A little better?

It has been over two weeks since I last looked at Facebook.  I have only looked at personal e-mails two or three times. I have discovered that the world has not changed. I am unsure when or if I will look at Facebook again or clean out the e-mail box, but there is no hurry.

I did get about 140 miles biking last week. I took a few rides to work and then Toured the Saints 50 miles with Shelley on Sunday. It was very difficult, with winds that were 15+ miles per hour, and they seemed to change based on the direction we traveled. Shelley still did a PR of 3:20 for the 50 miles.

I replaced several bike parts before the ride.  Replaced the rear sprocket, replaced broken spokes, new rear sprocket, removed the 28 rear / 25 front mm tires used on the Denver to Minneapolis trip back to the 25 rear / 23 front mm.  The 28 mm tire was hard to get off the bike.  I also replaced a shifter cable and adjusted the front derailleur, which was having issues.  I am glad I took the bike mechanics course to do the work myself. I save $300 doing the work myself.

How I feel when I run...

I have not taken pictures lately because I have been busy at work. I had to send my D600 in for repair. There was a recall for sensor spots, which I started to notice the last time I used the camera. I shipped it out on July 5, which was returned today (June 21). I will test it out this weekend.

I struggle with the emotional letdown after the bike ride and finishing my 30^th consecutive Grandma’s marathon.  I need a goal and objective, something to strive for, or I get lost.  I am concerned my body will not allow this as I have aged.  It is not as easy to recover.  I find work stress at an all-time high is also taking its toll.  We are short-staffed staffed, and I have worked at least a 55-hour week for quite some time and have logged as much as 70 hours.  I usually get to work by 6 AM and leave about 6 PM while eating lunch.  I think I need to get perspective.

On a positive note, I actually enjoyed a few 2-mile runs. That was a huge surprise, as I have found no enjoyment in a run for the past years. I will try this again a few times and sincerely hope for a turnaround. Either way, I must keep going head-on; that is all I know I can do.

Carry on my friends…

A blog is better than Facebook?

Today, I was asked if I ran a 5 K race over the weekend. I informed the person that I have only run 4-5 times a year for the past few years, and one of those is Grandma’s Marathon. As I said that, it was clear they thought I was kidding. I believe this is the direct result of something called Facebook. Unlike the blog, which has details in a user-defined order instead of snip-its, Facebook seems to decide what they will post and when.

I have recently become less enthused about Facebook, primarily because of how people view the definition of Social Media.  I view it as a place to express oneself.  I can express my thoughts if I am happy, frustrated, or confused.  Recently, I was ridiculed for posting about a retail firm not keeping its promise.  I had requested that they reset my password, and they said I would be notified in 30 minutes.  After two days, I expressed my frustration on Facebook, only to be attacked for expressing my thoughts.  I also have another high-level mail-order company that double-charged me for a Christmas gift, and I am still trying to sort that out.  I expressed my feelings on Facebook in January and again was attacked. 

So, I have not used Facebook for a few weeks, and WOW, life still goes on without daily use. Who would have thought?

My physical recovery from the bicycle ride from Denver, followed by Grandma’s Marathon, is still slow.  Over 6 weeks, I still have limited feelings in my little fingers.  My left ankle is in extreme pain most days.  I have accomplished another 150 miles of biking, but things are incorrect.  I have only completed one commute to work since May 1.  I think I should try Yoga just to get the body in some sort of balance.

Either way, my son works full-time and is experiencing the demanding post-grad school life schedule. I am very proud of how he is approaching the challenge. As a parent, you can’t help but be concerned, as his corporate world is really a dog-eat-dog battle.

At work, we are preparing for yet another legal battle. There are many issues, and people persist in creating a legal quandary instead of admitting the problem and moving on. This makes the job difficult to enjoy.

Either way, I will try to ride my bike to work more in the coming weeks. This whole year has been hard, with rain every week and flood waters higher than I ever witnessed in July. Also, the weather is cold in July. In the morning, we have 50 degrees and a high of 66.

Well, we take the good and the bad and keep pushing on.

Carry on, my friends, carry on!

What is next?

It has been six weeks since the 11-day Denver to Minneapolis bicycle ride and two weeks since Grandma’s Marathon.  That was all a little too much but well worth the effort.  Many pains still exist.  I still do not have full feeling in the outer parts of my hands, I feel fatigued, slight right knee twinge, and my painful left ankle is almost twice the size of the right ankle.  It is best to give it time, although I want to bike to work.  Not for the sake of riding but to save miles on the car.

I will be getting up early tomorrow.  My son starts his new job.  He departs MSP airport at 6:30 AM on his way to Atlanta.  It is easier to give him a ride, even though parking is reimbursed.  It just adds 15 or more minutes to park and then get the ride to the airport.  He returns on Thursday, late.  This same routine will continue through the next few months.  This is exciting, but it is a little daunting.  I am so proud of him!

On another front, I shipped my Nikon D600 back to the factory. While I was hopeful I avoided the oil spots on the sensor issue, I was not so lucky. Fortunately, Nikon does a full repair for free, including the shipping. I assume I am just out of the camera for the next few weeks. Before I sent the camera off for repairs, I did get some good fireworks pictures.

I also purchased the pictures from Grandma’s. Some were pretty good. The finished picture was the tail of two runners. I was spending money, and my son looked like it was a walk…

Right now, I really need to find something to enjoy. The letdown of the bicycle ride ending and the 30-year run at Grandma’s completion was greater than expected. What is next? I am not sure, but life is less fun right now!

Carry on my friends…