Sometimes, it's cold. And sometimes, it's wet. And sometimes, it's both, and that can be downright miserable, in my opinion. Why? It keeps the NLBG indoors on the trainer. Not a bad thing, mind you, but it's so much more splendid to be outside, especially considering that we spend too much time in a so-called "windowless environment" (at work, bien sur!).
In any case, when the sun comes back, and it warms up a tad, cedar skyrockets. And that makes ME miserable. I always figured there had to be a price to pay for living here in Austin. Cedar's mine, I think! I thought I was quite clever our first winter here as I cruised through cedar season without as much as a sneeze or puffy eyes. "Cedar," I scoffed, "Ha!" Well, I'm convinced it's getting the last laugh!
Even on my third month of a daily antihistamine regimen, it still punches through. Just like it did three weeks ago on a gorgeous, sunny afternoon, when we declared it time to take the mountain bikes down the Shoal Creek greenbelt to Lady Bird Lake. By the time we were heading back to the house, I couldn't stop coughing, and my nose couldn't stop running. According to Ricky, I've been hacking my head off all night, every night, ever since. Finally, I headed to the doctor last Friday. Quelle surprise! It's a good ole sinus infection. I'm trying to bust through this congestion fog and breathe clearly once again.
With this cedar fever, what's the NLBG training update? Spinning on the trainer, and to keep things interesting, throwing something new in the mix: weekly Chen T'ai Chi class. I've been twice so far, and it's really good. We're both looking forward to improving balance physically and otherwise. We've also undertaken a belated attempt at training to walk a half marathon. Sometimes, I get these ideas, you see...
Monday, January 28, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Training Update
So, we're registered for a half-marathon, but neither one of us can really run! My horrible, agonizing SI joint malfunction nearly three years ago brought an abrupt end to my running days; Ricky's ruptured discs have terminated his. It saddens me, too, because I really enjoyed running. Even these days, when we're walking at Lady Bird Lake, I sometimes get the urge just to take off as fast as I can down the trail. It may sound strange, but I do enjoy watching strong runners pass me by...it looks so effortless.
Curious about my si joint hypermobility? Thought so! Well, to spare you all the fascinating details, let me say that it was completely debilitating; for months, I could barely walk 50 feet without limping in excruciating pain in my iliopsoas (hip flexor) and subsequently in my si joints. Finally found the right doctor with the right PT. It's been a very long journey to rehab and undo all the damage that had been done. I've been fortunate enough to find a fabulous trainer, and even though I still have painful flare-ups, I am somehow stronger than I was before this even ever happened to me. I've accomplished things that I never would have even thought of before...best example: the Livestrong Challenge. Two years ago, I couldn't even pedal a bike to the next-door neighbor's driveway. Horribly painful. Fast-forward to October 2007: 45 hilly miles!?! Are you kidding?? Between Sam my trainer and Erik my bike guy, I kept getting stronger, riding more and more. "Graduating" to a road bike.
So, this makes me want to do more. To continue to get stronger and healthier, to push myself to do more...this is why we're registered for the half marathon. Even if I can't run it, there's no reason not to try to walk it.
Curious about my si joint hypermobility? Thought so! Well, to spare you all the fascinating details, let me say that it was completely debilitating; for months, I could barely walk 50 feet without limping in excruciating pain in my iliopsoas (hip flexor) and subsequently in my si joints. Finally found the right doctor with the right PT. It's been a very long journey to rehab and undo all the damage that had been done. I've been fortunate enough to find a fabulous trainer, and even though I still have painful flare-ups, I am somehow stronger than I was before this even ever happened to me. I've accomplished things that I never would have even thought of before...best example: the Livestrong Challenge. Two years ago, I couldn't even pedal a bike to the next-door neighbor's driveway. Horribly painful. Fast-forward to October 2007: 45 hilly miles!?! Are you kidding?? Between Sam my trainer and Erik my bike guy, I kept getting stronger, riding more and more. "Graduating" to a road bike.
So, this makes me want to do more. To continue to get stronger and healthier, to push myself to do more...this is why we're registered for the half marathon. Even if I can't run it, there's no reason not to try to walk it.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
LIVESTRONG INFO
Why the LIVESTRONG Challenge?
Quite simply: cancer sucks.
Cancer affects too many people in such devastating ways.
It seems everyone knows of someone who's been touched by cancer. Shouldn't that be enough to motivate us, to unite us, to make us want to know why, to make us want to educate ourselves, to make us want EVERYONE to have equal access to treatment, care, support, and all the resources that can truly make THE difference?
From www.livestrong.org
This is why I support the Lance Armstrong Foundation and help in my own little way.
What about you?
Quite simply: cancer sucks.
Cancer affects too many people in such devastating ways.
It seems everyone knows of someone who's been touched by cancer. Shouldn't that be enough to motivate us, to unite us, to make us want to know why, to make us want to educate ourselves, to make us want EVERYONE to have equal access to treatment, care, support, and all the resources that can truly make THE difference?
From www.livestrong.org
At the Lance Armstrong Foundation, we inspire and empower people affected by cancer.
We believe that unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything...
We provide the practical information and tools people with cancer need to live life on their own terms.
We take aim at the gaps between what is known and what is done to prevent suffering and death due to cancer.
We unite people to fight cancer and pursue an agenda focused on:
- Prevention
- Access to screening and care
- Improvement of the quality of life for cancer survivors.
- Investment in research
Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist, Lance Armstrong, the LAF is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Austin, Texas.
This is why I support the Lance Armstrong Foundation and help in my own little way.
What about you?
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
LIVESTRONG CHALLENGE 2008
LIVESTRONG 2008 is launched, and NLBG is ready to roll!
Well, more or less, that is. Perhaps less. But there's loads of time at least. So I don't doubt that we'll be stronger than we were three months ago when we completed the longest ride of our lives: those 45 hilly miles in Dripping Springs for LiveStrong 2007.
Incredibly, it's been three months already since the 2007 LSC. Time seems to have simply melted away since that glorious October day. These past few months have found Ricky rehab-ing two re-ruptured lumbar discs and myself maintaining a daily antihistamine regimen with middling success.
So, where are now, cycling-wise?
Well, the good news is that I have made one of my best purchases ever: a bike trainer. In spite of the time change and occasional rain and gusty winds and cold snaps and recently sky-high cedar counts, I am able to spin up a storm, indoors, at any hour on my road bike. I love it!
More good news is that Erik, our bike guy, recently re-fit Ricky and customized his bike a little so that he can both pedal and avoid back pain/problems. He now has an adjustable stem and new handlebars, which may look a little odd, but it gives Ricky the more relaxed, upright position he requires for now. And, like they say, or I say these days, sometimes one has to sacrifice style for comfort (although, to be honest, I used to say the exact opposite, until my SI joint dysfunction!).
Another bit of positive NLBG cycling news is that we have resumed riding our mountain bikes to Town Lake and back about once a week. It always feels so good to get outside!
All in all, 2008 is off to a good, positive start for the NLBG. It's bound to be a much brighter year than 2007. Last year, as many know, was marked by loss (once again*); my dad succumbed to sarcoma cancer...getting diagnosed just a week or so before he passed away, following two lengthy hospitalizations, loads of tests and no answers.
With that said, I'm looking forward to challenging ourselves to be stronger and healthier than ever before and to challenging those we know to do the same. We'll continue to do what we can to make a difference.
Please visit our team page and consider supporting us for the 2008 LIVESTRONG Challenge:
http://austin08.livestrong.org/northloop
*once again, because Ricky and I have already lost our mothers to cancer...
Well, more or less, that is. Perhaps less. But there's loads of time at least. So I don't doubt that we'll be stronger than we were three months ago when we completed the longest ride of our lives: those 45 hilly miles in Dripping Springs for LiveStrong 2007.
Incredibly, it's been three months already since the 2007 LSC. Time seems to have simply melted away since that glorious October day. These past few months have found Ricky rehab-ing two re-ruptured lumbar discs and myself maintaining a daily antihistamine regimen with middling success.
So, where are now, cycling-wise?
Well, the good news is that I have made one of my best purchases ever: a bike trainer. In spite of the time change and occasional rain and gusty winds and cold snaps and recently sky-high cedar counts, I am able to spin up a storm, indoors, at any hour on my road bike. I love it!
More good news is that Erik, our bike guy, recently re-fit Ricky and customized his bike a little so that he can both pedal and avoid back pain/problems. He now has an adjustable stem and new handlebars, which may look a little odd, but it gives Ricky the more relaxed, upright position he requires for now. And, like they say, or I say these days, sometimes one has to sacrifice style for comfort (although, to be honest, I used to say the exact opposite, until my SI joint dysfunction!).
Another bit of positive NLBG cycling news is that we have resumed riding our mountain bikes to Town Lake and back about once a week. It always feels so good to get outside!
All in all, 2008 is off to a good, positive start for the NLBG. It's bound to be a much brighter year than 2007. Last year, as many know, was marked by loss (once again*); my dad succumbed to sarcoma cancer...getting diagnosed just a week or so before he passed away, following two lengthy hospitalizations, loads of tests and no answers.
With that said, I'm looking forward to challenging ourselves to be stronger and healthier than ever before and to challenging those we know to do the same. We'll continue to do what we can to make a difference.
Please visit our team page and consider supporting us for the 2008 LIVESTRONG Challenge:
http://austin08.livestrong.org/northloop
*once again, because Ricky and I have already lost our mothers to cancer...
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