Just a small pinch

Here is a tip, if a doctor offers a vaccination and says it might result in some short term soreness around the injection site, consider whether you are planning on swimming 5km the next morning. If so, it might be worth giving the injection a miss. Just putting it out there.

As you might have guessed, as part of my visit to the doctor last night I had a vaccination shot. I can't remember exactly what it was for, but it reduces the chances of something that can lead to pneumonia. Apparently kids get it as part of their standard vaccinations now, but all previous generations missed out. It is now a free injection so I figured I might as well, I am a big believer in vaccinations. Win in my book. The doctor did say I might be sore, but I figured it probably would be fine. I wasn't too sore last night or first thing this morning. Even swimming wasn't to bad. But after swimming, man, ouch. I can't lift my arm above shoulder height at the moment. I should probably suck it up because it is only short term. But for now, owww.

The rest of the doctor's appointment was interesting though. It seems that I have a pretty severe allergy to dust mites. Off the chart was the term the doctor used. Perhaps that is why I feel ill when I think about cleaning. The doctor is keen for me to undertake desensitising therapy, where they expose you to small amounts of an allergen in order to reduce your body's sensitivity to it. She was saying that if successful it should remove the majority of the causes of my asthma. I am pretty keen. Last time I was there we did some function testing of my lungs and my lung function (capacity, strength etc) it almost 30% down on what she would expect for an athlete. I am still 110% of normal, but she was saying that high levels athletes are often in the region of 140%. That is a huge amount of performance to simply be giving up. I have some medication now that should be improving the situation, but if I can eventually get the improvement without relying on medications. Brilliant.

On a different note, it is my Birthday today. I am now officially 34. Next year I age up. I think I am okay with that. I have a tradition that if I can manage it, I take a day off on my Birthday. I used to do it every year, but the last couple it hasn't been possible. This year the stars aligned to make it doable, so I have had a very nice relaxing day. I had a good swim down at Swim Smooth this morning, had a fun morning with the family, bought my daughter her first bike from the good folk at Churchill and this afternoon I will hopefully have a nice ride before stuffing my face with Greek food at a local restaurant (if I can walk afterwards I haven't done it right). Very happy with the daughter's bike, nice little Giant, she picked it out herself and I was glad to see that she demonstrated good taste.

Pretty slick

Comes with disc wheels x 2

 The only things with the bike that I am not sure about yet are:

• where on the Zipp page is the section for 16 inch wheels; and
• where do you attach the aero bars.

Anyway, I better get on with that ride, I have an appetite to work on.