Tony, stay off of the hard pavement, if you can. That is what did my knees in. I used to average some 60 to 70 miles per week during the regular race season. During marathon training periods, we could rack up about 100+ miles a week. Usually an 18 miler one week prior to the race at an 8 minute/mile pace.

My buddies are in to the escape from Alcatraz events . . . Not me!

What I would give to be able to run and ski like the days gone by.

Now, at 51, I simply want to be fit. As when I was younger, when I am active, I need to consume an additional 3,000 to 4,000 calories a day to maintain my weight.

 

Getting older? . . . In a manner of speaking, I just started my 3rd quarter of life. What!? you must be in your early 2nd quarter at most?

My whole thinking is to be really fit for the latter part of the 3rd quarter and hopefully for the 4th. Would love to see my baby grandson's kids someday.

 

That sounds like a fun ride. I start at home (near SFSU), ride down Ocean up to Monterey. Get onto the San Jose Ave. on-ramp and take San Jose to Cesar Chavez. Hook a right and then get onto Valencia. Valencia all the way to Market. Market all the way to Embarcadero. Embarcadero all the way to the bridge and then over into Sausalito. I would usually call it quits and start to head back but ever since getting the new bike, I've been heading out to Tiburon and back.

My goal is to do a century (100 miles). I was hoping of doing one this season but it looks like it wont happen until next season. It's going to take alot of training.

 

That sounds like a great ride and work out, Giacomo. My brother Avery and my cousin are into long rides like that.

Have you tried riding around Lake Tahoe? I did that back in 1985. I think it was about 78 miles. We had 2 support vans. There were about 60 of us spread out in smaller groups of 6 or so.

Your new bike has me thinking about spinning again.

 

I did some mountain bike riding in Lake Tahoe about 10 years ago. Never did any road riding.

You should definitely get back onto your road bike. Hell, maybe we can go over to Canada some time.

 

You should check out the Solvang Century Ride, I've never done it but my boss and his wife do it every year. (They're 58 & 61) Apparently it has a couple good hills but overall is just a gorgeous ride through some of the Santa Ynez Valley wine country.

I just looked for it and they have a couple, one is November 2010 plenty of training time for you.

Lisa

 

Thanks for the heads up. I'll look into it.

 

That's the spirit. You can do it, Giacomo. Wow, a century . . . Now, that would be something to remember.

LOL . . . I figured that since most of the G drivers were youngsters, well, much younger than myself, that many of the members were more in tune to outdoor fitness activities.

 

Since there's only five years or so between us I think we might be used to being outside playing as children more than some of the younger people. I know I was outside from the time I got home from school until dark, or my mom yelling to come in to eat. Then on the weekends I was out from the time I finished chores until dark.

My kids were outside when I told them to go out or when we were camping or at the lake. They were wanting to be in with some electronic device more than outside. I didn't have those toys so my bicycle and being outside was the most fun. T.V time was very limited.

Maybe that provides more of an attraction to outdoor activities? Not to say younger people don't enjoy the outdoors, I'm just making an observation. It might also explain why my poor body feels older than it is sometimes, all those bicycle crashes and falling down from playing rough outside.
Lisa

 

You know what, Lisa? . . . After giving it some thought. You are absolutely correct. I am the oldest of 5. Aside from school work, my siblings and myself were always playing outside, as children. We led very active lives. If we had nothing to do, my father would have us read books and/or write letters our cousins.

When I had my own children, I could not wait for the moment that I could teach them how to ride bikes, ski, skate, etc. My fondest memories of my children are of our family ski trips, camping trips, our roller hockey games with the neighbor kids, our Sunday skating outings in the park . . . Me being the biggest kid. Now, my 3 kids (27, 25, 21) are all grown. However, all 3 lead very active lives.

Best of all, I get to start the cycle all over again with my 2-1/2 year old grandson.

LOL . . . Perhaps, that is the reason my knees are so banged up.

 

golf, If you walk the course, you can loose alot of calories and some of the courses are down right beautiful

 

Very true on both. When I carry, I use a Datrek type bag. When I use my 9" bag, I bring along my handy pull cart.

 

golf is one of those recreation where u can play at any age, as long as you can walk..hehehe

 

I was into quads and off road riding but gave that up and switched to mountain biking. I wanted an activity that I can enjoy with the wifey. So now we are a bunch of mountain bike geeks.

 

I play tennis. I'd like to get into cycling though.. I should just borrow my brother's carbon fiber bike.. it just collects dust in my parents house.