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September 20, 2007
Avoiding the Point of No Return
So I'm getting to that point in the year where everything hurts. Yep everything. I'm sore, I'm tried. My foot hurts. My hamstring hurts. My back hurts. My brain hurts. Ouch.
Part of it, of course, is that I'm training hard for my next race. This is how it works. You really stress your body, you rest some, your body gets stronger, you stress your body again, you rest some, you get even stronger, etc... Also, of course, is the fact that it's getting late in the year. I've been racing since April and training hard even longer than that. I've stepped up my training and racing considerably versus last season. If in July of 2006 you had told me to do a 12 hour training week I would have passed out. Now an 18 hour training week is routine. It's all part of the process of course.
And I've been totally amazed at the fact that I've not had any injuries all year (minus that little run in with one white pickup truck) or been sick all season! I think I had about 4 or 5 colds last summer alone! That's a true testament to the training and coaching I've had all year - how well planned it is and how reasonable it is. Hard yes, but also very, very smart.
Of course I've had aches and pains all year. My feet always ache. My IT bands are always tight. My left hamstring is always a little painful when I start each run. I would assume that anyone who trains and races hard experiences this at all times. But it's about this time when all the little aches and pains are starting to add up. My left foot is hurting more than usual and that pesky hamstring never really warms up that much the whole run.
I've been getting through my workouts just fine. Motivation wise and fatigue wise I have never felt better actually. And my workouts are going well! But the little niggles are starting to worry me. Especially the hamstring. The point of no return is to be avoided AT ALL COSTS!
Yesterday I did my 4000 yd swim in the morning and then my 30 min pool run and lifting session in the afternoon. But I was worried about my hard fartlek this morning. I made an appointement with the chiropractor for today. But then I emailed my coach and told him my concerns. I've just made this mistake too many times before and after all this hard work I will make it to that starting line in Clearwater, Florida!
Coach emailed me back and told me to take today totally off. Go to the chiro. Stretch. Ice. Heal. I just got off the phone with him where he reassured me I'll be fine, we just need to be careful about things now. He tells me that when you get very fit and are training hard, you are always running on a very fine line. Now the goal is to stay on the right side of the line!
So my chiro appointment is at 2 pm today. I'm going to do some icing and stretching. I already took care of the resting part by getting 11 hours of sleep last night! (I have today off work... :) And I'm going to work with my coach on how best to handle each day. That's the plan. Now lets hope it works!
Posted by beth at September 20, 2007 11:02 AM
Comments
beth, don't underestimate the "tension" effect of days like posted on sept. 18. Those need recovery time as well. Training on "that" state of mind is so very taxing even if you "release" as a result.
Possibly even more recovery needed. And yes Sport is great to channel aggressiveness or anger, but keep in mind when you do that (like 9 mins at max HR!!!) you are essentially performing like the encasement of a flamethrower. You feel like the flame; but you are the flame thrower...
A good hearty laugh ought to relax you. Watch some funny movies.
Anecdote 1) once i was doing hard hill intervals with a bunch of faster friends. I was struggling in the back when some guy just cracked the funniest joke i started laughing so hard my diaphragm just went wild, up and down, pumping more oxygen at what seemed a vastly faster rate... Legs suddenly felt energized, I surged forward laughing and all the guys had this wtf? face on them... I laughed some more looking at them... surged again, i had oxygen busting out of my toenails... again, had to be there... I laugh just thinking about it.
So i tried the reverse as well. Like, i tried to cracka joke to myself when i was tired... it didn't work... kidding, actually it did ! I need a better repertoire of jokes though.
Oxygenate woman. O2. O too. Sorry for play with initials. Maybe O is your O2. COOL down. I guess it's easy to feel like a flamethrower in metal town. Go Beth GO!
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at September 20, 2007 5:34 PM
All appendages crossed for you, Beth!
Posted by: Meghan at September 20, 2007 10:07 PM