Day Five

7-27-10 Rode to work for the 2nd time and feeling a tad bit more comfortable with the twists and turns on the bridge over the creek I had time to take a peek into the creek and the water was rushing pretty fast. A testament to the abundant rainfall we've had this year. Funny since I don't have a long commute (2.2 miles R/T) the route to the new office is more than twice what the old one was. On the first few drives there after the move I thought to myself, wow, this seems far. Now to most people this would be hilarious but it's all a matter of perspective.

Strange how when you get caught up in your surroundings you tend to forget about time at all and I looked up in time to think "here already?" after pedaling my way to work and health today.

The icing after a ride last night really made the difference. I had very little stiffness today and much less pain with walking. Taking a short ride through part of Wildwood sub and home again this evening called for another icing down and after icing there was no stiffness or pain. At 2.2 to work and 2.5 for my evening spin it puts me near to 4.7 for the day. A good sign and a nice way to work up to a slightly longer ride and more importantly it's being done with minimal pain.

I've seen and heard morning doves all my life particularly from spending a lot of time up at the crack of dawn fishing or skiing, but until tonight I never realized they have red feet.

Sore in the saddle? That's almost a moot point now. Getting settled into the saddle, I'm certain that it's conforming to me instead of vice versa.

Day One

Day one, (well actually Day one was on 7-24-10 but I just now created the blog) bought my bike today! Wheels! I’m going to pedal my way to health. Rode around complex 4 times, down to the old firehall, on to peaberry’s looped around and down to the WLT, home again. Figure I have in about 3 miles today. Going to make a short term goal of 3 miles at least 3 times per week. Mid range goal is going to be 3 miles 5 times per week.

Long range goal is 7 mile ride 5 times a week. That was my ride pattern when I rode with regularity and it’s a good exercise regime, easily doable and uses up about a ½ hr a day in exercise and won’t burn you out. I should be able to get there in 4-6 weeks

I have both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis and strengthening the muscles in my weakest areas (my knees) is of utmost importance. Gaining flexibility and getting more limber is high on the list of desires.

Working around these conditions is going to require a bit more thought than just hopping on a bike and going just a bit farther each day. It'll be important to note the changes in my body and how this affects my knees and other body parts. For sure, so long as I don't start off pushing the limits on long rides immediately, this will have to be a big step in the right direction.

Other unpleasant side effects of aging and dealing with a debilitating illness are that my balance has become poorer over time and there is a tendency to feel more timid about movements that were quite routine just a few short years ago. I've also experienced pneumonia twice in less than a year and have had on and off difficulties catching my breath and getting winded very easily. After loads of testing I still am not convinced that this is not related to the rheumatoid arthritis. Time will tell and so will more tests.

I am committed to pedaling for better health and expect to see great results from these efforts, not to mention this will be a good way to shed extra pounds taken on since moving from a highly physical career to the sedentary environment of working in an office. It's been a real change since arthritis has come into my life, moving from golfing and water skiing on a daily basis combined with the long physically demanding work days of life in a resaturant into a life of feeling a bit incapacitated by not being able to do these things and slowly moving into a lifestyle of less and less activity. Time for a turnaround and hitting the two wheeled trail.