I Needed The Rest. That’s My Excuse.

The pain in my right shoulder has subsided and I can now move my arm in every which way with only the slightest twinge.  However, now I can feel some discomfort in my left shoulder and I can only believe I didn’t feel it sooner because the right shoulder was screaming louder.  The good news is I’m on the mend and it’s more than likely a flaw in my swimming mechanics that’s causing the problem.  I’m meeting up with Rich to figure out what I’m doing wrong.  Hopefully I got most of the rust out and the next swim will be better.

As far as training, I can’t really say I slacked the past two days but I haven’t done anything.  Wednesday was supposed to be a 45-minute bike ride and I planned on going out in the light rain anyway.  Mother Nature wasn’t having any of that and by the time I got home it was a full on downpour.  This led to my doing research on indoor training for cycling.  Not a stationary bike but tools to give me the ability to “ride” my own racing bike inside.  Back in my pool playing days I remember someone telling me that the legendary Gene Nagy would actually practice in a tuxedo if that was the dress code for the tournament.  I’ve adopted that attitude and decided I would practice on the equipment that I will be using in the race.

My first thought was an indoor bike trainer.  I simply mount the rear tire to the mechanism and it lifts it up so that I can pedal away on my bike and not worry about running into my television.  Assuming I attach it correctly, of course.  The aforementioned friend Rich said that I should get bike rollers…sort of a treadmill for a bike.  He sent me some online videos to see what he was talking about and I immediately thought, “I’d break my neck.”  The rear tire goes between the two rollers and the front tire on the individual one and, again, pedal to my heart’s content.  Except for the obvious balance issues and the bike sliding back and forth on the rollers.  Seriously, go look at the videos.  The indoor trainer will win this round!  New training rule: If it’s just cold, I ride outside.  If it’s raining or snowing, I ride inside.

Indoor Cycling Trainer

Bike Rollers

Okay, so yesterday I actually did slack.  I admit it.  I was supposed to go for a run but my hockey addiction won out as it always does.  I had two tickets to the game and was going with my friend Jenn.  Going to a game involves meeting at a bar near the arena, having a beer, going to the game, having more beer, going back to the bar for, you guessed it, more beer only this time with pizza.  I probably should have gone running in the morning yesterday but decided I would go today instead.  As soon as I get home from work I’ll throw on my running clothes and head out.  Nothing major.  30 minutes round trip.  Remember Coach Steve’s 3-day rule?  That’s screaming in my head right now.  I can’t miss today and have more training tomorrow.

Today Aubri has chemo again and if her numbers are good she gets a two week break!  So far the news has been good and we’re all hoping she does well today.  She has such a long road ahead of her but all we can do is take it one day at a time and one treatment at a time.  Think “good counts!”


To make a donation to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in Aubri's name, click here or contact me to mail a check.  Any amount appreciated!