Red Rider: Preparations and Machinations

Now that I see providence with which group I am riding, I realize that the preparations and machinations for this very moment started over six years ago when I was happily coaching soccer with the Krueger Kiddos and cemented by my actions on the pitch! God is in charge of the long-game! God invented the long-game!

Today after my ride it became vividly apparent that my riding with the San Antonio Street Ratz is providential! God knew way back when what I would need at this time and worked His/Her way! God knew that I would need to ride with Steve, an accomplished Red Rider, so I could learn from him on Saturday! He knew how hard-headed I tended to be and simple solutions would just prolong what I was doing and would not prepare me for what I needed personally! He knew that there were only a couple of groups that would accommodate the build up I would need after six years of trying to recover from what happened on the pitch with my soccer kiddos where my desire and enthusiasm got the better of me and put me on the path of recovery. He knew how hard it would be to overcome the imjuries sustained.

Red Rider: One month in, almost.

Dealing with Type ll Diabetes

So after two weeks walking I went and pulled my bike out of storage! I walked to the storage place and rode my bike back home then went for a ride on the Salado Creek Greenway (SCG) with an ultimate plan to ride regularly for an hour and a half. The last few rides have been two hours long and I could go longer. This morning's Sunday Ride, normally a relatively fast ride with Howard and his friends and followers of Action Bikes, I totally expected to lose it, blow-up, hit a wall, but that never happened! Right at the end the guy behind me came up and immediately got in my head! I was trying not to be the caboose! He managed to demoralize and conquer with truthful words! Now, he was not being mallicious at all. He was trying to be helpful! Surprise, I was a little defensive and then I was thankful! I know surprised me also that 55 years of cycling experience did not rear its ugly head yet I took his suggestions to heart and to the bike! So before I got home I made the adjustments he suggested of things that I knew, but alas had forgotten! Immediately, the pain in the front of my knees was gone. My ass still hurt, but my knees were nimble. Ha, ha! This is a miracle because I blew out my knees two and a half months ago.

I have to say something about speed because speed is relative! Many of the guys on this "fast ride" when they do our section of the ride are taking a breather in a way! They are still cooking with gas, but it's only on warm as they complete an Imperial Century having started at four AM at lightning pace. Haha! The most I do is 12 mph. I have used this group to bridge from 10 mph to 14 mph! I am extremely thankful for Action Bikes, again one of two groups citywide that one can use to improve your skills at this speed the other are The Street Ratz! It's not about the speed! One friend today said, "Ride Slow, Look Pro!" Love it, and it has been a joy to pick my cycling back up!

Picked up my walking for two weeks with 2 to 4 miles, my feet suffered, but the work was done. The exercise helps me burn the sugar out of my system. It is all such a mystery! I have managed to totally revolutionize my eating habits! I thrive on high protein mostly cold food. My oatmeal in the morning is piping hot. Gayle found a sugar I can use made from palm, an organic product. That is the only sweet in my diet! I eat nuts, cheese, and cold cuts. Roast Chicken and salads with chicken are welcomed and I look forward to them. I have a legume salad with pieces of meat that I go to when I am feeling peckish! Water and fizzy water with flavoring have taken the place of everything else that I used to drink! On the bike, I have gone back to Nuun products that are perfect for short distances!

 We are still having trouble getting in to see a provider! None of my providers can see me! WTH! Since there are new challenges with the Type ll Diabetes (T2D) we may use this opportunity to shop around or push the coverage once we are in the appartment! 

We are becoming very aware of the Dawn Phenomena, where a T2 Diabetic awakes with high blood sugar levels likely due to the inactivity of the last 8 hours. Today was the second time since this started that my blood sugar was below 100! Now if I could do this everyday that would be something special!

So, after a hard bout yesterday, not fully recovered, but feeling the pressure to get something substantial done today, I was able to knock out one mile, barely! I ran across one street and pop the recovery work of the past two and a half months, gone! Cold and heat therapy done and wrapped with my Cho-Pat! Ready to go do my early voting duty at the library.