Watch this space

I'm talking Destiny with a big D, my friends. That's the feeling I have about this wild and crazy plan I've just hatched.

It started with, of course, the advent of the New Year and the whole resolutions bit, which I really suck at. Resolutions, I mean. I'm not really bothered by this a whole lot, since I suspect I am not alone in this matter. In fact, I don't believe I personally know anyone who does well at them.

Actually, I suppose Walu is pretty good at resolutions, but then, he's really Superman in disguise, so that doesn't count.

Anyway, in spite of resolving not to do resolutions this year, I kept thinking of a few things I'd like to do, and at the top of that list was getting back into a fitness routine.

I started casting around for something that would keep me motivated and resistant to distraction and slackitude. I thought about running races again, since I am very good at focusing on my training when I have a specific race in mind. The problem is that my knees just don't like racing anymore, but since I am an old thoroughbred from waaaaay back, I am not capable of easing up and just "fun running." The gun goes off and the next thing I know the legs are out of the gate like they are Seabiscuit following a carrot that's been battered in oats and deep fried.

So I thought I might try a charity ride, instead (since there is no danger of me trying to go fast on a bike), and I came up with one that fits the bill nicely: A 45-mile ride at the Austin Livestrong Challenge next October. That's a goal I can get behind, and with it in mind, I started training this week.

But wait! There's more!

While I was thinking about the Livestrong Challenge, I starting to dream about having my very own Bike Garden cycling jersey to wear for it. Now, y'all know how I feel about cycling jerseys, so naturally, once I got the idea in my head, there was no turning back. Just as naturally, the design had to feature Pearl and Henrietta, and the one I've created, if I may say so, is cuter than a bug in a sparkly tutu. You'll have to wait a little longer for the big reveal, though, since I am going to do a separate post about it once I have some final details in place.

But wait! There's more!

The jerseys are so adorable, in fact, that I could see people wanting one for themselves, so I decided that I might even offer them for sale here on the blog. And since I am not doing this for profit, I thought that any extra money I made on the jersey could be donated to the South Plains Food Bank farm (Yes! They have their own farm! They believe in fresh vegetables!).

Is that a great plan, or what? I get all goose-bumpy and dizzy just thinking about it.

But wait! There's more!


The really cool thing about jerseys is that they can be (and often are) rolling billboards. As I was thinking about donating any profit I make from the jerseys, I thought it would be brilliant to put the SPFB's name on one of the sleeves to give them a little plug.

But wait! There's more!

As if a charity ride and an adorable cycling jersey-the-profits-of-which-benefit-the-SPFB were not enough to make this an incredible, motivating, kick-in-the-pants-and-get-fit plan, here is the best part of all: 

I will ride 2000 2011 miles in 2011 for the South Plains Food Bank farm this year.

Yes, that's right. And, as you might have guessed, I am going to ask you for a pledge of a penny a mile to hold my feet to the fire. A penny a mile! What a great deal! 

You can, of course, pledge more than this, but it's going to take you a penny a mile to buy in to the excitement. That's a twenty-dollar-and-eleven-cent donation to a great operation, brothers and sisters. And here's the kicker: if I don't ride 2011 miles this year, you don't have to donate.

If all goes well, at the end of the ride I will make a big announcement, throw some confetti into the air, and ask you to go to the SPFB website and donate directly to them.

I've put a little ticker up at the top of the page so you can track my progress. Right now, I'm up to 68 cents. An auspicious start for the first week of the year, in my humble opinion (I am counting both commuting miles and training miles, because I absolutely believe in hedging my bets).

This is HUGE! It's Destiny! With a big D! So watch this space to see how it all goes. And if you'd like to sponsor me on this crazy ride, leave a comment (saying specifically that you'll pledge), shoot me an email at the address on the sidebar, message me on Facebook, or DM me on Twitter. I'll put your name on the sidebar as a supporter of The Bike Garden Challenge (unless you want to be anonymous).

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go put some air in my tires.

Note: And by the way, progress is still being made on both the ottoman and the novel. The ottoman will probably be finished sometime on Monday or Tuesday of next week. The novel, however, will take a little longer. I am not as prolific as the amazing Dee Nash, who is apparently capable of writing an astonishing twenty pages a day.