22.4 miles – got my zest back!

22.4 miles, 2:23 rolling, 3:50 overall.

It’s been two weeks since my last ride (Tues Jul 17) and I think the time off did me a world of good. I felt stronger today than at any time this year, both in my muscles and in my overall stamina. Toward the end, my leg muscles felt tired – as though they were getting a real workout – but somehow it was a healthier feeling than it has been so far this year.

On hills, I actually felt like putting out, aerobically and leg-wise. On the whole ride, instead of husbanding my energy, I felt like cutting loose, and getting some exercise.

Whatever the mechanism, I was clearly more rested. Maybe it was the week of being off the bike and making minimal physical effort. Perhaps it was simply the break from routine, getting out of my rut. Not that music camp wasn’t demanding. For the whole six days, I was “on duty” from the moment my alarm went off until I turned in at night. Not a moment for woolgathering, and plenty of times when anxiety was running so high that I could feel it in my veins.

But there were many good strokes and moments of joy, and I think these tended to unkink me in a way I hadn’t been able to manage here at home.

I did the normal protein loading during and after today’s ride, but haven’t stretched. (It’s 5pm) and I may not get around to it.

WALKED, DRAGGING, TO WINCO

I started the day with a half hour or more of gentle stretches of my legs, concentrating on the long muscles, especially the calves and hamstrings. I did it with the idea of limbering up my knees, which have been increasingly cranky. It seemed to help – and suggests I might benefit from doing a lot more of it.

It was hot and muggy when we left for Winco, and I felt extremely enervated. It didn’t get much better as we went -- and on the way back, we stopped to rest three or four times.

My energy picked up, some, during the day, but not much. Stretched some more, and took it very easy.

This will be the last entry for a week, while I’m at music camp.

THIRD REST DAY AND NOT RECOVERING

Definitely a low-energy day.  Considered (briefly) walking to Winco, but decided agaist it.  Stayed as inactive as possible, cleaning up desk work and starting to pack for music camp.  Tried for a nap but couldn’t drop off.  Very glad I decided not to ride.

SECOND REST DAY

So-so sleep, woke up feeling a little tired from yesterday’s carpentry, but not too stiff. Did a little painting and mowed lawn before going to Freddy’s to shop for stuff – where my legs got extremely tired. Almost shaky.

4:30pm – not much energy. Legs stiff and tired. Thinking I might not ride tomorrow. Especially since it calls for showers throughout the morning.

REST DAY

9:00 AM: So far, so good. Good, restful sleep. Surprisingly little stiffness, now. Looking forward to doing some light carpentry.

Later – Spent almost three hours on my feet doing light carpentry this morning, without distress. Lots of bending and stretching. No nap.
Three hours in afternoon working with Travis, computer consultant. On my feet for brief intervals without stresss. Good energy.

21.7 miles

REST DAY

During the night I was aware of how tired my legs were. I was tempted to take an ibuprofen, but decided against it.

Once up, I noted that the muscles in my legs and feet were stiff and felt tired. Yet when I went back upstairs and tried going up two stairs at a time, I realized my legs were actually stronger than I expected.

MAYBE A LITTLE STIFFNESS/SORENESS ISN’T A BAD THING? After all, I’m not having that overall heavy fatigue feeling, sleepiness and needing a nap. So I’m not getting OVERTRAINING SYMPTOMS. Following this thought, I might try a HARD RIDE TOMORROW, whether my muscles are still a little tight or not.

Late morning, PRONE STRETCHES: 15 min with legs up the wall followed by another 15 minutes on stomach and elbows, arching back. Beginning to wonder whether my leg problems have to do with compressed nerves?

6pm – Saw Dr McAninch this afternoon. I told him my thoughts on this, and he’s going to review the spinal imaging I had last year to rule out spinal stenosis, but otherwise he seems in agreement that my increased vitality is traceable to the reduction of lisinopril, and that hard training before all stiffness goes away is a valid approach. “As long as the stiffness has started going away,” is, I think, how he put it.

PLAN: MORE STRETCHING. I had sort of backed off of stretching, due to lack of energy. I’ve been generally more in favor of a nap than stretching. But with improved vitality, I probably can develop and maintain a decent stretching routine.