Random reflection on 2006
I am not happy with this training year. I have some big races coming up in the next 10 months and I have people depending on me to do well for them and I of course have my own expectations to meet. But thus far 2006 has been plagued with injury, illness and struggle.
My hamstring has still not healed and I am about half way through my modified rehab. The true course was to take 3 months off and focus strickly on re-hab exercises with low impact on leg exercise like oh say biking, running and the occasionally kicking in swimming. Well that really didn't fit the plan, so we designed a modified routine that allowed me to training and still get better.
Somewhere in here is a lesson as Benny would so aptly write.
The hamstring tear which is very high up in the origin (a muscle has a top and bottom, the top is called the origin-where it starts, and the end is called the insertion-where it attaches to another body part for lack of a better term). The origin of the hamstring is deep under the butt or glute so the tear is under the butt muscle so its hard to get too without some painful manipulation. The effect of the tear right now is twofold, lack of power and knotting up of the hamstring in the bigger belly area of the muscle, which you would normally associate with that muscle if someone mentions it. It has affected all my training but really affected my running speed and distance. My ego is not blown by this, put the process is a limiter.
The other big problem, short term, is I am not acclimitizing to the heat well this summer. Normally I would do this through my runs, but my running is not as consistant. This has caused me considerable issues in getting runs in. I suffered heat stroke in 1993. Any person who survives a heat stroke can tell you that the body truly never recovers. Any person who tells you they have had heat stroke and treat it like its nothing, just part of a conversation, never had it, they had dehydration or maybe exhaustion. Heat stroke kills people. It put me in a coma. I began to vomit my instintines, stomach and lungs out. Not what was in them, but them. My core temperature was over 107* and my kidneys and liver started to shut down. It makes a person become much more suceptable to dehydration and exhaustion down the road. I have learned to adapt as best as any person can in the heat and do quite well when my body accepts the temperature, but this year has been a strain. So that's not helping.
Had a great winter and now summer is getting to me. My spirits are still high and I will get through these two macro issues of the training season, I just wish this year, of all years, I didn't have to go through it.
Perhaps this is a cautionary tale for the rest of you, spefically about heat injury. Stash water or have a SAG vehicle. We were lucky enough yesterday to have someone on a motorcycle who brought us water at the turnaround instead of us having to split up the run going into a General Store all sweaty. Be vigilant of your self and watch your buddy. Have the wherewithall to shut down the engine when you have reached a critical point. Have that crucial conversation with your partner, much like a drunk with keys.
My hamstring has still not healed and I am about half way through my modified rehab. The true course was to take 3 months off and focus strickly on re-hab exercises with low impact on leg exercise like oh say biking, running and the occasionally kicking in swimming. Well that really didn't fit the plan, so we designed a modified routine that allowed me to training and still get better.
Somewhere in here is a lesson as Benny would so aptly write.
The hamstring tear which is very high up in the origin (a muscle has a top and bottom, the top is called the origin-where it starts, and the end is called the insertion-where it attaches to another body part for lack of a better term). The origin of the hamstring is deep under the butt or glute so the tear is under the butt muscle so its hard to get too without some painful manipulation. The effect of the tear right now is twofold, lack of power and knotting up of the hamstring in the bigger belly area of the muscle, which you would normally associate with that muscle if someone mentions it. It has affected all my training but really affected my running speed and distance. My ego is not blown by this, put the process is a limiter.
The other big problem, short term, is I am not acclimitizing to the heat well this summer. Normally I would do this through my runs, but my running is not as consistant. This has caused me considerable issues in getting runs in. I suffered heat stroke in 1993. Any person who survives a heat stroke can tell you that the body truly never recovers. Any person who tells you they have had heat stroke and treat it like its nothing, just part of a conversation, never had it, they had dehydration or maybe exhaustion. Heat stroke kills people. It put me in a coma. I began to vomit my instintines, stomach and lungs out. Not what was in them, but them. My core temperature was over 107* and my kidneys and liver started to shut down. It makes a person become much more suceptable to dehydration and exhaustion down the road. I have learned to adapt as best as any person can in the heat and do quite well when my body accepts the temperature, but this year has been a strain. So that's not helping.
Had a great winter and now summer is getting to me. My spirits are still high and I will get through these two macro issues of the training season, I just wish this year, of all years, I didn't have to go through it.
Perhaps this is a cautionary tale for the rest of you, spefically about heat injury. Stash water or have a SAG vehicle. We were lucky enough yesterday to have someone on a motorcycle who brought us water at the turnaround instead of us having to split up the run going into a General Store all sweaty. Be vigilant of your self and watch your buddy. Have the wherewithall to shut down the engine when you have reached a critical point. Have that crucial conversation with your partner, much like a drunk with keys.
posted by Comm's @ 8:01 AM
9 comments
9 Comments:
another option, is to go into the general store all sweaty in a TRI suit that really shows off your package...
of course, this is Boulder... perhaps people are more tolerant here...
Commodore,
I do help that slowly you will heal up your hamstring. thanks for letting us know the danger effect of heat stroke. I will keep that in mind when training in the heat.
what happened yesterday man, did you get the same feelings coming on. We will get you to the start line and ready for it man that's why we are all in the club together, what ever you need I'll help.
You live in brutal temps. I don't know how you do it. You'll be better prepared for Kona someday! Watch that hammy. Are you getting massage as part of that rehab?
Bolder- Boulder is not Tortilla Flats a popular riding desination not for cyclists but Harleys and biker chicks. Shuffling through the check out line of the 200 sq ft general store nut to butt with a guy wearing leather britches and a gal with more tattoos than peircings while sweating buckets..ahhhh no.
Struggling to get into top form for some big races this year is not worth risking the ability to get into top form for races in all the subsequent years that may come your way. That is advice that I am trying to heed right now, it helps me to repeat it.
Take care of yourself.
Those are good points. Heatstoke isn't something to be messed with.
Good luck in healing your hammy.
Stay tuned...
I agree with Myles, maybe this is the year to back off to half IM's and recover so you can "live to fight another day" at the full IM.
Thanks for the heat stroke warning. I'll keep it in mind as our temps heat up in Florida. And, for what it's worth, I hope your season catches up with your endless drive and optimism.
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