The last time I posted anything in this blog was 3 months ago. That was a month before the much awaited run bike run race I was supposed to join at Filinvest scheduled for the second week of May.
Due to the numerous distractions from my regular routine, I missed it. There was a race at the Carmona track 2 weeks before the duathlon that I had decided to join. Unfortunately, I crashed my newly painted Rudy Project Vespa twice during the practice rounds.
The first crash was a lowside crash when I miscalculated my braking at a long and sharp turn. Minor damages incurred and no injuries to my body.
The second crash was a highside crash when my throttle got stock in the process of shifting from second to third gear coming out of a chicane. I was thrown off my scoot, and I injured my left foot. With a swollen foot and big toe, I still managed to finish the race in last place. Not to mention the third heat was completed with a flat rear tire for the last 2 laps.
What a comeback! I tried racing again at my own club's trackday, but things were never the same for me. Have to shake off those butterflies in the stomach and get back to the old racing form.
This set me back major. Due to the injuries sustained, I was not able to join the duathlon and all my hard work and mileage gained during my running and biking sessions faded away.
Some say it was bad luck because I was assigned the number 13. Some say I was too eager. I say I lacked practice and my bike was going cookoo that day.
Anyway, being the tenacious person that I am, I trained as soon as I got well. My biking was again at par with my standards but my running had to improve further.
Then June came. I call it the party month. This was even worse than Christmas itself and I found myself drinking like a fish again.
At one party, about 10 of us downed 5 bottles of the dreaded agua.
To cut a long story short, I saw my fitness level fly out of the window in such a short span of time.
The coup de grace for me was when I got sick a week ago. Too much stress, lack of sleep, and to much effort to keep up with training intensity took a toll on my health.
Imagine being able to train at 60 to 70% of max HR and having a resting HR of only 48BPM? It was depressing to say the least.
Well, next time I will choose the parties that I will go to. Next time I will listen to what my body is telling me and I will apply the one step backwards two steps forward approach.
I write today to inspire myself to train again and reach my old fitness level.
I've already started running with rubber legs but with much desire to improve. Tomorrow I bike and on Saturday, I hit the trails again or probably do a reverse palace in the sky just in case the trails are wet.
I find myself lucky. At my age, I am still able to do these things. The other day, I was again reminded of my own mortality.
Our messenger died in his sleep at age 52. I still think that was a good way to go. But at 52, there are so many things to enjoy...like mountain biking, watching your kids grow, and making love to your wife.
He won't be able to do those things anymore that's for sure. But he is definitely resting in peace.
I'll post a picture of my banged up Vespa soon so you can compare it to my old photos.
Time for a paint job......
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