Feminist reflections on fitness, sport, and health
Author: natalieh (she/her)
Fat, feminist, 50 yr old mother of 2 adults who loves her high energy life partner of over 30 years. I love moving my body and walk wherever I can. I sometimes ride my road bike, do yoga, lift weights and other shenanigans.
Are you familiar with the term “friend homework”? My yoga instructor friend Jess introduced me to this term a while back. It means any digital interactions with friends: liking posts, reading blogs, watching reels in your DMs. It’s the online things you do between the in person interactions that keep your friendships going.
I see it as an aspect of kin keeping, the emotional and social work we do to define who our people are.
In person is best
Last weekend I enjoyed seeing some of my fellow Fit is a Feminist bloggers. Some I met for the first time!
We talked about things we don’t necessarily blog about, the deeply personal stuff as well as sharing about our lives outside of fitness.
It was a great afternoon. Thank you Sam, Sarah and Kathleen for hosting us!
Kudos, likes, shares and comments
Whatever platform you share your fitness activities on (Strava, Peloton, Zwift, Facebook, Instagram…) there is some way for your friends to acknowledge your workouts.
A tiny human takes a break from riding a cool toy to give you encouragement. Way to go!
And I’m here for all of it. Ellen mentioned at the barbecue how great it was to get consistent kudos from me on Strava. I check it almost every day and I do my best to thumbs up all the activities. It’s a tiny connector and positive reinforcement. I see you friends!
Normalizing active living
Seeing what everyone is doing normalizes daily activity for me. I see your daily cycling commute. I see you lifting heavy things. Nice walk!
Two women walking, holding coffee and wearing athletic shoes on a paved path in a park.
I especially appreciate seeing activities when I only know folks from one sport. Like Randonneur Luke is a triathlete. I didn’t know he also swam and ran like he cycles. I appreciate him even more!
Making the invisible visible
When I went to the gym I’d see some friends but only those whose workout timing synched up with mine. Everyone else’s time in the gym was invisible to me.
For cycling friends, they live all over Canada: Ontario, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan….all kinds of places. Aside from the occasional event I would otherwise have no sense of the kind of season they are having.
Having some way to see what everyone is doing gives me a better picture of what it means to be fit.
Sharing is caring
I’m lucky to be in a group chat with some London area Randonneurs. We share car rides to event starts and other strategies to reduce costs of events. We problem solve to eliminate barriers to participation. Sometimes we just share a silly reel or meme that is about cycling. It all counts!
Cheerleading and consoling
I’m here for your wins. HIGH FIVE!
High fives feel great to give and receive!
More importantly, I’m here for the DNFs, the mechanicals and the injuries. Because these are important moments in our fitness stories.
A Lycra clad cyclist bent over to help a friend loosen the quick release on the front of their bike
CASE study
I’m also doing that friend homework as a Copy And Steal Everything (CASE) study. Oh is there a great 50 km route with a delicious pastry shop? Thank you for the idea!
Ohhh you can open water swim there? ON IT!
There are free kayak rentals from the library? Hello! I’m going!
Wins all around
I hope this post encourages you to share your workouts and activities on a platform that works for you. It helps with accountability and a sense of community.
I also hope you realize that when you do your fitness friend homework you are making a real difference to your friends.
Sure, nothing beats Kim grabbing me by the shoulder, shaking me and exclaiming “Keep cycling! You are awesome!” but a little digital thumbs up is a sweet taste of that in person sugar. I encourage you to give it a go.
I have marvelous friends who are supportive, encouraging and unapologetic when calling me out on being mean to myself. I’m very lucky.
There were several gems I have mined from those discussions. Today I am looking at a question my gym buddy Rob asked me.
Why did I want to ride 100 km?
The first answer that came to mind was that I wanted to test if I was ready to ride longer than 100 km.
I’m very comfortable completing the MS Bike Tour. The two days of 80 km supported every 20 km felt great. It’s a different challenge to ride continuously in 50 km blocks. I underestimated that gap and was disappointed.
The myth of linear progress
I wanted to complete a 100 km ride as part of a story of physical fitness that showed progress.
When my results were similar to the ones I had 12 years ago it felt like a set-back.
In chatting with my friends in Randonneurs Ontario they shared stories of struggling to have consistent times on a given distance.
We spoke about routes, conditions, health, training, age and injuries.
There are a lot of variables that affect how long it takes to complete a route. Only some of those are under my direct control.
Is that the real reason?
Rob invited me to push against the first answers to validate if that is really why I wanted to ride 100 km.
Hope
What I wanted out of the ride was some evidence that my longest distances are ahead of me.
Ten years ago I completed the People with AIDS Bike Tour from Toronto to Montreal. It was 600 km over 6 days. The longest distance on a given day was around 135 km.
2016 Me, in Montréal, embracing a volunteer at the finish line.
Between then and now I quit cycling in 2020 (during the pandemic) then re-started in 2023.
I’ve been inconsistent. Without a capstone event after the MS Bike Tour my distance peters off each year. I have not used the indoor trainer in the winter.
New goals
What I really want out of cycling is more adventures with Michel. We are getting ready to try some rail trails this fall. I got a trailer to bring our dog Lucy along.
Active living
My big picture goal is an active life that supports my physical and mental wellbeing. I really enjoy shorter jaunts and I want to extend that to longer rides.
Consistent Riding
There is no secret to going longer, faster and happier on a bike. It’s time in the saddle on a consistent basis.
Training for the PWA ride had specific milestones to meet in order to be allowed to ride. There were distances to hit, an average speed above 20 km/hr and a deadline for back to back 100 km days.
Unstructured fun
In the shoulder season my focus will be fucking around and finding out. I will try some wider tires and some rail trails. I will get on my bike 2-3 times a week in addition to my utility cycling.
Folks jumping with joy by the waterside.
Thank you
I wanted to wrap this up with a giant thank you to my friends and family. I never imagined my writing about being disappointed with my 100 km would illicit a tsunami of responses. Texts from Nova Scotia and British Columbia and every province in between!
Messages from folks showing they had read every word and could relate. Thank you for reading my posts and connecting over our shared experiences of try to keep these bodies doing all the things.
A coffee with ‘thank you’ dusted on the creamy froth in cinnamon.
The Future
I’m still thinking about my mid and long term cycling goals. I’ll be sure to let you know once I settle on them.
Whatever the future holds, I suspect it will include my dog!
It started as a tiny spot above my right eyebrow about a year ago. At first I thought it was a recurring blocked pore.
Over time the dot grew into an uneven mole. I kept checking it. It was growing, slowly, but constantly. I decided I’d take the time to get it looked at when I retired.
Taking Action
It took a month to find an appointment with one of the new doctors at my family doctor’s clinic as my guy is retiring and working part time. I choose the same new doctor I had seen last year to get continuity of care.
Validation
My appointment was at the end of May. My new doctor had a look and she agreed the mole should be removed because it was changing, had ill defined boundaries and different colours.
I was relieved. I was prepared to be told I was worrying for no reason. Since faces are tricky to biopsy, she referred me to a clinic specializing in dermatology and facial surgery.
“If you don’t hear from anyone in a month call us and let us know.”
Waiting
I marked the date in my calendar. In three weeks my doctor’s clinic called to check in. Since I hadn’t heard from the original referral my doctor sent out multiple requests and asked me to let them know when I heard from anyone. This would allow them to cancel the outstanding referrals.
Moving forward
A week later I got a call from a clinic minutes from my home. The Attending physician was going on holiday but he wanted to see me right away. I got an appointment within 3 days. I let the referring clinic know I had an appointment.
Punch Biopsy
I showed up and found out it was a teaching clinic and I was so happy. Maybe it is watching The Pitt or living in a university town but I’m thrilled to see the next generation of doctors in action.
The Resident had a medical Student with her. They took time to explain their analysis. They too agreed the mole should be removed. I was informed of all aspects of the procedure. I felt confident that a punch biopsy was the right choice.
The Resident left the room to confer with her Attending. They both came in and all 3, the Attending, Resident and Student looked at my mole, palpated it and discussed it.
“I’m a 4 or a 5 of worried out of 10. Not extremely worried but a little to a bit.”
That was enough for me to feel confident getting this off my face was the right decision.
Quick Action
The prep, freezing, biopsy and single stitch took less than 10 minutes.
I went back a week later to have my stitch removed. Another week later I got a call saying my pathology report was ready. I opted for an in person rather than a phone call. I’m glad I did.
Outcome
In my mind there were 3 outcomes:
1 – no cancer, no further action
2 -Basal Cell or Squamous Cell cancer with a clear margin, no further action
3 – some type of melanoma, lots of further action required
Turns out there was a fourth option. The pathology report confirmed it was a Basal Cell Carcinoma and the sample had clear margins.
The Resident took time to examine the site and palpate the edges. She left to confer with the Attending. They both returned and re-examined the biopsy site. The Attending did not like the edge on one side and recommended freezing with liquid nitrogen, aka cryotherapy, to get rid of any suspicious skin cells the same day.
Cryotherapy
I have to say, the freezing was daunting since the site was so near my eye. After 4 rounds the Resident was satisfied all offending cells would slough off.
The Waiting Game
I get to go back in 3 months for a follow up to see if any other interventions are needed.
Thankful
The next day my family doctor’s staff called me for an update. I let them know I had two procedures to remove the mole and the diagnosis. I also asked to pass on my thanks to my doctor. Her following up on the referral and having a sense of urgency meant I got timely treatment.
I’m so grateful for the excellent care I got both from my family doctor and the whole team at the teaching clinic. Total cost to me? Zero dollars. Even the parking was free.
In the end it was 4 months from the moment I decided to take action until I had the results of the biopsy and a full resolution of my chief complaint.
Wait times in our universal healthcare system are often criticized but I have found that when urgency is needed the staff find a way.
Next steps
So now what?
An image of a note that says “don’t skip the sunscreen”
Wear sunscreen. Wear a hat. Limit time in the sun in the afternoon.
I have not always been good about wearing sunscreen. I feel properly motivated to do it now.
Better late than never!
Hey you!
A finger pointing from the page to you.
Ya. You. If you see a mole on you or someone else that is changing get it checked out. Don’t wait. If my diagnosis had been a more rapidly growing cancer I might be having a very different outcome because of my reluctance to get it looked at.
Last weekend I signed up for Randonneurs Ontario’s Railway City 100. It’s a Populaire (not a time limited Brevet) so the goal is to get the distance done. If I was attempting the longer 200 km route I would need to complete 100 km in under 6.5 hours.
2024
My first ride on this route was in 2024. I had had an amazing MS Bike tour a couple weeks before. I was confident I was ready to complete a 100 km after several years of much shorter distances.
The conditions started out promising but as I turned into the headwind my speed tanked. I had no depth to my strength and my speed dropped to 14 km/hr. For those doing math at home, that makes for a much longer day.
My rolling average ended up being 17.8 km/hr and 5:49 on the bike. Total time was 6:46. Too slow to even consider trying any longer distances.
I was so upset by my performance I didn’t even blog about it, save for a passing mention on how challenging that ride was for me.
2026 run up to 100 km
I had a spectacular MS Bike Tour this year with back to back PBs on 80 km while feeling strong and confident. So I had some expectations. Realistic, based on results, or so I thought.
The plan:
1 – keep breaks short
2 – maintain 20 km/hr
3 – finish around 5 hours and 30 minutes
That is a specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time bound goal (SMART goal!)
I bought a new saddle and installed it. I tested that it was secure and in the right position.
Pre-ride jitters
I’d had a call with a friend who was also doing the ride the Friday before. We talked candidly about hopes and fears.
I shared how it had taken a long time to reclaim fitness for myself and fitness for fun after being in the military.
Nothing saps joy out of a run when your job is on the line at your annual fitness test.
I thought that event anxiety was behind me. I usually have a taste of pre-ride jitters, some extra energy, lighter sleep and frequent pee breaks before the ride starts.
But. Wow. I had a full on gastrointestinal reaction before Michel and I hopped in the car to drive to the start. The jitters had tipped to panic and I do not know why. I’m usually pretty good at channeling that energy towards excitement. But not that day.
Beautiful start
The group was a mix of folks riding the 100 and 200. It was overcast, light winds and not too hot. An ideal day for a ride.
I got to chat with a few folks from out of town. Very Zippy Vincent shared his joy in using digital brevet cards. He’s a front of the ride kind of human that I only ever see at the start unless I’m supporting an event.
I got a hug from Maria, another hug from Gail and saw a few other folks from the Windsor area. We know each other from Strava and shared friends as well as my volunteering supporting club rides.
This club has brought a lot of lovely people into my life.
I had a chat with John, who was back from a cycling hiatus, as well as with Steve from LCC, who was looking to give the 200 a try for the first time (spoiler, he nailed it!).
The good company put my nerves at ease.
Michel and I locked eyes during Fred’s pre-ride safety brief and silently agreed to let everyone else roll out since I’m by far the slowest rider.
A squeaky start
A few minutes into the ride my saddle started squeaking. I had tried to give it one last tighten at the start only to discover that my bicycle multi-tool had only Allen keys that were too big or too small. I kicked myself for not torquing it at home and for not throwing the right Allen key in my bag before we left.
Michel’s multi-tool had gloriously exploded on the roadside the previous Tuesday when he and Fred did the 200 pre-ride. He DNF’d due to a spectacular tire failure. His rear tire split down the middle the entire way around. This happens when you wear out a tire. I hadn’t thought to pick him up a new tool when we collected his bike from the shop on Friday.
So with no way to alleviate the squeaks we carried on.
Passing Friends
A trio of cyclists from Windsor passed us as we climbed across a few roads. It was Călina and two folks I probably stalk on Strava. Michel has ridden with them before so we got big waves and smiles.
For a few kilometers I could see the flashing lights of the back of the pack. Then a surprise visit with Dave C. He had arrived in from the GTA a little late so had huffed to get a good start. He coasted alongside Michel in easy conversation for a couple kilometers. He then pedaled gently off to complete his ride. I hadn’t seen him for a couple years and it was really sweet of him to hang out with us for a bit.
Solid start
After the first hour my speed was averaging above 20 km/hr and I had come to accept my squeaky saddle. I stopped briefly to devour a banana. My hydration and nutrition were on track.
The second hour wrapped up with a Cliff bar and realizing the wind was picking up. It was a bit of a tailwind but offset to my right shoulder for mostly crosswind. I knew this would pick up as the day went on.
Midway
2 km before the control I looked at Michel.
“I need off the bike for a minute. How far to the control?”
Michel smiled.
“It’s 4 minutes away. Can you make it without stopping?”
I laughed. I was self conscious that Fred was waiting on me at the control as he was supporting the ride.
We arrived at 54 km 2:45 total time. I was satisfied with my speed and how I felt.
I asked Fred if he happened to have Allen keys with him. He did not and I agreed that was totally fair. This is a self-supported ride at its essence.
He shared that the first trio of riders had arrived 1:28 after the start. Wow. So fast!
I had expected to see the back of the pack riders as they rolled out but they were long gone. That hit hard.
Michel helped Fred pack up the snacks and supplies while I found a toilet. It struck me how very far behind everyone else I was.
I felt embarrassed. Which is wild because I was rolling at my goal speed.
I force a smile with Michel over my shoulder. The Tilsonburg Great Railway Station in the background.
Slowing
As we turned back towards St Thomas we were on a lovely multi-use path and Michel cautioned we would need to accept going quite slow.
There were lots of people enjoying the path so we carefully wove around them.
There is a bit of a bend and a climb as we left Tilsonburg and found the expected headwind.
Bonking
Maybe 10 km after the control the continuous effort of fighting the headwind asked more of my body than it was ready for. I had a lightening bolt of pain from my right groin to my ankle and a full leg cramp. I pulled over. I sobbed. I was so surprised that this was happening. And I knew what it was despite not feeling it in over a decade. I was bonking.
I put my bike down, stepped away from it and started eating and gulping electrolytes.
Michel talked me through it. The MS bike tour had replenishment stops every 15-20 km. I was not used to continuously riding. He reminded me I just needed food and hydration.
After a few minutes I stopped crying and cramping. But the shock of being in a state where I bonked shook me. I thought I was eating and drinking enough.
Back on the bike to bonk again
Another 10 km and the other leg seized up and more shooting pain. I cried out in surprise and pulled over. My face was encrusted with salt. I had a headache. The wind was helping me stay cool but I later learned the “feels like” was at 37C.
I started uncontrollably sobbing. I knew it was just food and hydration but I couldn’t stop the tears. I hadn’t had this kind of reaction since I had done some 100 km rides in 40C in 2016. Ten years since I have bonked. It felt like a stupid, rookie situation to be in and I was kicking myself. I AM BETTER THAN THIS!
Michel waited while I ate some candy and drank a ginger ale.
“Just 10 km to the MennoMex for a real break.”
I nodded and got back on my bike. The cramps never returned but the tears wouldn’t stop for another 8 hours.
Bountiful burritos
My favourite soda brand is Jarrito and it goes great with burritos.
I slowly and painfully pried myself off the bike while leaning on a post at the Mennomex . I was settling in to have another pity party cry when my friends Nancy & John rounded the corner to say ‘hi’ and give me a squeeze. They were picking up food for a dinner party.
So I zipped up my human suit and put on my best brave face. It helped to have a positive reputation to live up to.
Michel makes a silly face while devouring a burrito. There are two large bottles of Jarrito on the table and my untouched burrito is in the foreground. It tasted heavenly.
We ate and all I wanted to do was lay down and quit.
“It’s less than 20 km to the finish. It will take us 90 minutes. By 3pm we will be in the car heading home.”
That was Michel’s very nice way to tell me that I was rolling at 15 km/hr. FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!
My body just didn’t have any umph left. I could pedal but I had no power in my legs and the wind was only blowing harder.
I stifled more sobs and got back on the bike. We had turned onto a very quiet road and Michel offered conversation or space as I needed it.
I felt a deep shame at not being able to keep it together. It was a 100 km ride and there was a time I could do that at the drop of a hat. Not that day.
The end
The food and drinks were literally all I needed and I slogged my way back to St Thomas. It was well past the time I expected to finish. I felt humiliated.
I need to be clear. No one else was giving me a hard time but I was kicking myself the whole way to the end.
At one point, I quit cycling altogether. At another, I was tempted to throw my bike in a ditch. I was so fed up at feeling miserable.
And on and on the ride went. There were a few short legs when we turned and the wind was at our backs. It was then when the heat became apparent. I thanked the wind for pushing me up to Ron McNally line. It was a slight incline so I needed the help but I also cussed the heat. There was no pleasing me.
At that point my watch and phone flipped to power saving mode. Of course they did because I had been on the road way longer than planned. FUCK!
I knew we were within 5 km of the end and that I would finish but it just stopped making any kind of sense.
We turned off the busy road south onto lovely residential streets and full face into the wind. Then it was raining without a nearby cloud. I wondered if I was hallucinating.
Then we turned right and I saw the finish. I was so tapped out I didn’t even feel relieved.
I rolled straight to the car. Pushed my check-in and submitted my results on digital brevet card. I hoped no one was around to see me and what time it was.
After the ride. Michel in the foreground looking content. I’m in the driver’s seat of my car trying to smile. My look says “I can see a dumpster and I might still throw out my bike.”
Reflecting on the facts
My average speed was 18.2 km/hr and moving time was 5:33. Total time 6:55. Ouch. My very first 100 km ride took 7 hours in 2015. The second attempt that year I came in at 5:50.
Reading back on these blog posts I was struck by how similar the stories were to this year. I’m so done with this sobbing, cramping misery, enough already.
Deciding what to change
I am riding more consistently this year than I have in a long while but it was a late start for my season. I didn’t spin indoors over the winter.
I have amped up my strength training, swimming, walking and utility cycling. I thought this general fitness would help support my riding. It’s not enough.
I’m really fucking done with being miserable on my bike. So I have some decisions to make.
Option 1:
Give up the stupidity of riding 100 km and greater. Just let it go.
Option 2:
Stop flirting with road cycling and actually commit to riding 2-3 times a week. When I do this I am faster and happier on the bike.
Option 3:
Stop riding events and just slow roll without observation, comparison or official results. I’m doing this cycling thing for my health.
Still processing
It’s four days later and I’m still crying about my results. I’m so frustrated.
I hoped writing this would help me feel better but I’m still so damn angry and embarrassed.
Stay tuned for what I decide. Notice no options include me throwing my bike in a dumpster. Are there options I haven’t considered? I’m open to feedback!
My beloved road bike, Ethyl, is now twelve years old. Twelve years of a fair amount of cycling.
I was so pleased with my MS Bike Tour I didn’t want to talk about the downside. Mild irritation in the crease of my left inner thigh Day 1 turned into a full blown saddle sore Day 2. I had a tear about the length of my thumb that took a week to heal.
I had used chamois cream and wore good bibs. I wasn’t completely surprised it happened. Lately that one spot got a bit hot on even the shortest rides.
Michel has been gently cajoling me for years to upgrade my saddle. It’s the first customization most cyclists make, investing in a better saddle for a more comfortable ride.
My posture on the bike is not terribly aggressive. I adopt closer to a touring profile rather than a racing postures. My handlebars are even with my saddle so no need for a shorter saddle snout.
My original saddle shows discoloration along the white stripe. The paint is worn away and the “Liv” logo is mostly worn off.
I was dropping Michel’s bike off for new tires at To Wheels so I asked Andrew for a recommendation.
We looked at my current saddle size. It had been working for me until this year.
There are many choices to make. My goal was to get as narrow a profile as possible to reduce how much my legs rub against the side of the saddle.
I settled on Specialized’s Women’s Romin Evo Comp with MIMIC. Andrew recommended going up from a 143 mm to a 155mm for how most folks sit and the geometry.
It was about $150 Canadian, taxes in. There are plenty of more advanced and expensive options but I’m not that kind of athlete.
Once home, I had a bit of a challenge getting my old saddle off the bike. It was quite rusted on.
Nat looks at the camera with some grim determination. The offending and stubborn saddle is over her right shoulder bathed in WD-40
After failing to loosen the fastener I sprayed it with WD-40 because, in my heart of hearts, I’m an engineer. Engineers know if something isn’t moving, and it should, always try WD-40.
The magic juice loosened everything up and I was able to swap saddles. I had remembered to measure the distance from my bars to my saddle and recreated the geometry of my set up.
A top down short of my new saddle, securely installed on Ethyl.
I hopped on my bike for a quick rip around my neighbourhood. It definitely felt weird. To be fair, my old saddle was worn out and my butt is used to that. Andrew had warned me it would take a few weeks to adjust to it as well as for the saddle to break in. He also reassured me that for the first 30 days I could bring it back for exchange if the size or style didn’t work for me.
I seem to have installed it far enough back and straight. Yay!
So here’s to soaring along without hot spots. I’m giving it a good test today as I try a 100 km Populaire .
First, the MS Bike Tour is not a race. Second, I do not have a lot of recorded data before 2024.
With those 2 things in mind, I was still thrilled to PB 80 km on Day 1 of the tour, beating my previous best by 3 minutes and 43 seconds.
The morning of Day 1. Michel on the left, John in the centre and I’m being silly on the right.
Also, shout out to John who was the first rider to cross the finish Day 1. He was so fast! No, it’s not a race, but it is also fun to go fast.
The conditions were ideal for me. A cool 18C to start. It was calm with only the faintest of breezes. This year’s route was straighter, flatter and on quieter roads. Those things help me do my best.
Michel rode with me. Now that I know more about how my left ear affects my balance I ride with Michel on my right.
I can hear him better and I get less dizzy. We had a marvelous day.
Day 1 completed. I take a selfie with Michel and our new friend Jersey.
Ride from the ride
After we finished the course we rode the 4 km home alongside our new friend Jersey. I was tired but not wrecked when I got home.
Magical Morning
Day 2 was another excellent day for riding conditions. I felt strong and decided to see how it would go without any solid plan.
The first hour I averaged 19.5 km/hr and I could feel my thighs pumping up.
Perpetual Motion
As the morning went on I got faster and faster. It does take me about an hour to be warmed up but this was next level.
We rolled through a little town with a speed monitor that flashed 24 km/hr. That felt good!
The possibility dawned on me
I decided in the last hour or so to see how fast I could go. It’s a descent to the finish and I was feeling it. It occurred to me I might break my personal record again. Maybe?
As we rolled towards the finish Michel told me I was much faster than Day 1. I laughed. SURE BABE, SURE!
He was right, of course. I completed 80 km 6 minutes and 23 seconds faster than the previous day. Thanks to leaving from the house my total distance hit 50 miles, which I PB’d by 9 minutes and 45 seconds.
The last time I felt this strong on the bike was in 2016 on the People With AIDS ride from Toronto to Montreal. I don’t have data from that time but I know I rolled consistently in the 20-22 km/hr range.
New Possibilities
Before last weekend I thought my fastest rides were behind me. Now I’m thinking they may very well be ahead of me and that feels pretty exciting.
Some of our Canada Life Cycles team celebrating an incredible two days of riding.
It’s always a group assignment
While my watch only records my speed, my results are because of a whole bunch of people.
The event organizers and volunteers ensured each stop for water, food and toilets could be done quickly and safely. Thank you!
My physiotherapist had helped me heal from many injuries and empowered me with strategies to be strong and steady on the bike. Thank you Emily for helping me ride injury free!
My teammates provided company and encouragement on both days. I got to ride most of Day 2 with Tracy & Rosie, which was a rare treat. Rosie powered through a mechanical like it wasn’t even happening. Tracy was rocking a new ride. It was great!
And, of course, Michel there by my side for both days. We laughed. He shared snippets of Werner Herzog’s autobiography. He was listening to the audiobook read by Werner himself. There’s something really entertaining about his grim determination when you yourself are feeling determined.
A great weekend
So, long story longer, it was a marvelous weekend of riding and spending time with great people.
Michel and I are now plotting how we can do more rides together very soon.
This morning my alarm went off at 4 am. Michel hopped on his bike to ride the 70 km to the start as part of his training.
The past two weeks have been hit and miss cycling wise due to storms and air quality. But this morning I’m feeling good.
I collected Tracy & Tyler at 5 am and we arrived at the Grand Bend Motorplex for 6 am.
I love seeing friends, old and new, at an event that continues to have a strong core of longtime supporters.
Michel and I at the 2025 registration with my friend and neighbour John.
We will have a light headwind both days. It’s just how the weather worked out. Some years we get tailwinds both ways. Just the luck of the draw.
It’s delightfully cool and I’m thankful we are not in a heatwave.
The route this year is simplified. It is the same both days and uses roads local cyclists frequent.
Michel and I have had excellent results with our fundraising. I think having the top fundraiser, Barry Travnicek, join our team gave us a good reputation to live up to.
As of writing this I have raised $2,165. Michel is sitting at $685. We are hoping to best our total of $3,200.
This event is much more than a cause related fundraiser. It’s a weekend riding with my beloved, our friends and colleagues.
Michel’s involvement pre-dates mine. He had been involved for a couple years before we rode together for the first time in 2018.
It’s become a touchstone in our relationship and our cycling season. We know several couples who met at the event/ride together.
Riding for this cause, the treatment and cure for MS, has brought me closer to friends. It has connected me with a community of caring and action. It’s something I treasure a great deal.
I don’t take for granted that I can ride 80 km two days back to back. It is a challenge but an achievable one.
I hope you too can find meaningful ways to connect activity and community. It’s powerful stuff.
I’m at the final stage of recovering from my lower back injury from the winter.
It started with analysis and restricting movements until my back healed then re-introducing different spinal movements.
The last step is yet another “silly little movement” called the Jefferson curl.
Emily described it as going from standing to fully bent over, curling my spine like a pill bug.
This bug is curled up just bragging about its range of motion
Emily and I spoke about why moving each vertebrae separately was important.
First, it’s helping my proprioception. As I stand tall and slowly curl my head, neck and each part of my spine – I’m understanding what muscles and connective tissues are doing at each stage of the movement.
Second, it’s practicing movements that occur in everyday life. Bending over to pick up a sock or stooping to get a weed in the garden should be effortless and not require special movements.
Third, learning this move is removing my fear of re-injury. I’ve been overly protective of my back which, ironically, makes me more prone to injury.
The internet has strong opinions about the Jefferson curl specifically and spinal movement in general!
Do a quick search about spinal flexion and or the Jefferson curl. It’s ok. I’ll wait.
You will quickly find people yelling about always keeping a neutral spine. Others imploring everyone to use the full range of motions of your back. What a mine field!
Under my physiotherapist’s guidance and coaching, I practiced the movement with a tiny 5 pound kettle bell. I didn’t even know they came that small!
Emily reassured me that it would feel like breaking every rule about form. It did! Since it is so ingrained in me not to round my spine I struggled to get my body to comply.
After two weeks of doing 2-5 reps a couple times a day using a 5 pound weight, the Jefferson curl is feeling more fluid and available to me.
I’m not saying everyone needs the Jefferson curl in their routine but it has caused me to question if I’m unnecessarily restricting other movements.
I tend to shy away from kneeling and other pressure on my knee because of an old injury. I’m going to gently explore that and challenge my self-imposed restriction.
Use with caution
It’s not that the advice to keep a neutral spine is wrong. When lifting heavy loads, it’s important to get in the right posture and engage your legs and core. Good form for exercises matter!
So I will never be using my heavy weights on this movement. I also need the range of motion available to me in my life because socks and weeds need picking up!
It started as a joke a few years ago. My colleague Net would regale me with her retired husband’s adventures.
Each morning Net would wake up early to walk Rodney, her hilarious Rottweiler. Doug would jump on his bike. Net would log in to work before 7am. Doug would go for a swim. Net took her lunch at 11 and walk while Doug played hockey. Yes. This is all the same day.
Net and I would often meet at the end of her work day and I would always ask what Doug was up to.
Net would brief me on his myriad of activities and exclaim “I wish I lived the life of Doug!”
A few years later, Net retired and she joyfully does activities all morning then “whatever I want” in the afternoon.
I recently got a sweaty hug from Net on my morning walk with Michel & Lucy. She was biking to an aerobics class. We laughed and agreed she was “living like Doug”.
It’s a schedule I aspire to. And I’m giving it an honest go. On Tuesday and Thursday this week I walked Lucy & Michel. I then biked to the pool. I swam for an hour. Biked home. Then had a lunch walk with Lucy and Michel.
My bike, Myrna, at the pool
But then, then I had a GIANT NAP. It turns out I’m not in good enough shape to “live like Doug” yet. I’m trying. It’s going to take some time.
Me making a goofy face while having fun walking.
My summer plans include swimming, cycling and strength training but I also need recovery days. Yesterday (Friday) I decided I needed a recovery day instead of my planned bike ride. I was bone tired.
So it was an active recovery day of walking with Michel & Lucy, a short utility bike ride and a decent stretching session.
Me, continuing to be a goofy goober, on my bike.
Michel could care less what I accomplish in a day. His only concern is my wellbeing. He’s delighted I am finding a new daily routine that includes lots of activities.
An example of an active day. 183 minutes of exercise including walking, biking and swimming.
I did have sore abs on Wednesday that responded to gentle movement. I’m really looking to avoid injury as it feels like I have been in physio for one injury or another for YEARS.
So yes, Doug, I’m working up to being as active as you are every day. I bet by the end of the summer I’ll be able to fully “live like Doug”.
Like many places in the Northern Hemisphere we have been experiencing a heatwave the past week.
It has messed with cycling plans, both for Michel and I.
I just saw him and about a dozen riders off at 6 am local for “Prettiest Town” a 300 km Randonneur brevet.
Originally Michel was to do the ride Thursday but it was canceled the night before due to the temperature. As were the rides scheduled Friday.
Now everyone is off and rolling, including myself. I’m going out for a peppy 50 km ride just as soon as this post goes live.
It’s been a marvelous week of getting on both my bikes. I had a nice 10 km recovery ride on my road bike, Ethyl.
I’ve gotten back into utility cycling. I picked up some groceries Monday.
Two reusable grocery bags sit on a bench, full to the brim with $100 of groceries.
I discovered my commuter bike, Myrna, can easily carry two bags of groceries. I love just a click from a grocery store and it felt good to stretch myself into cycling more.
Tuesday I visited a friend and got a 6 km ride round trip.
Wednesday was Canada Day and VERY HOT. A friend was moving so I provided a cooler full of Gatorade on ice and linen handkerchiefs for blotting our sweaty brows. They worked marvelously.
Lucy has been getting walks in the morning and evening, avoiding the worst of the heat.
Thursday, with the change in Michel’s schedule, we walked Lucy then did strength training in our basement. It was a day of enjoying unexpected time together.
It was lovely in the evening so we went to the closest outdoor pool for a lane swim. It felt amazing.
There’s something about dappled sunlight on the pool’s surface that feels magical.
Since I’m no longer racing in triathlons I just enjoy going through my drills and getting a few laps in. It’s about 600m in 30 minutes. I focus on my form and getting a full range of motion.
Friday was still hot so we got Lucy’s walk in early. I then invited Michel to bike with me to the pool for a 9 am laps session. It was busy but all the swimmers were familiar with sharing lanes and sorting out which speed lane they should be in.
Another 30 minutes or so and about the same distance felt good. My hamstrings complained as we biked home, extending out a bit to make the route a bit longer.
Walking, biking and swimming in the heat lead to a chill evening. Just what was needed for us to wake up at 4:30 this morning.
Being up before sunrise means you get some great views
I’m loving the variety of activities, especially the availability of so many lane swim times so close to my house.
Yes, I prefer it to be in the high 20s rather than “feels like 48”. I am also loving time to be active with Michel outdoors.
