Serious Workouts Return

I had my first significant / serious workout since my accident today.  I headed to the gym around 7:00a and hit the pool.  I'd been getting to the pool somewhat regularly to do some nominal swimming - but it was more part of physical therapy and targeted at getting more flexibility back in my ankle.  Likewise, I'd been on the bike trainer here at home for short stretches of time - again with the goal of getting some range of motion and strength back. 

Today I decided that I needed to get things back in form.  I'm feeling pretty good in regards to my rehab, so today was the first day of me "getting back at it".  From this point forward, all swims and bike trainer sessions will take on a new level of intensity.  My goal is to be ready for some sort of racing come the fall.

Today's swim workout:

400y warm up. 
2 x (1 x 50, 1 x 100, 1 x 50) stroke drills on :15 rest
4 x 100 pull (pull buoy and paddles) on the 1:40
1 x 50 easy
4 x 100 pull (pull buoy) on the 1:40
3 x 200 on 3:15
200 cool down

2,400 yards - :45 minutes.  Nothing too crazy today in regards to intensity or distance.  I felt a little tight towards the end of the 200's, but was pretty pleased overall.  Flip turns still require me to push off with only my right leg, but I'm able to kick with equal force on both legs.  Very exciting indeed!

Upon arriving home, I revisited my long-lost friend the training calendar.  I immediately removed all the workouts I was "supposed to do" in preparation for a half iron triathlon in September.  These were replaced with new swimming and cycling workouts.  And in regards to my cycling workouts, based on my last physical therapy session it's very likely that I'll be outside riding in a couple of weeks which will make me very happy.  At that point I'll be able to crank up the intensity another notch.

Hopefully everyone is having a good holiday today.  And hopefully you all got in a workout before the chocolate bunnies come into play.

Weekly boredom update and fave posts

I haven't trained heavily this week - save for physical therapy.  I did swim....and I did get some time on the bike trainer.  Alas, this *#@*&$# ankle is still not letting me get outside and run and jump and play.  So, I've been reading about other peoples training and, well....while I don't like being injured, at least I'm reading more!

Okay, enough of the smarmy feel-good stuff.  I'm crawling out of my skin.  I'm beyond impatient and NEED to be out running.  Swimming is great.  The bike trainer is great.  But I'm not 100%, and I won't be until my ankle is back to normal.  Obvious, I know, but I had to get it out there.  I'm going stir crazy and I'm man enough to admit it.  So aside from drinking more beer, I'm beginning to become angst-filled.  Sort of like week 2 or 3 of a taper.

So, aside from reading a bit more and drinking more beer than usual, I thought I'd cover a couple quick items:

First - I was looking at my site analytics, and was very curious about one of the Google search entries that led someone to my blog:

"Triathlons and the wealthy"

What the heck did I write that caused that search to cause a hit on my site?  No idea.  Moving on.

Second - I wanted to share a couple of the good posts I've stumbled on in the last week or so.

Self-Talking Our Bodies Into Submission
The Endurance Athlete's Scrapbook

You might have noticed, however, that both posts are from Susan Lacke.  Yep, that's right.....I have a blog crush on Susan.  I do.  Can't deny it.  My wife approves (actually, I think my wife has a blog crush on Susan as well.  Hmmm, competition).

Susan is cool.  She's funny.  If she lived closer (and I don't really know where she lives to be honest) I'd be inviting her and her family over for dinner.

Read her stuff.

So, do I just hand in my chip?

My ankle is feeling better, thank you very much.  I'm not in the big black walking boot anymore - I'm in a much sleeker, and aerodynamic brace now. 


Which one would you rather wear?

The great thing is I can wear a regular shoe with this new brace.  It makes getting around on crutches much easier.  My Orthopedist did say that I'll need to wear this brace for 6 more weeks.  But, the crutches can go away as soon as I'm strong enough to walk comfortably without them.  This made me "Mr. Happy Guy" last Friday.  Great news as far as I'm concerned.  Six weeks post ankle surgery and I could be off crutches within another month.  Maybe.

The timing of this news was good.  A couple friends from the usual morning running crew  dropped me a line to check in and see how things were going with my rehab.  This was great info to have as I provided updates.  So, with all this on my mind, my first thoughts over the weekend were: "When do I think I can race next?"

Suffice it to say that the North Face Endurance Challenge 1/2 Marathon in May is out.  So is the triathlon in June I was targeting.  That one bums me out as I had a top 10 finish / 1st in AG podium last year.  I was really looking forward to getting on that course again. 

I'm also not going to be able to do the Stamford Olympic triathlon this June as well.  I had some redemption on my mind after I received a time penalty at this race last year which bumped me from an age-group podium finish.  No redemption this year, apparently. 

So now we're into July and August.  I'm registered for two races during these two months and I'm pretty sure that, while I may be able to jog with some nominal level of discomfort, I won't be able to run with any great intensity.  Same goes with the Toughman Half Iron triathlon in September.  I just don't know what I'll be able to muster on the run.

This isn't to say that I couldn't do the swim, the bike, and then just jog easy through the run.  I could.  But that would suck, in my opinion.  I have enough Type-A / OCD triathlete in me to know that if I was having a great race and then jogged the run I'd be a mental wreck.

What's a person to do?  Hence my opening question.  Should I do the swim and the bike and then turn in my timing chip?  Could I do that?  I mean, of course I can.  But the question is, should I?

I say "should I" as I'm a bit conflicted.  Not all these races have an Aquabike category.  And for those that don't, what impact will I have on other athletes?  If I were to pass someone on the bike course - and they see that I'm in their age group and, as I would, attempt to reel me back in - this person is going to burn a bunch of extra energy.  More to the point, they're going to burn energy chasing down someone who was never going to be a factor in their race.  I'm sure I could sit here and dream up all the reasons that I have a valid plan in the works.  Heck, I can justify almost anything if you give me enough time.

I want to race as soon as possible.  Dare I say I NEED to race!  I'm going absolutely stir-crazy not being able to get outside and run or ride.  Swimming is great.  But 15 minute sessions on the bike trainer are getting old.  I know that as soon as I'm able to ramp things up, I'm going to want to race as soon as possible.

So, again, what's a person to do?  I need input here folks.  If there's no Aquabike category at a race, do I pull a DNS (did not start) and volunteer?  Or do I do what I can and turn in my chip once I get to T2?