Phil and I agreed on 2 x :30 trainer spins over the weekend as a good test for the health of my post-injection knee. It had been tender all week, exacerbated by running after planes, trains and automobiles Tuesday while carrying too much heavy stuff and wearing security-friendly shoes.
I woke up at 4 am Saturday, retreated with a book to the blue couch, telling myself it was too early though I was like a kid at Christmas wanting ride her new bike. Common sense prevailed and I read (Year of Wonders, by Pulitzer Prize winner Geraldine Brooks) and snoozed for a few hours.
So...armed with iPod and fortified by ginger-citrus nuun, I made my way downstairs around 6:30. I strapped on my shoes, mounted the bike, poked the big red start button on my heart rate monitor for the first time in months and...thump, thump, thump...whatever is that? Dang rear tire was flat. That's a new one. This bike has been not been outside since January. How is this possible? I messed around with the tube, the tire, the bike pump for about half an hour, but no air was going in that thing.
So...I checked out all of the usual places in an eager search for a 700 tube. None in the triathlon cabinet. Big goose egg on Mike's bike maintenance bench. False alarm when I found one in my commuter bag...but it was a 650, perfect for my Kestrel, which of course does not fit on the trainer. Ack! I had been so stoked for this workout.
I had a tighly choreographed day ahead, so I decided to use what little workout time I had left to do my usual sit up/crunch routine and spend some time on the Vasa trainer. Completing this but still feeling low, as I left the exercise room, my eye fell on...an innocently coiled 700 tube, that I had left on the ledge by the door after some autumn commute home from work.
I changed the tire (in less than 15 minutes, AND it held air!) and hoped I'd find time for a spin later, maybe during the basketball game?
In the end I was able to spin while Villanova stylishly smacked Pitt late Saturday afternoon. The 30 minutes were not hard from a cardio standpoint, but my knee remains tender. I hung beween 135 and 150 HR.
I spun again this morning. I was a little fatigued (I had about 12 hours of recovery -- could have used a little more but today is filled with other commitments) and my knee was tender again. I am icing now and it seems a little less mad than it was when I started typing this. My HR was about 5 beats lower than yesterday, but that is probably just the morning...my heart wakes up slower than the rest of me.
So...the jury is out. I am traveling Mon, Thur-Sun this week so the "ease in" will continue. Am hoping for a run along the bluff in Monterey but will have to keep it slow and short.
Of course I'd hoped to feel better by now. Time will tell.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Unhappy ND-ing
You heard it here second: I wish I was in Bismarck, ND right now.
I am really, really sorry for everyone in Bismarck whose basement looks like a swimming pool. I am also really, really sorry for the nice people I met in the Denver airport this afternoon who were booked on my (cancelled) Bismarck flight who had been trying to get there for a day and a half to see a newborn grandchild.
My own experience of trying to get the blizzardy, flooded capital of North Dakota was an annoyance, of course. But I had the option of flying home to a safe and warm place, awaited by the ever-yowling welcome of Betty the Cat. There's no place I'd rather be than in a basic motel room in Bismarck with Mike tonight, but being back in Seattle, surrounded by my creature comforts, is, well, lovely. Beats the fitful sleep many of the people I met today are experiencing right now across rows of seats at gate B80 in the Denver airport.
Here are some photos Mike took today.
Monday, March 23, 2009
So are you ready? Good. You're done.
That's what Dr. O'Kane said in the few seconds between the needle first entering my knee and when it was all said and done.
Talk about a nonevent. Thank goodness. He was sweet and I was a wimp. I am tough enough to swim 2.5 miles, ride 112, and run 26.2, but a slim little needle reduces me to a quivering mass of goo.
"You're shaking," he said, touching my shoulder reassuringly. Yeah...it's my low resting heart rate, hypoglycemia and aversion to needles. Oh, and I haven't had my coffee yet today. We joked about how heroin addicts only like to shoot themselves and fear needles from anyone else. Talk about irony. So I sat and read People Magazine and tried not to cry.
I emailed coach Phil (see photo and keep your eye-candy comments to yourself) asking that he manage my expectations and set me up with a re-entry strategy for the week of 3/30.
I am flying to Bismarck, ND in the morning to be part of a work thing of Mike's. I don't think there are triathlons in Bismarck. I think there is a pastry named after it, tho. I hope to swim at the Y. People say that it's like going back to the 50s. Will my Speedo Endurance suit cause a scandal? (I hope so.)
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Why I Heart March Madness
So are these the best three weeks of the year (except maybe the ones leading up to Christmas when you're five) or what?
Yesterday, Mike and I did our Saturday chores at warp speed so we could indulge in an afternoon and evening of heart and heartache. After watching Sienna (where in the world is that, anyway?) squeak past Ohio State on Friday night, we knew we were in for a treat as the tournament clicked into full bunny on the weekend.
OK, so where were the second half Huskies during the FIRST half against Purdue? Did you see that kid Thomas hoist the team on his back and do everything within his power to carry them home? A true freshman with more grace and poise in his 19-year-old thumb than I have in my whole 40-year-old body. Foul trouble made it a tough final game for Brockman, but he can finish his college career feeling good about his contributions in the second half. To be down by 14 and finish within 2 shows heart.
And then there was the Gonzaga buzzer beater from freshman Goodson...and the bar fight between Texas and Duke...I had planned to spin through a few of these games but I don't think my heart could take it. Plucky Syracuse plays Arizona State today. I hate to root against the Pac-10 but I'm making an exception.
When the final minutes tick off the clock during the close games, you see the guys on the bench link arms. It reminds you that these are boys not far from the playgrounds of their youth, not men yet. This is not NBA "I'm getting paid to be here" behavior. This is a game with high stakes, played by athletes with dreams. For a few of the athletes, the tournament is a means to an end -- stats summarized impressively for an NBA scout to read on a resume. But for others, the dream is just to be there, on that bench, on that court, in that arena.
I know in my athletic life, the gift is the journey. It's the happy/hard training days, the friendships, the small but meaningful improvements, the general esteem that comes from performing well. Sure, I like to win. But in the end, it's getting there that matters.
Some people say that half of an Ironman victory is getting to the starting line without injury. So far, I have not even managed that. Tomorrow, I am having the cortisone shot that will help decide whether or not I will.
Yesterday, Mike and I did our Saturday chores at warp speed so we could indulge in an afternoon and evening of heart and heartache. After watching Sienna (where in the world is that, anyway?) squeak past Ohio State on Friday night, we knew we were in for a treat as the tournament clicked into full bunny on the weekend.
OK, so where were the second half Huskies during the FIRST half against Purdue? Did you see that kid Thomas hoist the team on his back and do everything within his power to carry them home? A true freshman with more grace and poise in his 19-year-old thumb than I have in my whole 40-year-old body. Foul trouble made it a tough final game for Brockman, but he can finish his college career feeling good about his contributions in the second half. To be down by 14 and finish within 2 shows heart.
And then there was the Gonzaga buzzer beater from freshman Goodson...and the bar fight between Texas and Duke...I had planned to spin through a few of these games but I don't think my heart could take it. Plucky Syracuse plays Arizona State today. I hate to root against the Pac-10 but I'm making an exception.
When the final minutes tick off the clock during the close games, you see the guys on the bench link arms. It reminds you that these are boys not far from the playgrounds of their youth, not men yet. This is not NBA "I'm getting paid to be here" behavior. This is a game with high stakes, played by athletes with dreams. For a few of the athletes, the tournament is a means to an end -- stats summarized impressively for an NBA scout to read on a resume. But for others, the dream is just to be there, on that bench, on that court, in that arena.
I know in my athletic life, the gift is the journey. It's the happy/hard training days, the friendships, the small but meaningful improvements, the general esteem that comes from performing well. Sure, I like to win. But in the end, it's getting there that matters.
Some people say that half of an Ironman victory is getting to the starting line without injury. So far, I have not even managed that. Tomorrow, I am having the cortisone shot that will help decide whether or not I will.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Pool Cues
Greenlake Pool's closure has brought about a fun spate of puddle jumping. There are more terrific masters workouts in Seattle than you might expect, and it's fun to try out different pools from time to time. That said, there's no place like home.
MONDAY: MEADOWBROOK 6:30-7:30 PM
Even though it is located mere blocks from my house I typically avoid swimming at Meadowbrook. The water is just a nudge too warm, you can't count on the backstroke flags being up, and often the vibe is a little weird. I had a great experience there Monday night, however. I teamed up with two speedy women and we pushed ourselves fairly hard. The main set was a mind numbing 5 x 400 @ 6:00, which is the kind of workout I would be more likely to do alone as opposed to being in a group. It was much more fun with friends.
WEDNESDAY: MEADOWBROOK 6-7 AM
This is an honorable mention. Not a formal masters workout, but a decent lap swim opportunity. There was a guy in my lane that impressively swam nonstop butterfly for about an hour. He did not get out of the way for we faster folks but we worked it out.
FRIDAY: SEATTLE U 6:10-7:10 AM
I had a fair bit of trepidation about this workout, having had a really negative experience at Seattle U in the past (felt generally unwelcome and was amazed by how rude the other swimmers were -- leaving right on people's feet, cutting eachother down, etc.). Tatyana and Ruth encouraged me to give it a go, and man am I glad I did! Coach Emily did her best to make me feel at home (even gave me a free cap!!) and the workout was well constructed and smart. Loved the cool water temp. Tons of pink power in the lane with everyone rising to a pretty challenging pace. Main set was 5 x 250 @ 3:45. We were coming in on 3:15, give or take.
SUNDAY: QUEEN ANNE 9:30-11 AM
This workout got off to a shaky start but all went well in the end. Tatyana, Jan and I were dubbed the "Greenlakers" and were on the receiving end of some cranky "so are you taking over our lane, or what" kinds of comments during the warm up. I absolutely understand the territorial thing that comes with our swim routines and the "training community" each of us enjoys. There were just too many people in the lane. Once Tatyana and I moved over, things went better. We led the lane three times through a set of 6 desc 100s. I am afraid that we caused a little attrition in our new home, with the slower end of the lane moving down or leaving, but the rest of the group seemed to enjoy the challenge of raising the game a little. Compromise always comes into play when you've got a lot of people trying to get the most out of the pool time. The real benefit of this workout is the personal attention from Coach Ed who did not hesitate to make very helpful suggestions on my back and free. Rotate!
Judging the QA workout alongside the Helene Madison masters at 10:30-11:30, while equally challenging, I'd give Madison higher marks for its vibe but QA wins out for coaching (well constructed workout and 1:1 feedback). It also has the benefit of the extra half hour.
All in all, I swam well this week, my shoulder hurts less (thanks, Advil!) and my knee is...well...the same. Starting to think seriously about the cortisone on 3/23.
MONDAY: MEADOWBROOK 6:30-7:30 PM
Even though it is located mere blocks from my house I typically avoid swimming at Meadowbrook. The water is just a nudge too warm, you can't count on the backstroke flags being up, and often the vibe is a little weird. I had a great experience there Monday night, however. I teamed up with two speedy women and we pushed ourselves fairly hard. The main set was a mind numbing 5 x 400 @ 6:00, which is the kind of workout I would be more likely to do alone as opposed to being in a group. It was much more fun with friends.
WEDNESDAY: MEADOWBROOK 6-7 AM
This is an honorable mention. Not a formal masters workout, but a decent lap swim opportunity. There was a guy in my lane that impressively swam nonstop butterfly for about an hour. He did not get out of the way for we faster folks but we worked it out.
FRIDAY: SEATTLE U 6:10-7:10 AM
I had a fair bit of trepidation about this workout, having had a really negative experience at Seattle U in the past (felt generally unwelcome and was amazed by how rude the other swimmers were -- leaving right on people's feet, cutting eachother down, etc.). Tatyana and Ruth encouraged me to give it a go, and man am I glad I did! Coach Emily did her best to make me feel at home (even gave me a free cap!!) and the workout was well constructed and smart. Loved the cool water temp. Tons of pink power in the lane with everyone rising to a pretty challenging pace. Main set was 5 x 250 @ 3:45. We were coming in on 3:15, give or take.
SUNDAY: QUEEN ANNE 9:30-11 AM
This workout got off to a shaky start but all went well in the end. Tatyana, Jan and I were dubbed the "Greenlakers" and were on the receiving end of some cranky "so are you taking over our lane, or what" kinds of comments during the warm up. I absolutely understand the territorial thing that comes with our swim routines and the "training community" each of us enjoys. There were just too many people in the lane. Once Tatyana and I moved over, things went better. We led the lane three times through a set of 6 desc 100s. I am afraid that we caused a little attrition in our new home, with the slower end of the lane moving down or leaving, but the rest of the group seemed to enjoy the challenge of raising the game a little. Compromise always comes into play when you've got a lot of people trying to get the most out of the pool time. The real benefit of this workout is the personal attention from Coach Ed who did not hesitate to make very helpful suggestions on my back and free. Rotate!
Judging the QA workout alongside the Helene Madison masters at 10:30-11:30, while equally challenging, I'd give Madison higher marks for its vibe but QA wins out for coaching (well constructed workout and 1:1 feedback). It also has the benefit of the extra half hour.
All in all, I swam well this week, my shoulder hurts less (thanks, Advil!) and my knee is...well...the same. Starting to think seriously about the cortisone on 3/23.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
MRI and the Larger Why
Sorry for the long delay. After going off the deep end a bit on my last post, I decided to let the drama subside and wait until I had something sensible to say before coming back.
So here we are. Friday I had an MRI on my knee; today I received a reassuring interpretation that rules out all of the short term scary stuff as well as the monsters that may take up full time residence under the bed.
(Have you ever seen how your knees look from the inside? It's really cool. God has made us so beautifully.)
Unfortunately, there are still a number of questions. We spotted a collection of fluid beside/under my kneecap and the related inflammation, but nothing more worrisome. So...it's more ice, more ibuprofen, more rest...for another few days while I contemplate the future cortisone shot.
My extra swimming has also led to what seems to be tendonitis in my left shoulder, so the ibuprofen will be working double time.
As usual, the best part of the visit with Dr. O'Kane was the time spent on philosophical issues, as he encouraged me to explore the questions, motivations and metrics of the heart with respect to my athletic journey. More later on this, perhaps.
So here we are. Friday I had an MRI on my knee; today I received a reassuring interpretation that rules out all of the short term scary stuff as well as the monsters that may take up full time residence under the bed.
(Have you ever seen how your knees look from the inside? It's really cool. God has made us so beautifully.)
Unfortunately, there are still a number of questions. We spotted a collection of fluid beside/under my kneecap and the related inflammation, but nothing more worrisome. So...it's more ice, more ibuprofen, more rest...for another few days while I contemplate the future cortisone shot.
My extra swimming has also led to what seems to be tendonitis in my left shoulder, so the ibuprofen will be working double time.
As usual, the best part of the visit with Dr. O'Kane was the time spent on philosophical issues, as he encouraged me to explore the questions, motivations and metrics of the heart with respect to my athletic journey. More later on this, perhaps.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
(Shattered) Turn the Car Around
How many times can I break till I shatter?
Over the line can't define what I'm after
I always turn the car around
All that I feel is the realness I'm faking
Taking my time but it's time that I'm wasting
Always turn the car around.
Was it the power of suggestion as I was listening to OAR on the way to swim practice Tuesday morning, or maybe the fact that I couldn't fill my lungs with air? My whole body hurt. It didn't take much to realize that trying to swim in the condition I was in would yield no benefit. The U-turn on Greenlake Way brought me quickly home and into sleepy Mike's arms. It's no fun waking to your sobbing wife beside you but as always he knew what to say and do.
How the pain in my knee traveled in to my hips, rib cage and shoulders as I slept Monday night is a mystery. It took me a few days to shake it, but I'm getting there.
The latter part of the week was better. I swam Wed, Fri, Sat and Sun. Friday, I got my butt handed to me by the speedy Lane 4 crew. Saturday I redeemed myself a bit. Queen Anne Pool is closed, so my summer lake swimming friends Caroline, Rick, and Peter (and the gentle giant Bart who favors water polo to wetsuits) joined us at GLAD which was a fun surprise. Greenlake closes March 9-29 so maybe I'll return the favor and visit them at some point soon. Today I swam at Helene Madison, at a solid masters workout that Brett introduced me to awhile back. I think there were 9 of us in the lane at one point. Nuts.
Last night at a dinner party with old friends I was asked about my training. I pretended that everything is going according to plan with respect to the Ironman and said as much. Do you think if I keep saying it, believing it, that it will come true?
Another question line has crept into my mind lately. It goes like this: what if this knee thing really does go away in the next few weeks? Do I have the motivation to start from scratch? Will I be so tentative that the whole thing will be unsatisfying anyway? If I don't do the Ironman, won't our yard look nice this summer? Maybe we could do that dive trip to North Carolina in July? Or I could sign up to swim the Hellespont?
Clearly, I am overthinking things.
Sorry for the drama above.
Over the line can't define what I'm after
I always turn the car around
All that I feel is the realness I'm faking
Taking my time but it's time that I'm wasting
Always turn the car around.
Was it the power of suggestion as I was listening to OAR on the way to swim practice Tuesday morning, or maybe the fact that I couldn't fill my lungs with air? My whole body hurt. It didn't take much to realize that trying to swim in the condition I was in would yield no benefit. The U-turn on Greenlake Way brought me quickly home and into sleepy Mike's arms. It's no fun waking to your sobbing wife beside you but as always he knew what to say and do.
How the pain in my knee traveled in to my hips, rib cage and shoulders as I slept Monday night is a mystery. It took me a few days to shake it, but I'm getting there.
The latter part of the week was better. I swam Wed, Fri, Sat and Sun. Friday, I got my butt handed to me by the speedy Lane 4 crew. Saturday I redeemed myself a bit. Queen Anne Pool is closed, so my summer lake swimming friends Caroline, Rick, and Peter (and the gentle giant Bart who favors water polo to wetsuits) joined us at GLAD which was a fun surprise. Greenlake closes March 9-29 so maybe I'll return the favor and visit them at some point soon. Today I swam at Helene Madison, at a solid masters workout that Brett introduced me to awhile back. I think there were 9 of us in the lane at one point. Nuts.
Last night at a dinner party with old friends I was asked about my training. I pretended that everything is going according to plan with respect to the Ironman and said as much. Do you think if I keep saying it, believing it, that it will come true?
Another question line has crept into my mind lately. It goes like this: what if this knee thing really does go away in the next few weeks? Do I have the motivation to start from scratch? Will I be so tentative that the whole thing will be unsatisfying anyway? If I don't do the Ironman, won't our yard look nice this summer? Maybe we could do that dive trip to North Carolina in July? Or I could sign up to swim the Hellespont?
Clearly, I am overthinking things.
Sorry for the drama above.
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