solar squirrel

First Place woman (Janet) and 3rd Age Group (me)

Yesterday was exactly a year since doing my last triathlon.  I did the Munroe Falls sprint triathlon last year as one of my last races before succumbing to my IT band injury.  It’s fitting then that I’m using it (hopefully) as my entry back into the running / triathlon scene and as a CLOSURE to my IT band problems.

On Friday I went to see Dr. Keyes for my last scheduled ART session.  He told me the IT band was doing great - no more scar tissue and nice and loosened up.  Unfortunately I’ve developed a new problem - when I try to fully extend my knee there is discomfort and pain.  He told me this was likely my meniscus.  Argh!  How did my meniscus get messed up?  Possibly just from the jolt into running again without having tons of scar tissue - he said it may be irritated due to the new way I’m running (sans scar tissue and ITB issues).  The good news is that he said it should go away and that it’s not severe.  He did this thing where he straitened my leg and then pushed it to either side and asked me if it hurt.  Well, it felt uncomfortable, but not super painful…  So anyway - IF ANYONE OUT THERE HAS ANY FAMILIARITY WITH MENISCUS ISSUES CAN YOU SEND ME SOME INFO?  Tim said to work on strengthening my hips/legs, which I’m working on doing, but it’s just soooooooo frustrating!  I want to finally be pain and injury-free!!!!

Onto the race.  This one is nice because it’s only about 20 min from where we live.  I love LOCAL races!!  Got there early and had plenty of time to setup.  While getting my things setup in transition, someone said hi to me that I didn’t recognize - she told me her name was Suzanne and she reads my blog!  I was so flattered that someone I don’t know reads my rambles and complaints about training.  I told her I would try to keep my blog more updated since now I know there is one extra person reading!

It was HOT and I didn’t see many people wearing a wetsuit.  I saw Adam and was chatting with him and he corrected me when I accidentally thought he was wearing one.  What he was wearing is apparently a SPEED suit.  Sheesh…I’ve been out of the scene for so long I don’t even know what type of gear people are wearing!!!  I opted not to wear the wetsuit (I was going to ask Janet what she was doing, but I couldn’t find her).  I don’t really think it mattered either way.  The swim was over so fast and I just kept getting kicked and punched (accidentally) by people.  I thought that sticking to the side ropes would be a good idea - BAD MISTAKE - people who are afraid of the swim apparently also stay by the ropes to hold onto them and then cause you to have to try to get around them.  So the swim wasn’t a great performance, but I definitely felt like I could have done better if it weren’t for getting stuck behind so many people in the log jam.

Coming out of the swim I felt good and was ready to get on the bike.  Uneventful transition except for the fact that I accidentally ran the wrong way out of transition and had to go back around.  (ooops!)  The bike was fine - the windy road out of the park is annoying because I am not good on turns and so I couldn’t really build up any speed.  I already had looked at the course online so I knew exactly where to go.  It was a big rectangle with 2 loops.  Some rolling hills, but not too bad.  Looking at the results compared to last year I did better (mph) this year.  T2 was good - didn’t take off my bike gloves (which I like because then I can use them to wipe the sweat off of my face during the run) and DID remember to start my watch for the run!  The run was the toughest part and I sure can tell I’m not quite in running-shape.  I just kept thinking to myself thank goodness this is only a 5k or I would DIE!!!!  I am SO HAPPY with my run, though!!!  Way slower than most sprint triathlons I’ve done, but I ran the whole thing and felt strong the entire time.  (AND NO KNEE PAIN!)

This race was just what I needed to give me the added confidence and boost to keep me training.  They also told me I was 3rd in my age group which was SUPER AWESOME!!!  (I hope it wasn’t a mistake!)

Swim (400 yards):  8:01
T1:  2:04
Bike:  37:01 (19.5 MPH)
T2:  (not sure - have to subtract from overall run time)
Run:  watch said 7:40 pace; T2+run = 25:42 / 8:01 pace
Total:  1:12:50

Here’s a link to the results:  http://champracing.org/files/2010SUMMITRI2.HTM

Just a quick post to recap my week of trying to get back to being fit and a quick side note:

Has anyone else noticed a strange increase in the number of people holding cardboard signs standing on the side of the road (typically at an intersection where there is a stop light) begging for money / assistance?  Well, in Akron, where I live, I can tell you there has been an EXPONENTIAL INCREASE in people who are begging on the side of the road.  I’m not sure I believe most of them, though.  The one day I was driving in Cuyahoga Falls and I saw a younger girl and then about 1/2 mile later on the same road a younger guy.  Seriously?  They were probably around 19 - 22 at the oldest.  Dude!!!  You are young and strong!!!  Go get a job as a server or landscaper!  The money is great and it’s fun work!!  Then there are the more pathetic-looking one’s who stand down by where we live in the valley.  There are 2 or 3 different people who stand in the same place at the intersection where Merriman crosses with Portage Path.  The one guy does look pretty pathetic - but he looks strong - like he could definitely do some type of manual labor job if he was REALLY desperate.  The thing is - I don’t think these people actually WANT a job.  I think that they are just happy standing on the side of the road with their crumply cardboard sign and waiting for someone to give them money.  Argh…I don’t like to give them money, though, even though I feel bad for them.  I want to help them find a job or give them food or talk to them or listen, but I don’t know if it makes sense to give them money. 

Here’s something else:  have you noticed that they are only there in the spring / summer?  I have.  I don’t ever remember seeing them in the winter - or on any crappy-weather day for that matter.  I don’t know…I just thought I would put the statement out there and see if this was happening anywhere else other than by me.

Here’s a recap of the week’s training:

Monday: Bike 1 hour
Tuesday: Rest (gonna get to the track not this Tue but next!!!)
Wednesday: Bike 1 hour
Thursday: Run ~7 miles on trails 9:30 pace
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 1 hour workout w/ Larry the torturer
Sunday: 10 mile easy run w/ Bridget, Addy, and Steve

Going to hit the pool this week!!!!!!!

I’ve been trying to post on Sundays since it seems like the day that I have time and don’t mind sitting down in front of the computer.  I just realized that I don’t have anything really exciting to write about - but here’s a recap of the high’s (and low’s) of the week:

• Thursday:  Went to see Dr. Keyes and he told me that my knee was feeling really good and that I should go ahead and start increasing my running / training.  This was news that was skeptically received by me since I’m going on a full year of being injured, but it was exciting nonetheless! 
• Friday:  Went out with Brittany for dinner and drinks sort of as a ‘last single girls night out’ since she’s getting married in 2 weeks.  Had a great time - went to Lola’s for the first time (for dinner - I”ve been there for drinks before) and had an AWESOME meal.  We finished the evening at this Chocolate Bar where we both ordered ice cream concoctions larger than our heads, justifying it by stating that we would just burn it off during our personal training session the next day.
• Saturday:  At 9 am I had my weekly hour-long personal training session with Larry - a.k.a. my personal torturer.  He decided to have us do a pyramid of sprints with arm exercises in between. (Among some other fun torture exercises).  I thought my heart was going to explode out of my chest and Brittany sort of turned white and almost barfed.  We were both DRENCHED with sweat when we were done, but of course that didn’t stop us from going to get breakfast!  The rest of the day Saturday I hung out with my mom and sisters and we made dinner and watched The Brave Little Toaster and sung along with the songs and argued about which appliance was who.  It was fun.  For the record I am not the freakin’ vacuum cleaner!  And Gretchen is DEFINITELY the blankey.
• Sunday:  Today Todd and I met Steve and Bridget at Boston Store for an easy 9 mile run.  They brought Addy in the Bob stroller and we took turns pushing her while we ran.  I found that for some strange reason my IT band didn’t act up as much while I was pushing the stroller and the only thing I can think is that it has to do with me not flailing my arm as much.  (Since I was holding onto the stroller it kept that side of my body more stable).  So - open invitation for anyone who has a running stroller:  I’ll run with you and push!  (Disclaimer:  must be flat terrain).  It was a good time and we managed to maintain a pace a lot faster than 10-min miles, which was the goal (I think we were at 9:40??)When Todd and I got home we were welcomed with a super nice surprise! (Not!!!)  Our 110 Gallon Reef Tank had decided to start leaking again (Todd sealed the leak when we first got the tank…) and Todd ended up spending about 6 hours (he’s still working right now) removing ALL of the fragile corals, live rock, snails, invertabrates, and fish to other temporary storage locations as well as draining the tank.  It is seriously my worst nightmare.  At least it was a slow leak and it happened on a Sunday when we were both home and had the time to figure out several temporary storage spots and get everyone moved safely.  I would say we had about 45-50 different animals total in that tank, possibly more.  Worth several thousands of dollars, by the way.  (No, that is NOT an exaggeration.)  Not a great end to a weekend, but it could have been so much worse.  I just feel terrible - it is going to be SO MUCH work to get things back to where they were with the tank.  I am pretty sure we will sell the leaky one, which we bought for $800.  (Obviously, we will sell it to someone who doesn’t want to use it for water).  If you know anyone who wants a really pretty tank and stand for super cheap let me know! 

Here’s a quick recap of the workouts this week:

Monday - Bike 20 miles
Tuesday - Rest
Wednesday - Bike 1 hour (Lifetime Spin Class)
Thursday - Rest
Friday - Run 4 miles (7:49 pace)
Saturday - 1 hour personal training
Sunday - 9 miles easy run (9:40 pace I think)

I’m planning on swimming tomorrow pm.  BRIAN IF YOU ARE READING THIS LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE GOING!!  WE’RE GONNA DO A MARATHON LADDER IF SO!