Pedal to the Metal

' His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy
There's vomit on his sweater already, Mom's spaghetti...'

I GOT A BICYCLE!
Well, it's an exercise bike, and my mother bought it - but I used it first! Not bad for €40!! OK, it needs a wipe down, but it works!! If you are a lyrical buff like myself, then you will hopefully know the reference that I am trying to make in my intro!
Question: What was the name of the movie that those theme lyrics are from!?
Answer: Is the amount of miles I cycled last night.

I. Cycled. Yes, me!
And if you guess 8 miles, then gold star for you!!! :) And if you didn't, why didn't you?! there's no need to fret, because I already told you! :)
So, I started off extremely optimistic and enthusiastic, thinking to myself that for every mile I cycled I would up the intensity by 1..
How wrong I was!!!
I managed to make it to mile 3 on level 3 intensity and I couldn't go any higher - so, like the good little lady I hope I am, I went back to basics and cycled my last 5 miles on the Level 1 intensity.

Little Tip: Don't have your facebook open while you are trying to navigate the wilds of the decking on your exercise bike, it provides too much of a distraction! Between social networking and numerous trips to replenish my hydrating liquid (water, fyi!!), it took me 55 mins! BUT - for a cycling newbie who has 8 months (re: 8m 1wk) to get prepared for my cycle, I'm quite proud of that time!
Of course, I aim to better myself every time I cycle on this bike, aim to do 8 miles in one sitting, and then add on a mile every so often and then build in intensity, to mimic actual hill climbing!

Of course, I shall be joining Le Gymnasium this coming fortnight, but the joys of working in a hospital setting means that I have the absolute pleasure in working/covering night duty from time to time. And guess who's covering night shift this coming 6th/7th feb!? On the plus side, I have a three day weekend- woo!!

Now, to go and decide whether a bread roll or a wrap with dinner is not going to give me side stitch when I cycle tonight. Oh, the excitement!

Let Them Eat Cake!

Ugh!!! Why do I have little-to-no will-power where sweet things are concerned?!
Here's a little back story to me: I work in a hospital in my home town that caters to elderly care, and we do have long term patients... there were 2 birthdays in the space of two days, one cake covered in cream and today's version was scarily similar to the one pictured! Needless to say, I couldn't say no both yesterday and today, hence the 'Ugh!!!'
I know I'm in training, and I know that I'm more active now, but that still does not mean that it's 'ok' to over-indulge!! Those cakes combined with the still-available Christmas confectionary leftovers both at home and at work can make one act like a Golden Ticket winner in Wonka's Factory!
Call me Augustus Gloop for the rest of the day!

I'm only waiting for the sugar rush to kick in, my training tonight shall be faster than the speed of light! I'm not looking forward to the inevitable showing of a few friends on my skin over the next few days... Ah well, such is life and #firstworldproblems and all that! Le sigh.....

If you would please excuse me, I'm off to do a Violet Beauregarde and go to the pressing room!!

Well, well, well... would you look what the cat's dragged in!
Its'a me, Mario!!! Numerous years have passed by, and not a blog post to be seen!
Until now...
I've decided to re-start/re-visit this blog to chronicle the next 9 months of my life! No I'm not pregnant... If you haven't seen by now the spam during the month on my Insta, then you wouldn't know this - I've signed up to take part in a cross-country cycle this coming September, all in aid of cancer research here in Ireland.
Yes, I know I've lost my mind! And yes, I do know what I'm doing!

Hear me out. On New Years Day 2014, a documentary about an inspiring and strong 16 year old man named Donal Walsh was shown on our national tv station. Donal came to prominence in spring of 2013 for his open letter to the youth of Ireland about their suicidal views and to basically let them know that it didn't have to be like that, that they all have a choice to live and they were making the wrong choices. Donal admitted in that letter that he was angry at the Irish youth who were choosing that path as he himself didn't have that choice - after fighting it twice before and now on his third battle, Donal was dying of terminal cancer.

“I feel angry that these people choose to take their life to ruin their family and to leave behind a mess that no one can clean up while here I am with no choice in my sentence, trying as best I can to prepare my family and friends for what’s about to come and to leave as little mess as possible.”

He was interviewed on the Saturday Night show not long after word spread of his letter, and his segment brought me to tears, on more than one occasion.  Donal lost his battle with cancer in May 2013, and the entire town of Tralee, Co Kerry turned out to bid him goodbye on his final journey. I myself would have travelled the 90 mins to the funeral but I was scheduled to work and alas couldn't swap my days. I tuned into that documentary, and once again I was brought to tears by the words that Donal's close family and friends spoke about him.
It was in this documentary that I found out that Donal, along with his father, took part in a stage of a cycle that was going through Kerry. He had a prosthetic knee and 2/3 lung capacity, but he managed to complete the stage he chose to cycle. Here is a lad who is insanely sick cycling over a mountain for charity, yet i whinge about having to walk the short distance to the local post office and chose to drive it. Something clicked with me inside. I don't know what possessed me, but the next morning, Jan 2, 2014, I registered to take part in the cycle that Donal took part in.

C.R.O.S.S Rugby Legends hold a cycle to help raise money for cancer research here. Although the Donal Walsh docu was the kick up the behind nudge I needed, I had toyed previously with fundraising ideas to help raise money for a local cancer hospice. Unfortunately, like most people, my family has been touched by cancer on more than one occasion, most recently my Liverpool-supporting Army-camo obsessed uncle on my father's side (recently started chemo for mouth cancer).  I had decided that 2014 was going to be a year to get in shape, (yes I know, the most original of NYR's) but by registering for this cycle, I will/am going to do this. My training started a fortnight ago, just walking and  planking atm, but it's something. I'm the greatest in the world for stating 'I'll do it tomorrow!' 'I'll start monday!' 'I'll join up next week!!', enough was enough! I'm proud of myself for doing what I've said I'll do! I'm more active, my diet is alot better (but shall improve more as time goes by) and I've got my fundraising page set up and I'm raising money, slowly but surely!

I hope that over the coming months, I get support from you the readers, my family and friends, and from my work colleagues, because lord know's I'm going to need it!!! Now, if someone could please request Ryan Gosling to be in Donegal Sept 12...