Ahead!! I'm feeling much better today. Actually, started to feel better Sunday after that miserable "bike ride" I attempted Saturday. Got in a solid 60 minute run Sunday by taking it easy. Monday called for a little cardio and some weights, all done without incident. Today was the bigger test, swim followed by run early morning. I woke up 30 minutes ahead of my alarm in anticipation!! Haven't done that in some time. The swim went well as I felt ok for not being in the water in a few weeks. The run, well, at about 20 minutes my chest became extremely tight, but I just kept the pace reasonable and was able to motor through the 5 miles just fine. No problems. So, everything is starting to get back to normal.
This sinus infection was worse than most. Most likely due to the winter season and so many illnesses going around. My guess is that I caught a second bout of something 7 days into the treatment of the first infection which prologned everything. I saw my doc yesterday and was assured that I was progressing according to plan again. Great news! So, although we aren't quite at full speed at this time, I'm ready to scream "Full Speed Ahead" from the top of my lungs since I've been struggling with this darn infection for so long. But this is what happens. This is life. What doesn't kill me will make me stronger. Trust me. I hope everyone that takes the time to read this blog is also "full speed ahead!!"
-T
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Take your medicine
Well it must be the winter. Once again I'm struggling through another bout with a nasty sinus infection. I'll spare you all the details, but I started on antibiotics 2.5 weeks ago. After a week I started to feel much better again and then about 1 week after starting my course of antibiotics, all they symptoms reappeared. More sleep and allowing the medicine to take it's course cleared this issue up. This past week I had been feeling slightly better each day, but the infection appears to now be messing with my asthma. I ran for the first time in a while the other day and it wasn't pretty. I can't describe what it's like to train and race when my lungs aren't 100%. There is a painful, maybe like sore throat type feeling, that penetrates my lungs. Get the heart rate elevated much and getting air in is similar to trying to exercise with a bag over your head.
To be honest though, I'm not here to complain about my condition. People face much more challenging conditions each day, some life threatening. Hell, many people can't even dream of swimming, biking or running due to disease, illness, or other medical or mental issues. This helps give me perspective when I start to feel down. Here I am trying to drop an hour or so off my Ironman time and qualify for Kona and I can't even run. You know what? It will be ok. Just fine actually. My body wants to race, actually it wants to race fast. But, right now, it wants to rest and it doesn't want it's motor beating too hard. I need to respect this. Take my medicine and listen to my body. It knows what it needs to be successful, I just need to keep the brain out of the equation.
Soon it will be late spring and I'll be in the middle of a large training block and my body, and in turn my asthma, will be just fine. With that, I'm off for a nap. Time to rest and recover.
-T
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Change the game
Since this is a triathlon blog, I'm not going to dwell on last night's thrilling national championship game between the Auburn Tigers and my alma mater, the Oregon Ducks. Oregon came back from the dead to tie the game up with just over two minutes to go. At this point, I think many were grabbing another beer and looking forward to an overtime period. Auburn proceeded to benefit from a tough call that resulted in a 37 yard gain and entered field goal range. The game was decided by a field goal as time expired. So what is the point of this post? Check out the ad Nike ran today.
The significance of what the Ducks accomplished by getting to the game last night, and nearly pulling it off, is not lost on me. Have they set a new trend? Fast, up tempo football that relies on incredibly fit athletes? Ask yourself, did you see Auburn running more up tempo than normal last night? The Ducks altered everything they did as a program when Chip Kelley (formally the offensive coordinator brought in by ex head coach Mike Bellotti) took the reigns. Practices were moved from the afternoon to the morning. Nutritionists were brought in, the strength and conditioning coach ("RAD"cliffe) was all of a sudden more important. Pylometrics, recovery drinks, core and band workouts, and an entire different weekly schedule was developed...all in the hope to provide our athletes with a physical and mental advantage over the competition.
As I sat on my couch last night watching the field goal seal our fates as second best this year, I was obviously sad. Yet, here was my school...from little Eugene, OR...nearly winning the national championship in college football. Primarily because we had a coach that changed our game, and possibly...the entire game of football. One thing was evident, the hybrid, what Auburn had...was enough to win. BUT, realize that they are just that...a hybrid of what Oregon helped develop. SO, this is supposed to be a triathlon blog. As I was laying awake last night I thought about everything this year represents to me in triathlon. It is all about changing the game. My workouts are much different this year. It is not just about putting in the miles or hours, put being incredibly smart about utilizing intensity, recovery, and volume to help achieve our goals. Ultimately, my goal this year is to become, "a master at the conservation and allocation of energy."
At least in my mind...to change my game.
-T
The significance of what the Ducks accomplished by getting to the game last night, and nearly pulling it off, is not lost on me. Have they set a new trend? Fast, up tempo football that relies on incredibly fit athletes? Ask yourself, did you see Auburn running more up tempo than normal last night? The Ducks altered everything they did as a program when Chip Kelley (formally the offensive coordinator brought in by ex head coach Mike Bellotti) took the reigns. Practices were moved from the afternoon to the morning. Nutritionists were brought in, the strength and conditioning coach ("RAD"cliffe) was all of a sudden more important. Pylometrics, recovery drinks, core and band workouts, and an entire different weekly schedule was developed...all in the hope to provide our athletes with a physical and mental advantage over the competition.
As I sat on my couch last night watching the field goal seal our fates as second best this year, I was obviously sad. Yet, here was my school...from little Eugene, OR...nearly winning the national championship in college football. Primarily because we had a coach that changed our game, and possibly...the entire game of football. One thing was evident, the hybrid, what Auburn had...was enough to win. BUT, realize that they are just that...a hybrid of what Oregon helped develop. SO, this is supposed to be a triathlon blog. As I was laying awake last night I thought about everything this year represents to me in triathlon. It is all about changing the game. My workouts are much different this year. It is not just about putting in the miles or hours, put being incredibly smart about utilizing intensity, recovery, and volume to help achieve our goals. Ultimately, my goal this year is to become, "a master at the conservation and allocation of energy."
At least in my mind...to change my game.
-T
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Resolutions
OK, so I mentioned in my last post that I don't normally make these. As I sit here on my couch, sick, I have decided to make one. As many of you know I struggle with asthma. I am also prone to sinus infections. Common cold? Turns into an infection. Sore throat, hey there sinus infection. What does all this have to do about resolutions? Well, when I contract a sinus infection, my asthma gets really bad. Although I have done and continue to do almost everything I can from a medical standpoint to reduce these infections, they still occur. So, my resolution this year is to try and eliminate these infections by doing one simple thing...Keeping a daily log.
Each day I plan on recording the following:
Training, including core and stretching
Diet, including alcohol if applicable
Sleep the previous night
Stress level 1-10 scale
Wellness level 1-10 scale
Morning weight
As the season progresses I am confident that keeping a daily tally of my activities will help my coach and I avoid illness when possible and recover faster when infected. Hopefully this helps. I am confident however that it won't hurt :)
Below are some pictures from our New Years eve ski the other day.
Meg setting the pace!
It was a beautiful day. Cold and sunny.
All smiles!!
I did good right?
-T
Each day I plan on recording the following:
Training, including core and stretching
Diet, including alcohol if applicable
Sleep the previous night
Stress level 1-10 scale
Wellness level 1-10 scale
Morning weight
As the season progresses I am confident that keeping a daily tally of my activities will help my coach and I avoid illness when possible and recover faster when infected. Hopefully this helps. I am confident however that it won't hurt :)
Below are some pictures from our New Years eve ski the other day.
Check out that powder!!!
Meg setting the pace!
It was a beautiful day. Cold and sunny.
All smiles!!
I did good right?
-T
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