Hi.  My name is Mark, and I’m Deconditioned.

“hi mark!”

About 15 years ago I was actually in non-horrible shape.  I lived right next to a 50 mile rail-trail in Northern Virginia, rode most weekends, and bike-commuted occasionally.  Then I  changed jobs and stopped commuting.  The work got crazy and I rode less.

After moving  to Western PA some years ago, I stopped riding altogether. Between the hills killing me, and the inconvenience of attaching the bike rack to the car and packing up the bikes  to go to a rail trail, it just wasn’t worth it.  15 years and 50 pounds later.  I was growing out of my 38″ waistband pants.  Clothes just weren’t fitting any more.  Woof.

Now that we have a vehicle that can easily hold two bikes inside (a Honda Element  – we really like it),  I  decided that this would be the year of getting back on the bike.  My wife Sharlotte’s bike did not fit her well, so I said “find a bike that fits and we’ll get it for you”.  In the course of researching a new bike, she stumbled across this “Global Ride” website.  Hey!  Lower Burrell – That’s close!  After poking around the site a bit, we decided to take a Yoga class to check the place out.  We’d always wanted to try Yoga, but it’s hard getting started with just books and video tapes.

We showed up on a Saturday morning in mid-April.  Before the class, Gino gave us a tour of Global Ride.  We were impressed.  An indoor facility geared for “real bikers”, and not a bunch of yuppies clad in spandex doing aerobics. We’re also Mac people, and  all of the Macs sitting around were comforting.

I wouldn’t say that first class was a disaster. Kelly was so very patient with this new blob that showed up  for Yoga One in the Sun.  I was actually able to hold many of the poses for a short period of time.  But some of the balance-related things just didn’t happen.  Tree pose.  Oy!  I was sore for days afterwards.  Luckily my sister, who has done the Yoga thing for years, said that was OK, and would soon pass.  She was right.

That next Monday we showed up for one of Gino’s Acclimation classes.  I had heard about spinning and indoor cycling, and the usual mass-media stuff looked and sounded kind of bizarre.  I was nervous.  We got there early and went upstairs to the studio to be fit for the bikes.  I was impressed when the leg angle gauge and the plumb-bob came out.  “These guys know what they’re doing.”  I strapped down the toe-clips and started spinning.

It was so much fun.  I liked riding outside.  The indoor experience, while not identical to the outdoor experience, was close enough to make me remember 20-30 mile trips up and down the W&OD trail in Virginia.  Plus it was nice not having to worry about sunburn, headwind, or bugs.

I think we started with a cadence drill.  I can do cadence.  I’ve always spun the cranks quickly.  Then partway through we had our first “standing song.”  I couldn’t do it.  I couldn’t find the right resistance to counterbalance my weight.  My muscles couldn’t hold me up for more than five seconds.  Gino was also so very patient with this new blob.  I was totally done after 20 minutes. And I hurt afterwards.

But I also felt good afterwards.  It was weird.

The first rule when doing anything important is “Show Up.”

The second rule is, “Come Back.”  Seems simple enough.

So I came back.  And came back.  We took classes from other instructors.  Tried Pilates.  Tried the core strength class.  What was amazing is that all of the instructors were kind, patient, and helped guide me through the work and do what I could.

The third rule is, “It’s just work.”

Playing a musical instrument well takes a lot of work.  You’ve gotta learn your scales and arpeggios.  Programming a computer well takes a lot of work.  (I’m a professional programmer).  Gotta learn your data structures. There’s no reason why losing weight and getting to a reasonable level of fitness won’t involve a lot of work.  There’s no reason why getting ready for a 40 mile MS ride won’t involve a lot of work.  It took 15 years of concentrated deconditioning to get to this point, so it’s crazy to expect it to all go away in a month.

At the time we joined Global Ride, Gino, Nina, and Jennifer were just about to go to Italy for the Giretto.  It was mind-blowing that a guy in his 50’s, with two artificial hips, was about to do 415 miles of climbing in Italy.  That’s quite the inspiration.

Now, four and a half months later, I’m down 12 pounds.  I can stand for every standing song in a class.  I’ve taken a 50 minute Gino “Strength” class and lived to talk about it.  Shoot, I’ve done back-to-back  classes with Bill.  I can ride rail trails for 20 miles.  I am shocked and amazed at the progress.  This is with 3-4-5 indoor biking classes a week, along with a weekly Yoga class.

OK, so how did I really do it?  What’s the trick?  A lot of work!  But along the way I learned to use a lot of new tools that helped out, and focused my effort, to get to where I want to go more quickly.  And I’ll start talking about them next time.  Stay tuned.

Barb rewards herself with a trip to the beach

The Beginning:

Who hasn’t looked in the mirror at some point in their life and disliked something that they saw?  If we are true to ourselves, we can all say – yep to that one.  Either the tummy, the butt, the legs, neck, chest, arms, lips, even the ankles could be on the list of things to change.  On one day this year, well, in truth, many days this year, I saw in that mirror, my mother.  I love her dearly but she is 28 years my senior!  I’m 55 so you can do the math.  Not a pretty picture.

I had only myself to blame.   After the passing of my love, I had tried to find happiness again without much success.   I was wallowing in self-pity and self-loathing.  My poor habits were numerous.  I had become a workaholic, working 12 hour nights 4-5 nights per week and sleeping when not working.  I ate in bed when I got home in the morning right before sleeping , in the car on the way to work and  in the middle of the night at work.    The only exercise I got was the walking up and down halls at work and the lifting, moving of patients.   I was  on my way to being one of those patients!

It was well over time to get my life, my health back!  And being the typical female I am, with whom did I commiserate?  My girlfriend.  She talked me into trying yoga for starters.  She loved it and to this day continues the stretching and holding.  Me?  Well, let’s just say  I’m more of a mover plus the torn tendons, ligaments of my rotator cuff, knee and foot just made the kneeling and positions of yoga unbearably painful.

Here’s where those who believe in fate would say – twas destiny!  The yoga class was in the most fabulous place with a fantastic spinning area – Global Ride – and wonder of all wonders; it was 10 minutes from home.   Needless to say, one session spinning with that wonderful heart pulsing music sold me and this frugal minded, couch potato signed up for more!

The Initiation:

I started my first week doing a couple of Acclimation classes – 30 minutes of spinning to 60’s, 70’s and 80’s music.   And, beat still my heart; the promise of tunes from various musicals and singers near and dear to my heart were listed for the next week’s schedule.   I was in a surround-sound heaven!  It gave a new meaning to “the Richard’s” saying: sweatin’ to the oldies.   I signed up for all those Acclimation sessions a couple more times during the next week when my work/sleep schedule would permit.   Low and behold, my heel spurs and plantar fasciitis pain disappeared!   And I kept on spinning as much as possible in hopes of losing many, many pounds/inches and getting a semblance of ‘the old me” back.

On the first day of the 2009 Gino wrote: “It’s time to pick a goal so big, that once accomplished, we will never let the hurdles of life loom larger than we see our legs leaping.”  I can say, yes, I did that!  My goal?  To ride, to peddle, myself from Butler area to Lake Erie in June for the charity ride, the MS 150.   That would be 75 miles per day on the back roads of PA.  Seeing that I had never ridden more than 16 miles at one time and had not even been on my bicycle for over 6 years, this, I believe, could qualify as a “hurdle of life.”

Moving forward:

I knew without help I would never, ever be able to accomplish such a huge endeavor so I figured a way to attend a 3 month, intensive training for cyclists being held for 3-4 hours Saturday mornings from January to March.   I notified my Unit Director and coworkers of the fact that after my 12 hour Friday night shift I MUST leave on time to make it to the training sessions.  Every Saturday morning I’d slam into my cycling attire, put my vehicle in “low fly” mode and get to Global Ride to spin, exercise and study on how to track heart thresholds, increase endurance and speed and much more.   Keeping track of my progress was fun because I actually had progress!  I could feel myself getting stronger, spinning with more ease, and increasing the amount of time I could keep my heart rate at my max threshold and over!

The spinning was great but my attempts at core strengthening – well – let’s just say I tried.  There were days afterward that I hurt to move but I kept going.   Hey I had to get ready for that MS150!  I would have no trouble falling asleep those days but having to do another 12 hour those 13 Saturday nights was sometimes excruciating.    The saying,” No pain, no gain” comes to mind.   Everyone at Global Ride was terrific.  Gene didn’t even mind if occasionally I got glassy eyed and accidentally dozed off during the class part of the program.    And I signed up for every spinning class I could logistically work into my schedule.   Of course I signed up for as many as I could that used my favorite sing along music and there were many.

The time flew up quickly.  I dusted off my bike and gave it to a friend who is known by many as the “bike doctor”.  If he can’t fix it, it isn’t fixable!   He looked at my poor old mountain bike (bought over 15 years ago), shook his head and took on the task of getting it ready.   On the side, he told me to start looking for a new bike which I did.  The prices were beyond my pocket so I just kept praying that it all would work out.  Yes there were setbacks like when the old shifter broke apart and he had to find replacement parts.  Not an easy task for something that old but he got it ready for road riding and I started riding outside.   After two trips outside I took it for the official inspection. It immediately failed and back to my friend’s it went who now in my mind is not just a bike doctor but is a bike wizard!   At that time I had one week before the MS150.  I was in better shape than I can remember ever being.  I could spin non-stop for several hours without hurting but still didn’t have more than 27 miles of road riding under my belt.    I got my bike back and it rained constantly on the only days left I had to ride outside.  Ugh!

The day arrives:

I kept thinking – silly me – what in the world am I doing!?!?!?!?  I’m just not ready.  I need more time to train.  But the day came.  I was doing this!   My friends and coworkers could believe I could/would do this and actually finish and I was going to show them!  The gang at Global Ride were so supportive.  They actually believed in me!  And with their blessings I packed up my vehicle and the next morning started out for the Starting Point.  It was a foggy day but the hour drive went quickly.  Looking around I saw no one I knew which was good.  I figured if I messed up, no one I knew would ever know!  That last hour before the official start dragged and then the word came down – due to the fog the start would be pushed back!  Lordy!   I talked with those around me.  There were others that had never done this before and had their doubts but we all were determined!  I will always remember one smiling little man looking at me and saying, “Kiddo, I’m 76 years old and if I can do this, so can you!”

The Ride:

Well, it is quite a sight to see so many bikers, over 1700, all trying to get going at the same time on the same narrow roads but we all did it.  After the first couple of miles I got my stride.  I had purchased a pair of Oakley sunglasses with an MP3 player.  All my favorite tunes were keeping me going at a decent, not the fastest, but decent pace.   I was doing it!!  That first day I found out quite a lot.  First off, there are some really wonderful people out there!!!   Second, all that training really paid off.  I rode 8 hours, 88 miles and my legs didn’t hurt!!  Granted after that long, I felt truly exhausted and funny walking again but there was no real pain.  By switching from sitting to standing when I could, my “sit bones” didn’t give me any trouble.  I got a good laugh many times as I would pass the same folks going down the hills and then they in turn would pass me going up the next one.  My bike was definitely too heavy for this kind of ride.

The only really major concern was the 4^th and 5^th fingers on both of my hands.   After the 50^th mile, they went numb!  I switched positions, flexed and unflexed them to no avail.  The feeling was gone!  By the 75^th mile, the feeling in parts of both hands had gone from that horrible tingling feeling to numb!    Well, that kept my mind occupied for the last 13 miles.   Eighty eight miles total that first day.  I was drained.  Seeing the first day finish line was tremendous.  I had made it!!   If asked that night which was tougher, this first 88 miles or labor, I’m afraid at that point I would have said the first 88 miles.  I rushed as best I could to get to the dorm room, change and go soak in the pool.  And then had a massage with special attention paid to my wrists and hands.   The feeling didn’t come back and I decided that was it.  Half way is better than nothing.

When I got to my dorm room, I checked for any messages on my phone and laptop (I go nowhere without both!)  God bless my coach, Gene.  He left me a tremendously uplifting message.  And I slept soundly.   That next morning I again listened to his message.  What in the world was I doing?  I’m not a quitter!  I could hear myself in earlier years encouraging my sons to not be quitters and here I was quitting – giving up – throwing in the towel!   I knew I couldn’t quit.  I’d hate myself and what was worse I would “condemn” myself to doing it all again next year because I hadn’t finish!   I went to the gym, got my bike and got back on the road.   That whole day was mind over matter for me.  I couldn’t feel my hands and that scared me terribly but I was not quitting!   I could hear in my mind, one of my friends/trainers at Global Ride, Bill, saying to me, “You’re gonna make it.  It might not be pretty but you can do it!”  And by George, I made it!!!  The MS 150 was actually only 148 miles.  LOL   And, for those thinking of attempting it next year, the last 12 miles are the easiest.     I was exhausted, had no feeling in most of both hands but was ecstatic as I rode under the balloon arch at the finish line and down the hill to Lake Erie’s beach.    I kept thinking I can’t believe I did it, I can’t believe I did it.  What a feeling!

It’s been 2 months now since that ride, it still seems like I dreamt it.  Was it worth it – yes!  The feeling in my hands came back completely after about 4 weeks.  I believe I can run rings around many people half my age.  I feel better about myself than I have in a long time.   I feel healthier.  My feet don’t hurt anymore.   I’ve lost 17 pounds and 7 inches — so far.   And some now ask, “Will you do it again next year?”   My answer —- ask me again in six months!