Looks like there will be a surgery in the off season...bummer. I have some sort of sports hernia in my lower left abdominal/groinal region (aka where my left leg connects to my pelvis). But on the bright side, at least there's an explanation for this pain, and once I have the surgery it should go away; so there's an end in sight. It's going to be quite a challenge scheduling this because as a teacher I really can't miss work. I'm thinking of having it done right before winter break. That will give me 2 weeks to recover and I shouldn't miss any school. Although it does kill any fun I want to have over Christmas vacation... I guess a relaxing break could be nice... We'll see. I am meeting with a surgeon Monday to get the full prognosis and schedule things. I'll check back in after that. I do have copies of my MRI on my computer, but I can't figure out what anything is haha. Hopefully after I meet with the doc I'll be able to post a picture of what is actually going on.
On a brighter note - Tatnall won the conference championship again this year. A great race on a beautiful course yesterday. Both girls and boys teams won (both varsity and jv races). Of the all conference runners, I think we had 12 runners and there are only 16 spots. In about 10 days is the New Castle County Championship meet. They have an open 5k before the kids race, so I'll probably do that. Last year I ran 18:55, so I'll be trying to better that. It is a tough course, and I haven't been running a lot because of my classes, but I have been doing a LOT of speedwork compared to what I am used to. We'll see how it goes!
¡Hasta pronto!
Do great work.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Thoughts on Kona
This past Saturday (**2 Saturdays ago now) was wonderful. I went down to XC practice in the morning and got back just in time for the prerace coverage of the Ironman World Championship, which I watched streaming on ironmanlive.com for probably 6+ hours. Maddy was out of town visiting friends, but that meant I could lie around and watch IM alllll day.
To state the obvious right off the bat, what an amazing race! I just couldn't turn away. I love how effortlessly Andy Potts pulls away in the swim. Sure, he swims alone, and it's lonely leading a race that early, but he needs to play to his strengths. When he got passed just a couple miles into the bike I expected Andreas to make a push. Although being with the front group, he never really surged... Most shocking on the bike had to be Crowie actually riding with the front pack! Who knew he could do that??!! Maybe it's the new Specialized Shiv, or maybe he just had a bone to pick with everyone who read Macca's book "I'm Here to Win", in which he flat out says Crowie can't ride. Quite an impressive feat. On the women's side of the race, holy shit Julie Dibbens! When she came off the bike 20+ minutes in front of Chrissie and Rinnie I didn't think they had a chance to catch her. She could run 50(ish) seconds per mile slower than those girls and still stroll across the line first. Unfortunately, between pushing too hard and some foot problems she dropped out of the marathon. As IM athletes/enthusiasts/fans we know the race is really won and lost on the marathon. And what a marathon it was. The men's race was tight. The women's race was was tight. Neither winner posted the fastest run split (but they were close), nor were they leading off the bike.
Macca made an interesting point in his book, which I just finished reading, that in 2010 Andreas spent so much energy just reaching Macca that by the time he got there he had already reached his goal and had to recalculate how much energy he needed to get across the line first. That's where Macca won. I didn't see that happening this year. I thought Raelert was going to hold that 6:00min/mile pace through the whole thing. Unfortunately for him, Crowie was just too strong. It's absolutely incredible what those guys and girls do.
Maddy actually called me and started watching the end up in NYC. I love that she has developed an interest (even if it is just to humor me) and knows all the big names. I got teary toward the end of the race just thinking about what Crowie and Chrissie were able to do. Listening to them speak was what pushed me over the edge because of how humble and truly human they are. If somehow you missed it, Universal Sports still has the FULL 18 hours of coverage up on their website to watch, if you're interested (watch here!). I'll probably go back and watch some of it before it airs on NBC in December. Something unbelievable is that it's being broadcast tomorrow (**some time last week) in Australia according to Crowie's facebook page. The US has got to get a quicker turn around and start feeding all those crazy IM addicts in the states. We also, as a country, need to start developing better feeding programs and valuing the sport to become more competitive at international competitions....but more on that another day.
So during this week of non-stop IMWC thinking, I've come to the re-realization that I MUST get there some day. It kind of stinks that most athletes that get to Kona by finishing in the top 3-5% of their race end up in the 50th percentile in Kona, but it's an experience that I need to have in my life. It's hard to sit back and say I won't go after it asap, but I need to take care of other things first. The bottom line, I'll get there.
Some interesting info I picked up through reading articles, watching clips/interviews, and listening to a couple podcasts with regards to Kona... If you complete 12 full IM's you're automatically accepted to race KONA! (23ish minutes in KonaPodCast). Now the compromise is that it might not be the very next year. It could take quite a few years for WTC to get everyone in. But even still, it's great to know that those spending sooo much time, energy, and money on ironman will have the chance to race the big island. I would never just enter the lottery. That's not how I want to make it there. But if for some reason I just can't get a qualifying slot, it would make me feel better knowing that I earned it by racing enough to get in.
That's all for now. More coming soon. MRI on my possible sports hernia Wednesday.
To state the obvious right off the bat, what an amazing race! I just couldn't turn away. I love how effortlessly Andy Potts pulls away in the swim. Sure, he swims alone, and it's lonely leading a race that early, but he needs to play to his strengths. When he got passed just a couple miles into the bike I expected Andreas to make a push. Although being with the front group, he never really surged... Most shocking on the bike had to be Crowie actually riding with the front pack! Who knew he could do that??!! Maybe it's the new Specialized Shiv, or maybe he just had a bone to pick with everyone who read Macca's book "I'm Here to Win", in which he flat out says Crowie can't ride. Quite an impressive feat. On the women's side of the race, holy shit Julie Dibbens! When she came off the bike 20+ minutes in front of Chrissie and Rinnie I didn't think they had a chance to catch her. She could run 50(ish) seconds per mile slower than those girls and still stroll across the line first. Unfortunately, between pushing too hard and some foot problems she dropped out of the marathon. As IM athletes/enthusiasts/fans we know the race is really won and lost on the marathon. And what a marathon it was. The men's race was tight. The women's race was was tight. Neither winner posted the fastest run split (but they were close), nor were they leading off the bike.
Macca made an interesting point in his book, which I just finished reading, that in 2010 Andreas spent so much energy just reaching Macca that by the time he got there he had already reached his goal and had to recalculate how much energy he needed to get across the line first. That's where Macca won. I didn't see that happening this year. I thought Raelert was going to hold that 6:00min/mile pace through the whole thing. Unfortunately for him, Crowie was just too strong. It's absolutely incredible what those guys and girls do.
Maddy actually called me and started watching the end up in NYC. I love that she has developed an interest (even if it is just to humor me) and knows all the big names. I got teary toward the end of the race just thinking about what Crowie and Chrissie were able to do. Listening to them speak was what pushed me over the edge because of how humble and truly human they are. If somehow you missed it, Universal Sports still has the FULL 18 hours of coverage up on their website to watch, if you're interested (watch here!). I'll probably go back and watch some of it before it airs on NBC in December. Something unbelievable is that it's being broadcast tomorrow (**some time last week) in Australia according to Crowie's facebook page. The US has got to get a quicker turn around and start feeding all those crazy IM addicts in the states. We also, as a country, need to start developing better feeding programs and valuing the sport to become more competitive at international competitions....but more on that another day.
So during this week of non-stop IMWC thinking, I've come to the re-realization that I MUST get there some day. It kind of stinks that most athletes that get to Kona by finishing in the top 3-5% of their race end up in the 50th percentile in Kona, but it's an experience that I need to have in my life. It's hard to sit back and say I won't go after it asap, but I need to take care of other things first. The bottom line, I'll get there.
Some interesting info I picked up through reading articles, watching clips/interviews, and listening to a couple podcasts with regards to Kona... If you complete 12 full IM's you're automatically accepted to race KONA! (23ish minutes in KonaPodCast). Now the compromise is that it might not be the very next year. It could take quite a few years for WTC to get everyone in. But even still, it's great to know that those spending sooo much time, energy, and money on ironman will have the chance to race the big island. I would never just enter the lottery. That's not how I want to make it there. But if for some reason I just can't get a qualifying slot, it would make me feel better knowing that I earned it by racing enough to get in.
That's all for now. More coming soon. MRI on my possible sports hernia Wednesday.
Monday, October 10, 2011
16.4 mile run today
Only it wasn't me that did it! Maddy is ROCKING her training for the Philly marathon. I ran about 10 miles with her and I was cooked. By mile 7 her heel had a blister that burst and started bleeding through her socks. It didn't stop her. My legs were very fatigued by mile 9... Mad on the other hand looked just as strong finishing as she did on the first part of the run. I couldn't be more proud of her. And she still manages to look beautiful after 16+ miles - pretty impressive...
The weather has made things easier. It was beautiful today and yesterday with weather feeling more like early September than October. We also have to think good ol' Cristobal Colon, aka Christopher Columbus, for giving us the day off. It was wonderful not having to work today.
On the wedding front, we spoke to a wedding photographer today. None other than my training buddy David. An awesome triathlete with a 4:19 HIM personal best. As it turns out he's pretty good with a camera as well. Looks like almost everything that we need to do is done (or at least getting done).
I managed to get to the doctor today also. I'm scheduling an MRI some time soon to get this whole sports hernia thing all figured out. The orthopedist I saw today thinks that is likely what it is.
If you think it's odd that I haven't touched on the Ironman World Championships in Kona this weekend, that's understandable. Yes, I watched. Yes, I have lots to say. And yes, it's coming in a future post. I wanted to give Maddy the spotlight tonight because I am so proud of her. I can't wait to cheer her on during the marathon. She's right on track to have an amazing first 26.2.
The weather has made things easier. It was beautiful today and yesterday with weather feeling more like early September than October. We also have to think good ol' Cristobal Colon, aka Christopher Columbus, for giving us the day off. It was wonderful not having to work today.
On the wedding front, we spoke to a wedding photographer today. None other than my training buddy David. An awesome triathlete with a 4:19 HIM personal best. As it turns out he's pretty good with a camera as well. Looks like almost everything that we need to do is done (or at least getting done).
I managed to get to the doctor today also. I'm scheduling an MRI some time soon to get this whole sports hernia thing all figured out. The orthopedist I saw today thinks that is likely what it is.
If you think it's odd that I haven't touched on the Ironman World Championships in Kona this weekend, that's understandable. Yes, I watched. Yes, I have lots to say. And yes, it's coming in a future post. I wanted to give Maddy the spotlight tonight because I am so proud of her. I can't wait to cheer her on during the marathon. She's right on track to have an amazing first 26.2.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
How long does it last??
Over the past week or so I've really stopped feeling like an ironman... I guess the title doesn't go away, but for me feeling like an ironman is more fulfilling than actually being an ironman. Pride of previous accomplishments can really only bring me so far, I guess. Part of this feeling comes from the insane loss of fitness I've been experiencing over the past couple weeks. With everything on my plate right now I've only been running 2-3 times per week, and that's literally all the exercising I've been doing. I went on a 50 minute hilly tempo run on Monday and it almost killed me. Quite a change from my IM training routine - a sad change. Telling people I'm tired and worn out seems way cooler when I say "I'm training for an ironman". Saying I'm in graduate school, working full time, and coaching just doesn't get the same response...
Enough moping though. Other things are good. IM World Championships are this weekend, which has gotten me back in a good mood since I started writing this post a couple days back. I'm betting on Andreas for the men and Chrissie for the women. I think it will be an epic battle in both races as Crowie and Marino will definitely push the pace, but I think Andreas is just too good. In the women's race I'm envisioning a 2010 ironwar-esque run chase. Chrissie will come off the bike first, but Rinnie is fast (she does hold the Kona marathon record I believe). I see her catching Chrissie, but Chrissie is just too strong, and she will pull away in the end. But you never know what will happen. I watched some GREAT clips of Crowie (training day- watch this), which get me thinking he might be strong enough to get his 3rd Kona win. And not that I'm comparing myself to Chrissie Wellington, but her recent crash she might be hurting a little bit come Saturday. When I got knocked off my bike 1 week before my only 70.3 this year I definitely felt it on race day.
I also can't help but think about what life would be like if I had just worked on my swim a little bit more this past year. 5minutes 24seconds is what separated me from a Kona slot. That's not a lot of time over 140.6 miles. I can't and won't always look back wondering, but right now I have to wonder a little bit...
Lastly a little update on the wedding front - we have our place, we have our date, Mad has her dress, I bought a tux, dj and photog are in the works...things are moving along quite quickly. All is good.
Anyway, that's about all I have for now. Happy training, happy fall, just be happy in whatever you're doing.
Enough moping though. Other things are good. IM World Championships are this weekend, which has gotten me back in a good mood since I started writing this post a couple days back. I'm betting on Andreas for the men and Chrissie for the women. I think it will be an epic battle in both races as Crowie and Marino will definitely push the pace, but I think Andreas is just too good. In the women's race I'm envisioning a 2010 ironwar-esque run chase. Chrissie will come off the bike first, but Rinnie is fast (she does hold the Kona marathon record I believe). I see her catching Chrissie, but Chrissie is just too strong, and she will pull away in the end. But you never know what will happen. I watched some GREAT clips of Crowie (training day- watch this), which get me thinking he might be strong enough to get his 3rd Kona win. And not that I'm comparing myself to Chrissie Wellington, but her recent crash she might be hurting a little bit come Saturday. When I got knocked off my bike 1 week before my only 70.3 this year I definitely felt it on race day.
I also can't help but think about what life would be like if I had just worked on my swim a little bit more this past year. 5minutes 24seconds is what separated me from a Kona slot. That's not a lot of time over 140.6 miles. I can't and won't always look back wondering, but right now I have to wonder a little bit...
Lastly a little update on the wedding front - we have our place, we have our date, Mad has her dress, I bought a tux, dj and photog are in the works...things are moving along quite quickly. All is good.
Anyway, that's about all I have for now. Happy training, happy fall, just be happy in whatever you're doing.
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