Bad news (century training)

[skywalkerbeth]

Hi

Well, the bad news isn't related to my legs/back etc.

I took a wkd off due to my Achilles, and, because I went to France for one week that was another two weekends. I wasn't concerned about that because the extra two weekends off were a good idea given how my achilles felt. I am back and was rarin' to go. Achilles and everything feels great.

This wkd was to be the re-startup. I would have four more wkds to prepare, with my last long ride being 41 miles three weeks ago. I figured I wouldn't have lost everything in three weeks. On vacation I was walking morning to night but no biking.

I had a medical emergency yesterday related to a chronic eye condition. Very serious, very grim and I won't know the prognosis until this weekend. Aggressive treatments with daily doc visits and I'm not allowed to leave the house which means no biking.

This means FOUR WEEKS off the bike, and when I resume only three weeks to prepare and then the ride on Oct 15.

I feel pretty good about doing a metric century, I think. I can get ready for 60 miles in three weeks I believe. Really not sure about 100 now. What do you think, based on your own experiences?

[Titania]

I don't have any advice for you, but I just wanted to lend a little verbal support. Hang in there. I'll keep you in my thoughts for a quick recovery so you can be back on the bike again soon.

[tulip]

Take care of your body (including your eye!). There will be other centuries. A century after four weeks off the bike would be tough for me. Is there a shorter option? Or would your doc allow you to exercise on a trainer?

Best wishes for your eye

[jusdooit]

First I'm sorry for all you troubles. Now to your question, only you know what your fitness level is, so it's difficult to know how well you'll do. I would probably be fine doing the metric. Do you have a trainer? I think I would use a trainer to try to maintain some of the fitness. I know it's not the same but it should help.

[Caddy]

Second the trainer idea - although I'm not sure if you have to keep the sweat out of your eyes too? Probably, but you can go lightly on the trainer.

Also, is there a time limit on this century? If you could go slower and take some breaks, it might be more manageable.

[sarahkonamojo]

IMHO a century is all about the training. Not that you can't do it without properly training, but it will be much more comfortable if you are prepared. A century can be an ordeal. It also might aggravate your existing challenges.
I'd suggest looking into shorter ride options for the same day. Perhaps starting with the group but intentionally not finishing.
As Tulip said, there is always another century to ride.
S

[OakLeaf]

Oh man. Hope everything goes well with your eye.

... for me it's easy, when things go wrong, to cling over-tightly to plans I'd made before. The century isn't the most important thing in your life right now. Obviously you want everything to be back the way it was, but first things first. Let your eye heal. Do what your doctors say that you can to maintain your fitness. Re-assess when you're allowed back on the bike.

[indysteel]

Oh man. Hope everything goes well with your eye.

... for me it's easy, when things go wrong, to cling over-tightly to plans I'd made before. The century isn't the most important thing in your life right now. Obviously you want everything to be back the way it was, but first things first. Let your eye heal. Do what your doctors say that you can to maintain your fitness. Re-assess when you're allowed back on the bike.

+1. If you can safely get back on the bike in a few weeks' time, then try for the metric. There will be other centuries. Having done centuries with not-quite-adequate training and others with more than enough, it's far more fun and motivating to do them when you're adequately trained. Save your goal for next year when your eye is healed.

And I sincerely hope your eye does heal. Keep us posted.

[skywalkerbeth]

Hi everyone

Thanks for the nice thoughts.

I think Oakleaf nailed it. I'm not fully believing this is happening yet, with my eye. It's my bad eye, so it's not like I would be losing a fully functioning eye. But still.. I just want this to be over with.

[grey]

I second the reminder that there will be other centuries. Take care of your body.

[turbojackie]

I agree with everyone else, take care of the eye!! Good luck and let us now how it goes!

[Sardine]

Just wanted to wish you well and hope you heal soon.

[bmccasland]

Hope you're feeling better and get to go out to play soon! :p

[Owlie]

There will be other centuries to ride. Take care of your eye. Hopefully everything goes well with it. ((hugs))

[skywalkerbeth]

Thanks everyone. It's nice to come home from the doctor's and see positive thoughts coming my way. I have some good news but some bad news.

The good news is that the current eye problem is responding. It's slightly better but it's going to take a while to get out of the woods.

The bad news is that my good eye, the other one, apparently has some thinning in the back of it which leaves me at risk for a retinal tear or detachment. He's a retina specialist and decided to look at both eyes.

What this means, apart from the fact that it's bad news, is that after this other eye is healed enough (2-3 weeks) I am going to get laser surgery to "tack it down" so that it won't break free. I am not allowed on my bike until well after that has healed. Which means sometime in October. I'm not going to even do the metric this year I don't think.

He didn't make the good eye sound ominous unless I get head trauma or something. He thinks that once we tack it down I'm going to heal up and be OK. But I'm grounded.

Sigh sigh sigh. Well, the bike is there and ready to go, as soon as I am.

Thanks again everyone. I really do appreciate it. Sorry so short here, I'm reeling a little bit I think. I'll be OK, just a lot to process. Scary. A close call. Maybe getting dragged in for this bad issue was a good thing or they would not have seen the retina issues?

[indysteel]

((((Beth)))). How scary. I hope the surgery helps. One of my childhood memories is of my brother's own detached retina. He was only 18, but is horribly myopic. I've been schooled in the risks and warning signs for years. I've had a few scary moments myself thanks to my own horrible eyesight, but thankfully, my retinas are still intact. Now I have to worry about the effect of Graves' Disease on my eyes, along with a host of other vision problems. So, while none of my problems rise to the level of detachment, I do sympathize. Take care of yourself; the bike will be there when you're ready for it.

[OakLeaf]

(((((Beth))))) Good luck with the surgery and the healing. You'll be back, and your bike will be waiting for you.

[Velocivixen]

You know that saying about when one door closes, another one opens....
Please take care of yourself and your vision. It's priceless. You will have so many other opportunities to ride centuries and other rides. Now you will slow down...smell the roses. We will be here for moral support and good energy.

[Crankin]

Take care of the eyes first! Your bike will be waiting when you can get back to riding.
But, just remember, some of us never "train," we just ride. And that is exactly how I prepared for the one century I have done. My longest ride was 65 miles and I managed to complete the 103 miles in 6.5 hours, with no apparent ill effects.
Just saying...

[DarcyInOregon]

Another perspective is that biking a century is for the cyclist to have a goal of doing a more difficult ride than usual, to test the cycling fitness with respect to age and health. But it doesn't have to be a century, because a 30-mile ride can be a test of fitness with respect to age and health also, depending on the individual. Now that you know about your eyes, set your goals for next year, and the length of the rides will be related to your health during 2012. A half century or metric is just as monumental to complete as a full century.

Here is what I mean. On September 10 I was one of four Tour de Cure cyclists who volunteered to man Rest Stop #2 for Step-Out Portland, the event for walkers to raise money for the American Diabetes Association. The rest stop was at mile 3.5 of the longest route of 6 miles. Many of the walkers were insulin dependent diabetics, and though for us, the volunteers at the rest stop who are distance cyclists, a 6-mile walk is hardly any effort, for these diabetic walkers completing 6 miles was monumental, equivalent to the volunteers biking a difficult century. We were proud of the walkers, out there in the heat doing their best.

That is what it is all about. The fitness fluctuates from year-to-year and the biggest factor is health. A half century or metric one year is just as significant as a 30-mile route or a full century on another year. In other words, like others said, there are more centuries in your future and if not, there are shorter bike rides or other activities to test the boundaries of your fitness. Good luck!

[smittykitty]

Beth, so sorry about your eyes. But as everyone has said: Take care of them. It sounds like you have a very good doctor taking care of you.

Bikes are very patient, they will be waiting and ready when we're ready for them.

And well said Darcy.

Healing thoughts to you.

[Nick]

Oh my goodness. Scary stuff. Eyes are precious, take care of yourself. Biking can wait... you'll be ready, stronger and in full force once you get through all this. Retinal medicine can do wonders, nowadays. Wishing you a rapid healing.

[skywalkerbeth]

Hello everyone

Thank you for all the good vibes! I'm in a much better mood today. The bad eye is slowly improving, and, I asked the doc today about the "good eye" which has the retinal issue. There is only one "thin" spot that he saw, so far, and it's at the bottom which he said is the best place to have it if you are going to have it. Gravity will help.

I cannot get it "tacked down" (think of a tent you don't want to flap all over, you nail it down) until my bad eye heals up more than it is.

But I still cannot risk it. There is too much at stake. I am blind in one eye (the bad eye) and the good eye is the only one I have.

Indy, so sorry to hear about the Graves disease! What is the prognosis, is it mostly under control?

Vixen, I think that someone must be watching out for me. This would never have been discovered if my "bad eye" were not bad enough to warrant being sent to this specialist. Must have been a reason.

Crankin, that is a great time! I was hoping to finish in 8 hours. I guess this time off gives me a huge head start for the next year's rides...

Darcy, those are great points. And I know how tough exercise is when you have diabetes, both of my parents have it and when we go do things we have to keep a constant eye on their blood sugar.

Everyone, thank you again, I was really down yesterday. I feel better today and I'm going to be well ready for next year!

[ny biker]

There are also plenty of other rides you could do before the Sea Gull next year -- various metrics and half-metrics -- to help you get in shape for it and have some fun along the way.

I like these alot --

http://endhungercalvert.org/bike/

http://www.ohbike.org/events/rural_legacy_eflyer.html

They are both in southern Maryland, on the western side of the Chesapeake, if that's not too far from you.

[skywalkerbeth]

ny biker, I will be looking for other rides so thank you for the heads up. I had the Seagull on my mind because it seemed like a good "first century" because it is flat, and, I have several friends who are riding in it.

I didn't mention this earlier, but, the reason the "good eye" issues are freaking me out so much is that I am blind in my bad eye. Meaning I only have one eye that actually works. If the good eye goes bad, I am SOL. For real.

The bad eye started going bad in my mid-20s, and at the risk of sounding like "poor pity me", 45 is a bit young to be going through all this bullshit with the other eye.

[tzvia]

Oh my, plenty of time for cycling later, yes take care of yourself first. Vision is priceless. Hope you get better soon.

[tulip]

ny biker, I will be looking for other rides so thank you for the heads up. I had the Seagull on my mind because it seemed like a good "first century" because it is flat, and, I have several friends who are riding in it.

I didn't mention this earlier, but, the reason the "good eye" issues are freaking me out so much is that I am blind in my bad eye. Meaning I only have one eye that actually works. If the good eye goes bad, I am SOL. For real.

The bad eye started going bad in my mid-20s, and at the risk of sounding like "poor pity me", 45 is a bit young to be going through all this bullshit with the other eye.

Thinking of you, Beth. I, too, am blind in one eye (since I was 17; I'm 43 now) and take extra care of the good one. It's just something that we have to live with. PM me if you want, as I don't want to get into details here but will be happy to listen and commiserate and exchange experiences, ideas, and coping strategies offline.

There are many metric and English centuries next year in central and eastern Virginia next year, too. I hope to see you at one!