training – Page 22 – fourwhitefeet

Not much training lately

Bonnie’s new trick.

I haven’t felt much like writing this week. Between compartment syndrome and stress fracture, it seems like my whole year is shot … at least as far as ultras. Mostly, I just love being out on the trails with my dog and that doesn’t look like it is going to happen anytime soon. And it’s hard to get motivated to train if Bonnie is not an active participant.

No real running (or walking for that matter) in nearly 4 months! I’m beginning to question whether I should think of myself a runner at all. (Of course, many people would question that just because I am so slow.) Realistically I don’t see how I can try another 100 this year (if ever) and possibly no 50’s. Then again being on DL may be a good thing for the compartment syndrome. 16 weeks since that injury and I still have numbness in my leg.

The good news, it’s Frisbee season and, though her endurance and fitness are way down, lack of exercise has made Bonnie more motivated than ever to play.

Hurt me!

I’ve had to take a few days off from swimming because my overzealousness resulted in a strained shoulder. (It’s a regular Laurel and Hardy show around here I tell ya!) Anyway, it gave me an idea for a new reality series. It would be similar to Biggest Loser. A bunch of ordinary people train for some athletic event, say a marathon or Ironman, and the person with the most self-induced injuries at the end wins the million dollars. I am sure I could beat anyone.

Seriously, one of my biggest challenges lately is to spin easy enough on my rollers to stay on for an hour or more without my foot hurting. How hard can that be? For me, pretty hard. I get nice and warmed up and start making deals with myself, “just one gear higher.” Before you know it my ride is over and an hour has not yet passed. Last night though, I made it 90 minutes! Woo! hoo! I’m not getting any stronger or faster, but it is probably good practice for ultras, whether on foot or on bike, to learn restrain my effort below injury level.

About two weeks have passed since I got the boot and not surprisingly, it is getting a little old. Gawd help my blog readers if I have to be in this thing seven weeks! ; ) It doesn’t help that the last few days have been beautiful southern Colorado weather; sunny and mild, 70-80 degrees, with a light breeze. (Ok, so you might call it a “strong wind” if you are from Vermont.)

First person to guess where this photo was taken gets first dibs on the “free for a limited time” offer to be posted next week.

Let the healing begin

The stress fracture that was not a stress fracture IS a stress fracture. It seemed pretty obvious when pointed out to me on the zoom-able, digital x-ray. I don’t know how I can possibly be ready for a 150 mile stage race in seven weeks. Maybe my boot will earn Bonnie and I sympathy points for our Frisbee freestyle routine. We can use all the help we can get and it certainly won’t improve our choreography.

Beautiful weekend

We have had great weather this weekend. Sunny and warm in the morning followed by mini-thunderstorms in the afternoon; perfect for those post-workout naps.

Saturday Bonnie and I went for a 3-hour hike. (I am still on the no-run plan.) I was in shorts and t-shirt. Pretty good for 10,000 feet in April. There is still lots of snow on the trails, especially on the west side of the valley, though you can’t see any in these photos.

Sunday, I took Bonnie for a short run with the bike and then went for 45 miles by myself. This was my first time on the road with aero bars and I am not confident enough with them to try pulling the trailer yet, though the aero bars are far less scary on the road than the rollers. I have fallen off my rollers about ten times since I installed the aero bars.