Manda's Century: Ppphhbbbtttttt

This is another week of not riding. I can see my bike sitting in my den, still muddy from my last ride.

I have been trying to get more sea salt into my diet, eating right and taking all my supplements and medications. I decided it was better to rest until a couple symptoms go away rather than trying to push it at this time. It's a crappy choice.

One of the common symptoms is a feeling of not being able to breathe, like your chest has bands around it not letting you expand to get enough air.

The fatigue is also out of this world. I have a lot of trouble getting up in the morning and getting to work without closing my eyes. A common thing people do is drink more coffee, but, caffeine cannot fix fatigue. In fact, it make things worse because your body gets a jolt and then a crash and to compensate the adrenals have to work harder.

I have been eating more plums and peaches which seem to help. I do not have an appetite or much of one. I make sure I eat some plain roast chicken with a veggie, some rice noodles, apples, peaches, plums and popcorn during the day. The key is to eat things that slowly raise blood sugar rather than cause any type of crash.

I am worried still about this century. I only rode 50 miles twice in my career and right now, I have basically not ridden for two weeks. I want to be able to do this but I am scared about what is going to happen when I start riding on September 29th.

*fingers crossed*

Manda's Century: By My Bootstraps

The adrenal fatigue has got me. Like the Matrix. . only less fun.

I have my serious doubts about being able to complete this century at this point. When I tell this to people, they brush it off with some type of kind words or something otherwise useless. Not that I don't like support, but, being that I am the only person I know with the condition I have, I don't think I can get much support from anyone but myself. It's not a matter of will, it's a matter of if my body will shut down or not. That's a medical thing, my will or how in shape I am has nothing to do with it. 

Hell, I'm still trying to figure it out. Come on magic!

I might be able to pull it together and ride the century, but I am very worried about the consequences. I think I might end up requesting off for that Monday after, just to be safe. I am also debating my at what point will I have to pull over and stop. I am thinking when I start to struggle to breath.

Due to the AF, I have a lot of digestive issues and immunity problems. I have to watch what I eat and most foods I have been using as fuel are completely out. It's another struggle. 

I gave myself a week off, hoping getting back into it would inspire my system to behave. This hasn't been the case, unfortunately. Even as I sit here writing, I am having some trouble breathing and neuropathy from my ride yesterday. This might take days to recover from.

I did have an amazing discovery, though. Sea salt. Since my body gets ride of salt faster, and I don't eat much salt, I read up on being salt deficient. I tried a little and felt a lot better. So, now I'm all salty and ready to rock.

Rides

This is what I got in this week - a small 20 miles when I should be doing 80 or so. And, no, this is not a mistake. My long ride ended up being far shorter than my short ride. 

Short ride

Long ride

Falls

I also had my second fall. However, I landed in mud. A lot of mud. I was even much smarter about it - I saw the huge muddy area and picked a path already created. I unclipped should I need my feet and went in with a slow but determined pace. My problem was, my bike shifted and I pressed down on the pedal and clipped in. Then feel on that side. 

This pack was on my back the whole time

 I was basically submrged in mud. However, BEST FALL EVER. The mud was so deep, it was quite soft. 

A lot of people also said this didn't look like mud. I don't know where you all are from, but, depend on the minerals in the soil, you will get different colors. Really. Check out the Munsell Color System

Forward

I am not sure if I should take another week off. I have been thinking it would be best to do rest and try to recover rather than go through these horrible rides and horrible after affects. I'll figure it out. I still have to balance life with all of this. 

I would never back out of the century, of course. I don't know if I can complete it, but, I am certainly going to try - until my body reaches the point when it will give out and leave me broken for a couple months. Good thing I invested in my Road ID tags
. 

Manda's Century
You can follow my biking adventures by checking out my Manda's Century Ride page. It lists (in convenient bullet form) the lessons I have learned and has links to each of my biking related posts.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Manda's Century: Back to Business

I went out for my first ride since July 28th on Friday. Thursday was my pick, but it was raining. I aimed for Saturday, but I had a family function to go to. Friday it was!

Slow rider

I thought 20 might be too much. I thought 10 would be a good mark. I did 15. Yays!

Mental State
I get a lot of people saying "you can do it" but it doesn't mean much to me because few people understand what I go through and the uncertainty of it all.

The ride did not start off good, I went to put air in my tires and now firmly believe I do not know how to work my air pump. I can't figure out how to clamp it on the tire without letting out all the air in about 5 seconds. Then I can never get it attached right to pump the tire up really well. Normally after about 20 minutes, I get it. I really need to work on this.

I tried to get into the mind set of just going out and having fun. Let me tell you, when your body is shutting down in certain parts, few things are fun. It was also very humid. But, once I got going, I felt pretty good.

Lessons Learned
My hands went numb after about 7 miles, this numbness had been there almost all the time and my break fixed it. I did some research during my "down time" and learned how in the valley of your palm you have tons of nerves. I also learned you have to keep your wrist straight to avoid worse damage. I don't think my wrists are straight when I ride and I can't really keep off my palm.

And my feet always go numb in the clippy-shoes. I'm not sure if they don't fit or I am set up wrong. I don't think I will figure it out anytime soon. It cost upward of $300 to get the whole clippy set-up and I am pretty sure I don't get returns or anything on it at this point.


Manda's Century
You can follow my biking adventures by checking out my Manda's Century Ride page. It lists (in convenient bullet form) the lessons I have learned and has links to each of my biking related posts.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.

Manda's Century: About September

Hi. Sorry. Hi.

It's a large

I know I missed a posting last week about my Century because, well, first I was lazy and then I didn't have much to report that didn't sound like a lot of self-pity. Now, I enjoy some good self-pity as much as the next person, but, I knew it would go away in a day or two. Then I was just lazy.

I also got my MS shirt - that'll perk up a bad mood. Knowing I am supporting a good cause is enough to make me forget my little issues.

Rides
My rides have been going as good as can be expected. It kills me to turn down offers by the Tour DaVita people when they go out for their training rides because there is a good mix of advanced and beginner riders. I feel helpful giving out tips I know when it comes to endurance riding and it's nice to be challenged by those who are more fit and compete in events.

• September 3: I did 24 miles, but RunKeeper crapped out or I didn't hit "Start Activity."
• September 16: I got out for 16.32 miles and felt pretty awful the next day. I had a late start since my ride on the 3rd was in the rain - a downpour! I had brought my clippy-shoes in to dry. Then when I was ready to head out, I found I forgot them and had to go back home to get them. I was tired the next day. Then again, I was on my feet for about 4 hours. 
• September 8: I did 32 miles. I was hoping to do 30, so, 32 was a nice surprise. I feel pretty good. We'll see how tomorrow is.

Keep in my, my super-official training schedule says I need to be doing just under 30 for my short-rides and 50 for my long rides. Urg. 

Proof!

Lessons

I worry about my adrenals - a lot. I worry about what this ride is going to feel like days after. After the ride today, though, I have some hope. Things seem to be going well. I cut out my morning muffin because I think it might have some canola oil in it and I am staying away from PopTarts.

I can't have canola oil - messes me up. I tested positive for a sensitivity to it. Canola oil is also part of "vegetable oil" so anything with veggie oil I try to avoid. 

I will bring a ton of my gels to my century and make sure to avoid any baked goods or cookies or anything. Things like peanut butter can have veggie oil in it. Fruits are good and those gel shots. That's what I am going with. 

I also learned about drafting. Drafting is where cyclist ride one right behind the other. The cyclist in the front is actually doing most of the work and the cyclists behind can take a break while still crusin' along. Since I have been riding by myself, I never got to really feel this or understand it. When I was out with the Tour DaVita, I got behind our strongest rider and I did notice it was easier to keep up. Less wind and all that. 

Mind you, right before this, Scott (the dude I was drafting on) almost fell into me when we hit a patch of thin mud on the trail. 

Scott: Wow! I didn't see that mud. My back tire slipped a bit. I would have totally taken you out.
Manda: I would have failed that trust fall.

It was the other guy we were riding with, Paul, who asked about drafting, I believe. As Scott said, the rider behind has it about 75% easier. Wow.

My lesson here is, when I am riding this Century, to use drafting when I can. That will give my system a much needed break while still being able to book some miles. I figured, I can take my cortisol pills every rest stop along with some licorice extract for extra support.

Lesson Two: Drafting Etiquette!
When I was out at the end of August, just trying to enjoy biking and build my confidence back in my body, I came up behind a large fellow going at about 12mph. I was trying to stay at 14mph or lower. I ramped up to about 16mph to pass him (with a hearty "ON YOUR LEFT!") and passed him.

I would like to also say I love it when I see husky/fat/unfit/curvy/etc people out on the trail. I think it's great they are out there doing something to improve their health and to enjoy this wonderful trail and nature. I think it would be creepy, but, I totally want to yell some encouragement every time I see someone trying their best. I think it would be creepy.

Anyhow, I past this fellow and kept at my good clip to put some distance between us before I would go back to about 14mph.

Then I hear it. Noise.

Sometimes when you are working out, you make some rather perverted sounds. This is what I heard. "Whot. Phew. Yeah! Mmm. Hurmp! Urg!"

Whoa. I glance behind and see he is right on my tail. Right there. If he wasn't so bulky, I might not have been able to see him. This made me so uncomfortable. I am a lone girl on this path and there is no one around. I also don't know him. I don't like that he is there. I don't.

I jam it up to about 18mph in hopes that I will lose him or he will get the hint and back off. After all, pacing is key. More noise and he is right there. At one point, I guess to be nice, he warned me of a parked truck half way on the trail.

Yeah, ok, buddy. Now back off my butt!

Nope, he stays and I just push on hoping he is really out of shape and has to drop off. I can't even drop back because he is moving from directly behind me to a little too far to the left. I don't know where he is so to drop my speed to drop behind him would probably end badly. I'm really glad I just raged on rather than trying something. He did not know any biking etiquette.

I came up behind a group of riders who were out for a casual ride. I slow up a bit and get read to pass. My chunky friend pulls up awkwardly by my rear tire preventing me from passing the group in front of me and turns off on another track leading to a parking lot. In his haste, he makes me slam on my breaks, does not announce himself and cuts off two oncoming cyclists.

He let out a "WOO!" as he did.

Yeah, real great, dude.. You were on my ass without asking me, used my "jet stream" and then almost caused a major issue when you decided to turn off.

Now, the last time some guy was on my ass, he was nice enough to pull up next to me - with a good distance between - and say he was not stalking me but just going in the same direction and he didn't want to freak me out but we were going about the same speed.

He was good guy. Wished me luck on my century when I told him I was in training for it and eventually we broke off on separate paths.

I told Scott about this and he agreed it was rude to draft off someone you don't know without asking or saying something.

Etiquette, people. Etiquette

Manda's Century
You can follow my biking adventures by checking out my Manda's Century Ride page. It lists (in convenient bullet form) the lessons I have learned and has links to each of my biking related posts.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion..

Manda's Century: Sum of All Fears

Well, I didn't ride this week. I went to the doctor My adernals are not doing good and I also had the begining of a Candida infection in my digestive track. I didn't eat for about four days, nothing substantial since my stomach hurt so much. In fact, today I ate a good breakfast and it feels like there is a weed wacker in my tummy.

After my rides last week, you can check it out in my Manda's Century: Maybe I'm an Athlete? post, I was not doing well and things only got a little worse after. Good thing I had the appointment.

The good news is, a lot of my digestive problems have settled after being on the meds for a couple days. That's nice. Now I just need to stop needing to fall asleep all the time. After all, I have about 7 weeks to get in shape and ready to go for my century.

So, this was the sum of most of my fears, an adrenal crash that ends my ride.

Of course, I will be there and I will ride it. Just not sure how much medication and supplements I will have to be taking in order to finish and if I will be functioning after.

I am hoping to gently start riding next week - some times I am more hopeful about this than others. I did take off Monday and Tuesday from work hoping to spend a good deal of time resting and recovering.

Did I mention my parents did get me a Madonna del Ghisallo charm for biking? This is the patroness of cyclists.

Every little bit helps

Manda's Century
You can follow my biking adventures by checking out my Manda's Century Ride page. It lists (in convenient bullet form) the lessons I have learned and has links to each of my biking related posts.

Be Part of the Adventure
Do you have a suggestion or want to see me attempt something? Drop me an email at AdventuringAmanda@gmail.com with your suggestion.