Training Blog

June 27, 2008

Well, as you can see Im not much of a blogger. The month of June is almost done and the big event is less then 2 months away...yikes! It was a pretty good month. Started off with the Milton tri, that I really didn't want to do... but another PB so I can't complain. There was a realization during this race though... no matter how fast my mind thinks I should be going , the rest of the body just can't do it.

Next it was the Muskoka chase. Chase was the word and I was the chasee. Last year, my fellow triathlete Leslie passed me in the last 50 m. This year I was determined not to let it happen. However I knew that Leslie was running like the wind this year and the odds were not in my favour... cause as I mentioned above my legs only have one running speed. Anyway, I did my darnest but even running in zone 4 and 5, I couldn't keep ahead of Leslie and she passed me almost in the same spot. The good news is that we both improved our times by 9 minutes this year.

I took this past week off to train... what was I thinking?

I was at the NRG Lake Placid training camp last weekend. A very well organized camp, with unbelievable talent leading it. A wealth of knowledge and experience. First hurdle, I completed the 3.8 km swim in open water. The next hurdle was to complete the 180km bike. I did in zone 2 and just over 7 hours... IMC course I got your number. Now the run is a different story.

It is coming to the end of this build week, and I can honestly say I have never looked forward to a taper week so much. However, I have an Enduro Training LP simulation tomorrow and a 30km run on Sunday in the afternoon heat to survive. Hint, never tell you coach when and what the hardest thing is for you to do... or you will find it on your training schedule. Cheers to surviving the weekend!

May 12, 2008

Follow up visit with the surgeon today, as expected the clavicle has not healed. I was given the choice to fix it now and give up the season or wait until September. I chose the latter, I figured I have put up with the pain for the past 5 months, it can't get that much worse over the next 3 months... I hope!... so let go for it. Just another interesting obstacle to overcome in this ironman journey. Im sure that I will second guess that decision over the next couple of months but Im positive that other participants have overcome much greater obstacles then just a very annoying continuous pain in the shoulder.

***May 11, 2008***

"Happy Mother's Day!"

Well today I just want to yell out and celebrate that fact that I finished mid pack in a running race. Im average, Im average! Ok that is going to sound funny to most of you but when you are a slow runner like myself...your initial goal is not to finish last. Then your next goal is to finish in the middle of the pack. Today, I achieved that goal, setting a personal best in the Mississauga 1/2 Marathon. "2:09:56". I was in the top half of my new age group 156/361 and 2662/4256 in the field. Whoo whoo bring it on!

***April 27, 2008***

A milestone today! I broke 30 minute mark in the 5km race today. It has only taken me over 5 years to achieve this goal but today was the day! Even though my coach made me do a 120km bike ride the day before some how I found enough spring in these ole legs to get the job done. Whoo Whooo!

April 13, 2008

Well it has been about a month since I was able to resume my swimming. I am almost back to where I was prior to rebreaking my collar bone... now I don't know if that is bad or good but it gives me confidence that I will make it throught the swim portion of the race!

The collar bone is still a pain literally, but I am learning to cope with it just like any other ache and pain from all this training.

February 4, 2008

Cross your fingers, my clavicle may be healed enough to resume activities around March 10th. 5 more weeks...grrr and still ouch!

January 17, 2008

I only have one thing on my mind...is this blooming clavicle healing? I guess I will find out on the 28th. Yes my patience is running out! Yes I am going through one of many Im sure, "having doubts" phase. I am starting to get a handle on the weight gain and hope to reverse the damage in the next couple of weeks. Heres to hoping things will turn around in the right direction soon!

January 1, 2008- Happy New Year!

Well, training continues. The belt and sling seem to be working to stabilize the clavicle while running. I am not doing well on form, cadence or speed but at least I am getting the mileage in.

Here's to a Happy and Healthy New Year!

December 25, 2007 - Merry Christmas!

What can I say, this journey is starting out on an emotional roller coaster ride. I found out today that I did actually break my clavicle again. I don't know what was worse realizing that I was bleeping idiot for pushing too soon or the look of disappointment on my surgeon's face because I had wrecked his excellent work.

I won't be able to probably swim or do upper body weights until March now. My coach has reassured me that there will still be enough time for the swim as long as I can get the run and bike workouts in. The surgeon indicated that I can run with a sling, I am worried about the jostling slowing down the healing but I think I have come up with a solution. Instead of the sling, I will use a belt and tie my arm to my shoulder giving it the most stabilization. If this doesn't work (pain will be the indicator), I will stick to the trainer because I can't afford to screw up again.

On a sad note, my brother passed away suddenly on Dec 21. My heart goes out to my sister-in-law, his children and grand children. The last time I saw him, I was able to tell him how proud I was of him. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

All the best in 2008, here's to Health and Happiness!

Cheers

Donna

December 17, 2007

I have a nice goose egg where the clavicle cracked a bit, still on modified activities. People look at you real strange when your jogging on the treadmill in a sling. I finally got my tapes from "Real Rides" on the Penticton course. Something tells me it is 20 times harder in reality. I think I will stay in my blissful day dreaming for the time being, like I'm going to get up the Richter's Pass in 20 minutes!

December 10, 2007

Wow only completed my first week of training and I already have to do modified activities. I guess it wasn't too smart to play squash last night. I either tore a muscle or cracked an area of the collar bone, where the screws were. Either way, I'm taking the surgeon's advice take it easy now or potentially be sorry later. As soon as the pain subsides, trainer here I come. Swimming and upper body weights will have to wait until I see the surgeon again on Christmas eve.

December 4, 2007

This marks the first official training week on the road to Ironman Canada. Yikes what was I thinking?

Anyway it has been almost 3 weeks since having the plate from my collar bone removed. That means 3 weeks of just vegging and eating, very enjoyable but oops... back to business. The two workouts felt great today, although I didn't think I would ever finish the swimming one.

I will try to keep this section updated, weekly atleast. Come back soon and don't forget to send me your goal for 2008!

Cheers

Donna

March 30, 2008

The first race of the season, the 30 km Around the Bay. It was a beautiful race day. I had high hopes of beating my personal best by 5 to 10 minutes. I wasn't feeling that great but did my best. Around the 20km mark my legs were really starting to hurt but it is a race what do you expect. I came to that lovely hill at the 26km mark and decided right then and there to jog up it without stopping to mark my 5th anniversary of doing this race. So up I went, it wasn't the prettiest jog but I made it to the top. I gave it my all in the last 3km and finished in 3:27:28 about two minutes better then last year. It wasn't the PB that I wanted, but a PB is a PB! It is funny how the course seems to get shorter every year!

March 17, 2008

You know your in trouble when the surgeon enters the room and gives you a choice to hear the good or bad news. Well I have an explanation for that continuous dull ache, my collar bone is officially a non-union after 4 months. It could heal over the summer and if not, I can look forward to another plate... lets avoid that. Anyway I have clearance to resume all activities. I just have to learn how to cope with the ache. Just what I needed one more challenge.

March 2, 2008

Sorry I am bogged down with work these days, so I haven't played with the web site much. Racing season is almost here. I think I will build a section for race reports so you have something to look at when you drop by.

I would have to say training is going well, I am seeing very small incremental changes. But hey Rome wasn't build in a day as they say.
My clavicle is still very bothersome, I guess I will find out if that is moving in the right direction next week. I am in more discomfort now them I ever was after surgery the first time around. One day it will go away... I think!
Hey do you think winter will ever end this year. One thing with having my activities limited ( training mostly indoors), this weather hasn't bothered me at all. But it will soon be spring.
, I'm taking the surgeon's advice take it easy now or potentially be sorry later. As soon as the pain subsides, trainer here I come. Swimming and upper body weights will have to wait until I see the surgeon again on Christmas eve.