The Lichtenstein Dance

So it has been a long, kind of painful week for me. After being sore from the Chicago Marathon I scheduled my hernia surgery 3 days after the race. I figured if I was in pain anyway why not add more to it or at least distract me from my tired running legs.

(Caption: There is almost no limit to how BIG a hernia could get if left untreated!)


So the surgery was bright and early last Wednesday morning. I had to be there at 7:00 am for the pre-op stuff and surgery scheduled at 8:30.

So that night I got a bunch of calls, from the nurse, anathesiaolgist, and of course my mom. I was not really nervous about the whole thing. At this point what could I do. Maybe the IM motto dancing in my head of "only worry about the things you can control", seemed to help.

But my mom is great, but like all parents they can drive me TOTALLY INSANE sometimes.

She kept asking me this:

Mom: you Nervous?

Bubba: not really..

Mom: yeah, I know you are, you nervous yet?

See where this is going...

So 7:00 am I rolled in there, no food or water after midnight, for me that is more painful than anything else. I was the 1st person on the doctor's surgery list so I was whisked away in the prep room.

The anathesiaolgist met me, he asked me some questions what kinda of shape I was in. So I told him I just ran the Chicago marathon. He was actually impressed. Himself an inspiring runner but do to his crazy Doc schedule only could mange a few miles each week. So after a brief chat he slipped me the sedative through my veins.

Around 8:30 am I was wheeled into the surgical room, never ever have been cut open before, the surgery room seemed a lot bigger than those medical shows I watch. Go figure that. I just remember the nurse counting the knives (sorry surgical equipment) , then I think I said hello to the surgeon and dozed off to IM fairyland (Bubba winning KONA).

So what seemed like a brief moment I awoke like I just drank to many tequila shots and awaking from a drunken stupor. It took me a couple of minutes to clear my head, but I awoke at the tail end of my surgery. All I could feel was the doctor's poking me. So I had to wait there while they finish sewing me up. Ohh what fun, it felt like forever.

So the surgical doc explained I had a bigger tear, so recovery time might be a bit more painful. Something it being a Direct Hernia instead of a indirect hernia. So plan B was the Lichtenstein repair procedure instead of the "Cork in the bottle" repair.

The hospital was great. The doctor actually wanted to admit me overnight. But no internet, video games, or even cable TV, I would be one unhappy camper. So I convinced him to let me discharge later that night. A nurse stopped by before I left, because she heard I did the marathon and so did she. She actually did great and yes she was faster than me. Ohh hit a person when he is down, but all good I say.

Well a couple of heavy pain pills later, I'm still recovering at home for at least one more day. The downtime is really killing me. My O.C.D of "Perpetual Motion" is driving me insane. So for now I'm my worst enemy, especially concerning my credit card. Surfing the internet for TRI stuff.

I actually ordered a Computrainer (good deal I could not resist). But I can't use it for another 2 weeks after it arrives. So my wife has taunted me with using it while I'm laid up to test it out.

So for now, hopefully catch up on all the running and tri magazines I have stacked up unread and try to keep sane without buying more Triathlon gear.

Season Finale

The Chicago marathon, what can you say about our beloved city's marathon. On a cold and supposedly windy day I will toe the line for the Chicago Marathon a 3rd time. The weather called for rain/mixed with snow, cold, and predicted winds of 15-30 mph. That is what the weather man said anyway. So what does he know. Yes it was cold, mid 40's, windy, with a little rain, but the day turned out pretty well, not as bad as predicted.

So around 5:45 my wife drove me downtown near the start to meet up with some fellow TRI members who was also running. We were going to wear a pink ribbon this day to think about, and let her know we are thinking about our fellow teammate, BIKECHIK, One tough lady,
after a couple of days finishing IMoo she learned she had to fight breast cancer for the second time in her life. Even with all the treatment she has been going through the past couple of weeks, she had the energy to volunteer this day at the Chicago marathon at one of the water stations. A truly tough BIKECHIK.

So after a brief warm-up, I headed to my wave
designation. So after awhile the "HI GUY" was sitting near me. This runner I have seen in several races along the years. His special running style was to run in flip flops. Flip flops you would wear at the beach with a little more padding on the bottom. How you can keep your feet in those flip flops while you run I will never figure out. Then Rick came guy and started to talking to "HI GUY". What made Rick so special is the he is actually known as "BAREFOOT RICK". Yeah, I saw it for myself he was running the marathon barefoot. What a sight. It was really funny hearing all the remarks while people saw him running.

So a crazy start as always, when you have 30,000+ runners it is just a sea of people the entire race.

I knew that this would be a tough day for me. I was consistently running over the past several weeks since IMWI. But I had really no marathon training plan and my long runs consisted of two 13.1 runs. Because after IM, I wanted to relax a little bit and if I could not get the miles I needed I would be fine with that. No set schedule and family time was the theme for the past couple of weeks.

I actually ran fine the 1st 13.1 miles of the race, but sometimes you know how your body will be. Started cramping on and off the rest of the way. Instituted the 2 mile water station rule. Just to get there was the goal for the rest of the way. Thankful for some salt tabs, I think that alleviated some of the cramping.

I had worn my IronMan cycling jersey for the race , people came up to chit chat about the IM race, some along with me would be there for IMWI '07. Crowds yelling "GO IRONMAN" help me pick up my shuffle to a jogging pace. It was inspirational just hearing those words. But I realized I good not walk to much. A walking IronMan not a pretty sight.

In the last 2 miles or so. I heard "GO Ironman". Kinda of waved and heard "RUN BUBBA RUN", looked over and it was the awesome TRiSaraTops, she had flown to support and run with her friend during her 1st marathon. What a friend in deed.

She was totally motivational for me because I was just totally slacking the last 5K, So with her inspiration, she help me pick up my tired and cramping legs and get me to the finish
line.

Thanks TriSaraTops!!!!!

So finishing time was 4:12, not great, but it is good enough for me. It has been a crazy, long year, but somehow seems all a blur right now. The season finally over for me. I think my race times have been getting slower so I think my head will finally listen to my body for once.

Sore and tired after the marathon, I read this article and really liked this comment from Scott Tinley:

"Sometimes I like sports because they hurt. If they were entirely comfortable they wouldn't feel so good when you're done for the day"

I think I can relate to that. But for now I will leave this post with thoughts and I think these words to sum up my 3rd year:

"The Miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had THE Courage to Start" (John "The Penguin" Bingham)

And start I did. I think I'm tired now.

Chicago Marathon EXPO

Just a couple of pics from the marathon expo.

It is the morning of the Chicago Marathon. Cold rainy, not sure about the wind yet. Dressing conservatively. I guess I should not get sick before Wednesday's surgery. Ankle does feel better thou. Due to icing of the foot and some divine intervention, and lots of luck.

Not sure how I will do, I still favor the foot, but I think once I get going I should be okay and have lots of adreline from the marathon itself. Worry about the pain later.

Oh wee, this is fun.. Crazy but fun. Especially in this weather.

ICE ICE BABY

Two days before the start of the Chicago Marathon, my body is in total chaos, to be exact my right foot. After my 5k race last Saturday, my foot swelled up and I was gimping around in pain the whole day Sunday.

Not sure how it got that way, do we really know why our body decides to swell up like a mushroom "puffball"? I think it was due to the fact I had to run around everybody in the 5k race. Running thru the grass, dodging small tress along the way to get some running room among the critical mass of 2400 runners. I think I might have to stick to the long races, these
short ones, my body no likey.

So Tuesday rolls along, hoping for Divine intervention I decide not to do anything about it. No running, a little bit of swimming. Rest was a good idea, but going for a 60 minute swim was a bad idea. Felt okay swimming, but I think it aggravated my foot more than anything else. From the looks of it, and from TriAl's injury post of his war football wounds, I think I might have a small ankle sprain. I can't rationalize it any other way. The pain is coming from different sides of my foot; top, bottom, near my joints. So it could be a case of plantar faciitis, ankle sprain, a muscle tear, or a little of each. Is that possible?

So for now I have been doing some emergency icing on my foot. I can actually walk kinda of normal now, but running might be an issue this weekend. I never have been so under-trained and injured for a race in my life (internal injuries I'm not counting right now). A DNF might be a possibility but a DNS (Did Not Start) will not a option. I'm just not pre-programmed that
way, so a DNF might not be an option also.

Along with the forecast of high 40's, rain mixed with snow. I think they call that "SLEET". It is going to be a painful and slow day "at the office" for me.

But wait, there is more, along with the marathon, I'm trying to cram in some performance testing in before the weekend and pending surgery next week. LT/Vo2max testing on a treadmill, maybe not a good idea right now, a short 17-20 minute test, so hopefully it will not aggravate my condition even more. Also later that day swim stroke analysis in a endless pool with my Total Immersion masters swim coach. Then off to the marathon expo.

So if anybody has any suggestion on what to do on race
day about my foot?

1) Should I tape my foot
2) Ask for a carbon foot at the TRI store
3) Look for a new foot at the marathon expo
4) Tie my shoe tight
5) Shave my legs
6) Have my head examined

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Not racing I have to say is "La La La", I don't hear that!
Pain medication (Aspirin, Motrin) is a NO NO right now, something about allowing my blood to clot during my hernia surgery next week.

For everybody coming to Chi-town this weekend, bring winter gear and maybe some anti-Sleet gear. Good luck to all.

GHOST BUSTERS

It has a slow running week, not to many miles to talk about since I'm supposed to be tapering for the Chicago Marathon next weekend. So far it is supposed to be mid 50's and maybe rain. Running a marathon in the rain in the 50's. That sounds so familiar.

But Saturday was the Pumpkins in the Park 5k. I had entered the 5k the day before and at that time 1500+ people had signed up. That many people running a 5k on a running path. That's not going to be pretty.

So getting ready for the race, I put on my IM Wisconsin TRI shorts, before they were a little big on me, XL (okay, they were on sale). Now they fit more tighter, OH! a bad sign. Then the "under armor" type shirt goes on and then racing jersey. I look down, low and behold I could not see more of my feet. WTF, I think the daily dose of doughnuts and late night ice cream binges has made me into a "FAT BASTARD". Now it takes 6 months to get into descent IM shape and 4 weeks to totally reverse it. What is the balance in that. I think I need to call "GUT BUSTERS" and not "GHOST BUSTERS" at this point. OH MY!!!

Off to the race, my daughter will be doing the Spooky sprint dash, then the wife and kiddo will be doing the 5k walk afterwards. I must tell you, Chicago traffic in the city really sucks, parking is even worst. I only had time to drop them off so she could do her race. They had 200 kids doing the Spooky dash, but she ran the whole 50 yrds all by herself.

How fast they grow up.

When the 5k race started, the announcer said that 2400 people signed up for this years 5k run/walk. So now, this was not going to be race but a casual training run for most of us. I had started somewhere in the middle of the pack for the race. The horn goes off. Now comes the weaving, occasional bump, and running on the outside for the 1st mile. I think that takes more energy out of me than anything else. It was a little bit crazy but I wanted to make the best of it. I have not run a 5k since the early part of the year and wander if I still had any speed (for me anyways) left in me.

The 1st mile came to an 8 minute pace, not pretty, after the 2nd mile I had more breathing room but still had to weave around people. Overall time 23:28, 7:31 pace. 30 seconds off my 5k pace this year. So I think my body is telling me to chill after the marathon. My right foot is swollen for some DAM reason, my left foot was swollen after my masters swim class last week. Go figure that.

So the motto for the day. WHO you going to call? GUT BUSTERS.

Actually that comes next week when they open me up for my hernia surgery. Maybe they can put six pack abs in there while they are in there. Does HMO cover THAT?

I've Been Cut-off

Last year after finishing the Chicago Marathon under 4 hrs (barley), I really felt really good after the race and was not really sore afterwards. I ran the Chicago marathon without any expectations and dropped almost 50 minutes in my Chicago marathon time in 2005. So I was stoked.

So I still needed a race fix after that and entered and completed a 50k UltraMarathon 2 weeks after the marathon. So this year I would try to top that. I entered the Chicago marathon to use as a training run with the actual intention to run a 50k trail UltraMarathon a week after.

Yeah I now know it is a little bit crazy, especially after an IronMan race. My legs aren't liking this continuous running.

But my plans were set. I got permission from my pseudo coach (aka my wife). Not really a coach but who puts up with my crazy racing schedule. I think a real coach would shake his head at me and tell me "no way Jose".

But it was not meant to be, I have been cutoff I tell you, like a drug user needing one more fix. I look on the website and bam, my season ends with the Chicago Marathon:

From the Race webpage:

SORRY,

DUE TO ISSUES OUT OF OUR CONTROL WE WILL NOT BE HAVING

THE DeTony IRON FIST 50K,

3 PERSON 50K RELAY OR

10 MILE FUN RUN IN 2006.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO BRING THE EVENT BACK IN 2007.

So my much needed rest is coming near. Forced rest actually because I will be scheduling my hernia operation after the race. No delaying it now.

I was only able to log 43 running miles this week. So not sure how my marathon time will be. But this year has been about finishing, and I'm happy about that. Because next year will be about being fast.

I ran along the Chicago lakefront this weekend. Alot of people tapering for the Chicago Marathon. But I did see a lone Triathlete braving the chilly waters at TRI beach.

Excess and old Friends

This weekend was about chilling out with some old friends to celebrate my IronMan race. (Actually just an excuse to get together). These people I have know for a along time, total non-athletes and happy with that, I think the longest race anybody has ever run in the group (not including me) was a 5k road race. But they were pretty amazed at what I have accomplished and was happy to tell their friends they know an IronMan. As the celebration continued we ate like kings at a Downtown Chicago steakhouse and our bill at the end of the night reflected that. But what is excess among friends, one person said and before the night was over we made a toast to one that is no longer with us. I'm sure he is parting up in the heavens right now. He is the one, who one night in a drunken stupor started calling me "BUBBA", well the rest is history.

It has been a couple of weeks since the IM race and for some reason I think to myself it wasn't a big deal anymore. Kind of weird I thought to myself. Does anybody else feel that way?

I don't know about all of you out there but I really feel I need to start racing again. Triathlon is like a drug sometimes, needing another fix to tie me over, I must be addicted to this stuff.

Reading others people blog post, their plans for the future, kinda of exciting and can't wait to race another triathlon again. My primary race goal for next year is to be faster, more base training with some consistent speed work. A fast IronMan race for '07, would that be something. Okay, No Kona time dreams, but a faster IM time nonetheless.

So in search for some answers, since I have no coach, I emailed 2 questions to the PodCasters at
IronManTalk ,and for you ladies out there, one of the Podcasters is a beefy Tri stud.

Question 1: Which test is better, VO2 Max or Lactate test?

Answer: Vo2Max is a good supplement for Lactate testing, but the Lactate numbers are the ones that are most important. (I was trying to determine the best way to figure out my training zones).

Question 2: Is big training volume necessary for success at IM distance?

Answer: In a word "YES", especially the bike, you should get off the bike during the race like you did noting. (So a lot of big volume rides for me next year for IMWI '07)

But for now, it's all about the running. Training for the Chicago marathon is getting kind of hard these days. Only was able to do a 30 mile run week, But I was able to do a 2 hour LSD run with the Frankfort running group, good times, but I was really sore afterwards. But trying to take it a little bit easy and if I don't have great running volume leading up to the marathon, I think I will be okay. I hope so anyway. Trying so hard to not look at a training plan right now.

Okay I can't help myself,

Monday, I went to my Total Immersion master's swim class. I have not been there for about 2 months, so I was not sure how I could handle it. But somehow I was able to keep up and felt pretty good swimming 2700 yrds. I met up with a fellow blogger Baun, his 1st time in the class and just started swimming this year. He did really great, with IM '08 plans in his head, he is well on his way.

So another long week of running, I really can't wait for race day. The people, the race, and race expo. Just to get out there again will make me all warm and fuzzy.

Last note, Today was a momentous day for my pre-school child. Student of the Month in her school. I guess that makes up for her screaming for 10 minutes at a store because she wanted a toy because it was "pretty".

It's all about BALANCE.