Peloton

A long walk in Florence

This beautiful river is just a few blocks from our apartment and we walk here multiple times a day

Recovering Plantarfasciitis

When we started dating 2 years ago I was suffering with Plantar fasciitis in both feet.  I could not walk the mall without pain and differing in my feet.  I had been suffering with this for well over a year.  Took me entirely out of tennis my bi-weekly tennis games and other sport activities. Soon after our first few dates we had started planning our vacations together with great concern that I could walk the distance and steps required for an Italy vacation. Alice did all she could do to help cure my feet woes. Visits to podiatrist, orthoditcs, massive amount of nutrition pills, collagen, just to name a few. Nearly 2 years later my feet are much better thanks to Alice!  Both feet are still numb and or tingly at times.

Pelotom - My effort to be 35 again

November of last year I purchased a Peloton stationary bike because biking seemed to be one of the only exercises my feet and knees could take. Burning nearly 1,000 calories a day for the last month on my peloton before our trip I had hoped to get in shape, not only to look better but to be able to walk miles and miles each day.

When I met Alice during the beginning of covid she was walking 5-6 miles a day in her old neighborhood of Riverwalk.

We both love the health application in the apple phone applications as tethered to our apple watch. Every night we compare stats to determine the "winner" in each category. We look closely at heart rate, miles walked, trends, blood oxygen and others.

Our nightly routine

Every day we get home, turn the air conditioning on and check our health numbers on the iPhone. We were patting ourselves on the back with an average step count of about 15,000 steps per day until we read a post from someone who is averaging 30,000.  Reminded me of competing with the Peloton studs I somehow can't compete with. Never to forget there is always someone way better than you.

OUr competition. actually only mine

  • Alice beats me in step count every day by an average of 1,000+ steps…. makes no sense to me

  • Alice beats me on step length every day, again what?

  • My blood oxygen numbers are normally better than Alices, averaging more than 95%

  • Resting heat rate, I will give Alice a tie

  • Calories burned, I win, because I am a man and Alice says men burn more calories than women.

Sample screen print from Alices iPhone

Our steps are often as if we were in a 3 legged race. One, two, one two.

Tom walking the streets of Florence very close to our apartment

Apple Technology discrepancy. Steve Jobs where are you?

We have noticed a major discrepancy in steps taken between us.  Alice seems to walk 1,000 or more steps a day even though she is always at my side walking.  It also notes her stride is longer.  I believe both statistics are erroneous.  I have a long gate being 6'1" tall.  I just think the devices are not calibrated correctly.  We will do our own calibration tests soon by putting both phones in my pocket.

There are other challenges walking the streets of Florence.  They are very narrow with a small walking path that normally fits no more than one person. Watch out for speeding scooters, bike riders and taxi cabs. They would rather run you over than give you a chance to get out of the way.

This narrow alley way is everywhere, small paths and bikers, scooters and taxies speeding past you

Peloton studs I am coming for you!