OK, I'm not going to lie. I didn't train when I was in Portland or during my vineyard weekend. But, I did restart training yesterday with a nice 1.5k swim in the pool. ;-) So, I'm going to restart my training log.
Lessons Learned: don't stop training because you will definately set yourself back.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Day 9
Pretty uneventful. I did a short swim right after work before meeting some friends for a birthday dinner. :-) It was only a 25 minute workout because I was running late, and the pool was really crowded with slow swimmers. I kept having to swim around this guy, and it was driving both of us crazy... but I got in the pool like a good girl. ;-)
I think I am going to take all of your advice and seek a second opinion. He may have been right about my knee caps not moving, but there has got to be something I can do about it. ;-) Thanks so much for the input.
I think I am going to take all of your advice and seek a second opinion. He may have been right about my knee caps not moving, but there has got to be something I can do about it. ;-) Thanks so much for the input.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Day 8
Day 8 - Break day
By lunch time, I had not heard the results of my ex-ray, so I called the doctor. The nurse, matter of factly, tells me I have a possible stress fracture, I need to go buy crutches, no weight bearing at all, pop advil, and go see an orthopedic. My reaction was... huh???
So, I immediately begin calling every orthopedic within a 60 mile radius to get an appointment before I leave for Portland. I find one that, just so happens, is only 2 miles from the office. And a bonus, they take walk-ins. So, I get my ex-ray results faxed over, and I proceed to the office. 2 hours later... (oh yeh, I was a happy camper at this point)... they finally call me back.
So... the doctor walks in. He doesn't say anything, not even hello. He turns to me, but never the entire time, does he make eye contact. He says, "so they think you have a stress fracture. What have you been up too?" So I tell him the story. He sits silent for a very uncomfortable amount of time, and then proceeds to tell me how it's definately not a stress fracture. In his words, I have a very "unimpressive history" (thanks Doc). He then decides to examine my knee, painfully attempting to push my knee cap all over my leg. He then abruptly walks out, leaving the door open. He walks into another exam room and talks to a nurse about a BBQ they are planning over the weekend, shells out some money to her, and walks back in. He proceeds to tell me that I'm defective from birth (his exact words, mind you) and that I'll probably never run any major distance. I interrupt at this point to inform him that is not an option for me... triathlon plans. He shakes his head... "some people surprise me, but I don't know about you. You'll probably be here in 6 months begging for surgery. It's too soon now, but if you really want it we can consider it." What a jerk huh? So anyways, he shows me an excersize to strengthen the inside muscle on my leg, which will in turn pull my knee-cap more center and hopefully fix me. He then tells me... don't run for a little while (real specific, thanks again Doc), do these excersizes, and we'll see from there. So I ask for clarification, how long is a little while? He says... "a few weeks."......and walks out leaving me unable to ask any more questions...
so, the moral of the story... I'm not allowed to run for a few weeks, but I can still bike and swim. I will adamately do these little leg lifts he has shown me, and 3 weeks from now I will try again.
By lunch time, I had not heard the results of my ex-ray, so I called the doctor. The nurse, matter of factly, tells me I have a possible stress fracture, I need to go buy crutches, no weight bearing at all, pop advil, and go see an orthopedic. My reaction was... huh???
So, I immediately begin calling every orthopedic within a 60 mile radius to get an appointment before I leave for Portland. I find one that, just so happens, is only 2 miles from the office. And a bonus, they take walk-ins. So, I get my ex-ray results faxed over, and I proceed to the office. 2 hours later... (oh yeh, I was a happy camper at this point)... they finally call me back.
So... the doctor walks in. He doesn't say anything, not even hello. He turns to me, but never the entire time, does he make eye contact. He says, "so they think you have a stress fracture. What have you been up too?" So I tell him the story. He sits silent for a very uncomfortable amount of time, and then proceeds to tell me how it's definately not a stress fracture. In his words, I have a very "unimpressive history" (thanks Doc). He then decides to examine my knee, painfully attempting to push my knee cap all over my leg. He then abruptly walks out, leaving the door open. He walks into another exam room and talks to a nurse about a BBQ they are planning over the weekend, shells out some money to her, and walks back in. He proceeds to tell me that I'm defective from birth (his exact words, mind you) and that I'll probably never run any major distance. I interrupt at this point to inform him that is not an option for me... triathlon plans. He shakes his head... "some people surprise me, but I don't know about you. You'll probably be here in 6 months begging for surgery. It's too soon now, but if you really want it we can consider it." What a jerk huh? So anyways, he shows me an excersize to strengthen the inside muscle on my leg, which will in turn pull my knee-cap more center and hopefully fix me. He then tells me... don't run for a little while (real specific, thanks again Doc), do these excersizes, and we'll see from there. So I ask for clarification, how long is a little while? He says... "a few weeks."......and walks out leaving me unable to ask any more questions...
so, the moral of the story... I'm not allowed to run for a few weeks, but I can still bike and swim. I will adamately do these little leg lifts he has shown me, and 3 weeks from now I will try again.
Day Seven
Part 1) Spinning
So, I went to the spinning class. Keep in mind, I haven't ridden a bike (other than in Paris) in about... oh.... 10 years....
I walk into the class. I look around and find an open spot. I approach this strange looking bike, recognizing basically only the seat and the pedals. I get up on the bike... it feels akward. I get back down, puzzled as to what the heck is my next step. The instructer immediately comes over. She guides me - adjust the seat here, handlebars here, gears here... I'm feeling quite ridiculous and really embarrased. I hop back up, and she starts the class. Basically, the next hour was just pedaling. Stand up, sit down, stand back up, sit back down, pedal faster, pedal slower, change some gears.... I think I did pretty good for a first-timer. My knee started to pop on me, which was wierd but not painful. But otherwise, I think maybe I should have increased my pace or the gearing, because I was not nearly as tired as some of the other people in the class. For a retired musician (haha... retired!), it's extremely difficult NOT to pedal with the music and I would have killed myself going doubletime.
Part 2) the swim
So, I decided early in the day that I was going to hop in for a swim after the class if I could stand it. So, I did. I jogged right downstairs, grabbed my suit, and in I went. I felt really good. A few stretches and I was off. I'm not going to lie. I did NOT do 40 laps like the other day. I only did 15. I was pretty tired. It felt good though, and the only real hiccup was the guy who wouldn't stop trying to have a conversation with me in every turn. I was obviously not giving off the "leave me alone I'm working out" sign clearly enough, and the ring was no deterrant at all. Some people really have some guts... but my first try at 2 sports was generally a good experience.
Training Session Day 7 Complete and Successful
Lessons Learned
1) Pedal harder.
2) Tattoo's are like magnets to little surfer boys who have nothing better to do at the gym than hit on girls. Cover it up next time.
3) Don't arrive 30 minutes early to Wednesday night Spin... it's way too early and the class doesn't fill up.
4) I really need to get my bike.
So, I went to the spinning class. Keep in mind, I haven't ridden a bike (other than in Paris) in about... oh.... 10 years....
I walk into the class. I look around and find an open spot. I approach this strange looking bike, recognizing basically only the seat and the pedals. I get up on the bike... it feels akward. I get back down, puzzled as to what the heck is my next step. The instructer immediately comes over. She guides me - adjust the seat here, handlebars here, gears here... I'm feeling quite ridiculous and really embarrased. I hop back up, and she starts the class. Basically, the next hour was just pedaling. Stand up, sit down, stand back up, sit back down, pedal faster, pedal slower, change some gears.... I think I did pretty good for a first-timer. My knee started to pop on me, which was wierd but not painful. But otherwise, I think maybe I should have increased my pace or the gearing, because I was not nearly as tired as some of the other people in the class. For a retired musician (haha... retired!), it's extremely difficult NOT to pedal with the music and I would have killed myself going doubletime.
Part 2) the swim
So, I decided early in the day that I was going to hop in for a swim after the class if I could stand it. So, I did. I jogged right downstairs, grabbed my suit, and in I went. I felt really good. A few stretches and I was off. I'm not going to lie. I did NOT do 40 laps like the other day. I only did 15. I was pretty tired. It felt good though, and the only real hiccup was the guy who wouldn't stop trying to have a conversation with me in every turn. I was obviously not giving off the "leave me alone I'm working out" sign clearly enough, and the ring was no deterrant at all. Some people really have some guts... but my first try at 2 sports was generally a good experience.
Training Session Day 7 Complete and Successful
Lessons Learned
1) Pedal harder.
2) Tattoo's are like magnets to little surfer boys who have nothing better to do at the gym than hit on girls. Cover it up next time.
3) Don't arrive 30 minutes early to Wednesday night Spin... it's way too early and the class doesn't fill up.
4) I really need to get my bike.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Days five and six
Day five
No training for day five. Instead, a visit to the doctor was in order. They took x-rays and basically told me a whole lot of nothing. I should get the xray results tomorrow. If negative, I have to go back in for an MRI. Until a conclusion is reached, no running for me. :-(
Day six
Time to get in the pool. Today was packed (and since there are only 3 lanes it makes it quite difficult). Luckily, as I was waiting for a spot, I started chatting with a fellow annoyed swimmer. Evidently, she was another trialthlon trainee. She gave me some pointers, which was really cool. Evidently, there is a girl in the 8:30 spin glass that's a member of a tri team here in Temecula. I think I'll try and track her down. It would be pretty awesome if there was a team around here I could train with. I'm hopeful.
Anyways, I'm still convinced the swim will be the easiest. I was pacing with this 3 tris a year girl, and I was having a hard time going as slow as her. She stopped at 30 lengths. I kept going to 80 lengths at my pace. :-) I didn't realize it, but I've actually missed being in the pool.
Tomorrow, I think I might buckle down and do a bike work-out at the gym. I really need to get my bike...
Training Session Day Six Complete and Successful
Lessons Learned
1) Don't do flip-turns in the pool... there aren't walls in the ocean an you don't get the luxury of that extra boost.
2) Hijack a lane instead of waiting. It's way more effective. :-)
3) Still loving this.
No training for day five. Instead, a visit to the doctor was in order. They took x-rays and basically told me a whole lot of nothing. I should get the xray results tomorrow. If negative, I have to go back in for an MRI. Until a conclusion is reached, no running for me. :-(
Day six
Time to get in the pool. Today was packed (and since there are only 3 lanes it makes it quite difficult). Luckily, as I was waiting for a spot, I started chatting with a fellow annoyed swimmer. Evidently, she was another trialthlon trainee. She gave me some pointers, which was really cool. Evidently, there is a girl in the 8:30 spin glass that's a member of a tri team here in Temecula. I think I'll try and track her down. It would be pretty awesome if there was a team around here I could train with. I'm hopeful.
Anyways, I'm still convinced the swim will be the easiest. I was pacing with this 3 tris a year girl, and I was having a hard time going as slow as her. She stopped at 30 lengths. I kept going to 80 lengths at my pace. :-) I didn't realize it, but I've actually missed being in the pool.
Tomorrow, I think I might buckle down and do a bike work-out at the gym. I really need to get my bike...
Training Session Day Six Complete and Successful
Lessons Learned
1) Don't do flip-turns in the pool... there aren't walls in the ocean an you don't get the luxury of that extra boost.
2) Hijack a lane instead of waiting. It's way more effective. :-)
3) Still loving this.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Day Four
Day three was a break day for me, so yes I'm counting right. :-)
I woke up this morning ready to improve my distance. I stretch, and hit the road.
Mile 1: Piece of cake. Much slower pace, I felt good.
Mile 2: Piece of cake. The slower pace kept me energized and ready for more.
Then, I hit that sweet spot on my knee. I had to walk (aka limp) home. :-( I was getting pretty pissed off, because everything else on my body was saying, keep going, you're good, but I couldn't jog 3 steps without my knee screaming at me. Needless to say, I'm completely bummed. I'm going to have to see a doctor. Maybe it'll be an easy, quick fix.
So tomorrow, I'll stick to swimming.
I woke up this morning ready to improve my distance. I stretch, and hit the road.
Mile 1: Piece of cake. Much slower pace, I felt good.
Mile 2: Piece of cake. The slower pace kept me energized and ready for more.
Then, I hit that sweet spot on my knee. I had to walk (aka limp) home. :-( I was getting pretty pissed off, because everything else on my body was saying, keep going, you're good, but I couldn't jog 3 steps without my knee screaming at me. Needless to say, I'm completely bummed. I'm going to have to see a doctor. Maybe it'll be an easy, quick fix.
So tomorrow, I'll stick to swimming.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Day Two
Part 1) The aftermath of Day 1
Well, it's not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I woke up this morning and bounced around the house - clothing (check), kids (check), teethbrushed (check), lunches (check) breakfast (check), bookbags (check)... shoes (check) ok out the door. As I leaned in to strap the baby in his car seat it struck me... my knee is completely pain free!!! Or... could it be that the rest of my leg muscles are so sore that they are masking the pain? Seriously, I've got that goofy walk going on.... you know the one that looks like a cross between a duck and a penguin? But it feels good to be sore. :-)
Part 2) The swim
I talked with my sister this morning, and she said something along the lines of... don't worry about the swim. It'll be like riding a bike for you. She was completely right. I have nothing exciting to say about the swim itself. I jumped it, swam a few laps to warm up... and it all came flooding back. I chugged out 30 laps with no problem what-so-ever. yay! Granted, I know my body will be sore tomorrow, because I could feel the weight of my limbs heavily towards the end of the swim. Now... let's talk about the pool I have chosen to spend many hours of my life in... umm... I may have to make a change to this decision. It's a saltwater pool (which is good), but I don't think it's a full 25m (definately not 50m) so just when you get into the rhythm you've got to turn again. I felt like I spent half of each lap under water after the turn. Next, whoever cleans the pool has some major lessons to learn - the chemicals were all out of balance. Finally - I have forgotten how much I hate showering in public showers. Some women have no humility, and most of these women really should. yuck...
Training Sesson 2 Complete and Successful :-)
Lessons Learned
1) When I'm 50 I will still wear my bathing suit in a public shower
2) The more you move through the pain, the less it hurts
3) Don't go to the 2nd shower... it doesn't drain
4) I will be good at the swim... so bring it on! :-)
Well, it's not as bad as I thought it was going to be. I woke up this morning and bounced around the house - clothing (check), kids (check), teethbrushed (check), lunches (check) breakfast (check), bookbags (check)... shoes (check) ok out the door. As I leaned in to strap the baby in his car seat it struck me... my knee is completely pain free!!! Or... could it be that the rest of my leg muscles are so sore that they are masking the pain? Seriously, I've got that goofy walk going on.... you know the one that looks like a cross between a duck and a penguin? But it feels good to be sore. :-)
Part 2) The swim
I talked with my sister this morning, and she said something along the lines of... don't worry about the swim. It'll be like riding a bike for you. She was completely right. I have nothing exciting to say about the swim itself. I jumped it, swam a few laps to warm up... and it all came flooding back. I chugged out 30 laps with no problem what-so-ever. yay! Granted, I know my body will be sore tomorrow, because I could feel the weight of my limbs heavily towards the end of the swim. Now... let's talk about the pool I have chosen to spend many hours of my life in... umm... I may have to make a change to this decision. It's a saltwater pool (which is good), but I don't think it's a full 25m (definately not 50m) so just when you get into the rhythm you've got to turn again. I felt like I spent half of each lap under water after the turn. Next, whoever cleans the pool has some major lessons to learn - the chemicals were all out of balance. Finally - I have forgotten how much I hate showering in public showers. Some women have no humility, and most of these women really should. yuck...
Training Sesson 2 Complete and Successful :-)
Lessons Learned
1) When I'm 50 I will still wear my bathing suit in a public shower
2) The more you move through the pain, the less it hurts
3) Don't go to the 2nd shower... it doesn't drain
4) I will be good at the swim... so bring it on! :-)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Day One
5am: my alarm goes off. I immediately hit snooze, because...let's face it... you're flat out crazy if you don't at least hit snooze ONCE before 6am. OK... 9am.
5:05am: My alarm goes off again. Alright, I'm convinced. It's time to start this day. As I stumble in to brush my teeth, I start to fully come to life and recognize that I'm about to do this!!!
5:10am: I'm dressed, shoes are on. I am now trying to figure out how to work my heart rate monitor. Where does the strap go? How do I progam this thing with only one button again? Huh? It's way too early to be trying to figure this out.
5:30am: After a few minutes of cursing my HRM, I figured it out and finished my stretching. I'm finally on the road at a brisk walk trying to warm up.
5:40am: It's go time! Let's do this! I start my run. I'm feeling good. It's a beautiful morning. The sun's not up yet. It's cool, quiet, perfect. I'm stoked to be starting training... life is good.
5:46am: Mile 1 complete. I still feel pretty good. My HRM keeps beeping at me for being over target. It must be malfunctioning. I'm doing just fine. Maybe I do need to slow down a bit... I'm getting a little bit tired.
5:52am: Alright, are you kidding me? My HRM has decided that it doesn't like me ignoring it and has begun to beep continuously - laughing at my ridiculous attempts to get the ONE button on the darn thing to shut it off. The ghost of my old basketball injury is starting to rear it's ugly head as my knee starts to remind me that I'm quickly approaching the LATE twenties mark and I need to seriously consider collapsing on that bench I saw a few minutes ago.
6:00am: OK. OK. I get it. I'm not nearly as cool as I thought I was (and even less so than the trash I was talking to Kevin). Reality hits me like the brick wall my body hit about 3 minutes earlier. I've definately got my work cut out for me. It pisses me off and rejuvinates me. :-)
6:10am: I am officially feeling humbled. I should be done with the loop but instead I'm stuck in a crazy run/walk cycle and my knee feels like it's going to explode.
6:20am: Finally, the end is in sight. I start my cool down and do the math. OK - not too bad for a beginner, but way too embarassing to post online.
Training Session 1 Complete and Successful.
Lessons Learned:
1) HRMs are riciculous pieces of equipment that you should absolutely listen to.
2) Basketball injurys don't miraculously go away.
3) Pacing yourself if you've never run a long distance is impossible for a hopeless optimist.
4) I've got a hell of a lot of work to do - and I'm now even more convinced that I'm GONNA do this and no one is going to stop me (except possibly my stupid knee).
5:05am: My alarm goes off again. Alright, I'm convinced. It's time to start this day. As I stumble in to brush my teeth, I start to fully come to life and recognize that I'm about to do this!!!
5:10am: I'm dressed, shoes are on. I am now trying to figure out how to work my heart rate monitor. Where does the strap go? How do I progam this thing with only one button again? Huh? It's way too early to be trying to figure this out.
5:30am: After a few minutes of cursing my HRM, I figured it out and finished my stretching. I'm finally on the road at a brisk walk trying to warm up.
5:40am: It's go time! Let's do this! I start my run. I'm feeling good. It's a beautiful morning. The sun's not up yet. It's cool, quiet, perfect. I'm stoked to be starting training... life is good.
5:46am: Mile 1 complete. I still feel pretty good. My HRM keeps beeping at me for being over target. It must be malfunctioning. I'm doing just fine. Maybe I do need to slow down a bit... I'm getting a little bit tired.
5:52am: Alright, are you kidding me? My HRM has decided that it doesn't like me ignoring it and has begun to beep continuously - laughing at my ridiculous attempts to get the ONE button on the darn thing to shut it off. The ghost of my old basketball injury is starting to rear it's ugly head as my knee starts to remind me that I'm quickly approaching the LATE twenties mark and I need to seriously consider collapsing on that bench I saw a few minutes ago.
6:00am: OK. OK. I get it. I'm not nearly as cool as I thought I was (and even less so than the trash I was talking to Kevin). Reality hits me like the brick wall my body hit about 3 minutes earlier. I've definately got my work cut out for me. It pisses me off and rejuvinates me. :-)
6:10am: I am officially feeling humbled. I should be done with the loop but instead I'm stuck in a crazy run/walk cycle and my knee feels like it's going to explode.
6:20am: Finally, the end is in sight. I start my cool down and do the math. OK - not too bad for a beginner, but way too embarassing to post online.
Training Session 1 Complete and Successful.
Lessons Learned:
1) HRMs are riciculous pieces of equipment that you should absolutely listen to.
2) Basketball injurys don't miraculously go away.
3) Pacing yourself if you've never run a long distance is impossible for a hopeless optimist.
4) I've got a hell of a lot of work to do - and I'm now even more convinced that I'm GONNA do this and no one is going to stop me (except possibly my stupid knee).
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