Create your own finish line, and GO!

This weekend found me in an interesting situation. My uber-fit husband was riding the MS150 from Houston to Austin. Traditionally, this is a 2 day, 150 mile bike ride from Houston to La Grange, and La Grange to Austin to benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Society. It is a wonderful cause and I urge everyone to get involved with fighting this debilitating disease. This year mother nature decided not to play nice however, and torrential rains canceled day 1. It became a 75 mile ride from La Grange to Austin (in 15-20 mph headwinds, God bless those riders!). I rode last year, but due to knee injuries and a training routine for an upcoming half marathon I opted out of the gauntlet this time. So I went as a cheering squad/support van/chauffeur. This meant that I drove out to La Grange Saturday night once it was official that day 2 was still on (about 2.5 hours), woke up early to get hubby to the start, then dropped down to San Marcos (2.5 hours) for some of the best outlet shopping in the country (go ahead and google it, I'll wait for you to stop drooling...), then down to Austin (1 hour) to wait at the finish line (2 hours of getting burned in the hot hot Austin sun), snap that perfect shot of hubby as he crossed, and then right back home (another 3.5 hours). One might think with all this driving and standing around it's a disaster for any health oriented goals- The sitting, the crappy fast food and gas station food, the excuses to just let yourself go. But it doesn't have to be that way. ANY trip can be a destination on the skinny globe! Don't believe me? Let me show ya...
Remember my favorite old saying, "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail?" Oh so true on a road trip! Hours in the car can easily turn into a quick stop on the road with either bad gas station treats or fast food indiscretions. But it doesn't have to be that way. I loaded the car up with bottled water, apples, protein bars, nuts and beef jerky and I was an unstoppable tank rolling down the road. Yes, stops for gas and bathroom breaks are inevitable, but when you just ate a protein bar and some fruit an hour ago those gas station candy bars look a LOT less alluring (especially when you realize you've been sitting on your rump for two straight hours and you KNOW you don't need those empty calories!). I made sure to fill up on a healthy breakfast just like hubby (though watching my portions VERY carefully, after all, I wasn't the one riding 75 miles so I certainly didn't need to eat like I was!). Next opportunity for a skinny globe adventure....the outlet mall! If you've never been to San Marcos, I feel sorry for you. It's so beautiful it just about brings me to tears. It's actually TWO outlet malls (Prime and Tanger) side by side. They have a trolley that can take you from one side to the other if you get tired, no foolies, it's that big! So can you think of a better place to get in a power walk? Wearing comfortable shoes I roamed the sidewalks and the stores for 2.5 hours. 5550 steps later I emerged 400 calories and $200 lighter. My only "sin", a tall skinny sugar free carmel latte to combat the sleepies that had crept in from such an early morning. A protein bar and orange on the go and I was ready for my next adventure, downtown Austin. Arriving earlier than expected, and with hubby battling serious winds pushing his speed down, I had quite a while to roam around this historic capital. First touring and taking pictures of the capital building (quite a stunning sight!)-pictures to follow, then roaming through the crowds of the MS150 festivities, I managed roughly another 5000 steps.
You may ask, where is the finish line? The truth is, there were many of them. Each time I attended an event, I made a fitness goal before I started. I planned my food options and calorie limits, I decided to walk around the entire outlet mall before starting my shopping, I focused on getting myself around Austin and parking far enough away from the events that I'd have a good city hike ahead of me, and all while enjoying myself thoroughly! Did I have the 5000 calorie burn that my hubby did, of course not. But under my situation, rather than slide back or even settle for even, I forged ahead to find my own ways to make a gain. I took a trip and planted it squarely on the skinny globe. Skinny traveler isn't a title, it's a state of mind.
Next time....Food hangovers