I've got a closet full of that

The slide board has arrived. With any luck this will be what transforms my so-called weak hips into endurance muscles to share the load of running and cycling. I wonder two things: could I injure myself by sliding off the board in one of those made for you-tube moments and will this actually work. I've got a whole closet full of things that were supposed to fix my injuries. There is no market for that crap when it fails. Fingers crossed that this is the fix for my knee.

Two new theories

I "competed" in Sunday's Nation's Triathlon. The quotations are because I still cannot run although on Sunday I tried a little. I'm sure my run was cumulatively something in the neighborhood of 1.5 miles out of the 6.2. The remainder I fast walked.

Two new theories: knowing I can't run, I killed it on the bike and had my highest mph average ever over 25 miles--19.4 mph. That is no slouch and I think it could have been faster but I had to slow down for congestion a lot. Whoever thought a race of 6,000 people was a good idea was smoking crack. My second theory, maybe I never have to run. My average on the run 10:58 minutes per mile. I honestly was able to walk faster then most folks were running. The gift of long legs.

Next year I am totally changing how I think on the bike. No need to reserve, go all out and the run will be what it is. As for walking the run leg, it's a nice option in case I really can't run again but I wanted to wear a sign that said, "I'm injured and can't run. If I could run I would be beating you." Yeah, the humble pie hasn't quite settled in.

Sigh

I got up at 4:30 today and headed to the pool. Honestly, I was looking forward to it. I thought clearing out my head would help get rid of my headache. I pull into the parking lot and everything looks suspiciously dark. Sadly, while I was wasting my time being annoyed by the teabagger's continued professions that Obama was going to ruin their children's values, I never noted he was coming to the school I swim at. Pool closed. Attention folks at Wakefield High School, maybe next time you can update the website status. My guess it this was not a surprise.

I go home and put on my Vibram 5 fingers to head to the track in the rain. I ran 6 minutes before I could not go any further. Unbelievably frustrating. I kept trying to restart but the pain was screaming back. Thus, lacking any endorphins, I rode to work in the drizzle which honestly is quite fun. The path is quiet and there is a fair amount of wind over the 14th Street Bridge. Good practice (plus probably a heck of a lot quicker then commuting by car or metro on this, the first day of school).

Syracuse Ironman 70.3

Wahoo! I say to all of you responsible for bringing the 70.3 to Syracuse, thank you. The only thing that could be better is the full Ironman, that said, Lake Placid is not that far away if I'm jonesing to go long.

I look forward to competing in the Syracuse 70.3 next year. I can't think of a more beautiful place to compete and I love the thought of doing so in what will always be my hometown. If you're thinking about the race, bring your A game because I'm really aiming to get a slot to the 70.3 Nationals. Sure, it's a tremendous long shot, even longer when you consider I can't even run right now, but the course and weather are perfect to go all out.

Thank you Dara Tores

Maybe it's a fluke that I'm reading "Age is just a number" right now when I am spending a lot of my non-running time in the pool. The book tarnished the high regard I hold for Dara Tores but then again, all autobiographies are egocentric and perhaps that egocentricity is what divides Olympians and the common woman....among a long list of other things. I read something about her stroke that made me experiment in the pool today. Fastest 1/2 mile I ever swam and I really wasn't trying. Want to know the secret.....read the book.

Inspiration

People often ask what inspires me to do an Ironman. To me everyone is capable of competing in an Ironman, it is not as difficult as it appears. An ounce of discipline, a pinch of fortune, a teaspoon of insanity, and a whole lot of time all combined makes for an Ironman finish.

What motivates you to get off the couch is different for everyone. For me it is not one thing, it is a culmination of things that I can't fully articulate. It's because I can, I am able bodied and healthy and I love being outdoors. It's because I know people my age and younger who can't because they struggle with and manage debilitating diseases. If you look, motivation and inspiration are everywhere.

As an example, yesterday on my 70 mile ride I saw a guy who had his left leg amputated half way up his thigh. There he was peddling along on one leg--no prosthesis just using his one good leg and he had the broadest smile. Do you have any idea how difficult that is? Get on a trainer and try an hour of one-legged drills....or five minutes worth. It takes serious strength and fortitude. See, motivation and inspiration are everywhere you just have to open up your eyes to it.

Still waiting for the miracle

The professional read of my MRI shows lots of swelling around the IT Band and oddly, on the opposite side of my knee, a nearly complete tear of the medial meniscus and chondromalacia. The left side injury has caused me no pain or swelling. It's one of those things where you hear a diagnosis that makes no sense with your experience and you doubt the accuracy of modern science. The good news, I suppose, is that the injury causing me grief--IT Band--will eventually heal. And so I wait, patiently or not so patiently, for the miracle that allows me to return to running.

Meanwhile, I'm tired of being called weak hips. In addition to my Myrtl Girdle hip exercises which I continue to do religiously (except when interrupted by a dog v cat fight) I'm thinking of purchasing a slide board, you know, fake indoor skating. I cannot accept the term "weak" being associated with me, hips or otherwise. If the latest scientific studies are true and hip weakness is the cause of many knee problems I'll be the lab rabbit to affirm or dispute them.

Hoping beyond hope for a little brick run tomorrow. Something longer than a mile.