Something Bailey Pruitt once said...

I haven't written anything these last few days despite some good training and definite improvement. My first attempt at running was less than stellar; Two minutes in and I had to stop from the pain.

The good news is that I hit the road again today and made a half mile in about 6.5 minutes before having to abort but I recovered soon after. I'll try again in a few days...

Not sure why I haven't been motivated to blog. Saw something today that freaked me out quite a bit. This is the post I put up on another site:

While on my way to work I came upon one of those scenes that makes us cringe moreso because we're cyclicts. 9w, between the south Lake entrance and the new deli a crowd was gathered mid road.

I first saw the massive circa 70's Queen Mary of a Lincoln parked/beached half out into the roadway like some awful bloated cruise liner, the elderly driver leaning on the open door.

I slowed already knowing what I was going to see. I started to get that sick feeling down in my gut hoping against hope I would see an upright rider crying over his damaged bike.

The rider, wearing team kit lay in the middle of the twin double yellow lines not moving, cradled and bunched up like an infant doubled over in pain. I pulled over and spotted his bike half under that obnoxious box of a car whose front end sticks out so far as to prohibit any cautious look sees when entering a right angle turn.

The rider finally moved picking up his head for a moment then laying it back down while holding his left arm with his right keeping it close to his body. I figure at least a snapped collar bone.

I wanted to get out of the car and ask if he needed someone to hold onto his bike but the police were just arriving and there were so many people already there I didn't want to add to the spectacle.

I know what happened. I/we/you put ourselves in that situation countless times. My crash into a Deer was partly attributable to the same action. I plow down Hook and past that deli at speeds in excess of 40 and I have often, no always thought about the consequences of a driver pulling out of that driveway just North of the Deli.

Well it was apparent that is exactly what happened here. The rider, on a Tri bike was likely going at speed. The driver pulls out looking for a CAR and doesn't see the cyclist, REMEMBER THE AWARENESS AD? That hit home for me!

The result is almost a foregone conlusion....

WE MUST become better at being defensive on the roads. There are more and more cyclists and more and more apathy amongst drivers coupled with all the attention grabbing devices we have made "indispensible" to our lives. Did I tell you about the texting teen I encountered on my way home from David's Sprint ride on Thursday? He swerved into the cones at the school in Nyack while typing ! I chased the piece of $%#^ but couldn't get the plate.

Be careful and wary and defensive out there. It has IMHO become a real batlleground......."


Much of what we do as endurance athletes and bike racers is a dedicated but solitary effort. Despite our passion for a sport that is at once rewarding and merciless it tests our will power constantly. There has to be more to this than just the health aspects...

After my short run I dropped down onto the bed tapping the remote looking for something fun but mindless to watch while I vegged out. I was feeling ab it down despite having an improved run, I just want the healing done. Call it coincidence, serendipity, kismet whatever, "Mystery, Alaska" was just beginning. A hockey movie, right?

Just surface trappings. Its a movie about love. The love for and of a passion that in this story takes the form of an unlikely sport played on ice with bent sticks. And more than that, there is a love between the guys who share the passion and the people that support them.

There's a great scene in the movie where the Bailey Pruitt character shouts out in court in regards to one of the Saturday game players, "He skates to SKATE! He plays to play! He don't make a million dollars he LOVES the game of Hockey!"

What's great about the movie is that its really not about hockey. Its about love and if you love something you either give yourself over to it completely or not at all. that's how I see it anyway...

I can't see how anyone gets into bike racing or Triathlon to the degree some of us do without loving it. Without a burning passion for it, a passion to keep pushing despite setbacks, injury and failure.

And how much must my Wife love me to deal with all that comes with a husband so obsessed? The worry everytime I go out, the anxiety everytime I race. Having to deal with injuries of the body and soul... To forgive all the time spent elsewhere to train and race?

The Pogues, maybe the greatest band EVER said it best. "I love you till the end."

That's why we get back up and that's why she stays with me and puts up with all of it. Yeah, its hokey and corny but I do love it. I love the wind in my face and the fresh rain falling from a sun-filled sky while just coasting along. I love the pack pushing me along wrapped up tight in its arms until the moment I falter. I love the hours of training, running, swimming and most of all cycling.

And yeah, I love my wife not just because she puts up with my amatuer fantasy racing silliness but because she cheers for me when I race and smiles for me when I'm dirty and tired and hurting and comforts me when I'm injured or down. There is no love without passion. I ride to ride, I race to race....

I know that poor guy I saw down on the ground this morning will get back up and get back on that bike soon enough. We take what is thrown at us and keep on going... Its a love thing.

Jim061 is home and on the long road to mending...

"He skates to skate..." Baily Pruitt

Eric J

Something Anna Nalick once said...

We are as tough as we are fragile....
I made it out on Saturday meeting up with a bunch of people going out for a 75 miler+. I planned on doing 50 to 60 miles of it. The route is hilly and grinds you down. It was nice seeing so many out and nicer to have them ask after me...

We set out and right off the bat I slip my chain. One after another each rider passing asked if I was okay taking my nod as a signal to keep going on ahead. I would have it no other way. I don't ask anyone to wait for me. I'll do the work to catch up or ride alone. The way it is for me...

Five weeks ago I would have sat in pushed the lever and worked for as long as I needed and caught at least some of them somwhere along the route. My head and my heart were right there but my lungs still need conditioning. It goes fast, aerobic capacity. In fact you begin to lose benefit within 48 hours of last activity. It had been roughly 720 hours since any significant aerobic activity for me so do THAT math.

I labored to catch up but hung my head down over the bars too many times gasping for air...

Breathe...Just Breathe...

I took the hills full out, standing while gripping the drops white knuckled and weaving the bike in a sprint action to get over the hills fast enough to not have to worry about sucking air. Then used the downhill to recover while I breathed deep and full refueling the spent blood cells.

Having a limit imposed on how long I can maintain LTHR again just beats you down physically and mentally. But we are a tough bunch, cyclists...endurance athletes.

Breathe... Just Breathe... We'll get there.

I did 50 miles and felt good afterwards. Good for having decided to get out and push, good for hitting the hills and good for doing the 50.

Memorial Day I went out for another big ride going South to Englewood via 9W this time. The hills proved to be just so tough as I am just so far back on my aerobic capacity. I know it will come but still... We are as tough as we are fragile...

I went out with my friend Hoech who is a rocket and much faster than I at my best but still when he takes off I take off and charge hard to catch him despite little hope of doing so. Its the attempt that fuels me. But I just didn't have the legs or the air...

I am without a doubt by nature and nurture an impetuous rider/racer. I have a hard time holding back and prefer to go than be smart and lay in. So when the line of Team Organic riders went past me, a bright green freight train busting through the air I immediately took off to catch onto their wheel.

Breath..Just Breathe... I repeated that to myself as I watched them recede into the distance. That beat me down a bit.

Turning home I was blessed with that which a road rider dreams of when he's wrapped up tight in his blanket at night; A steady tailwind lasting for miles. That helped me hammer for a good distance lifting my spirits back up.

I saw Hoech here and there on the ride, couldn't blame him for constantly going off ahead and would have felt bad had he held back to stay with me... I pushed as much as I could and felt good about the ride afterwards.

Our bodies are fragile...

Jim061 is out of intensive care after having a van use him for a speed bump and he swears he'll be out riding in a couple months. That's tough!

Billie Holiday sang that "Into each life a little rain must fall". My friend Joe had the skies open up on him and his family over the last few years and he could not ride for a good long time. He is going back out on his bike today for the first time in a very long period. He's lost alot over the last few years, things that go beyond riding a bike, things that become lost forever except here in our hearts and minds and memories. He called me today after a long absence and it feels good to know he'll be out on those same roads again.

We are all as tough as we are fragile...

Breathe... Just Breath... (Anna Nalick)

I just registered for the CRCA Time Trial on June 8th... Breathe deep baby, the air up here is good!
Eric J

Something Dave Mathews once said...

Awoke feeling a bit stiff and sore but overall pretty good. I decided to get out early for a spin before the rains hit. I was pretty exhausted after yesterday's rides and wondered what I'd have out on the road despite my pledge to go easy...

I heard there's a prediction that I'd be getting back into things too fast and too hard. knowing me, and I do its probably a good bet. But I was determined to go easy today. I started out slow huffing and puffing up 304 taking a while to warm up. I figured I'd hit the Lake and then run through Valley cottage.

I could feel the lack of real power in my legs so I opted to keep my cadence high and steady. I still fell into coasting more than I wanted but I think that was more an aerobic issue than muscular. Its amazing how fast you lose aerobic capacity. I was starting to feel good though, loose and comfortable despite the occasional pian in the butt, literally. Gotta get used to the saddle all over again.

I stayed in Z1/Z2 feeling good about it but knowing deep down that I couldn't muster too much more thyan that anyway. My body is allowing me to work just so hard and no harder, probably a good thing. I'm getting there but slowly.

It started to rain on my way home and I subconsciously started to hammer hoping to get home before the deluge. I surprised myself at how long I was able to maintain good speed but was mindful to stay in the small ring at least. Made it home after an hour and a half as the rain started to hit for real.

"I'm coming on slow but speeding..."
~~~Dave Mathews

Something Hopalong Cassidy once said...

This morning was an odd mix of giddy expectation and nervous anticipation. The acts of prepping my ride and pulling on my kit felt at the same time familiar and foreign. I was both excited and apprehensive. I set my HR Monitor, stepped into my shoes still scarred from the crash and before leaving the house, affixed a P-Touch label emblazoned with JIM061 to the steerer tube of my bike.

Jim is a member of my cycling club laying in the hospital after being hit by a van while riding. My training up to and participation in the Westpoint Tri are dedicated to him.

I hit the road and for the first half mile I actually felt out of place on the bike that I have ridden for 10,000 miles. A milestone I hit today on my return to cycling. Are there any coincidences? But after that first mile I was one with my machine again though a bit gun shy as I rode.

It took several miles for the pain and soreness to subside but I kept it easy and was soon in the flow pedaling smoothly though not with great power. The worst pain was getting on and off the bike as stretching my leg over the cross saddle stretched the Abductor muscle which was the hardest hit.

I did a few loops in Rock Lake and decided I needed, not wanted but needed to climb Hook. I know I need to go easy but that's a hard concept for me. I hit the mile climb and was surprised at how much less difficult it was than I anticipated. I stood up for a good portion of it and felt good. I took it easy going down though, still a bit hesitant...

I stopped at the TOGA shop to rest and wait out the passing rain shower and realized I was pretty shagged out. I also was surprised at how much cardio I had lost in just under a month. After a fifteen minute rest I took off again and headed home.

Just being on the bike again was nirvana. Just to feel the wind rush and the glide of the wheels was like coming home. I realized just how much I really did miss training and riding.

I made it home after twenty one miles and an hour and a half exhausted and elated. I passed out after a shower, ate and then being the stubborn dope that I am went out again!

I met up with a group from the local club and did an easy ride for 9 miles and then took off smacking down the hammer for the last 3 miles. Man that just felt good.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to get out and push a bit harder. There's some residual soreness but nothing I can't deal with. I also stepped on the scale this morning 'cause I can feel the extra weight I put on and I have to think the scale is off. Regardless I know I have a bunch of pounds to knock off.

I have a way to go and next week I start running, a whole new hell. But as Hopalong once said, "I'm back in the saddle again..."

Eric J

Something Batman's Dad once said...

It has been a full 3&1/2 weeks since the incident/accident/collision and every one of those days has had painful moments or pain free moments if you're looking glass half full I guess. If you hadn't already heard; I collided with a force of nature up in Harriman State Park doing about thirty mph. The deer scampered off seemingly unscathed while I did an endo landing some five feet from my bike and sliding along the asphalt for another ten.

Took an hour and a half to clean my road rash, the majority of which appeared to be on my legs with some on the elbows as well. I pulled and sprained the major leg muscles in my right thigh and bruised my knee cap. The healing process had me overcompensating with my left leg and trying to use too much of the healthy muscle in my right leg resulting in pain and soreness in new and even more exciting places.

One bright spot in all this for you skeptics: The nurse, a true angel of mercy despite the pain she inflicted while excavating my wounds stated how lucky I was that my legs were shaved or I would have been in all kinds of trouble with the clean up and healing process. VINDICATED!!!!!!

The mental battle has been rough. Just before the incident/accident/collision I had reached my Peak. Right on schedule for Colt's Neck, my first A race of the season to be followed by the TOGA Biathlon a week later. The last hard workout I did before the taper was a run/bike/run in Rock Lake on the actual biathlon course. I felt great, strong and ready!

Going from the strongest you've felt in years to walking with a cane in a matter of days is a near-devastating event. I have not been on a bike or done training of any sort for three and a half weeks and I am jonesing like a crack addict who hasn't seen a corner in a month!

There is still pain at times, the morning before I am loose just plain stinks but at this point I have complete mobility and after I stretch I feel okay. You know how mentally rough it is when you were riding 80 miles on the weekend and find you are hurting so bad you can't tie your shoe lace? I hope you never have to find out. But enough whining....

Here's the deal, the point, the reason for this new blog: I have 3 races in August- The Silvermine Time Trials, The Timberman Sprint Tri in New Hampshire and a week after that Westpoint. I am hell bent on getting myself back into top form for these races.

The Westpoint Tri in August is dedicated to a riding buddy, JIM061 in the hospital recuperating from a collision with a van while out riding.

Tomorrow, Monday May 19th is my first day back on the bike. It will be a slow spin to help me assess where I am and how much I have lost. I am going to chronical my journey, my progress, trips and falls as a way to stay focused and I invite you along for the ride. Read, comment, ignore...whatever.

"It's not how many times we fall down that matters, its how many times we get back up..." ~~~Dr. Wayne