ronswilliams.com » 2009 Season

Bike Day 2. Now that’s more like it!

ron — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:17:24 +0000

After 70 miles and 5000′ of climbing I feel more like myself! Maybe I can return to top fitness this year? All of the men on the team are really riding well and they are all much improved from 2008. The first part of the ride was very animated with a good dig on wild cat canyon. I was able to climb with the 135lbs’ers and the amazing climbing tandem of Dave/Clark, thanks to Mari for bridging me back on the climb. Mari Holden, Silver Medalist 2004 Games, is training with us. Mari will be riding as a tandem pilot this year. I guess you could say that our program is going in the right direction! We also have found a young guy, Reese, who is a double bk amputee and he is amazing. Reese climbs like its his job! He is going to well in the sport if he decides that’s what he wants to do. I am excited to be with the team and training again.

Today we are meeting with a nutritionist? I am a bit nervous about learning what I already know….I have a problem with food and discipline. I am going to commit myself to changing my lifestyle and diet.

If you want to see what Team Williams has been up to, Brooke update her blog!

http://brookeandron.blogspot.com/

Ron

Its been a long week!

jesse — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 12:33:13 +0000

I have had a very trying week. I am very thankful that Brooke is a doctor and she treated my situation with a keen sense of urgency! It all started about two weeks ago when I woke up one morning in some pain in the left side of my back. I dismissed it as a reminder that I was out of shape, as I have started training again on the bike. I had some good rides and some rides that hurt way too much for the effort. The pain seemed to get worse at night, and it reached its peak when I awoke Sunday night screaming in pain and drenched in sweat. The pain was sharp and I thought that it had to be a kidney stone, even though I have never experienced a kidney stone before. I also thought maybe my liver had finally given up, but Brooke informed me that my liver is located on the right side (phew). Given my past medical history, I was tired of worrying about what could be going on inside my body, so we were off to the hospital for a chest xray and blood work. One good thing about a small town is that we were able to get in and out of the hospital in about 1 hr. We went to Brooke’s office to read the xray and lab work. Brooke pulled the xray up on the computer and that’s when my week got worse… She immediately said that the left side looked concerning! I started to freak out and all I wanted was someone to fix me and tell me I was ok. I took a pic of the xrays and emailed them to my cycling Doctor Andy, and he immediately called me and said that the left side did not look normal? Both Brooke and Andy used some big words to describe what was wrong, but all I wanted to know was, was it CANCER!? It took some time to get the official read on the xray, and the good new was it was not CANCER, but there was a problem.

That was Monday. Since Monday I have had:

5 chest xrays

5 doctor office visits

3 trips to the hospital

1 CT scan of my chest

300 cc of fluid drained from around my left lung

Brooke was been taking care of me and following up on all my labs and test results. We have had a very interesting experience with how different doctors practice and we are now well versed in the Insurance game. Basically you can be dying as you wait for a pre-authorization from insurance. We now have every one on the same page and I am again on the road to recovery.

I have some form of pneumonia…we probably will never know the exact cause of that. The pneumonia is causing inflammation and fluid to build up in my left side in the area between the chest wall and the lungs. They drained that fluid (see picture above of the thoracentesis!) and have tested it and all the results point to an infection. So I am on some high dose antibiotics and rest. My lung capacity is compromised and could take several weeks to get back to normal. I have been feeling about the same, not worse, since starting my antibiotics. I am hoping that today I turn the corner!

Thanks to Brooke and all her partners for helping fix me!

Its been a long week!, originally uploaded by ronswilliams123.

95 degrees + 80% humidity+ Dirt Roads= red clay legs!

jesse — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:01:54 +0000

95 degrees + 80% humidity= red clay legs!, originally uploaded by ronswilliams123.

Camp sunshine

jesse — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 11:52:06 +0000

Camp sunshine, originally uploaded by ronswilliams123.

All is right with the world. I have a new camp bracelet! Its a long story. I will have to share it sometime.
Think before you print this e-mail. By not printing it, you preserve precious natural resources. It’s another step in growing green. The information in this communication is the property of Southwire Company and intended only for the use of the addressee.

Riding Outside Again!

jesse — Sat, 30 May 2009 12:29:01 +0000

Riding Outside Again!, originally uploaded by ronswilliams123.

The wrist is still very stiff, but I am able to ride outside! I have
missed riding my bike, but the down time has been good. Brooke and I have
gotten to spend a lot of time together and we were able to buy a new house!
That probably would not have happened if I was racing my bicycle very
weekend. The new house is awesome and we are all settled in thanks Brooke’s
mom Barbara! Barbara and Brooke are a great house decorating team. Well I
am off to ride my bike!

My new Ride

jesse — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:12:33 +0000

My new Ride, originally uploaded by ronswilliams123.

Brooke and I had a great weekend in Athens,GA at the TWLIGHT!

I usually race, but with a broken wrist, the only thing I was ride was the bench and this bulldog! There’s always next year………………

Dr. Follow up II

ron — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 17:01:26 +0000

Dr. Follow up II, originally uploaded by ronswilliams123.

The bones are healing great! Ahead of schedule. I get the X Fix off next monday!!

Giant weigh in!

ron — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:45:39 +0000

first ride

jesse — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:37:40 +0000

first ride, originally uploaded by ronswilliams123.

I use to hate riding the trainer! Since its the only way I can ride my machine its the best. Its been two weeks since the crash. Recovery is under way.

Thanks to Bobs Bikes and Will for all their help!

new bike

jesse — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:08:06 +0000

new bike.jpg, originally uploaded by ronswilliams123.

The best way to get over a bike crash!!! New bike! I guess its going to be a while until this baby gets out of the open road.

Thanks GIANT for all their support.