Monday Cycling
Route: Research Park
Location: Aggieland, Texas
Distance: 10.3 miles
Average speed: 14.5 mph
Weather: low 80s and sunny
Number of turtle rescues: 1
Number of frisbee golfers: 3
Number of frisbee-fetching dogs: 1
Number of other cyclists: 5
I did not ride for the last week due to an old lady back flare up. Fortunately the rest time did the trick. Today’s ride was pain free.
Matt rescued a turtle crossing the road. I guess it’s turtle season in Texas because we see them on the road nearly every time we ride lately. As an animal lover (veterinarian’s son), Matt is always compelled to rescue them and move them somewhere safe. He’s such a good citizen.
Even with a heroic turtle rescue, Matt and I weren’t feeling physically in the best of spirits. He was really tired still from whatever stomach bug he had last week (not terrible as far as stomach bugs go, but enough to make him tired/run down).
I was not feeling great either with a terrible acid reflux flare up for the last 2 days. I’m sure the couple of extra cups of coffee I had this weekend traveling to/from my parents’ house and extra glass of wine last night (Matt bottled the 2nd batch of home brew; a borrolo) didn’t help. I’m thinking though that I may have his virus. Thankfully stomach bugs never hit me really bad, but I’m pretty wiped out after this bike ride.
Going to spend the rest of the day being lazy and eating bland food.
In less than a week my family is flying to Orlando for a big family Disney extravaganza vacation. Flying is one of my least favorite things because it gives me anxiety flying with all my CF equipment and medicine.
Specifically, airport security makes me anxious because they always think my vest machine is suspicious and I have to unpack it, explain what it is, submit to a test to see if it has explosives residue, repack it, put my shoes back on, try not to be a nuisance to the other travelers in the now backed up security line, etc. And honestly, the vest is suspicious enough that I usually don’t get questions about my liquid medications (or my hand sanitizer or Chapstick).
Then I worry about there being enough space left in the overhead bins for my vest, which is always amplified by the flight attendants’ threats to check my $25k piece of medical equipment.
What makes me the grumpiest about flying and having CF is the fact that I must use all my carry-on/personal item allowance for medication and medical equipment. There’s no extra allowance with every airline I’ve ever used nor permission for early boarding simply so I can get space in the overhead bin for my costs-more-than-a-car medical device. I’ve asked and been denied several times. At this point, having a husband is a God-send, because even though he’s not legally allowed to speak for me or help me unpack/repack my stuff in the security line, he can claim/carry/lift/load/stow my vest for me as soon as I clear security.
Anyone have tips for air travel with CF? I have a doctor’s letter listing my medication/equipment that I’ll be carrying with me. I’ve also heard that pulmozyme/TOBI residue is likely what triggers the explosives test on my vest, so I’ll be giving it a good wipe down beforehand. Does anyone else worry that their freezy-packs for pulmozyme will get frowns/rejection by airport security, or is that me just overreacting? I think my anxiety is exacerbated by the fact that the airport we fly from (DFW) has the strictest security line (with grumpiest TSA workers, though Philly might be a tie) I’ve ever experienced.
I welcome tips, but going to preemptively say that leaving my vest at home is not an option I’m willing to consider. Being able to travel with it is the reason I forked over the money to upgrade my behemoth old machine for the cute, small one with rolley travel bag.
The week has flown by fast. I have not biked since Monday because my Old Lady Back has been bothering me. Is it from biking commuting last week? From the air pressure dropping? Am I just old? I don’t know. Possibly all of the above. I just hope it simmers down soon because…
-We’re driving up to my parents’ house tonight for my little brother’s high school graduation tomorrow.
-And there are 8 days until the big family Disney World vacation. I’m excited. I’ve made my list of things to pack and am waiting eagerly to see if my airplane carry-on strategy will work.
In the meantime, the week has been busy: Matt was home sick one day, we had a new dishwasher installed, a friend had a PhD defense dinner party/celebration, and I’ve been doing some shopping for/sewing of birthday presents for my sister-in-law & 5 year old nephew.
I’m home for lunch and ready to tackle the afternoon just as soon as I finish these scrambled eggs and cup of espresso. Who says breakfast can’t be for lunch?
Last week, I made the mistake of going swimsuit shopping. I say it was a mistake because there’s nothing quite like feeling totally satisfied with your body’s appearance then having it instantly ruined like trying on swimsuits. It’s worse than shopping for any other kind of clothes in terms of destroying your self esteem.
I tried on swimsuits because I thought as a 30 year old, it might be time to throw in the towel on bikinis. I’ve been feeling like maybe I’m a little too old to show so much skin in public now that I’m 30. I know that this is likely because most 30 year old women who wear swimsuits in public places have a small child (or 2 or 3) with them and opt for the “mom” swimsuit both for its functionality and because having a baby often takes a toll on your midsection’s visual appeal. So yes, society’s social cues are telling me “not so much skin.”
I was on a mission to find a little bit more modest two-piece suit—a tankini—because I felt a little too old for a bikini and am not as slender as I used to be. I might argue that I’d LOVE my body 5 pounds lighter, but my CF doctor (and husband) will tell me the prudence of my current weight. And 90% of the time I’m completely satisfied with how my body looks…until I see it on full display in a dressing room mirror in a swimsuit.
After trying on half a dozen swimsuits, I decided I hated my body and that everyone would ask if I was pregnant if I wore ANY swimsuit in public—conservative or revealing. (I am not pregnant by the way.) So I went home and did something I nearly always regret but knew would be the best for my self esteem—I ordered a swimsuit online so I wouldn’t have to try on any more.
It arrived today. I tried it on and it fit. But today I didn’t feel bad about my body and felt like it was über-conservative. I think I will bring both my conservative new tankini and my old skin-baring one on vacation. Is this waffling self-esteem because I’m now in my 30s? Is body image a valid reason to wish for a CF cure? It’d be nice to not “need” to be heavier than I like just in case I need a weight-buffer if I get sick.
Route: new high school out-and-back
Location: south College Station
Distance: 6.4 miles
Average speed: 14.5 mph
Weather: 90 degrees
On my iPod: A Feast of Crows
Today I felt really tired riding and it wasn’t very fun. Matt and I rode 11.5 miles Saturday (shorter than intended; I was tired/asthmatic) and took yesterday off. Today I really didn’t want to ride, but I’ve been coughing up a lot of gunk today and exercise helps me clear it out, so I made myself go.
My quads and upper body felt like lead. I thought my upper body was sore from housework (silly, since I do it weekly), but eventually I realized it was probably from wearing my backpack when bike commuting last week. My back was a little uncomfortable riding today as well.
I’ve decided I need to stop bike commuting for a few weeks. I think carrying a backpack + the fact that the reach on my commuter bike is an inch or 2 farther + the larger front gear is putting unnecessary strain on my back and aggravating it. I haven’t had back pain or hip tightness for the last 2 months riding and it has returned after one week of bike commuting.
A big reason to dial it back with bike commuting is that my family is taking a vacation to Disney World in 2 weeks. An aggravated Old Lady Back will make me miserable with all the walking/standing at Disney. Then a week after we get back from the Disney vacation, we’re making our annual trip up to Door County, WI to spend a week on the beach at Matt’s grandparents’ cottage on Lake Michigan. I’ve been looking forward to a back-pain-free trip where I can enjoy the great roads and scenery on my bike in Door County.
Anyway, I’m a little frustrated but glad I recognized potential causes of the increased discomfort. Maybe an easy week will be the cure-all?
-We grew these cucumbers in the garden. Most flavorful cucumber I’ve ever had. Could growing vegetables in our garden be the key to getting myself to eat more?
-I’ve bike commuted to work 3 days this week. The rides have been enjoyable and low stress and I always look forward to riding home. I think I have the snack situation worked out finally.
-It’s possibly related to ridding a different bicycle, but I have a hunch it’s not. I’ve been having weird joint aches again. I had them before my last round of oral antibiotics and then they disappeared completely. My hips, SI joint, knees, one ankle and both wrists have been painfully achy the past 2 days. Could be related to the bike I commute on (has a bigger front gear than my other bike). Hopefully the aches will resolve soon because the wrist pain last time was really annoying.
-Matt has been honored as his school’s graduation speaker this year. He was selected by the students. I’m very proud of him. He’s got about 2 weeks to write a speech.
-My little brother graduates from high school in one week. I’m feeling a mix of emotions ranging from really old to really proud of him. I’m 11.5 years older than him and it’s been such a great experience watching him grow up.
-Our dishwasher died. In my Earth Day post, I mentioned that it might save water to not use the dishwasher. A kind reader pointed out that the opposite is true: dishwashers (even my 20+ year old one) use less water than human hands could possible use to wash dishes. So now I’m shopping for affordable Energy Star rated dishwashers and debating whether installation is something Matt should attempt.
My bike commute was great! It was cool(er) this morning (73) so I only sweat minimally. I finished all my therapy and was out the door and at work precisely when I planned. All was well with the world…
…except I was hungry. Crazily hungrily. I even ate a bigger breakfast (scrambled eggs) and ate lots of snacks (salted peanuts, chex mix, dried berries/pumpkin seeds, chocolate chips, almonds, a protein bar, and a can of V8). And then when I got home we ordered Mexican take-out (my go-to high calorie dinner). I guess I need to double the volume of the snacks?
I felt really energized after my ride to work, and in spite of some unexpected Monday catastrophes (are they really unexpected on Mondays?), I looked forward to my ride home all day. Because biking is way more fun than working. WAY more fun.
What’s in my backpack:
-Bike lock
-Spare tube, CO2 cartridge, tire lever
-Wallet with ID, phone
-Front and rear lights
-Wipes for clean up when I get to work
-Deodorant, makeup, hairspray, comb
-Work clothes and shoes
-First aid stuff (bandaids, Advil, etc.)
-Lunch
-Double the normal amount of snacks
-Bottle of enzymes
-Nalgene bottle of water
-Salt tablets
-Glucose tablets
-2nd set of bike clothes for ride home
-Sunscreen
Am I forgetting anything?
Saturday Cycling
Route: IGN-Straub-Koppe Bridge
Location: Wellborn & west College Station
Distance: 16.9 miles
Average speed: 15.2 mph
Weather: 81, slight north wind
Number of horse farms: 1
Herds of cows colored like Oreos: 1
Flocks of geese chilling with cows: 1
We had company yesterday & today (Matt’s sister, her husband and our baby nephew). It was a fun visit, ending with Matt cooking lunch for everyone including his grandparents. After everyone left, we went for a ride even though we were rather tired from staying late last night and the lunch party. It’s been rainy the last few days, so we made the most of the sunny day.
This is the same route with the 2ish mile section of unpaved road and the horse farm we rode 2 weeks ago. I’m no longer going to call it a variation of the Dowling Loop (popular local route) since although 2 of the roads are the same, it doesn’t go on Dowling at all.
Each time I’ve ridden it, I’ve had a faster average speed. I’m getting faster and a little stronger on the hills. I was really, really winded today throughout the whole ride. We went faster on the first part so my legs were fatigued early on, plus it has been a more asthmatic day than normal. (It’s grass pollen time in Texas.) We stopped once about halfway through so I could rest a bit and visit with my horse friend. This picture is from the last time we rode this route, but the scene was pretty much the same today.
Wednesday Cycling
Route: IGN-Greens Prairie-Victoria
Location: College Station & Wellborn
Distance: 13.3 miles
Average speed: 15 mph
Weather: 70s, cloudy, humid
Number of gnats I found stuck to my body afterwards: dozens
Most common wildflower: black-eyed Susan (pictured)
Matt and I had a bike date after work. We haven’t ridden since Sunday. Monday we had dinner with Matt’s grandparents and yesterday it rained (hence the lower temperatures). Felt good to get out and exercise. There were no interesting sights or interesting conversations today. Just plain riding.
I finish TOBI on Saturday. It adds a bit of time to my morning routine in a way I cannot—even as a mature grownup 30 year old—manage to incorporate into my mornings without leaving my house 10-15 minutes later than normal. I just need/want too much sleep.
Anyway, next week I will try bike commuting to work 2 or 3 days. When I first started my job 4 years ago, I solely bike commuted for almost the first year. Then I kind of got worn out/tired/a little run down/less healthy and it began to wane. I haven’t biked to work in well over a year since the attack of the Old Lady Back in the fall of 2010.
I’m ready now. I’ve been waiting til after TOBI is finished so I can work out a new routine that gives me enough time. It will hopefully include packing my clothes/lunch/etc. the night before, waking up the 20 min earlier as if I were still on TOBI, AND leaving my house 30 min earlier than “normal” time. My bike commute takes 20-25 min and I’ll need some time to cool off/clean up before I’m work-ready. I’m excited.