Behind on Things

As my training hours continue to slowly inch up, my time available for other things must decrease, including posting to the blog.

I am not running this week. Last week I was experiencing hamstring issues, but still able to run (or so I thought). Last Thursday I headed out to do a nice, easy long run of 2 hours (a rest week, you know), and was running just fine for about 7 1/2 miles, and then the top of my right foot (same side as the hamstring) began to hurt when landing. I am pretty good at managing pain, but after about a mile and a half of toughing it out, I caved and walked home (about 3 miles). It didn't hurt so much to walk. Due to this, I decided I was done running for the week.

I only swam 6650 last Friday, again in honor of a rest week, although I had wanted to get in 7000. Instead, I spent a bit of time socializing with someone I hadn't seen in months, and it was worth it. Saturday I did 3 hours on the trainer, and took Sunday completely off. Rest week completed, coming in at 15 hours.

This past Monday I attempted running, but in less than 1/4 mile, my foot hurt so much I quit. I figured it was time to take a week off from running, but I hadn't yet formulated whether I would sub in elliptical or something else for it.

Tuesday I went to see the foot ortho, who took X-rays, ruling out any bone issues, and based on my symptomatology, notified me that I needed orthotics, which is what I was hoping would happen. I have Morton's foot, which means my second metatarsals are longer than the first, and it creates all sorts of problems. I had running orthotics but they were old and besides I trashed them last fall at North Face. Still, I had been trying to wean myself off them, thinking I should be able to do without. Well, I guess not!

The jury is out as to whether the foot caused the upstream issues in my hamstring and back. I had noticed something out of whack in my back a few weeks ago, but was able to address that just fine. I think I may have just overstretched my hamstring, and then the foot thing changed my stride and made it worse. My new orthotics don't arrive for a few weeks, so I will be trying a few interim measures to see if I can get back to running next week. Or perhaps I will just tough it out on the elliptical.

After my Doctor visit, I decided I would bike and swim more this week and just let the running muscles rest, which should be good for my back and hamstring (and foot!). I finished all my swimming for the week already, and came in at 17,000 yards. I did 3 on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and 8,000 today. Not bad, although I should have swam on Tuesday, too, but I just didn't want to get out of bed and opted for more sleep. I biked Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and my TSS so far is the same as for all the time I biked last week! The plan for the weekend is to ride 4 hours Saturday and 3 on Sunday or some combination that adds up to 7+ hours. Saturday is supposed to be the warmer day, which would be good for outdoor riding, except I need to be done by about 1PM and it won't be very warm during those hours, so it may be trainer both days. But you know what? I don't even care. I have gotten to the point where I just motor away on the trainer watching (or should I say glancing at every few minutes) whatever sport is on Universal Sports and get my time in. I have bottles already fixed for both days.

If I get in 7 hours of biking this weekend, that will put me at about 19 hours for the week without running, so that will have to be enough. At least I will have my first high mileage biking week!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can fix all my right side issues in the next 1-2 weeks. Since I can bike and swim, all is good there, and I can still ramp up running for UMC in like 12 weeks, so I am still OK. Of course, I am slightly worried at the same time, and I already miss running, mostly because it is just so easy to head out the door with maybe 1 bottle! Still, it was nice to know I could do all that swimming with minimal after-effects. While my traps and triceps were a little sore during today's swim, I recovered just fine from the effort and actually wish I would have time to swim over the weekend, too, but that won't be happening as there is now pressing yard work to be done!

Have a great weekend and keep moving!