Sunday, July 31, 2005

Training Day(s)

I thought I'd talk about something I'd already mentioned like I did for the walking in this post so you have to put up with me talking about my training. Back on 4th July I had my first session on an exercycle. I think I wrote on the blog at the time that the exercycle was the idea of a friend's sister who was seriously injured in a car versus pedestrian accident a few year ago but now is extremely fit.

I have been on the exercycle a few times since and it's great to be active again. If, in the future, I appear to be taking the ability to get fit for granted I am giving permission to people to tell me off. I haven't been too often because my physio feels responsible for me and wants to come too, but it still feels great. My physio wanting to come too creates quite a big problem for me because I would rather do balance exercises with her than train. Hopefully, I will get discharged soon and I can get an exercycle to use at home. The quality of the exercycles at the hospital makes me a bit fussy. I will probably get my old pedals from Paraparaumu and buy some new clips and shoes (my old ones were never returned). I am a bit of an exercise snob after all.

The exercycle has a number of advantages over other forms of exercise. I can’t run or swim normally yet and I am meant to stay off the road while riding for a bit. Also, the more observant of you might have noticed that the article written about me recently mentioned I had some double vision. In certain directions I find I have two images, which is the result of my eyes pointing very slightly in different directions. Apparently, this will have been caused by fragile nerves between my eyes and brain getting shaken up in the accident and will come right either in time or by operation. The double vision would also prevent me from riding on the road.

The exercycling will be more helpful if I am able to ride again in the future. This is not guaranteed, because my balance while riding may be a bit of a problem. I haven't done anything to make me think it will be a problem yet, but I guess we won't find out for sure until I get enough truck strength to try riding again.

If I can't ride I will probably just take up running or something. Even if I devote myself to running full time I still don't think I'll be as quick as my ironman training mate and co-accidentee, Ben 'The Hammer' Schurr. There are plenty of sports to try, though, even if we can't be good at all of them.

Cheers,
Mike

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well done Mike, have you thought of one of those exercise balls, just plain sitting on one is good for developing trunk strength. They suggest it for people with back problems. Just an idea for the future. Easy to do while watching TV etc
Gilda

Anonymous said...

Hey Mike!
Thanks for your new blog! It was really great to read about your progress!
Biking sounds great! Expecially since you can exercycle while watching TV! Maybe we will have to flag the MDs and start making movies for you to watch while riding!!

Keep up the awesome progress and take it easy!
Looking forward to seeing you in only 15 sleeps!!
Take care,
Love,
Kent and Amanda ;)

Anonymous said...

great news about the bike, keep it up. Still tune in to your blogs, love reading about your progress, awesome!
Love
Marg and Gav

Anonymous said...

Mike

I was just going to email you but I think the comment is worthy of general publication...

I have heard rumours of people who have done 99% of their IM cycle training on a windtrainer!!

Ben

Anonymous said...

Hey Mike,

Good to hear that you are getting back into training. I'm thinking of trying to get back into doing a bit of mountain biking. May have to get some hints off you for some good rides.

Keep up the stunning progress
Azza

Anonymous said...

Hi Mike

It was good to meet up with you a couple of weekends ago, to catch up on your news, to find how you are mastering increasingly complex tasks, and how you keep moving the goal posts.

I look forward to having you (and some of your friends) join me on some of the Nelson off-road trails around the local hills and mountains. The possibilities are endless - from flat runs up the Maitai, around Abel Tasman coastline or around Lake Rotoiti, to mountain runs around the Tablelands, over the Heaphy or through the Wangapeka.

Keep on keeping on

Cheers

Lindsay

Anonymous said...

Mike
It's neat to see you meeting each new challenge and achieving so much. We really look forward to reading of each success you have.

K & J