Day 9 - Wipe Out

I now know what it feels like to crash, and fall when attached to my pedals. It didn’t hurt as bad as I anticipated. They said make sure you disconnect your feet prior to coming to a complete stop. Ok, sounds easy and with practice it probably will be easy, but saying it and doing it at this point are 2 different things. I could feel the bike slowing. I was in a weird angle and could not start pedaling to prevent fall out. I couldn’t even lean to the left to put my left foot down, which was free. My right leg took me down like a drunk in a wife beater on a Saturday night. I knew I would have problems with my right foot. When I was 7 I went fishing with my dad, you see. On a dam...yeah because that is so safe for a 7-year old child! My dad said back up. So, I did and then went right over the dam. My little fishing pole line probably saved me from major carnage upon the body, but enough was done. They put a cast on the right leg. Broke that mother but good, but the elite hospital staff in Wolfeboro, NH failed to x-ray the hip, which was dislocated. And so now several years from my 7th birthday my right leg turns out. It re-grooved itself into a new position. Makes a neat party trick since I can actually turn my leg completely around and I had perfect drill team position since my foot automatically turns just enough out to be on point each and every time. However, for cycling I am having to train my leg muscles to point forward. My foot is forward because the shoes are buckled down. Imagine taking your foot and point it in completely like you were pigeon toed. That is what it feels like to me when my feet and knees are pointing straight. I am learning, but because it is an unnatural position for me I am having to really learn and concentrate to get that foot disconnected. I didn’t scrape myself up, or get any bruises that I could see last night. I told Tammye if I don’t get a bruise on my butt it proves my butt is big. It means that the veins lost the will to even try any harder to form in my big old butt, thus no bruising. NO BRUISE THIS MORNING. HA!!! I do have a couple on my shin and on the inside of my arm. What can you do? I am also tired. I mean seriously tired. I think I will not ride tonight, but go to the gym and 1) workout on the weight machine 2) sit in the sauna. I think I am going to have to create a plan for myself that for this next month involves alternating rides with the gym. I can leave to go over to the gym on gym days and work with the weights. When I get home I can have a ride around the neighborhood.