Greetings! 
I stopped smoking at the end of last year and started to balloon alarmingly so thought a bicycle may be an idea. Mid March after much deliberation I plumped for a Marin Hybrid & decided I would use it to commute to the nearest train station and to go to work.
I was concerned that 6 miles each way may be a bit of a struggle for a middle aged bloater so I decided some training runs were in order. I found the hardest thing was getting out of bed earlier than usaual, the cycling was easy, it was the single early train which was the most offputting.
The seemingly daunting 6 mile run is now too short. I am considering the next station up the line. A massive 10 miles and a £1.20p saving on ticket fare! I know I can get there but its the 'being able to cycle all the way there & back in one go because I forgot my keys' that I have to prepare for, so I'm going to do a 20 mile training run next week just to see what kind of time I'm looking at. I reckon 45 minutes each way would be a good starting point. Right now on my short journey I can maintain 20mph along the flat bits, attack the short steep hill and spin quickly up the long climb. I realise this may not be earth shattering but blubberbut is getting fitter & faster, next year I may start using the upstairs toilet!
I haven't weighed myself for sometime but will do so this weekend and I'm hoping for an improvement. Generally though, I feel a lot better healthwise and even if I do still weigh a tonne I don't care. My legs feel firmer and so does my gut. I am beginning to feel the benefits and making the most of the good weather. Tonight, I am going to try to break the 20 minute barrier, I would have done it last night if that horse hadn't been in the way.
I just figured I would post this incase someone out there in webland is thinking about starting but isn't too sure. I'm glad I'm doing it and going to work has never been so much fun.
Best bit:
Outpacing a tractor for over a mile.
Worst bit:
Swallowing a fly while trying to cross the A49 quickly.
=========================
Note to self: Get mudguards fitted before going through anymore cowpats.
I stopped smoking at the end of last year and started to balloon alarmingly so thought a bicycle may be an idea. Mid March after much deliberation I plumped for a Marin Hybrid & decided I would use it to commute to the nearest train station and to go to work.
I was concerned that 6 miles each way may be a bit of a struggle for a middle aged bloater so I decided some training runs were in order. I found the hardest thing was getting out of bed earlier than usaual, the cycling was easy, it was the single early train which was the most offputting.
The seemingly daunting 6 mile run is now too short. I am considering the next station up the line. A massive 10 miles and a £1.20p saving on ticket fare! I know I can get there but its the 'being able to cycle all the way there & back in one go because I forgot my keys' that I have to prepare for, so I'm going to do a 20 mile training run next week just to see what kind of time I'm looking at. I reckon 45 minutes each way would be a good starting point. Right now on my short journey I can maintain 20mph along the flat bits, attack the short steep hill and spin quickly up the long climb. I realise this may not be earth shattering but blubberbut is getting fitter & faster, next year I may start using the upstairs toilet!
I haven't weighed myself for sometime but will do so this weekend and I'm hoping for an improvement. Generally though, I feel a lot better healthwise and even if I do still weigh a tonne I don't care.
My legs feel firmer and so does my gut. I am beginning to feel the benefits and making the most of the good weather. Tonight, I am going to try to break the 20 minute barrier, I would have done it last night if that horse hadn't been in the way. I just figured I would post this incase someone out there in webland is thinking about starting but isn't too sure. I'm glad I'm doing it and going to work has never been so much fun.
Best bit:
Outpacing a tractor for over a mile.
Worst bit:
Swallowing a fly while trying to cross the A49 quickly.
=========================
Note to self: Get mudguards fitted before going through anymore cowpats.
