Torture to my ears

I went with plan C on Friday. I ended up riding for 25 miles. Was a good recovery ride for the legs and kept it in a zone 2 for most of the ride. Only a few minor details made for a not so nice ride.

Saturday I got back on the bike for a 10 mile ride and a 4-5 mile run. There is a creaking sound that is coming from the bike while on the trainer. It has been bothering me and is getting loud enough that not even the headphones can drown out the sound. After about a mile of riding I decided that I was going to find the source of the sound before I did the workout. It was like Chinese water torture to my ears. After playing around with positions, tightening every bolt I could find, nothing worked. My husband lent a hand in trying to figure it out. We decided that I should change the tire. I was literally burning rubber off my current back tire. It was on the list of things to do but I was hoping to get through Dec before switching them out. I had purchased a cheap tire with the bike thinking I would use it right away for the trainer back in Feb. But really didn't do much riding indoors so it never got done.

So a lesson on changing a tire began for my husband. It was not a pretty sight. After finally getting the tire off the rim I was covered in black. Damn tire was literally disintegrating. Next step is to put the new tire back on. Now I have changed both tubes in my tires on my own. But never changed the tire out. The tubes that I have on the bike are thorn resistant. So much thicker than a regular tube. Combine that with a thinker tire and congratulations you have an impossible situation. I tried so hard with every muscle I had to get that tire to pop into the rim. Only had about 5 inches left and it was too tight. My husband couldn't do it either, which made me feel better. So now we take the tire off and switch out the tubes. Tried again and with everything I had and then with everything he had we finally got it on. Next step get the wheel back on the bike. Of course it's the back tire so it's much more difficult to line it up right. After a few choice words, stomping of the feet and basically a meltdown we got it on. Actually my husband did. I was so frustrated after this hour long episode. We had a mess to clean up. The floor had to be attacked with a vacuum, a magic eraser and a bottle of Windex. After all was said and done I got back on the bike for about 1 minute and could tell the difference immediately what a new tire feels like on the trainer. The torturous sound seems to be gone. However, I didn't really ride it long enough to be sure. I just couldn't I was too beaten up by the wheel.

Little did I know, I was more beaten up than I thought. After spending most of the day decorating the house for Christmas I sat on the couch that night in pain. The pain was from underneath my right shoulder blade. The kind of pain when you move your head it feels like someone poking you with a fork. God forbid I sneezed or coughed or even laughed. Friday night was awful. I could barely move. Shooting pains all night every time I would move an inch.

Well here it is Monday and I should be at the gym swimming, biking and running. I've gained 2 pounds last week with all the food and drinks over the holiday weekend. But no I'm at home waiting for the pain to go away. It's much better today but still sore. I think I exerted myself so hard with the tire that I strained a few muscles in my back. Tomorrow I plan on getting back to the gym. I need to get back in the pool. It's been too long.

Plan A, B or C?

Sometimes the best plan is not to have a plan at all. To take it day by day. Deal with what's given to you that day and nothing else. Out of the entire year I have to really concentrate on doing this now. I have spent the last two nights stressing over getting stuff done. And now that it is the day after Thanksgiving let the madness begin.

I never made it to the 5K. Weather was not what I call fun running weather. Cold, wet and a bit of snow on the ground. As the day went on it got even colder. So plan B was to go to the gym and get in a long swim before the kids were even up. But that cold day was staring me in the face at 6:30am and I just couldn't justify leaving. So now what, I didn't have a plan C. My ankle on my bad leg has been a little touchy the past couple of days so I thought that if I were to bike I may not be able to run on it afterwards for very long. So I decided to run first then bike for awhile. Plan was anything over 3 miles. If 4 felt good then maybe I would do 6. If 6 went well maybe just maybe 7. But I figured it would be about 4. Well I ended up running 13.1. Why? I'm not sure other than the fact that I could. The kids were asleep for most of my run. The husband kept me company for an hour of the run while he biked. By the time I was done there was no bike added to the day. I'll save that for this morning and give up my treadmill time to my husband who wanted to run yesterday but I hogged it too long.

So what's the plan for today? There is no plan. Not today. I may bike 10,20 or more miles, I may go out shopping and battle the crowds. I may go bowling. I might start unpacking the endless boxes of Christmas decorations. I might do all of these things or I may do none of these things. What I need to do is not get overwhelmed. I feel it in my body. It's rising to the top. I need to make sure I don't let it boil over. Been there done that and it's not pretty. Keep calm. The more I think about it I'd better start opening those Christmas decorations today.