Rod M
- July 16, 2014
Republished from June 2011:
Rod’s passion for cycling began with his first tricycle when he rode the hard rubber front tire clear off, and it continued through high school when he rode from Pittsburg, PA to Sudbury, Ontario. Like many of us though, the time pressures of family and career eliminated most of his cycling time.
In 2007, Rod’s doctor him that he was at borderline risk on blood pressure and cholesterol and suggested medication. When Rod asked for one last chance to correct the problem with diet and exercise, the doctor rolled his eyes (it seldom really works, right?) but agreed to let him try. His youngest child had just moved away to college, so Rod now made the time to resume his long-dormant passion for biking – his health depended on it! At first he could only ride 14 miles at a time, but gradually his ride distances increased to 30, 40, and 50 miles. It became common for him to visit his son, who was attending Anderson University about 50 miles away, on bicycle.
The follow-up visit to the doctor was astonishing. Bad cholesterol was almost undetectable, blood pressure was well within normal range, and weight had dropped remarkably.
At the end of 2007, Rod set a goal of biking 5,000 miles in 2008. He surpassed this with a total of 6,002. In 2009 and 2010, Rod biked just under 8,900 miles. In 2011Rod set a goal of 10,000 miles, which proved to be a difficult challenge with so much unfriendly bicycle weather, but Rod ended the year with 10,182 miles. He can be found riding almost any time of the year (if the roads are clear) and almost any time of day. Some of his adventures have included bicycling vacations: a round trip from Wabash to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and back in 2009, and a tour throughout the state of Pennsylvania in 2010 and a trip to Ft. Madison, Iowa in 2011.
Beyond his health objectives and goals, Rod thinks it is important to remember that an exercise program needs to be fun in order to continue it on a regular basis and to really be good for you. Rod tries to ensure his cycling stays fun. He says, “When you are out on a ride, if you are so intent on speed, distance, and heart rate or other technical things that you miss the sun, scenery, wildlife and flowers, you’re probably not having much fun. I try to make sure it stays fun.”
Thanks Rod, you are truly an inspiration! Keep up the good work!
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