Started off really sluggish, wondering if I should even try. But I was heartened at the start by my knees (knee-stabilizers) needing no time at all to warm up. I never did feel the urge to take a longer ride, but at least I came home more awake and alert than when I left. I noticed my breathing was heavier than I would have expected… as if I were still waking up. This in spite of having been out of bed for over an hour, showered, breakfast, etc.

Did all my exercises, and muscles felt stronger. I think the “collapse day” helped.

1:36 PM: Sleepy.

3:00 – Up from nap. Not really refreshed; chilled, so worked at computer in bathrobe for a while.

5:00: feeling somewhat recovered.

6:00: After two poached eggs and cheese and green beans, feeling a lot better.

0 miles – collapse day

Decent sleep, but woke up so enervated I couldn’t even stand the thought of making an effort. Whether it was fatigure, anxiety, or something else, I had less than no ambition. I stayed in my PJ’s until mid-afternoon, and then only got dressed because we wanted to go out to a movie.

Despite all that lazing around, when I sipped half a glass of wine at 8 pm, I felt suddenly pole-axed.

No problem getting to sleep soon after 10.

3.3 low-demand training miles

Good night’s sleep, awoke only a little sleepy. Knees felt good from the start;. This was so low-demand that it’s hard to see why it wouldn’t count as a rest day. I don’t see why I should feel stiff and/or tired tomorrow.

Did all my exercises, and my left leg is feeling stronger. But now, at 10, I feel only mildly energized.

A reluctant 3.5 training miles

It felt like a good sleep, but I woke up feeling really draggy, and didn’t feel like moving. And I was very stiff. But I loosened up on my ride, and felt better afterwards, with more energy. Did all my exercises.

My knee joints, on stairs, are gratifyingly limber.

Went down for HEAVY NAP from 2-3:30.

3.5 training miles, then to Winco on foot

Legs felt stiff from yesterday, and when we were walking to Winco I was just plain tired. But I did most of my exercises, and didn’t quite give in for a nap. Planned an early bedtime, though!

15.3 gratifying shopping miles

I started off feeling no energy (after what felt like a good night’s sleep) and about 5 miles out circled back, deciding to check my tire pressure. Back home I found my tires had only about 50 pounds! I inflated, and while I was here I made an egg sandwich. Took off again feeling 20 years younger! Tackled hills with gusto. Felt my left knee a little bit, but mostly I was marveling at how quickly my knee stabilizers warmed up, and how they felt as though they were fully engaged, and working, but not under any strain.

Came back and did exercises. No time to stretch.

Back from beach, 4.1 easy miles

The knee-stabilizers were comfy from the git-go. I’m thinking the rest may have helped, but also the walking on the soft sand.

The six days at the beach were mostly non-demanding strolling for an hour or two. My left leg often got stiff, but I’d find a way to stretch the hamstring, which kept me going. I iced my knee two or three every day. As I remember it, I wasn’t generally conscious of stiff legs – except after an hour or two in the car. (Not that they were’t stiff’ I just don’t remember being conscious of it.)

3.1 flat training miles

Felt better than yesterday. No time for details, heading for beach.

5.5 flat training miles

Mon Sep 10 – 5.5 flat training miles


Decent sleep. Felt good right from the beginning, and might have gone for a longer ride if I hadn’t been pressed for time.

PRACTICED SWERVING in parking lot to bet more of a feel for making tight turns.

Back home, did exercises and stretched, with shower soon afterwards. I had the feeling that if put off the shower, it would increase my stiffness.

Now, at noon, I feel pretty darn good – muscles, knees, and energy.

3.5 flat training miles

Knees warmed up better/sooner than yesterday, and steering is becoming more precise.

Exercises were easier to do, once home, than if I hadn’t warmed up on bike.

Stretched, did light carpentry, mowed lawn. Still, legs felt real stiff before my shower.

Unsettling stiffness and knee-unreliability during the rest of the day. Don’t know what to make of it, because when simply climbing the stairs, knees and legs feel like they’re improving.

THEORY, as of 8 pm: This daily ride, no matter how gently I take it, is making my legs over-tired, for lack of a better term. But somehow it doesn’t feel unhealthy. And since I very much want to be able to start off every day on the bicycle, since it’s a great warm-up and makes the other exercises go better, I’m going to keep it up for the next couple of days, on the hunch that my leg muscles will adapt – and my knee joints will survive.

Of course on Tuesday we’re off to the beach for six days, which means six days with no bicycle … and six days for the cycling muscles to rest. Which may be a good thing.

Then, when I get back, I can attempt it – cycling every day – again.

5.0 flat training miles

Slept well.

Knees took most of the ride to warm up.

Steering practice in Costco parking lot. Perfect for straight lines and tight turns.

Exercises (15 min) on return.

Light carpentry, followed by stretches.

Comfortable and alert the rest of the day!

Bad knee only hurt when I twisted it a little and the wrong spot took the weight. Muscles are everything!

2.7 flat training miles

Woke up feeling lots better than yesterday.

Started out earlier -- about 8:30.. Stretched a bit, because muscles felt tight. Once going, knee stabilizers were cranky, and only loosened up slightly as I went.

Back home, did exercises, minmal stretching. Then mostly sedentary until we...

Rode MAX downtown for more Tri-Met tickets. On my feet for an unexpectedly long time without discomfort, including 30-40 minutes on the MAX coming home. So something's better!

The bad knee: Muscles are giving it more support, now, at the same time as the joint feels as though it's deteriorating. The sensation is that the cartilage has worn through on the bearing surface(s) of the proximal area of the large bones. As long as the leg muscles are taking responsibility, there's no pain; but if they slack off, there's a sharp pain.

Whether my exercising has done damage, or simply caused temporary inflammation, I don't know. What I plan to do is stop the knee-hand kick jerk, (translation needed!) and do it slower, with an ankle weight. Meanwhile, keep up the ibu and icepacks.

Iced again before bedtime.

3.1 miles, flat and easy

Woke up feeling blah. Stiff and discouraged. Started leg exercises but aborted because it felt like it was doing damage.

Had planned to repeat yesterday's bike ride, but didn't feel up to it. Finally decided to ride out to practice control. Found sidewalk in Kohl's parking lot with line to follow. Conscious of control on the way there and back. It's helping. I can tell my precision is improving.

Meanwhile, my knees benefited, I think, from the easy flexion.

Back home, I did my leg exercises with no problem and stretched for ten minutes.

Still, I'm disappointed I couldn't ride more.

Later in the day, realized my legs were stiffer than yesterday. Yet they felt strong, up and down stairs, and my knees felt pretty good.

Iced my bad knee one more time before bedtime.

5.1 miles plus hike to Winco

The ride was (a) to test my ability to ride (almost) every day; (b) to keep my knees loosened up. So far, so good. My knees (especially my bad one) loosened up during the ride, and I could negotiate stairs better when I got back than when I left. As far as riding every day, it's too soon to tell, but my sense is that a five-mile ride could still count as a "rest" day -- eventually.

Afterwards: Left knee sore; iced it; sore after walking for mail; iced it again.

After supper, during couch time, I iced it twice more

11 leisurely miles in glorious cool sunshine

To 185th via Evergreen, egg sandwich at Subway, down 185th to Goodwill, half-hour shopping, on down to TV highway, back via Cornelius Pass and Baseline. Felt good the whole , on edge of worrying whether I I was "pushing it" but arrived home feeling that this is what I'd like to keep doing. Ride every morning.

Scrambled egg and yogurt on arrival home. Shower and stretching before lunch.

Few unpleasant aftereffects

Having ridden 3 out of 4 days, I would not have been surprised to have found myself excessively stiff and/or miserably fatigued, but I’ve felt good all day today, able to stoop and kneel to do chores, and not tempted to take a nap.

I hope to keep this up, and build on it.

10.2 mi. via Rock Creek Trail to 185th

Evergreen to Rock Creek Trail, followed trail to 185th. Longer hills than I’m used to, felt like good training.

PRACTICED CONTROL wherever I could by FOLLOWING PAINTED LINES (demanding!) and being ultra-conscious, on winding trails, of where I was and exactly what parts of my body the control comes from. (A lot of it is from the waist up to the rib cage!

Knees felt good once they were warmed up. Leg muscles gave slight burn around 8 miles.

Minimal stretching afterwards. Quick shower, lunch, and out in the car with Anne for shopping.

Later, suffered minimal stiffness. During afternoon, enough fatigue to sap ambition, but not enough for a nap.

Day Off

Travis here from 10-1, working with us on computers/TV; I did exercise leg exercises, and stretched once or twice. Good energy all day long.