Reality Check

Written 20 Jan.

The only place I can start my journey is where I am right now. So where is that? Time to have a good hard honest look at ME as of today - Warts and All.

MEDICAL.
Yesterday I turned 52. My blood pressure is at the high end of good,resting pulse rate is fine-and will improve with training, Cholesterol is good (5.2 from a recommended range of 3.9-5.5), weight is 93kgs and dropping - compared to 108kgs a year ago!!, and all other medical indicators are good.

According to the doc,I am healthy and ready to perform.

Except....

For unknown reasons my Heamoglobin count is very low and has been for the last two years (131 against acceptable range of 135-175). This is the part of the blood that transports oxygen around the body so a low count creates problems for distance or extended period exercise. It is obviously bad news- It means I will run out of oxygen much earlier than everyone else, regardless of how much training I do. I will see a specialist in March to try to get to the underlying problem. My G.P. says this is a problem but to me at the moment it doesn't mean I wont be able to achieve the Improbable Dream - it just makes it harder, and I will be much slower than most people. Oh well - So be it. I will still do the very best I can- even if it is slow at the end.

Another issue is my damaged left meniscus (the gristle in my knee joint). Again, not much to be done here medically so I just have to be gentle with it and wait for it to get better. I tore it in March last year and aggravated it again last April. It's now much better than 6 months ago, when I couldn't hike or run on it for several months. It's now say 85% corrected. Still uncomfortable when I walk or run but I know I just have to ignore it, or learn to live with it.

Physical.
At school I had no natural ability in any sport. Plenty of desire, just no ability.

Since then, I've lived a boozy, lazy, indulgent life- A physical job and poor lifestyle in my 20s, an office job and poor life style in my 30s and 40's. I did do some bike riding and hiking in my 40s; I completed three 'Big Bike Rides' ie 10 days x 100kms per day rides, several multi-day bush walks and ran 5ks races occassionally, yet still manged to combined these with poor food, lots of alcoho, late nights, a stressful exercutive job and some smoking.

In the last 12 months I have stopped smoking, started eating and exercising to lose weight and started exercising regularly for improved fitness. My damaged knee meant I couldn't hike or run so I started bike riding after a few years break. In the last three motnhs I have exercised regularly to build a base level of aerobic fitness by biking and hiking - with the occassionaly short run when my knee allowed. Late last year I rode the Brisbane to Gold Coast ride (100kms @ 25kph average) and completed the 10km Bridge to Brisbane Fun Run in 70 minutes. In December I joined a gym and I am now trying to build a strength regime into my weekly activites.I recently fast-hiked 20 kms non-stop and pulled up OK which is a good start. Today my fitness is better than three months ago but still not good. It's clearly going to take some time!

I have not swum - or even been near a pool or the beach - for years.

Skills.
Honestly? I ride like a clown, run like a girl and swim like a stone.

My road bike riding technique is slowly getting better. I am now more confident with the thinner tyres/ ligher frame and I'm now understanding how to ride in traffic. My average cadence is higher (but only for as long as fitness allows) and my ability to ride in the aero position is improving.
My running technique feelis like it is OK but fitness only allows me to run well for a few minutes. This is worse than this time last year but it's a result of the sore knee. I'm sure it will improve with focus and commitment.
I have never been a strong swimmer , or even a good swimmer so I will need lessons.
Last time I operated a kayak was in high school, about 35 years ago.
I have no bush navigation skills and no first aid training. I have not compete in any real 'race' for 30 years... afun run/ride is the closest I have come.

There is much for me to do and to learn.

Mental Strength.
I have a history of achieving my goals, although I am not a good finisher- I 'vague out' and get distracted as the finish gets close. I know this and I can usually force my mind to focus and to complete. I am not a 'detail' person and have to work hard at moving from big picture/ dreams into the hard work of reality. I also tend to be a lounge lizard, and can easily find reasons to put things off. Procratinate NOW! I say. :-)

I am confident I can work with my mind to accept things like tiredness and discomfort. I am ready to accept pain although I'm not sure how I will go. (Does anyone really know until thery've been there?). I try to constantly train my mind (its my buddhism at work!) but I know I will need to work at making it strong enough to handle the journey ahead. Again, a good starting point but plenty of work ahead.

Lifestyle.
I have no children, a wife who is understanding ans who also likes time on her own/ with her family and my friends are spread wide. My job allows free time. I am confident I will be able to dedicate the time to the task. I had time to complete a Masters when I had a more demanding job and personal life so now it should be easier to find the necessary time.

So there it is- Some health problems and plenty of learn and to do. Overall, a good place to start the journey to 'The Improbable Dream.
So let's hit the road.

More later. Journey on!

Word Count - 1106