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Paying the Price



It took me a long 30 hours after finishing the race to figure out the reason why I was not my usual happy/digging-deep/loving-this-stuff self at Oceanside. Any ideas? Here are the lame excuses I came up with in the 29 hours and 59 minutes before that glorious realization:

*** The weather. Clouds, fog, and rain make me depressed. And it is hard to have fun while feeling depressed.

*** Gluten. I gave up gluten about 6 weeks before the race. Friday evening I bought some rice crackers at Trader Joe's that served as my after-dinner-snack. Later I looked the ingredient label which read: glutinous rice! Who knew there was such a thing? I had been so good and then I mess it all up the night before the race!

*** Maybe I went out too hard on the bike. I told Coach M the night before the race: I am not going to hold back on the bike. That might have been a mistake...

*** I swallowed to much salt water. The bed at the hotel was too soft. I had too much breakfast. I didn't eat enough on the bike. I should've worn socks. I should've put arm warmers on for the bike. That darn concrete! I didn't warm up enough before the race. They had no coke at mile 10 on the run....

We all know how this goes! And, while we don't want to beat ourselves up over a less-than-ideal race, it's also important to look at what might have gone wrong and learn from it.

Lying on my bed on Sunday afternoon, too tired to unpack my bags, it hit me:

I messed up my taper
I went into the race tired
I was having way too much fun in March to properly recover in time for the race!

D'uh! 

You probably figured this out a long time ago, didn't you? Why didn't you tell me? The funny thing is that I was fully aware of the fact that this might happen. I knew that it wasn't smart to go to Tri-Fest a week before the race and indulge in some super fun and long workouts. I was willing to take my chances... and then promptly forgot about it. How is that possible? Coach M and Karl knew it all along but they let me figure this one out for myself. Thanks, guys!

Coach also ordered two weeks of rest. A mental and physical break from triathlon training. Yikes! I knew that it was the right thing to do but that doesn't mean that it's easy. A whole 5 days after the race, I wrote her this (exact) email:

Hey! 

Ok. I am done. Has it been 2 weeks yet??? I am not sure I am going to make it that long! MERCY

So. I took Sunday totally off. Nothing. Just driving. Monday and Tuesday all I did was foam roll and stretch. I did not even WANT to do anything else. I was dead. I talked myself out off going to the pool on Tuesday. I don't race so I can tell people about it. I race to have fun and fulfill some weird need to feel pain. Or something... Who knows. Today I foam rolled and stretched again and then went for a 1:45 very easy ride. Oh my. I was in heaven! This is what I live for! I am miserable when I don't work out even when I know my body and mind need a break. How is that? 

My left calf is getting better. I knew it would and I don't think it'll be an issue anymore. Not sure what caused it but I am not worried. Left hamstring and glute are getting better but I am concerned. Karl got some great exercises from some of the Pro Runners here for strengthening that area, so I will be doing those and then see. Can't afford to see a doctor. Not yet at least... My right foot is giving me grief. It hurts. All the time. Except while biking and right afterwards. Ha! I should just bike all day! I have been icing and heating it. I hope and am fairly certain that it is not a stress fracture. I think it is the 13 miles on concrete and maybe my form was slightly off since I was running with blisters. Who knows. I hope it will be better by the end of the week. It started hurting right after I was talking to Colleen on the phone on Sunday about her foot pain! what the heck?

Here is what i am planning for the next couple of months*

April 16th-19th - Karl is out of town. Yuck! Not looking forward to that week!** 

May 19th - St. George Tri. I have friend who is going with me from Flagstaff and I think it will be fun. I do need to race at least once in May and I love that course. I am thinking Olympic. 

May 26th - flying to Germany

June 10th - European Half Distance Championships. Challenge Kraichgau. Definitely very close to an A race. This is what I want to start preparing for now.** I would like to have a good showing so close to my home town.*** Training won't be as smooth as it has been for Oceanside and as it will be for Vegas because the kids have tons of stuff going on and Karl is super busy and out of town some, but I want to give it my best shot. We are also traveling to Germany exactly 2 weeks before the race, so I am thinking I might have to end up doing a 2 week taper for this one. Might not be the worst to try and see how it works for me. That gives me 10 weeks starting next week until the Challenge. So, with the 2 week taper that is only 8 weeks. Unless you are really going to make me sit on my butt for 2 weeks which would make it 7 and I hate uneven numbers!!!**** So please can we start next week with (at least) easy stuff and see how I really feel? At least try it? Is 8 weeks enough time to get me semi-ready? I am getting fat! I need help! I AM FREAKING OUT! Haha. Just kidding. No worries. I am ok. I AM OK. 

That is it for now. I mean, I have more plans after that but I want to focus on the Half in Germany. 

Call me anytime. 
Sarah


* Don't ask why I had to tell her about my plans right then and there. It's not like I haven't already told her at some point... I am guessing I had to reassure myself that I am indeed capable of more than just stretching and foam rolling and will be back at some point this summer!

** That means he is leaving tomorrow. Help!

*** Aehm. I meant in another 2 weeks minus 5 days... 

**** Good showing??? What does that even mean?

***** Yes. I am laughing at myself! 


Well. Here I am. After 2 weeks of no running, some easy and fun biking, and some (surprisingly good) swimming. As predicted, the left calf isn't really an issue anymore. The foot has been a big problem. After no running at all for a full week, I tested it out on Monday and it didn't get worse. I ran barefoot on (fake) grass on Tuesday and Wednesday the foot was killing me. At this point I was really worried. I asked around and decided that Kym Wilkens is who I need to see. I mean: If that's where the Olympic Trials runners are going, then she must be good! 

Kym is awesome! She figured out what the problem was, worked on it, then worked on my glute as well, and my foot has been pain free ever since! I can still feel it and it's not 100% but I am impressed! I am going back on Monday and can't wait to (hopefully) run again next week! 


There is hope! I will be back! Hopefully stronger and (especially) smarter than before! 




Comments

Anonymous said…
Yes, the race in St. George IS going to be fun!!! Because you're bringing your FUN friend from Flagstaff!!!

;)
Karen said…
I choose an identity! I choose "Karen."

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