Boston’s Run To Remember
Half Marathon – Boston, MA
May 24, 2009
Results
13.1 miles
1:22:54
26th place overall of over 4000
11th place age group M30-39
Pictures
Mile 8: After the turn-around on Memorial Drive, holding onto pace before the gradual slow down started.
Finish: Held on for a 6:20 pace overall. Legs were too tired from 100 mile bike ride and 5 mile brick run two days earlier.
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Posted by ironboy
Boxford Distance Triathlon
Simulated Race
Stiles Pond, Boxford, MA
Saturday, May 9 2009
Distance Triathlon Course
Swim: 1.4 miles – Out and back to lifeguard stand.
Bike: 84 miles – 3 loops of 28 mile rolling hills course (many long flats to rolling, two steep hills).
Run: 13.1 miles – 2 loops of a rather challenging rolling hills course.
Results
Swim: 37:12 (splits 17:55, 19:16)
T1: 8:26
Bike: 4:14:36 (19.8 mph – splits 1:21, 1:25, 1:27)
T2: 6:34
Run: 1:32:59
Finish: 6:38:32
“All roads to Coeur d’Alene go through Boxford…”
Several months ago a few of my Trifury teammates discovered that one of our token training races was downgraded from a half Iron distance triathlon to a half Iron LITE. Since the race was supposed to be a key event in our build up to Ironman Coeur d’Alene, the lowered distances rendered it not worth our while. Chatter of other possible races ensued, which in turn led to discussions of winging our own simulated race. With no other race nearby, and many of us unwilling to travel for one, the Boxford Distance Triathlon (BDT) was born.
The BDT was a brainchild of my teammate Robin, who unselfishly took the reigns in organizing and directing this simulated race. She did such a phenomenal job that what could have otherwise been a low key solid training day instead turned into a signature, fun event that had race flair on the swim, bike, and run courses. Her attention to detail – kayakers on the swim course, volunteers with water bottle exchange on the bike, fully stocked aid stations on the run, commemorative tech t-shirts, a post-race party – made it easy to get into race mode.
But none of this would be possible without the amazing support of the volunteers. From husbands and wives to children and even mothers and grandmothers, the helpers made it special.
All I had to do was race. And race I did!
Swim
With ten official starters standing attention in waist-deep water, Robin started the day with a “Go!”
Right away I fell into pace behind Robin. The other eight were somewhere behind. The water was cold at first, enough to rob a few breaths, but within a few minutes settled to comfortable.
Out to the lifeguard stand, I continued to trail Robin by several strokes. I was never close enough to draft, but I was close enough to contemplate a push to catch up. Being my first open water experience of the season, I was worried about going too hard in the beginning, so although we were swimming a similar pace, I decided to keep effort steady.
Just as I touched the lifeguard stand, Robin started back. Not long after, I made a push to catch up. Now with us swimming side by side, I remembered how Robin and I were pretty well matched in the swim, usually with me always chasing her.
We pushed each other for a short while longer before we each took a different path to the beach. Still pushing hard, near all out and feeling good but fatigued, I fell a few strokes behind Robin and, when we climbed out of the water, she proved too strong, taking top honors by several seconds.
T1
Transition was the parking lot to the beach. I was slow, but this not being a race, I took my time. Having the bike stuffed in the car wasn’t exactly ideal anyway, so I had to pull it out, stock it up with nutrition and Gatorade bottles, and set the computer.
Bike
The bike was two loops of a 28 mile course for 56 miles in all. Since I had lost many weekends due to an injury, I needed this weekend to be more than just 56 miles, so I decided to do three loops for 84 miles.
I purposely started out fast. I wanted to break into the lead, free and clear of others, so that I could slip into the feel of the race. Plus, whenever I start on the hard side, I always continue the same effort throughout. I had a secret goal of catching the slowest rider, but I knew it would be a steep, even unreachable, goal.
The first loop was, as expected, fast. I tried to keep cadence well above 90 at most times, and I was sure to get on top of my nutrition. Although every now and then rain would spit from the sky, the course was otherwise dry.
Another goal for the bike was to have as even splits as possible. I knew this wouldn’t happen because of how hard I was pushing. And on this course, one with a little bit of everything – flats, gentle rollers, steep rollers, short hills, long steep hills, even windy sections – it would be nearly impossible.
Impossible it was. First loop was 1:21, second 1:25, third 1:27, and I did not catch anybody. Which by then was cool because even though I knew I wouldn’t catch anything but maybe a fly between my teeth, I let myself believe someone was just up the road for the motivation it gave. That enabled me to hold strong mentally and physically on that last lap even when it started to get ugly.
As I rolled toward the end of the bike, now 84 miles later, although my legs were fried I knew I’d be able to run. Experience told me so. In fact, because this was not an official race, I didn’t even think twice about it.
Best part was that I felt I could have done another loop of the bike course, which would have given me the 112 miles of Ironman, but I know it would have gotten much uglier, especially on the hills, because the hills were already getting pretty pathetic in my ability to climb efficiently.
T2
Coming into Transition I saw a Trifury member heading out onto the run course. I gave encouragement and promptly tossed my bike in the car, downed a salt tab, and slipped into my run gear. Just then Daysman came over to tell me of the woes that cut his day short, a completely severed bike tire. Poor guy. I know it sucked for him, but of all people for this to happen to, he has the best attitude. In fact, it’s something I draw on time and again, because I’ve seen it from him time and again – always quick with a smile, looking at the bright spots, noticing the good.
Run
The run course is where the real fun started.
Where in most races the run, for me, signifies the beginning of the fun because I can usually run at pace, this time it was that plus the fruits of Robin’s laboring as race director coupled with seeing teammates on the course and getting on the catch.
Quick on my feet, in no time I settled into a pace a bit faster than Ironman pace. I had wanted to work on race pace but felt much better than expected so decided to pick it up so that my breathing was as labored as it could be without getting out of control. It was more like half Iron race pace, but just a touch slower.
Out to the turnaround over this rolling hills course, the humidity and heat turned up. I stayed on top of hydration and nutrition and was able to stay focused throughout. It was fun seeing others coming and going all over the course.
Aid stations were an unexpected treat; they were fully stocked (although I didn’t use them but for water since I went into this expecting none at all) with both water and Gatorade and bananas and Gels oh my, and even more fully stocked with the energy of enthusiastic volunteers cheering, waving hands, standing ready with cups of water, asking well in advance what we needed so that by the time we were at the table, are requests stood tall.
As I neared the end of the run, up the last climb I went, now only a half mile from the finish, I made a fist and thrust it in the air. It was not for the completion of the long day but rather for the feeling as if I could easily do this loop at least one more time. And if I could do it for one more time, I could certainly dig deep for yet another – a full marathon. The pace would likely turn to plod, but I knew I could have done it.
Tony, who took first, looked strong and always had words of encouragement, if not quick wit. Veronica looked fast! Lisa, focused and definitely in a zone, was steady and nipping at Tony’s heals by 4 minutes. At one point I told her to put on the catch, “Tony’s ahead by 4 minutes. If you got it, put on the chase now.” She gave me a smile back that said, ‘Whatever, dude.’ Robin, sturdy and consistent as ever, gave her usual smile. Then was Terry, marching along looking relaxed. And Joceyln, who never fails to amaze me with not only her attitude but also her consistency. She hits the finish line looking as if she had just started. Her expression says, ‘One more time… who’s with me.’
They made it fun. Robin’s detail made it fun. The volunteers being family and totally getting this made it fun. And my teammates. Fun. All pushing ourselves and each other. Even more fun!
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Posted by ironboy
May Goals
1) CdA Decision – Get in enough quality long rides to be able to make a decision on CdA. It might be tough to get in the work I need due to weather and a busy travel month for me, but I think that even if I can’t get in a crazy long, I should be able to get in something to at least give me the sign.
2) Swim – Convert routine to open water. Continue in pool at least once per week on speed and PB drills.
3) Bike – Long. Need long. Feel good while out there. Only quality. And continue the hill work. Get climbing back to where it was. Work on cadence. It’s coming along nicely, but just keep on.
4) Run – Continue speedwork on TM. Get mile repeats up to 5. Toss in a few longer runs toward month’s end. Got a half marathon at end of month. If I’m not riding long in the days before it, shoot for an all-time PR or as close as possible to 1:20.
5) Brick – Get brick runs back to hammerfests. I don’t care how I feel on them as long as I’m moving with purpose.
Lofty goals, but except for my “injury months,” my goals have been this way.
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Posted by ironboy
April Recap
Against previously stated goals.
1) Boston Marathon – Run Boston under the injury redline where I feel as if I might do damage, whatever pace that might be.
DONE. KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK WITH A 3:02! FELT GOOD. INJURY NOT ONLY STAYED AT BAY BUT GOT BETTER.
2) Ironman Coeur d’Alene/Season Decision – Gather information from all doctors’ visits on my injury, assess where I am with the injury in relation to where I need to be in order to compete for a Kona slot in Idaho, and make a decision on go or no go.
If go, season is on… all bets are on! Coeur d’Alene is a go, and the goal is Kona!
If no go, I will more than likely take a huge step back from the intensity, maybe even a half year off from the more structured training and gear up for Worlds in October as my A-race for the year, with just a few shorter races late summer leading up to it.
Monthly workouts for April will hinge on the above. Right now it’s looking like a no go. But I’ll likely wait until after Boston to make the call.
STILL NO DECISION, BUT I AM FAR CLOSER TO A YES FOR CDA THAN EVER BEFORE. INJURY HAS HEALED SUBSTANTIALLY WHERE I’M BACK TO HITTING IT HARD IN ALL AREAS, INCLUDING THE RUN. BUT INJURY CAUSED A SERIOUS LACK OF BIKE MILES. SO THESE NEXT FEW WEEKS COMING UP WILL HOLD THE KEY. IF MY BIKE IS WHERE IT SHOULD BE, CDA IS A GO. IF I STRUGGLE ON THE BIKE ON THOSE LONGER RIDES, CDA IS OFF. I WANT TO COMPETE AT CDA. THAT IS THE GOAL. AND IF I CAN’T DO THAT I WILL SAVE THE MONEY, SAVE THE TRAINING HOURS, AND BAIL. SO ALTHOUGH I AM MUCH CLOSER TO A DECISION I AM STILL NOT THERE.
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Posted by ironboy
Boston Marathon
113th Running
Hopkinton to Boston, MA
Monday, April 20, 2009 – Patriots Day
Results
Finish: 3:02:53
Pace: 6:58 min/mile
1651* place of 26,000 overall
1st Half: 1:31:38
2nd Half: 1:31:15**
*Overall place beats bib number! J
**Negative split!
Complete splits at end. (Check out how even they are!)
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2652 |
Kirleis, Thor |
39 |
M |
North Reading |
MA |
USA |
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Race Report
Residual fitness.
Those were the two words I uttered most in the days leading up to the 113th running of the Boston Marathon. They, I knew, would hold the key to my race, if even I could race. Residual fitness, and the unknown of its depth, was what had me kicking expectations to the curb with my throwaway clothing at the start line in Hopkinton.
I had wished I wasn’t in this position, but having come down in January with an injury, my worst in years, that shortcut my training to only two long runs, zero speed work, and sadly very few runs longer than 4 miles, I knew that my 48th go at the marathon distance and 10th Boston of all time, including now 5 years in a row, hinged on my residual fitness and experience from years of running marathons. Could having run several marathons last year, the last of which was over 4 months ago, be good for something – like perhaps ensuring I could finish with a smile on my face? Never did I imagine just how deep that fitness would be.
Besides residual fitness and experience, I had at least something in my favor. In the last month, my injury had healed enough to permit me those two long runs. But the injury, always present, nagging away, did not allow me to hit pace. My last mile at pace, where I was close to or at top end speed, was back in January, before the injury flared. That was the case until two weeks ago. That was when my legs suddenly started feeling strong. I was able to work my way up close to race pace. Better yet my leg turnover was awakening.
With this glimmer of hope, I decided to test myself with two mile repeats the Wednesday before the race. Instead of focusing on a set pace to run, so as not to compare against pre-injury pace, I decided to run at a sturdy effort, one I could hold for a mile or longer. To my surprise, it actually felt easy, the injury at bay, and the pace, although not top end, was good – good enough for me to formulate a race plan.
The goal: I wanted to have the best race I could with what I had. Not with what I had last year, but with what I had today. So I would throw away any notion of time goals and instead go by effort. The plan was to settle into a comfortable yet brisk pace in the early miles, with breathing mostly under control, and hold that effort for as long as possible. Pace would be what it would be. I would focus only on effort and my breathing. And if at any time the injury felt as if it would redline, or if my residual fitness was too weak, then I would dial effort way back and turn my race into a fun run – maybe even a beer run from Boston College on in to Boylston.
And so I was prepared. I was prepared for my lack of training. And I was prepared for what would be, I was sure, my toughest marathon in years. There was no way my residual fitness could that deep.
Race
Race morning came quickly. Up and right to it, gathering my belongings, getting breakfast and off to race site, where I met up with running buddies John (doing his 10th marathon, 6th Boston) and Natasha (2nd), and Team LIT members Adam and Monica (both doing their 1st) in the Athlete’s Village up at the Hopkinton High School. After a few giggles and good luck wishes, I slipped into my race gear and made my way to the starting line.
Pre-Race: Wishing John an awesome race in the Athlete Village.
Having been injured for several months and knowing I would not match the finish time of my qualifying race, a 2:59 at the London Marathon a year earlier, I decided to drop back from the 2nd corral to the 3rd. I didn’t want to hold up those runners looking to make a break.
Now in staged in the 3rd corral, I listened to the nervous chatter jumping about before joining along. Just as I learned a bit about a Matt from Seattle, the National Anthem came followed by a flyover followed by the start. Nearly a minute and twenty seconds later, I was across the starting line and on my way, a sea of runners flowing through the streets, destination Boston!
The first several down hill miles, I knew, would tell me much about the rest of the day. It was those miles where I wanted to find that comfortable yet brisk pace, as long as I didn’t feel the injury too badly as if to do damage, and settle in.
Sticking with plan, I found that comfortable pace by mile 2. My leg turnover was good. My breathing was under control. The early miles ticked by much more quickly than I imagined, but all systems were good, and so I tried to stay even but, due to predominant down hill running early on, not apply the breaks. Through mile 6 I was hitting 6:59’s or 7:00, thinking the faster pace, even though it is a bit shy of my race pace, was attributable to the fast down hill start.
Mile 1 – Chatting it up with a fellow runner (me in black vest).
Miles 7 through 11 were much of the same. I made sure the pace was brisk but still comfortable and always even. I didn’t have the base mileage to vary much. This I knew, so I focused on being even and using my strengths in charging the hills but not killing them. Pace varied from pre-injury race pace (6:50ish) to 7:00. I was dialed in.
But by mile 8 my lack of training reared its ugly head. Although my breathing was still under control – labored but manageable – my body was already feeling beat up. One thing I have learned through my many marathons is that this is the sort of pain you not only can ignore, but you have to ignore it, otherwise it becomes mental, and when the going gets tough, it will get deeper into your head and take you down.
Feeling the toll of the pounding so early, I made a point to hold back on the down hills. As much as I would have loved to open my stride and make up serious time on those downs, I knew – I just knew – I had to constrain myself. And so I did.
By mile 12, just as I was approaching Wellesley college and the “tunnel of noise,” as I call it, I had turned focus exclusively to running and conserving. There were no more conversations with other runners. Just me focused on racing. Because it was now that I knew that I was racing. I knew it earlier, as the effort was definitely there, but it was only now, being nearly half way through the distance, that I allowed myself to think this way. I had feared that if I slipped into that mode too early, my lack of training would kick me hard in the ass somewhere on the Newton hills. Although I still feared that, I knew to take control of my thoughts, permit nothing negative, and stay positive if not focused.
Through the half marathon mark in a surprising 1:31:38, good for a 6:59 minute per mile pace, I restrained judgment on my race so far and stayed focus on exerting race effort. If I thought too much about the pace, seeing it was much faster than I had imagined, I would have purposely slow it down, thinking, convincing myself I knew, it was too fast. So I focused on effort and kept ripping off steady miles at brisk pace.
The first real test came with the hill leading up over the Rt. 128 highway interchange. Shortening my stride, I tipped my head slightly down but still with eyes trained hard on the far top of the hill, I tucked in behind the next runner, then the next, and then the next as I passed throngs of runners now starting to show fatigue. Not me, I was good. As fans cheered, I smiled back with a sense of hope for the remainder of the Newton Hills. It was then when I realized just how deep my residual fitness was. But could it really be that strong? Or would the cord finally snap over the next of the hills?
By the second of the Newton hills, my body was feeling pretty beat up, but I was otherwise feeling no different than any other marathon at this point on the course. So although I was now pushing harder, exerting much more effort, and breathing more heavily, to my surprise my pace was still spot on consistent. Even over the hills.
Next up was Heartbreak Hill. I knew that if I got over the infamous hill in good stead, I would likely be able to cruise over the last mostly down hill 10K to the finish. Up and over I went in a workmanlike manner, head tipped down, eyes trained up, stride short, kick good, cadence high, I got way over to the side of the road so that I could make wholesale passes without getting bogged down or being cut off by those dropping like flies, as was happening. I remained focused, and now, whenever I’d wonder if my residual fitness really could be this good, or maybe it was just a fluke, I cut out those thoughts in fear of them becoming reality and kept focus on effort and breathing under control.
As much as I stayed focused, I couldn’t believe that through all four hills of Newton, never once did my pace drop more than just up hill running. I knew this meant that my effort was steady, and steadily increasing at that, and I was in decent shape to punch it on home.
At this point, now flying by Cleveland Circle, I pushed pace so that it dropped back well under 7:00’s. This was the effort I thought I could hold until a mile left. I always focus that way because I know that that’s the only marker you need to reach, because even if you have nothing remaining in the tank, the magic known as the greatest finish line in all of sports will suck you in the rest of the way.
Too tired to look at my watch and breathing hard, I had missed many of my last splits. So I figured with a 1:31 first half and a slight slow down on the Newton hills, I was good for a 3:06 finish, 3:05 best.
This gave me more of a boost because I knew that no matter what happened from here until the end, I had a Boston Qualifier, and I’d have an even better one than my last marathon. I knew this meant that next year, the 114th running of the Boston Marathon, I would be in the 2nd or 3rd corral, the same as this year. This victory made me smile as I was now using other runners to break the wind as I approached and then slingshot around only to launch behind the next for another go.
Cruising down Commonwealth avenue, I crossed mile marker 23. The timing clock, rocking in the wind, read 2:42 and change. Quick math, minus the time it took me to cross the start, made me realize that if I could rip off a final 5K at under 6:00 minute miles, I could come damn close to breaking three hours.
Whereas only a few hours earlier I was wondering just what this day would bring, wondering, even preparing for, one of my toughest marathons ever due to lack of proper training due to injury, the notion of Sub-3 hours excited me. Heck, even close to three hours was awesome.
That’s when I decided to dig deep into my core and give it everything I had. I owed it to myself to at least see what I had in me. I pushed and pushed and pushed. I stayed compacted, let other break wind as I tucked behind to slingshot again, and kept it all on redline. Mile 24 came and, seeing a 6:43, I knew I wouldn’t do it. But no matter. On a day with no expectations, I did all right, for I knew I would hold this effort the rest of the way.
Suddenly at Mile 25, still pushing redline, holding on but in control, my calf and foot twitched hard. Almost stumbling, I balanced myself with a few awkward strides and took the effort back a notch more for what is the very best finishes of all marathons.
Under the Mass Ave overpass, where I looked for John’s family but didn’t see them, right on Hereford, I raised my arms to the crowd. As if a conductor, I relished the moment, waving the crowd into cheers. Pointing at little kids, even big kids, and acknowledging with a smile or thumbs up. Left on Boylston comes the most magnificent sight, the street far and wide, lined 10 deep with throngs of people, the finish line still so far down the road, granting minutes of greatness, a time long enough to soak it in, drink its fine wine and lavender spirits, to set memory forever the thrill of victory, a hard fought well earned battle.
I love Boston. For 3 hours and 2 minutes I loved it with my legs. For the rest of my life I will love it in my core. The Boston Marathon. Dream it. Achieve it. Be there!
Splits
1 – 7:18
2 – 6:57
3 – 7:00
4 – 6:59
5 – 6:59
6 – 6:55
7 – 6:50
8 – 6:57
9 – 6:56
10 – 6:55
11 – 7:01
12 – 6:55
13 – 7:03
1st Half (13.1) – 1:31:38 (6:59 avg pace)
14 – 6:53
15 – 7:02
16 – 6:59 (hills begin, effort increases)
17 – 6:59
18 – 7:06
19 – 6:58
20 – 7:04
21 – 7:15 (heartbreak hill)
22 – 6:50
23 – 6:48 (tried to see if I had 6 min miles in me to break 3-hours.)
24 – 6:43 (didn’t have 6:00’s in me, so maintained increased effort.)
25 – 6:55 (injury twitched, please not now!)
26 – 6:50 (cruised on in whooping up the crowd.)
26.2 – 6:50
2nd Half (13.1) – 1:31:15 (6:57 avg pace)
Finish: 3:02:53 (6:58 pace)
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Posted by ironboy
Triathlon was always something other people did. Not me. I could not swim. In fact, I did not swim. I wouldn’t even try. A near-drowning when I was a kid made sure of it.
The experience was still, 30 years later, so vivid and acute. I could still see my body being pushed into the deep end of the pool. I could still see myself plummet into the depths of the water, screams coming out of my mouth apparent only by the chaotic bubbles rushing upwards, me in sudden panache, knowing I would die, trying to hold my breath. Then something grabbing me, yanking me to surface, pulling me from water to deck. A hand pounding my back. Then suddenly a cough, then another, with water shooting from my mouth, I cried. And cried.
And I never forgot. Nor did I forgive. Water was evil. It was for other people. Not me. I didn’t swim. I did not want to swim.
Which was a shame. All of it. Because of the goals I formed as a wide-eyed sports-active kid. Watching the annual running of the NYC Marathon on TV year after year helped me form the goal of running a marathon. That I could do. Another was, after watching airing of the Race Across America, I wanted to ride my bike across the United States. I even knew the route I would one day take. And the last was, after being moved by it on TV, was to do an Ironman, only this was one goal that, quite sadly, I would never achieve. Because it involved swimming, something I had no interest in.
Over the following years, I went on to run many marathons and even go on crazy cycling adventures, never across the US, but certainly enough to satisfy both childhood dreams. But the other, Ironman, would never happen. In fact, it wasn’t even an option. So I ignored it by thinking up other goals in its place.
Until one day my wife (girlfriend at the time) announced that she wanted to do a triathlon. And she wanted me to do it with her. I laughed the idea off. The notion of me swimming was too far reaching to the point it was silly. I didn’t swim. Swimming was for other people.
Months went by. During this time my wife made only trace mention of her intentions with me all but ignoring her plea that I do a triathlon with her.
And then 4th of July came when we found ourselves at a family reunion in which we, along with family, were putting a huge dent in a full keg of Heineken.
My wife brought it up again. Only this time she didn’t wait for me to brush off the notion as silly. Instead, she talked right over me.
“Do it with me,” she said, “you will do awesome.”
But I don’t swim.
“And then you will want to do another.”
I don’t swim. Water is for other people.
“We could go down to Miami for our birthdays. There’s a half Iron on your birthday. You could do the half; I could do the shorter one.”
Miami?
“And after that we can go to Germany for World Cup. You can do Ironman Germany; it’s around the same time.”
In a drunken-dare dream, even before I agreed to do a triathlon with her, I confessed my childhood dream of one day doing an Ironman.
Less than two months later we, together, did a sprint triathlon in Rhode Island called Try the Tri. That day I stared perhaps my greatest and deepest rooted fear in the eyes, one I’ve carried for nearly 30 years, and I kicked that son of a bitch right in the teeth. I went into the water that day with the idea that I might not come out. That is no exaggeration. I struggled in the water, it sucked, and at times I thought I might not make it, but I did. That day I crawled out of the ocean dead last of 200 others. I went on to finish in the top 30.
The rest, as they say, is history, one carved, almost to the path, by my future wife.
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Posted by ironboy
Revolution3 Triathlon: www.Rev3Tri.com
Coupon Code: NSS135 ($10 dollars off registration fee – register thru. website.
Being a member of Team Trakkers affords me the opportunity to pass along a Coupon Code for $10 off registration fees for Rev3Tri on June 7th in Middlebury, Connecticut.
Feel free to pass this code along to friends, clubmates, or even to broadcast freely.
The code does not expire, nor is it limited.
If you haven’t visited race website in a while, check it out (www.Rev3Tri.com). Published now are course profiles, including videos!
And if you’re thinking about doing the race, know that race site is in an amusement park — how cool is THAT! — which is great for families and friendly gatherings before, during, and after the race!
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Posted by ironboy
This sucker got me good… I’m still injured.
At this point the injury has gotten better, but it’s still limiting and even draining. It is limiting in that my run mileage is down, considerably, and I’m not able to hit pace. It is draining in that I have to put out a great amount of effort to hit an even basic, slow pace. Not sure how that works, but I’m guessing that even though the injury sometimes feels better (but still there) it is, well, still there with my body having to compensate, and the only way that happens is with me putting out more energy.
I’ve been laying low for the most part, trying to heal this, but so far the doctors progrnosis for a full heal has been spot on: it’s a pesky injury that will be frustratingly and perhaps even excruciatingly slow to heal. And there’s not much I can do to speed it along. Not even full rest would do it.
At this point I’m also preparing myself mentally for all sorts of outcomes. If I cannot get the injury to go completely away by May time frame, give or take a bunch of weeks, I may toss in the towel on my June Ironman. Even if I could slug through the marathon, if I can’t get to my previous level, I will likely bail. The idea is to compete, not just complete. And if I can’t compete for a Kona slot, then it is not worth it for me to continue through the rigors of Ironman training, or even half Iron training.
And so I am preparing for the worst but hopeful for the best.
Either way things turn out, it has been a very good run for me. I have achieved far more than I ever dreamed in this sport, so if I have to toss in the towel on a race or two or even the entire season, I will still hold my head high and plan to come back even better.
If the injury doesn’t get considerably better soon, the hard task moving forward will be when to make that call. I don’t want to wait too long where I’ve already commit time and money in a trip to Coeur d’Alene, but I also have to be smart and honest with myself.
Stay well!
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Posted by ironboy
And in the 5th year just shy of month number 3, after a string of running, for the most part, injury-free for at least a mile every day… I got injured!
In hindsight, I actually I felt this sucker coming about a month ago, only at that point it felt no different than any other ping or pang you push aside and run through.
This time that ping was more than a pang or even a niggle. It was an injury that just recently flared to something more severe.
It happens. It’s par for the course of long distance running. I have been relatively injury-free through nearly 30 marathons, three Ironmans, and even two world championships. My time has come.
Either way, please don’t feel bad for me. These things happen. It’s a great opportunity for me to focus more on cycling and swimming and resting my running legs and body from the pounding so that I can come back, whenever that might be, even stronger, even faster, and with even more lofty goals.
To the doctor I went.
Summary: Doctor thinks that I have most likely strained deeply the soleus muscle in the calf or a muslce or something behind it but deep within the lower leg just above the ankle. The other issues he seemed much less interested in. I’m not sure I buy it just yet. But I have some “tests” to try to perhaps yield a bit more information.
More…
With this doctor’s visit, I don’t think I learned so much about what the problem is as I did what it isn’t. He does not think I have any sort of stress-fracture, which is usually the culprit when so much pain is involved and usually the end-all type of injury that forces a runner to the sideline. This is usually the case. But he said that he think my issue is the, or related to the, soleus muscle, which often can take a very long time to fully heal. He said it can be “maddening,” but there’s not all that much you can do since it’s a muscle that gets so much activity all day long.
This is sort of why I’m not so sure his prognosis is accurate, as I can walk fine. I only start feeling the deep pain with the pounding introduced with running. It could be related, which he said, but I don’t think it is the muscle.
He mentioned a few other things but at this point there is no special treatment. He said that to heal it, best bet is to stay easy on it. I don’t have to stay completely off it, but he said quite honestly, “It’s a good time to work on your swimming and biking… Only easy runs. Over time you should see that the pain will eventually subside and you’ll slowly start testing it more and more. Just be careful on those tests, and ramp up as it will allow.”
Another fascinating point for me, which is something I had once known but quickly forgot…
Back in the year 2000 I had a very nasty accident where I severed the Peroneal nerve in my left leg just below the knee. I instantly lost most of the feeling and movement from that point down in the leg. After nearly 6 hours of surgery to graft a healthy nerve in place of the severed one, which when cut snapped back like a rubber band, and after a full year, I finally started getting some movement back. I had what you call drop foot. I could push my foot down, but I could not pull it up, nor could I twist it to the left side, as if pushing it out duck style. Over the next two years I slowly — and I mean slowly! — gained back 85% of the movement I had lost and, maybe, 10% of the feeling I had lost. Since then it has been slow and steady, gaining so little. Today I have gained back, maybe, 30% of the feeling lost and nearly 95% of the movement. It is among the reasons I kick the ground when I’m deeply fatigued, like on mile 20 of the Ironman marathon, or on the last 3 miles of a 50K.
What I learned again is how lucky I was to even be able to run at a high level (for me) again, that I was even able to toe the line of an Ironman, that I lived in Boston with one of the worlds best nerve surgeons who was intriged enough to take my case (the surgeon has worked on my professional athletes — Celtics, Bruins, Patriots, Red Sox and a host of other teams from other cities.
After I told this doctor what had happened, he tested me in all sorts of range of motion ways and other things. He was beside himself at how functional I had gotten my leg and foot back to. I knew this. I knew that my “chances” were good to get some feeling and most of the movement back, but I also knew that it was a complete crapshoot on if I could ever perform at a high level. I still struggle playing soccer, with the cutting back and forth toppling me over, for I don’t have the ability to stop a fall in mid tilt to turn it into a cut back, but I was able to strap my foot into a bike and ride. And that coupled with me being so active in soccer and running when the injury happened, coupled with my willingness to get moving again after surgery to test my limits, coupled with having the top nerve doctor around is why I type this words today.
I was lucky.
And so in his quest to learn more of the handiwork done by the surgeon, he tested me in may ways. He explained that their are three primary muscles in the foot. One helps move the foot, one the four digits, and the last the big toe. Interesting is that I have gained back most of the function in the first two but very little in the last. In fact, I cannot move my big toe up, as in pulling it up. That, for me, is the last part. He has hooked me up with a PT to help me get back as much as possible, because I still have a muscle disparity. One very close look at my left leg while reveal that it is indeed smaller in muscular stature and strength than my right.
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Posted by ironboy
Over the last few weeks I have been in touch with Carole Sharpless, a professional triathlete heading up sponsorship recruitment for Trakkers GPS, also known as Trakkers!
After several screenings to pare down the list of athletes, I am happy to announce that I made the final cut to be part of the team for 2009.
So for 2009… Team Trakkers… that’s me!
This is very exciting for me because of how much I believe in the product and the realm of possibilities Trakkers wants to do with it.
More on this in due time, but until then let me just say how awesome it is to be a part of a product that will revolutionize the way we track athletes in training and racing. On top of that, I am pumped to be a part of a group that will take even spectating of triathlons to the next level. Think IronmanLive.com on steriods!
Trakkers is that good!
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Posted by ironboy
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