The 411 on 1202

The Road From Madison, Wisconsin to Paredeeville, Wisconsin
Goes Through Kentucky

It's been three months since I've registered an update, and what a three moons it's been: I've witnessed a most gruelling Wisconsin Ironman, and decided not to register for Ironman WI 2007, though I planned to train as though I were going to do the race; I finished the Devil's Lake Challenge---at the end of the pack, but in ecstasy (read the race report someday!); a couple of weeks later I learned that Ironman was opening a new course for 2007; still on a little sprint tri high, recognizing how beneficial it is to me to have Looming Dates and Goals, and with the support of a few key friends who will crew, I registered; on Thanksgiving, I did the Berbee Derby, a little 5k with a pal (read the race report here, sometime!), and now, here we are, two days into December, eight months and three weeks away from Louisville Iron Eve, August 25, 2007. The moon is almost full, as it will be on that night in August, and I am aware of how soon that day will be here and how long the journey ahead in that short time may be. The Ironman Kentucky website went live today. It looks like this thing is really happening!

The 411 now is that I'm nursing a couple of injuries, and struggling with my weight, trying to find the workarounds that will allow me to keep active and keep re-shaping myself while the injuries heal. I've come finally to accept the reality that this will likely mean I need to be in the pool at least five times a week. I miss being on the bike and know I need to work on my run, but there could be an up-side to this, if it kicks my swim up the several notches it needs to go and does that faster than I had anticipated. After all, I expect to walk the run, and if I am well, I will be able to make good gains on the bike come spring; the swim has been the great mystery, so focusing now on both technique and endurance could pay off big time come summer, as much as I don't enjoy changing clothes four times a day during Wisconsin's frigid winters.

I went for "pool therapy" a couple of days ago and was surprised to hear the PT say "your swim stroke isn't bad." Add to it that I happily swam from one end of the pool to the other like it was No Big Deal, and it's clear that I have come a distance since this adventure began. The other thing that was funny was that the PT encouraged me to use fins. I love fins, but had come to have the impression that using them was somehow cheating. So, I came home and read around my tri stuff and discovered that some coaches actually train athletes using fins to help with form. Today, I bought the fins, and I can't wait to get into the pool tomorrow and go a distance. The PT made me take back the AquaJogger I bought last weekend, after she stopped laughing about why I paid $56 for a couple of pieces of foam...So, I took that back, picked up the fins and a couple of swim caps and a pair of boy's swimming trunks---gender be damned!--and ended up $30 deeper in the proverbial hole. Such is the tri lifestyle.

Here's the other thing I'm learning. Everybody Has A Theory. I've been walking around Lake Monona every couple of weeks, just for fun and to help my slow twitch fibers get the message. I shared this with two different Ironman finishers last week, and one said "Gee, I wish I'd done more of that, since I ended up walking most of the marathon; good for you;" the other said, "Why the hell are you doing that? Who told you to do that? Sounds like junk training to me."
Oh, well...

This week I recieved two issues of Triathlete Magazine. Woo-hoo! I guess I'm in the club now. Someday, I want to have something published in Triathlete Magazine. They don't seem to have a humor column yet, so I think that could be my niche...

I've realized through PT that part of the problem with my knees, etc...is actually a back issue, which is likely part of the problem with the swim, too. So, if the fins will help me train my back to hold the proper position while I strengthen my hip flexor muscles in other ways, it can only benefit me in the big picture. So, that's about it: injured, 180, frustrated but hanging in here, eager to heal, patient with the process, excited about the changes that may come. Oh, yeah, and happy finally to have figured out that I needed a skewer for the bike trainer, which now sits proudly in my living room, ready to rock and roll...with one leg, of course.