An inauspicious start

For many years, I started the new year with a schedule of ride events and races and goals to train for -- often laid out and documented here in my blog -- and that was a routine for several decades. I have a few goals penciled in for 2023, but it’s not like the old days of training and FTPs and watt goals. I’m content with that. 

I ended 2022 with a trip to the ER in an ambulance after taking a head first fall down a flight of stairs. After slamming my head and neck into a wall, I passed out in the kitchen. The police, fire, and ambulance arrived soon after, (all a blur), but I remember looking up and seeing my cousin's son (a firefighter) standing at my feet, looking down at me. We locked eyes and both smiled, and I knew I was going to be ok. 

I was in rough shape going into the new year -- too sore to get back into a fitness routine, over to the Y for spin classes, or on my new treadmill to join my sister for our 3x weekly walk/run. I was feeling pretty blue when my Coffeeneuring 2022 patch arrived. (Thank you Mary!) It was a reminder to just take it easy, enjoy the ride, enjoy a coffee, and not take it all so seriously. I’m here for that. I got back on the treadmill in Week 2 of the new year, excited for my new NordicTrack smart treadmill which arrived January 2nd, a Christmas gift from Mike. I love it. We converted the boy's former playroom into a home gym this year, and it's been helpful to my recovery. By Week 3, the soreness in my back and neck eased up enough for me to return to spin classes at the Y. The PMC Winter Cycle is just a week away! I'm not as ready as I would have been had I not taken a header down a full flight of stairs, but I'm well enough to ride and I'm super excited about it.

We finally got some snow this past week -- enough for a bit of snowshoeing before rain arrived the next day and it all melted away. It's been one crazy winter.

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Another trip to the DL

My 5K plans are on hold for a few weeks while I recover from a (self-diagnosed) calf strain. Last Friday, (June 10) I felt a tightness in my calf as I headed out for my run, thinking it would be fine once I got going. At .6 miles, my calf seized up, rippled, and popped. OMG. Painful. I had to limp home.

It's been almost a week, and I'm still hobbling around, barely able to climb the stairs, but actually able to ride my bike. Huh. I've discovered that I don't use my calf muscles at all when riding -- Just my quads. Who knew? Maybe that's why I have huge calves... they never get a workout!

So, I'm in recovery mode as I give my right calf muscle a rest -- likely another 1-2 weeks. I'll get back to running ASAP. 

Yes, I know this is, like, the third injury I've had in the last year... a few people have pointed that out to me. Can I just mention that maybe, just maybe, an occasional injury comes with the territory of being ACTIVE?!

(Previous thoughts deleted.)

Fortunately, I'm able to ride despite my injured calf. Last Saturday was a slow-paced breakfast ride to Manchester with the Cyclopaths, and a few short rides around the neck on Monday and Tuesday. I've also been able to get some trail rides in too, and had fun introducing two of my SpiderOne teammates to off-road adventures last night at Lynn Woods. Fun stuff!

Michelle loves off-road! Her first venture on a new MTB.

Chasing the sun. Night ride at Lynn Woods

Late Summer Update

The summer is cruising along, and while I'm greatly enjoying my adventure rides with Chip, I must admit I miss the discipline of having a training plan in place. This is the first summer in 13 years that I haven't had an event to train for. It's been refreshing, but also a little empty.

My shoulder is doing ok. I have almost full range of motion now, although there are a few spots where my shoulder starts to get tight. I still have some tenderness, (it feels like a constant bruise -- perhaps from the labral tear?), and I still have tendonitis going on, but the crazy pain from the supraspinitus tear is gone.

No surgery and NO MORE PT. Have I mentioned how much I hated my physical therapist? She was awful.

Despite strenghening exercises for my rotator cuff, I find myself weak, weak, weak. I often have to ask one of the boys to open a jar of spaghetti, or carry something heavy, which is annoying. I also find that after a long ride, my shoulders and neck are sore. It's going to take some time to get my strength back.

But, I have a few ride commitments on the calendar --  The Harpoon Point to Point with Chip, (and possibly Rich and Pete), is coming up. The 25 miler up Back Mountain Road, including the Brownsville-Hartland climb, is more than enough for me right now. I'm sure Chip will crush me on the climb, but will burn his brakes on the other side during the descent, so I'll catch him there.

I'm also planning to ride the Krempels King of the Road Challenge with a few of the girls -- Alison, Cate and Kristen -- in October. Brrrrr.... it's going to be chilly in New Hampshire at that time of year!

Before KKotRC, there's still an option to ride for the EOD Warrior Foundation. The UNDEFEATED EOD RIDE is ON this year, and while I would love, love, love to honor Kevin, and join Julia, Christina, Schreck and Tim for another ride in California, there's just no way I can pull off the training between now and then. (Although I understand Schreck just dusted off his bike. Hmmmmm.) Still, while I won't be ready to ride a hardcore 200, I can definitely commit to doing some fundraising for the EODWF and possibly ride a 100 mile virtual ride here at home while the posse is riding in SoCal. (Awwwww, sad. I miss them already!)

Great Teams, Great Friends

PT on Friday didn't go as well as I thought it would. I expected to get the ok for cycling, (because 30 Days of Biking starts tomorrow), but I got a big NO. (NO?!) Arrrgggghhhhh!!! I understand the shoulder isn't in great shape, and it can get quite painful at times, but I was under the impression it was a mild injury. Fixable. So I wasn't happy with my PT.

On Saturday, still feeling frustrated, I met the Cyclopaths for breakfast -- and of course it was snowing, for the tenth straight weekend. No one braved the elements and rode their bikes, and most agreed it will be a while before they're back on the road. It was good to see folks and catch up, and I'm hoping we have a good summer together.

Afterwards, I headed into Cambridge with Alison, Cate, Jen and Amy for the TriMania Expo, (at MIT -- taking the photo of the pool, above, for Will.)  It was a fun afternoon looking at different bike-swim-run related info, gear, and events -- with many laughs between us. (Those girls are such fun.) I also heard from a few Kittens on Saturday, checking in to see how PT went. Really sweet.) So, despite the gloomy start to the weekend, and my depressing mood, I had a great Saturday spent with Cyclopaths and Spiders, and chatting with Kittens -- and I felt much better about my PT situtation afterwards. Thanks, sweet friends!

30 Days of Biking starts tomorrow.

Shoulder Update -- and Wow. Venus.

Spring is here! (Feels like winter.) I caught this great shot of the moon and Venus on our way to Chip's lax practice on Sunday night. (Very cool.)  Chip is always patient with me when I have to stop to take a photo of something... even when we're running late.

So, shoulder update: New England Orthopedic Specialists has been really great and called me Monday with the results of my MRI. I was on the phone with the PA, Heather Parry, (who works with Dr. Perryman) for a while, listening to what was going on in my shoulder. And, well, at some point I realized I should probably be taking notes, because there's a party going on in there. Hahaha.

So, we start with a partial thickness tear of the supraspinitus, moving on to some tendonitis, with some thinning and fraying in the shoulder, (not sure how long the tendonitis has been there, as I never noticed soreness before), and continue on with some fluid around the bursa from a displaced joint (?)... but at that part of the conversation I got a little lost, because I was trying to think back to whether I felt any signs of tendonitis before the MTB wipeout...

Just a whole lot of info that I didn't really process.

I was happy to hear I wouldn't need surgery, though, (unless the shoulder doesn't heal through PT) -- and will take the recommended course of action that includes cortisone for the pain, and PT 2x a week for 4-5 weeks. I'll follow up with Dr. Perryman in a month to see where we are at. (Plus rest, ice, ibuprofen...) I got this.

Nutty Irish 5K Cocoa Run....err... Snowshoe Walk

My Nutty Irish 5k did not go quite as planned. I knew I wasn't quite ready for the full run on the challenging course, but I planned to run/walk it, which was a suggestion from my friend Julie Haynes. Her idea was for me to go out and get that first 5k done and out of the way, and then have something to improve upon from there -- mentioning I'd set a PR the second time out. For crazy reasons I liked that plan. :)

Well... obviously my plan was derailed.

Since I didn't get the MRI results on Friday, I took a PTs advice and didn't run. She mentioned that the swinging motion of my arms while running, plus the impact from the ground up, could damage the shoulder further -- and until I got clearance from the MD, I should just relax and not make things worse.

But I woke up Saturday bored... and discouraged... and as the clock ticked closer to 10am I was getting antsy. OMG. I couldn't stand it!! I decided that if I couldn't run the 5k, I could at least walk it with minimal arm movement. So I threw on some winter gear, (because of course it was snowing), grabbed my snowshoes, and headed off to the golf course where the run was taking place. (Yes, it's completely covered in snow.)

I was a little late to the start, but got an encouraging send off from Michelle and Julie, who were volunteering. (Yaaaay, friends!!) I only did one loop of the two loop course, because it took me 30 minutes to snowshoe 1.75 miles. But it was at least something. I got to see Chris Crowley wearing a kilt (so awesome) and enjoyed hot chocolate with Bailey's at the end. So, not quite what I had in mind for my first 5k, but all was not lost and it was a pretty great morning. Good to get out there.

Temporarily on the DL

So, as mentioned in previous blog posts, I've been pushing through shoulder/arm pain following my MTB wipeout a few weeks ago. I've been riding, (indoors and out), and snowboarding, believing it was just a sore muscle that would eventually get better -- but the soreness actually increased, not decreased, over the last few weeks, and I've been doing all the wrong things to make it better. Another wipeout on the bike Monday sent me to the doctor with craaaazy pain. Ouch.

I've seen two MDs -- both indicating I may have a torn rotator cuff based on their initial exam -- although I won't really know for certain until after the MRI. Right now I'm to treat it as such, icing 3x a day and taking ibuprofen, until I get the MRI results. The pain is making me nauseous.

Crossing my fingers it's a minor thing that will heal quickly. I have 30 Days of Biking coming up and the NEBC race clinic in mid April. I have no time for this.

Gorgeous Days

New England enjoyed beautiful, almost summer-like weather for most of the week -- with a rainstorm thrown in on Thursday to slow things down. I had a good week on the bike, both inside and outside, riding with E on Tuesday and then heading up the coast on Wednesday out to Magnolia and back -- just enjoying the ride and losing track of time. The weather has been spectacular. (Thursday's rain gave me a break from the road, but with P2 Thursday night, (killer), it really wasn't much of a break.)

VK Mollie Brewer started her training this week for 2015, and in the back of my head, I've done the same. I had some setbacks this summer that threw me off, but I've put it all behind me and I'm ready for a comeback. The "off-season" training and a change in routine is coming at a good time for me.

The Undefeated EOD Ride has been on my mind all week, too, and I've been thinking about Tim, Julia, Jim, and Schreck (and Christina) -- and Chelsea, Matt, Christine, and everyone else who made last year's ride so special. It's hard to believe it's been a year since I was out in California riding with them -- and I'm hoping we'll get a chance to ride together in 2015. Fingers crossed!

Hope this great weather continues next week!

Hot Hot Hot!

Summer is definitely here... 85 degrees... 75% humidity... Hello, New England summer! Lately my rides have been a mish-mash of Shayne's training rides, shorter 12 mile loops with Will, (who's still getting used to clipless pedals), and some trail riding. I haven't been able to string together a consistent block of riding, but at least I'm getting out there. It feels forced lately -- but I'm doing it.

I've been boycotting my Garmin since it failed to record my hill ride last Thursday. (Yes. I'm stubborn that way.) I tackled the hill on Burpee Road, twice, and then hit the hills of Swampscott's "county streets" (Plymouth, Suffolk, Barnstable), before shooting over to Greenwood Ave. As I hit Greenwood, I took a look at the Garmin to check my mileage, and saw it had stopped for the second time that day. I hate that thing!

I shouted, "SHIT!", and looked up and saw a woman walking her dog not more than 10 yards away. I apologized profusely, explaining that my workout didn't get recorded on my Garmin, (even though I'm sure she had no clue what I was talking about), and she smiled and said, "That's o.k. honey. It's the workout that matters, honey." (She kept calling me "honey", even though we were probably the same age.)

She really didn't understand. I'd just spent 45 minutes climbing hills, and if it's not on Strava...

Arrrghhhhh!!!! I was so annoyed.

I realized over the weekend that I need a break. I've decided to give the Garmin and Strava a rest this week. It puts me in a grumpy mood when my gadgets quit on me, or the files are corrupted, or I can't find one of (now) five heart rate monitors. Or, if I don't like what I see, my mileage is down, my speed is down, and everyone else is out there having a great ride... and I'm just in a funk.

So this week is a No Garmin-No Rules-No Strava-Just Get Out And Ride week. I don't care where my training is at, if my speed is down, or if Joe did 75 miles on Sunday... (o.k., well, yes, that stings a little)... none of it. I'm just going to ride. Just ride wherever. And hopefully I'll find some of the fun that's been missing.

Unplanned Rest Day

Yesterday's Memorial Day 5k remote run for the EOD Warrior Foundation has me feeling a bit wrecked today. My shins and calves are sooooo sore. KILLER SORE. It's been really hard to move around -- and there's just no way I was be able to get my workout done today. Sad.

Fortunately, two friends dropped off books for me over the weekend, so I just cuddled up on the couch, dranks endless amounts of coffee, and read today. I'll get back on the bike tomorrow.

Not my Best (Annisquam with a Fever)

Friday's rainout turned into a headache... literally. By 5:00, my head was pounding, and when I picked up Chip from a friend's house, he looked at me and said, "You don't look so good." (Nice, Chippy. Just what a girl wants to hear!) I took a few Tylenol when we got home and went to bed on the early side, still planning to head out early in the morning.

On Saturday, I woke up with a mild fever, but with 75 miles hanging over me, I took a few ibuprophen and headed out the door. I kept thinking my headache and fever would disappear, but they never really did -- and it wasn't the only setback I had on Saturday.

Heading over the Salem-Beverly bridge, a headwind knocked me off center and I caught my wheel in the damn expansion joint. I took a hard fall to my left shoulder -- ouch! -- though surprisingly it's my knee that's bruised and swollen today.

Despite the fall, I stuck with my ride up the coast through Magnolia, Gloucester, Rockport and Annisquam. I had a tough ride, alternating between hard sweats and teeth chattering chills, waves of nausea, and pain in my shoulder and neck. So stupid. I thought about calling home a few times for a rescue... and wanted to hop on the train in Gloucester for the trip back to Swampscott... but I just hated the idea of giving up, so I stuck it out. At one point I pulled over, pretty certain I was going to lose the contents of my stomach, only to realize I was next to a soccer field with a small herd of boys not more than 10 yards away. It was pure will power at that point not to vomit.

It was a very slow ride -- and definitely not my best day -- but I managed 72 miles. Done.

I probably should have stayed in bed.

Kennebunkport Cancelled

I admit that sometimes I take on a little too much... but usually I rise to the challenge. This week, however, I had to take a deep breath and let something go -- my week-long workshop/retreat with several of my artist colleagues in Maine. (Planned and paid for long ago.) School happens to start this week, (an unexpected change to the school calendar), and I didn't feel comfortable heading to Maine yesterday, no matter how much the boys insisted they'd make it work, (and friends offering to help with pickups/dropoffs to school and sports). Sometimes the best laid plans don't always work out, and you just have to accept it and move on.

Shayne is also away, and had planned my workouts around my week in Maine ahead of time, so I'm going to wing it this week. Shouldn't be too hard to do. Intervals, sprints, and anaerobic work at the beginning of the week -- long ride on tap for Friday. Got it.

Will! Weren't you supposed to knock on wood or something?

I took a little break from the bike this week, heading into PMC week. It wasn't entirely intentional -- but sometimes life just happens that way. I finally got back on track tonight and returned to my training schedule. On tap for today? Dreaded "hill repeats". (Thanks, Shayne.)

I planned to ride this morning while Will was at football conditioning, but reconsidered. I mentioned to him that if I got a flat, I might not be home in time to pick him up from his workout. He responded, "When does that ever happen? You never get flats. You won't get a flat." Hmmm... I should commend his positive attitude.

Soon after dropping him off, I exchanged a few texts with my friend Joe Ippolito about riding tonight -- he said he was "in" for hill work -- so we made a plan to ride at 5.

The workout was great. Tough. Hill repeats are a killer. Up, down, up, down. I'm still not comfortable with the gearing on my Domane, and I feel like I'm never in the right gear. Still, we had a great workout, and Joe pushed me to do one extra loop around the neck when I was ready to call it quits.

Coming off the causeway, I hit a large rock, hard. Thirty seconds later, the tire was flat. No kidding. I think Will jinxed me!!! Really!! Joe was sweet and changed the tube for me, but the spare came up flat, too. (Not sure why.) I took it apart when I got home and the tire is fine -- but both inner tubes had a hole. A trip to the bike shop has now been added to my ever-growing "To Do" list this week.

Another Ride Postponed

Rainbow over Newburyport tonight. Photo by Bill Noble

I love how my friends can easily turn my mood around with a simple photo of a rainbow. Tonight my workout with SpiderOne was instantly cancelled, (at least on my end), when a heavy downpour began the minute I stepped out for a ride. (I leave Swampscott at 5:40 to meet the others in Salem at 6.) I was soooo aggravated. Thanks, Bill, for reminding me of the beauty of our summer storms, despite the occasional inconvenience. I'll get my sprint workout done tomorrow.

Rainy Days and Mondays

After a break in the rain Sunday, Monday was a wet day (off and on) and I ended up in a muscle conditioning class at the Y instead of on the bike. I fully intended to ride with SpiderOne Racing on Monday night... until I flipped the page of my datebook to this week, and my heart stopped. Written in big black letters for Tuesday, June 11th -- WILL/WASHINGTON DC. I have no idea how I lost a week! I could have sworn his class trip to DC was next week! Ugh!

With Will leaving for DC at daybreak the next morning, we spent the afternoon pulling things together for his trip -- laundry washed, electronics charged, bag packed, miscellaneous items that were previously "lost" were found, (camera, iPod...) Thankfully, another mum took him (and his roommates) food shopping for the trip. (Which was a blessing, because they did not want to hear my rant against the Little Debbie snack cakes and Doritos they bought. And Funyuns??! Oh, please.)

So, I missed my SpiderOne ride, (sorry, Coach), and the rain continues today. Not sure when I'll get out for a ride.

TS Andrea Spoils the Party

Oooh, its a bad time to get rain!! I picked up my hot new Trek today and I'm dying to go for a long ride! (Thank you, Geoff and Marty at Fitwerx 2. I looooove it!) As I carried the bike into the house, passing my Allez, I had a flashback to a time when my Bianchi replaced the Motobecane I'd had for a while -- never to be ridden again. Awwwww. Poor Allez.

Tropical Storm Andrea descends on the Eastern Seaboard for the next few days, bringing buckets of rain. Looking at the forecast for the next few days has me a bit irritated. I just want to ride!

Another Frostbite Ride Postponed

Winter continues to pound us! Another snowstorm (15" on Friday), postponed our Cyclopath frostbite ride today, (although Ethan still headed out. He has a single-speed -- which doesn't get gunky like my bike does). He reports that he headed for the causeway, (no shoulder and wet, sandy roads), and found it was still closed from yesterday's storm so turned back. Just 9.5 miles for him today. I'm glad I took my ride indoors for 20 and a great class with Keli.

Ethan is training for several ride events this summer -- the MS Global, the Cape Cod Getaway (MS150), and Day 2 of the PMC. I'll be training for two rides this season -- another Pan Mass Challenge with Will and a second ride I'll announce later, after I've registered for it.*

Ethan is a great training partner for me... when we actually get to ride together! Winter just keeps on keeping on.

*Update: Registered! On tap for 2013 is the 2 day, 200 mile Undefeated/EOD Ride for the Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation. More info to be posted soon.

More of the White Stuff

Seriously... my patience with winter is wearing thin. I touched based with faithful frostbiters Ethan and Ed this week to see if either would brave the salt-sand-ice encrusted roads this morning. E-man was heading north for some skiing and Ed is battling a cough, so I knew I was on my own. (Frostbite candidate Anne is off climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. For real. I have cool friends.)

I woke up to dry roads and decided to grab a quick cup of coffee before bundling up and heading out for a solo ride. Coffee in hand, I looked out my kitchen window to see a single large snow flake float down in front of me. "Huh.", I thought. "That was random." I stepped away from the window to finish my coffee, and before I knew it, the snow was flying. OMG, I can't stand it! I just wanted a simple ride! Another Frostbite Ride postponed... (Will have to take it indoors this weekend.)

Moody Blues

Its been almost 3 weeks since the crash and I have good days and bad days. I'm trying not to get too down on myself, but my days feel oddly empty without being able to get out and ride. The blues creep in and I get moody. I still have craptastic headaches which don't seem to be easing up. My friend Matt gave me a call after hearing about the crash and clearly got me at a bad time -- He's a military guy and has no patience for "poor me" attitudes. (Just my luck that he called when he did). He crudely told me to pull myself together and get back on the bike... which is exactly what Manny and Sam said to me after I crashed and flipped over a car a few years ago... only they used nicer words.

Matt asked me to ride for the Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation next year if I can. He reminded me that I'm going to be able to get back on the bike at some point... and he can name a half dozen guys who can't. That gave me a sobering dose of perspective… and I promised to look into it. (Matty, if you're reading this, I heard you. The only easy day was yesterday.)

Perseverance

"Fall down 7 times, Stand up 8." -- Japanese proverb