The Journey of 24,901.55 Miles (or 40,075.16 km for my Canadian Friends) Begins With a Single Revolution of a Pedal

My grandfather was probably the most physically fit person I have ever met, at least until the cancer got him. He worked out every day, even until the bitter end, although the definition of "worked out" changed over time depending on what he was capable of doing. When I was a teenager, he would have been in his fifties and early sixties. At that time he ran every day, rain or shine, and then would work out with hand weights or swim or golf or play softball or something else, depending on the weather and what his schedule would permit, as he was still working at that time and also volunteering a huge amount of time as a national judge for an olympic sport (that will remain nameless, as it is esoteric enough that naming it will automatically out me to anyone associated with it).

And he always had his exercise bike.

As the population of his neighborhood deteriorated and it became downright dangerous for him to run, he switched over to riding his exercise bike. It was an ancient thing, with a fan instead of a front wheel and a little knob to turn to increase the resistance. It had no fancy gadgets, just a simple odometer, and it had poles that went back and forth like cross-country skis instead of handlebars. He had a setup in his basement with an old tv and vcr, and he would put travel videos on and ride his bike. He biked to the National Parks and train rides across Canada and sailing across the south pacific. He toured Italy, France, Greece, Peru. He rode and rode and rode, and he took his bike with him when he and my grandmother moved to the retirement community where they spent their last years.

We kids loved to climb on that bike, to play on it and turn it around - we probably put a couple hundred miles just messing with the damn thing. Never one to discourage fitness, he never yelled at us for it, and sometimes he would get on with us on his lap and he would work the arms while we pedalled, or vice versa.

About two years before he died, my grandfather turned over mile 24,902. He had ridden his bike around the Earth at the equator. It was one of his proudest accomplishments. His retirement community came and took his picture, and put an article about his achievement in their little newsletter.

One of the saddest experiences of my life was when, after his first couple of hospitalizations for the cancer, he kept talking about getting on his bike and riding. When he could no longer get on the bike without pain, he still talked about riding it, about doing what he had to do to recover so he could ride his bike again. It broke my heart every time he brought it up.

For the last couple of weeks, my body has been crying out for some exercise. My abs screamed at me to do a crunch or two, or at least roll around in plank position on my exercise ball. I'd huff and puff going up one of the three flights of stairs in my house. My arms have ached to have some weights flung around lifted and lowered slowly. It was an odd feeling for me, once I've never experienced.

I once asked my grandfather why he worked out all the time, as that legacy hadn't been passed down to my mother, or to me. I've always hated all forms of physical activity except sex, and you can't really do that for hours every day (unless you're Sting). My PE credits in HS came from marching band, in college from a semester each of swimming, aerobics, ballet, and bowling. My grandfather told me that since he'd grown up on a farm, he ran everywhere, and he played sports in college because it was fun. After college he stopped working out for a while, but one day he climbed the stairs and his lungs were burning, and he hated how that felt. He swore then and there that he would never stop exercising, and he stayed true to that promise.

Friday, I decided I had to respond to my body somehow, and I climbed up on this thing:

Obviously it's not my grandfather's bike. That was donated to his retirement community for use in their exercise room. I sometimes wonder how many more miles have been added to it. This bike was bought by my husband a couple of years ago and brought home where it has sat, accumulating maybe 10 miles total, and half of those are from the kids playing with it. He thought that spending $$$$ would make him more likely to use it. I told him what I thought of that idea, but he bought it anyway. I hate when I'm right sometimes.

I didn't have great expectations of what I would do - it's been ages since I worked out in any way. But I got on it and figured I'd do ten or fifteen minutes, gently, just doing what I felt like my body could handle. I've had some type of injury in my right foot/ankle and my left knee has been grinding when I go up and down stairs, so I didn't want to push too hard and make it worse. (yes, I know I need to do something about those. I don't have a doctor right now, and haven't wanted to do the research to find a new one)

First I did ten minutes. Then fifteen. I have a thing for round numbers, so then I wanted to push for an even number of miles. Then calories. By then it was 20 minutes. I was sweating and my butt hurt. I kept pushing. I did a full 30 minutes plus 5 minute cooldown. It wasn't a major deal. I went a whopping 4.4 miles. I burned something like 120 calories. I didn't drink any water because I hadn't planned on doing anything that might actually be considered a workout, so I was thirsty. Turns out my butt is so big I chapped it from riding. That night my legs ached beyond reason; I had to take tylenol and a hot shower to get to sleep.

Today I did it again, and I went a little further in the same time, burned a handfull more calories. I wore different clothes and didn't chap my ass. I wore shoes. This time my legs ached, felt like they would fall off seven minutes in. But I pushed on for the full 30 minutes.

I don't know that I'm bound for an equatorial ride, but it feels good to move. I think my grandfather would approve.

Comments

[jodifur]

Good for you!

When it gets nicer we should meet to walk. I love to do that.

[Agincourtdb]

Nice :-) Soon you'll be thin and fit and going on Oprah to explain how you did it :-)

[hokgardner]

I think he would be too. Good for you!

[angi]

Go, Fishy Girl Go!

He would be proud indeed :)

[Chris Austria]

I'm glad that your grandfather's healthy habit provided inspiration for you to get fit also. It will soon be easier if you keep doing it and soon it will become your habit.

[Children Anxiety Disorder]

I really like your writting style...