2011

2011 will be the year that I not only walk, but run again. Yes, I said it. And I won't take it back.


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Happy holidays!

The girls and I would like to wish you and yours a very happy, safe holiday!



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Testing out BlogPress for the iPhone

I thought I might actually blog more if it were easier to do and I could write on the go. Hence Blog Press for the iPhone.

And while it works in theory, it's not so great in practice; the mistake prone iPhone keyboard forces me to write everything three times.

But at least I have iptions (or options).


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Seriously? My bitch of a post.

I should've stayed in bed today. I would've been much happier. Oh, except I couldn't because WE. DON'T. HAVE. HEAT. Perhaps not a big deal to someone in Florida, but considering we had a smallish snowstorm last night and high winds that brought the windchill factor down to the teens...well, guess what? It is a big deal.

And since I couldn't stay home, I had to venture into the office where walking conditions were dicey at best. It's pathetic when someone has to hold you by the elbow to make sure you don't fall. But the topper? The fire alarm. Yes, the fire alarm, which forced me to hobble down three flights of stairs and then stand outside on the slippery pavement. All because the kitchen downstairs burned something.

Finally, I would like to thank the individual (patient zero) who passed around the stomach bug that appears to have taken hold in my abdomen. Because the bronchitis wasn't enough. Nor the "are you kidding me" moments I had all morning. I have to feel like shit on top of it all.

Done. Ranting.

Heading into week 11

So it's been 10 weeks since the accident and I am itching to get off the crutches. I had been toying around with the idea of swimming, but holiday preparation and a guilty conscience have been conspiring against me.

So here I am entering into week 11 hoping I'll be cleared for some activity in three weeks. After all, I have three back-to-back trips next month...and I need to be able to walk through an airport and pull my luggage.

On a positive note, the bronchitis seems to be gone. I still have some coughing fits, but overall, seem to be on the mend.

On a completely separate note, I saw Inception last night. Wow. I really liked it, but it hurts my brain to think about it. I got lost in the levels and couldn't wrap my head around the concept of the "jump". Will probably need to see it a few more times (not nearly as many as Memento required).




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The hip...the lungs...where to start?

I broke down and went to the walk-in clinic on Sunday; I'd been coughing for three days non-stop and needed, you know, sleep. The doctor concluded I had bronchitis and loaded me up with a z-pack and cough syrup with codeine.

I definitely feel better than I did, but hate that now I not only can't walk, but I'm struggling with the breathing too.

Because you know, nothing says defeated like a broken hip/bronchitis combo. Oh, except a zombie extinction event. Can you tell I spent the weekend with The Walking Dead marathon?



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The hip

I haven't written much about the hip, mostly because I've been spending too much time dealing with the impact of breaking it. And because if I don't think about it too much, it's almost like it isn't there.

But, I will interrupt the silence with a slightly funny, slightly off color anecdote:

Last night, I attended the Forrester Technology Marketing Council's holiday dinner and had the privilege of sitting at a table of athletes, most of whom were bikers. But, what's really fascinating here is that we have much more in common than just sport. The woman to my right recently broke her clavicle and pelvis in a fall. The guy next to her had to have his elbow reconstructed. My friend to the left? No more knee cartilage, even after several surgeries to repair damage to his knee from soccer. And the guy to his left, well, he damaged his femur in a fall and had his hip replaced.

The five of us spent little time talking about work and more time discussing the nuances of our injuries, the risk/reward of surgery and whether or not we're still doing (or will do, in my case) the sports we love.

Strangely enough, I really enjoyed the dinner, company and conversation.


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ALCATRAZ Training - week 9 - Rest & Recovery

I've been beating my body up for the last eight weeks and am starting to pay for it. I have a very tender, sore shin and I'm worried it might be a stress fracture. A visit to the orthopod this week will determine, but I still have to take it easy.

That said, I'm not counting anything this week. If it gets done, then great. Otherwise, I'll resume the hours/mileage tabulation again next week.

Enjoy the time; I know I will!

ALCATRAZ Training - week 8 - Preparation

Still having shin pain, but I'm slogging through it. I haven't run in a week and I'm anxious to get outside. That said, I probably do another elliptical session (or two) before I start running again. Will also consider pool running, especially after swim sessions.

Monday
Planned - Bootcamp/Strength Class - 90 min
Actual - Stairclimber - 15 min/Bootcamp - 90 min

Tuesday
Planned - CompuTrainer Class - 60 min
Actual - CompuTrainer Class - 80 min

Wednesday
Planned - Swim - 2,500 yds - 90 min
Actual - Swim - 2,450 - 81 min

Thursday
Planned - OFF
Actual - OFF

Friday
Planned - Bootcamp Class - 60 min
Actual - Bootcamp Class - 60 min, Run - 21 min

Saturday
Planned - Computrainer Workout - 60 min, Run 15 min
Actual - CompuTrainer Workout - 80 min, Swim 15 min

Sunday
Planned - Swim -3,000 yds - 90 min, Elliptical or Run - 60 min
Actual - Swim - 2300 yds - 73 min,

TOTAL
Planned - 525 min
Actual -

ALCATRAZ Training - week 7 - Preparation

UPDATE 2/17: Snow screwed up my schedule. I should still make most (if not all) of my workouts...but just not on the days listed. ;-)

Shin is okay, but not great, hence the Elliptical.

Monday
Planned - Bootcamp/Strength Class - 90 min
Actual - Stairclimber - 10 min/Bootcamp - 90 min

Tuesday
Planned - CompuTrainer Class - 70 min
Actual - OFF (snow canceled classes)

Wednesday
Planned - Swim - 2,100 yds - 60 min, Run - 60 min
Actual - No swim (snow), Elliptical - 60 min

Thursday
Planned - OFF
Actual - Computrainer Workout - 80 min

Friday
Planned - Bootcamp Class - 60 min
Actual - Bootcamp Class - 60 min

Saturday
Planned - Computrainer Workout - 60 min
Actual - Computrainer Workout - 90 min

Sunday
Planned - Swim -3,000 yds - 90 min, Elliptical - 60 min
Actual - Swim - 2,500 yds - 80 min

TOTAL
Planned - 550 min
Actual - 470 min

ALCATRAZ Training - week 6 - Endurance

I was close last week, but didn't quite make my target. That said, I'm already off to a bad start this week. Petra came down with strep yesterday so I had to pick her up from school early. I had planned on going to the gym, but unfortunately, she started vomiting and was too sick for me to leave. So Monday was a complete loss; will try to make up later this week.

Monday
Planned - Bootcamp/Strength Class - 90 min
Actual - OFF

Tuesday
Planned - CompuTrainer Class - 70 min
Actual - 70 min

Wednesday
Planned - Swim - 2,000 yds - 60 min
Actual - Swim - 2,100 - 65 min

Thursday
Planned - Run - 60 min
Actual - Run - 63 min

Friday
Planned - Bootcamp Class - 60 min, Run - 60 min
Actual - Bootcamp Class - 60 min

Saturday
Planned - Computrainer Workout - 60 min
Actual - Computrainer Workout - 60 min

Sunday
Planned - Swim -3,000 yds - 90 min
Actual - Swim - 2,700 yds - 75 min; Elliptical - 60 min

TOTAL
Planned - 490 min
Actual - 453 min

ALCATRAZ Training - week 5 - Endurance

So I'm going to write using the actual vs. planned model I adopted last season. I'm still trying to work it all in, so no yelling at me if I miss a workout here or a workout there. Seriously, I'm working out more than I ever have, so I feel no remorse for missing one....now. Once travel slows down a bit (to once a month or so), I'll need to do a better job...so I don't bonk at ALCATRAZ.

Monday
Planned - Bootcamp/Strength Class - 90 min
Actual - 5 min stair climber/90 min Bootcamp

Tuesday
Planned - Run/Elliptical - 45 - 60 min
Actual - Run - 60 min

Wednesday
Planned - OFF
Actual - OFF

Thursday
Planned - BRICK - Cycle - 20 min, Run 60 min (treadmill at hotel)
Actual - 41 min - combo run, stair climb to 15th floor room (naive to think I could get such a long workout in while traveling)

Friday
Planned - Bootcamp Class - 60 min, Swim - 30 min
Actual - Bootcamp Class - 60 min

Saturday
Planned - Computrainer Workout - 60 min
Actual - Computrainer Workout - 70 min

Sunday
Planned - Swim - 2,800 yds - 90 min
Actual - Swim - 3,000 yds - 95 min

TOTAL
Planned - 455 min
Actual - 421 min

Workout. Travel. Workout. Travel. Workout.

That's been my life for two weeks now and with another trip on the horizon, my crazy schedule isn't getting better anytime soon.

But I promised JP I'd blog about the road to Alcatraz; he, in turn, promised me it would be worth looking back on the journey. So, here goes...

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Workouts have been fairly consistent; I'm logging anywhere from 7-9 hours per week and desperately trying to stay above 8. If I get it all in, I swim, run, bike and take a bootcamp/strength class twice a week. I've managed to do most of my running outdoors, but have relied on my elliptical more than once when the weather proves too much. I take a Computrainer cycling class Tuesdays (when I'm not traveling) and Saturdays at the Y and although it's tough, it's probably the best possible workout for me right now. The bike is a weakness and I need to build up as much power as possible.

Swimming continues to go well enough, but I'm still having some trouble with the breathing. I can swim much longer, much faster when I breathe each stroke, but I find that I have a better rhythm when I breathe every third. I've heard it takes 3-5 years to become a good swimmer, which means at a min, I still have two years to go. That said, I am in the pool every opportunity I get. And even though I'd like to perform better, I still manage upwards of 2,200 yds. each workout and have hit a high of 2,700. I need to get up to 3k per workout, so I'll be increasing yardage slowly each week.

Travel has certainly made my schedule more challenging, but I've managed to workout while on the road. Most of my travel has been to Denver, however, and the altitude is a kicker. Even in the 'burbs, the air is so thin, I feel like I have a six-pack a day habit once I start running.

I'm still in the Foundation stage of training, which will last six weeks (unless the coach decides I need another week or two) and then it's off to Intensity school. ;-) As if this hasn't been intense enough.

I plan to pop in and see JP next week; I can't believe we haven't trained together in four weeks. I miss our workouts and hope we'll be able to pick back up once this tri is over.

More updates to follow. Suffice it to say, I am well on my way to Alcatraz. 93 days and counting...