Heat and Leg Cramps

Last Wednesday (July 1st), I rode 58.5 miles with my frequent riding buddy Tom. We rode out to (and around) Hauser Lake, just inside the border of Idaho, which was a beautiful area. Even though we started riding at 9:45am, it was hot. About 40 miles into the ride, I started feeling my left calf spasming, like it was getting ready to cramp. I ate a gel every hour or so and drank both water and Powerade, but the heat was starting to do a number on me. We stopped briefly just 3 or 4 miles from the end of the ride, where I dismounted and stretched. We decided to just spin easily to the end. It was working until a mere half mile from the finish. At that point, going up a slight uphill, both of my quads violently cramped, causing me to jump out of my saddle. I couldn't bend my knees and was in a good deal of pain. I managed to lean over and get off the bike, roll to the side of the trail and lay down. Tom gave me a couple of electrolyte/sodium capsules. They seemed to kick in fairly quickly, allowing me to hop back on the bike and finish the ride. It was close to 100°f at that point. Once home, I took a 15 minute ice bath.

It was a challenging, but enjoyable, ride. It's becoming obvious that my body doesn't deal well with heat. Whenever I've had cramping issues, it's been on hot days. I just purchased some S-Caps, which I'll be taking during hot rides from now on.

Train hard, but train smart!

Winter Took A Break, So Why Not Ride?

It's been sunny and warm(ish) here lately so, since I'm now a cyclist thanks to my left knee, I dusted off my trusty steed and went for a little ride. It was my first ride since late July of last year! The bike didn't bother the knee at all, btw.

I rode 15 miles in just over 55 minutes, so I didn't set any speed records, obviously. I'm interested in just getting in the miles now and not about my pace. It was quite obvious that I'm terribly out of shape and have at least 10-12 lbs. to lose. I know my legs will come around and the weight will come off, so no worries there. I'll ride on the trainer indoors if I have to, but I'm not a fan of that at all.

I just hope winter continues its hiatus so I can keep getting my wimpy, fair-weather behind out there for more rides!

(oh, totally unrelated...if any of you were wondering about the beard — and I'm sure you weren't — it's mostly gone now. I did keep the mustache, soul patch and a short goatee. The 'stache is long, so I can style it into a handlebar. Kind of an old-school retro look...)

Pre-shave

Post-shave. Just need a pipe now.

Status Report

Well, I'm down about 2 1/2 lbs. since my previous entry. Not much, but I'm trying to lose the weight slowly. Don't want to lose too much muscle along with the fat.

As I mentioned previously, I'm going to achieve 10,000 lifetime running miles this year. I've run 38 miles in the last 4 weeks. Yes, that used to be a below average WEEK a few years ago, but this old, fragile (and slightly heavy) body isn't ready for much more than that currently. I'll probably plod along at about 10 miles per week for a bit and see if I can gradually increase, if my body allows. I'm now 170 miles shy of that 10k mark.

I managed to get one outdoor bike ride in a couple of weeks ago, but that's been it so far. Work has been busy, plus the weather hasn't been particularly conducive to fair-weather cycling. Lots of rain and/or wind lately. At the very least, I'll set up the trainer again, once work calms down.

The hamstring stretching seems to be going well. I'm more flexible than I've been in a long time, but I'm not sure it's helping with the pain. I can still feel it from time to time (especially after running up and down hills, and even after a flat 4-miler earlier this week.) Still, being more flexible through the hamstrings and lower back is something I need, regardless of the hamstring injury.

Pretty dry blog entry, I know. I'll wrap up here with a couple of recent cartoons.

Happy Easter, and good luck to those of you running Boston!

Wheels Are Spinning...Finally

Three bike rides in the last three days? Why, yes! Well, the first one was a very slow ride with my sister that was cut short when her rear tire flatted and my patch job didn't hold. But yesterday and today were both legit rides (16 miles and 11 miles, respectively.) Still not very long, but I plan on easing my legs back into this whole endurance thing. It usually takes me a while to get "bike legs" anyway. My "running legs" usually come back a little faster, maybe because I've been primarily a runner for the last 30 years!

I've been riding on the Centennial Trail here in Spokane, along the Spokane River. The weather has been great, if not a tad warm. Tonight, I rode at sunset and paid for it by being sandblasted (bugblasted) by small, winged insects the entire ride. Within the first mile, I learned to ride with my mouth closed, even though my nose was a little plugged due to allergies.

Even though I may never be a hard-core cyclist, I'm enjoying some endurance training once again. I hope running will still be a significant part of my program, but while the weather is nice here, it won't hurt to get in several bike rides, especially since it doesn't seem to irritate my right calf and hamstring.

A Ride Outside, and Anxious for Monday

Some rare nice weather made an appearance today, so I took the bike off the trainer and finally went for a ride outdoors. It was a bit breezy, but sunny and in the upper 60's. I put in 20 miles @ an average pace of 17.2 mph. My right hip was oddly sore, but otherwise it was an enjoyable ride.

After walking all day yesterday (volunteering at my daughter's field trip) and taking an hour walk with my wife this morning, my heel is a bit sore. Still, I'm planning on doing my first run in 3 weeks on Monday to test things out. I can hardly wait! I'm surprised I haven't completely lost my wits already (some would question that assumption) with being sidelined that long. I'll keep it slow and short. Based on the recent walking, I'd guess that it'll still be a little sore, but (hopefully) not enough to have to put a hold on the running again. If it feels like I can start up again, it'll be a slow buildup, even though I'm anxious to pick up where I left off.

Have a great weekend, and happy Fathers' Day to us dads!

Check Your Bed

I try not to whine about all of my aches and pains here, but I'll mention this one as it relates to my bed. I've had lower back problems off and on for years. I try to stick with a stretching program that seems to help. Don't always remember to do them every day. Something else that has helped alleviate the pain is a Sleep Number bed we bought a couple of years ago. Even though my "number" isn't the most comfortable, my back likes it set to 100, which is the firmest it gets. My wife sets hers at about 60 and wonders how I could sleep on "a rock". Well, the last few nights, my back pain flared up again. I used to check my number every night before bed, but it seemed to hold the 100 setting consistently (when I used lower settings, it seemed to fluctuate more). Last night I checked for the first time in a couple of weeks and my 100 had dropped to 60! That explains the back discomfort. So word to Sleep Number owners - check that number frequently...especially if you have a back as picky as mine!

Later this morning, I'll head out for an easy 20-mile bike ride. Still in "fighting off undetermined illness/taper" mode.
Happy Tuesday!