Riding for fun and taking a few weeks off

May 5th I rode at Sycamore Canyon with Marwan and Doug.
18 miles; 2:15 time; 2129 elevation - fun - lots of poison oak!

May 6th, rode Sycamore again as a slow social ride - and though it was fun seeing some friends I have not seen in a while, it was really tough to slow down and wait because I have not been riding that for so long.  Basically the same ride on both  days, but a few back tracking miles on fire road and ran into Marwan and Rebecca.
Sunday:  22.8 miles; 2:47 minutes; 2300 elevation
Poison oak all over - too many up-hillers, and kept getting off my bike - Fell in some poison oak and hoping my shower with Tecnu saved me!

My goal is to be able to ride this ride at Sycamore without stopping, period, and the time much faster!

I registered for Traverse next Saturday, but it's basically Counting Coup again, with a different down hill, but same elevation, not sure I am up for it.
I have been doing more spontaneous mountain biking as my schedule allows and been fun.
Jones Fracture update:  I made a mistake and changed my pedals on bike, road well over 100 mt bike miles on those pedals and my foot started really hurting.  I have put back on the candies and it seems to be getting better! I know it's a non-union, so I need to be very careful.  Will get MRI on right knee soon.  Meniscus tear.
Just been putting off the surgery, no bid deal.

I think the last two races and, more importantly, the training for them, changed my life in many ways.  Possibly because the effort, work, sacrifice, showed me I have a lot more in me than I thought I did to commit to something.

Certainly I am in much better physical shape and my diet has not only changed, but I believe forever, it will be changed.  The new awareness I have for what I eat, drink, how much I rest, how I deal with stress, etc, has taken on a new meaning!

Saying I am grateful is not enough, but you get the point.