Are You Living It?

Wow it’s been almost a month since my last post. My active lifestyle has briefly been challenged with  my beloved wife Trudy’s healing knee. Her life has slowed somewhat dramatically, from living at the speed of light, to currently slogging along in geologic time! Needless to say she is a bit frustrated. The walker is not too helpful for her personal image. I have kept busy with trying to keep up with both of our normal daily tasks, finding myself at a loss to even put a small dent in her normal daily undertakings. I have put in hour upon hour of daily training over the years, but I can’t seem to perform half of what she can normally accomplish in a day.

As I wait outside the operating room I am reminded, that of all the activities and sports I thoroughly enjoy, none brings the inner peace and fulfillment of sharing each day with my wife. Whether  I am paddling a river, riding my bike, skiing that perfect line, she is always there. Sometimes she is there in person, other times I think of how much she would enjoy what I am seeing when we are not able to see it together.

I was just thinking that it may be time to give up smoking. Here in Northern California the smoke from Wildfires has given me a chance to take up smoking while training. I wasn’t sure if the two would go together, but it seems to be helping. My workouts feel much harder, even the ride downhill to town can sometimes take my breath away. I must be really putting out the watts!

A quick congratulations for Jerika Hutchinson of Mount Shasta, CA. She has been chosen to represent the USA at the 2008 Junior Road and Track World Cycling Championships in South Africa. Last year her efforts produced a bronze medal in the Time Trial event at the 2007 Junior Worlds in Mexico City. Great job Jerika, and keep living your passion!

What a weekend. The Elkhorn Classic in Baker City, Oregon was a blast. It was definitely the hardest race I have ridden. Beginning with the hot, dry 70 mile Oregon Trail Road Race in stage 1, we were treated with difficult races throughout our 3 days in Eastern Oregon. Each stage seemed to be designed to fulfill every bike racer’s constant need for suffering on the bike! :) 

Since my little abrasive episode last week, I have been healing up pretty well. I am now free of those pesky bandages that bind every movement and can finally stretch out my sore muscles. A few days into the healing process, I developed a low grade fever and and the inguinal lymph nodes were swollen and sore on my injured side. I had to decide whether to take antibiotics, or let my immune system chip away at the infection.  If the infection gets worse, I take a 10 day course of broad spectrum antibiotics and kill the infection along with my normal intestinal flora. If I continue to fight it off, I don’t have the energy to ride until the infection is gone.

This week was my first Southern Oregon Thursday Night Race. The race is held at the Champion Drag Strip in White City, Oregon. It is a mix between a Criterium and a Circuit race with the course taking you down the Drag Strip and circling back on an access road for a lap of just over a mile. As we were riding warm up laps, I went into a corner and suddenly my front tire decided it was tired of turning and slid across the road. I of course was not yet ready to give up on the turn and continued to lean in the opposite direction until I was stopped by the very firm pavement.

This was on Road Bike Rider Weekly Newsletter RBR and reminds us that aging is not the same as getting old. The following is a comment on a story about sudden coronary artery blockage in a fit cyclist.

This Wednesday I was privileged to give a brief introductory talk on nutrition and training for our local cycling club, the Mount Shasta Pedali. They have initiated a Friday ride for beginning and low key riders that gives the social benefits of a group ride, without the intensity of the regular rides. It has been well received and new riders are getting the chance to experience cycling as part of their lifestyle. As an extension of the new ride, the Mount Shasta Pedali and The Fifth Season presented an evening of basic cycling knowledge. The new, and many experienced riders as well, were able to review the basics of bike fit, regular bike maintenance and tire repair. The event was well received and everyone in attendance felt they were able to take some new knowledge home.  Give a helping hand and treat someone you know to a taste of the Live Your Passion lifestyle.