Friday, February 17, 2012

When Life Gives You Lemons Go For a Bike Ride

WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA


Well, here I go again.

But this doesn't suck. Cancer sucks.

My knee has been hurting, especially when walking or running. I don't remember a traumatic injury - in fact, I don't think there was one. But it was always worse after I played Ultimate (sometimes incorrectly called Ultimate Frisbee). Since there wasn't an injury I just have to think how long this has been bothering me. Probably about 10 weeks.


I sucked it up. I took a deep breath. I manned up. I went to see my doctor.

My doctor did some range of motion tests and diagnosed it: Torn meniscus.

After the doctor visit I went for a bike ride. There is nothing better to clear the mind and just enjoy the ride. And it was a day that I went over 500 miles for the year -- on February 17.
Usually I have 100 miles or less by this date. My fast start? Maybe too good to be true.

I have no answers. I do have fear. Fear that at age 65 I will not be able to walk. 

I had foot surgeries in 2003 and 2004. And a torn meniscus in 2006.



Wonder what this means?
I have some cycling goals for 2012 -- Ride the Rockies. Mount Washington. Now I don't know.
But my doctor says cycling is the best thing I can do. So I will continue to ride. Even though it hurts.
I'm frustrated. I don't know what's next. But when life gives you lemons, go for a bike ride.



Saturday, February 4, 2012

The Best Ref in the World

RICHMOND, VA

While making a presentation about her experience at the last summer's Women's World Cup in Germany, Kari Seitz looked at me and asked, "are you a cyclist?"

I didn't hear anymore she said after that. If you want to get on my good side, just ask me if I'm a cyclist. Here I was in a referee workshop and she recognized me as a cyclist. I wasn't wearing spandex and she didn't see my legs. She saw a cyclist's body - no upper body, strong legs.

Or did she see my phone with its collection of jerseys on the covers?


"Did you bike up Alpe d'Huez?," she asked.

Damn. It was my phone. My phone gave me away.

But Kari Seitz, who is certainly the best female referee in the world, settled into a conversation with me about cycling. And she is a cyclist.

One of these refs is the best referee in the world
Kari told me that if she had retired from refereeing a couple of years ago she would have jumped right into racing. And I'm sure she would have been very good. To be a FIFA Referee you have to be near-world class in both sprinting and endurance running. Plus you have to be a good ref too.

I was able to tell her about my ride up Alpe d'Huez. I told her I have gone over 50 mph on my bike and she one-upped me. She has gone over 60 mph. On a tandem. Her husband is a Cat-2 racer and while they have their own bikes they also have a tandem.

Kari told me they like to go out for recreational rides on their bike and they often see some racer types intent on overtaking them. She said she has a signal and right before they get passed, they put the hammer down and leave them in the dust. She smiled as she talked about how demoralized it leaves them.

While I was somewhat disappointed that I couldn't ride today, meeting Kari Seitz and talking about cycling was a trade off I would make any day.