Spondylolisthesis

Holy Crap! I have some incredible shooting pain down my leg. It feels like a munchkin hanging off and swinging from the connective tissue in my upper leg. I suffer from a degenerative condition called spondylolisthesis resulting from breaking two vertebre. It has been over 8 years since I broke my back, and today brought me back to day one. I could barely stand let alone walk. This makes for a rough day in the studio, and horrible day on the bike. Despite that I still climbed on top of the Zurich strapped to the Tacx Erg and got warmed up. I got in an hour, some leg curls, crunchs and dips. That was truely the only comfortable part of my day. I feel like somebody took me apart and put me back together wrong.

There is tomorrow, and every day is a new day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spondylolisthesis

And the sun 'll come out

After waiting for sky to clear and the roads to dry up, I didn't see myself doing a four hour tour. So I opted for the alternative. Pound my head against the wall for 2.5 hours so that when I stop it will feel good. With a short warm up, I put my back to the wind, dropped the clutch and put it in the gutter. I managed about 90 minutes of real work.

Some of you may remember the old Centennial Circuit Race course put on by the Austrian Assasin Claus Claussen. That was todays stomping grounds. Strange, but I miss this course, however simple it is or was. Just a short rectangle it rolls fairly hard. Todays serious cross wind reminded me of why this race never came down to much of a bunch sprint.

The legs are like wood. If you can tell me who that quote comes from I will give you a punch in the gut.

Rain rain go away

It easy to sit on the trainer and belt out a couple hours. But, four hours is impossible when you don't even have a trainer. I was really supposed to get in 5 hours today.

My idea of fun is 4 hours in the sun and 75 degrees. I do not think that is going to happen to. There is nothing more painful and energry sapping than a long ride in the cold and wet.

I must not hold that high a position in life because family and friends always come to me to house and dog sit. Yes, its Wentzville this weekend. At least there is the hot tub to look forward to.

Here comes the pain.

Thanks for giving

Bicycle sales have been down as of late so I have only worked a few days in the past couple of weeks. Good thing because I have been able to catch up on other random tasks. The simple stuff that always gets pushed aside when time becomes a high commodity. But, today I got the call. I said put me in cold, I need the money. So if you are thinking, three call ups in the last two weeks hardly seems worth it. You are right, and that is without the stupid crap that happens to you whe your broke. As I made out of the sweat shop on my way home, I excellerated out of a stop light with four other cars. All of us at the same speed heading down hill around the corner and look who is sitting their with his gun pointed right at us. I you guessed Johnny Law, the Fuzz, the Boys in Blue, the Rollers or Coper Coper Crime Stoper you are correct. Somehow I was the only one to get the speeding ticket clearly setup by a steep downhill and blind spot situation. . Isn’t it always when you are riding high that life rears its ugly head and kicks you full on in the junk.

Man I swear I could be on the ride of my life, come home, fall over in the front yard on a garden hoe, smack myself in the head and fall backwards only to wake up in a different dimension. One of sight and sound of course.

Turkey Day

I love Thanksgiving. It is a true eaters holiday. It is completely centered on particular food items. Why do these things not translate to other times of the year. Man turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing could show up on the table any day of the year, and I would eat until it hurt.

Luckily I was prepared today. The plan was to put in the time in the wind today. Four hours seemed about right to earn three plates at the table. I was figuring on three plates as that is normal for me at Thanksgiving.

The problem with my planning is that I did not consider that th advertised 20mph wind was actually gusting up around 27-30mph on the way home. An executive descision was made to head back around Maestown. It was a wise move. Jay, Chris, James and I clearly suffered on the way in. Back to the problem. This got us back too early.

I got home and the food wasn't even close to the table. Everyone knows you gotta get something down the food tube within an hour of getting off the bike. I snuck some scooby snacks and that ended my plan of three plates. I was really looking forward to three, but only managed two.

Now the tryptophans got me down. Nighty night.

Note to self

Never,ever take up a position of responability. That way no one will ever have to count on you. Then, you can sit back and point out the mistakes those in charge have made. You look like a hero! Ah, the 'pool side hero'.....many say he is a mythical character, but I say he is real. I have seen him many times, but only once with both his cape and mask on. Look out folks he may just sabotage you too.

I wish I was in Dixie

Well, I was really thinking about the Dixie Riviera when I left home this morning. Cold and grey are not my favorite weather conditions here in the midwest. I can not wait to get down to see my friends on the Gulf Coast and let that warm air fill my lungs.

Luckily, this morning I was graced with the presence of the incomperable Josh Carter. Already miles ahead of me on the training program, I was hoping Josh could drag me down, and hopefully back, to the Marketplace for the group ride. That guy sucks he didn't help at all. Thats the last time I drag him around, right Josh? Once we met up with the rejuvinated Andy O'Guin, the Pirtle clan, Marbarger and Rusty P we made out of Columbia like a snail on crack. Just a lifetime away we sprinted into Maestown with team Pirtle dominating in a chicken hawk sort of way. Come to think of it, did anyone but a Pirtle win a city limits sign? They will get theirs soon enough. The elated feeling of a relatively easy stroll on the way home from the group ride gave way to a painfully empty feeling I my legs. When your power runs out, things can get ugly in a hurry. Luckily I was 5 minutes from home.

Lessons of the ride? Always keep the bluff to your left when going south, and on your right on your way back north (unless you are on top an then its on your left). Do not stop to get water if the house is flying a Dixie Flag. Never sprint for a city limits sign when your 3 hours in on a 6 hour ride.

Multiple choice question: How many kids do Rusty Pesselato and Josh Carter have combined?
a.4 b.2 c.3 d.none of the above e.all of the above
The winner gets nothing and will like it.

Like a donkey punch in the night

Considering yesturdays accomplishments on and off the bike I was pumped to get off road today. The cold didn't seem to bite, and the ol Kona seemed ready to gallop. However, it was not to be. After an up hill and a down hill the only thing I managed was to figure out it wasn't my day. When you have a bad back like I do, it isnt a good idea to go for a mountain bike ride. You will only get frustrated. Every rock, root and leaf that made its way into my wheel will surely pay one day for the torture I recieved today. Man what a crappy ride.

I love it when a plan comes together

Itsd always easy to plan out the ride, but it doesn't always look as pretty as it did on paper. Tonight was my first workout on the ergotrainer. Some riders swear by their ergs. Its all about the math. I love it for the pure concentration, and distraction from the boredom of riding indoors. I planned out my ride, my lifting schedule and plyometrics. For the first time in months everything went exactly to plan.
Maybe next time when I am off work by noon I could actually get on the bike before 8pm.

What a difference a day makes

I have been struggling lately to hold some consistancy in my riding. The reoccurance of an old friend has reminded me of a simple rule. When in a rut hold out for a better time. Things will come full circle if you do not fight out of your situation before it is time. Once your back into the fold, fight the good fight and never give up.
Today was a good day however, and I was able to feel some good sensations coming into the legs. A couple months of consistancy could result in a powerful spring. A new and old lineup in the team this year could prove to be the strongest team I have ever been a part of. So now, I suppose, is the time to take advantage of my own advice.

Six and counting

I set out for the epic trip down to the Marketplace group ride this morning. It usually takes an average of an hour door to door. But, as I was late I managed in 54 minutes only 5 minutes of the best time. Not smart when you have another five hours to go. Immediately out the gate on the group ride I realized I wouldn't be contributing to the pace. After a few hours, two pbj's, a balance bar, 2 gatorades (one purple one red) and a marble square from the shop in Maeystown I began to feel alive again. Luckily the pace was speratic on the return trip on top of the bluffs. I was able to create some separation rolling into New Hanover and took the city limits sign there. Once we got back to the Marketplace, I strapped the ipod back on, got a 20 Code Red and dropped the clutch. The 15mph tailwind probably helped, but I was on fire on the way home.