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June 1, 2005
Tuesday Life Guard Lessons and Wednesday's Bike Ride
I am taking this week easy and playing it by ear. I just want to listen to my body and do what comes naturally to me to allow my body and mind some time to rest. I should be working on breaking up the scar tissue in my quad. A lot of people commented on what I am doing about the problem and the truth is that I am not doing that much. I worked on it seriously for a year seeing many therapist, getting deep tissue massage, chiropracter's, etc. and nothing really seemed to work. I have sort of resolved myself to running through it and have this plan to use the roller every single day and to strengthen the quad over the summer by doing lots of hills and lunges and things of that nature. We'll see, it has been such a problem that I get frustrated thinking about it because if I don't want to run under 7 minute pace I would never know I had a problem.
This week I have life guard lessons every day. On Tuesday I had to swim 1000 yards for a swim test and dive 15 feet under water, pick up a 10lb brick and swim 50 yards with it. I was so tired on the swim and I was extremely conjested. As soon as I finished the marathon on Sunday I started sneezing and coughing like crazy. I caught Mark's cold so for the past few days breathing has been a challenge. I was about to try to get out of the dive test to retrieve the 10lb block but then I wondered what would I do if I was sick on duty or if I was just sick and a friend started to drown, instinct would kick in and I'd forget about the cold and just get them or do the best I could to save them. I used that mentality and quickly got the block and then performed about 2 hours worth of life saving drills in the pool. I had to return in the evening for another hour of practice. Needless to say by the end of the day I was pretty beat and not entirely inspired to do any other form of exercise. I was not that sore walking around during the day. Towards the last 200 yards of the swim my quads grew very fatigued and I could feel the marathon but otherwise I felt pretty good except for the cold.
On Tuesday night I slept like a log. I can't remember the last time I slept so soundly. I think it was a combination of the marathon and the three hours I spent in the pool. I woke up feeling very tired even though I got about 7 hours of very very deep sleep. I went to my life guarding class for six hours and then met the local high school team for practice. I watched the long jumpers and gave them some tips for about a half hour. Today was what I am calling the first official day of summer. The weather was awesome. I actually had the roof top opened on my car, both windows down and considered wearing a tang top. It has been a very chilly spring here in VT. Towards the end of practice one of the distance runners was heading out for a three mile run. I decided to join her and wondered how my quads would feel. The pace was very easy. As it turned out I felt great. After the run I decided to go for a bike ride. I had wanted to bike to the training session this morning but I got up too late. I decided to explore the area and ride for about two hours. I was able to ride 30 miles during this time and stopped twice to visit with some people along the way. I fell once on the bike ride when I was crossing a narrow one way bridge. I did not realize that you had to ride on the boards of wood that were layed out along the top. It was a very embarassing fall because cars on either side observed my fall. Fortunately I was not hurt, I'll probably have a few bruises. I got up very quickly. Towards the end of the ride with a 1/2 hour to go I became very exhausted and really wanted the ride to end. I have been conjested all day and I think with all of the warm weather today I got spring fever and tried to do too much. As soon as I got back to the camp I consumed a large amount of water, had a bunch of tomatoes, and an avacodo and immediately felt much better. I have that humming tired feeling now and am looking forward to another sound sleep tonight.
Posted by mary at June 1, 2005 8:34 PM
Comments
Wow Mary your bike ride sounds adventurous and very fun! The one way bridge sounds trickie. Enjoy your exploration/recovery time! :) More later LIz
Posted by: Liz at June 1, 2005 10:01 PM
Mary - I had a scar-tissue issue in my R quad in '01; it felt like a knot or cramp in the quad which would not go away. I went to a chiropracter near the town in Pennsylvania I was then living in... long story short, he used ultrasound at a disturbingly high intensity to break it up. No problems since. (I told this story at http://www.flashesofpanic.com/panic/000399.php as well.) Wonder if that's possible?
Posted by: pjm at June 2, 2005 9:43 AM
Wow Mary, you ride 30 miles in two hours a couple of days after a marathon?! I can't do that on a good day! Hope you're feeling better.
Posted by: Nanda at June 2, 2005 10:02 AM
Um yeah, i have fallen off my bike too in such grand fashion as to cause drivers to stop and ask if I am okay :) Agreed it is the not the slickest feeling in the world. But I definitely feel my embarrasment threshold has increased due to being an athlete! And I love your points about lifeguarding and what you would do if you were sick in a "real life" situation. That is so cool you were able to complete your tasks.
Posted by: Audrey at June 6, 2005 3:40 AM