SMT #41

Well, thought I'd post a fun SMT this week. I'm an avid walker, but a 4 week hiatus of resting my foot and hoping to make the plantar's fasciitis issue better(NOT), has me looking for alternative forms of exercise.  My walking buddy suggested that we might try bike riding.

 I refuse to buy a new bike when I don't know how long I'll stick with it. In our barn is one if not both of the bikes our children had as children. Keep in mind my oldest is 42 and my youngest is 40, so the bikes are about 30 years old. About 3 years ago, we put new tires and a padded seat on one of them so I could ride some(I didn't stick with it long-reason below). Well the other day, DH aired up the tires, and so far so good with them holding air. The bike HAS been in the barn, but remember I live in a very humid place so some oxidation(rusting) has occurred.

Reason for not sticking with it - I grew up in the Mississippi Delta where the terrain is totally flat(think Holland), so hopping on a bike and riding for hours even when you're out of shape isn't difficult. However even though we don't   have  a real hill here in Lowndes County, we do have inclines, so I'm having to build up gradually. I mean who knew that my driveway that I thought was flat actually has about a 2 degree slope to it(my thigh muscles that's who). The bike has NO gears just me, so I decided before I start riding with my walking buddy(she has 7 gears on her bike and she's 6 years younger than me), I better start getting the old legs in shape. I've been taking short rides(no more than a mile) several times a day. Today, I rode a mile away from the house and then had to ride the mile back. There was one incline(maybe 6 degrees) that had my muscles screaming. I thought I was going to have to get off and walk the bike, but I persevered(read that I could walk faster than I was pedalling). I made it home, so I'm feeling pretty proud of myself. I'll do another run after lunch and then I'm calling it quits on exercise for the day.

This is a picture of me on the bike, but not after the 2 mile run(I wasn't grinning but grimacing then). I just went up the drive a little ways and back so DH could take the picture before he got on with his day. You will notice that I am wearing a helmet and have on a reflective vest. I'm old enough to know I'm not invincible.

Tootsie if you see these pictures, I know you're horrified. Too bad you don't live closer, because, I'd let you repaint it(see I haven't forgotten the pink tricycle).

So come on everyone, post a picture of either your craft space or what you have going on and enter it on Sassy Cheryls Blog in the Show Me Thursday Challenge. You not only get to nosey around in other people's lives(and admit it you know you love to do that), but you also have a chance of winning a Sassy Cheryl image. There's no way to lose.