Tonight, the magic happened.

Tonight was one of those nights, one of those nights where all I wanted to do was be done. I ran out of energy at work this afternoon and really the last thing I wanted to do was run 14km on the dreadmill... Oops I meant treadmill. 

I pushed and whined my way through the first 7 miles when I was about to quit. Ok truth be told I was ready to quit before I even started.  I picked up my phone and was about to text a friend and teammate asking how bad it would be to just it a night and quit there.  I stopped for a second and looked up.

It was then that it happened. What happened you ask? My gaze caught something on the other side of the room.  It was only for a moment but that was all it took.  What was it I saw that gave me what I needed to finish? It was my bib from my Ironman race last year. Seeing that bib, hanging in the place I had made for my medal reminded me that no matter how much discomfort I felt at that moment,  it couldn't come close to comparing what it felt like to not finish my race. Who knew a piece of paper could be so powerful!

not making the same mistakes twice

I changed up my training style somewhat this year and it's been going well.  I am getting into the 3/1 schedule with 3 weeks of building up the distance and intensity and followed by a week of recovery workouts. I find the recovery week very helpful and I really look forward to it during week 3 of the build.  It gives me the physical and mental rest required for the amount of training I'm doing.  This year I also moved my rest day to Monday and that also makes me very happy because do you know what today is? Mhmmm, it's Monday!

I'm also continuing with my lessons learned from 2013 and keeping up with strength training, not always as much as I should be but I'm working on it each week.  And now that I know how to read my program properly it really only takes 30 minutes to get through.  

my husbands dairy
 and gluten filled pizza pie

my almond flour
vegan cheese pizza

Another lesson or goal I have for this year is to enjoy training more and I am. This year I am making more time for socializing where I can but also keeping the balance of ensuring my workouts come first and sometimes that means having to say no and that's not always easy.

I'm also learning to fuel myself differently this year. I have been working with a Naturalpath and so far I am off gluten, dairy and grains...ya...that's right all three.  I have been getting creative in the kitchen or at least creative with the recipes I am working with these days.  Ever had almond flour vegan cheese pizza? Nope neither had I until a few weeks ago.  I won't lie, it has been challenging at times and I seriously have been missing breads, crackers, pretzels and white potatoes but I get to learn about a whole new variety of food and try things I would never have dreamed up eating before. 

Which pizza would you rather eat?  On second thought, don't answer that!

Running or was it skating?

So this is my first post of 2014, so glad to say goodbye to 2013. I feel so different compared to this time last year. I feel ready I feel rested and relaxed and I feel like I can do this! 2014, it's going to be awesome!!!

I went for a chilly 10k with a couple of friends this evening. We headed out thinking the sidewalls would be the safest route. We quickly realised that we were very wrong. We changed course and headed for some streets.

I wasn't feeling so hot for the majority of the run after having heartburn for most of the afternoon and it  continued for 3/4 of the run.  Lesson learned... No franks red hot before a workout!  

The temperature felt like it was dropping while we ran and keeping an eye on the surface was a must! Black ice was everywhere.   We ran around the neighbourhood until we hit 5k the turned back to call it a day.

I lost the route and ended up doubling back so maybe it was a little longer than 10.  The closest I came to going down was of course at the biggest intersection we crossed.  By then I didn't care and just wanted to get back.

Considering how I felt after the run I realised I didn't eat enough today either and what I did eat was not the best choice with the heartburn. Lots of time to learn though so I'm not worried about it.

I  figured a tough outside run beats the hamster wheel any day. I also need to remember to cut myself some slack considering this was my 5th outside run since August. Now that doesn't mean I get to slack off during the workout by any means as every workout counts!

Needs vs wants

In Triathlon training there are lots and lots of workouts on your schedule. Usually you will have a  few runs, swims and bikes. What is also there is strength training. I'm sure it's no huge secret that to be a triathlete you have to be a bit of a cardio junkie. Surprise surprise right?!  Anyway that's my deal, if there was any workout that was going to slip off the schedule it was going to be the weights...the one workout I NEED to be doing. 

Last week, as any week would have it, especially now during these last few weeks in the coveted off-season I have 3 days a week in the weight room as well as my swimming, biking and now running. Which exercises do you think went down the drain last week? That's right...my strength days.

So when the doc asked me how the program went last week (you know the program he made from me, tailored to meet the needs of my knees and overall body, the one geared to make me a lean mean triathlon machine, ya that one)...I was  honest and told him straight up, it wasn't happening.  That's when I got the lecture. He made it very clear that strength training MUST be on the list otherwise I am going to need a second job to pay for all the sessions I am going to need over the next year. So with hearing that, strengthttraining has become the primary focus and three days a week you'll find me with the weights in hand doine the workout I NEED to do, not necessarily Want to do. 

What are you running for?

I was talking to one of the Chiro's this weekend about running, we were discussing the mental aspect and what some people get out of running.  He had made a comment that for some people, they are running away from something and that got me thinking about why people run or what it does for them.  

I know for myself, running is therapy.  I'm not sure if it's cheaper at the rate I like to expand my training wardrobe.  I have worked out so many things that use to drag me down while out on a run and  I have had some great realizations while my feet were pounding the pavement (now the swipe across the ground).  When I head out there, I feel as if I am running towards something, towards my next race start line and towards to ever evolving version of me.

Over the past couple of months while running was not on the plan (I know you know this already as I whined about it the whole time) I really began to feel it. Even though I have been able to swim, strength train and recently get back into spin class my mind has felt weighed down.  I was thinking too much, thinking about everything and letting my thoughts spiral downwards.   

Yesterday I was reading some articles and blogs about running and something I read really resonated with me and gave me a whole new perspective that coupled with a fantastic treadmill run was just what "the doctor" ordered.   I felt amazing after I wrapped up my 5 k, I don't remember the last time I felt so good during or after a run.

So for yourself when you lace up and head out the door, is there something you are running from or running towards?  Either way I hope you have a great one out there and enjoy every step of the way.  

got the green light

Last Thursday had me back at Chiro and I am very happy to say I got the green light for spin class and "supervised" running.  I bet you're asking "what the heck is "supervised" running". Well it's me being allowed on a very specific treadmill, the one at the Chiro's office.  So I have been doing a bit of running there and loving every minute of it!   Last night was the first real run I have done in almost two months...it was three set's of 3 and 1's and I didn't want it to end!

I hit spin last Friday & Saturday and was back for more this morning. Plans are already set for a swim tomorrow morning and back at Spin on Friday.  After my appointment tomorrow night I should also be allowed to embark on a real run...outside...on the road...by myself!  It feels great getting back to the running and spinning.  

I feel like things are starting to come together and I am feeling so much better about training for another ironman.  The road is going to be long and tough but I know I got this!  

Managing Osteoarthritis

October 8th had me at the sports MD clinic where we discussed treatment options.  It was at this appointment that the full scope of what I am dealing with came into focus. I realized that this wasn't just 'bone spurs' I needed to treat but it's full on Osteoarthritis in my knees. Now, my chiro did make this clear when we first reviewed my x-rays but I had focused solely on the spurs at the time.  I left the appointment feeling a little overwhelmed as the realization sunk in.  On the plus side I had options that could delay surgery and delay eventual knee replacements.  The best option on the table was to move forward with injections that would basically lubricate my knees.  I had the usual chiro appt that night as well and we discussed my options a bit more and dealing with Osteoarthritis and the next day I booked my first injection.

I went in October 15th feeling a little nervous, excited and very hopeful that this was going to do the trick!  The sports MD preped the area and I barely felt the needle but I could feel him injecting the fluid into my knee.  It took not even a minute and that was it, after the injection he just worked the fluid around a bit and I was done and booked my right knee for the following week.  

So last Tuesday I went back to get "righty" done and I wish I could say it was the same experience as it was with the left but boy or boy it was anything but!  I felt everything this time, the needle going in was incredibly painful and I could feel the injection more as well.  But again less than a minute and it was done!  As soon as I got back to work my hamstring starting stiffening and it wasn't long until my calf followed.  By the end of the day I was limping around work.  When I got home I stretched out with a heating pad and had dh work on my calf in an attempt to loosen up the muscles a bit.  I had tears streaming down my face it hurt so badly.

The next morning I emailed my chiro and he fit me in that evening.  By this time I was full on limping around the office as my leg was stiff and swollen.  He took one look and got me on the table connected to the electric muscle stimulating machine.  I think I sat there for a good twenty minutes while the machine worked it's magic. He then followed up with some ART just to finish off the treatment.  Following doctors orders I went home and soaked in a warm bath then stretched out my legs a bit more.  I was amazed, within 24 hours I was walking normally again, what a difference!

I learned a big lesson from the experience with my right leg.  Before these types of injections I need to make a trip into the chiro office for some clean up so my muscles can calm down and not be super tight to begin with as I had done that for the left and I think that was the difference between the two.

This past Saturday I went back for another treatment and my knees felt great after!  Even today I am noticing a big improvement with reduced pain and I don't feel the grinding, cracking and popping as much...perhaps it's already working!  

I also started back doing some hip strengthening exercises this weekend and plan to continue that today.  Slowly, ever so slowly I am making my way off the bench and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I get the green light to bike and run again this week!