Dodging Tumbleweeds with Brother Wind

Again no pics! With heavy gloves and the wind as it is, I am unable to photograph anything! I am just holding on for dear life!

Saturday, we had about 42 degree weather and increasing winds. The winds were supposed to be 25 mph by 11am. As a result, we changed our ride destination and ended up riding along the Bosque Path. My group rode 37 miles.

With all that strong wind,we were dodging tumbleweeds from one side of the path to the other. For this NYer, tumbleweeds are strange things. I remember driving in Kansas after Thanksgiving and watching the tumbleweeds gather on the shoulder of the road as if hunkered down in a bunker...only to fly out and across the highway at the next gust of wind. They looked like aliens invading...an army of tumbleweeds. The bike ride Sat. was no where near this bad, but it brought to mind my Kansas adventure into the land of the gremlin invasion! LOL

I love the Bosque and I love riding along it...seeing familiar land and water and wildlife...watching the seasons change as if greeting a new friend.

20 mph Winds with wind chill at 24 degrees

WHY DO I RIDE?
No pics from this ride! I had all I could manage to stay on my bike at times! We had strong head winds and then side winds that were difficult to manage...but I remembered the challenges that Lance had in the beginning of the Tour of California...and that made my suffering seem like nothing!

WHY DO I RIDE?
I was wondering if my runny nose was going to freeze on my face...but it froze on my wind jacket instead! My fingers were numb as were many other peoples...and worse than mine. I am taking every remedy I can think of to avoid getting sick on these early morning and cold "not for the faint of heart" rides...taking my inhalers....and I am a girl...after all.... who does not like the cold....that's why I moved here from NY after all!

WHY AM I RIDING in the winter with this frigid wind? The answer was obvious to me when we were given a photo and ribbon of Dennis a cherished supporter of TNT and a person with blood cancer who passed away a few weeks ago. As I received his pic and put it on my sleeve so I could see it and remember him, I choked up for a moment and tears came into my eyes...I did not know Dennis but he symbolizes WHY we are riding.....for a greater purpose than our own.....to find a cure for blood cancer so that NOT ONE MORE person will have to pass away.

Take Me Home

On Tuesday I rode the triathlon route again. I had a personal goal to cut 10 minutes off my previous time. There will be another Tri on April 11th. I was able to shave 9 minutes off my previous time! I am happy about this and made another goal to shave off an additional 7 minutes! Will keep you posted!

During the month of February I have lost 6.8 pounds which I am pleased with. I have a goal to lose another 8 by April 11th!

So lots of goals and self-motivation is going on!
Riding with the team this Saturday and will let you know how that goes as we begin to amp up our mileage to 40 miles.

Good News from Surgeon

I got some great news from the surgeon that he was very pleased with my progress! He wants me to continue with the physical therapy and back off on the kineseo taping as he said the time for that is now over and I need to let the shoulder do its own thing and support itself. I had come to that decision a few weeks earlier! He told me that perhaps in a few months I might need another shot of cortisone, but he hoped that when that time comes, I will tell him I do not need it. Evidently the surgeon knows Coach Debbie and other coaches in Team in Training and is a great supporter of the program! So, YEAH! I am throwing virtual confetti!

Made it to Mardi Gras

I rode with the Team again on Saturday. We had several choices of rides. The longest ride I have done so far since the accident is about 20 miles. The longer ride on Saturday was 30 miles and it included a 4 mile uphill with a 3% grade. Since the hills got me the previous ride, I was determined that they would not get me this time.....AND they did not! I felt quite strong and happy riding and I got to know some of the new team members!

On the way back I realized that I had my kick and put it into overdrive and was
able to keep my pace up and my heart rate up right where it needed to be! I am feeling more confident about my body and my shoulder stability! This is the first week that I have gone without the kineseo taping on my shoulder and it seems to be responding well. I see the surgeon on 2/23 to see how I am progressing! I am doing well, that is clear ...and I hope he can see the end in sight as far as my recovery is concerned!

I was unsure whether I would be able to put on high heels and kick them up at a Mardi Gras party that evening after the ride...but I did just that and had a blast...meeting old friends and making some new friends.

6 Pounds Lost

I lost 6 pounds this past week digging in and being consistent on my plan. I am using a very sensible plan called "Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle" that is a flexible and customizable plan that focuses on eating lean protein, simple and starchy carbs and fibrous carbs...meaning all whole foods, fruits and vegetables....then add in exercise and some weights. This is the program that I have had long term success on. It is not a fad or gimmicky diet...it is a sensible plan you can remain on and enjoy. See the link on the right of this blog.

Keep Climbing

" It's not the Mountains we Conquor, but Ourselves"