It really ISN"T about the bike....

So I woke up yuck today. Belly and body that is. My legs were still sore from lifting on Tuesday and my belly was questioning my decision to have a spinach salad for dinner. So I turned to Lance for a little help. I started reading his first book yesterday, "It's Not About the Bike" to help with the slow days, the yuck days, and the days that I would rather nap. And it's not like I am a cycling enthusiast...no that would be Mike, I just got sucked into the Tour this summer and really started pulling for this guy who had been through so much (despite is poor judgement in relationships). So I read a bit, and before I knew it I was 113 pages in and ready to lace up.

Again, running at noon on Hilton Head = stupid, but it was only a mile and this time no pit stops. Easy pace, one and done in 9:19. My reward and pick me up was a coke from the general store. Perhaps this is a good time to scratch the surface on my diet.

Last February I went Gluten and dairy free to see if it would help ease my IBD symptoms, and of course it did. Which is a double edged sword. On one hand, yea! symptoms are better, on the other here is a short list of what I can't eat: bread, pasta, fried anything, cake, cookies, ice cream, bagels, anything with flour, milk, or uncooked butter (I've found natural and g-free cheese is OK in moderation). On top of all that I also am supposed to abstaining from caffeine and alcohol on most days. So this diet paired with a supplement cocktail of a probiotic, turmeric, vitamin D, iron,a homeopathic Mercury compound, and an aloe and licorice powder coupled with the RX of Imuran (oral immunosuppresors) and Lialda has helped me get better...but it still SUCKS.

Anyway back to my Coke. So I got a small Coke extra ice and walked the mile home in the blistering son enjoying every sip. I listed to Destiny's Child talk about being a survivor and my mind switched back to the book, Lance, and the December 6 (the day of the race). It really isn't about the bike, or the run...it's about everything you do to get there. Each mile you put in and every pill you swallow, every word of encouragement, and every day of discouragement takes me one step closer to getting through it....By the time I reached my doorstep I was ready to take on my first timed run tomorrow, but first a yoga class with Dad to help put my mind in a good place and hopefully ease the pain in my quads...