One more reason

...to be safe on the rode while riding. This occured in Mexico during a road tour. One rider died and I believe 10 others were injured. And this is apparently a drunk driver in the car. Horrible.

This is not a scene one likes to see, especially someone who's been on the road with terrible drivers who pay no respect to the rider. This has happened too many times - even when the driver was sober - to be taken lightly. Take the accident that involved a highway patrol officer who fell asleep at the wheel and killed two riders and injured another. Just do a search online and tons of stories pop up about cyclists being killed.

Some drivers may argue that cyclists should pay attention, shouldn't be on the road, etc. Cyclists have the same right as a motor vehicle to the road as much as some who drive. This is tragic and frightens many, especially my mother for sure.

I have been a bike wreck which luckily did not involve a car, and I hate to imagine what would have happened if a car was involved. I, oddly enough, was hit from behind by another rider in our group while I was stopped at a light and the rest of them were flying through (which is NOT a good idea and IS the cyclists' faults). But how did he not see me? I had been stopped for well over 5 seconds - enough to unclip my right foot and set it on the ground and start turning back to yell "red light." But, he didn't see and instead slammed into me at about 18 mph which threw me over the handlebars, chin first into the pavement, into the middle of the intersection while the rest of the group was past the light. They only turned around because they heard my scream before I hit and blacked out. *Shudder* I do hate that day. January 29, 2007. Less than three months before my first Ironman. And the same day I was to meet my future father-in-law for the first time (I guess it helped that I was drugged up on Vicodine, huh??)!

THIS is why I yell at horrible drivers while riding. THIS is why I get angry when other riders in my group want to roll through a red light or stop sign. THIS is why I still get stressed when I have to ride with more than just me and my husband. THIS, dear hubby, is why I get angry on rides...

MC200 in less than two days!

Pain, pain, go away

I didn't happen to mention in yesterday's post that I have a rib in my back out of place. Well, I do, and I tried running this morning with no luck at all! Was only able to get in the mile warm up run to the track, a 400 and then had to walk/jog the mile back to the gym. Not fun. Took half a vicodone and prescription anti-inflammatory and got to the chiropractor as fast as I could this morning for an adjustment and massage. I'm still in pain and plan on taking a full vicodone before dozing off tonight. Unfortunately missed my chance for a ride this afternoon - what a bummer. Wish I had some extra muscle relaxers...

We'll see how I feel tomorrow morning for swim.

Sunny Sunday

Bryon and I have missed the last few of our group's long Sunday runs at White Rock Lake, but we made it today and what a beautiful day it was! Although it started in a rare 50 degrees (and it's May!), it was sunny and perfect running weather. And I proved to myself I can still do a full loop - a little more than 9 miles.

For the regulars who do the lake, that's no big deal, but since I haven't done a full loop since last October, it feels like it was the first time I ever did it (but I cried that first time and not today).

So I'm getting back up there in my endurance, which I'm very excited about. Here's to keeping the injuries at bay when I go longer...

Did anyone find my right arm?

For those who know me well, I'm always injured. There's not a time I'm not that I can remember - I've seen orthopedics since I was 12 or so. (That was a horrible time - a knee doctor telling a 4'8" 12-year-old that she won't grow taller or probably be able to do sports again as she was playing volleyball, tennis, basketball and cheerleading.)

Anyways, the last year and a half I've been dealing with a bum left shin and bum left shoulder. The left shoulder is 98% good now (knock on wood it stays that way), but now my right arm is giving me issues. Ugh - give me a BREAK! I painted our front door (which looks awesome by the way) and now I've got a numb right arm and what feels like tennis elbow, or painter's elbow. I can't sleep on it, I can hardly eat with it, can't get ready without going numb, can't sit at my desk at work without going numb - wonder when it will stop?

Although I made it through the 300y swim at the race yesterday, I'm gonna have to admit I'm a little nervous about masters tomorrow morning.

I swear one day I'll end up with titanium joints everywhere...