Ironteam 2011

Hi All! Back with a quick update. I'm officially on staff for the 2011 Team in Training Ironteam season! Vineman full, here I come :) I am getting into my pre-season routine starting this week. That means lots of yoga, healthy eating, and strength training. I'm back with a vengeance, so keep up the visits!

Back Pain = No Bueno

This week has been quite the medical adventure.

Since Wildflower (May 1) I have logged exactly two workouts - one Bikram Yoga session and one sad four mile run. I definitely injured my lower back during the race, so I thought it would be wise to take it easy for a couple of weeks.

Yoga session + run = pain.

I finally made an appointment to see my doc this week, followed by x-rays and an order for physical therapy. So far I have not heard about the x-rays, but was told no news was good news. My prescription for super-charged Aleve seems to be helping, but it will take a good two weeks for the swelling to subside.

Meanwhile, I am hoping to sign up for Barb's race and start training again. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Wildflower, Post-Wildflower

Ah.....the familiar 2-week funk! It has been just over 2 weeks since Wildflower, and they have not been my favorite 2 weeks. After any big race, I experience a period of "down" time where I usually eat bad food, lay around, and avoid workouts at all cost. It is similar to studying for a big test or writing a long paper - the last thing you want to do after all that prep (and accomplishing the task itself) is pick right back up again. This is probably not the best philosophy, but it's how these things go down with me. The post-race funk this time is much more complicated, since I didn't finish my race...

Wildflower: May 1

I remember this race experience in fragments, so bear with me...

Fragment #1 - Camping + triathlon = complicated

Fragment #2 - I LOVE my teammates. What a great time hanging out, enjoying the great outdoors, and reflecting on the past 6 months of hard work.

Fragment #3 - The swim was my favorite part - fun, challenging, exciting - and I felt strong. T1 was uncomplicated, and actually faster than I thought, given the hill from the swim finish to my bike.

Fragment #4 - Beach Hill was KILLER in the first mile, but I stayed on my bike and did not stop. All I could think about was throwing up. Or hyperventilating.

Fragment #5 - My lower back started hurting after Beach - REALLY hurting. Sharp pain. Distracting pain.

Fragment #6 - Stopping for sunscreen & Extra Strength Tylenol at an aid station early on in the ride. Realizing at this point that I might not finish.

Fragment #7 - Pushing through in the heat and wind to get to Nasty Grade. I made it halfway up before stopping (mile 43). Not worth the pain. At least in that moment it was not worth the pain.

Fragment #8 - I cried for the first time in a race - definitely not finishing and waiting for a ride. Thank God Sara D. came along. We both won't make the cutoff at this point anyway.

Fragment #9 - Seeing the coaches and other DNFers back in transition. NOT a good feeling, but we are definitely not alone.

Fragment #10 - Waiting at the finish line with the team. Waiting for EVERY last Ironteamer to finish. These people are amazing, and I miss them already!

So...I need to decide what to do next! I want to sign up for another half as soon as possible, and July 31st is an option. We shall see. Meanwhile, I need to try and harness that once unquenchable excitement for training, and get out there NOW!

Fundraising Finale

Today marks the last official day of my fundraising effort. Unlike my marathon experience, this has proven to be a tough time to gather donations. I was definitely not as aggressive with folks as I have been in the past - knowing the bleak economic reality for so many. If you happen to read this blog (and feel that you can spare even the smallest of donations) please consider those who depend on these types of funds for treatment, ongoing research, and support in dealing with their illness. http://pages.teamintraining.org/los/wildtri10/jenshaw1

For those of you who have donated - THANK YOU!