I went for a short run tonight (roughly 1 mile). It felt pretty good :) It's nice to be back on my feet, as it were.
I left work a little late (maybe 10 minutes) and then there were problems on the freeway, so I missed the run-the-course, which was disappointing. I did meet up with my mentor and some other ladies, and learned about transitions and how to set them up.
I'm excited! It's getting closer... I'm not going to go too fast with running or anything, but I'm glad to be able to do it again. Biking soon, too! Woo-hoo!!!
I was able to get a bike helmet that fits finally, which is good. I have a few things left to buy, but not many, and a few other things that I'll buy if the money tree blooms in time ;-) This tri stuff can get expensive!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
PT!
I can't believe I haven't posted about my physical therapy!
It's great!
The appointment last Thursday was just a consultation. But then on Monday morning, I had a real let's-do-something appointment. It was amazing! He massaged-ish the muscle and muscles around it, while stretching and moving my leg around. I say "-ish" just because it used a lot of pressure and was somewhere near my threshhold of pain. After 15 or so minutes, he asked me to stand up and stretch, and voila! I could put my palms on the floor with no pain! Crazy! (It was good for the rest of the day, though there were some other areas that were a little sore, and since then it's been mostly good.)
I had another appointment this morning, which was quite similar to the first.
There is a "run the course" tomorrow for the triathlon. The PT said I could run a mile, but that was all. So the plan is to walk most of the course and run the rest. Regardless, I'm excited to get out there and run some! It's been a long time!
It's great!
The appointment last Thursday was just a consultation. But then on Monday morning, I had a real let's-do-something appointment. It was amazing! He massaged-ish the muscle and muscles around it, while stretching and moving my leg around. I say "-ish" just because it used a lot of pressure and was somewhere near my threshhold of pain. After 15 or so minutes, he asked me to stand up and stretch, and voila! I could put my palms on the floor with no pain! Crazy! (It was good for the rest of the day, though there were some other areas that were a little sore, and since then it's been mostly good.)
I had another appointment this morning, which was quite similar to the first.
There is a "run the course" tomorrow for the triathlon. The PT said I could run a mile, but that was all. So the plan is to walk most of the course and run the rest. Regardless, I'm excited to get out there and run some! It's been a long time!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
feeling better-ish
I took off Monday and yesterday. My upper body is feeling great and is ready to jump back in the game. My hamstring is still a little sore. If it would just stay like that (as opposed to getting worse), I could easily work through it. But that's not how it works.
I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon with a PT to have it checked out. Hopefully, the visit will yield good results and not just "well, this is what's wrong, come back next week and we'll get started." He's sports-minded, though (his card has "ironman performance care" on it), and is aware I'm training for a May 9 triathlon and haven't run or biked in 2 months. I have hope.
Today I am planning to hit the pool. I got a new bathing suit in the mail on Monday (I hate mail ordering clothes, but I couldn't find this particular one in any local stores) that is much better-suited to swimming laps. I'm looking forward to trying it out!
Also today I can go and pick up my bike. I am going to ask them to fit me for a helmet while I'm there. I tried a bunch on the other night when I was shopping, but they were all too big ... even the youth ages 11-14.
That's where I'm at. Here's to hope!
I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon with a PT to have it checked out. Hopefully, the visit will yield good results and not just "well, this is what's wrong, come back next week and we'll get started." He's sports-minded, though (his card has "ironman performance care" on it), and is aware I'm training for a May 9 triathlon and haven't run or biked in 2 months. I have hope.
Today I am planning to hit the pool. I got a new bathing suit in the mail on Monday (I hate mail ordering clothes, but I couldn't find this particular one in any local stores) that is much better-suited to swimming laps. I'm looking forward to trying it out!
Also today I can go and pick up my bike. I am going to ask them to fit me for a helmet while I'm there. I tried a bunch on the other night when I was shopping, but they were all too big ... even the youth ages 11-14.
That's where I'm at. Here's to hope!
Monday, March 16, 2009
ready to be healed...
I swam yesterday, and my right shoulder was a little tweaky. This is Not Good.
I figure it's some combination of swimming a lot and lots of upper-body strength training. I always have at least one rest day between lifting days, often more, but I wonder if the swim days in between made days off less restful.
Today, it feels pretty good. I'm not exercising today.
My hamstring, however, is not healing. I'm very frustrated (to put it mildly), and I'm going to look into physical therapy and/or a chiropractor. I have a recommendation for a physical therapist, and there was a doc who came to our school and gave massages who I have info for. (I'm more likely to go with the first, since he was personally recommended.)
To add to my frustration, I've been using my heart rate monitor. I can swim comfortably and keep my HR under 165 (which is where I have the alarm set for). But on Saturday when I was lifting, I set the dumb thing off with almost every set of exercises. 20 pushups? HR=170. I thought we had moved on from this problem, but I guess not. I'm planning to wear it tomorrow when (if) I train. My mom suggested I get my thyroid checked. I need to get bloodwork done this week anyway, for the oncologist. I'm going to ask them if they'll tack the two tests she suggested on. And I usually have my blood chemistry checked every March, so I'll ask about that, too. I don't know if they'll do all that, but I figure, there's no harm in asking...
I'm not sure if I should train tomorrow or not. My gut is saying "rest another day," so that's what I'm likely to go with. I need to talk to B. and maybe reschedule for Thursday or early morning Wednesday.
I figure it's some combination of swimming a lot and lots of upper-body strength training. I always have at least one rest day between lifting days, often more, but I wonder if the swim days in between made days off less restful.
Today, it feels pretty good. I'm not exercising today.
My hamstring, however, is not healing. I'm very frustrated (to put it mildly), and I'm going to look into physical therapy and/or a chiropractor. I have a recommendation for a physical therapist, and there was a doc who came to our school and gave massages who I have info for. (I'm more likely to go with the first, since he was personally recommended.)
To add to my frustration, I've been using my heart rate monitor. I can swim comfortably and keep my HR under 165 (which is where I have the alarm set for). But on Saturday when I was lifting, I set the dumb thing off with almost every set of exercises. 20 pushups? HR=170. I thought we had moved on from this problem, but I guess not. I'm planning to wear it tomorrow when (if) I train. My mom suggested I get my thyroid checked. I need to get bloodwork done this week anyway, for the oncologist. I'm going to ask them if they'll tack the two tests she suggested on. And I usually have my blood chemistry checked every March, so I'll ask about that, too. I don't know if they'll do all that, but I figure, there's no harm in asking...
I'm not sure if I should train tomorrow or not. My gut is saying "rest another day," so that's what I'm likely to go with. I need to talk to B. and maybe reschedule for Thursday or early morning Wednesday.
Friday, March 13, 2009
misc from the last few days
Swim and upper body lift and swim and upper body lift. That's all I've been up to these days.
I swam today with a heart rate monitor, which was useful, not because I can use it in the way that most triathletes apparently do, but because my heart rate often spikes when I exercise. It's not bad in the pool at the speed that I'm happily swimming, so that's good :)
Last night, I had a bike maintenance workshop, sponsored by the triathlon people. I took my bike over. There was only one other woman who showed up, so we each got private lessons on changing tires. I left my bike there, as the back brake was broken (as it turned out) and it needs a tune up (I bought it in spring 2000, I think, and it's never been tuned up), but not before learning how to disengage the brakes, take the wheels off, take the tires off, put them back on, fill them with a CO2 cartridge, put the wheels back on, and re-engage the brakes. It's messy, but it was fun. They gave both of us bags that are hung from the back of one's seat containing a patch kit, CO2 cartridges, an inflator for the cartridges, and tire lever. Nice :)
I met my mentor, who is a neat woman, and I got two leads on a used wetsuit. This activity was definitely worth the time invested.
Tonight, I bought some compression shorts (this hamstring is pissing me off), some wrap-around sunglasses, some anti-chafing stuff, and some bamboo socks. The only things left to buy (I think) are:
a new bike helmet (mine sustained a crash some time ago and must be replaced)
a wetsuit
skins or something similar for sun protection
Is there anything I'm forgetting?
I swam today with a heart rate monitor, which was useful, not because I can use it in the way that most triathletes apparently do, but because my heart rate often spikes when I exercise. It's not bad in the pool at the speed that I'm happily swimming, so that's good :)
Last night, I had a bike maintenance workshop, sponsored by the triathlon people. I took my bike over. There was only one other woman who showed up, so we each got private lessons on changing tires. I left my bike there, as the back brake was broken (as it turned out) and it needs a tune up (I bought it in spring 2000, I think, and it's never been tuned up), but not before learning how to disengage the brakes, take the wheels off, take the tires off, put them back on, fill them with a CO2 cartridge, put the wheels back on, and re-engage the brakes. It's messy, but it was fun. They gave both of us bags that are hung from the back of one's seat containing a patch kit, CO2 cartridges, an inflator for the cartridges, and tire lever. Nice :)
I met my mentor, who is a neat woman, and I got two leads on a used wetsuit. This activity was definitely worth the time invested.
Tonight, I bought some compression shorts (this hamstring is pissing me off), some wrap-around sunglasses, some anti-chafing stuff, and some bamboo socks. The only things left to buy (I think) are:
a new bike helmet (mine sustained a crash some time ago and must be replaced)
a wetsuit
skins or something similar for sun protection
Is there anything I'm forgetting?
Sunday, March 8, 2009
looking forward
I'm ready to use my legs again.
They're almost ready.
I'm going to tell B. "no legs" on Tuesday when I train again.
I plan to be spinning by next weekend. I think that's possible. But I'm not doing anything before Thursday, regardless of how it feels.
With lifting, I'm definitely getting stronger, but it's taking a lot longer than it did last time. I wonder if chemo has anything to do with that. Weird. Frustrating. But progress is progress, regardless of how slow it is...
I took the saddle baskets off of my bike this evening; they're not so good for racing. There is a bike maintenance workshop on Thursday that I'm going to, which will be great :)
Swimming tomorrow. Going to try to go a little bit faster and a little bit farther. Maybe an extra 50-100 meters in the same time I've been swimming 750? I don't know if that's a realistic goal or not, but that's what I'll set it at anyway :)
I don't have many training sessions left, I don't think, which is sad. I don't think there's cash around to buy more when these run out, so I'll just need to savor the last few...
They're almost ready.
I'm going to tell B. "no legs" on Tuesday when I train again.
I plan to be spinning by next weekend. I think that's possible. But I'm not doing anything before Thursday, regardless of how it feels.
With lifting, I'm definitely getting stronger, but it's taking a lot longer than it did last time. I wonder if chemo has anything to do with that. Weird. Frustrating. But progress is progress, regardless of how slow it is...
I took the saddle baskets off of my bike this evening; they're not so good for racing. There is a bike maintenance workshop on Thursday that I'm going to, which will be great :)
Swimming tomorrow. Going to try to go a little bit faster and a little bit farther. Maybe an extra 50-100 meters in the same time I've been swimming 750? I don't know if that's a realistic goal or not, but that's what I'll set it at anyway :)
I don't have many training sessions left, I don't think, which is sad. I don't think there's cash around to buy more when these run out, so I'll just need to savor the last few...
Thursday, March 5, 2009
March 3 and 5
Tuesday, B. and I did Nifty 50s. Well, he didn't do any. Anyway, it was a comparison — we had done this about three months ago. The good news is that I'm getting stronger and my endurance is increasing :) I don't think there's any bad news, at least not about that.
He suggested that I try out the stationary bike for 10-15 minutes and see how the hamstring feels. So when I went in tonight, I biked lightly for 10 minutes (level 2, 55 rpm) while I wrote out what I was going to do for lifting. The ol' hammy was a little sore when I got off, so I think spinning is not yet in the cards. It's still sore, and I'll be icing it shortly.
The rest of my workout was pretty good, though — upper body and abs.
Tomorrow, I'm just going to swim.
(Yesterday was a rest day.)
I'd love to go and spin on Saturday or Sunday. Maybe this dumb leg will be healed up by then. Saturday probably not, but Sunday maybe...
He suggested that I try out the stationary bike for 10-15 minutes and see how the hamstring feels. So when I went in tonight, I biked lightly for 10 minutes (level 2, 55 rpm) while I wrote out what I was going to do for lifting. The ol' hammy was a little sore when I got off, so I think spinning is not yet in the cards. It's still sore, and I'll be icing it shortly.
The rest of my workout was pretty good, though — upper body and abs.
Tomorrow, I'm just going to swim.
(Yesterday was a rest day.)
I'd love to go and spin on Saturday or Sunday. Maybe this dumb leg will be healed up by then. Saturday probably not, but Sunday maybe...
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
back in the game :)
I went swimming last night, swam 30 laps (about 27-28 minutes). It felt good, it wasn't hard physically or mentally (though still harder mentally than physically).
I'm ready to speed it up a little, I think, at least for part of the time.
I'm going to start swimming farther as well.
Hamstring is getting better.
Can't complain too much :)
I'm ready to speed it up a little, I think, at least for part of the time.
I'm going to start swimming farther as well.
Hamstring is getting better.
Can't complain too much :)
Sunday, March 1, 2009
*BAM!* mental wall
I hit the mental wall at the gym today.
Planned to lift and swim today (which tends not to be a great combo anyway, since I'm lifting upper body (stupid hamstring) and swimming is all upper body) since I didn't do anything yesterday and I can't lift tomorrow because I'm training on Tuesday. Got to the gym WAY later than I'd planned and so decided just to swim.
Swim swim swim swim ... and it occurs to me that I might have done the math wrong the day that I (thought I) did 750 meters. So I'm recalculating in my head. As it turns out, I should just not think and swim at the same time. So I came home and checked my workout log, and I recorded meters, not laps, so I'll never know.
But I'm pretty sure I was wrong.
I swam 600 meters today (for sure - 24 laps x 25 meters). I needed only to go up and back three more times to hit 750. I just didn't feel like it. Didn't want to. Didn't do it. Seems kind of dumb no to. Eh. Whatever.
And somewhere around 400 meters, when I was already tired of swimming, I thought, "What was I thinking?! A triathlon?! Wait til the reality of trying to actually do it hits." Not thinking that's going to help me, for sure, which I was completely aware of, and was trying to reframe (all while swimming laps), but it wasn't working.
I think I'm just frustrated with my leg and am worried about losing all of this training time. It'll be OK. I'll be back in the pool tomorrow, and I'll be able to do this thing. Just you wait and see. (OK, you probably already believe that I can. That was more to convince myself.)
Planned to lift and swim today (which tends not to be a great combo anyway, since I'm lifting upper body (stupid hamstring) and swimming is all upper body) since I didn't do anything yesterday and I can't lift tomorrow because I'm training on Tuesday. Got to the gym WAY later than I'd planned and so decided just to swim.
Swim swim swim swim ... and it occurs to me that I might have done the math wrong the day that I (thought I) did 750 meters. So I'm recalculating in my head. As it turns out, I should just not think and swim at the same time. So I came home and checked my workout log, and I recorded meters, not laps, so I'll never know.
But I'm pretty sure I was wrong.
I swam 600 meters today (for sure - 24 laps x 25 meters). I needed only to go up and back three more times to hit 750. I just didn't feel like it. Didn't want to. Didn't do it. Seems kind of dumb no to. Eh. Whatever.
And somewhere around 400 meters, when I was already tired of swimming, I thought, "What was I thinking?! A triathlon?! Wait til the reality of trying to actually do it hits." Not thinking that's going to help me, for sure, which I was completely aware of, and was trying to reframe (all while swimming laps), but it wasn't working.
I think I'm just frustrated with my leg and am worried about losing all of this training time. It'll be OK. I'll be back in the pool tomorrow, and I'll be able to do this thing. Just you wait and see. (OK, you probably already believe that I can. That was more to convince myself.)
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