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Monthly Summary – October 2009

Here’s October:

Swim: 16,513 yards
Cycling (outdoors): 31.3 miles
Cycling (indoors): 3:20 (hours)
Run: 161.05 miles
Strength Training: 5 sessions

Approximate monthly total training/racing time: 38 hours

Weight: 165.5

So… it was a really good 24 days. I’m withholding judgment on the last seven days of the month for a few more days, until I figure out what’s going on with my achilles.

For the first 24 days, I ran my ass off, including runs of 18, 22 and 27 miles, 3 others of more than 10 miles and speedwork at the track once a week. I was feeling strong and running and recovering really well. Then, after last Saturday’s 27 mile run, my right achilles started bothering me. The good news is that other than last Sunday morning when I tried running, it hasn’t “hurt” at all. Sometimes it has felt a little tight and when I tried testing it on Wednesday with an easy run, I had to stop about 12 minutes in because I could feel it getting tight. So, other than that little “test”, I took a full week off from running. That sucked. And what sucks the most is that I have no real way of predicting whether taking a week, or two, or whatever, off will cure it. In addition to taking time off, I got a massage from Scott, did a ton of self-massage with the Trigger Point gear, got acupuncture from Eileen, did regular eccentric calf raises, took some naproxen, used some herbal anti-inflammatory supplements and topical creams, used some Kinesio Tape (picture below) that Rom gave me and kept my fingers crossed all week!

After Wednesday’s failed run, I decided I would try again today. I ran this morning, and I ran pain- and tightness-free. Granted, I only ran 3.25 miles, and I did it really slowly and on a totally flat course, and I was thinking about my achilles the entire time. But I still ran. After I got home, I stretched the hell out of my achilles and calves, did some eccentric calf exercises, iced and rolled-out my calves with the Trigger Point quadballer and massage ball.

That’s my deal. For now, I’m sticking with my race plans. As long as there aren’t any more major set-backs, I should be able to at least get through the races. I might not race as fast or as well as I’d hoped, but I wasn’t going to win anyway; finishing these tough races was definitely the key goal all along. If my achilles does flare up again tonight or this week, then I guess I’ll have to do some reevaluation.

Not running or cycling long today gave me a lot of extra hours. I slept in and then carved our pumpkin for tonight’s trick-or-treating.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Swim – October 26
Distance: 2,734 yards (2,500 meters)
Time: 48 minutes

Strength/core – October 26

Swim – October 29
Distance: 3,500 yards (3,200 meters)
Time: 1:09

Indoor ride – October 30
Time: 1:00

Run – October 31
Distance: 3.25 miles
Time: 27 minutes
Course: Neighborhood
Conditions: Sunny and nice (mid-60s)