We had a lovely Valentine's Day yesterday - complete with heart-shaped red velvet chocolate cake whoopie pie and chocolate banana pudding from Magnolia Bakery (don't try it - it's crack for desert lovers). I wanted to do something special for John since he has really been struggling in the past few weeks with Bikingman looming closer.
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The training is going really well, and after getting sick in early January, I am finally feeling strong and healthy again! And not a minute too soon since the race is just two weeks away!
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. But for the most part, I've been a bit relaxed about the whole thing. Almost too relaxed. Almost in denial that the time has come. And certainly disappointed that I will be on that start line alone and without John. I have to admit that mornings have become a challenge since we got back from Christmas holidays. This is due to a number of factors, beginning with the fact that we were sleeping late during the holidays and got into a routine of waking up whenever we felt like it. It was glorious!
Coming back to the regular working schedule and having to use an alarm clock again feels like torture. I am completely out of my routine, and the cats are waking me up earlier and earlier each day - this morning it was 5:20AM. This was normal pre-holiday, but is a real struggle at the moment. Update on JHH
So, John's injury is healing away and in the meantime, he is trying his best to be the model patient. He's sleeping a bit better now at night and in yesterday's check-up, the doctor seemed happy with how the giant incision is healing. John is now on his third day in hospital and well fed up with being (a) patient. According to the doctors, the surgery went well with a slight complication due to a lot of bleeding, apparently. Instead of lasting one hour, it was nearly five hours later when he was brought to the recovery room.
It was scary to see him immediately post-op, and of course a relief just to see him. He was still under the effects of the pain medication and the first words he managed in between exclamations of pain and long exhalations were, “I’m retiring!” He couldn’t seem to get his leg in a comfortable position, and his face was a bit swollen, especially around the eyes. But the surgery was over, and I thought that meant the worst was behind us. He proceeded to crack jokes about how his dancing career was over, and was exceedingly complimentary to me about what a wonderful wife I am and how lucky he is to have me - I’m documenting this well ;) Little did I know at the time how big this surgery really is. I think compared to the last accident where we were looking at scary life-altering possibilities from the brain injury and initial memory loss, etcetera, we both underestimated this surgery to repair the calcaneum (heel bone). There is a lot to catch up on from our activities since my last post. There's good news and bad news. We both raced in the annual "3Hrs of DuHell" MTB race at Duhail on 15 December - just two days before our departure for the Christmas holiday. I was chuffed with a third place finish, while John crashed around lap five on a sharp corner, taking him out of the race altogether.
With just 11 weeks to go, training is going great and we are feeling strong if somewhat fatigued (still making time for naps and cuddles with Annie and Pip in between all the training!). I don't remember ever being so disciplined with my training plans. I've surpassed my previous annual mileage and hit my target of 6,000km for 2017! Last year, I remember us cycling at Lusail on 31 December to try to eke out the final 50kms to reach my 5,000km goal. So, as we approach the Christmas holiday, it's time to celebrate a bit and reflect on the past year. And keep hitting those training targets, of course!!
Last week was a big week for us! John took first place in the second leg of the Air Maroc League Race Series on Friday morning! He went on his own to out-sprint a large pack of riders at the end of the 66km race at Dukhan. He has definitely turned a corner from recovery mode to being back in the game!
Last week was an exciting week! My article about how we got from the accident to the joBerg2c finish line was featured in Total Women's Cycling magazine! It was satisfying to put our story out there, and the support we have received from friends and strangers has been heart warming. I am so happy our story could touch and inspire others.
My friends have started to joke about my apparent superpower - the ability to disable technology just by my mere presence. I happen to consider myself quite tech-savvy (as long as I don't have to fix anything), but my confidence is shaken and I have developed a shocking love-hate relationship with Zwift.
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