Procrastination

My daughter has her first cold. It is heartbreaking.

She has been in daycare of about three weeks now, so really it was just a matter of time. She already had what is likely a permanent runny nose, so it was really just a matter of time. She has a really goopy eye, her nose is like a leaky faucet, and she has the cough of a three pack a day smoker.

She hasn’t been eating too much, and has been quite content cuddling with us on the couch, both of which are highly out of character for my little girl. Like her old man, she eats a ton, and she usually much prefers the company of her stuffed giraffe.

My birthday was this past Tuesday. I depressingly turned 33 years old. Corrie and Sofia took me out for a lovely dinner, after which I hit the mother load in cycling accessories for gifts. Sofia got me a much needed speedometer, and front and rear lights for my bike. My in-law’s got me a new jersey and cycling socks. But it was my lovely wife got me the two items that I have been living in fear of.

Clipless pedals and cycling shoes.

For those of you who don’t know, clipless pedals with cycling shoes basically means that you snap your foot into your pedals. The only way to unlock your foot from your bike is to twist your foot out and “unclip” from the pedal. Every cyclist I have spoken to in the last year has told me how stupid I am for not using them before. They allow you to not only have a more efficient pedaling technique, but allows you to generate much more power, as in addition to pushing down when you pedal, you can also pull up, which you can’t do if you are not locked in.

I am petrified of clipless pedals. If you don’t unclip in time, you essentially fall over and break your wrist, or worse, you skull. Stitches. Blood. All bad things. Ask my friend Heather. She and Aaron were just finishing a big climb once, and just as they reached the peak and were stopping, she couldn’t unclip in time, and fell right over onto her arm. Not pretty. She hasn’t been the same since. Stopped eating meat, married Aaron…it is all a very sad story.

I was at a Ride to Conquer Cancer orientation session for my KPMG team, and cycling coach has there giving tips about training and equipment. He provided a good solution. Mountain bike clips. They are handy because the shoes are a little more comfortable to walk in, and if you get a little antsy about being in traffic, or coming to a stop light or something, you can unclip, flip the pedal over, and they become regular pedals. Good for a beginner.

I took my bike into Gears Bike Shop in Mississauga this weekend to have proper fitting done, and got them to install the pedals. That experience in itself was pretty uncomfortable. Me, walking around the store in my spandex, on display in the middle of the store. Very unsightly. I am really going to have to spend the next two months getting used to clipping in and out indoors before I take the bike outside. Hopefully, I will keep all my skin attached to me.

You didn’t notice the fact that I said nothing in this post about ACTUALLY getting on the bike and working out yet, right? Excellent. Carry on then, as you were.


P.S. If you have any interest in the blogosphere, or in good writing, consider checking out http://sadinthecity.com. It’s a great read.

A New Mission

Can you believe it has been more than six months since the last time we spoke? I missed you all so much!

A lot has happened in the last six months. Let me start with all the good stuff! First of all, my beautiful baby girl is about to turn one! I put up a few pictures for you to see that she has clearly gotten her mother’s looks. I also packed up the family and went on a three week adventure to Australia. We toured around Sydney, the Hunter Valley, Great Ocean Road, Melbourne, and Noosa. And Sofia was awesome the whole time, despite spending a total of 42 hours on planes over the three week period. Please note the absence of any ridiculous references to “Dingoes” and “My Baby”. You welcome.

The bad stuff is pretty straight forward. I got fat. And I don’t mean that I just softened up and added a few pounds. I mean I GOT FAT. I weighed myself last week and came in at the heaviest I have ever been in my life. I decline to reveal the number. Again, you welcome.

A major contributor to this was the fact that I essentially stopped my training regimen. But I have some great excuses. I am wicked awesome at making excuses.

During the last 20km of last year’s Ride to Conquer Cancer, I started to feel a slight numbness in my right hand. It felt like I lost all strength in my hand. I chalked it up to a little fatigue from the ride, but a couple of weeks later I was still having trouble using a fork, or holding a pen, or using my blackberry. There was no permanent nerve damage, but my doctor advised me to get better cycling gloves, and get a bike that is actually the right size. He also said to stay off the bike until my hand was back to normal.

I took that to mean “stay off the bike all summer and get really fat.” And, I know how to follow directions.

I did get out for 4 or 5 rides during the course of the summer, and right before we left for Australia, I went out and bought a sweet new road bike – a 2010 Specialized Allez Elite. So equipment wise, I am all set for the 2011 Ride to Conquer Cancer.

That’s right! I have decided to ride again this year. It was a great experience, for a great cause. Our KPMG Ridin’ Survivin’ Team has expanded – more than 80 riders strong! And this year, I have added an additional goal: trying to lose a little weight. By little I mean a lot. I have begun a weight loss and training program, and I am hoping to share my experiences again this year with you through this nifty little online diary.

Now, admittedly, documenting weight loss publically in front of family and friends is pretty damn risky. It can be quite the humiliation if it doesn’t happen. I am looking to that as my motivation. Lose weight or face a public shaming. Cool, eh?

My fundraising goal last year was $2,500, and you all really stepped up with almost $4,000. You were all so very generous in supporting my ride last year, I have upped my goal to $3,500 this year, and if all goes well, I may even increase it yet again. I figure watching me suffer through more spin classes and rabbit food is worth at least that much to you. Plus, you get to help find a cure to a disease that I am sure has affected all of us in some way or another. You can sponsor me by clicking on the link at the top right hand side of this page.

I am kind of hoping to write to you all a little more frequently and not just about training and weight loss. I mean, seriously, how often do you really want to hear about how about treadmills and chocolate cravings? So I hope to write about other things going on in my universe as well. I will try not to bore you, but I make no guarantees.

Anyways, it was great talking to you again. Let’s make sure it is not another 6 months, okay?

Ciao,
Mohamed
xoxo

ITS ALIVE! ITS ALIVE! THE BLOG IS ALIVE!

In case any of you were getting updates on this blog, please know that it will be up and running again in the next week as I prepare for this years Ride to Conquer Cancer!

Word up homies,
Mohamed