I've been running (seriously) for almost two years now, with no accidents. This week, I had two separate boo-boos. Is it because I am approaching 30 ( +10)?
First of all, I had vehicle citation last week. Again, I am not sure if it's because I am almost 30 ( +10), but someone forgot to register her vehicle, and got pulled over. Being the weekend, I couldn't deal with it until business hours Monday. So I was nervous about driving until I got that resolved. Monday morning, I decided I would run to the gym - it's only 2 miles, and I can run 2 miles. Apparently, not at 4:30am, on a new route.
A half mile from the gym, there was an unexpected incline in the sidewalk, and I caught my foot. I was carrying a water bottle in one hand, and fell awkwardly to the sidewalk. I tore both knees of my running tights, scraping and bloodying my left knee, and scrapped and tore my right hand.
Bad-a$$ runner that I am, I got up, kept going, and proceeded to do the hour long spin class before running the two miles back home.
My hand and knee hurt, but I cleaned everything up, and moved on.
On Thursday, I went for an early morning run with some friends - 9 miles. No problems!
But. . .Thursday evening. I ventured out of my anti-social comfort zone and joined a new cyclist group. I'd been watching their Facebook posts for a few weeks, reading about the group rides, but feeling intimidated by their speed and experience.
The group meets at 6:50pm in the parking lot of the local YMCA. I showed up on time. Got myself ready (helmet, gloves, water bottle). There were about ten or so cyclists there. . .and the skies opened up. There was a tremendous downpour. Some people took shelter in their vehicles, and a few of us huddled under a picnic shelter. It was a quick, but tremendous rain.
I had warned the leaders that I was slow. I think my pace was 14mph, and the majority (ALL) the rest of the group was 20+mph. One gentleman was kind enough to ride with me, and the others took off. I felt badly for the leader who stayed with me, as I know my pace was significantly slower than he could go - but he was very supportive and encouraging.
Bike riding is still new to me, and I am still learning how to ride more competitively. The leader was extremely helpful with suggestion gears, and being patient while I tried them out - quickly figuring out what felt comfortable.
We ended up riding 28 beautiful miles (the sun was setting, and we went down some side roads with big beautiful homes and yards). At a couple points, I was nervous about wiping out, because of the heavy rain, and car oils on the roads, but we did fine. I even improved my pace - to a 15.5 mph!
As we returned to the Y parking lot, I could see that one other cyclist had stayed behind, to make sure that we arrived back safely (very thoughtful). Although when we pulled up, he admitted that he was about to come out looking for us.
We stood there, straddling our bikes, and chatting for a minute. Then, in all my grace and sexiness, I reached up to adjust my helmet, and, not having unclipped my left foot from the pedal, tipped and fell right over.
That's right. I rode 28 miles on wet, oily roads - improved my pace, and fell over with my bike while standing in the parking lot chatting.
I'm a dork. My friends think I need to add to my story that there was wine in my water bottle. My husband says I need to tell people that I was rescuing a small child from oncoming traffic. But, no, not me - I tip over, standing still, in a parking lot.
I added a new cut to my left leg, in addition to the cut from running Monday.
I also tore up my right ankle and calf with the right pedal and gears,
and re-opened my hand wound from Monday.
See, isn't fitness sexy?
Fitness Guru has threatened that one more injury - one more strike - and I will have to hang up my running & biking shoes and take up underwater basket weaving.
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