My coach said to me a week or so ago that I could get back on a bike. I said, No I can't. To which he responded, OK, no you can't.
It wasn't that I didn't want to get back onto a bike, it was clear to me that my body wasn't ready. My arm hurts when it goes in the wrong place, or rotates funny, or gets weight it wasn't ready for. It hurts loud. My finger hurts when I do something wrong with it. And if I hurt it just right, it makes me pay. And pay. For hours.
In the second week of recovery, for example, I got irritated at my husband and threw a comb at him with the bad arm (there was an incident with one of the children, and his approach to hair combing which always leaves them looking like Donald Trump - do I really need to explain?).
I threw a comb. About 2 feet. Whereupon, I was forced to retire to bed with an icepack for about 3 hours (that'll learn me!)...So I'm being appropriately cautious about this.
Taking my recovery at my own pace, I decided that this week would be about spinning - the arm feels willing to support a little weight.
I made it to two spin classes.
Boy did they suck.
I feel sooo out of shape. Even though I've been running every other day, my heartrate shot into the stratosphere and stayed there for a really. long. time. It's been awhile since I've lingered in the puke zone for so long.
Mostly, I have a hard time finding a comfortable position on a bike. Interestingly, leaning over into aero is probably my most favourite position. While the radius bone is still tender, the ulna is happily intact, and that's the bone I get to lean on.
I got into the pool today to do some kicking and push water around with my broken parts, and I thought, maybe I'll just try it...and sure enough, I can swim! I'm not fast, but I put 200m behind me today.
OK, it was a little tender, and I'll be pushing that one pretty gently. I think next week I'll plan to get into the pool at least twice.
So, to recap, the crash vacation:
- Two weeks completely sedentary, drugged to the gills. Just looking at my arm and finger incurs pain.
- The following week, I started lifting (legs) and cardio, and progressed immediately to intermittent running (every other day)
- The following week, added intermittent biking (every other day)
- This coming week, I'll add some intermittent swimming.
I'm at about 80 to 85% of normal usage now, but I feel like I'm at 70 to 75% of my former fitness level from a month ago. It's clear I can do stuff, I'm not fast and I don't feel as fit. I think even a 30 mile ride would be tough right now.
The running's getting easier already, except I've been eating for sedentary - listening to what my stomach says. My nutrition is totally off. So while the spirit is willng, the tank empties fast. I'm not hungry like I used to be, sometimes I just don't know what to eat. Or how much. This could be why I'm not feeling fit.
I'm getting Deja Vu - this is kinda where I was about a year ago...I had just started running in January of '05, and was drawn up short in October by an IT band injury. In a day, I went from being able to do 5 miles to about 0.5 miles before excruciating pain would set in. I got orthotics, and started my triathlon training for real in November: started building my mileage, doing bricks, cross training, swimming.
I know I just need to be patient - it takes time to get it back.
7 comments:
Are you taking anything that would raise your heart rate? Just a thought. It will come back! Be patient! Meanwhile, get thee over to Ironman Louisville and sign up. Now, TODAY. So I'm not alone in this insanity. BTW, when are we going to do that lunch?
first off, pirates are legendary comb throwers... it's a documented historical fact.
guess what i'm saying, is that you can't fight against type... hopefully, you yelled 'Arggghhhh' when you side-armed that puppy.
AGAIN, even though it wrecked your SOMA, I just wanted to point out that it is not as bad as say, you were going to SONOMA.
no need to thank me, i'm here to help.
keep healing!
Chin up! Once you get back into a regular routine you'll be surprised at how quickly your fitness returns.
Stay tuned...
Despite its frustrations there is nothing quite so gratifying as the come-back!
Take 'er easy.
....and the Piratical Cheering Section hollers "Arrrrgh!" Then swigs some rum.
you can do it, missy.
where were you in transition? were you the tall chick hitting on benny as she body marked him... right in front of me?
why, i oughta....
By the way, in regards to your post on the board, I think it's something that women are more likely to do than men, this whole business of thinking about the last finishers and wanting to support them. Yes, it's a sexist thing to say but that' he way I see it.
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