Old Friends

It’s been awhile but the old bike and I were out for a ride,
The shop owner said ”enjoy the ride, you are to please”
The road worker asked “where will you go?”
“Not too far” I said, and I’m going slow.
The road was familiar, one I knew well,
Hadn’t been on it for quite a spell.
The hills greeted my legs,
in places they had not been addressed in quite sometime.
My lungs too, were feeling the strain,
Sucking up wind, but really no pain.
Others were spinning down the road on their bikes,
Saw an old pal pedaling with friends and waved as he passed.
Riding with others, oh what a gas.
16 miles at the end of the ride and pleased I was.
The shop owner was there with one of my friends.
We chatted a bit and had a laugh.
Other friends showed for their later ride.
One was pleased with her new bike.
We visited a while and off they went,
As I was to leave I noticed another,
He looked twice before he said Hi.
It’s been awhile; I’ve changed a bit,
But the conversation was a big hit.
New and old friends, a sight to see
They bring a smile and many a grin.
The Bike and I, what a long time it’s been.

Time for some cross training!

After a week of not running and massaging my right calf, Achilles, and the sole of my right foot to relieve pain from PF, I tried to go out for a run today. Chris, Liza, Brian, Mike, Abbey and I met at Govt Canyon to run about 10 - 12 miles in the flat trails of the front country. The weather was perfect, sunny,dry and about 60 degrees. Chris led a pretty quick pace. Sub 9 minute miles. Soon Abbey and Mike picked it up and pulled away. Chris and Liza were not far behind them and Brian and I were bringing up the rear.
My foot was feeling OK up until about 4 miles into the run. I started to feel a little discomfort in my right heel at 4 1/2miles. It was getting worse. Liza held up for Brian and I at the 5 mile mark, and I said "I'M DONE!" The pain was back in full force. I'd better stop before I make it worse. I said goodbye as Chris, Mike and Abbey were far up the trail. Brian said I was wise to stop. Chris yelled back goodbye and "get a haircut!" I responded "I'll think about it." As I limped back to the car I tried not to let it get me down. I can work out on the bike I thought.
I motivate myself to train seriously by signing up for a race. Well, last Thursday I registered for the Jemez Mountain 50 Miler. With 4 significant climbs to over 10,000 feet, I told myself I had better get going.
Now I must say to myself, "Take time off from running to let your Plantar Fascitis heal." This is a switch, and will test my patience.
It's on the bike and workouts with Kettle bells for at least the next two weeks.

Me duele!

Aches and pains at my age stick around awhile. The body takes a little more time to heal as it grows older, But I would rather be healing from pains obtained from being active than those obtained from being inactive.
At the moment I am suffering from Plantar fascitis, my right hand goes numb at night due to a flag football injury, and my right wrist still hurts as a result of a fall three Sundays ago trail running at O.P. There is limited motion and strength in my right hand. I get through these pains with the same mentality as I get through Ultras. "This is temporary and will pass and be over with in due time".
I feel I am alive!
At our last run we shared one other trait of ultra runners. Black or missing toenails!