NUMBERS

I have been pondering getting a FitBit or something along those lines. I would wear it when I cycle or do Zumba, and of course just walking around. I am endlessly curious about those numbers: how many calories did I burn, how far did I walk/bike, what is my heart rate, how fast was I compared to last time?

People who wear these groovy gadgets are motivated by seeing the cold, hard facts of how they're performing. To some this may seem obsessive, to some unimportant, but those of us who have a drive to push ourselves a little harder, something like a bracelet you wear which tracks your movements can give us just the oomph we need to do more. They are programmed for 10,000 steps a day, for one thing, and I cannot tell you how many people have told me they get their 10,000. It is important to them and they move more because of it.

I do have a computer on my bike. Not what we consider a computer in our day to day world, this is a small device on my handlebars which tells me my speed, how far I've gone, time and average speed. It is the latter which drives me onward to bigger and better. Right now I am trying to increase my average, so check it often. This little number is hugely motivating for me.