Wednesday, January 27, 2010

A Mild Set Back

My pre-season training has been filled with goals that were obtained, motivation to train inside when the weather was bad and a well planned training outline focusing on base miles, aerobic base and muscular strength and endurance.  My septoplasty surgery was a quicker recovery than expected and I was back training a week ahead of my best case plan.  I also managed to avoid any injury or illness through this pre-season.


This last week I was just unable to get on the bike and train.  A lot of work and a lot of other stuff going on.  So I was forced to essentially extend my time off the bike from surgery another week.  It is just a mild set back since I had intention of being off the bike this long any way.  So I will have an opportunity to start training again tomorrow and get back on plan.  I should still be on pretty good form and probably didn't lose very much in these three weeks off.

Only time will tell and I am excited about the racing season.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

First Ride Back after Septoplasty

I rode yesterday for about 2 hours and 15 minutes with some of my teammates.  The temps were in the mid 50s.  It was the first ride since my surgery done on 1/5/10.  I had done a couple of strength workouts prior to then but this was my first outdoor endeavor.

It wasn't too bad.  Physically I felt great.  My nose burned a little at the beginning.  I had put some bacitracian up in my nose as well as sprayed some saline spray.  So I was well moisturized and  protected.  I'm ready to train again.  So I took less then 2 weeks off which still puts me ahead of my planned schedule.

Good to go.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Rudy Project.




I have ordered Rudy Project sunglasses and helmet.  I'm excited.  Does anyone currently use Rudy Project?  What do you think of them?

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

The New Me. Septoplasty.

I have had a deviated septum for as long as I could remember.  Although I think for daily activities I could breathe just fine, I was for sure a mouth breather while working out, slightest sign of a cold or if I had just really big boogers.  What's a mouth breather?



I don't know when it happened.  Maybe I was born with it that way or maybe it was when I was a kid playing baseball and took a ball to the face.


 
 
It could have been worse.



Well I had surgery, septoplasty, on Tuesday 1/5/10.  I got the splints taken out yesterday.  The recovery was pretty easy.  I have heard a lot of horror stories on recover from this surgery but mine was pretty easy.  I felt like I had a cold for a week.  I feel right now like I am getting over a cold.  My nose is still sore and the area around it is a little tender.  I am no longer restricted on doing anything although I am going to have to take another shift off because the doctor doesn't want me to have to wear a mask for another few days.

I am really looking forward to be able to have a conversation while on the bike, or eat a powerbar while riding.  These are tasks that have always been hard because I couldn't breathe through my nose.  My wife is hoping that after the swelling is completely gone (another 3 weeks) that my nose will be smaller...i doubt it.

 

Friday, January 8, 2010

Another Cycling Supporting Company

Need cake.  Check them out.  Once again this is a company that supports cycling, so if you are in need of a cake for any occasion, call them first.  Plus you have probably raced against the bakers Tim and Jennifer Shockley.


Click the logo to be directed to their site.
Thank you.

Looking to next spring.

This is not a cycling post.  Now might be the time for you to think of yard work for next spring.  I just wanted to through this option out.  These guys are supporters of cycling and actually run by racers.  So if you need landscaping done in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake areas, call them first.


Click the logo to be directed to their site.
Thank you.


Friday, January 1, 2010

The Year in Review. The Best and Worst.

2009 is over and 2010 arrived last night and kept me awake at the firehouse since about 3am.  Many people think we are into the next decade, but in truth we are just finishing up a decade (in our method of counting years, 1 AD followed 1 BC.  There was not a year 0 AD or 0 BC.  Therefore the decade ends at the end of 2010).  2009 brought about a lot of changes (I actually hate using the word change though, because 2009 changed the denotation of that word).  Here is my year in review:

I sold my mountain bike and fixed gear bike and was able to buy a new road frame (then sold the Giant road frame) and upgrade most of my components on the road bike and CX bike.  Limited the number of rides I had but the quality improved.



Always check your child's homework was one of the funniest pictures I found on the internet and reposted it here.  My dad even thought it came from one of my kids, but of course my wife doesn't work at Home Depot.

My brother was kind enough to find old pictures at my parent's house, scan them and post them on Facebook.  Some were of us racing, some of us hanging with friends in the current fad styles, and one was of me dressed as a girl.  These pictures ended up framed and hanging in my fire station.


 
 



We promoted the first Smithfield HAMmer Fest 2-man TTT in June.  This was a big deal for me.  I stepped out of my comfort zone on this one by holding a race on large open roads not closed to traffic.  The only problem was that I wasn't able to race (or any of my team for that matter).  It was a success though (people had fun, the team made $8 so it wasn't a money maker success).  It will be back in 2010.  Jeff Lawson was probably the only one who did not enjoy himself.


I had a strange day at the beach on one July afternoon.  I got involved in a rescue of a drowning man and saw the Hilton catch fire....or at least I thought.


I went hunting for the first time.  The result:


 
 
 
 
In addition to all that stuff, I got promoted to Captain, I graduated from ODU with a degree in Exercise Science, I received my NSCA Strength and Conditioning Specialist Certification, I started working part-time as a trainer/coach.  (taking a breath)  My youngest daughter started Kindergarten which is all day so both of my girls are going to school all day long.  My wife started working part-time as a pre-school teacher.  I really enjoyed myself in cross season this year even though I sucked at it.  My team promoted a CX race which meant we promoted 3 races in 2009 (not bad for a team of 6, but it is more for 2010; up to 9 now).  I lost weight early in my base building season and have trained hard through the fall and winter.
 
2010.....bring it on!