slowdad

Rode My Bike

Tonight I got on the bike for 30 minutes and watched a bit of the Vuelta.

I learned that it's tricky, and a bit tiring to ride with one hand, but it was good to spin the legs a little bit.  The arm is feeling somewhat less painful and I'm looking forward to at least being back into things by ski season.

On another note, my kids are loving cross country practise.  3 days of early morning running per week is wonderful for them.

Long Weekend

This weekend I had the fortune of the weekend coming together to make it chock full of cycling.  The stars, moon, and my wife's plans all aligned for lots of riding and race watching.

This weekend I did two back to back long rides for a total of 242 km, and I even feel pretty good this morning.  Not like last weekend where my Sunday ride was not much more than spinning the legs for a couple of hours.

Admittedly, I wasn't going super hard for those 9 hours, and there are lots of other people who rode more, faster, and looked better doing it than I, but it's still a milestone of sorts.  I hope to get a couple more long weeks in over the next while to build some base for the coming cross season, and in July and August really start building the intensity.

At this point in the year, I'm only up on my training by about 30 hours over the same point last year.  Almost halfway through and at 178 hours or so. And to think that at one point, years and years ago, I planned on doing a 1000 hour year.  

The kids enjoyed watching the bike race, but, unfortunately they didn't get outside nearly as much as they should have.  I only have my selfish self to blame for that.  Next year they're planning to run/walk their first adult running race, probably a trail 5 km, so too much Wii is something to watch.

Priorities

I'm trying to be the Dad I want to be, not the Dad I was shown, or am even. And so, blogging has suffered from not being a clear priority, despite my liking it.

Basically my days look like it did today:

• 6:30 Wake up, maybe...
• 8:00 Walk kids to track practice and sitter
• 8:30 Make Tea, start work
• 17:00 Walk to pickup kids
• 17:15 Watch swim lessons
• 19:00 Bath time
• 19:45 Pretend to do chores, get told to stop
• 20:00 Jump on trainer, sweat a bit
• 22:00 Be tired, check email quickly
• 23:00 Sleep

I'd really love to get some slack time in there.  I've been trying to make time to meditate for years.  Maybe do some core workouts.  Maybe sit down with my better half. 

Actually I'm learning to work those things in... Except the core workouts.

But, my new found resolve to "Be better" has yielded it's own rewards.

A couple weeks ago I skipped riding, on what will probably turn out to be the only warm, dry Saturday of the year, and watched my wife and kids race.  They're now old hands at it and really look forward to it, without there being any kind of pressure or needing to talk them through any nerves.  

We watched stage 3 of the Giro d'Italia together on the weekend.  I was catching up on the Tour, and testing my new video streaming to my TV, and the kids sat down to watch as well, and started getting into it. At first I was nervous, having heard about it already, but we don't typically shy away from tough conversations here so I let it run, with my hand on on the skip button.  

I wouldn't exactly call it a bonding moment, rather a mild learning experience, since the news wasn't final until after the broadcast ended.  The kids knew it was serious and we had a chat about it.  RIP Wouter Weylandt.  

Today I dashed off from project work and went to the regional school track meet.  My oldest was running in the 4 X100m but I didn't want to miss it and I was glad I made the effort.  It was pure pandemonium with a couple hundred screaming kids under less than complete supervision.  The team got absolutely demolished, coming last, but seeing him run out the last leg was still awesome.

Doing those things reminds me how I never remember my own Dad making the effort to watch me compete, and I'm not going to carry on the tradition.

This is what kids should do on a sunny day

When it's a nice warm spring day nothing says fun like riding the trainer.

They took turns and rode for quite some time. Next I need to get a powertap onto a 22 inch wheel

Fathers Day Weekend

I have no recollection of spending a Fathers day with my Dad when I was a kid.  Perhaps it happened but it never made an impression.  Maybe there were some pancake breakfasts, but likely, it was Dad's day and he went of to do his hobby, and we'd hang around the airport, just like every weekend.

So this weekend, despite the fact that I have a perfect opportunity to do a very nice, long and hilly club ride, I'm going to take a pass and spend the time doing some things that the family wants to do.

It's not some super amazing, sacrificial thing that I'm doing, but at the same time, it's probably true that I've got a bit out of balance on some weekends lately.

I'll still go for a ride, but it won't be for four hours, and it'll be after everyone grows tired of me and urges me to go.

80 km of Fun

Today was a good day.

My wife had a trail race, of the 5 Peaks kind, out in Durham Forest, so off we went, pedal to the floor, late out of the house as usual.

She had a good run, which was nice to see, as she's been trying to get her mojo back after the marathon last fall.

But, more importantly, my little guy won his kids race!  And me without the camera as it was scheduled to rain. Regardless, it was a proud moment seeing him hammering away, a head smaller than the kids behind him, happy as punch to be running.

Once the running was over I got changed, took the CX bike off the car and headed south, down the back roads.

"That road is gravel for quite a long way." a lady called out as I rode by on my skinny tires.  "Yes" I replied.

That winding, wet, muddy road was the best part of the ride really. It didn't quite compare to Stage 7 of this year's Giro but it was enough for me to make it comparable.  Looking down at muddy legs was more inspiration to go harder.

When the road ended and went back to tarmac, I was a bit sad and stopped to take a picture.

Looking at the picture now I thought there'd be more mud.  My lower half was covered.

The last 70 km were mainly on fairly heavily trafficked roads, which was fun when the rain started to come down, washing off my lovely mud.

At times it was really coming down, drenching every single inch, and causing flooding on the sides of the roads.  Fortunately I had on my grippy rain tires, some Vitorria Pave clinchers.  

With little reason to stop, I kept the pace up a bit, and with a tail wind for quite some time, finished the 80 km in 2:39.  

Of course, as I turned down my street, relaxing, I got caught up in the street car tracks and tipped over, the blood running down my leg making my trip seem all the more epic.

But, I can't claim awesomeness.  The 2010 Ride to Conquer Cancer was today, and loads of people were out riding 160 km, at probably a faster pace.  And they can't claim awesomeness either, RAAM solo also started.    

A SlowDad Week

So far this week I've ridden my bike for about 3 hours.

And yet I'm still tired.

And I'm a bit behind on a key project.

Some days I have dream that I'm really in super fantastic shape, that I can ride with the fast guys for hours. But I'm not that guy.

I've got to keep telling myself that it's ok to not be fast.

But there's always hope.

I hope tomorrow to get in 100 km before noon, and return for a relaxing afternoon with the family.

and so, to bed...

2 Days, No Riding

Monday - A Holiday.  Went to a wedding the night before and got a bit to0 hung over.  Worked most of the day to my families disappointment. But it was a day off anyway

Tuesday - Worked.  For 10 hours.  Took the kids to soccer and swimming. Worked some more.  No Riding

At least the kids got some exercise.

First Race, Gold Medal, Proud Dad

Today was the Fisher Loppet up at Hardwood Ski and Bike.

I did not race which is probably for the best. Perhaps I'll give the 40km a shot next year and see what happens.

But today it was nice to spectate and see my lovely wife take 3rd place in her category despite having the worst skis ever manufactured by Fisher.  They are truly terrible and and glide like bricks.  We have agreed that she gets to buy the next pair of skis.  This is tremendously generous on my part.  I have my eye on a nice pair of Fisher RCS carbonlites/

I have been told that she'll divorce me if I post her picture here.  So I'll go and post it on facebook...

But, the medal winning didn't stop there for Team Slowdad. No Sir!  My family ensures I learn my place by constantly putting up better results than I do.

My 4 and 6 year old lined up side by side for the 5 and 6 year old .5 km race.  Two skiers going off every 30 seconds.

It was warm out, at least +5 deg C, probably more, so it was getting a bit slushy, but our team had the secret advantage of having done all their training in snowpants, and now... the snowpants were off!  This is a big deal and it confers, I believe, as big an advantage as taking EPO.  Next year you'll see the entire Norwegian XC team training in snowpants.

I didn't hold out much hope for a successful ski prior to the race.  Everyone was in full on crank.  #1 was whining and complaining about pretty much everything, and # 2 was crying, yelling, and saying that he didn't want to ski AT ALL!

And of course nobody was listening to me.  Hell I even bought everyone their favorite milk beverage but that bribe only lasted about 2 minutes.

So, we managed to get the recently removed and abandoned skis back on the appropriate feet and made it to the start.  #2 was whining that Mom was going to have to help him and that he wasn't going to race.  

As they got released from the start, the magic kicked in.  I've seen this a number of times now and I think it's a good lesson for parents everywhere.  It's likely your kid won't want to race during the entire lead up.  It's also highly probable that they are going to love it while they are doing it.

So off they shot.  My oldest hammering away like an obsessed Ivan Babikov with a look in his eye that makes my heart melt.

 

My youngest after the first 10 feet started yelling at Mom that "You're not allowed to help me!"  He kept up that spirit for the rest of the 5 minute or so race and placed 5th, smiling the whole way.

My oldest took home gold.  A very proud moment for him, especially after seeing the recent Olympics and learning what it means to stand on a podium.  He is currently sleeping with a bunny rabbit and his medal.

My proudest moment?  Just as he was turning to climb a small climb to the finish he cheerfully announced as he skied by.  "Dad!  I'm doing my best!"

Given that he was having fun while doing it, it's all I can ask for.
 

10 Ways to Keep your Kids Active

Why is it that being fit has become a chore for the vast majority of the nation? Why do we see citizens, lined up upon rows and rows of treadmills, trying to keep the pounds off? Why is obesity such an epidemic?

I don't have the answers to these questions.  But, as you know, I am full of opinions.  And when facts and solutions are in short supply, opinions surely fill the vacuum.

All in all, we've learned to do those things that our ancestors strived for.  Protect yourself from the elements. Collect mass quantities of cheap food. Reduce the amount of physical labour required for a given task.

We are AWESOME at those things.  I can use just my fingers to earn money and have that money buy the groceries and have it delivered to my door step, with some substitutions, ready to eat. 

So what does this have to do with kids?  Well, for the most part kids want to be like their parents.  Except for when they want to be a Pokemon. Or later, an Emo Kid. Or in their 20's, nothing like their parents at all.

What follows is my purely random list of things to do and think that can make your kids life better.

Don't Avoid Risk

The best way to ensure your kidlet becomes fat is to ensure they are never allowed to do anything that may involve them falling or bonking into something.  Ensure that they lie down at all times and stay still.  Also, wrap all objects, sharp or not, in bubble wrap.

I really don't care what your lawyer says.  If you don't let your kid run around to play tag, and wrestle, you might as well lock them in a closet.  You need to teach them about risk, be there when they fall, and help them react appropriately.

The teachers at the school don't let the kids onto the grass prior to school starting.  There are loads of parents standing there, watching their kids mill about, trying to have fun, waiting for school.

Protection from the Elements

I don't understand parents who don't make their kids wear a hat in the sun, but tell them to come inside when it's raining.  It's not like kids don't love jumping in puddles.

Wear a rain jacket. Wear warmer clothes.  Let your kids outside in the back yard just like you do when it's nice out.  The extra space will give you a break from the screaming, and let them apply force to the ground and change their velocity in exciting ways.

Walk

Attention Walmart Shoppers.  Please, everyone, drive as fast as you can through the parking lot to get the spot closest to the door.  Ensure that you almost hit as many people as possible.  Oh wait, there are no spots there. Drive around in circles some more!

Attention Parents. If you live more than 300 meters from the school, please drive.  Using a crosswalk may cause anxiety in your child.

Have you ever actually tried walking to your kids school?  The store? You can walk surprisingly far in 15 minutes.  Or 20. 

Your day is likely filled with walking opportunities. Don't wimp out and fire up the Prius.

Demonstrate

You read my blog because you're fit.  You're awesome.  But how does your kid know that you go to the gym on Wednesdays? 

Your kid needs to see you sweat.  And not only when they ask where you lay the eggs to make babies. Put them on a bike when you run.  Take them to the track.  Have them help you clean your hockey gear.

The advantage of this strategy is that they'll see what it's like to continue being active beyond childhood and you'll have clean gear.

Participate

There's generally two modes to "just doing it."  Either the parents are doing it, and the kids are watching, or the kids are doing it, and the parents are watching.

There's a third way.  Participate with your kids.  Find things to do that gets you both out there.  Go find a parent/child team time trial. Go do the Mom and Tot's 24hr race.  Or just go for a ride. 

Once in a while my kids like running around the block with me while I cool down.  It's fun.

Videos

My kids love watching Cars.  But I do my damndest to make sure they also like watching world cup cross country skiing.

It doesn't matter what the events are. You can find various videos on youtube, on bittorrent sites, etc, and they are all perfectly useful in brainwashing your kids into thinking that everyone has a sport that they do on a regular basis.

Less Rules

Do you have rules that prevent your child's activities?  Think hard.

Don't jump.  No running!  No rolling in the dirt! No riding on the sidewalk! No riding on the street! No shooting at people!  Oh wait, scratch that last one.

Experiment

I love to hate people who only have their kids try one sport.  Hockey, Hockey, Hockey.  After all, I want my kids to try, mountain biking, road cycling, track riding and cyclocross...

But seriously.  Lets all resolve to have our kids try one new sport each season.  It's all about having fun and, as such, we need our kids to discover something they enjoy.  The more they try the better.

Focus on Fun

I think that everyone knows a kid who's burned out of a sport before they really get going.  When it stops being fun people quit. 

The way to do this, in my entirely uneducated opinion, is to ensure that your kid has enough free time to rest.  Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Keep them wanting more.

Exercise to Calm Down

I have one kid who's as hyper as an overheated jumping bean. Exercise, even a walk or some ball hockey in the driveway, helps a lot.

This is not so much a way to get your kids active. It's more of an excuse to do so. 

Solving the hyperactivity problem leads to success in areas other than sport, leading to a well balanced kid.  Hopefully, I've got my fingers crossed.

So....

Do you think I am a complete nutbar?  Tell me in the comments.

Do you think I am a genius?  You can tell me that too.