Fall/Winter 2010/2011 Commuter Challenge!

[out_spokin']

Here's to injury recovery and injury-free spring, Melalvai! Continue to be gentle with yourself and find the mindsets that work!

The past two weeks have been mostly travel-filled, so not as much commuting. Which means its nice for me to still have another week of the challenge to help give me the good inertia!

I got 100% for February, helps make up for the setbacks in January. With a little prep and some luck with the weather I should be in good shape for the whole fall/winter goals.

Since I got into Ride the Rockies (412 miles, 6 days, mid-June!!) my commuting might occasionally take a backseat to training, but sure glad I stayed on the bike over the winter!

[girlsubobscura]

I've been off the thread for a while, but have been( mostly) maintaining the commute everyday. I had one week of bus riding during the big snow dump because I was taking my daughter to camp two miles away, and she's too new on a bike for snow riding.

Melalvai, sorry to hear about the injury. I think I read an article in running magazine about vibrams and freerunning shoes vs the heavily cushioned ones, and I think the take home message was that if you are a heel strike runner vibrams will cause a lot more damage than if you are a ball of the foot runner. So they are not for everyone. good luck finding a stride/shoe combination that doesn't cause you grief.

[Melalvai]

Winter is officially over in a few days so I guess we'll be going back to the regular "How was your commute today?" thread. So I thought I'd wrap up.

My ankle is healing. I ended up with a boot that I was supposed to wear for 2 weeks. I wore it all weekend and continued wearing it even though my ankle was no longer hurting all the time, because my ankle would get tired. Yesterday I went all day without it and felt pretty good.

I feel completely comfortable ignoring the doctor on this one because I'm collaborating on a study of joint injury to find out whether immobility or exercise is recommended. Opinion is currently divided on that. So much of what we assume is "evidence based medicine" is actually nothing more than tradition. Without "evidence" I have to rely on my best judgment.

My best judgment right now includes being very careful, being slow & patient about getting back into training.

That was a digression. Anyway I've been bike commuting (again not "supposed" to, but since it doesn't hurt I do it). The pool is STILL closed--leaks repaired this summer didn't hold and are being repaired again. I'll wait a few more days before I take up walking, and then start slow and small with the running. Spin class and long bike rides are still out; while a 5 mile round trip commute doesn't hurt I don't know if a longer distance would and so I'll work back up to longer distances in the hopes of preventing re-injury or new injuries.

I'm not convinced yet that vibrams are wrong for me. Someone told me they only work for 1/3 of the population. Assuming that they really do mimic barefoot that's like saying 1/3 of the population is born wearing shoes. I believe this is like all my other injuries--too much too fast. So I'm going to try again with them, starting with walking and slowly, slowly work my way up to running long distances on the balls of my feet.

Happy "fair" weather cycling and see you all next fall!

[out_spokin']

Welcome to the first day of spring. Thanks to everyone who participated in the challenge!

I got pretty close to my goal - 72.5% of my office days vs. my original goal of 75%. I'm happy because I improved from last year, and was out a couple times in conditions that would have stopped me in the past. And just love that I've committed to year-round commuting...it's such a joy!

Oh yeah and I saw lots of animals, enjoyed holiday lighting, and saw the first flowers of spring from the bike. No puppy petting, but it's just starting to be puppy season.

It's been great checking in with you all...happy 'easy' season (for the northern hemisphere folks that is) and many happy commutes!