GREAT RACE WEEKEND

This was the best part of the weekend! Dot's first ride after the surgery!

Dot, the family and in-laws picked me up at the surgical center in Provo around 9:3o am Friday and we were off to the races- except no one was planning on racing! Luckily they numbed my skalene nerve and I wasn't feeling a thing-until we got to Hurricane. We got down to wonderful weather and Dot did a "practice" lap with the boys so they could decide if they wanted to race the next day and then Dot went off to do another full adult lap! Pretty cool. She even considered racing in 35+ but we actually do have some scruples and both decided it probably wasn't the best idea. The boys decided to race. Here they are lining up. Dot rode with Jonny but Joey didn't want anyone to ride with him. I wasn't sure if it was because he is so independent and doesn't need us for support or he doesn't want anyone there so he can slack off. I believe it's the later but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Jonny had a hard time since he is racing the 12 and under category this year. Joey pulled out a third in the boys group and 5th overall in 9 and under. Not bad considering he was hardly sweating at the finish line.

The Mad Dog team did well and it was fun just being there to take pictures and cheer them on! Here, Carson is racing for his VERY respectable 5th place. Notable first place finishers were the Moffits- Kevin and Joseph. Good Job!

After the race the family and I parted ways. They headed home and I headed up to Gooseberry Mesa with Carson. "The Goose" is an incredible area for riding, camping and scenery! Since I couldn't ride I enjoyed a nice hike down this face toward that sun-lit Butte. It was good to test out the knee. You might be hearing more about "the Goo$e" in the next coming months since I have a special project going there.......

So it was a great weekend to get away and "get some rest" even if I had a couple aching nights. Things are feeling much better with the pecs at this time.

I'VE BEEN CONTEMPLATING

The surgery is in the morning to reattach my boob. Then we are heading down to Hurricane to get away and to see the race crowd. "Maybe" the boys will race.

This is where I start rambling and musing, so tune out if you want.

With this string of injuries to myself and Dot, I've been thinking, "Why do we do it?" I see that same question on people's faces when I've told them about yet another injury- "What is wrong with you?" BUT, despite my third (significant) injury this year I can't think of anything except how quickly can I get back to activity. I'm sure it's a kind of addiction, but I'd like to think I could stop (yet another sign of an addict) if I wanted to. But in reality I think its just my personality. And that's hard to change. (Wow, Its kind of interesting I just wrote that since I just heard Dot say the same thing, "That's my personality and I can't change it".)

I can't just do one thing. I am a multi-tasker and get a rush out of doing many things at once.

Granted, I am not an expert at anything, but sure can do many things well. I have experienced in this life more than most will ever even dream of- anything more from now on is just icing on the cake. I feel like I am in full time bonus land. I enjoy experiencing life and if I get an occasional bump from it, well then I have to make it part of the adventure. The probabilities of something happening grow with time. I guess its my time. I'll get over it.

AM I STUPID OR JUST UNLUCKY!

I've been feeling really good the last week. I just got my new belt in Karate (only 6 months out from black) and have been really excited to return to racing. Then tonight I was grappling with the teacher (again). We weren't even going at it that hard since I vowed to take it easy so as not to reinjure my back. And all of a sudden as I was trying finish the take down we both heard a "RRRIIIIIPPPPPP" and stopped. I actually initially thought that he dislocated his shoulder. Then I started to feel the pain in MY chest. I TORE MY FRIGGIN PECTORALIS (CHEST) MUSCLE!


I should just give up and make this into a medical blog instead of a biking one. In general these need to be repaired. I am going to see the Orthopedic surgeon tomorrow to see what he recommends. So I need to see what happens next and don't know if I can make it down to Hurricane. I'd like to come down even if I don't race. We'll see.


Here's some images of what I think is going on. We'll have to leave it to the expert for the final diagnosis.

Ready Or Not Hear I Come!

That's whether I am ready or not. I can't stand it anymore. I gotta get out there to get butterflies, to burn out my lungs, to eat every one's dust, to waste $39, to tear apart my bike, to tear apart my body to prove what? To prove I can do it of course. And admittedly I just hate being left out....

So Cholla here we come!

Oh and guess what? Dot asked me to get HER bike ready too! No not to race, but at least to- maybe- get back on! This would be the first time since the surgery.

Corner Canyon is getting there. We (Carson and I) were able to put together nearly 2.5 hrs of single track!

ARANTIX II MILES: 117 (FOR 2010-OUCH!)

WORLD CLASS OPPORTUNITIES!

As I was enjoying my ride yesterday I came upon the Glide park at the point of the mountain. It made me realize the extraordinary world class recreational opportunities we have. It boggles my mind what there is to experience here. We have water sports (who would have expected that in a mountain state?) such as boating, water skiing, river running and fishing. We have the best snow for activities like skiing, snowmobiling and even Olympic venues. And then the there are gorgeous land based activities of hiking, camping, hunting and our favorite- biking! Heck (utah term for Hell) we even have extraordinary geologic opportunities such as fossils and rockhounding. Then you throw in air activities like world class hand gliding and you wonder how anyone can sit home and get fat on the couch! I'm just going crazy NOT attempting to do it all!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

With the new time change and the spring like weather it was time to road test the knee. It's been 10 days since the surgery and the knee has been feeling good. I tested it out on the trainer Saturday and it felt pretty good. So today "to be safe" I figured I'd ride on the road (plus the trails were still soaked). 1.5 hours later I was all smiles! The knee felt strong! I stayed mostly in zone 2 but tried 3 short intervals which went well.

So the plan worked. I got both legs to feel weak so I can begin the rebuild process symmetrically. My left quad is no longer numb and is feeling stronger and now after the surgery on the right knee they feel the same- weak. So I got two weeks to get them race ready for Hurricane.

Happy St George Race- Riders!

The weather looks ideal, reaching to a sunny 60 degrees. The wind will be calm, the excitement of the start of the season will be wafting in the air. Riders will be sharing stories of their winter slumber trying to gauge who was able to train and who let it go. Old races will be revisited, good times reflected and new hopes will be harbored. New faces will be welcomed and perhaps old ones not there will be fleetingly thought of. The reunion is upon you, the family has gathered from afar. And the competition will be as intense as ever. Good Luck to all and know that you are in my thoughts.....

I have chosen another path for this year in the hopes that missing this sentinel race I might be healed to race many more- later.

For you see, I had knee arthroscopy-medical for knee scope- yesterday. I hope it went well (but the soreness now makes me hope even more that it was worth it). I had a torn meniscus repaired (really, it was just rota-rootered). I have been dealing with this for several years and it has progressively become worse so I figured I'd get it over with and see what happens. Let the rehab begin!