Suffering... but a good suffering

I started training for real today.  Threshold test on the bike.  Really, it was the first time I've gone hard since June, and it showed.  I couldn't get my heart rate up nearly as high as I wanted, and my power went down the tubes during the second interval.  But overall, I'm only down 5%, so I'll take it.  2 x 20' (2') and the numbers were:
Total:  NP 227 HR 144
1st 20:  NP 236 HR 144
2nd 20:  NP 223 HR 145 (whoops)

AND... I signed up for Wildflower today, too.  No more hiding. 

It's Fall and I'm trying to get back into shape

Here's a photo I shot yesterday morning of the mountain. As I was driving in to work, I saw this and was absolutely amazed. I tried to find a good location to get a picture and was able to find an unobstructed view from the front of the hospital. I have never seen the shadow of Rainier projected across the sky like that. 

Kind of strange that I'm starting to train when the weather is getting cooler, the days are getting shorter, and the leaves are turning color. Well, have to start somewhere. I was able to run 5 today; each day, it feels like I'm getting better, which is a good thing. My legs are actually feeling bouncy. There's no better way to explain it. So, although I am out of shape, I feel good (well, except for the out of breath part). 

Yee-ha!

I started running again.  It has been nearly 8 weeks since my surgery.  I started running last week.  Although I am slow and out of shape, I definitely feel better now that everything is back in place again.  On Monday, I was able to run 4 miles at 7:30 pace, which is the fastest I've run since my accident.  Although it felt a bit strange, it didn't feel all that bad, so I am encouraged by this. 

I was also given the okay to start increasing my range of motion.  After nearly four months of not moving my arm much, it is a bit stiff.  There is definitely a difference between the range of motion on my left and my right.

My Cervelo is back on my trainer now, and I even spent some time on the aerobars last weekend.  It was a bit uncomfortable, but it actually helped to stretch out my shoulder a bit.  Of course, last weekend, I was trying to recover from a not-so-intelligent decision to move some cinder blocks in my backyard.  Long story short, I used some cinder blocks to weight down a couple of buckets that are covering mole traps.  Although I tried to use mostly my left arm, I did have to support part of it with my right, since the blocks are probably around 30 lbs.  My right clavicle started hurting immediately, there was some redness over the scar, and I was a bit freaked out.  Thankfully, it has calmed down and is back to "normal."  Stupid moles.