...but clearly it's time that I did so again: after a 25-minute swim followed by one and a half hours of water running, I actually put real shoes on and ran for 3 miles on the treadmill this morning! Foot felt fine afterwards, but I stopped then because that's the farthest I've run since my injury and I've promised myself to take it EASY adding distance and/or time to my land-running. Getting reinjured is SO not the plan at this point. I'd rather stop when I feel I can go on than be forced to stop because I can't.
So Yay Me is the message here, I guess. After a rather busy travel-related couple of weeks (both pleasant, so no complaints), I'm now back in one place for at least a little while, so can get back to regular training and ramp things up for HIM work. So far, so good-- I've swum twice this week already, with another swim planned for tomorrow and maybe one on Friday, too; I figure since I'll already be at the pool to continue water running for at least a little while, why not show up a bit earlier and actually SWIM? Seems to be working at the moment, even if today was ridiculously busy in the lap lanes. Ah well-- I tell myself that it's still NOTHING like the mass start of the swim in a race: I haven't been elbowed or kicked in the head yet!
On a more intriguing note, I have over $100 in dividend money from REI to spend (yes, that means I spent a ridiculous amount of money there last year). What to acquire...? Chances are I'll stop by there tomorrow night on my way home from work, as I know I'll be late getting out and thus will run smack dab into rush hour hideousness. Better to peel off when I can and spend some time browsing before braving the craziness to get home. We shall see: endless possibilities await!
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Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
It's ON...
...like this guy:
(Not quite sure why Donkey Kong is what things that are on are supposedly like, but there you have it.)
Yep, I signed up just now for my first HIM (=half-ironman) race: Whirlpool Ironman 70.3 Steelhead, on August 14 in Michigan. Big challenge, but I figure it's a doable one, will be more distance than the marathon but less pounding on my foot, and will give my LIVESTRONG donors good value for their money!
Never mind the fact that I have yet to run an entire mile on land since my injury. (Details, details.) I'll build up slowly and gradually, and if I have to walk the whole run course, so be it.
Training for this goal race starts in about a week... after I get back from Spring Break, that is: a real, honest-to-God vacation trip this year, no less, largely because my sister is Awesomeness Personified and put it all together so we can both get the hell out of our respective Dodges for a while.
Meanwhile, I'll have a running analysis done just before I leave, so hope to get some useful feedback on running mechanics, shoes, and other useful stuff. (Yes, I admit I already have printed out directions to the closest running store from where we'll be on vacation.)
Am I psyched? You bet! Scared? Equally so! Crazy? Surely you've figured that out by now!
After roughly 3 months of rehab, it's GREAT to have a goal to move towards again.
(Not quite sure why Donkey Kong is what things that are on are supposedly like, but there you have it.)
Yep, I signed up just now for my first HIM (=half-ironman) race: Whirlpool Ironman 70.3 Steelhead, on August 14 in Michigan. Big challenge, but I figure it's a doable one, will be more distance than the marathon but less pounding on my foot, and will give my LIVESTRONG donors good value for their money!
Never mind the fact that I have yet to run an entire mile on land since my injury. (Details, details.) I'll build up slowly and gradually, and if I have to walk the whole run course, so be it.
Training for this goal race starts in about a week... after I get back from Spring Break, that is: a real, honest-to-God vacation trip this year, no less, largely because my sister is Awesomeness Personified and put it all together so we can both get the hell out of our respective Dodges for a while.
Meanwhile, I'll have a running analysis done just before I leave, so hope to get some useful feedback on running mechanics, shoes, and other useful stuff. (Yes, I admit I already have printed out directions to the closest running store from where we'll be on vacation.)
Am I psyched? You bet! Scared? Equally so! Crazy? Surely you've figured that out by now!
After roughly 3 months of rehab, it's GREAT to have a goal to move towards again.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Patience: Not Just for Gilbert & Sullivan
(Ah, "Bunthorne's Bride." Not my favourite G&S musical, but I have a soft spot for it because I sang in the chorus in my high school production lo these many years ago...)
I had my last PT meeting a few days ago, and was cleared to start running on land again, provided that I take it VERY slowly and VERY gradually. So I ran for five whole minutes that day, and eight today, both on treadmills. The foot feels fine so far, though my cardio initially went "WTF??" Not exactly distance of any sort, but it's a start.
The strongest message I got from both PT and Sports Doc was, not surprisingly, "Don't do too much too soon!!" Right about now is apparently the most dangerous time for recovering athletes: they feel tons better, so they think they can get right out there and be as they were, and bang, they reinjure themselves. All NOT what I have in mind, so I'm going to be as patient as I can with all of this-- water running is still very much on the menu for a while, even if I get to add a few more minutes on land every time.
In some ways this is rather frustrating, even as I know it's all good news so far. I'll have a gait analysis done in about a week, which will tell me more about how I run, what I need to fix in terms of form, how to do so, and what kind of shoes to get since the ones I have clearly aren't what my feet need. When I do get frustrated at my glacial pace, though, at least I can try to remember that spring is on its way, so I can eventually build up my running OUTSIDE rather than on the dreadmill indoors.
At any rate, far better to do this slowly and gradually than not at all. The plan at the moment is to train for a half-Ironman triathlon later in the summer to benefit LIVESTRONG, since the marathon (in two weeks) is right out. Longer distance, greater challenge, but less pounding on my foot, oddly enough. (Half-Ironman = 1.2 miles of swimming, followed by 56 miles of biking, followed by 13.1 miles of running. Exactly half the Ironman distance, which tells you how crazy Ironman is, and don't get me started on multiple-IM-distance races.) That training plan will start in a couple of weeks, so I've a little more time to do some base training until then.
It'll be good to have a goal to work toward again!
I had my last PT meeting a few days ago, and was cleared to start running on land again, provided that I take it VERY slowly and VERY gradually. So I ran for five whole minutes that day, and eight today, both on treadmills. The foot feels fine so far, though my cardio initially went "WTF??" Not exactly distance of any sort, but it's a start.
The strongest message I got from both PT and Sports Doc was, not surprisingly, "Don't do too much too soon!!" Right about now is apparently the most dangerous time for recovering athletes: they feel tons better, so they think they can get right out there and be as they were, and bang, they reinjure themselves. All NOT what I have in mind, so I'm going to be as patient as I can with all of this-- water running is still very much on the menu for a while, even if I get to add a few more minutes on land every time.
In some ways this is rather frustrating, even as I know it's all good news so far. I'll have a gait analysis done in about a week, which will tell me more about how I run, what I need to fix in terms of form, how to do so, and what kind of shoes to get since the ones I have clearly aren't what my feet need. When I do get frustrated at my glacial pace, though, at least I can try to remember that spring is on its way, so I can eventually build up my running OUTSIDE rather than on the dreadmill indoors.
At any rate, far better to do this slowly and gradually than not at all. The plan at the moment is to train for a half-Ironman triathlon later in the summer to benefit LIVESTRONG, since the marathon (in two weeks) is right out. Longer distance, greater challenge, but less pounding on my foot, oddly enough. (Half-Ironman = 1.2 miles of swimming, followed by 56 miles of biking, followed by 13.1 miles of running. Exactly half the Ironman distance, which tells you how crazy Ironman is, and don't get me started on multiple-IM-distance races.) That training plan will start in a couple of weeks, so I've a little more time to do some base training until then.
It'll be good to have a goal to work toward again!
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