andrewmales.com » bike

Great cycling weather

Andy — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:00:27 +0000

Took my bike out again for half an hour round the cycle tracks. Had quite a good workout, and I’ve got used to the gears now. Maybe I should pick regular circuits and try to beat some times that I set to help with the fitness even more. Nice and easy on the lower legs.

Got my compression sock thingies for my shin splints, so will try running with them on my treadmill tomorrow to see if they help. Feel very tight, but supposed to support the muscles that get affected. Currently, I have the odd bit of pain, but not much tingling so seem ok at the mo. Still get the feeling that if I push it they’ll flare up again, though, so I’ll be careful for a while.

Submitted an entry to the WGC 10 mile in September. Should be some nice practice, less than two months before the big one.

Went down pub to watch the Italy v France match, and was very good by sticking to my rule of no weekday drinking (not that I drunk much anyway! Just a few pints sometimes during weekday games. Honest!) Glad to see France out as they were quite simply poor. Roll on the quarter finals!!

It’s just like riding a bike

Andy — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:48:44 +0000

The last time I rode a bike was over the Golden Gate Bridge, six years ago, so the setting for my debut ride on my new bike wasn’t exactly grand in comparison! The last bike I owned was nearly 15 years ago, and was slightly different to this new high-tech version.

It was a little strange to start with, but soon got used to the riding position. You never forget, of course, it was just like…well you know! The gears were a bit weird, and I messed up changes quite a few times, but it was great fun traveling so far so easy. At the end of the ride I was a little saddle-sore, and my legs were quite wobbly, but felt I had some great exercise, and looking forward to more trips around Stevenage.

Shin-watch – very good today. There was hardly any tingling or pain – did the up-and-down of the step ladder last night help with my calves and shins? Weird. Perhaps should give tomorrow a rest, and make sure I don’t drink too much on Friday night.

Relief?

Andy — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:10:11 +0000

I dreaded waking up this morning. Why? Because I had a dreaded feeling that I’d get out of bed and would be in agony with my shins again. Back to square one, more weeks off and big possibly of having to give it all up.

So did I feel a lot of pain? Yes! Hang on – was that just a dream? Did I just dream of waking up in pain? Not sure. 8am I swing my legs out of bed and onto the floor, and stand up, ready to grimace, and…no pain. Not perfect, a bit of tingling, but no big pains. Maybe I’m out of the woods.

The rest of the day went ok, and although still a bit tender I think the exercises and ice really did help a lot. I’ll go for some more short runs over the next week. Did some gardening for once (I am probably the world’s worst gardener!) which involved going up and down a step ladder, so I did stretch my calves a lot, which may not be a good thing.

I also bought a bike today to do cross training to help with the fitness in between runs without risking the shins. A Mongoose Crossway 250 Hybrid. Very light, nothing fancy but perfect for what I want methinks.