Here we go.

The Fit Index is back in front you again.  Blog post #4 about this thing.

Redundant? (Maybe)

Important? (Definitely)

And my outlook has changed a little on this nagging wellness score card and what it means.

What’s the Fit Index? – Click on its tab at the top of the page to find out more.

Short version:

I keep a spreadsheet logging all the active things I do. 

                              Running / Hiking

                              Biking

                              Push ups / Pull ups

Every activity gets points:

                              Running 1 hour = 1 point

                              Biking round trip to work (24 miles total) = 1.25 points

                              3 sets of push or pull ups = 0.25 point

                              Doing nothing =  -1 point

Yes!!! One full point deducted for choosing nothing.

3 sets of push ups takes less than 5 minutes and can be done anywhere.

NO EXCUSES!!!

I’ve been logging the Index for 7 straight years now.  That’s a lot!

Not bragging, because none of this – any of the numbers – are impressive. In fact, they are mediocre at best compared to dedicated runners / bikers / crossfitters

The Index exists to keep me consistent.  For Me to compete against Myself. To motivate (and sometimes shame) present me and future me to –

GET OUT OF BED & GET AFTER IT!!!

What the hell am I talking about?

Why should you care?

At this point I was going to put up some tables and graphs to show you my progress since 2015.

But, you don’t need any of that.  My numbers mean F*#k all to you.

Instead, Let’s talk about the two bike crashes I had last year.

Not falls….Crashes!

HA HA! on me…Fun!

Each one was totally my fault.  No cars were involved.  I’m just an idiot.

But lessons were learned and the Fit Index came into play.

April 2021

I’m commuting to work.  It’s a cold, wet early Spring morning.  Total darkness.

The sun has yet to comes up.

Spinning along the quiet back roads of Milton, Massachusetts about 3 miles into the ride, I come to the intersection of Canton Ave and Brook Road. 

I’ve crossed here hundreds of times without issue. 

Today I see the headlights of 3 cars approaching from the West as I get closer.

As everyday bikers, you all understand the desire to keep forward momentum. 

I quickly surmise that the cars will reach the intersection at the same time as me.  If I jog to the right up Brook Road for 50 or so feet, the cars will pass and I’ll shoot across via the pedestrian cutout on the traffic calming island

Smooth.  Seamless.  Momentum conserved. 

Except it was none of that.

Not smooth.

Momentum lost.

In my head – in my memory, the cutout is straight across the island.

Like this:

Reality reveals something much different.

I accelerate directly into the to curb on the other side….

….Flip over the bars still holding the bike. 

Land in a heap half on my back and half on my side. 

Startled and disbelieving, I right the ship quickly to get out of the street.

My world is all shook up and I need a minute to calm down and do damage control. 

Scrapes to my right knee and elbow aren’t too bad.  Gonna be a bruise – I think looking at my right thigh.  Nothing broken or strained.  Didn’t hit my head. Bike handlebars are forced out of alignment with the front wheel.

Easy fix with tire squeeze between my knees and a turn to the bars.

I ride away with a little anger at my negligence.  I could throw some blame at the town of Milton when I noticed that the streetlight is out at the intersection.

But my bike headlight was on.  I was looking to the right as I entered the cutout – so sure that the path was straight.

DUH!!!! 

5 minutes later I’m laughing at myself.

10 minutes and it’s all grateful “not to be hurt” thoughts.

That was a bona fide real deal crash – And I took it.

My body took the blow and shook it off.

That little story leads up to this point:

I keep at the Fit Index to take those hits.

All those push and pull ups, being active, yoga, stretching keeps me anti-fragile.

Listen, at 52 I am not a young man. 

But!

I SHOULD be able to fall down. 

I SHOULD be able to weather some wipe outs.

Recently a 64-year-old family friend tripped and fell at home.  Clipping the corner of an ottoman or something.

“Linda had a fall.”

This was said in that hushed, concerned tone like it was a cancer diagnosis.  It was expressed in the manner of – Something like this should never happen. 

Tragic, dire – Older Adults can’t fall.

But we do fall.  We will fall.  Gravity guarantees it. 

We should relish falling, hitting the ground, THEN! – Getting back up.  Our bodies should handle small diggers at all ages.

When I’m 64 I hope to fall…….Then get up and laugh at myself HA!

December 2021

I’m commuting to work on the bike again when I randomly decide to try a little cut through to the multi use path adjacent to the Neponset River.

There are several entry opportunities to the path from my place.  I’ve never tried this one:

Seemed like a good idea to mix up the usual.  The little access driveway behind the mill is a slight downhill with old cobble stones, banged up asphalt, and an imbedded centuries old street car track still in place.

This neighborhood used to be an active manufacturing site right on the river which the reason for this mess.

I carve into the driveway at a good speed and the bike immediately and violently starts bouncing over the cobble.

I angle over toward the path trying to find a smoother line.  Now parallel to that trolley track, my front tire rubs into it instead of over. 

Rookie mistake and I know it.  We are going down.

It’s all slow motion.  The bike (and rider) tip left and my shoulder drives into the pavement.

Still holding the handle bars – Me, the bike, and attached bag all slide a good 6 or 7 feet. 

I don’t stand up right away, just sit and pause for a few moments and frustratingly mumble,

“Again?”

Similar scrapes and bumps as last time, but I’m okay.

The bike has some stuff going the wrong way and a few new dings.

I get that all righted and ride off with my ego being the most bruised of all.

The lessons are obvious.  The Fit Index numbers, while good at motivating me to stay in shape, also keep some muscle around my decaying bones.

Men can lose up to 20% of their muscle mass from age 30 to 50. 

Having never been overweight, I couldn’t be more aware of this.  I weigh 15 pounds less than I did in 2002.  All of it muscle – Gone…..Just gone.

Yes, I hear you.  I could recover all this or never had lost it by lifting heavy at the gym and protein shakin’ up my diet.  But that’s not me.  I loathe the gym and I’m a trail runner after all. The push and pulls ups maintain what’s left just fine.

Hilarity strikes me as I type this.  At 30 I was in the gym lifting weights to look good on the beach and have people notice me.

Now over 50 I’m doing pull ups on soccer goals in the park so I can fall off my bike.  Oooooh how the times have changed.

One thing is for sure.  By 60 no one will notice me and falling down is guaranteed.

I’ll keep at my silly Index…..So I can get back up.