I. Give. Up.

I really do. I give up the hope that I will ever "fix" my back. I have run the complete gamut of available assistance, from orthopedic sports medicine to massage therapy to chiropractic. Nothing--nothing--helps. The latest effort involved the chiropractor plastering kinesio tape across my upper back. I rode with it today. And like clockwork, 70 minutes into the ride, I started feeling pain--like being stabbed in the back with a burning brand. Sometimes it would ease--particularly when I turned out of the wind--but otherwise was approaching intolerable. Perhaps it was worsened by the damage to my morale, knowing now I could not race Conroe next weekend. (I can hardly swim 1.2 miles and then bike 55 miles in a race when I can barely ride 25 in training.)

So I am not a happy camper. I have to resign myself to only being able to ride long distances recreationally, stopping every hour or whenever necessary to give my back a break. Not, not happy......

Same Old Story

I have not ridden my bike once--not once!--this entire week. The few days we get decent weather, such as yesterday afternoon, I have meetings and work and cannot ride. I did get in a good run on Tuesday and a swim today. (I really enjoy running now that the temps dip down into the fifties.) After my swim (and another meeting!) I went to see my massage therapist, Meredith Wauqua, and she really put the hurt on my arms and upper back. Later this evening, I felt rather pummeled and sore, but she knows her business so I can't but expect it will all be for the good. Tomorrow it's back to the chiropractor to get some kinesio tape for my back. The plan was for me to then ride my bike in the afternoon, but as we are expecting floods, again, I doubt I can ride before Saturday. (I just hope it doesn't force a shift in the Friday soccer game to a turf field! I want Pat Hartley.)

...but if it's workouts you want?

...then there isn't a great deal to report! The rain has played disaster with bike training. I'm lucky if I can ride two hours a week--and those two hours are hardly quality. Oddly, the more my back receives treatment, the worse it seems to get ?? Perhaps it's just my expectations are raised and disappointed, making it seem worse. I do get in one 1500 yard swim per week and a couple of runs. Insufficient training, to put it mildly, for an aquabike in two weeks. Not to mention that the cost of traveling even as far as Conroe appears prohibitive. Truly, since October 3rd, when my mother-in-law suffered her stroke, I've had a lot of other things on my mind. Even now that she's passed, my focus has not returned. Perhaps it's time to just accept "off season".

I Love History

No, this is not a blog about cycling or triathlon. I've about decided I can't just segment my life into one blog about this and another about that. It's all of a piece. So tonight's subject--my affirmation--is: I love history.

PBS showed an episode of "The American Experience" on the Great Crash of 1929, followed by a documentary on Herbert Hoover. (This Thursday is the 80th anniversary of the Crash.) Watching it all I realized just how much I love and enjoy history. I love just knowing. I always have. I like reading something and realizing, "Aha! So that's why that happened!" or "So that's what that means!" It's like unraveling a semi-secret language--the language of human experience.

I think that's an element that gets lost in teaching. I feel so constrained by the lack of time--the rush to cover as much as possible (quantity) versus covering a few things deeply (quality). We just don't have time in the survey to delve deeply enough to personalize events. Additionally, students are of an age where they haven't gained enough life experience that would enable them to relate to the variety of persons and situations.

In any event, it's nice to have time now and again to get back in touch with the shear enjoyment of the subject. It's too bad my students, by and large, don't share the enjoyment. I just hope some day they will have the opportunity to revisit some of the events and recall them in a different light.

Exit Sunscreen, Enter Embrocation

Seems like riding in ninety-degree heat was just yesterday. Seems like riding in the early morning, sun coming up over the treetops, was heaven. Now, it's drag my bum home to catch a few hours of daylight in the moderate temps of the afternoon. No Epic Ride with epic scenery; rather, the monotonous shoulder of Highway 80.

Today the weathermen predicted only a slight chance of rain, so in spite of doing a swim workout earlier I knew I had to get in a bike ride, no matter how short. It was hard getting out of the house because, paradoxically, there were so many bicycle-related "goodies" that came in the mail and via UPS to tempt me to stay in: two bicycle magazines and a Tour de France DVD; also more chamois creme, and--how timely--my first tube of embrocation.

I've read about these creams and salves and other skin elixirs used by the pros. They are supposed to warm up the muscles, etc., on brisk days on the bike. There are so many days when leg warmers are just too much, but bare-legged is not enough. So, even though I had no idea if they really worked or not I was willing to give it a go.

Unscrewed the cap, tore off the foil sealant, and sniffed. Hmmm. Kinda smelled like my favorite skin cream but with a kick of bitterness I couldn't place. Well, at least it wasn't patchouli oil. I squeezed some out and applied it to my legs and even to my arms for good measure. I did not feel a rush of warmth like Icy Hot or some such, but I guessed I felt...something. Anyway, when I got on the bike, going down Lee's Hill, nothing would have kept the chill away, but that was just for a minute. Out on the road I felt fine--bored, but fine. I really motored, cruising at 22 mph, which clearly indicated the presence of a tail wind. I knew it would end at Crow but I enjoyed it while I could. Heading back into the wind, even as I groaned inside, I told myself "This is making me stronger. This is making me stronger." The carrot was making it to the next turnaround so I could enjoy a sweet six back to Crow. The last turn into the wind was tougher, but I made it. I passed the hour point here and was pleased to see that, even with my warm-up, my average speed was near 17 mph--abysmally slow by King William's standards, but not bad by mine. ;-)

Made it back home by 5 p.m. Time to dive into the bike mags. Much as I'll try to make them last, I'll probably have them read cover-to-cover in 10 days. (By the end of the month I'll be reading the classified ads.)

Medical Mysteries Continue

All my training, on the bike anyway, seems one long investigation into the medical mystery surrounding the muscles spasms in my upper left back. I started with an orthopedist/sports medicine doctor. She diagnosed...muscles spasms. Er, yeah. Kind of knew that. Origins? Who knows. Solutions? Lidocaine shots after the fact, that only last an hour. Next stop: massage therapist. Some progress there. She was able to tell me that I had limited mobility in my left scapula, probably from scar tissue. Combined with what the doc said, things were pointing to some lingering damage from a bike wreck (MTB) I had in 2002. But while the massage helped some, it was/is not enough by itself. So finally I went to a chiropractor. And there we stand. I keep riding and providing him with feedback. The pain begins as pins-and-needles in the supraspinus muscle, and somehow the fatigue here activates the rhomboids for postural needs--a purpose for which they are not designed--and this leads to some kind of nerve impingement and finally the stabbing pain. (Needless to say, once things go off kilter in one area, it pulls everything else down the spine and into the opposite leg out of whack--hence all the problems with my lower right leg.)

So I am a "work in progress." I keep cycling, pushing through the pain, though I am still short of my 54 mile goal. (I could make that, but I worry that I would literally not be able to use my left arm at all--a dangerous situation when you need to brake.) The chiro will keep refining his adjustments, and I will keep applying the Biofreeze. (Eau de Parfum du Biofreeze. Chanel No. 5 it ain't.) Perhaps we can get to the point where some combo of kinesio tape might stabilize something up there.

Anyway, I am certainly learning a lot--and not just about muscles. My chiro also set me onto some liquid vitamins which are great (Intramax), as well as a really nice way to get my Omega 3s (Coromega). I should be a shining picture of health and energy. But the past few days I have been best by fatigue. I think I need a week on the beach somewhere sunny. I need the sun! I am like a tropical plant photosynthesizing directly from the sun's rays. Passing through the autumnal equinox is really shutting down the rays. Even when I get out, the sun is on the downside, wan, anemic. (Yeah, I know. This isn't Michigan or Seattle and I should count my blessings.) I would just like to find a beach somewhere and bake in the sun and surf for a couple of days.

Dream on!

Rose City Triathlon

I'm a little taken aback when I see I haven't blogged in a month. But then again, school started, so 'nuff said.

Did the last scheduled triathlon of the season this morning. Weather was not optimal. It began raining last night and continued all night and into the morning. Forecast was for more of the same all weekend.

I had everything packed and in the car before dinner last night, clothes and shoes laid out in the bathroom, so I would have minimal effort to get ready this morning. Alarm went off at 5. Dressed, ate my rice flakes, read a little bit, then left at 5:30.

I don't know why, as I have tris that have earlier start times, but the drive to Whitehouse is perhaps the most difficult one I do because I nearly fall asleep! Must be the familiarity. Had to make a rest stop at McDonald's there in Whitehouse, but made it to the race site by 6:40. As always, love the orderliness of the parking. Lots of people were already there. Really love having individually numbered rack spots! As one of the first people to register, I was No. 4, so I had a spot right near the bike transition--great, since I don't do the barefoot thing if I can help it, and running far in cleats is not wise. Got set up with no problem. Got marked. Picked up chip. Dropped of temporary USAT card for Madeleine at the packet pick-up tent. Saw Kami and talked a bit. Did some warm-up runs around the parking lot. Made a last visit to the Port-a-potty.

About 7:20 Kami wanted to do a swim warm-up so I walked with her to the swim finish area so I could take a look at the course, which they altered from last year. (I wasn't going to swim. I don't like standing around wet for an hour.) Didn't look too bad. It's usually a point-to-point swim, but last year's finish area was too shallow this year and had too much hydrilla, so they made it a "hook": we had to make a sharp left turn near the end to finish a few hundred yards east and then do a moderately long run to the transition area. The start area remained out on the dam.

7:40 we made our way up to the dam for the pre-race athletes' meeting. And of course, once we got there, stowed our shoes in bags etc., the rain started. And it got worse. All through the meeting and the playing of the National Anthem, it rained. We (women over 40) were in the last wave so we had to stand there for at least 20 minutes, shivering. I could feel my muscles stiffening up. As soon as the third wave left we were in the water, just to keep warm.

Our wave went at 8:15. I thought it was a good start, but after I rounded the first turn and headed left, I could tell things were not going well by the fact that no one was swimming near me. I was too far "out" from the buoy line. I kept trying to correct and come back left, but as I am right-side dominant, it's difficult. I know I wasted a lot of time swimming further than was necessary. Same thing happened rounding the last buoy (left again) to head to the new finish. The water shallowed up very far out so I had to slog quite a way through water and mud till I reached the shore. Then it was up the ramp and onto the run. I looked at my watch: almost 17 minutes! Ouch!! (I don't remember my time last year, but I can usually do 650 yards in 12-13 minutes. Of course, that is at Tyler State Park and it's all in a straight line.)

T1 went pretty well. Had to sit down on my camp stool to put on my socks and shoes, which were both soaked. (It hadn't been raining an hour earlier when we'd left.) Helmet went on without a problem. (Not wearing sunglasses helped, plus I've learned to pull it--Giro Advantage--on from the front and then over the top, rather than trying to plop it square on the noggin like a normal helmet.)

It was just a short distance to the bike mount line and I was on and going quickly. The rain was still pouring and it was already difficult to see with so much water in my eyes. I was glad to see Galen at the first turn onto Concession Stand Road (even though she called me Jim!). I saw several TBC-ers everywhere--Carole, Super Dave, Blaise, Hebb--but forgive me if I can't remember exactly where. I get a bit of tunnel vision once the race is on. I turned on to FM 346 and began passing some folks. The rain was blinding me but what can you do? Then it was a left turn and back onto the course. That first long hill wasn't too bad. I geared down and managed to pass a few folks. I geared very well on the hills, putting it in the big ring for the downhills, and not really having to leave it for most of the ride. My recent training on rollers--hills, not indoor training!--helped a lot. I was able to get enough momentum from the downhills that all I had to do was stand up and pedal for about 10 seconds before heading over the top of the next hill. Things got a bit technical at the turnaround as they directed us down a little cul-de-sac. It was a sharp left turn with riders coming and going. This is where Rooney passed me. (At least it was halfway into the bike this time!) Back out on the course, things continued well. I passed a lot of folks. (Needless to say, all the bike studs had already finished their rides.) I managed to maintain most of my speed on the right-hand turn back onto FM 346. Then it was back into the Marina area and heading to T2.

T2 went fast, at least at first. Racked bike, un-doffed helmet, removed shoes and put on sneakers. Thought I was really swift heading out to the "run"--only to be called back quickly by Blaise and Kayla cuz I was heading back onto the bike course! Had to turn 90 degrees and run back all the way through transition and out onto the run course. There was a short bit across the grass and then up a slight rise onto the road. I didn't do the run last year as I was part of a relay team, so this was novel--as betokened by the fact that I made another wrong turn, only to be called back by volunteers. But once I got straightened out I found a very comfortable rhythm. At the first mile marker I managed to pass a lady in a Sunrise Tri uniform who I'd traded passed with on the bike. After a quarter mile she passed me, but one more quarter at the next turn I passed her for good. I was a bit disappointed when I saw the 2nd mile marker, if only because I thought we were closer to the end (and because I could see the finish area to my left). But we had to run out over the dam, past the swim start, and on back further, taking a short cross-country run through the mud before turning around for the last time.

It was on this section I saw John Cobb from the back--meaning, I was gaining on him. I'd seen him earlier as runners are going both directions on all parts of the course. He was in red--fitting, since he is like a red flag to a bull--I had passed him on the run at Athens so why not again? But despite passing another man in the mud flat and gaining some time, Cobb was trucking on today. I could not catch him--not without red-lining it. As it was I was able to keep a steady gap on him to the finish (which was down a very slick and muddy slope). He turned around then and gave me a hug, saying every time he heard footsteps behind him he thought it was me!

I got my finisher's medal and went in search of food. I had a bit of a Subway sandwich and stood along the finish lane to cheer on others for a bit. Then I got a Smoothie and stood in line to find out my time. It was very confusing because they hadn't been updated but on the initial list I was at least third. Later when they posted the final results someone from my group must've been a Master's top three because I'd been bumped up to second. I was glad because I've finished third in all three races I've done so far this year, so second was a nice change.

ETT members dominated the overall--Chauncey set a new course record, besting Brady O'Bryan (last year's overall)--as well as the age groups. We had medalists in just about every age group. The race itself was even better than last year. It's definitely one of the best organized races anywhere. Can't offer enough praises to Steve, Alan, Duke, Matt, and all the many other folks who worked so hard to pull it all together.