I Should Stop Talking to People at HH

Or not.

After work I headed out with Mary Elizabeth for a quick drink. We kept it simple so we could go home and pack. I was on my walk home (as I am supposed to walk 30 minutes a day) and I decided to stop into the NTP happy hour. Now I was a horrible mentor, but thought I would celebrate all the NTP people I have met this year. Well, I started talking to a few people about next races - a half Ironman and/or a full. Of course, Sandy was there (she was an NTP leader) - and she is the reason I started thinking of IM Florida. So we got to talking and I was trying to remind her (convince her) that IM Florida is totally do-able for 2010. Tammy is in. Karen is (almost) in. I am still working on Brooke - and I just tell people she is in... (he he he). Anyway, K stops by and I remind her that she will be biking with all of us next year, and might as well sign up too. If she doesn't, she will have IM envy.

Not sure if I convinced her or not (I mean, I did have a few...) so to clinch the deal, I pulled out my iPhone with my favorite IM pics. Of course I only have the ones of me smiling, the glorious finish, and having a great time. Which is true - almost a year later, it's all I remember :-)

If I can play my cards right and slowly convince these awesome people tht they CAN do this - we will have an AWESOME Ironman experience. It makes me smile just thinking about it.

But first, tomorrow I head up to Philly (notice I spelled it right this time) with K (a different K), Brooke, Mary Elizabeth, and Diane for SheRox's. Here's hoping its a tri and not a du!

New Inserts

Today I had another appointment with another physical therapist. But this one was for new inserts. When I went to my last doctor to check out my back, I mentioned my plantar fasciitis. He looked at my current inserts, didn't like them, and sent me to this woman. She had worked at that doctors office for 5 years, worked with the majority of his runners, and made his inserts. So, here is hoping...

I felt much better with her because she looked at my feet, watched me walk, looked at my knees, hips, thought (out loud) about the one leg being longer than the other, etc for a good 10 minutes. Basically she did a lot more than throw some plaster on my feet. She also suggested new shoes - which I know I do need. So the plan is when they come in, go to the running store down the street (which she calls ahead to let them know I am coming - and she has trained them to know what to look for), then go back to her to make sure they are doing what they are suppose to. Much better process, don't you think??? Some where along the way, one of my doctors hit a spot on my foot that the pain shot all the way up my leg to where my back spasms were. I am really hoping this helps...

Remember My Big Butt Post?

If any of you 7 readers were reading my adventures last year, you might remember one of my favorite posts. In addition to the 5K swim, it was also the weekend I signed up for IM Moo, 2008. Ahhh, memories...

Anyway, this is a story I like to tell people who are worried about an open water swim, never used a wet suit, etc. It ended happily; with me finishing, over coming my big butt and really REALLY wanting to quit half way through the race - and it's funny. Well, Mary Elizabeth (ME to some of you) is also a fan of the story and when she saw this - she immediately thought of me. It makes me feel so much better that it happens to others...

So Inspiring!

Today in Ironman Lake Placid. Multiple times I checked on people's splits and I spent a part of the evening watching the live feed finish. It happened to catch a few DC Tri people crossing the finish like, as well as countless others. The look on their faces... Amazing.

Then, I checked my e-mail and I had a message from Tammy. She made a decision and wants to do IM Florida. I called her up, we chatted, and I have made even more of a verbal commitment. I want to do another one. I want to be there for people's first. I really hope my body will let me... That is really the only question. It's not heart or desier - I have that. It's the body.

Does mind over body work in this type of situation???

Weekend Update

Hi my 7 readers. How are you? Miss me?

Well, I can only blog so much about back, hip, foot, pain before I annoy my self. So, that is the reason for so few posts. I have posted about this before, but just wanted to send out the reminder.

This weekend was a good weekend.
Saturday was spent in West Virginia for some tubing and "checking out Harpers Ferry". I use quotes because I just thought we would be walking around Harpers Ferry. What I didn't realize, or plan for, was a hike. By the time I realized where we were going, it was too late.
No, that's not true - my pride got in the way. I didn't want to look like the out of shape, over weight, friend. I only knew 1 of the people in the group I was with and my ego got in the way. Overall, it was an a$$ kicking hike and for the most part, I felt pretty good.
And white water tubing - so much fun!

Today was a practice tri for next weekend. Some of the ladies I am doing SheRox's with next weekend wanted to practice transitions. Brooke was kind enough to gear watch while we swam, biked, and they ran. I am not ready for running yet so I did another bike loop and stretched. We are getting ready for Phili! AND, it's exciting because we have custom made shirts, thanks to my mom's wonderful art skills.Overall, I am exhausted, but in a good way. Need to do my exercises and stretches and hope for no more spasms and horrible pain in my leg(s) - then off to bed!

Please Stop Poking Me!

If someone has a voodoo doll of me and moved the pin from my back to the right side of my behind/hip area - PLEASE accept my apology. Whatever I did, I am so very sorry. I will make it up to you somehow. I am oh so very sorry. Truly truly sorry. Please remove the pins. I really feel I have suffered enough.

Seriously?!?! THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!! I don't know what happened. Things were feeling better and BAM. All down my right leg. I did my stretches and figured if I made it to work, hoping the muscles would work themselves out. Not so much. I got to my cube and couldn't move. Couldn't walk, sit, stand - and the tears started to flow. That's how much it hurt.

I made a call to my PT, and she is out of town so made an appointment with someone else. Again, the good news, even though it feels like a disc slip - she thinks it muscle. The bad new - still no magic cure.

After the session it felt better, but still not great. I can walk without crying, but am in pain when I sit, stand, move, don't move.

Not.Fair.

A Day of Green

I had full plans today to swim, but forgot I had to go to Phili for the day for work. A green jobs discussion. Can you say good times... State Legislators talking about green jobs. Good thing they had coffee!

Anyway, it threw off my plans to send my good wishes to my swim friends doing IM Lake Placid on Sunday. So, consider this my GOOD LUCK! - Even though they don't read my blog, the thought is out there.

And, I think the stretches for my back work. I woke up with a few back twinges, did the stretches my PT said to do if I felt them coming on, and they went away. YAY! Hopefully I will feel good enough to bike tomorrow. And get out of bed...

25. With Hills!

I am back on the Blain! After a day of meat at a BBQ and night of wine on a roof deck, I realized that a good ride was needed. My back was feeling okay, so I figured I would give it a shot.

Diane and I met at Beach drive and we were on our way. At the turn around point, I was still feeling pretty good. With about 10 miles left, I decided to turn left and do a nasty hill - just for fun. It's a 2 part-er and I really REALLY wanted to turn around after the first section, but I didn't. I did the entire hill, and glad I did. At the end I met back up with Diane and it was a pretty good ride. A few twinges here and there, but nothing too bad. And the reason for a good ride - the bike jersey. I finally wore my Ironman Wisconsin bike jersey. I haven't been feeling very Ironman-ie so didn't feel like I should/could. But today was the day and I was pretty happy.

As I got home, Arin called to see if I wanted to some laps at HP, and I figured - why not. So we met up but unfortunately, the pool was closed for a swim meet. Boo! But, with a whiny text to Karen, she invited us over to her pool, just to relax. It was wonderful. I have to say, there is something nice about sitting by a pool and not doing laps.

I Didn't Win

Today was my 'last' PT session. YAY! I think anyway.

The back is getting better, I have exercises and stretches, and I have given it a lot of rest. So, we decided to take a break and see how things go. It's nice to know I can always call for a session if something goes wrong, but hopefully that won't be needed. I still have a few more doctors appointments but things seem to be getting better so Woo-Hoo!

And tonight was a DC tri club happy hour but a fundraiser for Achieve kids triathlon. So, I couldn't say no! However, I didn't win any of the raffle prizes :-( But, it was a great event and I think we raised a lot of money for Achieve, so that was good.

That's all. Wish me good back luck!

It Happens

Tonight was a swim. 2800 yds. A smaller group, but a few good swimmers who I have gotten to know over the past few months. Supportive, understanding, positive, great people. And people who I know don't read this so there is no need to inflate their egos.

2 are doing their first Ironman's this year. One keeps asking what I think. She is A.W.E.S.O.M.E. I mean, she qualifies for stuff. And is asking ME advise. She will finish Placid in about 13-14 hours. 2-3 hours before I finished mine. But, I finished and I have a very different perspective on IM's than a lot of people - which is why she said she asks me questions :-)

So, of course when I got home, I spent the past few hours looking at pictures, the AMAZING scrapbook my mom and dad did (seriously, if you haven't seen it, you should. And hire them to do yours. It's unbelievable). And I realized that yes, with the foot, back, knee, shoulder, neck, hip issues - I want to do another one. I want that feeling again. But more importantly, I want to do it with people who haven't. I want them to experience this amazing, unbelievable feeling you feel. Some bad, but more great.

My back is getting better and it's making me realize that maybe this is possible again. Not to do better, go faster, or place higher. Those have never been my goals. To participate, finish, and have fun - that's what I want to do again.

And don't ask me how many glasses of wine I had before I wrote this...

Good News... I Guess

Today was my third doctor's visit. Not appointment, doctor. But I finally had x-rays taken of my back.

The good news - Normal back spine. Really good apparently for my age and activity level.
Bad news - it's muscle. That means there is little that can be done except for what I am doing, and time - i.e. rest. Boo! I would have loved that magic fix, but it's not the case.

So, I guess it's more PT, keep doing my exercises, and time.

And don't do anything stupid.

2100 yds...

That's a good sign. I really think things are getting better - but I am still a bit nervous. I mean I should be able to easily do 3000+ yds in fhe pool. Tonight I was getting a bit tight after 1500 or so, but I wanted to do 2000, and I did. Yay. But I also didn't push to keep going with the rest of my lane. And my lane was fun - all the cool kids were back! Well, not all, but it was a good group. So double YAY for not continuing when I knew it was best to stop.

Look at me, growing as a person in charge of my own health.

And I went to dinner with Karen after and am slowly talking her into IM Fla for 2010. He he he. Yes, I know I need to make sure I will be able to do IM Fla, but I am off to another doctor tomorrow for hopefully a few more answers. That will make a total of 2 PT's (and consulting a lot of my friend PT's), 1 acupuncturist, 2 massage therapists, my 3rd doctor - all in 1 month.

Something/someone should guarantee that a 56 mile bike ride in 2 months will be okay... Right???

Getting Closer...

Things are feeling better, but I am still so afraid to do much. I have a habit of doing too much too soon, so I am really not wanting to do that this time.

But again, it was a BEAUTIFUL day with NO HUMIDITY! So, I had to do something. I met up with Arin and Rose at Hains Point for a few laps. After about 700 or 800M swim, things started to get a bit stiff and I figured it was enough. Also, because Blain doesn't understand back spasms, it was time to take him out. So, I managed about 10 miles. Again, I felt okay, a bit stiff, but not too bad.

I am trying really hard to not over exert myself, but it's hard. Really hard.

I hate starting over and I keep having to do it. Annoying, even though I know it's for the best.

So True

ME sent me this.
Tuesday night was horrible. Not spasms horrible, but really tight, stiffness, horrible.

Today, it feels like it's getting better, but I don't want to jinx it.

I Tried Swimming

Yesterday I put on my FB page "Off to swim and thinking non-spasms thoughts." I think those that sent good thoughts kept the spasms at a low level of 2. That and not doing flip turns (when I would remember to not do flip turns - habits die hard...).

But it helped that Karen and AJ were there. I enjoy swimming with them both; and when I say swim I mean talk awhile, swim a set, talk until we get cold, swim a set, etc. I haven't seen them in ages and it was good to catch up.

I did make it 1400 yds before 1 massive spasm and some soreness so I stopped there. Thought about biking this morning, but decided yesterday was enough. Maybe tomorrow.

And I know this picture has nothing to do with my post, but when I typed in "Swim" to my google images, this is what was on the first page. Odd, and I didn't have anything better...

CR*P

They are starting up again.

Maybe I should get a standing only desk.

Not Much To Say

Well, not too much is going on. I am not working out because of my back. I could blog about woe is me... Going to doctors, trying lots of drugs (that are prescribed), stretches, rest rest and more rest... But even that gets old for me.

Everyone has been great, checking in to see if the spasms are coming back. Asking when I can be their training partner again. If I am spasm free after the anti inflammatory drugs were done. it's nice to know people care.

Things are feeling better, but I am so afraid to do anything because I don't know if it's been enough time. I don't know if I take Blain out the spasms will come back. If I go for a light jog, my foot will start to hurt, I adjust my stride and cause my back to spasm.

I just don't know, and it stinks. STINKS!!! It has been the most beautiful weekend, perfect temperature and low humidity - and I can't take advantage of it! Boo!

But, I know what I am doing is for the best. The rest I am doing now will hopefully mean a successful half in September, and maybe in another Ironman in Florida in 2010.

Happy 4th of July!!

Happy Fourth of July!