Cyclical Cyclist

Wow...it's been quite some time again...hasn't it. But I warned you about that.

I might have some big news in the next one - two weeks...some real earth shattering, you should take a seat before reading it...news. But we won't get ahead of ourselves.

Give or take two months ago...I was very unfortunate...I ran into (no pun intended) my first snag in my work-out regiment. I did a very hard weekend of riding...72 miles followed by 60 miles and then a day of light running to "loosen" up. I did not do much stretching; but what the hell...I barely ever stretch. The next night came and I "felt" it...something was weird in my achilles...I ran my 5 miles and then it wasn't just a feeling...it was PAIN. The rest of the week was tough walking and I took the entire week off. That was a mistake in itself as you should never go from full sprint to dead stop...even though it was necessary, I should have done something to get my body loose. I tightened up so much I thought my hamstrings were going to *POP* just standing upright.

Without going through the entire details of things...It took me about two weeks to get into Physical Therapy, to get an ultrasound, and start the recovery process...so what was it? First thoughts were Achilles Tendinitis...but after the ultrasound we got some good news - the Achilles was intact and looked very good actually. The muscle below though, was slightly torn...so it is still considered Tendenitis...but that prognosis is much better.

I was really bummed at first - why does this have to happen to me...why does this have to happen to me NOW?! So close to the Triathlon that I have been putting in hard hours for...but I saw the silver lining...It gave me reason to put in more biking and more swimming. I have done a lot more biking, the swimming...well the swimming is not so great. In other biking new - I have done a few more Time Trials and was planning on doing a Crit this weekend; but the rain looks like it will nix that one.

So now I have been consistent with PT (3 times a week) and have been seeing really positive results. I am running around three times a week and up to 2 1/2 miles...doesn't seem like much; but when you are feeling NO pain...none of the excruciating pain that you felt a month ago on an easy run...that is positive. I will be smart, build up my mileage and then bring my pace down...I don't feel like I have lost too much because of the biking. I have been doing a 7:00 minute pace for my runs lately, which is fine for me.

Other than that...I need to focus on STRETCHING...before and definetly after...more warming up and more dynamic stuff....so that's that.

Just a minor bump in my road...but well on my way to getting on track again.