Addiction

Addicted: Webster's defines it as...The compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal; broadly : persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful. Bikes, are not a substance...but there are definite physiological symptoms in withdrawal AND persistent and compulsive use is (and has been) harmful. Yeah so, I got my next fix. But wait, I sold two bikes to get it. Well...at least I didn't pawn them. As Shakespeare once said (maybe a few times) "Me doth think you (replace with me) protest too much!" Oh here she is....arrrrrr.


Details of my El Ciclon are found HERE (mine is in school bus yellow).

Madonna Del Ghisallo

Some of you may know Ghisallo as Litespeed's top Ti bike. Others, who are more world travelled realize that the Ghisallo is a beautiful little church atop a tough hill on the north side of Lake Como, Italy; and for bike geeks - the church is filled with cool cycling memorabilia. Further still, Madonna Del Ghisallo (pictured hear with some adorning eye protection), the patron saint of travelers, which has become the patroness of cyclist (how cool is that) can bless us on whatever road we travel. So...today I visited my orthopedic doc, who also happens to be one of the top shoulder docs in Seattle for my 4th WEEK check in (bones usually take 6-8 weeks). Yes folks, the patroness of cycling has blessed my little bones, caused them to heal quickly (plus all that good eating I do) such that Dr. Peterson declared me "fused" and ready for racing. WHAT???? Okay...so I'm physically ready to race, but my mind needs a little work. Oh, Ghisallo????

Loaded

Spring and Beyond

I can hear the birds. After the daffodils, tulips, I wait for the next show of flowers to come from my yard. I dream of this years cycling vacations. Mountain biking in St. Anne Quebec this June? Cycling the Dolomites in September? Mountain biking Norway early fall? Pedaling through Spain in November. Yeah...maybe all of it. Game on!

Trainer Time

The last few days I've been glued to my trainer for 1.5 hour sessions at a time. I've been catching up on my Series 24 TV show (I'm a year behind) - peddling why Jack Bauer is knocking off terrorist. I basically clear out 2 episodes a day while I gradually increase my tolerance for intensity. As for my healing...I'm amazing that every day I'm 100% better than the day before. Breaking bones sucks, but it does cause one to pause and take notice of the things around. Oddly, when I was laying on the chip seal road in Sequim exactly 3 weeks ago today...the first two thoughts that came to mind as I tried to fill my empty lungs with air:

1). Why the HELL am I doing this crazy sport; THEN
2). This was suppose to happen to me, and I'm going to learn something amazing that I would not have received otherwise...so suck it up.

As to #1, I recently read in Velonews interview by a bike racer who went down hard in the Tour de California breaking his collar bone. He said, "if I actually thought about how dangerous this sport is...I would not be able to race bikes at the level I do." As for #2, I've gained some amazing new friends and developed deeper relationships with those closest to me. I've relied on friends and loved ones more than I would have ever permitted otherwise.

Drug Curious

Have you been injured or had surgery such that you are required to consume something for pain? Well, my past surgeries and injuries didn't have me needing pain meds until my bike crash two weekends ago. Those of you that have been prescribed pain meds....do you notice that EVERYONE asks you what you are taking? Is this because I've suddenly become part of their club I'm racing to avoid (at my own pain threshold), OR is it because they want what is leftover and deciding if they will ask? Next time you are required to take pain meds...just watch how many people are drug curious around you. BTW, I'm completely off my Codene/Tylenol and the remaining three tablets will become part of my first aid kit.

This Weekend

So I've been using my magnetic therapy 30 minutes daily, and I can tell I'm healing fast (should allow me to heal in 4 weeks!). Had to get on the trainer yesterday...wow I LOVE the endorphin drug much better than Codeine. While I was spinning, I SO wanted to go hard...then my Ribs reminded me of their damage and I suddenly found the limits of my breathing. Ok...I'll go slow, for a little while. My friend Davy asked what I was doing this weekend, and chuckled about "pickin' scabs." Well...I don't need to do it...because the are falling off all over the place. Oh, and I just received my new FSA compact carbon handelbars to replace those I destroyed in Sequim. YES!

Pain Tolerance

I've been living with some wicked pain over the last 10 days. Pain is an interesting thing in the body. The pain I've experienced is nearly the worst I've encountered in my life (physically of course), yet I'm not sure I can say so. Because we can't recall pain, we only recall our experience in it. I also know that distraction helps me avoid feeling pain; like pushing through pain during a race. There is also pain of loss right now in that I'm extremely limited on what I can do...yet finding new things I can do (or didn't do previously) is a great distraction to my pain. Needless to say...when I lay myself down at night, there are no distraction to my shoulder, bruised/fractured ribs and cranky collar bone; thus I make blog entry at 6am. Good Morning.

RE-aligned!!!

Today I visited Doctor Peterson at the Sports Medical Clinic for my second appointment to address the battle wounds of Sequim racing and my sudden flight over my Cervelo. We took two more x-rays to see my healing progress. WOW! My collar bone is completely aligned and starting its fusing. GOOD GRIEF is still hurts like a chicken bone is sharply poking out of my neck. I guess I shouldn't give up the pain killers just yet. Loved this cartoon....

Accelerated Bone Healing

So I'm going to my orthopedic doc today for some new pictures. We are also investigating if I'm a candidate for ultrasonic therapy that accelerates bone healing. Its pretty interesting and is said to advance healing by 20%. Typically these are fungible by insurance companies if the fracture is compound (open), not healing, or in a difficult location for stabilization (this is where we hope I qualify). You can check out the technology here. Also, I received my new bike (single speed) this week; although too drugged to appreciate it, I post it here as further enticement to faster/accelerated healing.

Today I also turned another corner as I can now move my left arm away from my body without pain. It will be some time before it can move up (to touch the sky). This means I can type with two hands!

Fracture Before & After

This is a collarbone BEFORE an impact....meaning its NORMAL
This is the xray of MY collarbone AFTER being tossed from my bike. OUCH...its a little wacked out and probably poked a few things around it. No wonder my entire chest is black, blue and a little green now.


I think I need to go lay down again....pain again....
Oh...I found a fascinating account of the accident from another woman on the Starbuck team. You can read it here.

Push or Pedal

Wow, pain is a workout!
I can be vertical for a couple hours at a time...before I need to "reset" my bone from the pain and discomfort.

I know this is odd, but I believe everything is as it should happen. Yeah, breaking my clavicle is no fun. Yeah...I was racing. Yeah, I put myself at risk...but we put ourselves at risk everyday getting out of bed. And, loss happens in life. BUT, in loss we learn to appreciate so much; like how wonderful it is to have two hands. How wonderful it is to have an ability to ride HARD on a bike. Most of all....when we can't care for ourselves, how much other people care about us. I am floored at how much effort people have made to express care, concern and love. I count the ways....

1) A business associate sends me a personalized watercolor painted dove - "get well."
2) Two teammates and France travel mates send me an itunes gift certificate knowing I will need some tunes for staying fit on the trainer while I heal (so cool);
3) A dear friend sends me a $300 gift certificate for an organics/home delivery meals company (wow, that was thoughtful);
4) team mates that I am getting to know send me humor cards (via snail mail);
5) friends come over a wash my dishes;
6) a friend comes in from out of town to care for me one day;

So...I think my biggest lesson I have learned (again) this past week...is that I have AMAZING friends that can push my bike when I can't pedal. It made me think of this cartoon:

Be like Darth

Body Balance

My recent crash and fractured left clavicle had me thinking. Why do I always roll such that I land on my left side instinctively? I began to scan articles & photos of Velonews and pro-cycling to notice the way cyclists crash or position their bodies when they sense impact is eminent. I recall that all major falls have me taking it in the shoulder or upper ribs. I've bruised my shoulder, fractured ribs mountain biking, bruised ribs skiing, and yes fractured my collar bone jumping off a bmx ramp...EVERY TIME on the LEFT side. I told my very intuitive and special doctor friend from Canyon Ranch. She said, "Well, Lisa...that is your feminine side. What that side represents in our emotion, intuition, feeling versus logic and intellect of the right side." We noodled on it a little further and talked about the use of our shoulders and clavicle in life as a place we carry weight and lift items above our heads. Hmmmm. I suspect there is some lessons here to learn...as either I consciously feel that my left (feminine) side can take it, or I'm willing to beat that side up first (read more about body balance here). This is likely a unique growing edge, yeah...a growing edge.

Carnage

So it was called Tour de Dung in Sequim, WA (the sunny capital of Washington's west side). Wow, it will last in infamy. There is something odd that happens as every cyclist will attest, its called cyclist amnesia. It starts by me saying (at time of crash and during my inability to breath) - boy that was dumb, why am I doing this crazy sport...THEN when we are driving home from the hospital, reliving the race...to "wow, I should be able to get on my trainer in 7 days and race again in 6-8 weeks. " Yeah...it's sick. And like a true biker I will describe the damage to my bike FIRST...then the damage to me SECOND:

Here are some images of my helmet (kids pay attention here).
I clearly smacked this down hard and don't remember any hang time during my crash; Just the smack into the woman fallen before me, then SMACK hard on the pavement (catapult).
This was the Giro Atomos Helmet in Rabobank (or Byrne) colors and it performed as it should have, BRILLIANT. I'm buying another one (as this one is toast).

My bike...well. The Cervelo P3 survived. The FSA bars are toast and the Dura Ace Hoods look like some teenager took a 22 rifle and shot a round into them. My wheels will need to go back to Topolino for truing and, yes, well...some new ceramic bearings (can't help myself).

Me?
Well...
Lots of road rash...including this section on my upper thigh and entire leg. Bruises that are everywhere and are just beginning to develop...some rather unique and deep colors.
My leg actually had some deep ones mostly at the knee.
My left hand mostly unscathed with a few chunks taken by the road
My left thumb was not too fortunate. The road or my bike grab a slice of skin off (I'm saving my audience here). I also have some infection starting here...so doc put me on antibiotics. Yeah.

This is the top of my left pelvis (hip) as I clearly landed on my 1) head, 2) shoulder and 3) hip, then rolling for all the extra juicy road rash. Looking at my clothing...I clearly benefited from the three layers of tops (undershirt, jersey and breezewall vest). The vest is destroyed, jersey slightly and undershirt barely.


My shoulder and its collar bone are where my pain resides. My scapula and upper ribs are bruised (can you say its fun to breath). Here you see my neck and the bruise exposed at the surface (had to keep this rated G). Well...I'm off to heal.

Collar Bone

do you know the clavicle?

i broke this bone when i was 15 years old. they say its the most painful because all of the nerves and the in ability to stabilize when broke. it took me 2 weeks before my mom could drag me to the doctor.

well sunday bike racing in sequim, a woman in front of me opted to lay down her bike and it catapulted me into the chip seal, sand paper road at 18mph. I have a severely fractured collar bone, Large bump on head (shattered helmet), Chip seal imbedded along my left side, Bruised hip and ribs. I’m blessed and shall live to fight another day. Fellow riders got me home after the hospital. Christina, a teammate stayed with me all night and today helping me through pain cave and dressing wounds, bath, dressing, etc. people are amazing. Typed with one hand of which is bandaged.

What's New

I have new amazing boyfriend (we just past the 4 month mark);
I have a new black cat (Jett);
I have a new client (in my new business);
I have a new bike (country road bob by van dessel);
I have a new pair of jeans (joe's and they make my butt look good);
I can now do a headstand in the middle of the room and 1/2 way to lotus (yoga progressions);
I won my first bike race of the season (TT on my cervelo);
I have the same ol' amazing friends (that I'm enjoying in a new way);

Bike Racing Addict

I must say web TV is awesome. Now we can watch the grand California tour with more information that regular TV. The resolution just needs to be a little better. Check out the live racing here!

Flu

it has been some time since my last post. apologies; i had the flu, got busy with some work prospects and life. you know the usual. I don't usually get the flu, but i suspect with all my busy-ness, i let my immune system get weak. the flu causes us to take notice how fragile we are (yet again). is it me or...do you also think that if death be the flu, get if over with...fast, put me out? oddly, about a day into the flu, you realize wow, i'm weak, i hate the fact the sun is out and i can't play in it...yet the pain and suffering is somehow just a tad more tolerable. i think we grow accustomed to pain (after making deposits in the pain bank we can make withdrawals). some how each day we feel suffering, it become easier and we are able to confront a bit more in life; then when the pain is gone we seem to have more strength than before. i don't like the flu. it sucks. but somehow it reminded me to live and how much strength i have when i'm well.

Life is Art; Art is Life

Andrea Cochran (andy) is a brilliant landscape architect. Yesterday Mel, Mike and I wandered up from the city (San Francisco) to the demonstration gardens built at the edge of sonoma and napa counties. It was cool how the austere landscape, simple really, attempted to soften the mind and clean the palette before we entered into the spaces created by some of the world's masters at modifying the landscape for us to feel emotion. As soon as I was in Andy's space it struck me; the stark contrast, the oddity of textures. It felt as though I was running on a canvas myself, playing in the space an artist works...comforted that I instantly became part of the art, not an intruder or a mistake. This feeling of belonging is what we developers need to create in our place making; a sense that we are in the canvas, contributing to the art itself.