The Injury Evasion Fandango

Not my favorite dance.

As I may have said before, I'm so used to worrying about my bad hip, that I've forgotten that it's possible for me to get injured elsewhere. So far in tri training I've lumbered through sore calves, pain in my left Achilles, creaky knees and, most recently, a muscle strain in my left quadriceps. Not too bad. There's ways to treat and even avoid injuries, but my moves are a little rusty. Always warm up slow and then stretch before any speed work. Stretch after each workout for a good 15 minutes, hitting all muscle groups. Ice anything that aches, 3 times a day for 20 minutes. Take ibuprofen sparingly, but take it when needed. Rest when you have to. I know the steps, but they no longer come as second nature. I've been cutting corners all over the place, stepping on toes and, frankly, it's starting to show.

Muscle tightness was never a problem for me before, but this week, the physical therapist showed me how I was bound up all over the place. He stretched me and kneaded out the knots and adhesions in my legs (quite painfully, I might add), showed me some stretches to do on my own, gave me ultrasound and cold laser therapy (that's a new one to me), taped me up and sent me on my merry way.

I feel much better.

Yesterday evening, I went on a tentative run and felt pretty good. I got in about 3 slow miles and felt like I could have kept going, but I wanted to stay safe. We've got a practice triathlon tomorrow.

This morning I rose early (for me) to swim the cove at 7:15. It was a perfect day. The sun hadn't yet breached the hills to the east when I got there, making the smooth water look like green glass. At the quarter-mile buoy, I turned and saw that the moon was still setting in the western sky. I felt balanced and calm, floating between the sun, which had risen behind me, and the moon in front. This is why I got up in the morning. This is the moment I love best in ocean swimming-- pausing for a few minutes in the middle, head bobbing just above the water line, to float under that great, big sky.

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Practice triathlon tomorrow at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, if anyone wants to come cheer me on. Gun goes off at 7:30 am. With luck I'll be done before 9.

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In fundraising news, Adams Avenue Bicycles in University Heights has been kind enough to put together an open house for us on Thursday, March 19th from 7 - 9 pm. There will be discounted gear and 10% of the night's proceeds will go to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, so grab your friends and come on down. Details are:

Adams Avenue Bicycles Open House to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Thursday, March 19th, 7PM - 9PM

Open to everyone with discounts on selected items

Adams Avenue Bicycles
http://www.aabikes.net/
* 2606 Adams Avenue
* San Diego, CA 92116
* (619) 295-8500

10% of proceeds will be donated to Team In Training to help find a cure for blood cancers.

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and, as always, my training summary:

Day 59 of training: (Thursday - easy bike ride)
Group rides: 3
Solo rides: 9
Resistance training: 4
Spin classes: 9
Pool Swims: 11
Maintenance Runs: 15
Ocean Swims: 10
Track/speed run workouts: 5
Bike/Run Bricks: 3

Day 60 of training: (Saturday - Iron Mountain bike ride)
Group rides: 4
Solo rides: 9
Resistance training: 4
Spin classes: 9
Pool Swims: 11
Maintenance Runs: 15
Ocean Swims: 10
Track/speed run workouts: 5
Bike/Run Bricks: 3

Day 61 of training: (Sunday - Pool warm up and drills)
Group rides: 4
Solo rides: 9
Resistance training: 4
Spin classes: 9
Pool Swims: 12
Maintenance Runs: 15
Ocean Swims: 10
Track/speed run workouts: 5
Bike/Run Bricks: 3

Day 62 of training: (Monday - 1.5 mile ocean swim)
Group rides: 4
Solo rides: 9
Resistance training: 4
Spin classes: 9
Pool Swims: 12
Maintenance Runs: 15
Ocean Swims: 11
Track/speed run workouts: 5
Bike/Run Bricks: 3

Day 63 of training: (Wednesday - spin class)
Group rides: 4
Solo rides: 9
Resistance training: 4
Spin classes: 10
Pool Swims: 12
Maintenance Runs: 15
Ocean Swims: 11
Track/speed run workouts: 5
Bike/Run Bricks: 3

Day 64 of training: (Thursday - short run)
Group rides: 4
Solo rides: 9
Resistance training: 4
Spin classes: 10
Pool Swims: 12
Maintenance Runs: 16
Ocean Swims: 11
Track/speed run workouts: 5
Bike/Run Bricks: 3

Day 65 of training: (Friday - 0.75 mile ocean swim)
Group rides: 4
Solo rides: 9
Resistance training: 4
Spin classes: 10
Pool Swims: 12
Maintenance Runs: 16
Ocean Swims: 12
Track/speed run workouts: 5
Bike/Run Bricks: 3