached to a cycling event sponsored by an oil company wrenched my moral code for the longest time too. Yet, they are helping to raise funds for a painful and heart wrenching disease that has swept through communities and ravaged families for decades. Even mine.

Time to heal the wounds. To help. To do something.
I do know now the BC Cancer Foundation helps and the funds stay here.

When I began this journey there were two things I knew I had to do to get there. Firstly, set up a training regime that would jam into my full-time school/part-time work schedule. Secondly, peel off some pounds to make it all easier.

Thursday’s is my weekly weigh in. I reached a bit of a plateau in the last month. One pound up or no pounds lost. Well, until this week.

Yesterday when I weighed in I was down 1.2 pounds. To date I’ve lost 15.6 pounds. Thanks to the training and the focus to shred some with the help of Weight Watchers on-line.

Even though I’m not at my weight loss goal. I am getting there.
By setting these goals for myself, I am helping myself so I can help others.

My energy is better. I can wear my skinny jeans. My gate is like a thoroughbred. I feel so much lighter on my feet.

Especially this week. 

Even though it was just one pound.


If you'd like to donate to the BC Cancer Foundation through my ride please go here and thank you in advance for helping to find a way to heal the World from Cancer.

Skinny Jeans

Booked six hours in the saddle this weekend.

I’ve learned a lot about my body.

Was close to bonking after the second hour today. Reminded myself to eat every 45 minutes. Tried that yesterday and it got me through.

It also helped to have a destination in mind.

Felt I should reward myself with a coffee at the new Musette Caffe where you can pack your bike in. No worries.

Took me a bit to find it. Was happy when I did.

Must of had a confused look on my face when I rode up. I saw a bunch of harsh locks outside. Was sure I’d read I could roll in.

Couple bike dudes looked down on me through the window. I pointed at my bike and to the door and I got the bring it in nod.

Was gassed when I parked my bike and booked it to the counter. Coffee and some fuel was only on my mind.

First thing I got asked was how my ride was. I elaborated and detailed yesterday’s and today’s. We discussed the wind during yesterday’s Iona Beach roll. I reiterated the tailwinds on the way home. Zoom, zoom, zoom!

There were wooden blocks on the floor as you walked in to park your back wheel. Genius. I’d wondered how they’d fit them in. There was a family, a couple fit cyclists reading Pro Cycling rags and more then a few pairs of riders in gear.

More guys rolled in.

We got to yacking. Where else can you go with your bike and talk saddle routes?

Turns out we had a lot in common. Plus they had a social team. Doing the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer as well.

Small world.

Or is it just we’re cyclists?

We exchanged contacts and I geared up for home. 
Fondly I reflected on my Friday night purchase. I’d bought a new pair of jeans.

If I can keep up this effort of training and nutritional regime, I’ll get the last 20 pounds off. Can hardly wait. Be easier for the ride. And afterwards, I’ll get to wear my skinny jeans.

The ones I bought on Friday night are a size too small.

Milestones

My days are never the same. There’s always a new challenge. Good thing. I live for that.
Under no circumstances do I consider another’s life to be the envy.
My x-husband used to say to me, “It’s your way or the highway!”
True to some extent. I just know what I want. And in time, I can usually find a way to get it.
Take today for instance. I finally bought myself a road bike.
This is huge for me. It opens so many doors. No longer do I ride the 19 year-old beautiful but in need of retirement Rocky Mountain Fusion. I now have a Devinci Silverstone that I can call my own. Which means, I can get out and ride with other people!
Last October, the week after Thanksgiving I joined Weight Watchers. My weight had become a problem. I needed to take care of it. I didn’t want to be FAT at 50 (four years away)! I wanted to be fit like Jane Fonda. More importantly, I wanted to feel good about myself.
It was a struggle - rather a challenge. I managed to peel away 30 pounds. It’s still off and I feel great. What this did for me was make way for a goal I had flinging around in my head for a while. I joined the Triathlon Club.
That was in January (I was down about 20 pounds by then). I learned the proper technique for swimming, running and we just got into some road riding when snap, I gimped my calf running and bailed out.
It turned out to be a good thing as the BC Bike Race opportunity cropped up. Cycle, cycle, cycle. That’s all I’ve been focusing on since late March. But I didn’t have a road bike to train on, until now.
Better late then never. Once the BC Bike Race rolls up (June 26 – July 3) I’ll get back to Triathlon training. Now that I have a road bike, I won’t get the sneer from the lead bike guy.
I’m so happy and grateful to meet yet another milestone in my life.