Saturday, May 26, 2012

It's Not All Hard Work

We're in the final four weeks counting down to Pac Crest 1/2 IM. Although I'm somewhat undertrained, I'm feeling pretty good about race day.

My swims have been short and somewhat infrequent due to my shoulder, but I did finally get into my wetsuit for my first open water swim of the season this Wednesday night. You might remember I did the Mock Tri a couple weeks ago but the swim was short and I didn't have much time to let anxiety set in, so I was still somewhat concerned when I headed up to Vancouver Lake the other night. I had a quick moment of feeling nauseated and anxious but it ended as soon as I warmed up and then I had a great swim.

I've missed a few big rides to keep the family happy and my longest ride of the season - a 72 miler last Saturday - was cut short at mile 40 due to a broken cable that left me unable to shift. grrr.

My runs were great up through the  Eugene Half, but I've cut back a little bit - usually leaving off one scheduled run per week or cutting one short - due to whatever is going on with my heel. Last weekend's 1/2 marathon went well, but today's 14 miler has me currently unable to put pressure on my right heel and my ankle is swollen. The good news is that my runs don't seem to make the situation worse other than immediately after the run. The foot is painful and gimpy all the time regardless of whether or not I'm running. I'm sure that if I completely stayed off of it for a time it would be good for it, so I'm giving up all runs this week prior to The Wild Canyon Games and then I'll see about next week as it comes around.

My favorite part of tri training - THE PEOPLE - has been going great, though! Nothing like a post brick stretch in the sun...

or patiently waiting for beers and burgers...

or sometimes (like today) even a nice shot or two of beer at the 11 mile aid station...

Don't forget to enter my fundraising raffle for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society!!! Go HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! for more information!!


13 comments:

ajh said...

So this must be your race that is the same day as mine. Have you done a half IM before?

Raina said...

Looks like training with you is FUN! :)
Sorry your heel is still giving you trouble. It's so hard to know when to rest or push, but before a big race the smart choice is certainly rest.
Have fun at the wild canyon games too!!

Ransick said...

Looks like you have a really fun training group! Have you tried rolling your feet on soft balls or frozen water bottles? I had heel pain a couple years ago, self diagnosed as pf, then rolled my feet on soft balls and built up to where I could stand on them and roll them around. Seemed to work though standing on softballs at first was extremely painful.

Kate Geisen said...

What a fun group you trainwith! Heal up fast!

Terzah said...

You have such a great attitude and that will help carry you through even if you are undertrained. It's so frustrating when it seems like it's one thing after another, doesn't it??? You are having FUN (those pics make it clear), and it's so healthy to keep the focus on that.

Jill said...

Awww, what a great bunch of people to train with. I so miss my old group, but I can't keep up with them anymore :(. Maybe I can find a slower group.

Sorry the foot's still being testy, but good to hear you're at least getting in the runs. My inner ankle was swollen about a month ago but nothing hurt at all. Weird. Nothing since that one run either. Maybe yours will have the same faith.

Keep being strong, you're going to do great!

Beth said...

I miss that I am not doing the Pac Crest half this year =( stupid race conflicts. But I plan to be back next year. I think that was my favorite race I have ever done!

Big Daddy Diesel said...

Good luck at the race

Jen said...

What a fun group of people who share the same passion as you do! I think you'll do well even if you don't feel as trained as you want.

Elizabeth said...

training with TNT is the most fun way to train :) hope you start feeling better soon!

Coy Martinez said...

My favorite part of training is being with my friends. We laugh and carry on like a bunch of fools. The best part is that no matter how good or how sucky I do, they're always there to give a hug.

I have to say that I like tri training better than just running / marathon training because my legs just can't take that grind but now I'm finding that I get little tweaks in my shoulder and hamstrings are a mess from riding hills.

Do you always ask yourself which of the three you like to do best?

Simply Life said...

looks like an amazing group of people and wonderful community to be a part of!

Unknown said...

That is an awesome group to train with! I have a few people I train with on and off, but nothing like that much fun!