The thread about dreading an upcoming treadmill stress test prompted me to write this.

I am what most would consider a serious, recreational rider. I am not a "racer-boy" and I am certainly not a fast climber (just ask TrojanHorse). I do enjoy weekly unsupported long distance rides (metric centuries plus) and I enjoy climbing the hills near my home in SoCal. Like I wrote, I am not the fastest rider out there but I am certainly a consistent rider and climber. Until just recently.

The last couple of months I began experiencing some mild chest pain, right smack in the middle of my chest, (over the sternum) when I climb. The pain goes away as soon as the hills flatten--but it is there at the start, something I had never experienced before. In a couple of recent climbs my HRM alarm beeped when I exceeded 165 bpm. That had never happened to me before.

At first, I did not pay much attention to the pain. After all, we all ride through occasional pain. Rule #5 has always been my riding mantra. But other "signs" have been cropping up that have caused me to be concerned. For example, yesterday I rode 42.5 miles at an 17.4 mph pace--mostly flat course with no wind. By the time I hit mile 40 I was almost too tired to finish; it took a bit of effort just to finish the last 2.5 miles. The worst part of it was watching riders in my group, riders that I normally leave behind, riding past me and leaving me behind. Argggg.

I am 57 years old and have diabetes and asthma. When I saw my asthma doctor for my regular check-up I told him about the chest pains. He immediately called a cardiologist and made an appointment for me--right on the spot.

I saw the cardiologist on Friday and he took an EKG, which is pretty much unless in my situation except to show that the electrical signals from my heart are OK. Tthe doctor then ordered a nuclear treadmill test. The test is set for November 1. The doctor told me that it is OK for me to keep riding, just avoid exerting myself--no more climbing hills until the test results are in.

Just the word nuclear, attached to the word test, is pretty scary. But that is not what has me worried.

According to the Heart Association and the ADA, heart disease (including heart attacks and strokes) are the leading cause of death for diabetics (and right up there for asthmatics as well). That has me very concerned.

Now I ride with an eye on my Garmin computer. The moment my heart rate reaches 80 to 85 percent of my max, I ease up on the pedals. I really hate riding like this...I have always prided myself on pushing myself hard and riding to the limit of my physical abilities.

I am not sure why I am posting this, except maybe to vent a little and rail against he unfairness of certain diseases that leave you looking good (well, relatively good for me) on the outside while destroying you, bit by bit, from the inside.

I trust that God has a plan for me and that there is a reason for this. I just wish that He would sometime take time from His schedule and clue me in on what His plan is. It would make it a lot easier to accept some things.

I will let you all know how the November 1 test comes out...