New Challenges, And New Shoes

I had to buy new shoes today.  My cross-trainers are so broken down that my toes are getting cramped into the toe box when I move the slide forward.  There is nothing that pulls them back, and the uppers have lost their integrity.  I visited the local Sports Authority and purchased a pair of light runners made by Under Armor.  I also found a pair of Pink Converse All-Stars.  I also was given a coupon that took $20.  SWEET.
The past week has been interesting, and stressful. The stress came from work, which is pretty much a constant. My counter –balance has been riding the E-Go and seeking hills. I never looked for hills before, but I think I know why I like them now. When I was allowed to run, going up hills hurt: the muscles, the joints, and the angle of my feet to the hill. Now, the only pain is muscle fatigue. I can deal with that.

Some hills I can master in 3rd gear now, but most I need to shift into 2nd or 1st. There are some that I crest in 1st gear and I am crawling on the E-go. It is going fast enough to stay upright, barely. It still counts. As for my joints, there is no impact, so no problem. The angle and placement of my feet is controlled by the E-Go.

At the beginning of the week the weather was nice. I rode Hills on Monday and Tuesday. I had to skip Wednesday due to appointments. On Thursday the temperature was in the high 90s most of the day, but at 7:30 PM it was about 88 degrees, but still very humid. I had increased my fluid intake during the day in hopes I might be able to take a ride. I took the E-Go to RR Bike path, and rode it from one end to the other, a total of 13 miles. I took a 5 min break at the far end, before coming back. Once I got under the cover of the trees, and deep into the woods, the air changed. It was cooler, wetter, and had a loamy smell, like a campsite. It was still warm, and I did not push too hard, but I did in 1.25 hours.

Friday I skipped due to plans, and there was the treat of storms. The heat-wave was breaking and the intensity was expected to be extreme. Saturday the weather was wonderful. The humidity was low, and the temperature was in the low 80w. I took a new rout, the combined with an old rout, and more hills. It was intense, with the characteristic crawl up one major hill. The rout took me half way to my parent’s farm, and I relived that I could go all the way to the farm if I wanted to.

Today, I rode to the farm. Several intense hills and a surprised mother. I never ran to the farm.

Doing "Nothing" Is Still Something...I Cannot Waist A Day.

This was the first time my Husband and I went for a true "Ride" together.  We took the Go-Pro with us to film my appearance on the E-Go (I know, it sounds vain) and his first opportunity to really ride the E-Go for an extended stretch. 

My appearance is what it is. I love my pink helmet, and my bright yellow NASCAR shirt (Kyle Busch, #18, just ONE of my favorite drivers.)  As for the pants, I cannot complain about the color, but may find something in a kackie.  The rest is a weigh issue, and the videos will help my chart my progress.

As to my weight, with all the riding I did last week, at the weight-in at WeightWatchers Saturday morning, I had gained 3 pounds.  I could make excuses, say it is muscle, and just go on my marry way, but who am I kidding: I DO NOT TRACK.  I intend to, but then I don't.  Passive, isn't it.  This week I have still not tracked what I am eating, which is not good.  I am, however, not eating out as much, and am packing my lunch instead.  So far, so good...i just have to track.

There is a major heat wave coming into my area today.  It will push the temperatures into the high 90's, and will not break until Friday.  If I am able to ride during this heat wave, I will need to do so in the evening, past the heat of the day.  I must remain hydrated. 

Sometime, You Just Have To Relax.

This is the type of weekend l needed.  Truly, just relax, do nothing, or just do what I wanted to do.  We had considered going to NYC, but ended up staying pretty close to home.

Friday –

• 7.5 mile ride on the E-Go (with several intense hills)
•  We had Dinner with friends, which included Sangria.
• After dinner we watched MIB

Saturday –

• Rode the E-Go to the Weight Watcher meeting (7.5 miles with a really intense hill).
• We visited the bird supply store
• We visited  R.E.I. 
• We spent the evening at Vineland Drive In watching Madagascar 3 and Snow White and the Huntsman.

Sunday –

• Slept in, and lazed in bed with my husband until noon.
• Took the E-Go on  a gentle 6.25 mile ride on the local bike path (Use to be a Rail-Road bed, now paved).
• We watched Dale Earnhardt Jr. win his first race in 4-years.
• We had home-made Tacos for Dinner.

I am really proud of my daily use of the E-Go, and I am seeking new, steeper hills.

Be Kind To Your Knees, You'll Miss Them When They're Gone.

I started PT  Wednesday, and needed to do the daily exercises.  Apparently my knee issues start with my hip rotation and weak/tight hip flexor.   

As I understand it, the hip flexors my hip flexors (one of the most powerful muscle groups of the body)are used to help balance the torso over the legs.  They consist of two muscles, the iliacus and the psoas major.  These muscles are involved in step length, functional hip joint mobility, and directional change.  When these are weak or tight, they restrict the movement of the hip, joint.  This limits the rotation of the femur bone which has a groove or “Track” for the Patella to glide over.  This lack of rotation causes the patella to not seat on the groove properly, and puts undue stress on the underside of the Patella, as well as inflammation of the soft tissue around the knee.

Because my job requires that I sit in front of a computer for long periods of time, are not used and become tight.  This is due to a lack of stretching due to lack of movement.   This is causing me to really considered making a standing desk for my computer at work.

The therapist also helped me adjust my brace, and showed how it placed counter pressure on my Patella, forcing it to stay in the groove.  I need to wear it when I am active, but not during my normal activities.

I Have An Incredible E-Go

The Pink Helmet and gear for the Go-Pro arrived today.  I was able to get it all set up, and then go out for a ride.  Last Friday I finally got over the crest of the hill in Pitman, so I headed back that way.

The music I have chosen is from Scott Kirby, a fold singer that is currently residing in the Florida Keys.

E-Go, Take Me Away!

WORK is a four letter word.
STRESS is a six letter word.
Together they equal TRAUMATIZE.

That is the type of week I am having, but I still manage to ride every other day.
I have been doing a course through the neighborhood I grew up in (Pitman NJ).  This area has some hills that I hated going up on my signal speed cruiser, but going down was such a thrill, and worth the effort.  It still is, however, I do not remember pushing myself to the point of wanting to puke.  Youth, how I wasted thee. 

After 2 attempts I have been able to make it up all but one hill, and there I get withing 100 feet of the crest, and can go no further.  I lose stamina, then get queasy.  The queasiness is really rather odd, in that I feel queasy a few moments after i stop or slow up, not when I am actually pushing.  Thankfully it has only been a sensation, not an activity.

I ordered a Pink vented Bell helmet, but it will not be here until Monday.  I have also ordered a Skeleton housing for the Go-Pro and a mount for the new helmet.  I am going to go video.

My First Commenter and Question!!!!

On 6/2/12, I received a comment in regards to my post titled “New Jersey or Bust”.   AS I have said before, I LOVE attention, so THANKS for responding, it is a positive reinforcement to keep bloogging! 

It concerned the way I accessorized my E-Go, which I had indicated I was going to purchase through Elliptigo.  As it happens, I never ordered the handlebar mount water bottle from ElliptiGo because I found a mount, cage, and bottle combination through R.E.I. that cost less than $21. As we have a local R.E.I. that we visit a couple of times a year, I was able to pick it up directly, but the parts can be ordered online at www.rei.com.  I am very happy with it, and the only way it could be better is if the bottle were pink like my E-Go. 

 

ASSEMBLY HINT: The strap in the mount is long enough to go around the post.  However, do to the girth of the post,  it is almost impossible to assemble the mount on the post at the exact location you want it.  I discovered that assembling the mount at the top of the post, with the post narrows, is the best solution.  Once it ios there loosely, it can be slid down on the post.  It will be snug, but can be done without scratching the post if done with patience.

The responder was also interested in how they could mount a water bottle in a way that would also allow for a runner's GPS, bell, and Bluetooth speaker.  My Garmin device is not a GPS, but a wrist mounted trainer.  I do want to get a mount for my cell-phone, which is my GPS and music device.  I am not using a mounted BT speaker because I use a head-set.  However, I was concerned that mouning the water bottle cage on the handlebars because I am clumsy.  I know that the bottle is mounted on either side of the handle bars, when I attempt to remove or replace a bottle from the basket I will end up steering myself into a tree or into traffic.  For this reason I have mounted the cage on the post.  I have found it to be easy to reach and is not in the way of my knees.  Mounting and dismounting have not been a problem.

The responder also reported that they ha a “mini-pump that attaches to the water bottle cage” but concerned about doing so if the mount was not stable.   I have found the mount I purchased at R.E.I. to be completely stable, and LOVE that idea for a mini-pump.  I would say  “go for it”.