Cardio Friday Eventually

random Big Brown Bat image

We live in the boonies. Although commuting distance from NYC, our county is still considered a bit rural, and technically an exurb. I paused on the road the other day to let a turkey cross to join friends pecking at a bird bath in someone's yard. This morning, a tiny baby garter snake quickly wriggled past me and my dog on our walkway. I've seen earthworms bigger than this slender olive green string with the bright yellow racing stripe slither into the cool of face-high jewel weeds. Last night, while I was reading a few pages of a Carl Hiaasen book (Native Tongue) I heard something bang into the open screened window in my bedroom. Granted, it's not unusual for large moths and birds to accidentally smack into windows and walls. However, this time, a Big Brown Bat (not to be confused with the Little Brown Bat, a different species) emerged from behind the curtains and fluttered in a panic over my head. I wasn't quite expecting it to be so big up close in real life. Its foot-wide wingspan was very intimidating. I quickly put on a hoodie, pants and boots since I'd been sitting in bed in a sleeveless nightgown.

Rabies virus 3D stock image

I'm mindful of all the recent cases I've heard of regarding wild and not-so-wild (local feral kitten just last week) animals and rabies. But I also know that bats are under a lot of pressure, and I'd rather not see one mindlessly euthanized just to see if maybe it had rabies. It's 3:30 am and I'm not only tired but in a bit of a panic myself. I've never thought about having to capture a bat inside my house. I call the police department and speak to a fellow who tells me I can toss a blanket over the critter, OR I can call these specialists, but they are going to charge me. If they show up at 3:30 am, well, that's probably worth it. If I toss a blanket over the bat, what's to stop it from falling to the floor, or me from crushing it? I have no idea how delicate these creatures are, or are not.

The wildlife control person answers the phone and tells me it's going to cost $160 plus tax but she can be there in 15 minutes. Okay. This is a lot of money. On the other hand, I'd rather not risk getting rabies by accidentally coming in contact with it. Or injuring it. She shows up with a clear plastic beverage cup and lid, then deftly scoops the resting bat (who has settled on another curtain in the bedroom) into the cup and pops the lid on. She explains that the bat can't fly unless it can extend its wings, which it can't do while inside the cup. She also checks my windows and says there's no way the bat got in that way since the screens are tight and secure. It most likely flew in while we were taking the dog out on his many walks. I find this scenario highly unlikely. Meanwhile, she tells me that she's required to call the Health Department, but at least in Putnam County, they're more lenient about releasing bats. It all depends on circumstances.

At 8:30 am, a young woman calls and asks whether I'd been asleep when the bat was discovered. Nope. I was wide awake reading. She asks if the dog has had all his shots. Yes, up-to-date on rabies and everything else. The door to my son's room was closed during the discovery, although I did wake him up to be present for the capture. After a few more questions, she says she's satisfied that the bat is not a risk and can be released by the wildlife control company. Whew! But I'm tired and go back to sleep after the call. My son and I don't actually get to the gym until 2 pm. It's bright and sunny outside so we leave the umbrella in the car. While we're inside, the skies turn black, thunder rumbles and rain blows sideways across the parking lot. We can hear it pelting the roof and hope that it's over by the time we're done.

We decide to try a new cardio machine: the Octane Lateral LX 8000. While the handles move back and forth, the foot pads move in a combination of both forward-backward AND side-to-side. You can adjust how fast, how hard and how wide the motion is. We use the default settings for 15 minutes. I think we're going to be sore tomorrow. I let my son choose what else to do. He's good with the treadmill and then the recumbent bike since both allow him to prop his phone up on the console so he can watch YouTube videos while he pedals.

T-posing!

Afterwards we stretch a little and then take turns doing pull ups. I tell him how many he needs to do to make the same number as Wednesday. If he does more, that's great! This also helps me push myself for a few more reps. We both achieve total number of reps greater than expected. So happy! Push ups are harder though. We plow through core work and skip walking lunges. It's still raining outside, but not as hard. By the time we get to the CVS so I can pick up the zinc, it's not really raining. More like misting. The weekend promises more of the same...

Cardio Friday

15 min Octane Lateral Lx 8000
Calories 124
Average Heart Rate 125

30 min treadmill
10% Incline 3 Speed
Calories 265
Miles 1.50
Average Heart Rate 114 (71%) /133 (81%)

15 min recumbent bike
Level 1
Calories 62
Miles 1.78
Average Heart Rate 113

HGPU 20, 15, 15, 13 (63)
M pull ups 10, 8, 9, 5 (32)

Push Ups 20 + 20 + 10 + 10
M push ups 20 + 10

Bicycles 50
Crunches 30/20
Side Planks 2 x 60s
Bird Dogs 2 x 60s