Pedals & Patience - Day 2: Riding Through Inflammation

Progress isn't always a push, sometimes, it's done with a purpose.

Today was supposed to be an interval day.

But my body had something else to say. The soreness from leg day hadn't faded, not the satisfying kind that fades with movement, but the kind that lingers behind the joints. Tight. Stubborn. Cranky. Underneath it, I could also feel something deeper: that's the rheumatoid arthritis acting up, my body is inflamed.

Swelling in my hands and feet. A vague, frustrating fatigue. That feeling where your body isn't in pain exactly, but it feels slow, unresponsive... off. I haven't felt this way in nearly a decade. Regular movement has helped me keep these symptoms at bay for years, softening the impact of scleroderma and staving off its more debilitating effects. But today, it caught up with me a little. But even in all that fuzziness, I didn't panic. I took the hint. This wasn't a full meltdown, just my body reminding me, "Hey... maybe cool it today?" I've been here before. I've got the tools now: movement, breath, awareness, patience.

In Body on Fire, Dr. Monica Aggarwal describes inflammation not just as a condition, but a state, a background fire that flickers low, sometimes flaring without warning. Chronic illness is like that. There isn’t always a clear trigger. But there’s always a cost.

So I adjusted.

I got on the bike anyway. Not to push, but to stay connected.

40 minutes and 20 seconds.

Heart rate averaged 136 bpm.

No intervals. No resistance. Just breath, rhythm, and presence.

Discovery of Witches was on. Season 2, Episode 5. Marcus was chasing miniature portraits. I wasn’t chasing anything. I was just moving forward, softly.

Dr. Aggarwal also writes that movement is one of the ways we put the fire out. Not aggressive, punishing workouts, but calm, consistent movement. It supports blood flow, lowers stress hormones, helps regulate the immune system. But only when done with awareness.

That’s what this ride was.

A kind of moving meditation, a way of tending to myself without adding fuel to the fire. Off for some foam rolling now...

If you’re on a similar path; recovering, adjusting, or just trying to stay in motion... you’re welcome to ride alongside me. This series is for all of us learning to move with presence instead of pressure.

You can follow the series or just drop a thought in the comments. I'd love to hear how you're doing.