I don’t think of myself as old. When I get up from my chair, I have to stand at my desk for a few seconds to be sure neither my legs nor knees collapse as a result of my recent workouts. While women like me work out to look good in a pair of jeans, we also want to look good without them, or in a swimsuit in broad daylight at the beach.

Because of that, and because I’m a woman, and because I’m a mom, I like to be aware of current fashion trends. For quite a while I have followed along with Lei Chic, a Website updated daily with impossibly cool and hip finds from around Hawaii. I signed on when it first started because I know the woman who founded it and I wanted to show my support. It’s beautiful. The writing is witty and fun. I would recommend it to my younger girlfriends, of which I have many.

Unfortunately, Lei Chic and I no longer care about the same things. It’s OK, I don’t think I’m relevant to Lei Chic, in the way I no longer thumb through Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and Vogue magazines. What they sell is not what I need. I see that. I’m ready to unfollow them on Twitter, unsubscribe to their emails, and unlike their Facebook page. Part of me wants to hang on so I am aware, and because I have two tween daughters. But the other part of me says let it go. But I’d like something else to go to. I’m probably a MORE magazine woman now. I now enjoy Real Simple, Bon Appetit, and Oprah magazines. But I’m not ready to wear the swim skort from Land’s End or L.L. Bean.

Yes, my favorite thing to wear is a white shirt, sometimes with something unexpected underneath. I'm not ready to fade into the background just yet.

What are my options? Is there a local knot of people interested in marketing to my demographic? I’m a woman over 50, and probably exceptional because my children are so young. I’m still interested in looking good, but dressing age appropriately. Nothing makes me cringe more than seeing the back of a woman and her fabulous body as she turns around and you realize she is mostly plastic, in a Forever 21 mini skirt, with a permanent expression of surprise.

It is possible to dress alluringly and age appropriately, right? There is appeal in experience, isn’t there?

I doubt I’m the only woman anxious about becoming inconsequential. I am active in social media, the Internet is my playground, my work has inspired me to be a healthy and active woman who writes blog entries and articles to inspire others. When I get up in the morning, I know my 20- or 30-something self has left the building. But when I get up in the morning, I’m ready to be a full person. I’m not just thinking about me, myself, and I. I’ve got a family, a spouse, and bills to pay. I’m ready to learn, I’m ready to give, I’m ready to part with a little wisdom. Sometimes, I’ll even part with a little cash.

But who wants it?

Dragon boat watches the sun rise between Koko Crater and Koko Head this morning.

#postaday

Ooops. Jumped the gun there!

I took John to the Great Aloha Run (#GAR) start at about 6 this morning and then headed to Kapahulu Starbucks to fuel my morning ride. I parked at Triangle Park, unloaded the bicycle from the van and headed home. I didn’t get to that coffee. The banana waited, too.

The ride felt pretty good, but it was into the wind the whole time. I didn’t pass any other cyclists, and I don’t recall seeing any runners, either. I paused at Maunalua Bay to take pix of the dragon boat. Pretty cool. Check ‘em out.

The dragon boat in the daylight.

I got home, fully intending to head back out on the bike after a pit stop. However, I thought to myself, “What if? What if I ran back to get the van?” Time was getting short, so I hurried to get my running gear on. I put the bike away, uploaded the Garmin 500, and left with the Garmin 110 on my wrist. I started running at the Hawaii Kai Library and worked my way west. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it might be. In fact, I really make an effort to not knock myself out because I don’t want to die before I get to my destination. I need to save my energy to get to the van. There was no other choice, right? So my pace is rather conservative, and I’ll own that.

The ride stats. 

The run stats. 

The run isn’t as long as the ride because while on my bicycle I turn into Portlock and then I go a little longer in my own neighborhood before I get home.

We’ll need to ice the cupcakes. Maybe we should ice my knees.

Do you recognize me? I love this Scattante jersey. It has curvy red racing stripes.

#postaday.

John joined me on my ride today. Since he’s in the Great Aloha Run (GAR) tomorrow, he thought he’d ride with me. The wind is such that it could carve stone. A few times I got hit on the face by organic debris like seeds, branches, sticks, leaves and pebbles. A few times my helmet got lifted off my head! Good thing those bad boys got straps!

All the right breaks happened for us while we were on the ride. Cars backed off at the H-1 Freeway merge and Kahala offramp, paused to let us cross at the Aloha gas station in Kahala, allowed me to get on the drops all along Kealaolu by the Waialae Country Club, and gave us a break on our way back when crossed the Koko Marina Bridge. I felt like John was really pushing me. He’s the coach I love to hate, haha. Our average moving speed, despite gale-force winds, was 17mph. So we were doing all right.

I knew I’d be happy that we had done it, and I knew I’d be happy to be home. Now I gotta make cupcakes with my little cupcake, Kid2.

My stats on Garmin.com.