Bikey weekend

[dreamshark]

My attempts to avoid gaining weight over the winter weren't terribly successful, but all that gym time seems to have kept my fitness level from deteriorating as much as it usually does. Anyway, I'm getting back my biking stamina very quickly. Did two lakes yesterday (8-9 miles) and 15 miles today with Trish and Nancy. I was tired when I got home, but not really exhausted. Hungry, yes. Thirsty, yes. Sitff and sore, yes. But I could have ridden another 5 miles if I really had to.

Beautiful day for biking. We rode east on the Midtown Bikeway, along the light rail line to the West Bank where we peeled off to look for the new bike bridge to the East Bank. We located it, crossed the Missisisippi, adimired the view, and rode back. Then on up W. River Road to the Stone Arch Bridge. We were delighted to discover that the little sandwich shop in the Mill City Museum was open and grabbed a sandwich. Then back down the light rail line to the Midtwon path and home.

Now I'd better go do my taxes. I wish I could find that one 1099 form. Maybe I can get it off the website.

Comments

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on all that exercise!
I sympathize with the soreness: my yoga instructor always insists on ab-strengthening exercises as part of our sessions and mine are always left sore.

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

I'm one of those people that always gets stiff and sore when I do anything even slightly out of the ordinary. Yes, I stretch. I'm sick of people telling me that I wouldn't get sore if I just stretched more. (I know, you didn't say anything about that; I'm just free associating!)

I've experimentally determined that stretching before exercise reduces the chances of muscle strain, but stretching afterwards doesn't actually make any difference (although I do believe in cooling down gradually). I saw reports of a study just the other day that confirmed that, sure enough, extensive stretching out after exercise sessions has NO EFFECT in preventing soreness. Ha!

However, I get stiff and uncomfortable in a different way when i don't get enough exercise, and i feel better in general when I'm active, so the soreness doesn't stop me from doing stuff.

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

It may be that stretching beforehand helps; if you're building muscle, though it's going to get sore. Or, at least that's what I was told: that the breakdown of muscle tissue is part of the growth process.