I tested my leg on a longer bike ride yesterday (at least longer to me at this point), although it was unplanned. I ventured out of my subdivision onto the main road into my subdivision which is quite a busy road versus the roads behind the subdivision which are not well-traveled.
I went after rush hour to limit dealing with much traffic. I only planned on being on the main road for a short distance, less than half a mile, before going to some back roads for a good ride.
I had a plan in mind for the route. It was an out-and-back with a loop on part of the trip. Somewhere along the way I got on the wrong road and ran into a dead-end, which meant a lot of backtracking to get back on the right route. My original plan was for 18-20 miles, which would have been about an hour and fifteen minutes. My little miscue turned the trek into an hour and fifty minutes and 30 miles!
This was more than 30 minutes longer than any ride I had done on the trainer. The good news is I made it through the ride physically okay. I was a little sore but I had expected that if I had stayed on my original plan, because the roads around here have a lot of hills to deal with.
I'm ready to go again!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
9 weeks post-op
It's now been more than 9 weeks since my surgery and my hip feels a little better each day. Some days are riddled with soreness, but I'm rehabbing hard so it's to be expected.
I've been spending most of my rehab time on the bike (on the trainer), riding 5-6 days a week. I've gone as long as 1:15 so far and that was work! Felt good to do, though. Some days are just easier recovery rides.
Two days ago I finally rode outside for the first time! I was a bit nervous, because I have never ridden a bike on the road while being clipped into pedals. I primarily stayed on my neighborhood street and kept doing loops, which is .9 miles. It also seemed like a good idea at the time to try tackling the hill that leads into my subdivision. It was almost a bad mistake, but I made it. The hill is fairly steep, around a 15% grade and a 1/4 mile long. I used to run it all the time, albeit slowly, but didn't figure it would be as hard on the bike. I got about half way up into my easiest gear and still struggled. I finally made it, though, and now I at least know what it takes for that hill.
Yesterday, I decided to go behind the subdivision where we have some fairly untraveled, but hilly, roads. Only scary part is the short patch of dirt road that I have to go on which has a downhill spot to start and uphill to finish between the pavement sections. My main concern is just being able to get out of the clips quickly if I need to bail. These pedals add an entire new element to cycling, but the benefits are great. I ended up with a good 16 mile ride, so it was a good day.
I am sore today from these two days of riding. I'm actually going to take a pain pill. This is a good thing, actually, because I worked muscles hard enough to stress them. I'll just do an easy recovery ride today.
I've been spending most of my rehab time on the bike (on the trainer), riding 5-6 days a week. I've gone as long as 1:15 so far and that was work! Felt good to do, though. Some days are just easier recovery rides.
Two days ago I finally rode outside for the first time! I was a bit nervous, because I have never ridden a bike on the road while being clipped into pedals. I primarily stayed on my neighborhood street and kept doing loops, which is .9 miles. It also seemed like a good idea at the time to try tackling the hill that leads into my subdivision. It was almost a bad mistake, but I made it. The hill is fairly steep, around a 15% grade and a 1/4 mile long. I used to run it all the time, albeit slowly, but didn't figure it would be as hard on the bike. I got about half way up into my easiest gear and still struggled. I finally made it, though, and now I at least know what it takes for that hill.
Yesterday, I decided to go behind the subdivision where we have some fairly untraveled, but hilly, roads. Only scary part is the short patch of dirt road that I have to go on which has a downhill spot to start and uphill to finish between the pavement sections. My main concern is just being able to get out of the clips quickly if I need to bail. These pedals add an entire new element to cycling, but the benefits are great. I ended up with a good 16 mile ride, so it was a good day.
I am sore today from these two days of riding. I'm actually going to take a pain pill. This is a good thing, actually, because I worked muscles hard enough to stress them. I'll just do an easy recovery ride today.
Friday, June 5, 2009
7 weeks post-op
I'm now a full 7 weeks from my operation. Hard to believe it's been this long. I seem to get a little better each day. There is some pain and soreness but I can tell things are healing. I've been working really hard but have had an especially good week.
I worked my core and legs hard on two days, harder than I have worked since the surgery. My arm strength feels like it's finally back to where it was, or certainly very close. My weight has been down to between 151-153 the last couple of weeks, even though I feel like I'm eating more.
Cardio is my favorite work and I've done something every day. Three days of cycling (indoors on a trainer) and two days on the elliptical. I'm up to an hour on the bike! For not having rode a bike in many, many years, I feel like I'm picking it up well. The hour gets me about 15.75 miles. It's certainly not earth shattering but I'm very pleased. I can't wait to get out on the road and see how it translates.
I will say this. Riding for that long sure makes my butt bones hurt, or more technically - the sit bones. I've never really rode a road bike for any length of time so this is totally new to me. I've tried to get the seat post and seat adjusted correctly but it still hurts. I have a new seat ordered so hopefully that will help.
Oh, another small milestone. I'm finally done with taking aspirin every day for blood thinning. I'm in good enough shape and have been active enough that I don't think this was really ever an issue, but I was following doctor's orders. So, as of right now I'm free of scheduled medicine. That feels great. I haven't had a full pain pill all week. I have taken Tylenol a few times but not the hard stuff.
Taking a long road trip this weekend so it will be interesting to see how I hold up during the trip. I've had problems and pains on long trips for as long as I can remember but hopefully this will start to improve.
I worked my core and legs hard on two days, harder than I have worked since the surgery. My arm strength feels like it's finally back to where it was, or certainly very close. My weight has been down to between 151-153 the last couple of weeks, even though I feel like I'm eating more.
Cardio is my favorite work and I've done something every day. Three days of cycling (indoors on a trainer) and two days on the elliptical. I'm up to an hour on the bike! For not having rode a bike in many, many years, I feel like I'm picking it up well. The hour gets me about 15.75 miles. It's certainly not earth shattering but I'm very pleased. I can't wait to get out on the road and see how it translates.
I will say this. Riding for that long sure makes my butt bones hurt, or more technically - the sit bones. I've never really rode a road bike for any length of time so this is totally new to me. I've tried to get the seat post and seat adjusted correctly but it still hurts. I have a new seat ordered so hopefully that will help.
Oh, another small milestone. I'm finally done with taking aspirin every day for blood thinning. I'm in good enough shape and have been active enough that I don't think this was really ever an issue, but I was following doctor's orders. So, as of right now I'm free of scheduled medicine. That feels great. I haven't had a full pain pill all week. I have taken Tylenol a few times but not the hard stuff.
Taking a long road trip this weekend so it will be interesting to see how I hold up during the trip. I've had problems and pains on long trips for as long as I can remember but hopefully this will start to improve.
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