Another post called "update"

I have decided that this should really not be called a training blog but rather a not-quite-training-for-anything blog.

My knees feel a ton better but I still see my chiro once a week. Working on strength exercises for the muscles around my knees (yes, there is a more official name than muscles around my knees) and overall they feel great.

I have continued with swimming, pilates classes, weight training and ran, um, once. I have to be honest...the run didn't feel that great.

I am going to continue rotating swims, bikes and runs, but really just for fun. With selling the house and keeping the family afloat, now is just not the right time.

BUT this just means I will be better at cheering on my friends who are competing in upcoming events. You go girls!!!

Update

A few weeks ago my knees started to just hurt. No sharp pain, but just plain numb. My toes even got numb. My knees have always hurt--ever since I can remember. Even in high school after basketball games I was in pain. Not intense pain, just an aching.

So when I started to walk on the treadmill a few weeks back (in my brand new shoes) my knees went numb. My feet hurt. I got off the treadmill, stretched and headed home. I continued to swim as that felt good but no biking or running since.

It has now been 1 1/2 weeks and I continue to have knee discomfort (even when sitting still). So I went to my chiropractor who specializes in muscle issues (as opposed to a chiro that just cracks you). After observation of my gait and testing my muscle strength he came to the quick conclusion I have terrible knees. My knees point in when my toes are forward but when my knees point forward, my feet want to go out. I have walked "weird" like that forever, but now this weird position is causing me pain.

He found that my over quad muscles were strong but not my inner quad. He said because that is weak, my outer quad is pulling my knee out, causing my feet to hurt as well. I left there with exercises and told to take my shoes back (get ones with less support actually).

So, I have been swimming 3 times a week and really enjoying it. I average 800-1000 m and feel pretty good with that. But I am now re-evaluating this race idea. My doctor wants me to come back twice a week to build up these muscles and continue in therapy until I am 100%. He feels I can get back to training and wants me back on the bike next week (in small doses). We shall see. I love having a goal and really want to do this event but I don't want to hurt.

Hmph......

My new hardwear

Today I got such a thoughtful gift in the mail from my Aunt Anne and Cousin Kristin. They were in VA and came across this recycled bicycle chain bracelet. What a great little motivational tool to keep me riding along!

This week I swam for 60+ minutes, biked over 50 miles and ran 2 miles (the running might be more of a run/walk...I have inherited my dad's bad knees).

It is nice to get to the gym and have a goal each day. My main concern with training is fitting in enough time to not lose muscle tone, especially in my arms/shoulders. But I will try and fit in one weight training a week (would love to do two days a week but I have some days where I am supposed to be on the bike for 2 hours....we shall see!).

Thanks for this great gift, Anne and Kristen! You are so thoughtful and on days when I don't want to ride, I can at least look the part, right?

Transition time?

I am following a 20 week training program although the race is over 26 weeks away (figure I will just repeat the middle few months). Today I swam for 24 minutes and biked for 48 minutes. The swam felt much better than Saturday! I was tired and still not able to do turns but didn't feel like I was going to sink.

As I finished the swim, Jason joked and asked about my transition time for the bike. It took me over 10 minutes to change and get on the bike--might need to work on that before the race (ha!).

The bike felt great, and I biked about 15 1/2 miles. Obviously I am not concerned about times--just want to finish in one piece--hopefully looking smashing!

I also got new running shoes yesterday. I am up for name suggestions (my sister's tri bike is "baby" so that is taken) but will have a debut pic soon ;)

It's a bird, it's a plane...it's a dead fish???

Yesterday I thought I would try my hand at swimming. I got in the pool and swam the first 25 m like a pro. The form and breathing came back to me. But once I touched the wall after the first 25 m, I asked myself, "what in the world am I doing?"

This swimming thing is going to be harder than I thought.

I swam on & off for about 30 minutes (more off than on). More breaststroke than freestyle. It has to get better, right?

The start of something "fun"

So over Christmas break my sis, Cindy, inspired me to try this triathlon thing she is all into. She has done many marathons, tris and even did an iron man! She continues to train and has many more events coming up, one being the tri in Cincinnati in July (1350m Swim/40k Bike/10k run). I watched her compete in this event 2 years ago and although I figured I couldn't do it, after talking to her I actually started to think I COULD do this!

Although I am in shape (work out 3-4 days a week), don't smoke, and am not overweight, my work outs generally consist of weights and then 15 mins of cardio. No running, no cycling, no swimming. In fact I don't particularly like any of the three of those events so this should be interesting, right?

Running: Well, I don't run. In fact I have avoided it for years. I would rather do weights, the elliptical, stand there and look pretty...anything but run.

Swimming: I was a good swimmer....when I WAS 10! I haven't swam a lap in over 10 years (I wish I was lying about that). And really, I don't look great in a swim cap...if only the competition would let me use floaties :)

Bike: This is what I am worried about! I know the hill in Cincinnati you have to go up twice and I know that it is steep! I don't bike...at all. Haven't been on a bike since before Ella. I don't even like cycling at the gym so this part should be interesting!

I wonder how this will turn out?

Yesterday I ran 2.67 miles just to see if I could run. I could and I wasn't really winded.
Today I biked 26 miles just to see if I could. I did! I started to feel really really tired at the 25 mile mark and listened to my body. I rehydrated and slowed it down.

The gear: I have NOTHING! I don't even have good running shoes. So my first thing to do is get the shoes. I have a mountain bike but will just get road tires put on (nothing fancy for sure). Will get toe guards, helmet, what to wear, etc. as it gets closer.

But as of now, I just want to get started :) Wish me luck!!!