Big Weekend Leads to Big Problems

This last weekend was a big deal for me. Not only was it big volume (37 miles biking + 5k run Sat., and 18 miles running Sun.), but it felt pretty good. All except a little foot issue that I have been experiencing during my long runs. Sunday was a really good run. Muscularly, cardiovascularly I felt great. I felt like I could have gone 20+ miles if my FOOT wouldn't have bothered me. It wasn't even the foot that I was worried about. Over the past few weeks I have been struggling with pretty intense foot pain post run, and more recently during the runs. My right foot has hurt the most. I've been to my chiropractor who also specializes in sports medicine and foot problems, and he says that its basically extremely tight tissue, built up over years and years of trauma (i.e. training). Well, I guess it never decided to manifest into anything painful until I tried my hand at 15+ miles.

So, this last Sunday I was feeling pretty good, I wanted to test my feet, so I ran 18 miles ;) My right foot felt great! No pain or anything, not even the day after. My left foot...another story. Around mile 13 it started to hurt, I was able to finish. I probably should have stopped when I first felt it, but I'm stubborn and was not about to drop out of another long run while my running buddy finished the run. Well, I finished. Now I am experiencing the worst pain yet....on the positive side, it is only one foot....

Prognosis is that I have pretty severe lateral fasciitis. My chiro is doing more work on my legs and foot. I guess the deep tissue in my calves and lower leg are really bound up, and this translates down the leg into the foot causing tightness and pain. I'm hoping for positive results, and am seriously considering going to regular massage therapy, at least until I get through this Ironman.

I'm not bummed. Its not like I'm having this problem with 2 weeks to go before the big race. It does put a big question mark on the marathon I was hoping to do, but I'm leaving my options open. If I don't see significant improvement in a week to two weeks I won't do the marathon. I certainly won't be doing any long runs until I am confident that I can do them pain free.

Another positive...it doesn't hurt to swim or bike, so I will be seeing a fair share of the road and the lovely black line in the pool a little more than usual.

"Pain is just weakness leaving the body"

Warmer Weather...Time to Get Serious

Warm weather is invading the UP! It's been awesome. Did you know that at this time last year I was only just buying my bike, and then it was a whole month before I took it out on the road. The unseasonably warm weather has been great. I've already been out on 3 rides, but that 3 could easily be 10.

That brings up another issue I've been dealing with. I am struggling to meet my planned weekly volume. Actually last week I did meet the planned hours (12.5 hrs), but that was with a little help of "swim week." This week I was supposed to do 15 hours, and if I complete what I have planned for the next couple of days I will only get 10. Now, if you know me, you know that I am serious about my training right now. I need to get more serious though. Its always hard to continue doing the everyday thing, continue socializing with friends, AND workout the equivalent of 2+ hours a day (and with a recovery day in there, its more on the + than the 2 side).

Here is the kicker....I have yet to regularly work out in the mornings. I don't hate the mornings, I consider myself a morning person, but when it comes to getting up even one hour earlier than I am used to is really difficult, especially when I don't change the time when I go to bed. This is what I mean about getting more serious. I don't think you NEED to do the volume I'm doing to train for an Ironman. I think that keeping the daily volume around 10 hours a week is good enough if you train efficiently and smartly. But I really want to try training at a high volume that you commonly see in elite athletes. The other worry I have about not meeting my planned volume is that I am not always following the periodization plan that I have set up for myself. Basically, I did 12.5 hours last week, this week is supposed to be 15 this week and 16.5 next week. This progression is there for a reason. I am worried that messing around with that progression will ultimately lead to not achieving me peak fitness I would have gotten if I had followed it.

But wait! Don't get worried about me just yet (because I know you are...). I still have time to get back on track. Its obviously been hard, especially since this has been the hardest semester of my life in school, but I only have another month of craziness before....wait....I forgot it doesn't get easier for me :( So, the only thing to do is suck it up, get my butt up in the morning and do the best with the time that I have. Even if I don't get the best training out this year, it has already been leaps and bounds ahead of what I've done in the past. That means that I will be making leaps and bounds in fitness. The Ironman is the goal for this year. I am not trying to qualify for anything this year, and I'm not trying to win any races (well maybe one...). I can live with not being in the theoretical "peak" shape my training plan is designed for. This year is my year of training long, logging big volumes, and trying to improve my overall endurance. I am excited about the future if I am able to make big improvements in these areas. What you need to know is that this Ironman year is only the first stepping block into some big plans I have in the next few years. This is what keeps me going, and what will help me get up in the mornings. That, and the warm weather!

Keep training, stay motivated! The best part of the year is just around the corner!