Karen writes: Penalty for neglecting maintenance

-

Lower leg problems at the end of last week (tight calves putting pressure on the Archilles tendons) meant I strayed seriously from the training programme.   I’m a bit sad about that, having worked so hard and passed through the heaviest weeks it would have been nice to finish the programme off successfully.  Lesson learned, don’t muck around with ongoing injury, get it sorted early. The trip to the sports massage people left me regretting my inattention, I had let my calves get very ‘knotted up’, and the treatment was long, uncomfortable, and required some days off, which were also long and uncomfortable (whoever thinks massage is a treat, think again).  On the weekend I had a 23km run around my favourite country roads on the Whangarei heads, but was unable to enjoy even that as much as I usually would, for while I didn’t have any of the normal pain, I was tired and grumpy and feeling out of sorts, and of course worried.  What happens if I lose my fitness (the brain says “don’t be daft” but you cant help but visualise your fitness draining away), what happens if the problem doesn’t go away in the next 13 (YES, THIRTEEN) days, what happens if I crash out now…will I ever be able to be fit enough for Ironman?  Arrrrghhhhhh!  

But Monday brings relaxed feeling legs, no Archilles pain, and hopefully tomorrows followup massage appointment will have me in top shape at a time when the planned distances are dropping away to next to nothing in preparation for the event.  I managed to try out my new blue singlet, hard to tell if it was going to cause any problems as it was under the camelpac, but there weren’t any obvious chafes or sore bits in the 2 ½ hours I was on the road, the newest new shoes are broken in, the newest new socks seem to be ok (no hot feet, blisters or pressure points), and I tried out some powerbar chew things in cola flavour which were very pleasant (anything is pleasant if you haven't had to use it for hours and hours and hours on the road) and didn’t cause any stomach upsets.  Roll on the 28th I think I am almost ready! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Still...swim, cycle, run...walk

-
Image
We've got some new staff at the organisation, which is now called " Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa ".  Sitting at the lunch table answering questions on the topic of endurance training and eventing, it reminds me of how long we've been doing the longer exercise efforts now, and that we take for granted how much we've learned over the years.   bike training isn't training without icecream Someone asked about nutrition in a long event and  I spouted off a bunch of words about the exact makeup of the breakfast that I've spent so many years messing around with, said something about a gel here and a banana there and a bumper bar somewhere else and a salt tablet when whatever and the importance of recovery nutrition...and then realised it sounded very much like I actually had it sorted.  I have to admit I don't really.  I'm not sure if anyone can ever say they have everything 100% nutrition or hydration wise for all conditions and circumstances,
Read more

Karen writes: Swimming pool blues

-
Image
I loathe the swimming pool.  With my severely cut down swim training I've been putting my effort into a few slow wetsuit swims in the sea, gently putting my dodgy shoulder under pressure to see how it copes with greater time in the water, not worrying about harder work just aiming to achieve the distance with a minimum of stress.  This week I just couldn't see how I could swim in the sea, the tide is way out in the mornings and evenings all week and it wont be possible to swim on the weekend. So I had to go to the Otara pool before work today.  Older daughter is off to school camp, tenting, so it was a bit muddly getting last minute items packed for her, is there enough sunscreen because its shaping up to be hot outside and what's the plan for the expected torrential rain?  Yep, good old Auckland smorgasbord weather, just pack everything.  Anyway, finally she was ready to go and I was too.  I had my togs under my clothes, wearing jandals, bag with undies/ towel/ toiletrie
Read more

Karen writes: Obstacles

-
Image
I went for a ride, of course that was not what the training plan said I should be doing, but it fitted.  Older daughter looked at my trademark pink legwarmers before I left, "are they new?" she says. "Nope".  "They're clean" she observed. I looked, they did look clean.  Why?  They were inside out. These poor things had been getting very grubby, more chain oil than clear space, but aha, here was a way to now double their reasonable lifespan. Anyway, with the old-new inside out pink legwarmers on, I took the easy route, headed off towards Clevedon and wandered round a bit there feeling uninspired. The most significant thing about this ride was something you only see when your training is mostly on country roads.  I came scooting around a corner on Monument Road and there was a significant obstacle.  Cows all over the road.  Ok I thought, they are just crossing I will wait for a car to push through and follow it. Well it turned out that from my low vant
Read more