Fat Foot

That’s how I’ve been spending my days. It started Tuesday evening after a days worth of work out in the sun. I made a solo trek out to Kettles and had plans on pinning down a pretty good pace for the ‘big’ 27 mile loop on the shifter bike. I was shooting for a 10.5 -11 mph pace. I’ve felt pretty good with nice sections mapped out for race and recovery. By the time I made the turn, out at the Emma Carlin, it was full speed ahead and then onto the connector for the return trip. Things were a little pastie and I started feeling sand smack me in the back of my calves as I was riding through the pines. Then I felt it. I light smack just under my right calf followed by a hot pinch and some burning. WTF!!!!!! I start rubbing at my calf thinking that I have some kind of freeloader. It should also be mentioned that I have some kind of tick phobia when out at kettles. That’s the only place that I ride that they seem to find a way onto me (once on a calf and once on my chest!!) or onto my clothes and eventually I even found them once in my car and once in my closet, usually days later. So with that I hosed my legs down with bug spray that had ample amounts of DEET in it.

 So I figured that I was was stung by a yellow jacket that I probably ran over. I guessing that the bee thought that he was ambushed. At least it wasn’t killer bees. I’m to a point where it seems like biking will attract a good bee sting for me on a regular basis. First time was at Devils Head, just minding my own business crawling along on a vicious climb and I saw and felt a yellow jacket land on top of my gloved left hand and immediately start to sting me. Yup, it sucked. Then just last year with less than a couple of miles to go at the Ore to Shore I got smoked through my helmet just around the upper right part of my forehead. That one eventually led to a full blown elephantitis reaction.

This time around I give you the Fat Foot.

Contrary to popular belief my right foot, ankle and part of my calf is fevered and swollen to approximately 30% of it’s normal actual life size. It doesn’t feel all that great. Sooo, because of that I missed out on last night Wednesday night race which was supposed to be followed by a night ride with The Crew. No not THE CREW but rather a group assembled to form the 2009 Beer Fueled Racers. You can get a peek of the debauchery RIGHT HERE.

Wish us luck, we’re leaving for Wausau tomorrow to do the 24 hours of 9 mile. Fat foot and all.