Nifty Tools Make Training More Interesting

So, The VitaGuru has been using this cool toy on his Android phone called SportyPal Pro to track his running routes. It will track your route via GPS, and based on your time and distance, will calculate how many calories you've burned, and will even calculate your elevation. And if you're brave - or foolish, or both - you can take all this info and Tweet it, Facebook it...and apparently embed it in your blog: How cool is that, I ask you? Isn't living in the future just the awesomest thing? And you can click on the buttons up there and see all kinds of cool stuff. If you click the 3D button, frex, you can get a tour of my route, via Google's Street View. The question mark button will explain what the different line colors mean, and also what the rest of the buttons mean. Nifty, no?

So, you can see the route I rode today, which is a slight departure from my usual route, as the VitaGuru rode with me, and we got to yapping, and I got all distracted by what we were yapping about and forgot to turn down East Benalex on the trip back home. And, we only did one lap around today, because my hands were all cramped up and I couldn't tolerate another lap with Arthritis Claw(TM) making life miserable. Pity, that, because I'm finally starting to get my saddle! In fact, all I had to say about my ass was "My bits are burning!". 'Cause, well, THEY WERE!

What? No, I am NOT going to pretend that I haven't got delicate bits getting all smashed up. I did say I was gonna let it all hang out. Well, figuratively, anyway. The point is, they were burning, I was bitching, and Elder Monster's girlfriend thought it was the funniest thing ever. And in the in-between, well, my sit-bones are a little achy, but that's it. I don't feel like I want to die, so I'm assuming progress is being made!

Anyway, according to this lovely bit of tracking, today's ride was 5 miles, completed in 44 minutes and 13 seconds, at an average speed 6.8mph (I'm still a bit of a slowpoke). And I burned off 346 calories! I typically go twice around the neighborhood, and I typically don't skip East Benalex, so my usual ride around the neighborhood is a solid 10 miles.

Starting next week, I want to see if I can make it three times around the neighborhood. When I can do that consistently without falling off my bike and dying, The VitaGuru says we'll go out to Oak Openings to ride the 18 mile trail. And when I can do that one consistently, we'll probably be starting road work.

Admittedly, I've been taking it a little easier this week, what with having to deal with breathing through a rather tender and sore nose. Until around Thursday, any jump in blood pressure, however slight, made itself known by making my poor, fractured nose throb. As of today, though, the pain has settled to a dull, intermittent ache, and it's not so distracting.

 Elder Monster has promised to be my biking buddy after he gets home from work tomorrow, not that he really needed an arm twisting, since he bought a shiny new bike to show off. It's nice having someone to ride with from time to time, and I'm looking forward to some road time with my Monster! Who's up for a ride around the 'hood tomorrow?

--Missy, the Fat Bottomed Girl

It's The Blogging That's Killing Me

My darling readers!

I hope this finds you all happy and well, and relaxed after some Easter time?  Mind, I don't celebrate Easter - what with being a Heathen and all, Ôstara was back at the Equinox - but I do appreciate that my Christian friends have managed things such that my family gets a weekend together, away from work.  Thanks, y'all!

My family and I - and Elder Monster's adorable girlfriend, who at this point has been family for years! - spent Easter weekend in Chicago.  So, for three days, I did not ride my bike!  I did, however, walk and walk and walk and walk, so I don't feel too bad about this turn of events.  My legs need just as much stamina as my ass, after all, since they all need to work in concert to keep me upright and pedaling!  Anyway, it was good to have some family time, to spend some time soaking up culture and history and good food and some pretty nice weather.

I snagged an injury on Sunday evening - upon my return home, my puppy promptly broke my nose whilst greeting me.  He didn't smash it to bits, thankfully, "just" cracked it, but it puffed up and it hurts, and it probably will for a couple more weeks.

I have ridden every day but Monday and Thursday this week - Monday being a recovery day from travel and some much needed quiet time after getting hit in the face by Dogzilla, and Thursday because I just felt like taking the day off.

So, it's not the riding that's taking a toll.  It's figuring out how to WRITE about it!  Seriously, it's not terribly interesting for folks to hear "I rode my bike today, whoo!"  Is it?  Beats the hell out of me.  I suppose I need to ride in places other than just in my neighborhood, and I probably need to start taking some pictures of interesting things.  I certainly don't want to bore y'all!

Maybe I'll have some interesting things to say after going to the gym to lift tomorrow?

OK, it might all be swear words, but those can be interesting, right?


--Missy, the Fat Bottomed Girl