E-Motion and Sports Injuries

Well, I took almost two weeks off my bike.  Friday I hopped back on it, with a little apprehension.  My ankle no longer hurt but I was worried about my rump.  I decided to go for 20 miles.   I had signed up for a 64 mile ride the next day and wanted to see how I felt.  Overall it was a good ride, except for my tail bone.  My ankle seemed fine, not protesting the activity so I thought, I'm good to go and I can deal with the tail bone discomfort.  At least for Saturday.  I did text Melanie to find out about their saddle testing program, there simply has to be a better way.  Well Friday night, Jason loads the bikes and we prepare for an early start.  It was a very pretty morning, and I was ready.  We spent the first 7 miles riding along with a friend of ours from Claflin, he was doing the shorter route of 25 miles.  We then turned north into the wind, which was supposed to be coming from the south.  Then I started to feel the twinges.  I tried to keep my feet level or drop my heel as I pedaled.  It was getting worse and I was getting discouraged.  I get quiet and Jason says "hey I have something that will make you happy." I'm skeptical because he doesn't know my ankle is acting up.  Then he tells me, "I see a muscle moving every time you pedal, that I'm pretty sure wasn't there before." AWESOME, I have new muscles!  So we keep going. I finally told Jason to stop at 17 miles.  I told him about the ankle.  He told me he'd talked to the chiropractor about it and that I needed stop when it hurt or I could do serious permanent damage.  And because we live in the day of smart phones we looked up the tendinitis again.  Turns out you just can't hop back on a bike and do what you did before.  You're supposed to work back into it gradually and take care of the ankle as you do it.  I did neither.  Jason turned around and headed for the truck.  Hanging out on the side of a country blacktop is lonely and slightly embarrassing.  Then you have to tell people, yes you're fine, your husband is on his way.  Thank goodness for smart phones and Pinterest.  About an hour and a half later, Jason is back to get me.  I apologize over and over again.  I felt like I'd ruined his ride, and I was so disappointed in myself.  He said he was kind of proud that I had a sport injury, which I think is crazy.  Why?! I ask him.  Because only athletes get sports injuries, and frankly that made my day.

So I am taking a few days off the bike again.  I will be nicer to my ankle and ice it after I ride.  If that doesn't help, I guess I will go to the doctor and get some professional advice.  I've also made plans to go to Melanie's shop, I've got to do something about this seat issue.

Until next time, I leave you with a few pictures that I took while waiting for my knight in shining armor :)

Reflections

Well, it's been 3 days since I came home from BAK.  I'm not sorry for my choice to come home.  The next day the BAK riders had to to deal with massive amounts of rain and wind.  The organizers had to get a bus to transport people due to the dangerous conditions.  We got a call from Jason's boss, who had originally called to tell him that I was crazy for being out there, but then told us how he was seeing cyclist crash on the highway.  I had tried to call my Mom the night before with no luck, so when she called that night she'd worried all day that I was out there.  She was very happy that I had decided not to continue.  The rest of the Cycling 6 all rode through it, in the rain, all the miles.  They are made of tougher stuff than I or are more willing to take the abuse.  Probably both.

Something that I didn't mention in my last entry was the pain in the back of my ankle the last 10 miles or so of my ride to Spearville.  I'd really tried to ignore it, but by the time we'd gotten home, I could barely walk.  I iced it and of course looked up common bicycling injuries on the internet.  Achilles Tendinitis is what I'm pretty sure it was, it either hurt or felt weird when I moved it.  Weird as in feels like your ankle had sand in it.  Even if I had been enjoying BAK up to that point, my ankle wouldn't have allowed me to continue.  As it was it took 2 days for it to quit hurting when I walked.  This is something that I am going to have to be more aware of.

I've already signed up for another ride, it's in about a week.  It's a 60 mile ride, it's local and I hope it will be fun.  I've also decided on some new goals.  I'm going to try and do a smaller tour next summer.  I really feel that I just picked the wrong year for BAK and/or too much too soon.  So I'm going to try the Kandango tour that is 3 days long and about 200 miles or so.  It is usually scheduled the end of May.  I'd also like to start gravel riding.  I want to ride dirt roads and possibly take my good camera along, enjoy the scenery around me.  I think part of my issue from BAK was that I was too focused on the end of the ride, getting to the destination.  I'm not sure if that was due to the weather or my perception of what the tour was about or both.  Jason feels that my lack of enjoyment might have been his fault, that in the evenings I just hung out with him instead of finding new people at the schools.  I have mixed feelings about this.  One I didn't really want to deal with the gym and the communal showers.  I really needed his support the first long day and I genuinely enjoy hanging out with my husband.  However, I understand his point about meeting people, even though I find that somewhat uncomfortable.  He thinks that if I'd found people to ride with during the day that maybe it would have been better.  I agree with this point, riding 60 to 70 miles basically by yourself isn't fun.  I think in a few years I might try it again, I don't know.  I would like to mention that once the tour left my hometown, after the rain, they seemed to have had beautiful weather and wonderful rides.  The pictures that have been posted look like a completely different tour than how it started.

I'm a firm believer in reflecting on your experiences.  And although I didn't finish the BAK tour, I really learned a lot from it.

• I can do at least 73 miles in a day, in unfavorable conditions 
• Eat on long rides, even when you don't feel like it.
• Attitude is everything
• Remember the small victories

Day three

Today started with a plugged nose and a stomach in knots.  I woke up anxious about the day but got going anyway.  Jason took me over to the school, where I dallied until there was no real excuse not to get on my bike.  I drank my coffee, chit chatting with my college friend, basically avoiding my bike.  I finally just got on with it around 7.  I was pleasantly surprised when my tail bone didn't start screaming immediately so away I went.  I was passing people like a pro.  However, I did almost get run off the road by other cyclist crowding the shoulder, twice.  I made it to Montazuma by 10, it was about half way to Dodge City, which was where we were eating lunch that day.  The day was again cold, damp and dreary and I was grateful for my hoodie and wishing I had leggings.  At Montazuma, I texted Jason my progress and told him I thought my tail was doing better.  Then I got on my bike to find that it was tender.  I think that because it was tender yesterday it was still sensitive because I could position myself on my bike and ride with no pain. It was just rough getting on the bike and getting going.  By the time I reached Dodge City I was doing well and proud that I didn't feel like I was dying.  I met Jason for lunch at a place called Taco Jalisco.  If you get the chance it's amazing!  Once lunch was over I had roughly 15 more miles to go to the end of the route.  I did have Jason take me past the denser traffic areas and drop me off.  And I set out for Spearville.  I felt strong on this part of the ride and it went pretty quickly even though the should was really rough.  I rolled into camp at 4 and went looking for Rhi and company.  Apparently they were napping hard core and it took me a good half hour to find them.  We then strolled around Spearville, which is a cute little town.  While walking I asked both Joan and Rhi, what exactly was the fun part of BAK.  I was really struggling with the idea of doing that mileage again and again for then next 6 days.  They said it is fun when the weather cooperates.

The problem today wasn't that I couldn't do the miles.  Today I did 74 miles, now I know I'm more than capable. But it wasn't fun.  I wasn't enjoying it.  So today was my last day of BAK.  We're heading home now as I type.  I am sorry if I let anyone down but honestly I think I would hate my bike and biking by the end of this trip.  I just think it wasn't something for me.  I will still continue to ride around my area and do day rides but the day after day thing just isn't my thing. 

I will continue to blog about my biking experience and my general training as I feel that it has improved my life and well being.   I leave you tonight with some pictures from Spearville.  And I hope that if you're interested in doing a long tour that my experience doesn't dissuade you, you may enjoy it.  Speedy turtle will ride again and that is a promise.

Day 2

Depending on what time of the day you asked me changed how I felt about the day.  Starting out it was very cold and I got a late start unwilling to leave my warm bed when it was so dark and thunder was rumbling.  I will say that waking up to the sound of coffee brewing is nice.  Jason took me up to the school so that I could eat before heading out.  Rhi and Joan had left really early and we passed the rest of our group on our way to the school.  I did get to catch up with a friend of mine from college who is also doing BAK.

On the road, it was calm, cloudy and dark. The first part of the route was the longest at 18 miles.  During this part I was already thinking about what I was going to write tonight.  About how calm you can feel pedaling and passing other cyclists.  I wish I could capture this feeling and keep it for when I need it.

I made it to the midway point by 10:30.  Had some delicious peach cobbler, called the husband. I felt at this time I was doing well.  I was having some tenderness in the tailbone area but thought I could deal. So I refilled my water and headed towards the next stop.  It should have been easy, 13 miles or so. But honestly it was rough and my back end was really starting to scream.  Now I was basically riding on my own and my  brain isn't always nice to me so the doubts set in.  The next stop finally got there.  I stop, have a snack, refill my water and go.  Only 15 miles left.  I was wiggling in my seat now.  And the road wasn't straight, you'd see the town and then the road went the wrong way.  Seemed like the longest 15 miles.  I got to the last town at around 1:30.  I was so happy to get off the bike.  Called Jason to pick me up. A shower should help, right. And it did, to a point.  I am nervous, anxious and scared.  63 miles should not have been that difficult for me.  The what ifs won't leave me alone.

I did get a nice distraction going with Jason to Liberal to the air museum.  He was so excited to see his favorite planes and they were cool.  There are pictures below.  Then we stuffed ourselves at Applebee's and headed back.  At this point it was a good day again.

I had to go to the general meeting at 8.  While waiting I heard from Joan and Rhi (both BAK veterans) that today was rough for them too.  Then the meeting started.  Apparently we were the only ones who had a rough day, everyone else was positive.  Then they talked about the miles and the weather situation. Hello anxiety.

At this point a normal person should stop and not tell you about the next 15 minutes while Jason drove us back to the camper.  But I want to be honest here and say I had a mini meltdown.  I'm scared.  What if I'm in pain all day tomorrow or the rest of the week. What if I can't do this, quit, or fail.  I tell you about this not for sympathy, no one forced me to take on this challenge. I tell you for two reasons, one so that if I make it and inspire someone else I want you to know that it's okay to be scared.  Two, is to tell you that having a strong supporter or supporters help.  Jason is my hero, and I am blessed to have found such a person as him.  He told me he knows that I can do it because I'm me.  I ask him why is he so confident when I'm me and I'm not confident at all. And then he asks, when I have you ever decided to do something and not completed it.  I didn't have an answer.

And so while I am still sore and anxious, I feel that Jason has a point. 

I leave you with pictures of the air museum and with hope that tomorrow it won't look so scary.

Day one

Well, the camper made it to Elkhart.  It pulled so nicely, and we had no wind to fight.  We left early (OMG WE WEREN'T LATE).  We made it to Elkhart in good time, got lost in Elkhart and decided that the phone was lying about where the RV park was.  On the other side of town from where we thought the set up place was we found it.  We dropped off the camper and headed to Pizza Hut for some food.  We were sure we were going to be late meeting the other people in our group at the border however we ended up waiting on them which worked in my favor for sunscreen application and food digestion.  However at this time the lack of wind became blustery at an 18mph south wind.  Now, usually there is a pretty welcome to Colorado sign at the border.  My first BAK we start on a highway that ends in a dirt road with a sign that says leaving Kansas and nothing else.   I told Rhi that it was so sad that Colorado didn't claim it.  Well the route was only for 18 miles, but the wind was against us.   Going across the wind I lagged behind but my group waited for me at the turn to the south.  I have this to say, drafting is awesome. It helped tremendously.  We got back to Elkhart and it was good.  Tomorrow is a longer day with 62 miles.  Will post pictures later, and pray for southwest winds. 🐢

Be Prepared!!

We are down to less than 48 hours until the start of Bike Across Kansas.  It has been decided that we will all meet at the border at 3pm Friday.  I have spent that last few days getting things around.  We still have lots to do but the camper is clean and I have maps for the route.  Actually getting the route maps eased a bunch of anxiety.  I know it will still be challenging but seeing the route broken down into smaller bits helps.  Tomorrow is the major preparation day.  I have laundry, packing, shopping and setting up the camper to do.  But the fun stuff is ready.  I have turtle nails (pic below).  I have our team shirts.  Can I just say how excited I am to actually be on a team!  And we have matching tshirts!  All the riders have pink and the support has grey.  Pictures are below, and I would like to say that Jason chose what went on the back of his shirt, and it was so cute.   Rhi also gave me a basket of goodies and some serious encouragement.  I am so blessed to have friends like her and everyone who is rooting for me.  And of course my biggest supporter Jason will be with me the whole way.

I can honestly say I'm excited and ready to get started.  And when I finish it will be a feeling like no other and that is what I will try and remember on the rough days.

My nail lady is so awesome for giving me turtles!  Thanks Lori!!

Team Cycling 6!

This is my mantra!

Rhi is so sweet!