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Friday, September 5, 2008

the affair.

I'm feeling a bit a guilty, so I think it's time to confess: For the past couple of months I have been having an affair. If you want to get technical, it's probably more of an occurrence of "two-timing"...

You see, I love to run. That's right, I actually enjoy exercise! And for me, running is where it is at. I love being out on the open road. Feeling the pavement under my sneakers, the wind in my face. Running is "me" time. It's my opportunity to be selfish. As one of my favorite running shirts reads "it's cheaper than therapy." Now that you have a little background, let's get back to explaining the torrid affair.

For Christmas I got a bike. It had been on my list, but I hadn't really put much thought in to it. I'm not a cyclist. I took up spinning that last month or so of my pregnancy, and I thought it was fun. But that was the extent of my cycling experience. Struggling to come up with a Christmas list, I simply listed a bike. There was no make or model described, so you can imagine my surprise when I actually got one. But there was no mistaking it. Bright and early Christmas morning I woke up to a beautiful new bike.

I got it home, and didn't really know what to do with it. I was already running almost daily. When would I ever have time to ride this beautiful bike? Plus how would I ever be able to accomplish this? At least with running I can take the kids in the jogger. Owen is still way too little for a bike trailer. So I decided I needed to get a bike trainer so I could set my bike up indoors and take it for a spin.

Jeff set the trainer up, and for an entire week I couldn't bring myself to get on. I can't explain it, and it sounds totally dumb, but I was nervous. Finally one Saturday, while the boys were napping, the bike and I had our first "date." Boy, what an awkward experience. But I kept at. At first, I was only seeing the bike a couple times a week. But as we became more comfortable with one another, it became a daily experience. Suddenly 3 months had passed. I was still running everyday, but I was also biking everyday. Sometimes it's hard juggling the two, but they are both so much fun, I didn't think I could give up either.

As much fun as I was having, I still didn't feel like I had totally "committed" to the bike. You see, although I was riding nearly every day, we had not gone "all the way." After 3 months of riding, I still had yet to ride the bike outside, on the actual road. So today, I took the plunge. And I am proud to say, I am no longer a virgin biker. This morning (yep I know, chastise me all you want, I admit... I broke the sabbath) I took the bike on a 12 mile loop, and it was awesome! I was scared to death the entire time. Dozens of questions and fears continually ran through my head: What if I fall? What if I can't unclip fast enough? What if I stop on a hill, and have to get going again? What about stop lights? What about going downhill too fast? What if I can't keep up with the group? I am proud to say I encountered, and overcame every single one of fears, including falling. Yep, I fell, but not until the last five minutes of the ride. By then I was feeling confident, maybe too confident. I took a corner too quickly, got stuck in the ridge between the street and the curb, hit the curb and flew off. Luckily I landed on grass. No major injuries, just a bruised ego, and some aches and pains.

All in all, I think this will be an affair to both remember and continue.

note: if you've been reading my blog for a while, you probably already know that this was originally published HERE. but, because i've been spending so much time with my bike, as of late, i thought it was appropriate to re-publish it. (plus riding everywhere on my bike has left me much to tired, & not a lot of time to think of anything new to post.) see... here's proof that not all affairs are one night stands. some affairs can develop into consistent & steady relationships.

16 comments:

Janiece said...

CUTE!
I wish I had the ambition to do something like that... bike ride that is...BUT, I don't.
Loved to hear about your trist

Hannah said...

I need some lessons in commitment to exercise. I wish I could feel the love. :)

kara jayne said...

I've turned into the same two-timer. I actually sneak out for a swim occasionally too?!! It's a slippery slope.

The Roberts Rollercoaster RIde said...

I love it!! Spin class is totally fun...as soon as you get over the first 2 weeks of having a sore tush!
But don't feel bad, I'm having an affair is chocolate milk. ;) Shhhh don't tell Larry!

Bridget said...

Yeah for you! Glad you took your bike out on the real road! I love riding. Great exercise and so much more fun being outside and not in a stuffy gym.

Becky said...

I wish I could have a torrid love affair with ANY kind of excercise!!

SandraRee said...

I still think you're a writer at heart, not a rider! lol Great post, Kelly!

Hollyween said...

Okay. You're the WOMAN. This is something I've been wanting to do for a long time. I, too, love exercise (though I don't know that it's to the EVERY DAY extent that YOU love it) and I've always wanted to get into biking. I love clipping into hte stationary spin class bike, but that's AS FAR AS IT GOES for me. I've had the same fears about clipping and being out on the open road and falling and ugh...

Plus... there's one other problem. I don't own a bike. I really must find a way to remedy that.

Shannon said...

you are such an inspiration to me! I do NOT love running, or biking or really anything that physical... my love is Yoga... but, since I had to give up my old gym due to the drive to get there, I haven't done much Yoga. My new gym has CRAPPY classes and I'm not motivated enough to do it at home! O well! Someday! Sooner would be best. I'll just keep reading your blog for inspiration! :)

C World said...

your posts crack me up! where do you bike? peter's canyon? sounds like a "healthy" relationship to have, too!

Fifi Flowers said...

Two-timing with a bike sounds pretty serious... hmmmm... do you feel better confessing... lol

Kirsten Krason said...

What a great post. I too have been thinking of getting more into biking. I feel like I haven't done it since I was 12. So I too am nervous. But you are my inspiration!

Kimberly said...

I feel the same way about exercise. I love running...it is my passion. However, since becoming a fitness instructor I have a hard time choosing. They are all too much fun. I have to admit, I haven't tried the cycling thing yet...my sister tells me I'm really missing out. Anyway, I loved hearing about your "affair."

Tonya Staab said...

I'm with Hannah, I have serious committment issues to anything that resembles exercise. I think you need to take me on as a student. I'm willing to be whipped into shape.

jen said...

wow, thanks for the motivation. i need to go work out in a few.

Lynn said...

My first fall off the road bike was at a busy intersection with plenty of fans around to watch me eat asphalt. It didn't hurt as much as I thought falling clipped in would but I would have preferred grass myself.