Two Wheel Blogs

Note to self: Six days between steps is too long.

Have I whined lately about how busy I am at work, and how this huge project is eating up all my free time, and how I have not time to get to the health club and, if I did, I wouldn't have the energy? Have I been a cry baby about this recently?

I hope not.

True, a huge project at work has carved a huge chunk out of my lie. But still, that's no excuse. We have many things we want and need to do, and only so much times to do some of them. We all set priorities. We all make choices. In some things we have more latitude than others, but life is full of little tradeoffs. If we're lucky, we strike a balance between what we like to do and what we need to do. When push comes to shove, "need to" usually wins out over "like to." It has to. But we do the best we can to keep our commitments and carve out the best life for ourselves that we can in the time that's left over.

I could have spent this afternoon working. And, in some respects, I probably should have spent this afternoon working. But the sun shining and temperatures in the 40s for the first time in a long time, I decided to take advantage of it. I figured doing something outdoors would benefit me emotionally as well as physically.

Once back home after my radio show, I suited up and went out for a slow run on a snow-packed Nickel Plate trail. I'd thought the sun would have melted more of the snow by now, but it hadn't. I tried to run in the most worn path, but this was difficult as, based on the lack of footprints, the Nickel Plate hasn't seen much traffic lately. I ran carefully, deliberately, my gaze focused on the trail a few steps ahead of me. Occasionally, my foot would break through the crust, causing me to lurch or slow down. This unpredictable surface was less than ideal for someone who twisted his ankle four months ago. Still, I wasn't giving up, turning back, or heading to the paved paths. I hit my turnaround point, did a "U" turn, and headed back to Start/Finish. I finished the route. My pace was pedestrian, but I wasn't trying to run hard or fast. I was just out to move and to cover the distance. I did that, and for today, that was enough.

Back home, I changed into my cycling gear and dragged my filthy bike out of the basement. I headed out hoping to retrace last Sunday's route. The south wind was in my face as I rode through town to the intersection with Goshen Road. That suited me fine: it would be at my back on the way home. I hit Goshen, then turned south into wind again on Ridge before doing the short series of climbs on the route. At this point, I could have turned south to head towards Troy as I did last week, but it was getting late at this point, and the sun was starting get low in the sky. So I headed back towards town, rationalizing that it would be good to get home before it got much darker or colder. I ended up riding 17.2 miles in 1:11, a 14.4 mph pace. Not much of a workout, but all I had time or energy for today.

I feel bad. Last year at this time, I had my sights set on the Traks 'n Treads biathlon in March and the Highland Lions Club biathlon on Memorial Day. This year, I've hardly thought about them. Today marks four months since my ankle injury. And they have not been four months of fitness. Far from it. Other than physical therapy, I didn't do anything particularly physical from October to New Year's. Since then, I've tried to go to the health club and to get out to ride or run when I can. But I have missed more days than I have trained, and my body both knows it and shows it.

I am in no shape to compete in the two biathlons. I could put myself through them, but I could not "race" them competitively. What's the point of that? Pay an entry fee to drag my a** around the course just so I could say I did it? Not my style. If I'm going to pay an entry fee, I want to show up ready to do my best.

There's not enough time to train up for the Tracks 'n Tread, and that upsets me because, of the two biathlons, that's the one I'd really want to do. I prefer cross country races and riding the mountain bike trails to their road counterparts. But it's only six weeks away, and there's no way I can fix all that needs to be fixed by then. So I plan to sit that one out.

The Memorial Day biathlon? Doubtful. I'd love to do it again, provided I could make it worth doing. I've got more time to train up for it, but there's no telling if I'll be able to. Right now, I need to focus on eating right and exercising regularly. I just need to get back in basic good shape. If I do that, then I'll re-evaluate. For now, I pay no entry fee until I'm back to where I should be.