Some Ups, Some Downs

Hanna City Hustle was a mild success. I ran a sub 24 and got what I wanted out of the day which was a fast 1st mile and no real pain. That was accomplished with a 6:43 first mile. I hung on and just tried to run comfortable and pain free for the rest. My finishing time was acceptable at this point and I proved to myself that I can still run fast but need to heal and train accordingly before I try and do it for repeated miles. That was the highlight.

I knew going into the Kickapoo race that it would be a stretch to do well. I had about 6 hrs of sleep in the two previous days and had run the 5K. I decided to not push and just get comfortable and get into a flow. That plan was working as I got into the race and I was really making up time and catching people. I was actually feeloing pretty strong, even on the technical stuff which Kickapoo throws at you....and then it happened. I had a nice flow and was really pushing as I was reeling in a group of 6 riders. I took my attention off the trail to yell at a course marshall and went off the course into a hole and a log. As the bike started to throw me ass over tea kettle I got out of the pedals, threw the bike between my legs and hurdled forward. It was actually a great dismount. The problem was that I landed on my right leg and the force of the landing just exploded in my hamstring. I had to continue running forward to a coasting turnaround because I just had no power to put on the brakes. I gathered myself for a minute, adjusted the bike and got going again very gingerly. I was hurt and I knew it. By the time I could really go again it was too late...race over. I made the most of it and tried to just pick off as many people as I could. My time was terrible, and my hamstring was now worse than it has been since this whole problem started. All that said though, I had a blast. Probably my favorite trail system to ride. Unquestionable (past) time to see someone and start healing up. I've got a couple weeks before my next mtb race and almost a month before my next trail race. It's gotta be now if I'm gonna get right to end the season on a positive.

Milkman...always smiles on his bike


Higgins subtly reminding me I'm supposed to be handing off a bottle, not taking pics


My pre-race pit area

Another Weekend of Racing

Tomorrow is the Hanna City Hustle 5k and from there it's off to Kickapoo for the big Kickapoo Bash with the xc race on Sunday. the leg feels slightly better today so I'm not going to do anything and wing it tomorrow. I havent been on my bike for two weeks, so we'll see how that goes. It's my longest mtb race so far this year so it will be a challenge for me. I did bike patrol on Wednesday night so I have been on a bike...sort of. I am contacting a massage therapist today. She's the sister of Betsy Silzer, my PAMBA sister if you will. Hopefully she can get me back on track before the whole season is lost. I'll start out slow tomorrow and get fster as I warm up and see how it responds. Should be flat and fast....all things considered.

Eureka Trail Run Recap

Well...I ran it anyway. Actually I'm not terribly upset about it. The injury thing is just frustrating. I have to take it so easy on the wet trails, particularly on the hills that I lose a lot of time. Early in the season hills were my strength. I'd actually gain spots on them, but now...not so much. I am at a walk on steep ones just nursing and babying my hamstring along. The most frustrating part is I feel like I have gas in the tank. I did stride it out and pushed at the end today for my dismal time of 25ish. I took two whole weeks off and feel like I'm not really all that much better. My back has improved, but not the leg. It just hits a certain point ad says "nope, this is all the better I'm getting." I know, I need to see someone about it. I get it, but I'm a self admitted hard head about the whole doctor thing. Big brother is right, I'm not invincible....anymore. Shootin for an easy road ride tomorrow then maybe hit Kickapoo on Monday if it dries up over there the next couple days.

Starting Over

Well, I've been off for 10 days now. I've finished a great book and got some other things accomplished. I'm now on the bike team at work, I go to FTO school next month and I got some GREAT news regarding a financial situation. All that said....my hamstring isnt much better. I still have a slight twinge that concerns me. So here's the plan. I have Eureka trail race Saturday, luckily its flat. I'm going to start running again tomorrow but keep it flat, emphasize warm up/cool down and stretching. I'll hit the Stick often and probably still get a massage or two. I'm hoping to follow up thye race with an easy road ride on Sunday and I'll re-evaluate from there on how I train next week. I was really hoping to get a pre-ride in at Kickapoo on Monday, but we'll see how it goes. I end next week with Hanna City Hustle (flat 5K) and then Kickapoo MTB race on Sunday. It's going to be day to day on how things go and what kind of work I get in. I still maintain that if I'm smart and dilligent with protocol I can get through this and finish up the season with some solid efforts. I'd love to pick at least one more "A" race, but I'm just not going to put that pressure on myself until I feel healthy enough to train accordingly.

Too Much Time on My Hands

Ahhh, Styx. The most underated band of our time in my opinion so long as you forget that gay Dennis DeYoung garbage. Anyway, I indeed have too much time on my hands this week. I've yet to see a doc of any kind, but I have taken it easy...and its killin' me. The weather has been great too. I've done some yard work but that's about it. I am hoping to feel better by Monday because I'm heading to Kickapoo for some pre-race recon. It also gives me a chance to see me mum and have some tasty vittles while I'm there. I've been killing time by reading "Born to Run". What a great book. It's making me at least think about a lot of running issues like technique, equipment, etc and how a lot of it is just garbage and marketing. It makes a lot of sense actually. As for th injuries...hammy is still pretty tight. It's worse than it was a week ago. The back is a disaster. I can't sleep for more than 3-4 hrs before it is so tight it hurts to breathe or change positions in bed. Whine session over. Here's some pics.


Towards End of BP Race


Jubilee


Me and Milkman after Run to Remember

Small Victory

Despite an aching body, working 3rds the night before and running a demanding trail 10K the day before, I was able to complete the BP race...and no flats this time. Whatever, I'll take it. I just wanted to race. I actually felt ok till the finish. When I neared the end, all my pains started setting in. I was 5-7 minutes slower than I was hoping for and I have A LOT of work to do...after I get well. I'm officially putting myself on the shelf for a couple days and maybe even look into some chiro/massage/therapy of some kind. Next up will be the Eureka Trail Run in a couple weeks. It's just a 5K and pretty tame course so it will be welcomed at this point.

Trainwreck

That's how I'm feeling after the Swamp Dogs race today. I started slow and was hoping to make a push at about the halfway point. I knew the course well and had my spots picked out but that plan never came through. About two miles in I felt the hammy twinge on some muddy climbs. That twing turned into pain quickly...to the point I was walking many of the climbs. By mile 4 I had struggled with the hammy to the point that my opposite side low back was screaming. I got passed by two women on some climbs that I had initially picked out to just own. It was VERY humid today too and my fluid loss was big. I was well prepared with hydration and such though and never really had any issues with them. I thought they would be my toughest task, instead it was the freakin hamstring again that let me down. I'm still planning on the mtb race tomorrow but will need to be smart. I'll have a better idea when I wake up tonight.

All Systems Go

Got my last ride in at BP today after work. Probably my smoothest ride I've had there too. I can only hope I'm doing the course right. I also went in last night for my bike team test. It was 8 laps around the jail ring road, then up and off a curb then dump the bike and sprint 50 yds or so. I did well. I actually took it easy on the sprint since I knew I had plenty of time to spare and I didnt really want to re-injure the hammy during a test. I had about 4 1/2 minutes to spare which according to my LT. is a very good time. Anyway, I should know something about that by Monday. As far as this weekend goes, I have a quick tempoish type run tomorrow and then I'm taking it easy and getting my gear ready to go.

Not Too Trashed

I made it through the weekend in MO. in pretty good shape. My weight by Monday morning was very manageable and I had began thr hydrating detoxing as soon as I got home on Sunday. By Monday afternoon I was ready to ride. I swung out to BP for another quick ride on the course. My legs felt pretty heavy at times, but better by the end. I needed the ride to blow my legs out a little bit. The rest of the week will be tricky to plan because not only do I have another double this weeked, but I also have a bike test at work to be on the bike team and as of now, I'm not really sure when that is. It's kind of a fly by night thing right now. It's not optimal, but the plan is to take today off, bike test on Wednesday and keep things short but solid on Th and Fri then race it up over the weekend. After that it's back to getting some speed work in for the next couple 5K's on the schedule, one trail and one road.