A Bitter Pill to Swallow

I had to make a decision yesterday..............whether
to ride in Tucson or not to....and I decided not to. I made this decision with the input of my physical therapist, my coach Debbie and Kirsten, and friends and my dad who spoke to me of the pros and cons of a decision either way.

Given the nature of my injuries from the hit and run accident, at this moment it is difficult to contemplate being ready to ride 109 miles in about one month after not riding at all for a month now...I am stubborn as all of you know...and I could PUSH and do it...but it would have been extremely stressful rather than fun and challenging...and to what end? I do not HAVE TO ride Tucson. I can ride something else. All the money raised thus far will get rolled over into my new ride...which will be the Lake Tahoe Century in early June 2009....AND PS...I will have to raise about $600 more dollars for LLS so any donations you care to give me will be greatly appreciated!

I will have plenty of time now to rehab my whiplash and get my body stable on the bike again and I will then be able to train over the winter and then begin with a new team in February....I will become a mentor for Team in Training and will continue with my riding and now supporting those newbies coming in.

So, there is a lot to look forward to and I will adjust my goal setting and be off and running!

I am still in the virtual do nothing phase although I can now do 5 minutes on the elliptical at the gym IF I keep my heart rate under 114.....as I was told...this is not cardio...it is not training...it is oxygenating the blood! And so it goes.

I am trying to have good behavior and am going to make a count down chart to Oct 18th...when hopefully I will get the OK to get back on my bike for a SHORT ride...says my PT/trainer..."short mean 5 miles....not 25 cece!" You do not argue with Char....if you do, you will loose and you will waste time.....because she always wins!

Kia

New Car at Last

After lots of research and visits to car lots, I have finally purchased my new vehicle! It is a Kia Sportage and will easily fit my bike and perhaps a friend's bike in the trunk cargo space! I am very happy and relieved to get out of that lengthy rental and finally have my new wheels!

Now I have to focus and concentrate on my rehab. I am not allowed to cycle , as per my PT, untill Oct 18th at the earliest and am on R &R doing rehab PT exercises until then. Those of you that really know me, know that this is torture for me...but I think it will pay off in the long run.

At this point, I still have Tucson in my sights , but am also going to be flexible with myself in case I have to change plans due to body issues. We will see how the body rehabs from this accident!

The DO NOT Phase 2

This is a photo of my totalled car that I took yesterday when I went to the graveyard to get the remains of my belongings out of my vehicle.I am glad to be rid of this car...but not the way it happened!
The bank is still holding the insurance check and my hands are still tied in order to purchase a new vehicle....but the car is still there and the bank loan is still there waiting for Thursday morning to arrive....let us hope!

I was told by my physical therapist this afternoon....with many apologies...that my neck and collar bone and whiplash are "acute" and she does not want me riding AT ALL for at least another 2 weeks! This was devastating to me. She profusely apologized and we have a long term friendship and training relationship and We both know each other sooo well...and she knows how hard this is on me...and I know that she would NEVER tell me this unless it was absolutely necessary! As she said, "now you are in the rehab mode...not the cardio mode or not the training mode...the rehab mode." So i have PT exercises, and restorative yoga and some specific weight bearing among other things to do. She is trying to get my muscles from spasming...and holding the spasm. She wants me to have ice massages. URGH!

Of course, I am panicking about the ride in Tucson on November 22nd....and she told me that it might be that I miss the ride...but she also said, I may be able to do it. She said something I blocked out about pushing now and in November and then having a poorly functioning body for the rest of my life...vs rehabbing it well and having a recovered body for the rest of my life! So we will just have to see....and I need to be obedient to her rehab.

Rehab Super Woman Team

It is just amazing what the body does in relation to stress! After the accident, I seemed almost "fine" for 2

days....evidently my body just tightened and held on for dear life as a result of the trauma. Then when it started to release and let go, all hell broke loose in the body as a result...and the trauma became apparent. After much therapy and rehab in the last few days, today, I can finally lift my head off the floor and the neck and whiplash damage seems like it is finally improving.

I was told yesterday that because I had been lifting and have a strong upper body, that made all the difference in how this accident effected my body. So, I am very grateful that I was lifting and was strong because it could have been so much worse.

But, I still feel like Superwoman near kryptonite! I am so weak that I cannot imagine that I could do inverted push ups on a bosu ball just last week! LOL! But I will get back to that eventually and w ill get back on the bike...that is what is really driving me crazy....it is only a week though...so I am trying to have patience!

I want to publicly thank my rehab support team....and it once again proves that it takes a team to do anything...and that living a life of isolation and self-reliance is not ever productive. These are great women who are specialists in their fields and are ethical, caring , and compassionate people who are more concerned for the healing of the body than anything...and work to achieve that with you. AND they kick butt if needed...believe me!

Dr. Helen D'Esposito: Chiropractor /Holistic Health Care ph: 888-4847

Charoltte Spencer: Physical Therapist: ph: 480-5729

Stephanie Tiger: Neuromuscular Deep Tissue Swedish Massage: ph: 681-9606

The Do Not Phase

:( I am in the Do Not Phase...which I DO NOT like .....and have a hard time with. I found out today that to quote my doc , "You are a mess!" I have 3 ribs out across my shoulders, more out in my neck and my skull was not standing on my spine correctly, bones out in the arch of my foot.....lots of other stuff. She told me to do the math...60 mph impact...big SUV ...little Ford Focus......I am on forced rest, ice and quiet...no work, no cycling no exercise. No Nothing! If I can have good behavior...LOL....I might get the restrictions lifted so I can get on my bike by Saturday for a VERY short ride...we will see.

Meanwhile, I brought my tape measure to Car Max and measured trunk interiors to see if my bike would fit in the car I am needing to purchase... I think the salesman had a good laugh. OH> and.....PS....just for a laugh...when my insurance man asked me what kind of bike I was riding and I told him he said "Niiiiiice ....biiiiiike...." and I just laughed once again.....thinking...yep...he wants the bike....not the woman...maybe he is older than God too!

Do.... or Do Not...There is No Try

As many of you know, I was in a bad car accident on Thursday night...rear ended by a hit and run driver going about 60 mph. When my insurance agent called me from my wrecked vehicle the next day, he said "I am surprised you were able to walk away from this." So my car is totalled, and I have whiplash and am having trouble holding my head up, muscle tears, but am none the worse for wear.

I continue to say "Thank you God" for all the blessings on either side of this accident and know that things are never all bad if you take the moment to look and see the giftedness that is embedded in the horror! 2 of the many wonderful things that happened is that one of my close friend's husbands..who is a cop...was the first one on the scene...the next day he loaned me his personal vehicle to use until I get new wheels. Also, I felt such an outpouring of caring from so many people. Thank you!

I am going to see if I can do a short ride on Sunday..short meaning 5-10 miles or so...just to get time in the saddle and get more info as to what I can and cannot do. I hope that I will be back on the bike this week and riding 60-70 miles next week! I will keep you posted.