I know that some of you out there (heck, probably most of you) thought I had literally gone off the deep end crazy when I went public with my decision to bike across the country for ALS research. Honestly, *I'm* not 100% sure that I haven't lost a couple of my marbles in making this decision. But after having acclimated to the idea, I realized that I need to really apply my mind to studying things to get me ready. So this week, apart from going out to get in road time, I've started to examine topics like nutrition, breathing techniques and strategies from people who have crossed the country by bike before. This is the hardest physical test I've ever set for myself by a very wide margin. So I thought I'd share a little bit about what I've learned this week and open up the floor for others to give advice, warning or thoughts on what I may face starting next April.
1) Belly breathing. Most of us breathe from our chests which is just fine for day-to-day, routine oxygen inhalation. But when you're exerting yourself physically chest-breathing often just doesn't cut it. If I'm going to be climbing the Appalachians almost right off the bat, I need to figure out how to maximize my body's oxygen intake. Breathing from the diaphragm gives you a much more ample supply of the oxygen your muscles need when you're pressing yourself really hard. This one is going to take some practice but it should eventually become second nature.
2) Eat before you're hungry; drink before you're thirsty. Proper nutrition is nonnegotiable on endeavors like biking the lower 48. Carbohydrates and lots of them. Carbs are quickly converted into energy and I'll need to take a lot of them if I'm going to be biking for more than a couple hours at a time. What's more, I'm going to need to learn how to eat *while* riding. One blog writer advised having your road foods unwrapped and very easily accessible so you can literally reach down and grab a bite to eat every 30 minutes. And if someone is going to be cycling more than one day in a row, the first 30 minutes after finishing your ride for the day need to be spent in eating loads of carbs. In the same vein, drinking a lot of water is necessary. The problems arise when it's not hot outside. Your body gets tricked into thinking it's not thirsty if it's feeling cold but I'll need to keep well hydrated by making sure to drink on a regular basis whether I feel thirsty or not.
3) Don't take long breaks. I remarked to a good friend who's a cyclist that I realized that if I get really worn down midway through the day's ride, I can just take a break for a half hour or an hour. She told me that would likely be a big mistake because your muscles cool down during a break of any longer than a couple of minutes and they do NOT appreciate you making them start up again. Better to just pull over for a moment, take a good drink and a bite to eat and then keep grinding.
4) Meltdowns. They will happen. There will be days when I wake up and everything goes wrong during the day. I will despair and, if alone, seriously consider permanently throwing in the towel and bailing out. This has sealed it in my mind. I need companionship. I need that extra push to keep going. I know myself too well to think I'd make it all the way on my own gumption. "One day at a time" is the solution for meltdowns. I must have this mentality. I must keep my eyes firmly fixed on "Just today." Not letting my mind wander out to "I've got another month and a half of this." Because things are always better the day after a meltdown.
So now you have an idea what I've learned so far. Hopefully these lessons will help me work smarter rather than just harder.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Monday, May 26, 2014
Overabundance
Here I am at the outset of the most ambitious goal I've ever set for myself. I'm going to ride my bicycle from Baltimore, MD to San Francisco, CA to raise funds and awareness for The ALS Association. And right here at the outset, before you get a chance to think too highly of me, I'm going to share something to point you to what's truly amazing.
Have you ever had a moment where you were expecting something but ended up getting far, far more of it than you thought you would? I know Peter sure did. At the end of John's word-portrait of Jesus, we find the fisherman Peter and his friends out fishing. They've spent the entire night out on the lake without getting any significant catches and are pulling into the harbor conceding defeat when a guy on the seashore yells out "Have you caught anything?" Annoyed, they reply "No." The man calls back "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you'll find some fish." When they obey, the amount of fish they drag in makes it too heavy to pull all the way into the boat. Without any further ado, John says "It's the Lord!" What makes John so sure? He doesn't even add the clause "I think..." So certain is he that he just says "It is the Lord!" He knows because giving far more than is necessary is kind of Jesus' signature move. At the very beginning of John's story (at the wedding in Cana) Jesus created far more wine than was necessary to keep a party afloat. When he fed the multitudes, they gathered in entire baskets of food that people were too full to finish eating. Jesus just loves giving an almost absurd amount to meet a small need. The disciples suddenly went from having no fish to speak of to having too many for the small ship's crew to pull in. "It is the Lord!"
I had an "It is the Lord!" moment tonight. In fact, this whole week has pretty much been an "It is the Lord!" kind of week. Two weeks ago, I hadn't even thought of this trip. If you'd have told me that I would soon be working on this major project and that I'd have taken in the resources that I've taken in I'd have laughed you out of town! Tonight I was given permission to make an announcement about this project for the 3rd shift associates at their meeting. I was *hoping* to maybe get 5 or 10 bucks. I made my pitch and told them that if they'd like to make a contribution, I'd be sitting at a table with chocolate chip cookies for them to buy. Moments later, I was $41.25 closer to my goal! I couldn't believe it! Some people didn't want cookies but instead just gave money. One guy gave $20! I've had "It is the Lord!" moments in the past but my faith is so small that I forget about them and when the status quo rolls around again I expect only the barest response from the Lord. Most of the time, my conception of Jesus is that he'll give grace that's just enough and no more and you've almost got to pry it from his stiff fingers. It's moments like tonight that I remember that this is not what Jesus is like at all. He loves giving. Giving is like his hobby! It's the thing that makes him excited! He literally loves it! At the briefest request, he literally pours far more than I need out! This is the God I serve and HE is far more astounding than any bike trip I'm going to be going on!
Have you ever had a moment where you were expecting something but ended up getting far, far more of it than you thought you would? I know Peter sure did. At the end of John's word-portrait of Jesus, we find the fisherman Peter and his friends out fishing. They've spent the entire night out on the lake without getting any significant catches and are pulling into the harbor conceding defeat when a guy on the seashore yells out "Have you caught anything?" Annoyed, they reply "No." The man calls back "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you'll find some fish." When they obey, the amount of fish they drag in makes it too heavy to pull all the way into the boat. Without any further ado, John says "It's the Lord!" What makes John so sure? He doesn't even add the clause "I think..." So certain is he that he just says "It is the Lord!" He knows because giving far more than is necessary is kind of Jesus' signature move. At the very beginning of John's story (at the wedding in Cana) Jesus created far more wine than was necessary to keep a party afloat. When he fed the multitudes, they gathered in entire baskets of food that people were too full to finish eating. Jesus just loves giving an almost absurd amount to meet a small need. The disciples suddenly went from having no fish to speak of to having too many for the small ship's crew to pull in. "It is the Lord!"
I had an "It is the Lord!" moment tonight. In fact, this whole week has pretty much been an "It is the Lord!" kind of week. Two weeks ago, I hadn't even thought of this trip. If you'd have told me that I would soon be working on this major project and that I'd have taken in the resources that I've taken in I'd have laughed you out of town! Tonight I was given permission to make an announcement about this project for the 3rd shift associates at their meeting. I was *hoping* to maybe get 5 or 10 bucks. I made my pitch and told them that if they'd like to make a contribution, I'd be sitting at a table with chocolate chip cookies for them to buy. Moments later, I was $41.25 closer to my goal! I couldn't believe it! Some people didn't want cookies but instead just gave money. One guy gave $20! I've had "It is the Lord!" moments in the past but my faith is so small that I forget about them and when the status quo rolls around again I expect only the barest response from the Lord. Most of the time, my conception of Jesus is that he'll give grace that's just enough and no more and you've almost got to pry it from his stiff fingers. It's moments like tonight that I remember that this is not what Jesus is like at all. He loves giving. Giving is like his hobby! It's the thing that makes him excited! He literally loves it! At the briefest request, he literally pours far more than I need out! This is the God I serve and HE is far more astounding than any bike trip I'm going to be going on!
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