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???