On Saturday, October 21, 2017 Cindy and I entered a new era of fitness. After the October 2016 Race in Clermont, I registered for this race. During the course of the year the arthritis in my hips got painfully worse and worse. It became clear that my running had become a painful jog. The Great Floridian features a number of options for racing. One of them is the relay. The race organizers were kind enough to allow me to change my individual entry to a relay entry, and the race was on! I would swim the one mile course and ride the 37 mile bike route. Then Cindy would take over the timing chip and run the 9 mile figure eight course.
Cindy here: I casually remarked that I could probably run the nearly nine mile loop as I had been running 6 miles most Tuesdays and Thursdays. So sure enough Clark signed me onto the relay. I felt confident that I could do it and it is all for fun and fitness right? Right! It got really hot by afternoon when I was to get started. I don’t really enjoy running in the heat, but I knew it would be hot and it is only for a couple of hours. No problem. I like to cheer on the volunteers as much as they cheer me on. It helps. By mile 5 I noticed my hands were starting to swell. Huh? I have never experienced this before. As soon as I finished I headed straight for the ice pool and plunged my hands in it. That took the swelling right down. Over all it was a great day. Next time I won’t spend all day on my feet in the heat. I will find a cool shady place to relax and wait my turn. I am still puzzled about the swelling, but it seems to be quite common among athletes.
Clark again: Well, it was a new experience for me to go from swimmer, to biker to sherpa. While Cindy and Maureen were out running in the heat I got the bikes put on the car then enjoyed watching the finishers come in. (That’s Cindy finishing for us in the above picture!) I swam the course in an identical time from last year, a little slower on the bike. Two interesting PRs. One climb and one downhill. I let the brakes out on the last descent into Clermont and it was exciting !! The climb was notable due to the heat. I am wearing my TENS unit on bike rides now. It does seem to help the L-4 and L-5 stay a little quieter and lots less sciatic nerve pain. Next up, May 2018 in Chattanooga 70.3. Swim 1.2 miles for me, then a 56 mile bike and Cindy a 13.1 mile run.
My take away: keep moving. Do what you can do. I love my wife ! Cindy knows how much I enjoy the races, and I am blessed to have a partner willing to join into the fray with me. Thanks Lucinda, you’re the best.
New Strategies
November 15, 2017 by admin • Uncategorized • Tags: 2018 Goals, Active Living, Arthritis Exercise, Diet, Exercise, Exercise for Back Pain, Fitness, Goals, Health, Health and Wellness, Health Wellness, Hurricane Michael, Nutrition, Personal Training, Resolutions, Running, Sadness, Swimming Workouts, Training, Triathalon, Try Something New, Vision, Walking, Weight Loss, Wellness, Workout, Workouts • 0 Comments
Cindy here: I casually remarked that I could probably run the nearly nine mile loop as I had been running 6 miles most Tuesdays and Thursdays. So sure enough Clark signed me onto the relay. I felt confident that I could do it and it is all for fun and fitness right? Right! It got really hot by afternoon when I was to get started. I don’t really enjoy running in the heat, but I knew it would be hot and it is only for a couple of hours. No problem. I like to cheer on the volunteers as much as they cheer me on. It helps. By mile 5 I noticed my hands were starting to swell. Huh? I have never experienced this before. As soon as I finished I headed straight for the ice pool and plunged my hands in it. That took the swelling right down. Over all it was a great day. Next time I won’t spend all day on my feet in the heat. I will find a cool shady place to relax and wait my turn. I am still puzzled about the swelling, but it seems to be quite common among athletes.
Clark again: Well, it was a new experience for me to go from swimmer, to biker to sherpa. While Cindy and Maureen were out running in the heat I got the bikes put on the car then enjoyed watching the finishers come in. (That’s Cindy finishing for us in the above picture!) I swam the course in an identical time from last year, a little slower on the bike. Two interesting PRs. One climb and one downhill. I let the brakes out on the last descent into Clermont and it was exciting !! The climb was notable due to the heat. I am wearing my TENS unit on bike rides now. It does seem to help the L-4 and L-5 stay a little quieter and lots less sciatic nerve pain. Next up, May 2018 in Chattanooga 70.3. Swim 1.2 miles for me, then a 56 mile bike and Cindy a 13.1 mile run.
My take away: keep moving. Do what you can do. I love my wife ! Cindy knows how much I enjoy the races, and I am blessed to have a partner willing to join into the fray with me. Thanks Lucinda, you’re the best.