So I found this article while I was reading work related content....be sure to know your heart health profile and know you're risks! Also be sure to practice your open water swim before the big day if you're a newbie. I plan to next month with the girls!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
xrays and other bad things....
So yes I am back from my conference, and while it went well, (no, I did not end up running in the hotel gym at all, shocker), I returned with major back, hip, and leg pain. Well, I was on my feet for 14 hours a day or more for 6 days straight, BUT this was worse than that would have caused. I've probably underplayed my pain issues on here b/c I didn't want to sound like a whiner (I've been doing enough of that in person), but I haven't seemed to make a lot of progress with running b/c of it...pain in my hips, feet, legs....which did get slightly better with the new fitted shoes but the kicker on this was the migraines I was getting that I swear start in my traps and work their way up my neck. So I've mentioned before that I have an autoimmune or "connective tissue" disease, which does make me have inflammation around my joints and even a little arthritis, but it's (knock on wood) minor compared to a lot of people with systemic diseases. I could tell this "flare up" was going down hill fast, and after an unproductive visit with my rheumatologist, ("stay the course on your medicine, blah blah blah") I decided I was desperate enough to try a chiropractor. (I've always kinda thought they were hokey....though I know some people are believers). So I chose a guy my insurance would cover based on the fact that his website indicated he takes a look at the whole picture- nutrition, illness, pain, nervous system. And I went, and I think I may be a believer even though I'm in terrible pain today after my first "adjustment". My xrays revealed some serious damage to my spine that's probably developed over a long time and (surprise!) has been causing progressive pain, and progressive decrease in range of motion. My neck is straight where it should be curved, and my back is excessively curved where it should be only slightly curved. My pelvis is literally twisted and my right hip is higher than my left hip. I also have THREE compressed (herniated) discs! yikes. If it sounds bad, it is. But at least I know that I'm not some crazy whining about pain that doesn't have a cause. I found (at least some) of the cause! And the chiro doc is all about the central nervous system and how my spinal issues could be affecting me- and that maybe some of my other symptoms could be alleviated if my spine gets better. wooo hooo I'm all for it. So, what does this mean for training? Well, he thinks if I follow all of the instructions, from physical to nutritional, I can still do the triathlon by the end of August. I have to go there everyday this week, 3 times a week for 4 weeks, 2 a week for 4 weeks, and so on. At 12 weeks they'll redo the exam and the xrays to see if it's working. Hopefully I can avoid the orthopedic doc if it starts working.
I taught spin last night (before I had this information) and tried to do a 5 K on the treadmill afterward. I ran 5 minutes before the pain made me walk, so I ended up walking two minutes, running three, walking, etc. By the time I got to mile 2, a weird sensation came over me and I literally couldn't run straight. I kinda started looking like this guy. All out of control. So from 2.4 to the end I walked. I stretched out really well and felt ok today. However, after being "adjusted" at the chiro tonight and then going to teach again, I'm in PAIN and all ice packed up. I'll be taking a week off to go to the beach next week but I will be trying to swim since that is something I can do without causing more damage. So we'll see. I'm determined to do this triathlon and I still plan to go up for the test run at the end of july (can't remember if I mentioned this yet, but basically you get to test out the swim and run course and they give you the rules, etiquitte, etc. for race day). Hopefully this "set back" will put me back on track to go even further, and improve my overall health. I'm still a wannabe triathlete for now but I know that this will take me a step closer to being a triathlete. I don't want to beat myself up too badly in the process!
I taught spin last night (before I had this information) and tried to do a 5 K on the treadmill afterward. I ran 5 minutes before the pain made me walk, so I ended up walking two minutes, running three, walking, etc. By the time I got to mile 2, a weird sensation came over me and I literally couldn't run straight. I kinda started looking like this guy. All out of control. So from 2.4 to the end I walked. I stretched out really well and felt ok today. However, after being "adjusted" at the chiro tonight and then going to teach again, I'm in PAIN and all ice packed up. I'll be taking a week off to go to the beach next week but I will be trying to swim since that is something I can do without causing more damage. So we'll see. I'm determined to do this triathlon and I still plan to go up for the test run at the end of july (can't remember if I mentioned this yet, but basically you get to test out the swim and run course and they give you the rules, etiquitte, etc. for race day). Hopefully this "set back" will put me back on track to go even further, and improve my overall health. I'm still a wannabe triathlete for now but I know that this will take me a step closer to being a triathlete. I don't want to beat myself up too badly in the process!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Cool New Tri Website
Check this out- two of my high school friends created a new site where you can read reviews of triathlons all over the country and read actual participants' ratings on various factors of the race- difficulty of each leg of the course, how well the race was organized, whether the price was fair, competitiveness, etc. You can see the overall rating and then read individual ratings and comments from past participants. Should come in handy when you're looking for a race that is right for you. Plus they have an area where people can post funny/crazy stories from their tri's...such a fun idea that keeps the whole thing social. The site, ratemytriathlon.com, is brought to you by two solid and experienced triathletes- one of whom was a Apprentice Season 6 contestant to boot- so you know it's gotta be good!
Busy Bee
Really I suck b/c I'm the worst blogger ever! And I'm the worst triathlon trainer so far....and the next week won't be too much better training wise b/c I'm off again to another business trip.
anyways, I have been doing some stuff....spinning twice a week and attempting to run....it's still more like a walk with some running thrown in at this point. I don't know how I'm going to make myself run but I'm going to have to get some major WILL soon.
So my friend who is an exercise sports science guy told me that I really needed to get fit for shoes. So, last week I went to a running store, Fleet Feet, and got "fitted" for shoes. Basically they measure you, then they watch you walk, then they measure some more, draw some marks on your feet with a pen, and then get you a pair of shoes and make you go outside and then they watch you run. Then based on what they see I guess with the first pair, they bring you out a ton of other pairs that fit the profile of what you do when you walk/run, and they are supposed to help you run better by making you more comfortable and hopefully causing less damage to your joints and stuff. I apparently am a crazy over pronat-or...meaning my foot turns and leans in. I can totally feel it happening, especially on my right foot. So I needed a moderate stabilizer for a shoe. Also, I found out I was wearing the totally WRONG size shoe- I have worn a 7.5 forever, sometimes an 8 in some heels....but for running shoes I need an 8.5! My feet are pretty small looking, but really the 8.5 felt SOOOO much better. When I put my 7.5 nikes back on after, I couldn't believe how UNCOMFORTABLE they suddenly felt. So I got a pair of Mizuno running shoes, and they were only $99! I was expecting to pay like $200, so I felt like I got a deal! But if you go get fit, be prepared to be in the store for at least an hour, and to try on like 12 pairs of shoes minimum.
So moving on, A, my friend who is doing the race with me, went to the race site today and found out there's a "trial run" of the swim and run course at the end of July, so I think we're going to drive up and do it. yikes. But at least we'll know where we are....I just wish it was a weekend...it's at 6am on a Friday which is sort of ridic!
I have some more stuff to talk about but it will have to wait b/c there is a spider creating a web on my computer as I type and I"m gonna have to get back up....crap it just fell and I have no idea where it went....and the freak out begins....scuze me!
anyways, I have been doing some stuff....spinning twice a week and attempting to run....it's still more like a walk with some running thrown in at this point. I don't know how I'm going to make myself run but I'm going to have to get some major WILL soon.
So my friend who is an exercise sports science guy told me that I really needed to get fit for shoes. So, last week I went to a running store, Fleet Feet, and got "fitted" for shoes. Basically they measure you, then they watch you walk, then they measure some more, draw some marks on your feet with a pen, and then get you a pair of shoes and make you go outside and then they watch you run. Then based on what they see I guess with the first pair, they bring you out a ton of other pairs that fit the profile of what you do when you walk/run, and they are supposed to help you run better by making you more comfortable and hopefully causing less damage to your joints and stuff. I apparently am a crazy over pronat-or...meaning my foot turns and leans in. I can totally feel it happening, especially on my right foot. So I needed a moderate stabilizer for a shoe. Also, I found out I was wearing the totally WRONG size shoe- I have worn a 7.5 forever, sometimes an 8 in some heels....but for running shoes I need an 8.5! My feet are pretty small looking, but really the 8.5 felt SOOOO much better. When I put my 7.5 nikes back on after, I couldn't believe how UNCOMFORTABLE they suddenly felt. So I got a pair of Mizuno running shoes, and they were only $99! I was expecting to pay like $200, so I felt like I got a deal! But if you go get fit, be prepared to be in the store for at least an hour, and to try on like 12 pairs of shoes minimum.
So moving on, A, my friend who is doing the race with me, went to the race site today and found out there's a "trial run" of the swim and run course at the end of July, so I think we're going to drive up and do it. yikes. But at least we'll know where we are....I just wish it was a weekend...it's at 6am on a Friday which is sort of ridic!
I have some more stuff to talk about but it will have to wait b/c there is a spider creating a web on my computer as I type and I"m gonna have to get back up....crap it just fell and I have no idea where it went....and the freak out begins....scuze me!
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