With next race yet to start, I'm already behind.
It's hard to believe that it has been eight days already that I raced in St. Anthony's. As soon as I got back, my life was back to full force with work and family. The Florida 70.3, the biggest race so far in my 39 years of existance, is quickly approaching (set for May 18), but I am nowhere near being mentally or physically ready.
Since I got back from St. A's, I've been a bit consumed with worry over a number of things. The most important has been my dad. At the age of 74, was recovering nicely from hip replacement surgery that took place about six weeks ago. I was so relieved that he was doing so well, especially since the last time I had a parent in the hospital, (my mom,) she didn't make it out alive. So with that history, I did worry a little excessively when my dad went under the knife.
Last week, he re-injured his hip after getting his foot snagged in the door of an airplane on the way to a business trip. The result is a hairline fracture (at least) in the femur and a shifting of the new hip. So this Thursday, he has to go in for surgery again, this time it being more extensive. My rollercoaster of emotions and worry has started all over again.
So now, my greatest cheerleader can no longer go to root me on in my first half Ironman race. Yes, my kids and husband will be there and that means a ton, but it's not likely that a three and six year old will want to hang out at a finish line for hours wondering if their mom will even show up. This will no longer be the same now that my dad can't be there.
I was ready to cancel the trip to support my dad, but he is insisting that we still go (partially because he has already paid for our trip). My worry for him is weighing me down heavily though, and it is affecting me a lot.
The other thing on my mind is that I still feel my hamstring injury. Though I did go out and run five miles this past Saturday (the last workout I've done), it was hard for me. I had kept a fair pace for the first couple miles (around 10 minute miles), but I had to stop on occasion to stretch out the muscle.
This hamstring injury isn't typical, for the soreness is not in the middle of the muscle on the back of the thigh. The pain is right where the hamstring muscles start on the lower area of the butt cheek. (Hey, I'm not a doctor, so don't look for medical terms here.) What articles I have found on the subject don't look promising. This discomfort that I'm feeling should have gone away by now, but it's still lingering. I'm wondering now if a small portion of my muscle has torn away from the bone (something that could potentially require surgery to fix). So I wonder about that, but I am having a hard time accepting the fact that it is a potential deal breaker for me. Look, it's not that it HURTS. It's just that I FEEL it. Every day. It's tight, I stretch, it feels better. So push on, right?
I am not really sure how to nail my nutrition and hydration either, though I'm not as concerned about that. I have a good, strong stomach, and it's very rare when something upsets it. I know better than to take a gel on a famished stomach. Other than that though, I could probably eat a whopper while riding a bike and I'd still be okay. The forums out there keep talking about the heat in this race, and how hydration is key. My solution? Yes, just stay hydrated and take it easy. I'm not going to get on any pedestals when the race is over, so why should I push myself? I just want to finish.
My final problem is lack of training. I've had one thing after another get in my way of training. Whether it's a dog bite or a hamstring, I've had over a month cut out of the training schedule, and not at the best time I may add.
I don't want to scratch this race. If my dad needs me, there is no doubt I will cancel our trip, and scratching at that point won't be given a second thought. But these other things...It's like little woodpeckers pecking on me, the big tree in the forest. And now I am finding I have holes in what I thought was a pretty darn good game plan at one time.
I have to give it a whirl, even if I fate decides that I can't go all the way.
Since I got back from St. A's, I've been a bit consumed with worry over a number of things. The most important has been my dad. At the age of 74, was recovering nicely from hip replacement surgery that took place about six weeks ago. I was so relieved that he was doing so well, especially since the last time I had a parent in the hospital, (my mom,) she didn't make it out alive. So with that history, I did worry a little excessively when my dad went under the knife.
Last week, he re-injured his hip after getting his foot snagged in the door of an airplane on the way to a business trip. The result is a hairline fracture (at least) in the femur and a shifting of the new hip. So this Thursday, he has to go in for surgery again, this time it being more extensive. My rollercoaster of emotions and worry has started all over again.
So now, my greatest cheerleader can no longer go to root me on in my first half Ironman race. Yes, my kids and husband will be there and that means a ton, but it's not likely that a three and six year old will want to hang out at a finish line for hours wondering if their mom will even show up. This will no longer be the same now that my dad can't be there.
I was ready to cancel the trip to support my dad, but he is insisting that we still go (partially because he has already paid for our trip). My worry for him is weighing me down heavily though, and it is affecting me a lot.
The other thing on my mind is that I still feel my hamstring injury. Though I did go out and run five miles this past Saturday (the last workout I've done), it was hard for me. I had kept a fair pace for the first couple miles (around 10 minute miles), but I had to stop on occasion to stretch out the muscle.
This hamstring injury isn't typical, for the soreness is not in the middle of the muscle on the back of the thigh. The pain is right where the hamstring muscles start on the lower area of the butt cheek. (Hey, I'm not a doctor, so don't look for medical terms here.) What articles I have found on the subject don't look promising. This discomfort that I'm feeling should have gone away by now, but it's still lingering. I'm wondering now if a small portion of my muscle has torn away from the bone (something that could potentially require surgery to fix). So I wonder about that, but I am having a hard time accepting the fact that it is a potential deal breaker for me. Look, it's not that it HURTS. It's just that I FEEL it. Every day. It's tight, I stretch, it feels better. So push on, right?
I am not really sure how to nail my nutrition and hydration either, though I'm not as concerned about that. I have a good, strong stomach, and it's very rare when something upsets it. I know better than to take a gel on a famished stomach. Other than that though, I could probably eat a whopper while riding a bike and I'd still be okay. The forums out there keep talking about the heat in this race, and how hydration is key. My solution? Yes, just stay hydrated and take it easy. I'm not going to get on any pedestals when the race is over, so why should I push myself? I just want to finish.
My final problem is lack of training. I've had one thing after another get in my way of training. Whether it's a dog bite or a hamstring, I've had over a month cut out of the training schedule, and not at the best time I may add.
I don't want to scratch this race. If my dad needs me, there is no doubt I will cancel our trip, and scratching at that point won't be given a second thought. But these other things...It's like little woodpeckers pecking on me, the big tree in the forest. And now I am finding I have holes in what I thought was a pretty darn good game plan at one time.
I have to give it a whirl, even if I fate decides that I can't go all the way.
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