Ok, So Not my Best Idea…

A short bike ride tonight, 7 miles. I must have been nuts to think I could ride that area at rush hour…. I made it out and back safely but I think I have learned my lesson and will avoid the rush hour traffic in the future. I was dodging pickup trucks and nutty drivers. People that simply do not see bikes on the road and some that simply do not care… And teenagers that are simply too stupid to be allowed behind the wheel of a car…

I did have a little fun. I was keeping up with a fellow on a very expensive bike in very fancy gear, in very trim condition. I think I was annoying him as I stayed 100 feet behind him at 23.5 miles per hour for about a mile and a half. Nice to know I can still do that even if only for a mile and a half….

I am growing more concerned about my right calf. It is not really hurting but it is certainly letting me know it is there. My fear of popping the muscle has kept me off the bleachers the last few days. I am trying to convince myself that I am being prudent and not taking advantage of an excuse…. I fear falling in to that trap. The fact that I did get on the bike today, even for a short 7 mile ride makes me feel a bit better…. But still….

What kind of doctor does one see about a troublesome calf muscle?

Weather willing, I will get in a nice ride on Saturday or Sunday and perhaps another day hike this weekend.

I love this….

Roller Coaster from Hell.

I know I am ready for a longer ride. I can feel it. A little concern about how the calf will hold up but I know that I am there in terms of fitness. I know I can do a longer ride, 30 miles or so… And I have to tell you: THAT FEELS GREAT.

I know that my emotions must seem like the roller coaster from hell. One day I am down in the dumps, the next flying high. I wonder if it is the same for others. I know that MOST of the time I am in a really great frame of mind. I feel good about the progress. I feel excited about the improving fitness… The there are days where I feel like every ounce is a battle. Every set of bleachers is a war with my body and my brain.

I guess my brain and body are fighting me to a degree. So far I am winning…

Places in the Sun

I am not a warm weather person. I really much prefer the cooler weather but I have to say that I enjoyed the unseasonably warm weather we have had the past two days. The walk with the Younger and then the bike ride tonight remind me what is good about the warmer days. I am thinking I might enjoy this time in the sun now that I do not have as much insulation around me. Another reason I have disliked the warmer weather is I can not hide behind layers of clothing. Being out in the sun meant shorts and short-sleeved shirts…

I am reminded almost daily of the difficulties of being heavy. Difficulties I am not facing quite so often now. I have to get new cycling shoes… I don’t know why this never happened before when I have taken off weight but my feet are smaller and my cycling shoes simply do not fit properly any longer. It used to be such a pain to get cycling shoes because wide sizes are harder to come by. Now I am no longer a wide width and finding shoes that fit is quite a bit easier. Went out to eat with friends Saturday night and I fit comfortably in a booth. When I went to the same restaurant 6 months ago I was not able to sit in the booth and had to take a table… The mountain biking shorts I bought years ago because they helped hide how heavy I was when I got on the bike, are now too large for me to wear.

The best part of loosing this weight so far? I feel like I have a place in the sun now.

Peace.