We’re almost halfway to our “fittest by fifty” milestone birthday. The blog started in our 48th year, and at summer’s end I’ll be 49, one year to to go to 50. This seems like a good time to assess and evaluate.
What I’ve accomplished so far:
- I’ve focused a lot on nutrition with the Lean Eating program at Precision Nutrition. That’s been terrific. I’m eating much better, feeling much better and I’m on my way to having my nutrition support my fitness goals. I’m also leaner. Read “Nutrition is the foundation of health and fitness. You simply cannot out train a poor diet.” and Fat, fit, and why I want to be leaner anyway.
- I met my goal of trying something new, rowing with the London rowing club masters group. You can read here about my rowing adventures: Row, row, row your boat! (Trying something new) and Six Things I Love about Rowing and Six Things I’m Finding Challenging.
- I tested for and was awarded a new belt in Aikido. Yay! Read I did it! I tested for 5th kyu in AIkido!.
- I did the MS Bike Tour, 160 km, in one day. See MS Bike Tour and Pride London: Conflict resolved!
- I’ve continued with Crossfit. That’s worth celebrating all by itself. It’s hard work! See One year anniversary at CrossFit London.
- I’ve gotten back into racing having completed a 5 km run, a duathlon, and an adventure race. Some of the races were with Tracy and you can read her posts First Triathlon Try: the Tri That Wasn’t and Report on First 5K Race. The fun muddy race was with another friend and you can read A few words about the Warrior Dash.
- And don’t forget the burpees! See Halfway there! Happy 50 burpees day! and Loving and hating burpees: A midseason report on the 100 day challenge and Burpee summer challenge! We’re in. Are you?. I’ve been missing more days than I like but I still plan to do 100 on the last day even if my usual quota is more like 60 a day right now.
What I’m struggling with:
- I’m still not as fit or fast as I once was! Read Fittest by Fifty? Who’s the Competition? She is! and she’s still faster. Grrr. But I’ve got a year to go and I need to decide how much I care about running. See the next bullet for more on this.
- I continue to struggle with running. I love running but it doesn’t love me back. We have a complicated relationship. Curious? Read Six things I love about running and six things I wish I could change
- And I still want to weigh less even though my body composition has much improved. I want to be the recommended weight for my bicycle’s race wheels!
And I have some goals for next year:
- I’m going to continue with the Lean Eating program through the fall and work on my slow progress. It’s progress after all. And I’ll stay focused on nutrition and body composition rather than weight loss. That feels much healthier for me even though I get frustrated with my progress at times.
- I don’t have a testing goal in AIkido but rumour has it I’m getting a lovely wooden sword for my birthday so I’d like to branch out and try weapons classes. That’s a way to extend my range without making the kind of commitment testing for a new belt would require. It will certainly help my Aikido. Here’s O Sensei. I won’t ever have that grace but I can learn some of the techniques.
- During the fall I plan to start running regularly and try to run through the winter without injuring myself. I also plan to do some cross country skiing over the winter and play with my snow shoes. Generally I want to try to enjoy winter, be more active outside, and play in the snow!
- I’m going to continue in CrossFit and challenge myself a bit more and try the CrossFit Open. Read Leveling up at CrossFit: Rx versus modified workouts.
- I plan to do the Friends for Life Bike Rally : “A six-day, 600 km journey from Toronto to Montreal. Riders of all ages and levels of experience and crew supporting a variety of activities along the route unite in their passion to support people living with HIV/AIDS. The Friends For Life Bike Rally is the sustaining fundraiser of the Toronto People With AIDS Foundation.”
- I’d also like to do some rowing regattas.
- This isn’t quite a goal since I’m not sure yet how to bring it about but I’d like to improve my soccer playing. I run pretty well but I need to improve my ball handling skills, learn how to get more control, and run with the ball. I think I’d like to play midfield…
- I’m scheming for bike vacations next year! This year I only managed a few hours of bike tourism in New Orleans, see “And it’s not even close to exercise….” I’d like to do something where we camp along the way but I like other people to carry the gear! See Cycling holdays, Part 2: Organized tours in which other people carry the stuff. But I’d be happy too with a self organized one, like the rail trail holidays I’ve done. Cycling holidays, Part 1: Rail trails. Maybe Boston to Provincetown in the summer and somewhere warm over the winter.
I’m a North American academic so thinking of September as the start of a new year works very well for me. How about you? Do you have any fitness related plans or activities for the coming year?
I like your idea of setting goals at the beginning of the school year! I’m also with you on winter goals – just getting out more. I’m planning on looking into getting cross country skis again, and maybe borrowing my Aunt’s snowshoes and seeing how I like them. I also see a lot of good weather ahead, so I am going to keep running as much as I can until ice season. And, I am strength training right now, so my goals involve working my way through the program.
I didn’t get out at all on my cross country skis last year. The snow was unpredictable so I didn’t establish a habit. I have a friend who keeps them ready to go in his car trunk and goes whenever the snow falls. I also didn’t use my snow shoes and they’re a lot of fun. So yes, I’m getting ready for winter this year!
Hi Sam, did you use the coaching system or the self-study system at precision nutrition?
I am seven months into the lean eating for women coached program. Recommend it if you like online interaction.
Thanks! I might just try it.
Wow, you’ve done a lot in the past year! I’ve been following you for at least that long so none of this is new but to see it all laid out like this is very impressive!
Thanks. Rereading the blog I was also reminded that I was sick and away from all forms of exercise for a month last winter so I’d add that to my list of challenges. There’s also one more thing on my bucket list, the Paris Ancaster bike race, http://parisancaster.com, Canada’s Spring Cycling Classic. It’s off road for some of it and often muddy, sometimes snowy, so I’d best get used to riding my cyclocross bike off the beaten path.