Off the bike for a week....

Crotchitis.
Crotch rot.
Vaginitis.

Call it whatever you want, but I am off the bike for a week until this nasty rash around my sitz bones is GONE. It started almost a month ago after I got caught in the rain on a ride. It always happens, yeast infection, rash, etc. I took some leftover antibiotics, a dose of diflucan, and all seemed better. So I kept on riding. And then these little bumps appeared on my inner thighs, and a few scattered down my legs. I used cortisone creams, anti-fungal creams, I even tried jock itch spray. I finally called my DR and she called me a script of doxy, and some hard core cortisone cream (4 tubes!). It's been 4 days, and the shit seems to be clearing up - finally.




















So I've been running.
And lifting.
And doing yoga.
And swimming.

B-O-R-I-N-G.

It's best to get this shit healed up NOW cuz training is about to start - full on.




















I am registered for Mohican MTB 100K. Now that I know what to expect, I am even more stoked. Last year was my first year really mountain biking with a proper bike. I went big - going for the full 100 miles was stupid. Though I felt fine at mile 76 when they pulled me - I remember it like it was yesterday - the cut off's were impossible to meet. They still are. I don't know when/if I will ever be able to complete the full 100 miles, and that is ok with me. I am all for going into this race knowing the 100K is doable.

And I am even more stoked that Gnome is coming out to do the race with me. He is going for the full 100m on a singlespeed. Baller. His flight is booked, the campsite is booked, all the plans are in full fucking swing. I can't wait to see him again.

It's nice to have something to look forward to, ya know?

Perseverance

Perseverance:

Steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

I fucked up and ate a percocet on Monday.
And I owned that shit.

Monday was exhausting, mentally. I had taken the dogs to the woods for the first time in 3 months to run off leash. And they were gone (except for Lola, she stays on leash). For an hour and a half I called and called for them. I carry a whistle too and I blew it non-stop, praying they would come back. I was petrified and made several phone calls. My friend Sandi canceled her noon meeting to come and help me search. I was in full on sheer-panic-mode. Ari eventually did come back, but then my phone rang.

Caller: Is this Judi?
Me: YES DO YOU HAVE MY DOG?
Caller: I took him to the SPCA and they have him.
Me: WHY DIDN'T YOU CALL ME? MY PHONE NUMBER IS ON HIS COLLAR!?

Then the SCPA was calling. They had Fausto and I could go "redeem" my dog at noon, when they opened.

I flew back to the car with Ari and Lola and drove home. I was so scared they would euthanize him, because he's a pit-bull and pit-bulls are illegal where I live. I got home, grabbed my purse and some cash and hopped back in the car.

I waited in the parking lot until they opened the gates. Once I had Fausto, safe in my arms, I relaxed. A little. I was going through every emotion possible.

I went home, got ready for work and tried to relax. On my way out to the car, my neighbor came out, calling my name. This is a guy I bought pills from - but not in the last year and a half. He put a pill in my hand, an 800mg percocet. I just said thanks and stuck it in my wallet.

I did not call anyone.
I did not say NO THANKS.
I did not do any of the things I should have done.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda doesn't matter.

I ate that fucker. And it didn't even do shit. I kept it a secret for as long as I could, which was about 30 hours. On Wednesday I told Dominic. A few minutes later I texted the 20 people I have saved in my phone as my recovery network. And that night I went to a meeting. And the next night, and the night after that.

So I start all over.

The puke-alot-kid

When I was kid, I puked a lot.

If I was going to a birthday party, I puked. On New Years Eve, I puked. Even going to school, I puked. Every morning. I remember my Mom had to keep a plastic bag in the glove compartment for my puke. She even took me to the DR in the 8th grade to see if I was pregnant.

I think I was just anxious as a kid. I still am.

I was reminded of this when I ran into an old friend's Mom at the coffee shop where I work last week. Dominic was there, waiting for me to get off. When I introduced her to him, that's what she told him.

"She puked SO much when she was a kid."

Her daughter is still strung out on dope today. It's sad. She's raising her kids. My old friend is one of those junkies you see out on the highway ramps holding a sign that says "NEED MONEY FOR FOOD" - they must be making some cash cuz I see them everywhere. And I've known this girl since we were in the 2nd grade.

Later, the puking stopped once I found drugs.

Today, I keep the anxiety away with exercise.

I had another great week.

Today the trails were frozen so I rode my MTB for 2 hours.
Yesterday, a 5.5 mile trail run. So cold but so nice.
Friday, an hour of intervals on the trainer.
Thursday, 90 minute tempo ride on rollers.
Wednesday, weights focusing on legs followed by a mile swim.
Tuesday, AM, an hour of intervals on the trainer.
Tuesday, PM, a 6 mile run.
Monday, intervals on the treadmill with weights in between.
Sunday, day off.

Sunshine in January

So I was checking out Statcounter the other day and saw a bunch of traffic from a site called http://www.marathontrainingschedule.net so I clicked on it. She's got the top 100 running blogs listed, from whose perspective, I am not sure. I scrolled down the list looking at all the names of the blogs. I finally found Miles and Madness.

Not at #60.
Not even mid-range.
How about #8???

HUH? Seriously? TOP 10???

So, I just wanted to thank whoever is in charge for totally making my week. Though I don't run marathons anymore, I am still thrilled to be in the top 10 of this list.




















About the bike....

I've had a great week on my bike thanks to the insanely gorgeous weather we've been having. How about you? Here in Ohio we are having mega sunshine and high temps over 50 degrees. I was like a giddy kid, excited to be outside enjoying the sunshine.

After my usual trainer ride on Thursday night, which involved 75 minutes of heart rate blasting intervals, I was ready for a dose of Vitamin D.















I had to go to Harrison to pick up my dogs meat from the turkey farm, so I threw my bike in the car and headed out. I had two and a half hours to ride. The sun was warm and it felt so good to be outside, pedaling my bike. A lot of other folks out on the bike path had the same big goofy grin on their faces as I did. I was content just riding easy, but if a cyclist appeared up ahead, I raced to pass them. Hybrids and all. In fact, at one point a father and son on matching Lightspeeds passed me. The competitive nature in me took over and all of the sudden I was in full on sprint mode to pass them back. Yea, take that. So, after 40 miles, I left, with this huge smile on my face.

Saturday I decided to go climb some hills. A hill, I should say. There is a running "race" on a hill a few miles from my house called Straight st. I happened to drive down it the other night, following a friend from a meeting to another friend's house. I thought it seemed like a good hill to climb.

Pictures never do hills any justice



















I haven't climbed up into Clifton Heights much since I always ride downtown and up to Clifton, but there are some hella good hills over there. I am actually blessed to live in such a hilly city. It would be boring to live in a city like Columbus where it's flat as a pancake.

So I rode across the Harrison ave viaduct and headed left on Central. I knew the hill was off McMicken somewhere, and I somehow ended up going up Riddle instead. Riddle road is a big ass climb with about an 18% grade in some parts. It winds up and around and I took it up to Clifton ave. I found Straight st from there and headed down.

On my 1st climb up, my back wheels spun out as I stood up. Cuz my tires are shot and I really need new ones. So I stayed seated. I only stood up when I got to the dry area where the sun was shining. And then I went back down. Up the hill, down the hill, for a total of 8 times. Then I rode home and had one more climb to get up into Price Hill for a total of 3000+K of climbing in just 16 miles.

Happy legs = Happy Judi

More pictures from this weeks riding on this post on Drunk Cyclist.
http://drunkcyclist.com/2012/01/08/motivation-to-ride/

I am so relieved the holidays are over, aren't you?

I have never been so happy for it to be January in all my life.
And I survived, stone fucking cold sober.

The best gift I bought was a bike. Not for me, but for a kid in Arizona. Sunday Cycles, friends of DrunkCyclist.com, had a bicycle drive and over the course of 5 days, Joe raised 5K and purchased 131 kid's bikes to give out to kids whose parents couldn't afford them. Pretty rad.

Dominic and I don't exchange gifts. Not even for birthdays or anniversaries. Since I control all the money, we usually just buy something nice for the house. Or bike parts. Today we bought a ROKU so we can hook up the wireless to the TV - bye bye digital cable. Hello Netflix.

My friend Sandi bought me this:



















Normally the only jewelry I wear is my wedding band and recently, swirly earrings from a tattoo shop. However, I am wearing this necklace. I like it a lot. Cuz I love bikes. And I love Sandi.

The workouts continue. I obtained my goal of 5 rest days in between Thanksgiving and the New Year. From here on out, I will take one rest day a week.




















This last week went like this:

Today - 2K swim
Tuesday - Endurance intervals on the trainer in the morning, and then ran stairs last night.
Monday - 75 minutes on the rollers, keeping my HR at 160.
Sunday - ran intervals on the treadmill and lifted weights in between.
Saturday - Tempo ride on rollers for 90 minutes.
Friday - 2.5 hour ride outside, getting caught in the rain.
Thursday - 90 minutes on the trainer - hard intervals, alternating between 5 minutes at 180 and 5 minutes at 140.

Wednesday we had a bit of a scare. My father-in-law was rushed to the hospital, where we spent 9 hours with most of the family. He is going to be ok, but man, that was scary. Tom is a good man, so loving and thoughtful. Dominic takes after him in so many ways. After 3 days he was released and is now home resting. I am glad we could be there for him.

And so it goes.

The coffee shop job continues to be a good fit. Somehow the bills are getting paid, we have money saved up and I am happy. Plus I only work about 28 hours a week. How rad is that? I have become addicted to fine Viennese espresso, doing as many as 4 shots during my morning shifts. Macchiatos, skinny cappuccinos, ummm, so good. I am so spoiled now, we only make Sidewinder's blend of organic coffee at home now since we get such good deals on it. Yea, I've become a coffee snob. The treats are hard to stay away from, but discipline is key.















A funny comment popped up on this blog the other day:

"Lighten up, get high and ride your bike. Perhaps their is a balance. You are hiding behind your workouts and intensity."

Balance? HA! Never. This person clearly does not understand addiction. Or doesn't read this blog on a regular basis. I really wish I could drink in moderation. Or do a few bong hits every now and then. And take pain pills as prescribed. Never gonna happen. Not me.

With that, I will leave you with this rad video my friend Pippin did for me. It's a compilation of all the video I took of Dominic flatlanding this past year. I've posted it on DC, and it's gotten over 1200 views. I am so proud of my man. It's got him stoked to ride again.

Freestylin' compilation from judi lopresti on Vimeo.