Update

So I think I forgot that I actually have a blog. Figured I would write a quick update on things since it has been a good while. It's funny because I think I stopped writing about anything after the 5430 1/2 as the body just fell apart and I wasn't sure if I would even continue doing triathlon. It was a really hard time because the "injury" in the left leg was so bad that I had issues walking and it was topped by a good two years of issues with my left foot. I think there was a part of me that was just "over it".

This sport can be really challenging when you are dealing with injury. The biggest part has got to be what goes on in your head. I remember reading an article where Brett Sutton was interviewed in and he said one of the main things that makes top athletes different from those just below, is how they mentally handle injury. The fact remains that if you train hard and push the envelope, things are going to arise. My biggest challenge has been remaining positive during injured times. It didn't start that way for me, but developed when an injury turned chronic and just kept leading to other problems. This last issue that came up started to raise a lot of questions in what the hell I was doing with my life.

If you are to make a jump from where I am in the sport you MUST be injury free for a long period of time and train consistently. Without that, I will just float right around where I am. I think most people would love to be where I am when it comes to racing but I want more out of it. The challenge, for me, is gone when you stop progressing.

I had a nice sit down a while back with JZ, who has been the most wonderful coach, training partner and friend, and we went over everything that was going on. I think a big part of me wanted to give up on finding a solution as it had just gone on way too long. I would make progress and then BAM something would fall off and start hurting. JZ is not one to back down from a challenge and she pushed me pretty hard to see some new people and look into the idea that a lot of the left leg issues could be nerve related.

So with all that I went to a new resource that has been getting a big buzz from many people here in town. He is one of the team docs for the Garmin Chipottle cycling team. I met with him for a good hour and gave him the laundry list. He looked at me after the long narration and in a somewhat "cocky" way was like "so is that the only problem"? I wasn't impressed with that because I felt that he was more concerned with letting me know that he is the shit and can fix me like it is no big deal. Not fully understanding that over the last 2 1/2 years I have had these issues. But I was desperate and agreed to come back and let him try and work some magic on me.

In my second visit with him he got right to work finding a million imbalances in my legs. Then he did a few things and before I knew it, things were feeling "different". I wasn't sold that it would have any long term effect but had nothing to loose. He gave me some notes to relay to Joe, our strength guy, and work it into the gym routine. He also had me go to Colorado Multi Sport and have Ignats do another bike fit/check. I did all this and kept seeing him and before I knew it things felt better than they ever have. I was SHOCKED! Even that crazy heal pain that I would get in the AM that WAS NOT Plantar Fasc even went away. That pain seemed like it was going to be life long.

Long story short, I got back on track and have been able to run without pain. I have also noticed that my legs feel "equal" when riding and the left calf is almost caught up to my right in size. I don't know exactly what he has done for me but I am extremely thankful that it worked. And as JZ likes to say, "Who cares how it works as long as it does"! I agree.

So next on the list is Ironman 70.3 Resurrection (I mean Longhorn) and then I am going to Ironman 70.3 Redemption ( I mean Clearwater) JZ and I have renamed the races as we both went through the ringer mid season. I am looking forward to racing again! I will make sure to post a report after I get back from Austin. I have a few specific goals for these next two races so hopefully I will achieve them.


Cheers,
bdc