New Horizons

So our youngest boy, Joey is taking a "different" path to his interests than just the sports related activities we've, UM "guided" them into.

 As you can tell by his hair, he as an artistic bend to him. It was kind'a cool seeing him rock'in out with his 'band'.

Busy Summer

Too busy of a summer to blog. Sorry. Here's a catch up....

 

 

 

 

Blowing in the 4th

First backpack trip

Chill'n at camp

Chess camp

Cabin wedding (Cam and Jonna)

Soccer

More soccer- Maybe too much soccer- 8 tournaments !

Music Boot Camp

Beach volleyball/rugby play'in

Play'in

More Play'in

Fish'n

School Board work

Suprascapular nerve release surgery. (still waiting to see if better)

Rid'n with the Summit High School MTB team

Even a bit of racing

Tour de Cure 2012

Dot got a new job last month and her company was sponsoring the Tour de Cure for diabetes. So we decided to do the ride as a family. Thanks to a wonderful out-pouring of support from family and friends, as a family, we were able to raise over $1200. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

The family at the family camp getting ready for our rides.

Our big Champs Joey and Jonny.

 The boys each did 25 miles- Jonny in 2 hours and Joey and I in 2.5. The best thing about this was there was not ONE complaint- despite some serious wind.

Wifey looking good at about 96 miles- imagine how she looked at mile one!

Obligatory " Nice ride Honey" picture

We all had a great time as a family which was probably the best part of the whole trip. We are looking to do more. Stay tuned: donors.

Mesa Verde or Not?

I just found out my boy's second degree black belt test is scheduled for the same weekend as Mesa Verde. Uuuugh! What should I do?

Here's the conversation I had with him while I was driving him to practice. I had already thought it wouldn't be fair asking him, but I wanted to see what he would say.

I said, "So Jonny, I just found out your black belt test is scheduled the same weekend as my Mesa Verde bike race" And I thought: Which I've been wanting to do for several years and this is the first time I am able to do it.

I said guiltily, "So I was wondering do you need me there for your test?"

He said, "Need? No...."   He probably thought: Here we go again, he is going to bail on this great lifetime accomplishment of mine for a stupid race he wont even come close to winning.

I thought: Ouch! He is trying to sound tough to show me he doesn't NEED me there but probably wants me to be there.

I think: Even asking this next question is wrong.
But the weak me persists, "Do you think I should go to the race or stay for your test?"

He says, "You should go to your race"

I nearly cried.

True Grit- Take Two

Well I am going to try it again. Last year if you'll recall the first attempt at True Grit was not good for anyone. Can you say HYPO-THER-MIA? So now the weather seems better- but still calling for rain- and the forecasters suck anyway. But this year this race was questionable anyway considering my weak shoulder. Luckily biking doesn't entail TOO much shoulder strength ( I hope) and my strength has improved some. BUT I need to try. Even if I don't do so great I need to feel that I can still do something physical and at least pretend to compete. I HAVE to get out there. I guess we'll see what happens. Track me here: http://www.endomondo.com/event/3999426 if you are interested in seeing the race live.

Deja Vue

UPDATE Sept, 2012: Despite the ugly MRI, it looks like the damage is due to a suprascapular nerve impingement. I had it released about 6 weeks ago. The strength is just now slowly coming back. I am at about 50% on my lifting. I am back to boxing and training. Unfortunately, now knowing what my neck looks like I am hesitant to fight. We'll see.

In 2010 around this time I had some bad medical news. I messed up my right shoulder and couldn't make it for the first ICUP race. Well guess what? The first ICUP race is tomorrow in St George AND I am not going to be there. I have another medical problem- on the other side!

Here's the story-

We were down in Mexico last week- It was great by the way and I wish I would be blogging about that trip instead of this. Jonny and I had a great day of beach volleyball and all was well- until I headed to bed. All night, I had severe pain in my left shoulder keeping me from sleeping. I awoke with left shoulder weakness. I couldn't lift a half gallon of milk over my head. I've been having trouble with my left shoulder since I dislocated it 18 years ago (although this was the strongest it's ever been) so I thought maybe I tore my rotator cuff muscles. I wish.

This week I had MRI's of the shoulder which showed no tear and then of my neck. "CRAP!" says the radiologist as we sit down to read them together. My heart sank when I saw this.

I have disc herniation at several levels and its likely pushing on one of the nerves going to my shoulder thereby the pain, weakness and numbness. That was 10 days ago. I went to a non surgically oriented orthopedist so as not to influence a recommendation for surgery. He saw the MRI, looked at me and said, "On the outside you look like your 30 but your skeleton looks like it's 60" - Thanks doc. I think he was being generous on both ends.

Funny. The first thing that went across my mind was, "There goes your MMA career" No Duh! As if I ever had one!

So right now I am just waiting. Waiting to see if this goes away- not yet. Waiting to see how I can (must) tone down my activities. Waiting to see how I am going handle this psychologically. Waiting to see.....

We'll see.

Good Luck to all the Desert Rampagers tomorrow!

The Gym

This weekend I went biking in St George during Camp Linda (a loose gathering of MTB -fun- fanatics going on long rides everyday) It was great! I did over 90 miles of riding and felt pretty good considering I really haven't ridden since the last time I was down there (three weeks).

Interestingly, however, I kept catching myself thinking about how the biking was a good RECOVERY WEEKEND- from training in the gym- that is. As a matter of fact these two seemingly disparate sports activities mesh rather well together. I get really burned out in the shoulders and core during boxing and MMA training. I've also been doing a lot of Cross-fit workouts before the morning training sessions which work the quads a good deal. So by the end of the week my body just says "recover!". And biking works out well at that point. It is good cardio conditioning and changes the leg work out away from squats, running and jumping.

Here's a few pics of the gym for those who haven't been.

It's pretty new, nicely lit up and very functional

I love the boxing bags! You can really take out a lot of energy on'em!

The tires are a bitch when coach puts them in the cardio workout

Maybe someday......

THANK YOU MAD DOG RACE TEAM!

Thank You Mad Dog Race Team for a great 7 years! I was taken in as a very green beginner, and patiently nurtured by so many of you along the way. I have learned so much from so many of you. You became my trusting biking family I could depend on for support and for a push to work harder. But also for a hand up from my falls- which there were many. Along the way I developed incredible memories that will endure into senility (who knows maybe its already here).  A special thanks goes out to Keith, without whom there would not be a Mad Dog Race Team.

But at this time I must part ways with the team. And I hope it is only the team I leave and not the individuals I have made friends with. I have come to a fork in the road of mid life and changes seem necessary. For one, my fitness and mental focus has transitioned to MMA training. Where it will take me I have no idea, but with limited recreational time, biking has unfortunately taken a bit of a back seat. With that limited time my ride time will need to be closer to home. Therefore, to find riders nearby I have chosen to sign up with Team Revolution. Remember, I am only leaving the team NOT the individual members. I hope to ride with you all again soon.

Best wishes for another winning year to all!

Confession

When does a biker fall from the grace of bikers? I have a confession that I am afraid to make here. I've been hiding this information since the 24 hours of Moab. I am just not sure how to even begin. I don't want to lose the friends I've made in the biking world. But, to be fair to everyone and myself I have to come out. Here goes...

I have not ridden my bike since the last post on Thanksgiving. AND to make matters worse I signed up at a gym- to train- in mixed martial arts combat! I've been hitting people- like hard! And I think I enjoy it!
But I can't help it. I've gotten into it so much that I am doing twice a day work outs until I can't even move the next day and have to take a break. What is happening to me? I am sooo ashamed.

Am I worthy of being called a biker -even though I am probably the only one that calls me that?

Will I ever be accepted into the circle again? Can I face them without wondering what the real bikers are thinking of me? Feeling sorry for me? Or even AFRAID of me? Are they thinking of ways to convert me back (not that I am quitting biking)?

But as I write this at least I feel cleansed. I have been honest with everyone and myself. Maybe I will be accepted for who I am.

Who am I?

Maybe I'll find out this weekend. I am heading down again to St G. Just to ride- no fighting.