The Crash and The Journey Back

As the COVID19 crisis grows, events are being canceled.  Both events I had planned to do this spring are cancelled.  Once the 2020 Storming of Thunder Ridge jersey arrives, I will own 4 jerseys for events I never got to do.  1 - 2018 Tour de Blount where those first 11 miles just don't count for all that transpired after.  2 - 2018 Big Pencil to Big Walker (held shortly after my 2nd hip surgery)  3 - 2018 Shenandoah Fall Foliage where I planned two days of riding with the second day being my second ever century.  4 - 2020 Storming of Thunder Ridge (was to be a milestone ride again near "crashiversary"). There's something in my brain that says while it's disappointing to have missed these events; there's something more to think about.  These last three weeks frankly have sucked - we started Corona Virus Checkpoints that Monday, Joint Commission showed up on Tuesday and ever since work has felt like a freaking whirlwind of confusion and chaos.  It...

 Figuring out which way to commute to work and which bike to use. Riding up and down Brushy Mountain on Hinchee Trail. Came from that direction, on the ridge. This is from the Hanging Rock Trail Parking lot to Gauntlet trail head and back. A lot of really green moss.  :)

Trying a 6-week program on Zwift called FTP Builder.  I did the short FTP test a week ago and the result was 160.  I've done three rides in the program so far.  None have felt tremendously hard.  I know that high (at least for me) cadence hurts my hip at about 3.5 minutes so I had to back off of that a bit.  My thoughts about the rides are below. Jen Divers 31 mins · FTP builder ride 3, I’m sweating during these rides; but surely doesn’t feel like a hard effort. Maybe 1.5-1.6wt/kg. Only three rides in and I’m wondering if this is going to help me. I guess it’s base building. So lost with trying to get stronger. Previously injuries were all upper extremity so I could at least run and ride a stationary bike. Three months of nothing followed by four of not too strenuous; then a year of rebuilding. Now to figure out more cardio, flexibility and strength training more. Anything beats nothing. I look so forward to spring riding weather. S...

So what to do on a January day where the high temperature is predicted to be 70degrees?  Go ride.  I decided to try to ride up Mill Mountain and back.  While it's not a high climb or a difficult climb, it's not that easy for me any more.  I've historically ridden up the roads and trails up Mill many many times.  This was only my 2nd trip since I broke my hip. It took me longer today that my previous attempt- I was way overdressed, so I wound up poking along.  I enjoyed the view from the top for a few minutes before heading back down.  I had noticed the main road up was really wet still from last night's heavy rain.  I was chicken enough just getting back to the stop sign and elected for forgo the fast, flowing descent which I used to love flying down.  Instead, I elected to just ride a short ways down, walk across a short path to Yellow Mountain Rd.  That turned out to be just as bad - there was washed out rocks, mud, grass of what h...

Finished 2019 with 2,170 miles give or take a few ridden.  Not bad for the first full year post hip fracture!!!  I still have some weaknesses, and I am keenly aware of them.  The biggest hurdle I have is stairs.  I can get up and down them fine, but when I get tired, have been walking a lot or have ridden my bike, it can be hard and painful.  Sometimes I wind up doing one stair at  a time.  I can tell there's weakness - I think mostly it's my glute.  So yea, weak ass!!! We've been playing around at work on Fridays and dancing some - this past Friday I discovered that many dances causes hip fatigue and pain.  Mainly things that require side steps.  Phew!  It's fun so I'll continue doing it.  I really need to buckle down and focus on some specific exercises for my hip again.  I just hate figuring out what to do.  Can't afford a trainer and can't afford to go back to PT. It's just a matter of focusing.  I feel f...

 Played around in Grandin Court last night on my Cx bike - prior to the formal ride, I rode up and down some streets and alleys.  It might be worth going back over there after work one evening and just doing the alleyways.  It's one of the safest areas in Roanoke, so it would be a good place to play. Last night was the 3rd Annual Holiday Lights Ride by RideSolutions.  I did this ride three years ago, but of course last year I had just stopped blood thinners and was on a two-week wait before I could ride outside.  This year, I made it a point to grab my warm clothes and lights and attend.  As you can see I was more into Hi-Vis than holiday colors - this long sleeve jersey is my current favorite.  You can see my helmet is Hi-Vis yellow and in the bottom picture you can barely see my winter shoes which are basically still brand new despite being three years old.  I never put them on last year.  HA!  Fun playing around last night - i...

I've been busy with holiday stuff... Let's see in the while I've been away from my blog.. I painted 4 rooms in my house, replaced 7 mini-blinds... I've been to Knoxville and back for the Garth Brooks concert.  Overall, it was ok.  I've seen much better Garth shows, but it was cool to be in Neyland at night with all of those people. UT needs to figure out it's ADA plan post show though - that's a joke and a long story.  One that is longer than I have time for right now. Decorated for the Christmas - I'll have to do a separate post about my Lego village. Been to Richmond, VA and back to pick up cakes for my birthday and holidays. Did a birthday bike ride for the first time in 2 years. Hoping to do the annual Christmas Light Tour ride in Grandin on Wednesday - weather permitting. The rain and cold and probably wind will return this week. Anyway, I'll be back to post more soon as oh ya, I signed up for The Appalachian Journey - ...