Blog

ugh.

I woke up this morning and it felt like I’d slept funny on my left hip.

Unfortunately, I knew that sleeping strangely wasn’t the cause. Shoot. I should have totally seen this coming. First it was my low back, then my foot, then my hip. I’m sure that during one or more of last week’s runs, I was compensating for my sore foot and put some unusual pressure on my something in my left leg which has led to this. Serves me right. I tried taking it easy and did skip a run (or two?), but doing my long run on Saturday was probably unnecessary and foolish. My hip – right where the boniest point sticks out – was achy today whenever I walked. Up stairs was the worst. This morning it felt more like muscular pain (which would have been a great thing), but by the end of the day, it was more in the joint, which seems like tendon to me. Whatever. I guess I just need time off.

I skipped my scheduled run today (obviously), but there was no way I was just going to skip working out altogether. Instead, I took a nice, easy yoga class at the gym. Stretching can’t hurt, right? The class was actually great. It certainly wasn’t the same type of workout that I’m used to, but it was nice to sweat a little and not worry too much about my hip – and maybe even do it some good. A few years ago I actually used to take yoga classes two or three times a week and really enjoyed it. Then I found triathlon and just plain couldn’t squeeze it in timewise. I’m going to try to get in more often this fall and winter, even after my hip is healed.

I have definitely learned another lesson about the Ironman. I can take time to recover, but it needs to be a more “active” recovery than I did this year. I can’t spend three weeks getting used to taking it easy and then think that I’m going to come back and have a strong second half to the season. I got too “soft” and (a) probably caused this injury and (b) got out of the game mentally. There’s no question that I needed a break, but I’m feeling now that I overdid even that! Live and learn.

As I keep reminding myself, November 17 is still a long ways off. A little break here isn’t going to hurt that race. What it does “hurt” though is my psychological well-being. I’m already going a little crazy with these 6-7 hour training weeks. If I have to be careful and can’t run, what the f- am I going to do with myself?!?! The other big bummer is that I’m headed to Denver on business tomorrow and I was really getting excited to get in some running out there. Now, I’ll have to play that by ear.

Swim – August 24
Distance: 2,400 yards
Time: 40 minutes

Run – August 25
Distance: 10.5 miles
Time: 1:27:35
Average heart rate: 160
Course: West Side Highway
Conditions: Sunny, humid and way to friggin’ hot! (low 90’s)

Run – August 26
Distance: 3 miles
Time: 25 minutes
Average heart rate: 142
Course: Greenwich Village
Conditions: Comfortably hot (low 80s), sunny, not as humid

Bike – August 26
Distance: 22.6 miles
Time: 1:18
Average heart rate: 123
Course: West Side Highway to Central Park (2 loops)
Conditions: Comfortably hot (low 80s), partly cloudy, not as humid

Yoga – August 27