{"id":3279,"date":"2012-06-16T11:37:41","date_gmt":"2012-06-16T18:37:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/?p=3279"},"modified":"2020-09-01T17:15:59","modified_gmt":"2020-09-02T00:15:59","slug":"how-al-quit-smoking-got-in-shape-ride-to-conquer-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/how-al-quit-smoking-got-in-shape-ride-to-conquer-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"How Al Quit Smoking, Started Cycling and Got in Shape for the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This is a guest post from our friend, Allan. Allan is the living, cycling proof that anyone can become a cyclist. <strong>He\u2019s gone from out-of-shape-smoker to super-fit-event-cyclist<\/strong>, thanks to sheer guts and cycling. Now he\u2019s a cycle commuter, and has entered the <a href=\"http:\/\/va16.conquercancer.ca\/site\/PageServer?pagename=va16_homepage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ride to Conquer Cancer<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3280\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3280\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/eepurl.com\/bGzuPf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"3280\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/how-al-quit-smoking-got-in-shape-ride-to-conquer-cancer\/albike\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/AlBike-e1453080336667.jpg?fit=750%2C891&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"750,891\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;BlackBerry 9360&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Al with his Bike\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Allan with his bike &#8211; average guy with a huge heart&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/AlBike-e1453080336667.jpg?fit=252%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/AlBike-e1453080336667.jpg?fit=750%2C891&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-3280 size-full lazyload\" title=\"Al with his Bike\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/AlBike-e1453080336667.jpg\" alt=\"Al with his bike - Al's an average guy with a huge (and now very healthy) heart\" width=\"750\" height=\"891\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3280\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"3280\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/how-al-quit-smoking-got-in-shape-ride-to-conquer-cancer\/albike\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/AlBike-e1453080336667.jpg?fit=750%2C891&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"750,891\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;BlackBerry 9360&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Al with his Bike\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Allan with his bike &#8211; average guy with a huge heart&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/AlBike-e1453080336667.jpg?fit=252%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/AlBike-e1453080336667.jpg?fit=750%2C891&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-3280 size-full lazyload\" title=\"Al with his Bike\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/AlBike-e1453080336667.jpg?resize=750%2C891&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Al with his bike - Al's an average guy with a huge (and now very healthy) heart\" width=\"750\" height=\"891\" \/><\/noscript><\/a> Al with his bike &#8211; Al&#8217;s an average guy with a huge (and now very healthy) heart<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/complete-bike-training-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How to Get Bike Fit: Complete Bike Training Plan<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Al&#8217;s Story: Why I Started Cycling \u2026<\/h3>\n<p>About a year and a half ago after becoming disgusted with my inability to quit smoking for longer than one day, I finally decided to read a book that a friend had given me. This book had a cheesy title but I thought to myself \u201cwhat do I have to lose at this point\u201d? So, I dusted off Allen Car\u2019s<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0615482155\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0615482155&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=avejoecyc0e-20&amp;linkId=W32K6NTLVDVP4QG7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\u00a0<em><strong>The Easy Way To Quit Smoking<\/strong><\/em> <\/a>and started reading \u2026 That was the end of that nasty habit for me, and I have to tell you, it was kind of easy \u2026 and I didn\u2019t know it yet, but <strong>that was just the first step of my transformation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Then one morning when I was getting changed for work, I caught my son staring at my stomach (it was pretty big back then). I felt silly, thinking,<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>\u201cNot only am I slowly killing myself with my terrible eating habits and lack of exercise, but I\u2019m also setting a horrible example for my kids.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>With the knowledge and confidence that I gained quitting smoking, I decided to make another change with my personal health. But I still had one obstacle, bad knees \u2026 No \u2026 Terrible knees! So, off to a sports therapist I went. After six months of doing everything she asked of me, my knees started to feel good enough to consider some sort of physical activity. I knew my favourite sport (soccer) was out of the question; <strong>I needed something that was low impact on my knees<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">So, with my first six months savings from quitting smoking, I bought a bike and\u00a0started with some short rides around the neighbourhood, in the evening after my kids went to bed. <strong>It turned out to be the beginning of a very long ride.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Then one day while I was at the Cancer Clinic with my mom I saw a brochure for the <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/va16.conquercancer.ca\/site\/PageServer?pagename=va16_homepage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer<\/a><\/strong>. I saw this as an opportunity to join my mom\u2019s fight against cancer and take cycling more seriously. Slowly those short evening neighbourhood rides graduated to 15 k rides, with some rolling hills, or even cycling to work, and on the weekends I would do a 40 k \u2013 60 k ride! Of course I was losing weight and getting fitter all the time. And I was happy to know I was setting a great example for my kids.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">As much as I love soccer, golf and hockey \u2026 <strong>I discovered I REALLY love cycling!<\/strong> Now I ride all the time, and I\u2019ve never felt better in my life!<\/p>\n<h3>Al&#8217;s Update: The <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/va16.conquercancer.ca\/site\/PageServer?pagename=va16_homepage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ride to Conquer Cancer<\/a><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/va16.conquercancer.ca\/site\/PageServer?pagename=va16_homepage\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"3283\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/how-al-quit-smoking-got-in-shape-ride-to-conquer-cancer\/enbridge-ride-to-conquer-cancer\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Enbridge-Ride-to-Conquer-Cancer.jpg?fit=402%2C597&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"402,597\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Enbridge-Ride-to-Conquer-Cancer.jpg?fit=202%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Enbridge-Ride-to-Conquer-Cancer.jpg?fit=402%2C597&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3283 size-full lazyload\" title=\"Enbridge-Ride-to-Conquer-Cancer\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Enbridge-Ride-to-Conquer-Cancer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"402\" height=\"597\" \/><noscript><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"3283\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/how-al-quit-smoking-got-in-shape-ride-to-conquer-cancer\/enbridge-ride-to-conquer-cancer\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Enbridge-Ride-to-Conquer-Cancer.jpg?fit=402%2C597&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"402,597\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Enbridge-Ride-to-Conquer-Cancer.jpg?fit=202%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Enbridge-Ride-to-Conquer-Cancer.jpg?fit=402%2C597&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3283 size-full lazyload\" title=\"Enbridge-Ride-to-Conquer-Cancer\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Enbridge-Ride-to-Conquer-Cancer.jpg?resize=402%2C597&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"402\" height=\"597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Enbridge-Ride-to-Conquer-Cancer.jpg?w=402&amp;ssl=1 402w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/Enbridge-Ride-to-Conquer-Cancer.jpg?resize=202%2C300&amp;ssl=1 202w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 402px) 100vw, 402px\" \/><\/noscript><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Today sees the start of my <strong>two-day (240 km) cycling journey to Seattle<\/strong>, I\u2019ve been training for almost a year now and I\u2019m excited. It is very important for me to say that I couldn\u2019t have done this without the love and support from all of my friends and family! <strong>Thank you all so much<\/strong> for your donations, inspiration, riding\/training advice and words of encouragement.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>The memory of my dad, my mom&#8217;s inspirational and brave fight, everyone who has fought or is fighting cancer and your support will drive me to the finish line! <\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3282\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3282\" style=\"width: 750px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/0615482155\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0615482155&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=avejoecyc0e-20&amp;linkId=W32K6NTLVDVP4QG7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"3282\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/how-al-quit-smoking-got-in-shape-ride-to-conquer-cancer\/cancerrideparticipants2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/cancerrideparticipants2-e1453080494618.jpg?fit=750%2C500&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"750,500\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1307781096&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;160&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.005&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"cancerrideparticipants2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/cancerrideparticipants2-e1453080494618.jpg?fit=300%2C199&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/cancerrideparticipants2-e1453080494618.jpg?fit=750%2C500&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-3282 size-full lazyload\" title=\"cancerrideparticipants2\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/cancerrideparticipants2-e1453080494618.jpg\" alt=\"Nothing feels better than completing a challenging charity ride!\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3282\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><noscript><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"3282\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/how-al-quit-smoking-got-in-shape-ride-to-conquer-cancer\/cancerrideparticipants2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/cancerrideparticipants2-e1453080494618.jpg?fit=750%2C500&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"750,500\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1307781096&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;160&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.005&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"cancerrideparticipants2\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/cancerrideparticipants2-e1453080494618.jpg?fit=300%2C199&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/cancerrideparticipants2-e1453080494618.jpg?fit=750%2C500&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"wp-image-3282 size-full lazyload\" title=\"cancerrideparticipants2\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/averagejoecyclist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/cancerrideparticipants2-e1453080494618.jpg?resize=750%2C500&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Nothing feels better than completing a challenging charity ride!\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" \/><\/noscript><\/a> Nothing feels better than completing a challenging charity ride!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Read <a href=\"https:\/\/averagejoecyclist.com\/how-al-got-fit-did-his-first-enbridge-ride-to-conquer-cancer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Al&#8217;s Report on the Ride to Conquer Cancer here<\/a>!<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Did you like this post? 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Now he\u2019s a cycle commuter, and is in shape for the Ride to Conquer Cancer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6611,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[406],"tags":[346,345],"class_list":{"0":"post-3279","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cycling-and-health-cycling-and-fitness","8":"tag-getting-fit-by-cycling","9":"tag-ride-to-conquer-cancer","10":"entry"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.8 (Yoast SEO v25.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How Al Quit Smoking, Started Cycling and Got in Shape for the Enbridge Ride to Conquer Cancer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Al has gone from out-of-shape-smoker to super-fit cyclist, thanks to cycling. 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