2011

This entry is a little late really but there was something I was waiting for but a little about that in a moment, as anyone who know me or has read this blog I have been having problems with my legs essentially there is a build up of blood and fluids in my lower legs with a large edema this combined with the pressure of the fluid is affecting my ability to move and exercise so not good. I have been receiving treatment for it now for just over 6 months and things are going well but not great so my GP made an appointment to see the vascular consultant and get a thorough check and to see if further intervention was needed to help the recovery and this was what I had been waiting on, well I had the Doppler scans of my legs and everything mechanically is working fine, not quite 100% but more than good enough and to just carry on with things as they are so yeah as you can tell I am happy, I still have to wear the socks and use the cream and no off road riding but a small price to pay.

So whats happening well the snow has gone not that is was much once again we got off pretty lightly compared to the rest of the nation and we are now taking the brunt of all the rain heading northwards so instead of being cabin bound by the ice I am sheltering from the rain, upside of this is that I am getting some walking done and really getting into my body weight exercises, I have a pretty sweet little routine together now.

• Dumb bell curls
• Sit up's
• Press up's
• Wood Choppers
• Squats
• Lunges

I do this about 2-3 times a week doing 10-12 reps across 3-4 sets it is not a formidable program but works my core and upper body and is helping with the imbalance in my knee's right now, in the future I will add more exercises and increase the rep's and set's.
All is not bad though I did manage to get out on a ride yesterday and a belter it was too, I did the same route as I had recently done (yeah yet again) but this time it was not just a ride it was a training session, is there a difference? Well yes there is if i get out for a ride I take my camera along with me and I stop frequently I even take a flask of tea or coffee with me it is all about getting out in the fresh air, training I am more focused I don't stop unless i have too it is more involved and mindful of technique and effort, the latter is what I did last night and man it was fun pushing myself.

As you can see a good ride, same traveling time as previously and same effort but in one sustained ride, got to admit when I woke this morning I was a little sore from this and my body weight session but I feel great.

Oh.......It's raining again.

Normally by now I would have had a post up outlining the things I want to do this year and a rough route of how to do them but as I already pointed out I was waiting for the doc's report before I made any solid plans for this year, It took a few days to absorb everything the doctor said and I have come up with a bucket list of things to do this year and here it is.

• Loose 70-80lb of weight by 31 Dec 2011 this is the big goal
• To complete the Dusk til Dawn race at Thetford (a 12 hour night race)
• Take up Yoga
• Try Canoeing... Ocean Canoeing has always appealed to me
• Take more photo's this past 12 months have seen some of my best works yet now I hardly touch my camera
• Do a mini bike tour, down to Lands End or something that takes a couple of days, a start for my touring
• Start commuting by bike again
• Smile more
• Read more
• Sew more
• Put myself first

Well it is a short list but there are some good things on there so if your still awake and reading this then I hope you follow what is going to be a good year.