Post by Troy Eddy, aka Jarhead on Mar 17, 2015 17:59:49 GMT
I'm sure I'm not alone in the fact that I have gone back and forth many times getting in and out of shape over the years. During my time in the Marines, I never got too far out of shape because that would have been very detrimental to my career. But since I retired from the Marines 11 years ago, it has been way too easy getting out of shape since I'm not getting weighed and tested on my fitness every 6 months.
I have been able to maintain some level of fitness because I really enjoy bicycling. I joined a bicycle club and did a lot of riding over the summer and usually did a 100 mile ride every year in September. I was even riding my bicycle to work 4-5 days a week during the summer for a couple of years. I always tended to gain weight over the winter and then shed most of it during the summer.
All that changed a little over a year and a half ago when I had a serious injury while riding my motorcycle. I didn't even have an accident. I just hit some loose gravel under hard braking which caused the bike to slip a little. Out of reflex I put my right foot down to stop the motorcycle from falling over, which worked, but in the process caused a crush fracture of both bones in my lower leg just below the knee.
It required 2 surgeries to fix my leg. I now have 2 plates and 12 screws installed for life. It took 4 months before I was able to start trying to walk again. I was racing on iRacing after only 3 months by resting my right leg on a pillow next to my pedals and using my left leg for the throttle and brake. I even won a couple of races like that.
So last summer I was able to start riding my bicycle again, but it was like I had just learned how to ride. I started off only being able to ride 10 miles which previously would not even been a warm up for me. I had such little strength in my right leg, I couldn't even pedal while standing up. I could only ride on flat trails. Luckily there is a good one not to far from my house. But it closed in July due to some construction project. I tried riding on other trails, but they weren't as smooth or flat and my leg started to really hurt. I finally had to give up half way through August.
Over the winter I gained even more weight, but my leg has been feeling better and getting more strength. I can go up an down stairs a lot better now. I go for walks when I can and I'm able to walk a mile at a time now.
Yesterday was a very nice day for March with sunshine and temperature in the 60s. It is my day off so I decided to try a bicycle ride. I first rode a little bit around my house to see how my leg felt. I was able to actually stand up and pedal. It's not very smooth yet, but much better than last year. So I went to another trail close to my house. It has a few hills, but nothing too steep. I was able to ride almost 25 miles. I was tired and sore after. I slept good last night and woke up feeling fine this morning.
I plan to do many more rides this year and hopefully can start riding to work again.
I use a app on my iPhone called MotionX-GPS to track my rides. Here is the ride data and map. I did the route out and back.
I have been able to maintain some level of fitness because I really enjoy bicycling. I joined a bicycle club and did a lot of riding over the summer and usually did a 100 mile ride every year in September. I was even riding my bicycle to work 4-5 days a week during the summer for a couple of years. I always tended to gain weight over the winter and then shed most of it during the summer.
All that changed a little over a year and a half ago when I had a serious injury while riding my motorcycle. I didn't even have an accident. I just hit some loose gravel under hard braking which caused the bike to slip a little. Out of reflex I put my right foot down to stop the motorcycle from falling over, which worked, but in the process caused a crush fracture of both bones in my lower leg just below the knee.
It required 2 surgeries to fix my leg. I now have 2 plates and 12 screws installed for life. It took 4 months before I was able to start trying to walk again. I was racing on iRacing after only 3 months by resting my right leg on a pillow next to my pedals and using my left leg for the throttle and brake. I even won a couple of races like that.
So last summer I was able to start riding my bicycle again, but it was like I had just learned how to ride. I started off only being able to ride 10 miles which previously would not even been a warm up for me. I had such little strength in my right leg, I couldn't even pedal while standing up. I could only ride on flat trails. Luckily there is a good one not to far from my house. But it closed in July due to some construction project. I tried riding on other trails, but they weren't as smooth or flat and my leg started to really hurt. I finally had to give up half way through August.
Over the winter I gained even more weight, but my leg has been feeling better and getting more strength. I can go up an down stairs a lot better now. I go for walks when I can and I'm able to walk a mile at a time now.
Yesterday was a very nice day for March with sunshine and temperature in the 60s. It is my day off so I decided to try a bicycle ride. I first rode a little bit around my house to see how my leg felt. I was able to actually stand up and pedal. It's not very smooth yet, but much better than last year. So I went to another trail close to my house. It has a few hills, but nothing too steep. I was able to ride almost 25 miles. I was tired and sore after. I slept good last night and woke up feeling fine this morning.
I plan to do many more rides this year and hopefully can start riding to work again.
I use a app on my iPhone called MotionX-GPS to track my rides. Here is the ride data and map. I did the route out and back.
