Train in Vain

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It's become quite obvious to me in the past few days that there will be no backing out now and I'll actually have to do this ride in October.

I have to admit the prospect of riding 25 miles is a little daunting. The day we registered for the event someone was trying to encourage me to sign up for the 62 mile ride (the metric century– 100 kilometers), assuring me that if I started training now it would be no problem. If only it was that easy.

At the moment, my brain and spinal cord are not on speaking terms with many of the muscles in my legs. Or maybe it's more accurate to say that they're speaking but only in barely audible whispers. This results in muscles that are very weak, tire very quickly, and are subject to random, uncontrolled tightening or spasticity.

Unfortunately, until the damaged nerves regenerate and these muscles start getting normal signals again (and this takes months and years) exercising to gain strength is like trying to train for lifting bowling balls with your eyelids. (Now just try to get that image out of your mind.)

So, training for this event, for me, is more about preparation. It's about knowing how much water to drink and when, planning the dosage and timing of the medications I take which make me weak and groggy, knowing when to take breaks and for how long–– how much standing, stretching and lying down, how much activity is OK the day before... It's a lot to think about and plan but that's part of the challenge and I'm looking forward to it.

I just hope there won't be any random drug testing at this event. If the other riders are anything like me, we'd be in for a huge doping scandal.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hang in there Robb, what you have been able to accomplish so far is amazing and I have no doubt that if you put your mind to it you will be able to lift those bowling balls with your eyelids in no time =o) LOL... thanks for that image!

Cheers!
Rhea
Anonymous said…
Hey Robb...does it still count if someone pushes you?

Just envisioning a secondary team of ninja-dressed letterboxers popping out of the bushes to push you for a stretch...and then suddenly disappear.....

Your completly sane...really we are..friend(s)...gerlfren
Anonymous said…
I think you're onto something there, gerfren!
Anonymous said…
Remember the Saturday Night Live episode where on the fake news section Tina Fey announces an all drug Olympics, where every world record is broken?

It's not too late to add some super-powered rocket thrusters to your bike for those up hill sections of the trip, eh?

Annalisa
Barbara R said…
I'll loan you my kite and when you're tired, you can just throw it up in the air and let it pull your bike along. :)

Eclipse

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