Our family was watching a movie the other night (Side Effects with Jude Law, Channing Tatum and Catherine Zeta-Jones. It’s a great psychological thriller!) A fantastic song came on as the credits were rolling and I am incorporating it into my profile this week.
Thievery Corporation’s ‘Forgotten People” from their 2008 Radio Retaliation album is a quick flat road (3:13, 97 bpm) to use for soft pedaling and recovery, or sprint work.
Here’s hoping you enjoy this song as much as we did!
Sometimes I never know what I'll find when I look for a free version to offer you. After striking out on Forgotten People (which was too good not to share) I clicked the related artists tab and discovered Air and in specific Air — Alone in kyoto.
Try out these remixes.
A flat road speed play is on the playlist for this week’s class. Coming in at 96 rpm’s and 3:03, it is great for a breakaway anytime you’d like to slip one in your profile.
There is a nice build from :35 to: 43 that is fun to use to cue building up leg speed and taking off, out of the saddle with your class.
Here is Erin McCarley, from Nashville (originally from SanDiego) and ‘Just Another Day’ from her second album released in 2012- My Stadium Electric.
John was talking with a neighbor friend after returning from a challenging group ride and invited him to ride along the following week. His response was, “I used to lead the A ride. I won't do it now, because I can't sit up front anymore.”
Andrew* was recently diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. Thanks to many years of riding, racing, much training and knowing his body really well, he knew something was wrong. He had been training hard, riding a lot, and yet his performance was diminishing. He FINALLY (after much prompting from his wife) went to the doctor and blood tests revealed MM. Prognosis is “squiffy”…my term for not terminal, but not definitive. Andrew and his wife are taking it day by day.
I need to give you a bit of history… Andrew has been a significant force and influence in John's cycling ‘career'. As John timidly set out to gain some fitness 18 years ago, Andrew supported him wholeheartedly. First he brought over Power Bars, then a jersey, then some new bike shorts he, “would never use”… Andrew encouraged and helped John at every turn. (Plus, Andrew is a ‘Gear Head'. I am sure it pained him to see John riding in sweats, tennis shoes and a sweatshirt back in the old days!). As John progressed, Andrew would encourage him and ride with him. John would strategize as to how to overtake Andrew just once a season!!!! I will be forever thankful to Andrew for his passion for riding and encouragement for John as he started out.
As neighbors, we have watched each others children grow up and move on and continue in our quest to remain fit and healthful. I consider Andrew to be fit and healthful to this day, despite his diagnosis. I wish he felt the same.
Andrew has always been an example to me and John. He has been diligent in his eating and fitness routines. He did not ask for cancer and he is not keeping his MM diagnosis a secret. He is maintaining phenomenal fitness despite his diagnosis. I personally consider him a great example of what cancer and fitness can look like in co-existence. I only wish he saw it this way and would lead whatever ‘alphabet' ride he chose with confidence and courage, because he is, and has always been, a cycling hero in his own rite.
I think this begs us to ask ourselves, “What would I do if I were still healthy enough to ride, but not in the capacity I used to?” Would we be courageous enough to ride the ride we are able and be thankful? Would we take the opportunity to step up and be an example in lesser settings? Pride is a strong and wicked opponent.
We are all leaders. Sometimes ‘A' leaders and sometimes leaders in other ways. I pray I will see the difference and be willing to lead wherever I am destined to.
I believe Andrew is missing a huge opportunity to give and receive. It's not always about being the leader of the “A” group. The “B” and “C” group need leaders, motivators and examples too.
*Our neighbor and friend's name has been changed to protect his privacy
Angelina Jolie and I have something in common. I just wish it was her beautiful lips! (She can keep Brad…he looks too scrappy and old these days, with all his facial hair).
Angelina released this article today; My Medical Choice which tells candidly of her decision to undergo a prophylactic double mastectomy.
MY MOTHER fought cancer for almost a decade and died at 56. She held out long enough to meet the first of her grandchildren and to hold them in her arms. But my other children will never have the chance to know her and experience how loving and gracious she was.
We often speak of “Mommy’s mommy,” and I find myself trying to explain the illness that took her away from us. They have asked if the same could happen to me. I have always told them not to worry, but the truth is I carry a “faulty” gene, BRCA1, which sharply increases my risk of developing breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
My doctors estimated that I had an 87 percent risk of breast cancer and a 50 percent risk of ovarian cancer, although the risk is different in the case of each woman.
I made the same decision in 2005.
Some called me brave, as they have called Angelina. I really don't consider myself brave. My mom had the same procedure in the 1970's and modeled calm, factual and, yes, perhaps brave behavior. My sister and I were never freaked out (as teenage girls this was quite something), or questioned her decision. I truly believe she is still with us today because she chose (fully supported by my dad and her doctors) to have this surgery. Although her reconstruction did not go as planned, she never complained, or regretted having the surgery. She and my dad continue to have a great relationship to this day and have been a solid example of what marriage can be (57 years this coming October).
After many months of constant trips to my OB/GYN for mammograms, ultrasounds, aspirations and biopsies, I started researching prophylactic mastectomy for myself. My wonderful husband and doctor were on board. Unfortunately my insurance company was not! I found a plastic surgeon that would do both my mastectomy and reconstruction in his same day surgery center so I would not have to pay hospital fees, as John and I were paying for everything out-of-pocket.
I would love to say all went well in one surgery, but it didn't. Our bodies natural response to foreign objects is to encapsulate, or scar, around it. I chose, as Angelina did, to reconstruct with implants. I encapsulated three times, thus needing three additional minor surgeries to correct this. My surgeon was quite wonderful and did two out of the three at no additional cost. He thought I was brave as well…
My sister Mary is three year's younger than I am. She had the surgery four years ago. Once again, with the full support of her husband and doctor.
It's hard to believe it has already been 8 years. I have never, ever looked back. Having prophylactic mastectomy was one of the very best decisions I have ever made. John has thanked me on more than one occasion. I also received an interesting call from my oldest daughter. She was watching a morning show in which they were interviewing one of the hosts that was extremely emotional about the same surgery I had. Abby said, “Mom, you never made a big deal about it. Even when you had to go back for corrective surgery, you just did it.”
I am glad this is what she remembers. She helped me a lot the first night I came home and it wasn't super pretty! I want both Abby and Carly to know they are empowered to make their own decisions regarding their health and there are good options available. Yes, it was surgery, and yes, it changed my body, but reconstruction options are great, and surgery doesn't have to be scary. I don't have the constant worry anymore- at the doctor for diagnostics just waiting for the time the biopsy is not benign. To me, and for us, it was completely worth it.
For me, it wasn't brave, just smart. I'm glad Angelina went public so more women know they have this option.
If you have any questions, or would like to talk to me about this, please reach out to me at: amyjo@groupfitnessradio.com
It’s nice here (relatively speaking) and we can finally get outside. John and I rode the Ironman the last Sunday in April and it felt wonderful to be on real road. Don’t be too impressed- the ride is named the ‘Ironman’ because of the weather situation here in MN. We used to pre-register, but after years of giving up the registration fee because the weather was so awful on the actual day, we now register the day of!
The ride was nice and hilly and in celebration of our first outdoor ride, today’s Free Friday Favorite is a quick little climb at 3:21 and 59 rpm. (the free track is 6:20) The tune is not new, but I heard it again the other day and it felt fresh, plus there are so many cool remixes of it.
Jennifer Paige’s 1998 hit ‘Crush’ is still relevant, both in music and lyrics. I hope you enjoy it and can incorporate it into your class this week.
