Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Michigan, on the lake, 60 miles WNW of Chicago as the crow flies, or 90 miles if the crow walks.
Posts: 74
Bikes: Dolan DF4, BH Ultralight, 1974 Schwinn Paramount Track, Trek Alpha 1000, Trek 730, Miyata 930 affixed to a Brian Wind Trainer
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The Good
- Even though I was off the bike for most of the year, I cut 3 seconds off my last year's (first year back in 35 years) 500M time
- I'm looking forward to being healthy this year.
- I'm alive and kicking.
- May have found the culprit that's been rising my post-operative PSA.
- I may be able to train and race more than one year before I need castration treatment for my prostate cancer
- Exercise-induced asthma disappeared after hyperbaric training, meaning I no longer have to endure ugly, spiteful, ignorant, and hateful comments about using an inhaler.
- No more feeling like my lungs are going to seize after a hard effort.
- Paid off the mortgage on my home
The Bad
- For the third time, my prostate cancer has returned.
- Radiation cystitis caused severe passing of blood from January through May
- Cycling aggravated the bleeding, sometimes over a pint a day
- Spent team spring training in the sag van
- Severe anemia from constant loss of blood/hospitalization
- Bladder biopsy and cauterization in March
- Cauterization of the bladder, despite the pain, did not stop the bleeding
- Sprained back in weight room out of boredom from not training or competing most of season
- Two months of hyperbaric treatment -- 1hr drive plus 2 hours treatment -- and ordered off bike and no oxygen deficit training
- Tenant trashed my rental property
- Between time spent making extensive repairs to rental and medical treatments, training was cut back severely
- Tumor located near my S1/S2 vertebrae needed radiation.
- One of worst bi-polar troughs of my life. Crisis stage the week of Michigan State Track Championships
- Radiation fatigue is still a problem, it's like doctor-ordered overtraining, but more severe.
- Sister endured stem cell treatment for non-hodgkins t-cell lymphoma.
- Mother passed away.
The Ugly
- All due respect to comedian Tig Notaro, you don't want to see my prostate cancer surgery scars
The Plan
- Do what coach says.
- Get on the bike and ride! Whoohoo!
- Stay healthy, stay healthy, stay healthy.
- Miles for milligrams program for my bi-polar: med free (under supervision) by August.
- Lose the abdominal adipose aeroshield (50# lost, 20 more to go!)
- Race M 65-69 in 500, get time under :40.
- Have gobs of fun and meet new friends.