Balance, It Is More Than Just A Core Issue.

Yesterday, I watched Serena Williams win Olympic Gold in Singles Tennis.  I watched her dance her of joy, and shout with glee.  At that time I was dealing with my own defeat, having not been able to complete the 30 mile ride I had planned.  At that time I was researching the reason I was having stomach pains, and why I felt like my leg were led from the start of my ride.  I found some very resourceful information, and a blog that was extremely helpful, Tuned In To Cycling (TITC).  I will follow this blogger, because he and his wife are both long distance cyclist, and they provide information in a way that explains the science in a way that I can understand. Because of this information I was able to go out again today, and do a full 30 mile ride.  It was hard, but I was able to do it.  I was dancing in my head, and definitely cheering myself on, LOUDLY, as I realized I was going to be able to complete the ride.  As usual, the last 3 miles were killers, but completed.  E-GO ME!

What I understand is that I was doing it ALL WRONG; initial approach, action, and follow through, at least from the approach of NUTRITION. 

My reason for riding the ElliptiGo was based in my need for low-impact cardiovascular activity.  I use to jog.  I did not LOVE doing it, but I liked the result.  I was never able to run more than 4 miles, but the weight-loss was accelerated, and that was what I wanted.  Looking back, I hit a wall at 4 miles.  At the time I had adopted a life style and a way of eating that was healthy, but focused on weight loss.  I noticed that sometimes I needed to eat more in order to have the energy I needed.

Unlike jogging, I do love riding the E-Go.  However, I have noticed that when I go over 20 miles, I hit a wall.  My body just gives out, like yesterday. I had hydration (Propel) and an energy gel, but from the start I felt like I had led in my legs.  At 15 miles I felt ravenously hungry, and used the energy gel with fluid.  By mile 16 my stomach hurt and I had the shakes, and the ride was prematurely over.

What I learned from the TITC blog that, because of my focus on weight loss in my nutrition,  my ride was doomed form the start.  I had not eaten the right things at the right time after my ride on Friday, and the energy in my muscles was low.  I had waited to ingest the energy gel when I was very hungry, when I needed to do so before I felt hungry.  I had not ingested enough fluid when I took the energy gel, which most likely led to my stomach pain.  Also, Propel is good for general hydration for short work-outs (less than 40 minutes in average heat), but for long rides, carbohydrates and more electrolytes (Sodium and Potassium) are needed. 

So, without paraphrasing the TITC blog, I need to balance my diet to allow for the energy needed for the ride, and if I do so wisely, I will still lose weight.  It can be a win-win.

The TITC blog has several posts that I found helpful:

• Dehydration and Over Hydration (Hyponatremia) for theCyclist
• Cycling in Heat and Humidity
• Cycling Nutrition: The Bonk
• Cycling Nutrition: Eating on the Bike
• Cycling Nutrition: Eating After the Ride
• Eating After the Ride Part 2

This Should Not Have Been As Hard As It Was

I am disappointed.

This was supposed to do a 30 mile ride, but I was not able to do it. I stopped just under 16 miles.

I do not know why this was so hard. It was hot, but it felt like my legs were done when I started.

I started having pains in my abdomen, not like an upset stomach, but stabbing pain in the lower gut.

 I need to research this, and maybe start earlier in the day.

I Have An Olympic E-Go

I have been watching the Olympics this week.  There are some things that just draw you in.  Gymnastics, Swimming, Diving, and Biking.   It is very inspiring.  In some way it is an unrealized dream that comes around every 4 years.  I remember being allowed to sit up late a watch Olga Corbit on a B&W TV.

 

I never had the balance in life, let alone on the equipment, to aspire to be an athlete.  It would be like Dolly Parton aspiring to be a ballerina.

I have seen the reports on the ElliptiGo website about the Olympic runners using the ElliptiGo as a cross training device. Today, while I was on my ride, I heard someone say, “Hey, Look, there goes one of those bikes the Olympic Runners are using.”  It gives me a sense of pride that what I do on my E-Go is in line with the athletes.  I know I am reaching, but I am allowed to. 

After all, I do have an Olympic E-Go.

Centaurian Time; A Standard Thirty-Seven Hour Day.

By its nature, my job can be overly demanding.  That is one reason I bought my E-Go.  On a good day there are no surprises.  On an average day, there are very few unexpected issues, and just a drive to keep up with the documentation.  A bad day can go on for as long as 72 hours.

Any day I have to do a removal of a child from a family is a bad day.  It never feels “good” emotionally, psychologically you have to suck it up and be strong.  Physically is exhausting, and intellectually it is a process that has a series of multi-tasking steps, ending in court.  Bad days start late and keeps you out late.  It makes you come in early the next day, stay late again, then early again as you get things ready for court.  You do not eat well, just what is “There” because you have no time to plan anything.  Sleep is fleeting. 

The only thing that makes it worse is when there is more than one going on at one time.

That being said, my job got in the way of my training.

•  I was not able to cross-train on Wednesday. 
• I was not able to do my Tempo Ride on Thursday.
• There was no time to do even the short ride on Friday.
• I was not even doing my PT exercises.

I was so glad when the day ended on Friday, and for the first time in 3 nights I slept. 

Saturday was the first day I could think about me during daylight hours.  It was more humid than hot, but that was not my concern.  I needed to do a 25 mile ride.  Having missed my rides on Thursday and Friday, I had not conditioned, and was ill prepared.  I decided that I am not doing the same course as last week as the hills were so intense, and I was not able to condition for it.  I left in the late afternoon.  I would have liked to go out later but BAD weather was coming, and I needed to be done before it arrived.  Otherwise, I doubt I would have done the ride at all.

I did my ride, and it was a killer. The hills were not as intense, but there were longer grades.  Humidity, wind, and my lack of condition worked against me. It actually made me ache as I rode (ache, not hurt) and at the end I was completely spent. My stomach was cramping, along with my legs.

Today I did my regular ride.  It was good, not painful.  However I now see the importance of every training session, and the PT exercises I am supposed to be doing.

He Blinded Me With Science!!!

This morning, when I got out of bed, I found my legs were a bit achy. This did not feel like joint ach, or the pain of pulled, strained muscles, but the ache of "worked" muscles. It is my understanding that it was due to a buildup of lactic acid in my muscles. This has caused me to look up Lactic Acid, where it comes from, and what it’s purpose is.  I found a really good article on the subject, in Scientific American, written by Stephen M. Roth

Why Does Lactic Acid Build Up In Muscles?  And Why Does It Cause Soreness?

While the article is a very well written, it is still very technical.  This meant I had to read it several times to gain the full scope of the bio-physical actions. (I am a Social Worker, Jim, not a Physicist).

Tonight I did a Recovery Ride on my E-Go. I focused on maintaining a steady yet easy pace. I call it Zen Pace. 7.26mi in 36min (4:59min/mi), 12.04mph

Measured Success

I went on a 20.6 mile E-Go workout ride today. My route took me from home to Richwood, Pitman, Washington Township, Clayton and Elk Township. Weather was mostly favorable.  It was not too hot, but it did rain.  My Time: 01:41:20, Speed: 12.20mi/h. 


When I got home, the house is locked up. My husband had gone out on errands, and I did not have my key.  I took out my Frog-Tog, drank what was left of my water, and waited.  Later we went to Olive Garden for Dinner, and Chick-Fil-Ah for dessert.

Hands-On Learning

I was doing a light ride on my E-Go and blew my rear tire while going over RR tracks. This never happened before.  My husband came with the truck to pick me up, and I spent the rest of the evening educating myself on how to remove the rear wheel and replace the tube.  This was a bit intimidating as the owners manual has little pictures and minimal explanation, but I got through it.  I was advised by a FaceBook friend that there is a support video that demonstrates the process on the ElliptiGo web sight.