<p>Thank you everyone for your good wishes regarding my little accident. Some interesting lessons learned: 1) when you sleep at night, your blood pressure drops. As a general rule, blood pressure drops when you lay down as compared to sitting or standing. Add to that the effects of being asleep during a normal sleep cycle. Don’t jump out of bed upon awaking suddenly in the middle of the night. Sit up first and let your pressure normalize. 2) if you faint, not the best idea to jump up and resume what you were doing ( I did and promptly fainted again)). Instead, take a minute to assess what happened and allow your body to stabilize. Sounds like an obvious no brainer but loads of people might be tempted to quickly shrug off what occurred. Me, I always have to learn the obvious the hard way!</p>
<p>Today’s ride was a refreshing reminder of what I love so much about doing casual rides with seasoned high level racers as opposed to my club rides with non-racers. 55 miles of fun conversation while riding at tempo, no competitive b.s. of trying to see who is faster up the hills, no blowing up the pace line just to prove how strong you are and the bike handling skills in a pack, oh my. Tucked on each others’ wheels, handlebars only a foot apart in a double pace line, moving cohesively as a group and almost telepathically anticipating each others’ moves as road obstructions are encountered. An effortless synergy based on skill, experience and trust. I become a better rider every time I ride with these folks. It’s therapeutic! :)</p>
<p>MOWC, congrats on your great showing. And it’s early in the race season!</p>
<p>With your blood pressure so low, you might want to think about upping your salt (and therefore fluid) intake. All the recommendation to cut salt intake isn’t necessarily good advice.</p>
<p>IDad, I am not an anti salt nutrition person. I even added salt to the olive oil i had with some bread at dinner tonight. :). though, with all the long distance riding i do, I am constantly paying attention to my salt and water intake. </p>
<p>abasket- Congratulations on your weight loss!!! It’s very exciting!!!</p>
<p>MKat- I’m glad you’re okay and were able to enjoy a lovely ride! </p>
<p>The weather was gorgeous today. H and I took a really nice walk and actually stopped and sat on a bench by a lake we pass on our walk. The sun was warm and it was amazing. Looks like tomorrow will be another nice day, too!</p>
<p>MKat – if you are on any BP or cardiac meds, they can cause lightheadedness. Finally realized that my big fall at a contradance lesson in Nov. 2012 was due to the cardiac meds. When I was at the doc last time, I mentioned the postural hypotension (because it has been much more noticeable of late, including on those middle-of-the-night bathroom trips) and she said the cocktail I’m on can definitely cause it. Bummer. I really, really wanted to learn contra. </p>
<p>The cardiac rehab folks also really push fluids to help maintain BP. My normal BP these days is 90/60 & pulse 58, and are usually lower after I exercise.</p>
<p>My exercise today: heavy weight lifting. Since I do not own any heavy weights, I simply helped Mr B to roll stumps up the ramp into his truck. Yeah, the aftermath of the chainsaws in the rain. I’m pretty much wiped out.</p>
<p>To the basement for me! I did get to do the mobility part of my warmup outside for the first time this year: walking lunges, high knees skipping, lateral shuffles, carioca, and med ball slams. Felt great. Didn’t fall down, so that was a plus.</p>
<p>Working on improving a couple of exercises based on seeing video – especially the single leg deadlifts.</p>
<p>Took advantage of the nice spring weather to spray some hiking shirts and socks with permethrin tick repellent/bug spray. It’s getting to be that time of year. Saw two flies on my little hike Thursday, but I get everything so slathered up in bug poison that the critters don’t bother me… Knock on wood…</p>
<p>CountingDown, I’m not on any meds but I do wonder if I get adequate hydration. I do need to make a conscious effort to drink enough water. Today’s going to be a shorter ride of about 35 miles. Need to be home early to set up for a big family shindig celebrating my daughter’s 25th birthday (now that could make me feel old ) and my son passing the bar exam ( only a 57% pass rate on the February exam in PA). </p>
<p>Michael, just wanna say, I love the beer - wine diet and would be happy to give it a try in the name of science also wanna say gad you are well and escaped emerge before they made you sick ;)</p>
<p>Broomfield…you meant 1.6 mph…not 16 mph, right? I did a double take on that one!</p>
<p>Kudos on the race, MomWC, and on the short-size-party for Abasket.</p>
<p>And Bunsen, I was in your weight class too yesterday…chopped and hauled a large downed tree that was consuming the northwest corner of out back field that edges the woods. It likely made up for my otherwise lame week in terms of exertion :)</p>
<p>Michael- congrats to your son! I hope his legal career is a good one! Beautiful day for riding here in middle TN. H got in 48 miles yesterday and is heading out soon.</p>
<p>KMC–yes. It was a mistake. I can’t walk 16 miles in an hour! I can move pretty fast with my walk/shuffle but not that fast.
MOWC --great race results.
MK–lots to celebrate. Enjoy yourself.</p>
<p>Slacking again today–exercise will be walking to the art museum to see a Georgia O’Keefe exhibit. Traveling back east tomorrow. </p>
<p>I have a hard time doing anything more than walking when I am not on my home turf. I don’t know how people who travel a lot for work like PG or MOWC keep up with their fitness routines. I’m still trying to figure it out. Might be because much of what I do is either in a gym or yoga studio.Need to figure it out. Going away again at Easter–but will be visiting D and son-in-law and have access to a gym/Pilates/yoga.</p>
<p>kmc, too bad my size is sold out. That would be one heck of a way to celebrate a five pound party! (and maybe DH would notice I’ve lost weight!) ;)</p>
<p>Today’s exercise–cleaning cabinets high and low, moving dishes, scrubbing the floor. Yes, it’s Passover/spring cleaning time. If I’m lucky we’ll all get a walk later (DS and DH are helping with all of this. I’m impressed at their hard work, though I have to point out it’s only once a year.) ;)</p>
<p>Bromfield2–I can’t say I have an exercise “routine” at any time…but when I travel and stay in a hotel I always do SOMETHING in their weight/exercise room. Treadmill, elliptical, whatever. It’s equipment I don’t have at home and it’s a good start to my day if I get a wee bit of exercise in. And it actually feels like a vacation because it’s something different. I just have to be sure to pack clothes & proper shoes.</p>
<p>3.2 miles of my newfound run/walk/run. In between raindrops. Glad to get it in today, tomorrow’s forcast is for a high of 34 with a rain/snow mix. I guess it was too much to expect more than a couple of 50 degree days. </p>
<p>Thank you all for your celebratory comments. Tonight’s family and friends gathering is certainly going to be festive!</p>
<p>Today’s solo ride was again wonderful. Mid 70’s, clear skies. Had more than a bit of a headwind for most of the ride and some of the hill climbs were a beast as a result but who cares, I was outside! Time to set up the house for the party. Glad I got my ride in 'cause I suspect my nutrition plan is going out the window this evening :),</p>
<p>kmcmom, nice find on the light up accessory!</p>
<p>9 miles of a planned 12 miles, ugh, some days I hate running. I always wonder if I’d like bike riding any better as all the bikes whizz past me on the bike trail.</p>
<p>MoWC, congratulations on your race. Michael, that’s wonderful about your son. Bunsen, I’m getting excited for you at Boston! Maybe we’ll see you on tv!!</p>
<p>Deb922, so glad you have found a method that makes your run satisfying! It really is about if ding what works for you and is satisfying. Those should be the only rules!!</p>
Yeah, the aftermath of the chainsaws in the rain. I’m pretty much wiped out.</p>
) and my son passing the bar exam ( only a 57% pass rate on the February exam in PA). </p>