Sorry, posts are a bit delayed....
The Transition (Two
Weeks)
Disclaimer: This
blog is a documentation of my now second Ironman Journey for AZ Ironman
2013. Format will be random, i.e. quick journal format, random thoughts,
motivational quotes, pictures of random moments and memories along my journey.
For the most part, it’s documentation for me and may not be to exciting for
anyone else to read, but for those of you brave enough to ever wonder…could I
do an Ironman or even just a triathlon? I then offer you a firsthand
account of what goes on in the mind of an Ironman age group triathlete
including all the highs, lows, emotions, fears, rants, etc, etc. I have
dreams of one day making this into a book, so that when I’m old and gray…I’ll
have wonderful memories and also fulfill one of my bucket list items, to write
a book. Please forgive any spelling mistakes as I’m sure I am just happy
to get everything written down, just chalk it up to fatigue from lots of
training!
It’s the last week of
June, first week of July. Normally, it would be in the middle of Month Five.
However, I’ve gotten the
official start date of my Team FC training, beginning July 8th. I also have a PT appt on July 3rd.
So really I’m in “transition mode. I want to get healthy so I can be my best
for the start of training. I want to do what is necessary for PT to get
healthy. So I’m not busting my ass to cause more pain. I’ve yet to really run
since June 14th ish. I sound like a broken record when I say it’s
DRIVING ME NUTS!!! But better to be slow
now and recover then make it worse for the Race.
Also, please note,
pictures will be posted at a later date.
I’m currently not able to download at this time.
Current Stats Overall:
SWIM: ~123,612
Yds
BIKE: ~ 621.44
Miles
RUN: ~ 253.41 Miles
Strength: ~ 23:55 hr/min
Other ~
4:25 hr/min ( PT, Stretch, etc. )
Total Training Hours:
181:14 hours/minutes
I’m not going to talk
much on these two weeks of training. It was more of a maintaining two weeks. I
got in some good swims of 2450, 2500,
and 3200 yds. Biking I got in my
first 4 hour ride for 61 miles. It was a SUPER HOT day, as I finished my ride
in 103 degrees. YIKES!! What was so strange about this ride was that there was
absolutely zero wind on my ride. That never happens for me. It was just so
ungodly, sticky hot. Which explains the horrible sadness and tragedy of this day.
It was June 30th, 2013. Which will now forever be known as
the Prescott 19 and the horrible loss of life of 19 of our Granite Mountain
Hotshot Crew in Yarnell fighting a fire that went out of control. Looking back,
I remember around three ish, when the winds just became wild around the house,
they would go every direction. I also looked back at some photos I took of
posting of the weather channel and how hot it was. It was weird, that every
time I looked, the wind was going a different direction. Which explains the
wild conditions of the fire, and how it overtook these brave men.
In my second week of
training, I focused on swimming and biking, the only two things I’ve been able
to do. I got in some good workouts
between both of them. My most favorite? I swam 4000 yds!!! The longest I’ve
ever done in a training session!!! And I finished it in 1:31 minutes. So it was
close to my IM time of 2011. But the
most important thing of this week was my PT evaluation. FINALLY!! I went in on July 3rd. I had two pages of detailed information for
my PT for what was going on with my leg, and my issues, goals, needs. I got the full assessment and the final
diagnosis? I had an anterior rotated
pelvis on the right, causing a “locked” SI joint in the back and a severely
inflamed Glute Medius Tendon. After
multiple testing, ROM measuring. I was to one session. Oh, how I wish I would of pushed harder for
PT back in May. I could of avoided all this pain and misery. GRRR. But At least
I’m on the road to recovery. But orders are to do PT exercises 2x a week. And
no running for about a month L. But at least I know what is wrong, and I am
now able to focus on how to fix it. I also have orders to get new shoes that
are recommended. Ironically, I have the
trail runners from Brooks already. And I’ve also ran in the Saucony, the
Brooks, and the Asics. Must be my body
knew what I needed!! I drove down to Phx
on Sunday to exchange my nice shoes that I had waiting in the box, for a new
pair of shiny, “bright” , blue Brooks.
They are a neutral shoe, and usually I do stability. Once I get running
in them I’ll see how it feels. This was also the day the Prescott 19 was
brought back up to Prescott. In a 19 hearse procession. It took over four hours
for them to come back from Phx. They also came up thorough Yarnell where they
perished. I think only fitting to come home the way they headed out to the
fire. What a heartbreaking and emotional
scene. I was honored to watch them go by and pay my respects.
Also part of the “transition”
is that I’m heading to Billings, Montana for a month to work at our sister
facility. It will be interesting to say the least since I’m also taking my dogs
with me. I have a gracious host who is letting me bring them and stay in her
home with a nice backyard for them to run around in. Here’s to the true test of
“traveling” as a therapist, without quitting my day job to see if I like it,
and the dogs can handle it.
In other news good news,
I got to see SUNNY!!! I was in contact
with her husband, Steve. And I went over to their home on Sunday evening, just
after I returned from getting my shoes in Phx for my PT. She is now home on Home Hospice. She is bed
ridden. But her amazing spirit still fights to shine through and she still has
that beautiful smile that I remember. I brought with me a photo of her name
that I put on my bike. I could tell that she was excited to see it, even if she
didn’t say much. And I was so happy I could offer her a smile and give her a
great BIG HUG!!! I plan to visit when I
get home and go see her and Steve again. I pray God keeps her going strong, being
the fighter that she is. And that she has an amazing time with her dtr visiting
and meeting her very first grandchild. I
pray God gives her some great moments with her dtr and her grand baby. Her Caregiver
has been a blessing, I can tell from just watching her work with Sunny, that she’s
just what she needs. And she is so helpful to Steve as well. He is one amazing
husband to that beautiful woman. May God
Bless them Both in this difficult time.
