Rainy Monday, August 20, 2007
This morning was weights and core at SU
I got up at 5:30am. I need to make the shift to 5:00am but with class getting over at 9:00pm on Monday and Wednesday I'm finding it tough to get up. I'd like to swim Tuesday and Thursday...but I have to get up first. My plan is weights and core M, W and F. and swim Tues, Thurs, Sat. This morning I took it easy on the squats and lunges (just one set of 5). I'm really tired of being sore!

Friday, August 17, 2007
Took the day off from work (planned vacation day), slept really poorly, woke up in pain from lunges and squats (not a surprise). So today was the first real ride. 20 miles round trip from Mary Moore to Bothell and back. Easy ride (13 mph average). My left foot started to complain at mile 10 and felt a bit numb. So I stopped a couple of times to walk for 5 or 6 steps to get blood in the foot. My energy felt great and I finished strong. Over all I felt great about the ride especially since I was very sore from Thursday's weight lifting. I was wiped the rest of the day. I'm finding I'm a bit tired overall. (I went to bed at 7:30pm on Tuesday). I'm taking a ton of vitamins because my body is trying to heal bone and skin. I also have a new boss, and so far the transition is going great...but this I'm sure is adding to being tired; and finally I didn't do much exercise for 4 weeks and now all of a sudden I'm expecting my body to perform and recover. It is performing...but not recovering particularly quick. Over all I'm very pleased. My ankle is feeling very good. My hope is to increase my exercise a little this week.

Thursday, August 16, 2007
Thursday was the first day I woke up without pain after Monday's squats and lunges...so I decided it was a good day to go to the weight room. Same gig--both upper and lower body.

Monday August 13, 2007
I got back in the weight room. I've been doing some core and weights at home (and squats and lunges) but Monday was the first day really in the weight room.

Back on the road again!
I lowered the saddle on the Seven (by 1/2 cm or so) and took it out for a spin. I rode on the flat...no pain. I raced up a couple of inclines...no pain. I stood up on a couple of short steep climbs...no pain. I rode a little over six miles and felt like I could ride forever. I'm back on the road bike! Now I'm going to have to start planning some real rides. I think I'll start with an out and back on the cedar river trail...just to be safe. Then a ride around Lake Sammamish! I have class on Monday and Wednesday nights so I'll have to be creative about getting in some weekday riding. I'm not feeling confident enough to ride to work...but maybe in a couple of weeks...who knows.

Now I'm off for a walk with Cosmos.

Sunday, Back on my feet:
The scar on my ankle is healed (at least on the outside); thus, this morning was my first day back in the pool (not just since surgery...but in a couple of quarters). I headed to the neighborhood pool at 7:55am...and arrived by 8:00...yes I love that commute. I arrived and waiting...8:05...8:10...I almost left...but decided to wait another 5 minutes. Fortunately the kid (also known as the lifeguard who unlocks the place) arrived at 8:15am. Most of the swimmers don't show up till 8:30...hum...I wonder why that is! I had a good swim. Mostly freestyle and a little breast stroke. Stayed in the water for 1/2 an hour. My neck felt really tight...so I worked on posture and breathing (i.e., not yanking my head out the water...wildly searching for air). I forgot how much I enjoy the outside pool. It is surrounded on two sides by a forest. I'm planning on swimming twice a week (one weekend day and Tuesday evening) for a 1/2 hour to start with. I'd like to start up with the 6am master come fall...but I definitely want to be in better swim shape. I was amazed at how fast my arms tired out.

Saturday, August 11, 2007
I worked on the Seven (pulled the left crank off, cleaned it and reattached with a product recommended on the FSA website). Then I replaced my clipless pedals with mountain bike flat pedals (think big pedals with spikes). Then I took it out for a little spin. I've ridden the Breezer four times (the last time -- 30 minutes with no pain!) so I decided that I'm ready for the Seven road bike. Within 2 blocks of the house my ankle started complaining. It didn't feel like something that was doing damage...just a lot of soreness in the ankle...so I kept riding. I rode a whopping 5 miles (all in pain). All during the ride, I paid attention to the pain and wondered, why can I ride the Breezer and not the road bike? I finally decided that it must be the seat height. I'm riding the road bike with flat pedals and I'm thinking that the road pedals and cleats add some height...so my next ride will be with the saddle a little lower. I came home and iced my ankle...not surprising it had swelled up pretty good.

I was expecting my ankle to complain all day, but after a good icing...it felt pretty good. So in the early afternoon, Cosmos (the wonder dog) and I went for a short 2 mile walk. I was very pleased at how good my ankle felt, and if I didn't have a dinner date (dog not invited ;) we would have made it a longer walk.