RTL: Suffering any after-effects?

[David_Stone]

Here are some of the mild changes I've noticed since the race:

SORENESS
I have been happily surprised with how well my old body has dealt with the ride. The only pain I've experienced is this weird soreness in the area just below my left shin. Apparently this was a result of having my Schlumpf seat about 1 cm too high.

WEIGHT
I noticed that I was feeling a bit thinner -- for example, I had to pull my belt a notch tighter. The scale confirmed this: I lost 5 pounds, tho it's probable that I lost 7 pounds of fat and gained 2 pounds of muscle, for all I know. And it wasn't for lack of eating: I had full breakfasts and dinners, and during the ride I ate a LOT of trail mix, bananas, GU, and so on.

METABOLISM
...so when I got home, I could NOT stop eating. I guess I'm going to put on those 5 pounds again. I've also noticed that I'm incredibly thirsty.

EXHAUSTION
I haven't been tired from the race, but I had a really tough drive back, and it has completely knocked me out. Well, the racing probably added a bit to that.

ANTSINESS
I've been dying to go for a ride, but as noted, my shinjury is keeping me off the wheel. I may try to go for a short ride tom'w.

[kevinalexandersmith]

Since RTL, I’m really exhausted. My eyes are hurting. I’m not thinking clearly. I didn’t compete, but I stayed up all week reading about it online. Does that count?

[vanpaun]

While asleep, I begin uncontrolable pedalling. I beleive this to be RLS. the real symptom tht doesn't need any treating So I began a daily regimen of perscription Ropinirole. Ropinrole should not be taken with anything, or you may experience nausea, diahrea, uncontrolable flatulence, or death. So ask your Doctor if Ropinrole is right for you. Because you deserve a full night's sleep.

[unicyclist.ca]

My left knee is bummed because it was hyper extending on some downhills, it hurts to walk but not to uni so i have been booting around town on my 26.

[siafirede]

David - I know that exact shin/joint pain you are experiencing and posted a thread a bit earlier about it. Lowering my seat a little bit made it go away for sure, I do not get the pain anymore. It took about a week for the pain to subside for me when I had the same injury, so I am sure in due time you will be up and riding again!

My right knee is having problems. It blew out the end of the Monday (relating to a previous injury, and I was afraid it might act up), I didn't ride much on Tuesday, but started doing alright in the cold rain (which was like an ice bath for my knee) and with a lot of anti inflammatories. Now that I have stopped taking the anti-inflammatories, my knee is feeling the effects of the race.

Other than that, I wasn't too sore after the race. My skin is still peeling from the sunburn I got in Annapolis Royal on last Saturday, and I am still scratching at some of the millions of bug bites I got.

As far as the food thing goes...I also can't stop eating! I find myself hungry all the time still because my body still thinks it is in race mode.

[Eroick]

I don't really have any pain left. There was a bit after the final day, but it went away over the course of the drive home.

I was really tired driving home. Luckly I didn't do too much of the driving and I slept for most of it.

The biggest and most important after effect: I want to ride more. I'm far more excited about unicycling than I've ever been before! I'm trying to go out muning tomorow

I guess I got off easy with the bugs, they're much worse here in the capital region!

[steveyo]

My sore quads are feeling almost all better. I've a bit of clicking in my right knee and a slightly stiff lower back in the morning. I'm tired (I went to sleep at 9:30 last night), and I'm also eating non-stop.

[flyer]

I've had a bit of pain in my ankle from spinning close to 30k/hr for 5k stretches. Luckily it's feeling much better today.

the worst of it has been my body's total confusion though. I don't know if I'm hungry or sick, though that's starting to subside as well. It's really difficult when you're having a lot of stomach pain tot know whether you need to eat now or lay off it for a while to make it all go away

[David_Stone]

Oh yeah, the sun burn. My nose got a mild one, and I'm a bit tanner than before, but happily I put on lots of lotion on Monday of the race but forgot on Friday (by which point I already had a little color).

Of course, semach the monkey has a different story to tell! He's got quite an interesting Mohawk burn on his scalp.

As for the mozzies and other insects: they're not a big fan of me. I have three or four little bites, and they itched a bit for a few days, but they no longer bother me.

[Kiwi in Vermont]

I think I'm grieving!

I've realized the Lobster we were riding was alive!

It came to life initially at the welcome ceremony in Annapolis Royal and grew and evolved till the end of the awards in Baddeck. It had a life of it's own and we were all part of it, and it was part of us.
The Lobster challenged us, we all persisted and met it's challenges as we could individually, as teams, and as a group.

Do you remember the end of the awards when it was all over but everyone just sat there, not knowing what to do now. Someone had to come back to the mike to point out that was the end and we can go now.

The Lobster was dead, but we didn't want it to be.

I miss RTL.

It was such an amazing thing. It was competitive and compassionate. It was unforgiving and kind.

Everyone wants to do it again, even though it may have been one of the most grueling events many of us have ever attempted.

Physically I've totally recovered, but I'll always be a changed person having been part of the entity known as RTL 2008.

Thank You RTL.

[steveyo]

Originally Posted by Kiwi in Vermont

I think I'm grieving!

I've realized the Lobster we were riding was alive! ...
It was such an amazing thing. It was competitive and compassionate. It was unforgiving and kind....
Physically I've totally recovered, but I'll always be a changed person having been part of the entity known as RTL 2008.

Very poetic Geoff. I agree.

[Kiwi in Vermont]

Yeah, after posting that I was torn between getting a tissue, or going to the kitchen to continue my post RTL eating binge. I went to the kitchen...

[BleedforTrials]

My metabolism is high to begin with but I've been enhailing food non-stop since I got back, and I've just been sitting on my arss! It's a bit tiring eating so much. I'm not sore except for my knee.

[phlegm]

The biggest after effects I've been dealing with are all the dang itchy bug bites!

[Russtynail]

Surprisingly enough I dont feel any pain at all! Monday and Tuesday I was definitally feeling it! My legs were burning! But I think wednesday was a good break, Although I complained ALL Tuesday night about not wanting to do it, I think I would have been worse off if I let my legs have the day off! I felt fine Thursday and Friday! And am still feeling fine! And weighing myself last night I gained 7 pounds on the trip! Whether I just ate too much, or built some muscle I need all the poundage I can get still !