From the sound of the blog it would sound like we are talking about timing your braking and turn entry/exit, huh? Well, it has been a while since I blogged about something health related so we are going to switch “gears” here, no pun intended. We all have a master internal timer that is our circadian clock and it keeps every bodily function on track daily. Your memory, energy level, metabolism and chances of getting sick actually change throughout the day so let’s break it down a little.
Eating breakfast within 90 minutes of waking up help get your energy levels up and revs up your metabolism, while satiating your appetite to keep you from overeating later in the day.
Getting some sunlight (at least 15 minutes) before 10am cues your brain to stop releasing melatonin which will signal your brain to wake up you up and improve your mood (I call it getting your happy rays).
Your core temperature rises between 10 and 11am and again from 5-7pm, this is when your muscle, nerves and joints warm up and you feel sharper and more energetic. Your brain also tends to be the most agile during this period so this would be prime time to tackle a challenging project at work.
Have a medical procedure before noon, there are studies that show physicians are most alert before noon thus making fewer mistakes in the morning. Scheduling a doctor’s appointment in the morning is also beneficial as they are more alert to catch anything suspicious during your examination.
Between noon and 2pm your body temperature naturally dips causing you to feel sleepy, go for a walk to help overcome this lull.
If you are going to cheat on your diet, do it between 11am and 2pm, it allows enough time for your body to burn off the excess calories and get back on track before bedtime.
Between 5 and 6pm our body temperature peaks which means you are most agile and less likely to get injured, your hand-eye coordination is the sharpest, lung function is high, muscle fibers are warm and your mood is brighter. Did you know that this is the time of day when Olympic records tend to be set?
If you are going to grab a drink after work keep it between 4pm and 8pm, even better reason to hit happy hour now! This allows the alcohol to metabolize before you sleep, any later and you are more likely to toss and turn all night. Eating dinner before 8pm helps your body metabolize the food well before you turn in for the night, if you have too many late nights, it causes a change in metabolism and insulin production which will eventually lead to weight gain. Our bodies are designed to sleep when the sun goes down, so don’t mess with mother nature or she will get you back with added pounds.
Apply anti-perspirant at bedtime, the chemicals that keep you from sweating are better absorbed when your skin is dry. Most people apply it when their skin is damp after a morning shower, but if you use it at night it’ll plug your sweat ducts and help you stay fresh for 24 hours.
In the middle of the night we tend to be most creative, so if you find you can’t sleep, let your mind wander and come up with ideas or solutions. While it is not wise to do this often, on occasion it can help you solve a difficult issue you may be struggling with while putting it to rest and then allowing you to sleep more solid.
For more information, check out “The Body Clock Guide to Better Health” by Michael Smolensky and Lynne Lamberg.
I could never have imagined that a simple idea and dream of sharing my love of riding could open an opportunity to bring this love to other women. This idea has blossomed into partnering with Ducati Bellevue, 2-Fast Track Days and Instruction and WMST to bring you events, instruction and clinics geared toward empowering women riders. Monday, June 10th was MotoVixen’s first Women’s Track Event and I couldn’t have asked for better weather, people and track to be on. It was an amazing and exhausting day. Mark DeGross of 2 Fast led the classroom sessions and his instructors (special thanks to Steve-O, Scott, Davey and Jason) took 2-3 gals under their belts to guide them around the track like ducks in a row.
It was reminiscent of those ski schools we went on as little kids behind the lead instructor, remember those? I had fun going around the track to break in my new ride to come up on the tail group and watch them, pass and come up on next group and so on. Throughout the day, I watched each gal improve, not only with their skills, but with their confidence as well. I saw the excitement in their eyes and some were so bouncy from it you could tell that they were going to crash on the way home once that adrenaline wore off. Luckily they all heeded my suggestion in having Ducati transport their bikes (which they did for free) and drove to the track so they wouldn’t have to ride home after a long day.
I took some pictures but not nearly enough, however, there were plenty of cameras and videos being taken so I knew we’d be covered. In fact Jason Tanaka took professional pictures (which he says will be linked to his website at www.jasontanaka.com on Friday) and there are some videos that will be posted on youTube in the next week from other track participants. I will try to get as much information as I can and relay it as I get it. If you have pictures or videos you would like to contribute to the site, email it to me (caroltcarpenter@motovixens.com) and I’ll see if we can include a special section on the site to include all of them. The one thing though that the pictures can’t capture are our ear to ear smiles in our helmets, the feeling of accomplishment and the excitement pinging from every fiber of our being. There is nothing like riding on the track, if you haven’t, please try it. Just do it with a reputable company and not an open track day at a track where it is a complete free for all, that is where most crashes happen. We are just so fortunate to have the support of the best companies in the PNW behind us and a curriculum that has been proven to work.
The day was so successful that there will be an announcement on Ducati’s website of another Women’s Track Event coming up on September 23, 2013 with a new rider’s clinic on September 19, 2013 to be headed by Mark DeGross and myself. I am looking forward to some returning ladies and many new ladies, spread the word. We will perfect this program for both returning and new ladies, you will not be disappointed, ask any of the gals that attended. If you have comments, concerns or suggestions please leave them here, I want to hear everything from complaints to raves.
For those of you who I know, have ridden with or just shown pictures of my bike you know the deep attachment I had with it. It symbolized many things, a change in my life, a freedom to explore and it was an instrument into finding myself again after so many years. It took me from being a mother of two boys who did all the things a proper mother would do to adding a tad of spice, OK a lot of spice. I have never been the conventional wife and mother, I’ve always had an “edge,” wore clothes with a rock and roll vibe, sported huge silver rings of crosses and many who got to know me on a personal level were still surprised when they found out I rode. Riding a motorcycle, gave me the chance to open myself to possibilities beyond what I could’ve ever imagined and gain a deep love for a sport that reminded me that I was still alive. My Ducati Monster 696 was loaded with every bell and whistle you could imagine, it was ridden a lot and gave me an immense sense of joy in an otherwise sad time in my life, my divorce. She was my escape and to be honest, was better that any therapy I could’ve ever received by seeking a professional. We become attached to things because they have sentimental value, they are attached to memories that we want to treasure, the thought of parting with them might actually mean we have to let go. But the truth is the memories are part of us, they will never be lost, you will only build upon them, they can’t be lost.
I had long been considering the 848Evo, but the thought of saying goodbye to my Monster was difficult, the emotional attachment to it kept me from pulling the trigger. But after much contemplation and some egging on from Kevin at Ducati Bellevue, we struck a deal and I traded her in. It was a difficult ride in to the dealership knowing that it would be the last time I would ever pilot her again, there was something so sad, yet so exciting about it. The thought of making the 848Evo my own, like I made the Monster, was appealing, knowing that with every addition made would be customized to fit me. I suppose that when you put in as much as I did into my Monster (personalizing it), it becomes a part of you. In the end you are giving away a part of yourself to someone, in hopes they will fully appreciate it as much as you did, but we all know they will customize it too. Look at the endless aftermarket options out there, that is proof alone we all want to make our bikes our own. Now comes a new chapter to be written, my 848 is a blank page to start a new story on and to fill with as many memories as I can create and share. Therapy, BAH! We got our bikes, who needs that??? Maybe that is why we are all a bit twisted 😉 See you on June 10th for our first Women’s Track Event with 2 Fast and hosted by Ducati Bellevue. Vixens Ride!
Round 1 at The Ridge started on Saturday, April 27th and due to circumstances I was unable to attend that day, but entered as a late entry on Sunday. I had never raced and that day was a flurry of issues that included a dance with mother nature, she was playing, “Am I gonna stay wet or should I mess with every racer out there?” I had just taken my rains off from PIR and put on my DOT’s after watching the weather report say mostly dry and had it safety wired to save time. By the time I got there on Sunday, I realized it was the wrong call and in a moment of sheer panic had to get the wheels changed, safety wired and clear tech before our morning practice. Short tools, there was a mad rush to borrow from everyone available and luckily everyone was incredibly helpful in loaning out there tools. My boyfriend, Beau, was my pit crew and was phenomenal in getting everything swapped out for me and my bike ready, on the stands with tire warmers. When practice rounds came, it was wet and everyone was taking it easy so as not to crash and being out there 2 days later (most had attended a Friday track day and raced on Saturday) I was at a disadvantage I didn’t like.