Going back to square 1

So today I saw the doctor. He was not enthused about my knee. Instead of a referral to a physical therapist, he decided that it was problematic enough to go to a orthopedist. And that I probably should not be doing any triathlon training until this gets resolved.

For now, my training is on hold and it looks like I will not be doing Canada this year. This does not make me happy.

Update on the Training

So if anyone was curious, I am still training for my first Ironman distance triathlon. However, the problem has been this nagging pain in my left leg for the past two weeks. All I know for certain is that it is not a recurrence of my ITB issue (I wish it were that simple).

Even with the pain, I managed to complete the Danville Double on Sunday. That was an 80 minute spin on the trainer in the parking lot, followed by a 40 minute run out and back. After the run, we hopped back on our bikes for what was supposed to be a 29 mile ride at an average rate of 15 miles per hour (I was 14.7mph, but that was due to the fact that I got lost on the way back and took a wrong turn and was wandering about for a bit trying to get my bearings.) Then, after the bike was done, it was time for another 40 minute run. By the time I was done with the bike, I was only able to walk because my leg was just not cooperating.

After chatting with the coach and unnofficial team PT, I was put on a restricted sort of schedule while I await the visit to the doctor next week (earliest I could get the appointment) to see what really is the problem with the leg. If it is one thing, then I should be able to go on. On the other hand, the PT thought there was a possiblity it could be the beginning of a more serious problem.

So why am I doing this to myself? Well, if you click the on the link on the side reads "Help Fight Cancer", you will see that this is for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This would be my fourth triathlon with them raising money to help eliminate blood cancers (which would be a very good thing.). So if you have the inclination... please help out and donate.

Changes

Yesterday I went to the nurtitionist again for what she calls "Food Balancing". Anyways, it was about what I feared. Essentially, I am going to have to change everything that I eat. For the next month no milk products (ice cream, I will miss you), no red meat (see you pastrami),or gluten (bread.... agggghhh!!!!).

In addition to all the "fun" stuff going out of the diet, I will be getting in fish (well ok), legumes (haven't seen them in a while), and a boatload of supplements (they cost how much?!!?!?!?!?).

So maybe if someone had launched this lawsuit when I was younger, perhaps I would have learned some better habits.

Who am I kidding? I would still be eating the same stuff today.

Explain this one to me

In the past fifteen months or so I have run countless miles, ridden over hill and dale, and frozen my face number too many times to count in the bay. Compared to the way I ate two years ago, my diet is light years better, both in quantity and quality of food eaten. You would think after all that, my body would at least repay all the hard work and be in better shape.

One would think, right?

Apparently, my body has other plans. Instead of firming up, it has decided to expand not one but two pants sizes in the same amount of time.

Moments like these are just frustrating.

Back to work on my discovery requests.

Tri Training Week In Review

Well it started out as a good week. Instead of taking Monday off, I just moved up the calendar, figuring that Wednesday would be a bear of a day. Which it was.

Only Thursday turned out to be one too, so when I left work around 11 p.m., I bagged it for the night. And then I collapsed again on Saturday.

Over all, the time I did put in training was good solid time. I'm just not so happy with my dropping of the three days. However, my leg seems to be appreciating the lighter load since its just tight now, not in pain like it was the previous weeks.

In addition to the training, I finally got a sit down with the nutritionist. It went pretty well, although there were points I really did not ennjoy (such as explaining my whole semi-colon thing which I am not going to recount here.) This coming week he is supposed to send me a list of supplements that I should be on in order to enhance my training (not the Jose Canseco kind. My semi-colon leaves me not absording certain things that I need to be better).

So its a smaller step forward this past week than I had intended. However, thats better than the last couple of weeks. This week will be better.

Two A.M. thoughs (almost)

So I should be sleeping.

Why?

Because in five plus hours I am supposed to be doing a practice triathlon which starts at 9 a.m.

Why am I not psyched?

Simple. The past three weeks of training have not been my best. December, when I was sick as a dog, was a wash. I may even post my worst time ever on this particular course (which I have done two races on before). And I am not eager to do that.

After this month, February is on notice. Anything on this body breaks down and I am returning it under the Lemon Law!!!!!

Alright, I will now return to trying to sleep.

Well, after I do one last thing.

I am very sorry about the quality of my writing lately. After reading my previous posts, I have decided that I need to increase the quality of my posts (as well as my spell checking). G-d forbid any of my old teachers run across this. They will think I never learned anything.

Tri Training Update

So after last week, that soreness in my leg has not gone away. In fact, its becoming so painful when I exert myself (i.e. run for more than a mile or bike for more than 10 minutes) that it has really screwed up my training. Looks like I will be doing a lot of water running this week. Hopefully, I will be able to complete the triathlon scheduled for this weekend.

I do not like being injured!

Wednesday Triathlon Update

Well my enthusiasm from the weekend took a hit this week. Since the week, I have been having this nagging injury that my coaches thing is a use injury.

Absolutely great. I need to train and my body is betraying me. Exactly what I need right now. Unfortunately I can not just call down to my leg and demand that Scotty fix them in 30 seconds. So I guess I will put my ice pack away and go to bed.

Looks like water running is in my future.

The Weekend

Saturday, 58 miles on the bike.

Sunday, swimming and core drills.

And now I am icing.

And if you are wondering why I am putting myself through all this? Click on the link and find out why I am training for Ironman Canada.

Triathlon Training 1

So this week I went back on schedule... sort of. Of the five scheduled workouts, I have done four and this weekend I have two more to go. Thanks to being sick for most of December, my aerobic base is shot and I am basically going to have to work harder to get back up to where the rest of the group is.

Overall, I am happier now that I am back in training. Now I just need to get back up to where the rest of the team is.

Go long.

More later.

Triathlon

So as you may have guessed from that little blurb under the title of this blog, I am preparing for an Ironman length triathlon. Right now, I am signed up to do IronMan Canada, in Penticton, Canada. I am doing it as part of the San Francisco chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training.

I'll be posint a bit about my training when I get the chance. for the past three weeks, I've been too sick to train so now I'm huffing and puffing going up the stairs at my building.

That is not a reassuring sign.

Fortunately, I have finally recovered from whatever bug had me laid low and have started to train again.

So what alot of people ask me when they hear about what I plan on doing is: why?

The simple answer is: why not. But, that's not the best answer. The real answer, I suppose, is that its an incredible test, both mental and physical. I'm also doing it to help raise money to help end blood cancers. If you would like to find out more about this, or to donate, follow this link: http://www.active.com/donate/tntgsf/tntgsfWShapir1

And have a happy new year.