2 WEEKS AND COUNTING...FUNDRAISING UPDATE

KONA FUNDRAISING has been SUCESSFUL!!!

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE who helped me out along the way. 

I wish I could say I will race to be on the podium, but I am afraid I have a different goal now since the onset of a hip injury I have been suffering with since late August. 

My goal is now to finish, let the race unfold as it will, have a great day, absorb it all,

and LIVE in the MOMENT! 

And wherever that lands me (podium or not) will be AWESOME!

Both the Pool style Raffle and the one day sales

from the Great Harvest Bread Company were

HUGE SUCESSES!! 

                                    

 

THANKS TO EVERYONE  WHO DONATED MONEY,

 A PRIZE,

BOUGHT A SQUARE OR TWO...OR 10,

OR

BOUGHT A LOAF OF BREAD!

 

YOUR SUPPORT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!!

 

RAFFLE
WINNERS! 

POOL #1

 ANN BLOSSMAN

BILL & EMILY SMITH

DANNY STEIB

TOM BALLENTINE

GUIDO

 

POOL #2

TODD RICHARD

JENNIFER WILD (x2)

JOSH FOSTER

GLYNN LUNNEY

TOM BALLENTINE

MICHELLE PARSONS

BARRY EDWARDS

LISA HAMAKER

MELISSA & RICK KING

 

Still no run...

Prepping for Kona without running a mile in weeks...now that's a task.  I have not been able to run in 3 weeks.  I got the go ahead to test the hip out after 2 weeks off of running.  I ran for 3 minutes and stopped.  the pain was still there.  So I was back to see Dr. Fred Miller at Doctors Chiropractic in Mandeville where he discovered yet another spot in the hip.  It seems as if the Glute and Bursitis have begun to heal well, but another trouble spot has reared it's ugly head - and that would be my Rectus Femoris.  1 more week before I could give it a try.  What's another week, right?  At this point, I am not looking to create a permanent injury that keeps me from running long term - so I am cool with another week, or longer if need be.  That statement kinda suprises me - being that Ironman Hawaii is in 3 weeks and if I dont run at all before the race - that would put me at 6 weeks.  But thats just the way it is.  And, here I go again, I am ok with that.  As competitive as I am, or have been, I am not so driven to destroy my body at any cost.

God will not protect you from what He can perfect you with.

I heard that the other day, and it resounds in me.

There is no doubt a bigger picture in this journey of mine. As much as I wanted to be on that podium in Kona at one time, I am actually ok with being out there to complete the task for a different reward.  Satisfaction.  Accomplishment.  Not  from winning or besting myself, but being out there and finishing what I started even if it's not what I expected.

It may turn out just fine - but it might take a little longer than normal. This Ironman experience is different than any other I have done.  I am in new territory.  It is taking on a life of it's own.  It has showed me how I have grown though the years in (and through) this sport.   How I have mellowed and matured.  How I can sit back and not sweat the things I cannot change.  Sure, I get a little bummed about it time and again, but it is what it is...and I smile when I say that because I DO accept it.  I am in such a good place and it is so comforting to know. 

So, I wait it out.   I have been swimming and biking like it is going out of style.  The two biggest weeks of training included twice as many miles on the bike and in the water.  I really fell in love with my bike again on those rides, riding to Barkers Corner 3-4x week for my truck stop biscuit with honey - my treat after 50-70 miles or so :)  No headphones, just my thoughts and the clarity that comes with being out on the open road. 

I am still visiting Fred Millers office for my share of ultrasound and matrix treatments and have totally laid off the stretching thinking maybe it was aggrevating the issue...lots of running rest and massage.

Speed Bumps

I have written 20 blog posts in my head on my long bikes and runs over the past several weeks, but unfortunately finding time to sit down and write them on the computer...well, it did't happen.  I keep telling myself to get a recorder to run with because I have the best ideas out there, but of course, because it is is a good idea, I never remember to do that unless I am miles into a solid run...and well, i dont have it then.....  If you are a runner, and do so without distractions like ipods and phones, you get that. 

I have been getting so pumped for Kona  - Zoot sending out packages of goodies to get me ready for the big day!  I came home to some Ali'i 5.0's and a new swim skin the other day, then today, I get these pretty new TRAIL SHOES!!  Gonna have to do some trail runs post Hawaii!

ok, so what on EARTH is going on with training?  I have hit some turbulence.  Leading into Sandestin a few weeks ago, and even in the race, I was experiencing some gradual onset hip pain..and calf pain, and some super bad plantar fascitius in my heel. All on the right side. I addressed it with massage and we found a lot of tightness and tenderness in my abductors on my right hip.  I tried to get it worked on pretty well and frequently, but I think Hurricane Issac and lack of availability to see my massage guy for over a week bc of power issues...well, the tightness just kept building and I went over the top.

So here's how the last week went down.  I did a long awesome swim on friday, a long awesome ride on Saturday with some minor glute aching, then an ok long run on sunday when about 15 miles in I had the thought that this may be my final long run before Kona.  The right leg was just so uncooperative and stiffining up when I stopped breifly for water..I just prayed to make it home safley.

I made it back to Franco's, cold plunged, and hobbled around a little the rest of the day...maybe it wasnt so bad. 

Monday morning I experienced some achiness and pain walking up and down the stairs - no good.  Now I was concerned.  I went for my afternoon swim Monday and ran into Dr. Peter Blessey in the pool (Ortho at Ochsner).  God had a funny way of putting people in your life at JUST the right time.  We talked about the issues I was having and discussed some possible treatments, but we had to rule out a stress fracture.  And thats where Don Trexler with Cypress Pointe Surgical Center in Hammond, LA comes in.  (and this is ANOTHER one of those peps in my life that was put here at this moment for a reason). Tuesday, I tried to run - DENIED.  absolute shooting pain throughout the hip.  By the afternoon, I had my MRI done at Cypress Pointe.

Result: No stress fracture (YAY!), but I did have other issues.  Iliopsoas bursitis and a Partial tear / tendonitis in my glute medius.  Now what??


Thursday started with bike time and weighing my options.   I had been back and forth with Dr. Lisa Jaubert (PM&R), Dr. Blessey(Ortho), and Fred Miller(Chiropractor) about what to do.  Let me just say, I am truly blessed to have these super intellingent, caring, helpful souls in my life.  I would be lost without each of them amd their knowledge and understanding of the competitive athletes mind and body.  I had been given some great options, and ultimetely decided to go with an injection into the iliopsoas bursa to reduce the swelling there, address the heel also, and matrix/massage the glute for now.



needle going into iliopsoas bursa

Thursday afternoon - off to Baton Rouge with Dr. Lisa to see Dr. Belleau and his super long needle and untrasound machine.

Friday started off well, but stiffness set in as the day wore on.  I got my matrix on my glute at Dr. Miller's then off to make and bring smoothies to my favorite girls (u too, kyle) at the Great Harvest Bread Company.  Soon after that, I was off  to a massage with mike.  My legs need work.  he worked them, and they ached all day for it.  I finished off my big Friday night with some hot tub/cold plunge thearpy at Franco's,  then home for some elevated leg time.

matrix treatment

Saturday, I get to swim and do some weights.  Sunday, I might ride, but will have to see how things feel....

HURRICANE TRAINING

Hurricane Issac upset the apple cart.  That little rascal wasn't coming, but here he is.  And he overstayed his welcome.

I decided to stay home for this Cat 1 storm and keep an eye on the water level from Lake Ponchatrain and the trees in the area.  I have stayed home for a Hurricane before, but for several years when my Granny was still alive, a hurricane meant evecuate...so I must admit, I was happy to stay put and ride this one out.

It's really wasn't so bad for me in Mandeville - just a lot of rain and some pretty good winds. AND some long trainer rides.  My backyard is mush.

But the issue as I am sure many of you know now, was the water level.  The way that storm came in, and sat on top of us just pushing all of that water into the Lake proved to create flooding similar to, and in some areas more than what Hurricane Katrina did.  and Isaac did it EXACTLY 7 years later to the day.  eerie.

 But Cleco Power had their you know what together...

This was a good sight to see after the water receded....about 2 hours later...POWER!!! 

WOOT! WOOT!