As mentioned in my previous post, my daughter skinned her knee while bike riding with me over the weekend. It appears that this is becoming a problem of epidemic proportions. Last night I took my son out for a run/ride and as we were leaving the park, he fell and skinned his knee. He went down pretty hard; hitting is head against the ground. Fortunately we always wear helmets when we ride our bikes, because his helmet was clearly smashed in the front. He complained that his head hurt a bit and I can’t imagine how much worse it could have been without the helmet. He didn’t want to ride home, but I insisted he get back onto his bike if only to show himself that he can still ride. We ended the day with him racing me down our block to the front door.

This morning I suffered my own skinned knee. I also suffered two very fat lips and a cut along the upper. While riding in the park at 6am, some guy unexpectedly walked into my path and we both went down pretty hard. I suspect alcohol was involved. He appeared ok, but he wanted to wait around for an ambulance. I was fortunate to have my face break the fall. After about 20 minutes it finally arrived, whereupon he got up and easily walked over to it.

I debated on continuing with my ride, but decided it might be best if I went home and iced my lips. To add insult to injury, I slipped on the steps leading to my basement entrance and scraped my hand along the wall and smashed my lower back on the steps. Once inside, I was relieved to see the cut on my lip wasn’t too bad. Hopefully it won’t leave a scar. After I cleaned and iced it, I considered going out for my scheduled run. I figured I’d had enough cycling for the day, but I could still get in a decent workout. My wife recommended that I just forget about it for the day.

I am so disgusted with how things have been going with my training. It is not like I am just blowing off my workouts. Something just keeps getting in my way to accomplish them. I am starting to feel tired and demoralized. Maybe that is just what I need so I can get angry about it. Anger does tend to spur people into action.

I find myself getting foiled to get in my cycling or longer workouts. This is especially true since this past Thursday when I left work for my ride home and I discovered a flat tire once I mounted the bike. I had an evening affair to get to and the sky was imminently threatening rain, so I just bailed on the ride and took the subway home. I figured I wouldn’t miss the ride much, since I was scheduled for a 100 miler in Harriman with Todd the next day.

Friday morning however, I awoke to steady rain under a severely clouded sky. I watched the weather channel for about an hour before I finally succumbed to the fact that a Harriman ride was just not in the cards for the day. Instead I went to the pool with Todd where I swam around 3300 yards. It was an ok swim. I really couldn’t have done much more as I was slightly fatigued from swimming on Thursday morning. I took the rest of the day off and helped my wife with some errands.

I really had to get in a quality long ride, so I had not much choice but to go to Harriman on Saturday. For me to get in close to 100 miles, this meant leaving my house by 4:30am in order to start riding by 6am so I could be home for a 2pm soccer game. I sort of came close to that time, by starting my ride at 6:40am. The early start meant I was going to miss my daughter’s 10am soccer game, but I had to be home for my son’s for which I am the team’s coach. All during 80 minute drive I kept thinking how I just should have stayed home so I could have spent the time with my kids and seen both soccer games.

The only thing that kept me from turning around was the fact that I arranged with my friend Walter (WALTA!) to meet me up in Harriman. Walter had the luxury of a later start, since he was free from parental obligations until after 5pm in the evening. I was looking forward to the company, but I feared that I would probably be holding him back, since I knew he was in excellent shape this year.

I was climbing up to Tiorati Circle for the second time when Walter rode by me in the opposite direction. He came this way in order to meet me sooner rather than later. I was pleasantly surprised how early he was since I didn’t expect him for a while. I was also very impressed with how easily he started climbing the hill. I felt like I was towing a trailer full of bricks and Walter looked like he was being pulled up by a (skier puller). I rode with Walter several times last year and I could immediately sense how much stronger he is this year. I think he stands a good chance of qualifying for Kona this year.

During the 3.5 loops (45 miles) I rode with him, Walter would easily pass me when climbing. I would usually catch him on the down hills and at first when I passed him, I wondered if I was getting too far ahead of him. These illusions were quickly shattered. Every time I started back up a hill he would zip by me just as that thought was completed. I couldn’t even hang on his wheel during the straightaway’s.

Walter was encouraging throughout and I greatly appreciated it. After 5 loops and 70 miles, I’d had enough and was running out of time. I finished around 11:25. I could have squeezed in another loop, but then the stress of making it back in time for my son’s game would have been very high. I decided that it was best to end it early, rather than end it a little late. I felt an immediate psychological relief once I came to this conclusion. I was able to relax and drive home, instead of getting all stressed out trying to make it home on time.

After the game, I took my daughter to get a new bicycle. She graduated from a 16” wheelbase to a 20”. We didn’t have much time to ride it, since we all went to a Red Bulls game at the Meadowlands. All the kids that were part of Brooklyn Ayso got to walk on the field. Since I am a coach, I was able to join them. It was pretty cool to walk on the field. The Red Bulls won, which capped off a long and fulfilling day.

Sunday I set out to do a 20 mile run. My daughter wanted to join me on her new bike, but I was leaving a bit early for her. I couldn’t wait for her since we had a family affair to attend that started at high noon. I went ahead of her and told my wife to call me when she was ready. I ran about 8 miles when my phone rang. Fortunately I was close to home and after 10 minute delay to get her out the door we headed back for the park.

We were keeping a pretty good pace, when we happened upon a classmate of her brother’s, who was riding his bike with his parents. His mother rode, while the father ran. I started talking to them about getting the boys together for a run/ride when the boy’s father ran in front my daughter, whereupon her front wheel hit the back of his foot. She pooped off the bike and skinned her knee. This pretty much ended the run. She howled in pain for the slow ride back to our house. By the time I dressed her wound, I was stiff, sore and didn’t have much time left. The 12.3 miles I got in would have to do.

I spoke to my coach later in the day to explain why my run was shortened. He told me not to worry about it and that as long as I felt good while I ran, that the lack of distance really didn’t matter. At some point though, I really have to get in my longer workouts. If only just to prove to myself that I can still do them.