This is a busy weekend for most Americans. Its Labor Day Weekend which means, for most, its a long weekend jam packed with road trips, bar-b-ques, spending time with family and friends, and saying goodbye to another summer. Kids are also going back to school (and parents are sighing with relief). This is pretty typical American stuff, but for me and my family, this weekend has been a little different so far.
I’m up late. Way too late, as is the case before most mornings that I have to get up extra early. I have a 20 mile training run in preparation for my upcoming marathon and I have to get up and be out the door by 5:30 am to meet my buddy, Corey, who’s going to run some of the miles with me. Its a welcome change to my normal lone wolf style training. I’m thankful that next week is a “rest week” with low mileage and no weekend long run.
Today I rode 20-25 miles while my wife hung out with the kids after her thwarted attempt to work out at the gym that was unexpectedly closed. We’d had a familiar morning where our two year old got up at 5:30 for no particular reason so by the time I got back, my wife was ready for a nap. This gave me the opportunity to finally go to the store and pick up some platform pedals with toe clips for my old road bike. I’ve been meaning to do this so other people can use it and I can use it for errands.
In the meantime, my wife decided that it was time to get back on the bike after not having ridden since she was a teenager. I installed the pedals and got her up on the trainer to go through shifting and some basic instruction and before I knew it, a new roadie was born. She went out and took her time getting to know the bike and had herself a nice little ride. The best part: She liked it!
I know I have to do a better job of showing my enthusiasm and offer even more encouragement so she has a chance to really get hooked on cycling – like me. I already have visions of family bike rides. A fit family. Does it get better than that? I also have questions, perhaps premature, but how do you teach someone that suffering on the bike is actually a good or desirable thing?
At any rate, our weekend seems to be fitness related. Or at least as much as it can be with two boys running around looking for new things to get themselves into. While my neighbors are having breakfast and setting up the lawn furniture I’ll be pounding the pavement. Hopefully my wife will be able to get out for another ride when I get back. So celebrate with me and, maybe before the 3,000 calorie grill session, take a little ride in honor of Megan, the newest roadie.
Congratulations to Megan and may you both have many years of happy pedaling.