FISCHER: The best laid plans
By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com
Faithful readers may remember the trials and tribulations I went through last year to get my elliptical machine assembled. It was a hectic story of logistics, mechanics, and navigation of warranty information.
For a while there I was spending more time working on the thing than I was using it. I’ve bought tools, replaced parts, and now more or less have the machine in good working order. Other than needing some occasional tightening with my new socket wrench, it’s ready for use.
And use it I have. Between January 1 and December 31 of 2024, I spent a total of 130:02:25 on the machine.
This year, I decided I wanted to step things up.

My goal is to surpass last year’s total time by the end of June, doing in six months what it took me all of last year to achieve. Doubling my workout time may seem extreme, but it’s not as unreasonable a goal as you might thing. After all, there were several weeks last year where I couldn’t use my machine at all.
So, since the start of the year, instead of getting a workout in two or three times a week when it was convenient, I’ve made my run part of my regular routine. Now, more often than not, my day starts with an hour on the elliptical before I do anything else.
I’m at 126 hours.
That’s 126 days of one-hour runs in about 170 days thus far this year.
The other 40 some days account for times where I’ve been sick or tired or even just too sore to get a workout in.
And, of course, sometimes there are mornings where there’s not enough time between when I wake up and when I need to be somewhere to fit in a run.
Saturday was such a day. With a busy schedule of taking photos of the Charles City Challenge ahead of me, excited to use my brand new long-distance lens, I skipped my run figuring that I have plenty of time to reach my goal.
Ten days left in the month. Five more runs to go. What could go wrong?
Well, for starters, I could biff it on the rocks lining the Cedar River.
The good news is that my brand new lens is fine.
The bad news is that my left hand and knee took the brunt of the fall.
Nine days left. The knee was bruised, but otherwise fine. The hand, less so. Barely able to grip a pot handle, much less push and pull on handle bars for an hour, Sunday’s workout was postponed in favor of wrapping and icing my wrist.
Eight days left.
By Monday morning the swelling had gone down and the hand hurt a bit less. Gripping the handle bar of the elliptical wasn’t the most comfortable thing in the world, but it was manageable.
Presuming nothing else goes wrong, my goal was still very much in reach.
Fifteen minutes into my workout, a bolt on the rotating arm of the machine shears clean off.
Game over.
Thankfully, the parts are still under warranty and a new crank shaft is on its way, but even under the best of circumstances I’m not sure there’s a realistic chance of getting my machine back in working order by next week.
Normally I try to impart some kind of life-lesson or thought provoking insight into this kind of otherwise trivial account. Maybe something about not getting overconfident when you’re close to the finish line. Or perhaps the value of having a buffer so it’s there when you need it.
As it turns out, the lesson is here is that sometimes the universe is just out to get you.
— Travis Fischer is a news writer for the Charles City Press and is probably gonna have to start doing sit-ups or something now.
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