My New Bike!

I would like to introduce you to my new bike! She is very pretty and a lot of fun to ride!

I'll be doing my first duathlon next weekend. I am very nervous about this event. I can see myself getting lost on the bike course. Yes, I did do something like this once before. I missed a turn and went up the biggest hill that I have ever seen in my life, only to learn once I was at the TOP that I should have turned before the hill. (That just meant that I got in a little extra exercise and got to eat an extra bite of ice cream that evening.)

Earlier this year I applied to be one of the new Trek Women Who Ride. This is a group of 5 women who are given new bikes and gear, and then blog on Trek's site for two years about their biking adventures. They did not select me... maybe I'll try again in two years. Tim and I will have some great bike adventures this summer.

I really love to ride my bike. I find myself freeing my mind of worries and becoming very relaxed. Tim and I also have a tandem bike. I love riding with him! He doesn't know it, but I sit on the back with my legs sticking out and let him do all of the work.

I would like to see a lupus supported bike ride. Chris, this is right up your alley!

Boston Marathon 2009

Tim ran in the Boston Marathon last month. He wrote a blog about our Boston visit, and you can see his blog here: http://timcsmith.blogspot.com/

I have to mention some of the incredible athletes that I saw in this race. First, I should mention that not just anyone can run in the Boston Marathon. You have to complete another qualifying marathon with a qualifying time, in order to participate in the Boston Marathon. Tim runs at about double my pace, so I think he is fast! When we saw the elite men and women runners run past us, my mouth had to be hanging wide open! These men and women make running look so effortless. We saw them at mile 10 and they looked like they were out for a Sunday stroll. It was amazing! I got a good shot of Ryan Hall as he cruised past me. In my mind he stopped and asked to kiss my cheek, saying that the Wesley College girls couldn't hold a candle to me. Check out this really neat video of Ryan Hall http://www.flotrack.org/videos/speaker/78-ryan-hall/170314-ole-ryan-halls-2009-boston-marathon-workout In it he explains why he loves running. It explains why his running looks so effortless. In a way I share his feelings. Although I don't run like he does, just the fact that I am able to run is amazing to me.

If you were wondering, I really did have an athlete stop and kiss me!

Okay, now for the athletes that I stole my heart. These men are amazing! The first picture speaks for itself! What amazing human spirit! The picture on the right is the father and son team known as," The Hoyts." This was their 1,000th race. You should take a minute to read about them.

http://www.teamhoyt.com/

Competing in the Boston Marathon I saw: a double amputee, a single amputee, a blind man, Team Hoyt, numerous wheelchair participants, and a man pulling a cart with oxygen tanks attached! This is only what was visible. I am sure there were many other athletes who had triumphed and were fighting an endless list of physical challenges. Congratulations to every one of them! It brings tears to my eyes to think about how courageous they are.

I wrote in my last blog that I believe one of the gifts of my lupus is the ability to see kindness and strength in others. These athletes inspire me to keep moving. My mother told me to always be sure to make myself get out and do things when I thought that I could because there would likely be days that I just couldn't make myself get motivated to move. I wonder if my mother knew just how powerful her words were. I wonder if these athletes' mothers gave them the same advice?

And The Doctor Says....

Iliotibialband Syndrome.

Fun!

Dr Debbie's Plan:
I may be down, but I'm not out. I'm not going to let a little pain stop me. This is nothing compared to the years of pain I have already been through with my ole pal lupus.

I'm resting. Ice is my new best friend. I'm stretching and using the foam roller. I have three sessions left with my trainer, and she is focusing on recovery. The only anti inflammatory drug that I can take is prednisone. I really, really, really don't want to go there again.

I still plan on doing my first duathlon this month.

Disclaimer - Deb is not a doctor, she only thinks she is when she reads articles on the internet. She did actually consult a physician for a second opinion.