RayGreen

I did it guys, and after only just over 2 months of being a bike rider. I rode my age, 54 miles, in 3:56. I'm sure my running background and fitness level helped a bunch in accomplishing this.

In other news, on 08/02 my spine specialist gave me permission to return to running. He said I can do a mile at a time and progress in 6 week intervals. I know he means that should pain return, stop running for 6 more weeks and I also suspect he means to increase mileage in the same 6 week intervals.

While on this hiatus from running, I've made some good accomplishments on the bike, made some great new friends here, and had some great fun. I plan on keeping the bike as a permanent part of my fitness regimen. I'm sure the day will come when my spine refuses to allow my running but the bike has been 100% pain free for me.

stapfam

After 20 years of Seious Running- My knees gave up on me. Cycling has been my saviour as I can keep fit and stay out of the Physio dept.

Well done on the ride- but Look forward to the next challenge now. Only 100K so you are fortunate in that with age on your side- your Age ride has nearly put you there. Then there is the next challenge but that may need a bit of training (Eat two portions of pie on your Annual pie run))

DnvrFox

That's impressive. Congrats. Is it possible that you will see bicycling as your prime physical activity rather than running? Running will likely continue to injure your body, whilst bcycling will improve it, IMHO. I gave up running when my knees started to swell. I figured I might save myself a knee replacement in years to come.

RayGreen

DnvrFox & stapfam ......

Thank you for the encouraging words. I know in my heart that my running days are numbered, henceforth my decision NOT to give up the bike.

Being a goal oriented (and achievement motivated) person, biking has opened up new worlds for me. I do a 14 mile speed ride each Tuedsday and so far, each one beats the last. I do know however, that the tread will be broken at a given point.

As for distance, the age ride was a big accomplishment and I feel good. Next will come the 100k and after that, I'll probably work towards the century ride.

jppe

Very, very well done!!! Ditch the running and keep riding.....your back will be glad you did.

RayGreen

Based on how I've felt the past 2 hours, it may come to that. I did a 1 mile run this A.M. and felt great afterwards. That is until, I helped my wife get the laundry down to the laundry room. The bending & twisting has me feeling miserable.

It may be time to say goodbye to running. In 12 years, I've ran 13 marathons and I have over 35 age division awards so I've made the best of it. This pain isn't worth it. I've been pain free for 2 months including at work. I'm a truck/equipment mechanic and bending & lifting is part of my daily regimen. I can work 10 hours a day, bike 100+ miles a week, and feel fine. Run 1 mile and I feel like crap. Times are changing.

oilfreeandhappy

I still run, but only on the tennis courts, chasing after balls. I find that I'm still pretty quick. The cycling is great! Sometimes if I overdo it, my tennis game suffers, especially if I get in a 3rd set. At these times, I always ask myself, "what's more important?".

A lot of my tennis buddies have started riding to practices and matches, and if my team has a match 20-30 miles away, we always carpool. I think a few of our attitudes have been contagious on the others!

dauphin

congratulations!

DougG

I'm still planning on keeping up with my running, but my days of going for PRs are certainly over, especially since I'm spending more time on my bikes. Today I ran a good 8-miler at 6AM in the cool temps. In the afternoon heat, I rode 20 miles on my new Sequoia and really started to appreciate what riding a bike like this is all about.

But like I said, my running is now more just for fitness and because it's part of my routine. I have a 10-mile event at the end of August in Flint, MI and will probably run the Detroit half-marathon to finish off the season. During the same Fall season, I have three bike-riding events planned -- two road and one trail -- and might try doing at least a metric century this year (which would be just over my age in miles). I guess that makes me a "dual athlete", although the "athlete" part of that expression would definitely be in question.

Carusoswi

Oops, sorry for putting words in your mouth, Ray. Great ride, by the way. Congrats, and Keep up the good work.

Caruso

RayGreen

Is the 10 miler the Crim?

I coached my brother through the Detroit Marathon last year. It was my first time doing that one. It is a fantastic event. My brother and his wife are registered for the half this year. I wanted to join them but it doesn't look good.

Have you ever done the DALMAC? If biking becomes my primary sport, the '07 DALMAC is what I'm setting my sights on.

RayGreen

No problem ..... I shoulda known better. Some chores are better left to the professionals.

mollusk

Only two months into the road bike "game" and doing 50+ miles is GREAT! Be proud of your accomplishment!

Now figure out the next goal to work for to keep it fresh!

mollusk

I hear you, brother. While I didn't run I did play full-court basketball (pickup) at a pretty high level (lots of the players were former "high major" NCAA Div 1 players) and "retired" from it a few months after turning 50. I played three times per week and hurt "24-7". Now I feel MUCH better and I believe I am in much better "shape".

centexwoody 

Ray: how fortunate you are to have found the cycling as an alternative to your running in such a short time! Listen to what the ol' body tells you and appreciate what the forms of exercise that get you to feeling BETTER may be.. ..

That you've adapted your discipline and goal-setting to cycling in what seems to be a pretty smooth transition is pretty remarkable and says something both about you and the 'new' sport that you've gotten into.

While I may be a bit stiff and/or sore after riding, it is nothing like the aching that would go on for days with some previous aerobic fitness regimens. And that ability to stay injury- and pain-free leaves me with the enthusiasm to pursue longer rides, better times, even more geegaws for my bike: when I can view my cycling in that perspective it seems like a really fortunate choice with no upper age-limit that I can tell!

nedgoudy

Congratulations on your recent 50+
mile bike ride. It is a great accomplishment.

As for giving up running, I would advise
it. I was never an athelete, but jogging
finally wore out my shins and
even going on an odyssey of
buying different brands of
running shoes didn't fix that.

But with bike riding I have never been
let down. Temporary pain perhaps
from overworking the muscles,
but never any lasting damage (except
a broken hip from a bad flat tire
related accident, but those go with
the territory.)

And I firmly believe that riding a bike
is more fun cause the mechanical
advantage of the bike allows you to
see so much more territory in the
same amount of time.

Enjoy your bike. Biking makes me
feel as young as a little kid again
every once in a while and I treasure
that experience.

Monoborracho

+1

Wish I had quit running at age 30.

DougG

Yes, I've been running the Crim for many years. I just looked at the DALMAC info and it's a bit beyond my biking comfort level at this time, but in a couple of years who knows... I am at least going to do the "Peach of a Ride" and "Blue Water Ramble" events this year, though.