I might be getting a reputation.
I was sitting on the bumper of my Jeep. I do that twice a workout, after every 9 miles on the trails. On the bike it takes about 35 minutes, or at least it did last time out.
It was a short workout, only 23 miles.
No, it's not a "humble brag". Before shattering the second clavicle, I was doing four marathons a week, two on the bike, two on the inline skates.
I have a theory. It's more like a rule of thumb, but follow along:
For me, at my own pace, at my own weight and so forth....
Walking is the base amount of effort. You walk along and do your thing and cover your distance and are happy.
Next is Running. That initiates the rule of 2/3. It takes you 2/3 the effort to walk that distance instead of running at your normal endurance pace. Hmm 3/2 works too I guess. 50% more effort.
It's not scientific, it's only what I have noticed over multiple decades of endurance workouts.
Then comes biking. This I can actually measure because now that I have the tech to do things scientifically, the sport watch tells me that it's 1800-1900 calories to the marathon. That is actually a hyper-marathon since I tend to do 28 to 30 miles, and the numbers calculate out at a steady ratio. 66 per mile.
Finally Inline Skating. I have skated for more than 24,500 miles total. Each time I would do a marathon, my own calorie count came in at around 100 calories per mile. There is that magic ratio again. 3/2 or 2/3 depending on how you "Math".
The conversation with a "park regular" went that way. I was explaining that yes, biking in the soup we call weather in high summer in South Florida is taxing, and yes, that is why I am up at 515AM and on the bike before 730AM. I prefer not working out at 92F and 75% humidity, but I have done so.
"I couldn't do it".
I said "Yes you could, you just have to 'train up' to the ability."
He was over 60, good heart, and no other infirmities. It would take time but it was achievable.
"I'll stick to golf I guess".
"Sure, at least you're out there with a workout you can do. Hit 'em Straight!"
He wandered off to the pro shop. I finished my water and cookies. Some folks have power bars, I'm lazy and bring some easy to make Shortbread cookies. Only 3 ingredients and I need more. The butter is thawing on the counter.
After re-tuning the music to something a little more ... aggressive, I mounted the bike and rolled up to the pro shop myself. I can get Ice and filtered water there.
I had some Uplifting Trance on the headphones as I was getting a handful of ice for the second water bottle and refilling it with water. The manager at the shop started asking me about "this theory" and how accurate is it.
I have been doing "cardio" for decades, and since it is all endurance, it's all very stable. Speed in a calm day is predictable, distance will be predictable, as long as conditions remain the same. I even know that at 60-120 minutes past sunrise, the winds shift and get stronger off the ocean. If I am planning on a 23 mile bike ride, I will get about 1400 calories burned, a 28 mile hyper marathon should be around 1850.
"How about Golf?" He asked.
"I never tried it, I'd have to do a round with the sport watch on."
At this point we had a bit of a crowd around and I slipped into Trainer's Mode.
"I guess walk the course and get a measurement, it should come in higher than a walk and lower than running. For me I'd guess around 400 calories per hour."
Just a guess.
It really does reduce to a systemic set of equations, at least for me. All the way back-in-the-day to running 10Km around Valley Forge National Park with the radio tuned ironically to BBC World Service.
Since it's raining though, I'm going to sit here and watch it fall. Rack just trotted to his hiding place under the table since it dared to rain and he's watching me to see if I can make it stop.
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