Viking Cross!
It was a relief to have our little, last-minute cross race turn out so well. I had a good time and I think the course was really fun. The twists and turns through the buildings and through the tractor pull area were really fun. However, the beach sections were just what the course needed and made it a memorable race. It was nice to hear so many people say that this race should be part of the WCA series. That may be impossible but the folks at the park and rec center said we were welcome to come back so we'll see.
Photo by djonnymac
I had a fun race battling it out with my teammates and trying to keep Rachel on her singlespeed from passing me. I started out okay as usual but quickly slipped back (as usual). Michele and I were duking it out and going back and forth for quite awhile. Eventually she got a little gap on me and I though that was that. Then Rachel was breathing down my neck and I thought she was going to pass me as well. Then something out of the ordinary happened . . . I sped up or others slowed down. With just a couple of laps to go I caught back up to Michele and passed her and got a little gap right away. Then with about 1.5 laps to go I could see Shannon again and I was getting closer. I never did catch her but I did reduce the gap considerably. My last lap actually felt good which is in stark contrast to my first couple of laps.
Photo by djonnymac
Normally I try to make up for a lack of fitness with some skill but my first couple of laps were remarkable for the complete lack of skill. This was definitely the kind of course that required careful pre-riding. I didn't do such a good job in that area and was taking bad lines like crazy and I even rode straight into the course tape at one point when I tried to make a turn where there wasn't one. I have to laugh at the poor skills I was demonstrating at time. It was such a fun course though and the fun only increased as I started to figure it all out. The beach was super cool even if I did think I was going to die on the first section which I was running. I'm so glad I could ride the second beach section as there is no way I could have run both.
In other news I am super annoyed with my dentist. Before he filled my cavity my tooth felt fine but ever since he worked on it I've had a ton of pain. Not just a little pain either. On the way to the Washington Park race I thought Dave was going to have to pull over the car so I could hurl as the pain was that bad. It also wakes me up several times a week now as it is getting worse. I got in to see my dentist again yesterday so I could get this dealt with before ski season (cold water and cold air sometimes set it off so ski racing could be problematic).
Anyway, we do the x-ray which sucked as I have a horrible gag reflex (one time I almost swallowed the x-rays). He decides that I need to have a root canal (shocker there and thanks for filling the cavity as that worked out great). He also tells me that the tooth looks infected now so I need to go on antibiotics (which I hate doing). Then he tells me he's going to write me a prescription for a stronger pain medicine than the ibuprofen I've been taking. I'm thinking I'll just get some extra strength ibuprofen. No, instead he writes me a prescription for Vicodin. I'm not sure when he thinks I would take that. Between the slight nausea that it creates and the fact that it leaves me feeling unfocused and unmotivated I really can't imagine a situation where I would take one. I guess I should have mentioned that I raced cross and could handle the pain. I was only telling him about the pain since the last time I told him I thought there was a problem he didn't take me very seriously.
And then to top thinks off the next appointment I could get for the root canal is for Dec 28. Just what I want on the Friday afternoon before a 4 day holiday weekend. However, I took the appointment as I want the tooth fixed before my first ski race on January 5th.
The Angell Park race is on Sunday. Should be fun! Feel free to cheer and ring cowbells for the elite women. Start drinking just a little earlier this year so we get to ride through a mass of crazed (and slightly tipsy) cross fans! We like the motivation just as much as the guys.
Photo by djonnymac
I had a fun race battling it out with my teammates and trying to keep Rachel on her singlespeed from passing me. I started out okay as usual but quickly slipped back (as usual). Michele and I were duking it out and going back and forth for quite awhile. Eventually she got a little gap on me and I though that was that. Then Rachel was breathing down my neck and I thought she was going to pass me as well. Then something out of the ordinary happened . . . I sped up or others slowed down. With just a couple of laps to go I caught back up to Michele and passed her and got a little gap right away. Then with about 1.5 laps to go I could see Shannon again and I was getting closer. I never did catch her but I did reduce the gap considerably. My last lap actually felt good which is in stark contrast to my first couple of laps.
Photo by djonnymac
Normally I try to make up for a lack of fitness with some skill but my first couple of laps were remarkable for the complete lack of skill. This was definitely the kind of course that required careful pre-riding. I didn't do such a good job in that area and was taking bad lines like crazy and I even rode straight into the course tape at one point when I tried to make a turn where there wasn't one. I have to laugh at the poor skills I was demonstrating at time. It was such a fun course though and the fun only increased as I started to figure it all out. The beach was super cool even if I did think I was going to die on the first section which I was running. I'm so glad I could ride the second beach section as there is no way I could have run both.
In other news I am super annoyed with my dentist. Before he filled my cavity my tooth felt fine but ever since he worked on it I've had a ton of pain. Not just a little pain either. On the way to the Washington Park race I thought Dave was going to have to pull over the car so I could hurl as the pain was that bad. It also wakes me up several times a week now as it is getting worse. I got in to see my dentist again yesterday so I could get this dealt with before ski season (cold water and cold air sometimes set it off so ski racing could be problematic).
Anyway, we do the x-ray which sucked as I have a horrible gag reflex (one time I almost swallowed the x-rays). He decides that I need to have a root canal (shocker there and thanks for filling the cavity as that worked out great). He also tells me that the tooth looks infected now so I need to go on antibiotics (which I hate doing). Then he tells me he's going to write me a prescription for a stronger pain medicine than the ibuprofen I've been taking. I'm thinking I'll just get some extra strength ibuprofen. No, instead he writes me a prescription for Vicodin. I'm not sure when he thinks I would take that. Between the slight nausea that it creates and the fact that it leaves me feeling unfocused and unmotivated I really can't imagine a situation where I would take one. I guess I should have mentioned that I raced cross and could handle the pain. I was only telling him about the pain since the last time I told him I thought there was a problem he didn't take me very seriously.
And then to top thinks off the next appointment I could get for the root canal is for Dec 28. Just what I want on the Friday afternoon before a 4 day holiday weekend. However, I took the appointment as I want the tooth fixed before my first ski race on January 5th.
The Angell Park race is on Sunday. Should be fun! Feel free to cheer and ring cowbells for the elite women. Start drinking just a little earlier this year so we get to ride through a mass of crazed (and slightly tipsy) cross fans! We like the motivation just as much as the guys.
posted by MadCross at 1:44 PM
2 Comments:
If I remember right, people often feel alot better after a root canal, if the tooth was really hurting. It may not ruin your weekend after all!
hope it stops hurting soon.
Yup, I've had a root canal twice (one required a shot in the roof of my mouth - eek!) and although they were horrid, I had no pain or issues afterwards....some pain for some gain! I'm a dentist frady-cat, and the words "root canal" though still register fear in me....Renee
Post a Comment
<< Home