Summer Fun! Finally!

A few days after I wrote my post about pretending that it was summer, the weather changed and it started getting warmer. Now, I’m not saying that my post was a magic spell or anything but I think you can draw your own conclusions there. Ahem…let’s carry on with today’s post. The weather hasn’t been… Continue reading Summer Fun! Finally!

Heading into my last decade of work and some fitness related thoughts

I started full-time academic work as an assistant professor of philosophy at Western University in 1993. So this July 1, Saturday, marked my 30th anniversary of full-time academic employment. My contract at Western began July 1. I remember being nervous about that because my thesis defense wasn’t until July 21. What if I didn’t pass?… Continue reading Heading into my last decade of work and some fitness related thoughts

Reading about riding around the world

Two years ago I finished and reviewed This Road I Ride: My Incredible Journey from Novice to Fastest Woman to Cycle the Globe by Juliana Buhring. This year I read Coffee First, Then the World: One Woman’s Record Breaking Pedal Around the Planet by Jenny Graham. I was reading it at the same time as… Continue reading Reading about riding around the world

Catherine and Pata test ride an adult e-trike and aren’t pleased

While I was visiting my family in South Carolina last month, my cousin M asked me if I knew anything about adult trikes. She was thinking about getting one for noodling around her neighborhood; she liked the idea of the extra stability of the third wheel, and the setup seemed well-suited for fun and safety.… Continue reading Catherine and Pata test ride an adult e-trike and aren’t pleased

To listen, read, watch on a weekend #ListenReadWatch

Listen Hear Her Sports Sarah Douglas Canadian Olympic Sailor…Ep151 “Born in Burlington, Ontario, Sarah started sailing at the age of seven on the island of Barbados. Starting in the Optimist, she competed in North American and World Championships before the age of 15. After outgrowing the boat, Sarah returned to Canada and transitioned into the… Continue reading To listen, read, watch on a weekend #ListenReadWatch

Birding and Biking?

We sort of knew birding was having a feminist moment when Teen Vogue took up the cause. And then there’s the story of Christian Cooper. NPR writes, “Cooper was birdwatching in Central Park in 2020 when a white woman falsely accused him of threatening her. His book chronicles life as a Black birder, gay activist… Continue reading Birding and Biking?

Top Ten June 2023 Posts, #ICYMI

We all loved Catherine’s post: Meet our newest sports hero: Jolien Boumkwo, Belgian shot-putter and substitute hurdler. And it was the most read post in June Cate’s still menstruating post was the second most read post in June. We’re not shocked. In 2019 Catherine wrote about yoga poses she can’t do and what she does instead. Yoga poses was… Continue reading Top Ten June 2023 Posts, #ICYMI

Nat tells the tale of a 1,000 km cycling trip from the SAG wagon

Recommended Playlist: White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane, Alone Time by Rufus Wainwright, A Well Respected Man by The Kinks, Don’t Stop Believing by Journey, Gotta Get Up by Harry Nilsson A couple weeks ago my beloved Michel and his friend Fred rode in the Randonneurs Ontario Lake of the Burning Plains brevet .It’s a punchy… Continue reading Nat tells the tale of a 1,000 km cycling trip from the SAG wagon

Everyday Cycling Adds Up

I joined a couple of challenges as part of Bike Month but deliberately didn’t do too much more than normal. I wanted to see what that would look like. I normally bike to the office four days a week (just over 2.5 km each way). I bike to swim practice once a week. I visited… Continue reading Everyday Cycling Adds Up

Recovering fitness post COVID

I’m two months and a week out from getting COVID. Recovery was slow but I’m glad I paced myself.  I’ve done a lot of accessory work — rows, dumbbell squats, modified split squats and a few things I can’t remember the name of but they do wicked things for my core.  I was glad I… Continue reading Recovering fitness post COVID

Last x before surgery…

Okay, I’ve set up work auto-reply for medical leave. Thank you for your message. I am on medical leave, recovering from knee replacement surgery. All going well, I expect to back in the office Monday, May 24th. Professor … and Professor …. will be taking turns as Acting Dean of the College of Arts while… Continue reading Last x before surgery…

Whose land is it?

Last week, from his hospital bed, Pope Francis formally repudiated the Doctrine of Discovery, a 500 year old set of papal decrees that gave full encouragement and permission to European explorers to take over Indigenous land in the Americas and convert Indigenous people to Christianity. In some ways, it feels totally anachronistic to be having… Continue reading Whose land is it?

Spring(ish) Walks for Christine and Khalee

You may not have realized it but Thursday, March 30 was a big day. What was so big about it? It was the first day since last Fall that I could wear sneakers on my daily walk with Khalee. And it was one of the first days I could just wear regular pants on my… Continue reading Spring(ish) Walks for Christine and Khalee

Spring(ish) Walks for Christine and Khalee

You may not have realized it but Thursday, March 30 was a big day. What was so big about it? It was the first day since last Fall that I could wear sneakers on my daily walk with Khalee. And it was one of the first days I could just wear regular pants on my… Continue reading Spring(ish) Walks for Christine and Khalee

April Challenges I’m Not Doing But Maybe You Would Enjoy Them

It’s April. Spring! And it’s also the month of fitness challenges it seems. There’s the 30 Day Cycling Challenge. We blogged about it here. I won’t make it for all 30 days. I’ve got knee surgery on the 11th. But so far I’ve managed 3/3. Day 1 was an outdoor ride with Sarah. Day 2… Continue reading April Challenges I’m Not Doing But Maybe You Would Enjoy Them

One week countdown to second knee replacement surgery: 10 things Sam is doing to get ready

Sleep Obviously it’s good to arrive at the hospital the day of surgery well rested. I’ll try to get a good night’s sleep the night before but more importantly I’ll try to get lots of regular sleep the week before. I’m doing pretty well these days. No 4 hour nights, followed by 10 hour nights.… Continue reading One week countdown to second knee replacement surgery: 10 things Sam is doing to get ready

To listen, read, and watch this week, the first week of April 2023

Listen There’s a new fit and feminist podcast in town! #34 The benefits of journaling and getting started The Fit and Feminist Podcast Read Our books club is starting soon! Do you have your copy? “The co-host of Maintenance Phase and creator of Your Fat Friend equips you with the facts to debunk common anti-fat… Continue reading To listen, read, and watch this week, the first week of April 2023

Fat (and other) Shaming Women in Public Life: Just Stop!

Recently a woman who serves on our local board of public health received a letter from a stranger telling her that she did believed she “cannot fulfil that role because of your unhealthy status. It is unacceptable to be overweight by the 20 pounds you appear to be carrying”. Other women serving as elected officials… Continue reading Fat (and other) Shaming Women in Public Life: Just Stop!

Finding time to fit in exercise is self-care

We often talk about how finding time for rest is important and a form of self-care. We talk about giving ourselves permission to miss a workout. If we miss a workout or we couldn’t find the energy that day or life got in the way in a myriad of ways, we talk about being kind… Continue reading Finding time to fit in exercise is self-care

Renaissance Dancing for Fun and Fitness

Last weekend I went to an event sponsored by a local medieval club and found myself sucked into the rabbit hole of dancing. I’m usually too busy in the kitchen or working on crafts to think about dancing, but this time it was a small event, I had plenty of time, and someone was teaching… Continue reading Renaissance Dancing for Fun and Fitness