Hitting the Road

The day of reckoning has arrived. I went out on two wheels.

In case you aren't from around here, global warming has kicked in in early March this year, resulting in unseasonably warm temperatures. Thus I really had no excuse except to try my hand at a ride outdoors.

Yes, a real ride.

I figured out a route about 8.5km in my neighbourhood. The good thing about living in Oakville is that it is very bike friendly. There are lots of trails in my neighbourhood around Sixteen Mile Creek, there are bike paths on major roads, and bike lanes on residential roads. This is very key for someone who is currently petrified of sharing the road with cars.

Aaron came by, as you can see from the picture above, in a ninja outfit that clearly left very little to the imagination. It was 11 degrees outside, just a beautiful day. I decked myself out in a very bright, fluorescent green sweater to ensure I could be clearly seen by other bikers, passing motorists, or large cargo planes flying overhead.

Aaron thought it would be a good idea to practise taking sharp turns in a school parking lot. Suddenly, it was like I was 16 again, during my first lesson in the smelly Hyundai Sonata of my Sears Driving School Instructor, Gill. I am still quite fat in this scenario and very much a female repellent.

We start making our way out of my subdivision, when we...well,I...come across a major obstacle. The bike path that used to run along Upper Middle road between Bronte and Third Line has been completely torn up for new housing construction. Our only option was to drive on the newly narrowed road. I started to hyperventilate.

I waited till the coast was clear, and started cycling hard, with Aaron close behind. I really was freaking out, cause there was almost no room for cars to pass us. They pretty much had to wait until the coast was clear in on-coming traffic to do so safely, and there was a steady stream coming in the opposite direction.

Everything was going fine, and I thought I was going to make it through, until I saw a massive Oakville Transit bus come barrelling around corner, right at me. Without missing a beat, Aaron yelled out from behind me "don't worry, just keep peddling!"

Those were much needed words of encouragement, as I made it past the bus, and through the rest of the ride easily.

It was a very motivating afternoon. It was pretty windy at times, which made it tough, but by next week, I should have my borrowed (not-a-girl's) road bike (thanks Carolyn), which should make things a little easier, if not terrifying.

It was also a great weekend for Aaron, who got accepted as an intern in Family Medicine with the University of Toronto. Way to go buddy! Now you can legitimately take a look at that bunion on my toe for me...

Don't forget to click on the link at the top of the page to make a donation to our rides!

Dr. Harris

I think this post is probably more interesting for what I had planned to write. I was going to talk about my friend and training partner Aaron.

I was going to talk about how I actually met Aaron through his then girlfriend (now wife) Heather, whom I went to Business School with. I don't remember the first time I actually met him, but I remember having trouble trying to spot his facial features because of all that hair.

I was going to talk about how much trouble I have had over the years getting the motivation to try and go to the gym, become more active, and try to lose a few a pounds. But then Aaron started calling on a regular basis trying to get me to go with him, first swimming every Wednesday at the Y, and then to the gym on a (semi) regular basis. If you struggle to consistently get out for some exercise, may I strongly suggest trying to get a workout partner. You would be surprised how much more fun it is to do, and how more often you will do it.

I was going to talk about how supportive Aaron was when I suggested we do this ride together, that I would help him with the fundraising, and he would help me with the training, and how excited he was to do it. He even got me a subscription to Bicycle Magazine for my birthday.

I was going to talk about what good friends he and Heather have been to Corrie and I over the last few years, and how Aaron was the first one to visit us in our hospital room after my daughter was born, how they both changed their plans that weekend to entertain Sofia and I while Corrie had to go back to the hospital for a few more tests, and how the following week they came over with a huge dinner with leftovers, as we barely had time to eat those first few weeks, let along cook.

I was going to talk about what a good friend Aaron is. That has all changed now.

It appears Mr. I-don't-think-I-can-raise-$2500, in fact CAN raise $2500. In fact, just two weeks after he began his fundraising campaign, he is ALREADY UP OVER $1600 while I have just gotten to $1000 after two months.

So let me get this straight. Not only is this punk in peak physical condition and can do this ride with two gears tied behind his back, he is also raising WAY more money than me. AND, he is going to be a Doctor.

Its all gone straight to his head. As you can tell from the photo above, he is taking a stab at a part-time career in modelling (Sears catalogue) and acting (auditioning apparently for the role of a malnourished lumberjack). He won't even take my calls.

It appears I am on my own for this adventure. Not only must I ensure I can finish this ride without throwing up from fatigue, but I must now also pick up the fundraising campaign to at least match Mr. Look-at-me-I-am-super-awesome-at-fundraising-and-saving-lives-aren't-I-cool?

Please, consider supporting my ride to conquer cancer by clicking on the link at the top left of the screen. Let me maintain some dignity against this monster.

XOXO.

Training Update

So, apparently, having a new born child in the house can sometimes create scheduling difficulties.

Who knew?


It has been nearly three weeks since my last post. I was told that having a child would consume all available time. No kidding. I stayed home after Sofia was born for about two weeks, and struggled to have any semblance of productivity. For example - on the Wednesday before I went back to work, I had planned to get into the basement for a ride on my trainer for just half an hour. Instead, our day consisted of waking up, getting out of bed (because trust me they are two different tasks), had lunch, entertained one visitor, and going for a 15 minute walk. By then, it was 7:00 pm. We had dinner, fed Sofia, and went to bed. What a full day. I was hoping that by going to work, being on more of a set schedule would help my do more. Unfortunately, catch up week at work is a busy one, and I wasn't home before 7 all week.

Thus, my training has been limited over the last three weeks, but it is starting to really feel good when I do get a session in. I have now been to three spin classes since my first, and I think I am getting into them. The one I went to this past Sunday felt good - I was able to keep up with the degree of tension on the bike the whole hour, and kept up the pace about 80% of the time. I find I hit a couple of walls during the class, but overcoming them is getting easier. I have been able to get on the trainer just a few times over the same period. But while Sofia's mood tends to change more often than I hear that stupid CTV olympic theme each day, we are settling more and more into a routine, which should make things easier going forward.

I can say that my body is starting to feel better. I feel more and more refreshed everytime I exercise, albeit pretty sore, and I am starting to feel more and more confident that I can get myself prepared for this adventure. Having lost a few pounds over the last month doesn't hurt either.

Now if only I could work on being on a MOVING bike, I may get somewhere.

Aaron is putting together a training schedule for us, and I plan to post each week's itinerary so you can follow along.

Fundraising is going well. Aaron and I are both about a third of the way to our goals, and we are just putting the final touches on prizes for a raffle, which means I will be hitting up each and everyone of you to buy tickets. I will share more details when I have them.

I promise it won't be another three weeks. I missed you all too much.

Changes

Crazy how a new human being in the house can change things, eh?

As many of you may or may not know, my wife and I welcomed our first child into our life on January 21st. Sofia Elizabeth Bhamani was born at 11:39 am at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, weighing 7 pounds 7 ounces. Both mom and Sofia are doing great.

It was quite the experience, one that I am completely unable to put into words. It all happened ridiculously fast - my wife was only in active labour for four hours. Sofia was born just one full hour after we got to the hospital (scotch-guarding the leather upholstery in the back seat almost paid off).

Originally, I didn't think I could handle watching the actual birth, and wasn't even sure if I would want to cut the umbilical cord. In the end, I did both, and it was just the most remarkable thing I have ever witnessed. Seeing Sofia being born and immediately being placed on my wife's chest was absolutely breathtaking. For me, it was more emotional than when Joe Carter went deep off of Mitch Williams in game 6 of the '93 world series. That's right. It was that powerful.

It has been a week since Sofia's unusually punctual arrival (she was born on her due date), and life is progressing as you might expect. Late night feedings, crying, lots of dirty diapers (she clearly takes after her dad), and lots of pictures. But its not only our daily lives that have changed, so has our house.

Consider my living room, for example, where I am currently writing this essay. Prior to last Thursday, the living room had the following:

- TV with stand;

- couch;

- chair with ottoman;

- coffee table and side table;

- two lamps;

- china cabinet; and

- two bar stools.

Now, my living room has everything mentioned above, plus:

- a baby car seat;

- a playard (don't call it a play pen);

- an unassembled swing seat;

- a nursing pillow;

- dirty dishes

- dirty laundry;

- clean laundry;

- diaper bag;

- a quilt laid out on my shag area rug;

- stuffed animals;

- half a stroller;

- burp clothes;

- two cameras - one point and click, one digital SLR; and

- one camcorder.

Changes, indeed.

My training schedule has clearly gone on a hiatus as I am up to my elbows in dirty diapers, but I hope to get back at it with a session on the trainer on Friday, and another deathly spin class on Sunday. I really hope to turn things up a notch to make my daughter proud.

In the meantime, somehow, I have convinced Aaron to train twice as hard this past week on my behalf. He is doing it. He has actually lost 11 pounds in the last five days.

That's right. He is going to be a doctor. Ahem.

If you haven't already had a chance to donate to my ride, please consider doing so by clicking on the link to the right of screen. Later.

Sofia

Guess who showed up on her due date?

Give me a couple of days, I will tell you about it...

Need sleep now...ciao.

Spin Class

My work out regiment has essentially been one or two visits to the gym with Aaron, and one or two sessions on my indoor bicycle trainer. That sounds like a lot, but it has been relatively inconsistent from week to week. After much coercion, Aaron and his wife finally convinced me that I needed to give spinning class a chance. Did it this past Sunday morning. And despite a couple of shocks from a defibrillator and an EKG test, I seemed to have survived, and am resting comfortably.

Just kidding.

My journey actually began on Saturday night. After my wife was already asleep, I went over to her side of the bed, slowly lifted the duvet, and had a heart-to-heart with my child.

"Look kid," I said softly. "I have committed myself to go to a spin class in the morning, and I really don't want to do it. At this point, the only thing that is going to save me if for you to make a break for it, ummm, so to speak. So please, do your Dad a solid tonight, huh?"

Not even born, already rebelling. He/she is hereby grounded for the next month.

I nervously walked into the class that Aaron had already signed us up for. I resisted the urge to introduce myself to the instructor to ensure he had some sort of liability insurance, and instead gave Aaron a list of allergies and pre-existing medical conditions to give to the medics when they got there.

If you have never been to a spin class before, it starts with a nice instructor leading the group in a few stretches while they are warming up on their machines. Soon thereafter, the instructor turns into a vampire. But not the kind that sucks your blood. Oh no. Worse. The kind that inflict great pain and humiliation, and strip you of your soul. Sprint! Climb! Lean forward! Sprint! Climb! DIE! DIE! DIE!!!

My thoughts:

9:03 - These stretches are easy. Nice to losen up.
9:07 - This isn't so bad.
9:12 - Working up a good sweat. Should have agreed to do this a long time ago.
9:18 - Thighs are starting to burn. This is great! I feel awesome. I could go all day. I wonder if there is a prize for being the first to finish all 200km in June...
9:26 - Strange...its starting to get a little hot in here. Maybe the furnace is broken...
9:31 - I think I broke the machine. The tension seems to be getting higher on its own.
9:34 - OH MY GOD! I WANT TO DIE! WHY AM I DOING THIS? WHY DID I LISTEN TO AARON? LOOK AT HIM OVER THERE! HE IS SO SMUG! LOOKS LIKE HE IS STROLLING THROUGH CENTRAL PARK ON A SUNNY AFTEROON! I HATE HIM AND HIS BEARD! WHY IS HE TORTURING ME? I CAN'T FEEL MY LEGS! I AM NOT GOING TO MAKE IT TO MY 32ND BIRTHDAY! WHY DO HUMANS DO THIS TO THEMSELVES? I AM SEEING SPOTS IN FRONT OF MY EYES! I CAN'T BREATH! WHATS FOR LUNCH? AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

And so on for the next twenty minutes before we start stretching again.

Had to be the most physically demanding thing I have ever done. I felt nauseous at least twice, and it took me 15 minutes to get up one flight of stairs when I got home. But it was worth it. I can't imagine I have ever burned 450 calories in one hour before. We are going to try going every week for now, and maybe at some point up to twice a week.

I don't think it is going to get any easier for the next few weeks, but maybe it will at some point. Just in case, I will be sure to bring a cross and some holy water to each class. And I want the instructor to know that I am more than willing to sacrifice Aaron. Sorry dude, sometimes you have to make tough decisions.

Later.

My wife

As I mentioned before, my wife and I are expecting our first child any day now. Someone at work today asked me if I was nervous about the birth, and about being a dad.

A little.

I tend to be a bit of a worry wart (see: understatement). And I think everyone is a little anxious when they are about to become a parent for the first time. I was super nervous for the first few months of the pregnancy. But today I realized I am far more nervous about the 200 km ride then I am about the birth. And it felt good.

For this, I have to credit my wife. Pregnancy isn't always a picnic for women, and despite little sleep, great discomfort, and an idiosyncratic husband, she has been a rock. Always positive, always supportive, she is a role model for me, and for everyone. Her confidence in me, and her, has carried both of us. She was built to be a great mother, just the same as she is a great wife. And on the third anniversary of our Islamic wedding, and on the eve of tenth anniversary of the first time we met at a Sloan concert at LuLu's in Waterloo, she is clearly the best thing to ever happen to me.

This also accentuates how poorly my training partner Aaron is doing in helping me mentally prepare for the ride. Why do I have a feeling he is going to take off on me about 3km in?

Good thing he isn't my wife.