momar.... and more

This blog was supposed to be about the MOMAR, and the cyclocross race the next day, but sometimes life takes you in unexpected directions.

The MOMAR was a blast. Marc, Dave, Joan and I were a team of four, and we rocked the course! Of course there was pain, and mishaps, some slow sections and some faster ones. It had rained buckets, and the downhill mountain bike sections involved "surfing" techniques as your bike slid through the thick mud trying not to hit the trees around the tight and windy trail. The running went "fine" - which means I wish I could run better but I lived through it.  I wore my brand champion bike shorts with pride, and tried to do the endorsement justice! And of course I had a sugoi merino layer on, since it's become like my second skin.

We thought we'd managed second in our category, so were pretty excited to find out we snagged FIRST! Very very cool moment.

The next day we switched bikes to race cyclocross in Cumberland, and I realized I really need more time on my cyclocross bike. The course was very fun, quite technical and generally built to suit me well with minimal uphills but lots of corners. My legs were very tired, and I was definitely lagging due to Momar pain, but was settling in nicely and starting to pick up the pace in the second lap when I double bounced myself in the BMX track - a fall, and a flat - which took me forever to change with everyone watching me fumble! Back on the bike, not that there's a chance I can catch anyone now!

After the race I tried to clean my leg which I had injured in the fall, but there wasn't really anywhere to do that properly so I left it until I came home. Rinsing off the mud I realized it needed proper cleaning and some antibiotics. Off to the hospital I went, for the first of what has now been many visits.

Unfortunately the doctor had a different opinion of treating mud filled wounds than I do, and talked me into stitching it, and no antibiotics because he felt he'd cleaned it well enough. The next morning I couldn't walk or bend my knee without extreme pain, so back I went. I was told it was all fine, it hurt because I banged it. "No" I said, "there's something wrong!" "No" the doctor said, "Of course it hurts, you fell on it".

This is Friday. I still can't bend my knee. The infection has spread around my knee and to my ankle. I'm worried my patellar tendon is getting munched by the bacteria, because that's the most painful spot. I have two trips daily to the hospital for IV antibiotics. Tomorrow is decision day whether to surgically clean it or continue antibiotics. Tomorrow is also the day we have a fully booked mountain bike instruction course to teach through our fledgling company.

What a week it's been! Far from worrying about getting a cold and not being able to race cyclocross through the fall, now I just want to keep my leg.

And we have a pact. You can't tell my mom. She thinks I'm at work and all is well.