So it is Sept. 2... Does this mean it is Fall now? I'm not sure when the line is crossed and we move from summer to fall. All I know is that it is still kind of hot out. Hot for summer and definitely too hot for fall. Well, whatever it is, it sure beats winter...
Things here are getting pretty busy and exciting. Next week we start cyclo-cross racing. And now instead of flying to Frankfurt/Switzerland on Oct. 14, I'm leaving earlier. I'll be landing in Geneva, Switzerland on Oct. 3 now. I'm attending a UCI Cyclo-Cross Training Camp in Aigle, Switzerland for two weeks before the World Cup on Oct. 17. The rest of the trip stays the same with me flying out of Frankfurt on Oct. 26. Yes, so I'll basically be gone for the month of October... I get home on Oct. 26 and then get back on a plane to move to Belgium for the winter on Nov. 8. I know - crazy, insane, awesome. The only bad part about all of this is that I really won't see Marc at all....
I think I mentioned in my last post that I have started holding cyclo-cross practice sessions for groups and individuals. Well this morning I gave my first private cyclo-cross lesson. It was a great time teaching John the basics of the dismount and mount. But I'll let him tell you all about it here. Definitely check out John's site - he is a true inspiration.
Rest of the day was rather hectic. Had an appointment with my gastro doctor to discuss my uclerative colitis situation... Well, now I'm scheduled for an endoscopy and colonoscopy on Sept. 28. The endoscopy is being done to find out if I have celiac disease and the colonoscopy is being done because my doctor thinks my ulcerative colitis has changed (i.e. more of my colon is now affected). I'm also starting on a new "medicine" - thanks to a fellow professional cyclist who has Crohn's disease, I learned about VSL#3. This is a probiotic that is supposed to help people with inflammatory bowel disease. So I'll be starting on this treatment tomorrow.... Only problem is this is not available by prescription and a one month supply costs $201... It can also only be purchased/ordered at Costco. I'm trying to not think about the cost - at this point I need to try whatever I can. I have to say the pharmacist at Costco was super helpful in ordering the VSL#3 for me. The last part of my new treatment is a new set of blood tests to see which medicines I will respond best to - these are apparently rather "complicated" blood tests and my blood samples will actually be sent to Montreal for analysis. All this to say, I had a very good appointment with my doctor today. He is super responsive to what is happening and wants to get me out of this flare sooner than later.
Looking forward to a relaxing and bike-filled weekend since it is my last at home for a very long time. Lots of good stuff happening. Picked up a new book to read "Discovering the Buddha Within" - I've been curious about Buddhism and how it can affect athletic performance and performance in life in general. This books is written from a "Western" perspective and I'm looking forward to reading it (have to finish Brooklyn first).
Alright, I'm out. Have a great long weekend. I'll do my best to post during the weekend. Oh, and thanks to the adventures of our neighbours, I've definitely put New York City on my list for 2011. Porter flies there at a reasonable price....
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