Training Camp 2010 - Part1

A main reason I have been somewhat 'quiet' over the blog in the past few months is that I have been dealing with injuries that seem to have come from nowhere, have no explanation, no end, and I don't know exactly how to deal with it. I don't want to complain - I had a completely pain and injury free 2009, maybe in some small way I feel like I deserve it after putting my body through so much in 2009 and coming out the other side.

Anyway, in the weeks leading up to camp, I was having major lower back pain. My chiropractor had diagnosed it as a tight/flared up SI joint, but nothing I was doing seemed to make it better- ART, rest, ice, strength, stretching, no running. Some days it felt fine, some days it was painful just to walk. I was getting discouraged and losing hope.

The week before camp, I took the week off from running and it was starting to feel better. Not running was frustrating as HELL, as my knee is finally feeling better and my running feels great right now (minus the searing pain in my lower back ha). However, I did something that left me in some of the WORST pain I have ever felt on Friday. The same Friday I was leaving for camp. Needless to say, I was NOT in a good place.

Friday, March 5

Depart NYC after work, hobble down my 4th floor walk up with my bag, gently lower myself into a plane seat, and pray my back allows me to DO SOMETHING at camp. I was feel sad and sorry for myself, doubting I should even be going to camp, felt like I was about to lose this amazing opportunity I had been given. I knew my team would be supportive of whatever I needed to do. If all I did was be the best swim coach I could be while in Florida, that was fine. But it wasn't ENOUGH. I was so ready and excited to put in the hours. I was feeling crushed. Arrived to Clermont, Fl about 11pm, picked up a few groceries, unpacked and prepared for our first ride the next morning. Many campers had arrived that morning and already completed a ride and run Friday.

Sat, March 6 - 30-minute easy run, 30+ mile bike ride, bike technique work, transitions practice.

By some miracle, I woke up on Saturday morning, after a restless and pitiful night's sleep, IN NO PAIN. I don't know if it was the adrenaline, the excitement, or the Aleve, but my back felt better. I do know it was NOT the warm Florida air, because it was COLD. Well, relatively cold, about 45-50. We did a quick 30 minute easy run and got our bikes together while we waited for it to warm up a bit.

We rode from the suburban neighborhood, straight out of Edward Scissorhands if you know what I mean, we were staying in to the Florida's Great Escape Triathlon race site, roughly 21 miles. I got a crash course to pacelining, riding my new saddle, riding my new bike, and navigating 2 lane 60-mph rodes with semi-trucks in 90 quick minutes. Luckily it warmed up, and we did a quick spin on the race course and worked on corning then flying mounts and dismounts.
We also found out at this point the swim for the triathlon the next day had been CANCELLED. Water was too cold. Bummer. HUGE bummer.

Sun, March 7- Florida's Great Escape (not) Triathlon - 18 mile bike/5 mile run
(plus 9 mile warm up ride, 1 mile run warm up/1 mile run warm down)

We rode 1 loop (9miles) of the course together as a team to warm up and my legs felt DEAD. And my crotch felt even WORSE. I seriously didn't know how I was going to race. This topped off by the fact that I had no idea how my run would feel (knee+back+NO speed work at all in 2010) left me a bit apprehensive going into the race. It ended up being a time trial start, they sent people into transition to grab their bike about 3-5 seconds apart.

The race was fine. I felt strong and good on my bike, still need to tweak my position a bit I think to get the most power out of my legs, and my run actually felt GREAT. I pushed it for about 3.5 miles, but then jogged it in as I knew I had a long week in front of me and didn't want to do any damage the second day in. I ended up with about a 7:35/pace, including much of the run on a sandy path, so I was VERY pleasantly suprised and and happy with that.

Monday, March 9 - 2.4 mile pool swim [coached], 45 HILLY BIKE

Monday morning, the team was in the water for an Ironman length swim. There is a large group on my team training together for Ironman Switzerland this summer, and I have the pleasure to be one of their swim coaches. We put together a great practice and they all did great and made a quick transition to the bike,

Then we biked. In hills. In Florida. I was confused as to WHERE these hills came from . Especially this one, known as 'Sugarloaf' Apprarently it's pretty famous in Florida.



I learned a lot about climbing on a triathlon bike, and I think this was somewhat of a 'breakthrough' ride for me. I actually enjoyed most of it.


Tuesday, March 10 - MY FIRST CENTURY!!



This deserves it's own post...so more later.