Coming back from an injury (MAF Related)

I have lost a ton of fitness since IMKY. I knew this was going to happen as I was down and out of it quite a bit.

Prior to Ironman Kentucky, I was swimming, biking, and running on average 20 hours/week, with quite a few bigger weeks (big weekend training...fri, sat, sun). Last year, I did have an initial setback prior to Ironman Lake Placid, and had to cancel the race and take 10 days off. This was from my my Med Express incident (heart cath, asthma). During this injury period, I did loose quite a bit of fitness. Once I became healthy and able to train my initial MAF field tests showed a much slower pace/mile than before my injury. Fortunately with only 10 days off, it didn't take me long to get back to where I left off. I credit this to Chuckie and a few weeks of hitting it pretty good.

After Kentucky, I was down and out of it on a lot of levels. I didn't want to see a pool, bike, or even my Newtons. I hated Ironman, I hated working out, I wasn't eating and quickly dropped a bunch of weight. I had a few people tell me I looked like a cancer patient. I wasn't physically injured, just a combination of burn-out and other things. Well it has taken me a long time to get back into it, but I am happy to say, things are going quite well with training. Im doing the bare minumum, but compared to 3 weeks ago, I am at least able to ENJOY it again. This is KEY.

So fast-forward to my latest MAF test I did. WOW. I was running 10.5-11min miles at my MAF HR. This is an eye-opener. I am not concerned too much about it, as I will get back to it, but I was shocked at how quickly your engine can erode. On the flipside, it was a break that was needed for me.

Happy Turkey Day and Happy Training.

CK

Check out this climb!

Stolen from KP. Thanks Dude.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82pktbqNJSg

Weekend Ahead

This picture is a turtle that we shot (not literally) on our trip to the Big Island. The darn thing looks dead. Your not allowed to touch the turtles (protected animals), but this one was alive and well. He is so wiped out from swimming in the rough surf he needed a break. I think at certain times of our life, we can all relate to the turtle.

This weekend should be straight-forward. Clean the house, paint the trim, wax on, wax off, side by side, make sure Xmas lights work, and watch the OSU game. Oh and I guess I will try to squezze in a bit of stress relief:

Friday the plan is to run.
Saturday the plan is to swim and bike.
Sunday the plan is to ride.

Monday the plan is to look back and see if I was able to complete a nice 3 day block.

Cross your fingers!

Oh, and yesterday I did run. I ran very fast. So fast I forgot how far I went, and how long it was. Much like the turtle.

Running away

From all that cold. It was chilly out yesterday on my run. 6 miles in all.

Jedi Mind Tricks

Well, training was certainly at a low point since my last post. Not much at all. I am not complaining as at least I have my health.

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were tough days to get anything in. Lots happening. So I had another setback. 3 days off. Suck, suck, suck.

So I decided on Sunday, I needed to use the force and start playing Jedi mind tricks on myself. With a finger swing in the air, I told myself I need to train. For my sanity if anything else!

Jedi to Chris - "No matter how crappy you feel come Monday, you will train.
Chris to Jedi - "Yes Master, I will train".

Chris to self - "You have gone completely nuts".


Monday - 6miles, weights, and a bit of a ride!!!!

Later.

Let's make it a triple!

And no, I don't mean a triple with cheese. I am talking about 3 workouts in a day. This is actually quite normal for most, and in fact, it was normal for me last year, just not lately.

Today, that's going to change. I have two down and one to go, later tonight.

Run early - 6 miles (check, done, finished)
Weights - 40 min routine that was killer
Bike? I need to make this happen tonight!

Tuesday

Well...I did get up...a bit late...so my run suffers...

5 miles...9min mile pace....i am the tortoise! Started the morning off well, with an orange, small coffee (back to decaf), and a slice of wheat toast with honey....yum.

Monday - Sh!t didn't happen today

No training. Consider this an off-day.

Bad day all around. Can't sleep, probably won't for a while. I hope to get my ass up in the morning.

Saturday Run

7 Miles. Very slow. Kept HR in check.

Also had a bit of aerobic work in the basement building walls. Fun stuff.

Friday Fun

Swim - 1500Meters

I didn't forget how to swim...thankfully...

Stroke still needs a ton of work. Arms were fatigued towards the end. It's hard to realize just a short time ago, Chuckie had me swimming 6,000meters on some days. It's still the Off-Season!

A nice 2 workout day....


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Run - 6 miles

Woke up this morning...couldn't sleep much at all.

Headed for the gym and ran for 6 miles on tready. Hoping to flop later this afternoon if all goes well with work.

Took advantage of the weather and hung some Xmas lights....I know it's early, but I was in shorts!

Where did it all go?

Crap, crap, crap.

I ran today with a HRM. I have lost a lot of fitness. Sh!t.

5 miles. HR was near 170 a few times.

Back to MAF.

Off-Season...The Work Begins Now

Well....

I have taken a bit of time off. Not exactly by choice, but let's just say, it was needed. After a long season and all the training last year, I have been on a break. I do like triathlons and I know that my kids feel it's a part of who their dad is.

So not sure what my point is, but I do like to swim, bike, and run. I will need to take it slow...and not get too carried away. My close friends say that I am a "Man of Extremes". I can't do anything in moderation. Whether it's ironman, relationships, work, kids, etc. My goals over the next season are simple.

Have FUN and be there for my kids.

I have to fix some medical things (take my daily meds), so I will be able to race all my races and not have to walk. My asthma seemed to rear it's ugly head at the worst times last year...and not during training.

So let me be the first to say...Chris...get your ass up off the floor and take care of yourself.......

I'm off to run....