It's only Osteoarthritis....pish!!

A few weeks ago I went to have my knee checked as it has been getting swollen and making cracking sounds and yeah a bit of pain too. As a triathlete and to have problems like that, well, its not good. My doc had me do the standard test and X-ray. I saw a specialist with a bit of uncertainty. Although I am pretty much a person who is driven to do what I want. I sat in that doctors office awaiting the news. "Doctor, these are my plans...." I began... I had planned on running a marathon in preparation for an Ironman next year. I had also, had begun a love of trail running. As I love the outdoors with a passion you can't imagine. I also plan on a Double Century Bike ride and a repeat go of riding The Fondo in Santa Rosa, including a few triathlons and a weeklong ride next December. So to hear the doc tell me I shouldn't run was a blow. I promptly told him I will just run a little. Instead of an Ironman, maybe a half Ironman will do. I will only run enough to participate in Sprint Triathlons. I was annoyed at the indifference the doctor seemed to have at my not being able to do something healthful. He obviously does no physical activity. So today I rode my bike on a ride I generally do, except that today I did feel a twinge of pain and I am more aware of the swelling more with the knowledge, that if I continue on this trek in my life. I could quite possibly cause myself to have to have surgery sooner. Blasted swelling... All I thought on my ride was, I'm not gonna get better so suck it up and enjoy the ride of life. My ride became so real and better with every pedal stroke, with all the beauty I experience as I spun grateful for each spin. Life is what it is... Take that ride where you want to go. I plan to do everything in my power to succeed in my plans. I will have to see ky doc more than I'd like, but what the heck, I'll be happy. Like in the song by Jack Johnson Better Together says... "All dreams are made of real things" Make your dreams your own and love what you want and whoever you want. All I can do is say to having Arthritis at this point in life....bring it on. I will handle it ... Pish!

Riding King Ridge Road was the ride of my life.....

I have to say this ride is beautiful but has your soul, questioning what the hell? It is challenging like no other road. Like they say, its the King of all roads.

The morning was great, except for the sheets of rain, wind, and fog. This seemed to get worse as the day progressed. Otherwise all good.

I will say that the road was about forty miles of just turn after turn of climbs. Not the 7% grades but 14% to 20% grades. Ones that make you say, oh mama or fudge fudge fudge , and shit shit shit. You get the picture. All I thought was don't look up.

I saw many bad accidents too. On one of the 20% descents I couldn't stop as we were made to dismount and walk. A horrible accident had happened at the bottom when two people skidded into a ditch. Fire trucks, ambulance, and police were there. I was squeezing my brakes hard the whole way down as the rain poured and I just couldn't slow down to a stop with the wet roads. I took my foot out ready to bail off the bike. I was already hydroplaining sideways and my cleat and I just kept kidding down at least thirty feet towards an ambulance parked there. I yelled, I can't stop!! A guy caught me to a stop. Crazy stuff for sure.

We were being made to walk at least a while with our bikes, as more and more police, fire trucks and ambulances arrived. It was harrowing for sure. The thought of those folks whom we saw in the ditch, were of hopes that all was gonna be alright for them.

I had friends here doing this ride, but none of them did King Ridge. Sometimes being naive to what's in store is a good thing, because had I driven it two days before, I may not have given it a go. It was spectacular by all means, and that experience I can't erase. The towering trees and winding roads make this spellbinding indeed.

That said, the weather conditions made even the most avid rider grimace.

I eventually had to in SAG at Jenner as time was not on my side.
The stories I heard while on the bus ride back to the Finley Center were riveting to hear, as alot of these guys and gals were half my age. They spoke of finishing the ride last year. The weather was treacherous especially for someone like me who has not the experience of training in inclimate weather. I come from Southern California, sun and beaches...

At that the point I sagged, I still had one more monster road and that was on Coleman Valley Road. The steepest part of the grade there is at the beginning. At that point there are I think seven miles of climbing still before rollers down to Santa Rosa.

They actually had a busload of cyclists that had to be sagged, and one bus for the riders still coming in to the Jenner rest stop. They advised not finishing as darkness would loom as we reached the top of Coleman and there would be no more support. This was at three pm. The weather played havoc on everyone.

I was soaked to the bone, shivering from the wind, I didn't care about the views I love to see along the beach, I just wanted a warm something to drink, and nice warm clothes. It didn't help that we rode nine miles to the start in the morning, because of warnings of sparse parking. We felt it was a good idea at the time and what a way to help out the parking situation, however, not when you are shivering and cold from being wet, and realizing, damn, we have to ride nine miles home. Ughhh!!

The day started perfect, I felt good and strong to the base of the first stop. Billowy clouds above the mountains looked breathtaking. No rain yet....

Friends that did the medio did experience some light drizzle and wind, but that's all. Luck was with them.

During my trek up King Ridge,I remember my pulling down my arm warmers at one point as I was feeling warm as we climbed more, and more chatting away with whomever I encountered riding aside me. I said, Is that a raindrop I feel? Within minutes it became more and more steady. Then it came down, fun at first as we climbed, the misty erieness within the trees and silence interrupted by the patter of raindrops on the canopy of redwoods we were beneath. A damn great experience, until the decents I used to love changed. I began to be wary of turns that were so unfamiliar and that were difficult to judge with the fog. On the ridge that we rode on at the top (there was actually a top) was raging cold with a blast of cold air from the ocean I was supposed to be able to see. Rain was sideways. I almost felt I'd be toppled off the road. Spectacular sight being in the clouds. I had to have my glasses pulled down just enough to see through, but if I took them off the rain pelted my eyes hard. So they stayed on.

Something told me to put DZ Warming gel on my legs, arms and lower back. Mind you its only for your legs... lol! I sure was glad I did. Funny me.

All in all I will be ready to do this again. Baldy is the way to go. I promise to enjoy the experience full on next year....
I have unfinished business and demons to conquer.

Patiently waiting to sign up again, 2012....

Cheers...

Determined fun in Santa Rosa on a bike....

As the eve of my vacation draws near....

I find myself laying in bed, eyes wide open. The wonderful smell of the roast I am cooking for my boys fills the house. They are beef eaters and love sandwiches, so there you go. I decide to make my way to the warmth of the kitchen and its fantastic smells. Yeah its two in the morning. Oh well, a price will be paid later.

Part of me is excited to start this vacation, and rush the day I've been waiting since signing up for the Fondo in mid January. The day I can remember so well with a rousing, "Hells yeah, Im doing the Fondo."
This year is epic with the amount of cyclists doing it this year. Ten thousand is a cool thing indeed.
The anticipation of the difficulty of Kings Ridge Road and that of Coleman Valley Road have me mesmerized and pensive with thoughts of... Did I train enough? Were the hills we trained on sufficient? Of course training on weekends is not nearly enough, but my heart makes up for the rest. You see, to know who I am is to know that it takes a massive reason for me to give up. It just isn't in my make up of who I am.

I will chronicle every detail, in memory and that of what I can take with my camera. Looking forward to riding massive hills and enjoying the decents those climbs bring to a sure smile I will have. Breathless, breathing that follows a resounding, "shit, I made it!, and yeh, Im not embarrassed to give a little dance at the top.

I expect a cheerful laugh with me. That's who I am, believe it or not.
This is expectation at its best. Levi Leipheimer's King Ridge Gran Fondo will surely take my breath away many times, and a smile will be on my lips all day even as I suffer.

Daring yourself ....

Uncertainty is huge... I'd like to say Im a planner... As it Is I am gearing up for a few great rides this weekend. These rides will surely prove whatever tenacity I have or bust my ass doing so. Last weekend, I was sure disappointed in my ability not to finish my whole ride last week, despite the blazing heat of last weekend. I had to finally concede to 102 degree heat that was literally draining all of my energy at every pedal stroke I took. All I could think was, "Im not gonna have enough water to make the nine mile trek up Glendora Mountain Road, geez, and little to no shade to boot." Dang it, will I make it to the next tree... and its not to pee, lol! Besides I couldn't, I know I know, TMI. My pride was taking slap in the face.... as I kept getting waves of the chills with goosebumps on my arms. Scary for sure....
Note to self: drink like a horse days before, not the day of... I actually should have had at least a bottle for each hour out there.

Of course my good friends encouraged me in that I did the right thing. Thanks Ron for encouraging words indeed. So as the weekends eve is now here and an epic ride is near. I am doubting myself as weakness sure plays with the mind. I intend to do what I do and just try my very best.

The ride I will do next will take us 90 miles though beautiful canyons and neighboring cities with nothing but hills. My phone gps will run out of juice before my ride will, but I hope to charge up wherever I can.
We begin in the city of Irvine and make our way towards Santiago Canyon via Jamboree to Santiago Canyon Rd, then we head not on Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, Ortega Hwy, San Juan Capistrano and down to San Clemente. It is a ride that takes my breath away at times. On the return, we will head up PCH to Dana Point, and nothing but crazy hills through Laguna Niguel to Laguna Canyon. I know I will be spent as all heck, but loving each spin of my pedal and the sun on my face.

As the Fondo approaches... each week on the bike, the harder I have to try....
The goal is to finish with a smile... as I always do.

Ready for a new path....

The weekend...

Finally here at last, although Friday is technically a "weekday", I like to be optimistic and enjoy what I consider a preempt to pure fun on my bike. Don't burst my bubble....and I really don't care. Lol!

Tomorrow I'm due to ride a new route that I'm a bit cautious about. I've heard it may be tough, but reallly, anything I attempt is tough. The ride is to Chantry Flats, and other various local climbs in the area of Pasadena. I'm escorted by my awesome best friend and exceptional rider Ron. I just hope I don't disappoint. Forgive me ahead of time.
I'm the type to know what I'm getting into before trying something new, so this is a challenge. I will treat to lunch if I suck badly enough....

So Molly is ready.... am I, hehe... we will see. Am I a blazing sandbagger???

More to come on my trek with my very best friend, that I'd love to be like one day. Cheers, I will be riding hard, not hardly riding. Yeowza!!

H

Thankful.... freakin thankful.

Okay, I woke today... happy.

Shit, all I can say is I'm freaking thankful. Despite what I go through in my everyday life, I can say I've got the best people whom I'm surrounded by everyday.

At work, I have a great core set of friends who back each other up good or bad, and on my spare time I have a group of friends I call my brothers....they all hold a special place in my heart.
This weekend was not exception. We are a tight club. I'm so darn thankful for my tenacity to stick with these guys.

Thanks for all who are in my life, and allowing me to be a part of yours.

Cheers!

Ahhh... shit, thank you!!!!

Thank you my love..

I ride for life.