On October 25, 2011,
in 
I wouldn’t know my metaphysical qi from my…well….metaphysical butt. I’ve done no research on acupuncture. Therefore I am highly qualified to report on precisely how it works. (haha)
I’ve had a stubborn case of posterior tibial tendonitis (behind inner ankle bone) since spring which was showing no signs of relenting. This summer, I turned to acupuncture out of frustration and desperation (and a suggestion from Kurt) but I have to say I think there is something to this stuff.
I go to John Thacker who works with my chiropractor. He’s not what you might picture as a licensed acupuncturist. He played football and he’s very much an athlete. I see him on a regular basis and by golly this tendonitis situation is pretty much gone. Unfortunately, pain is a moving target once you get over 40. There is always something new to work with!
In a typical session, I present my list of trouble spots for John to direct his needling process. I’m guessing it’s around 15 needles? It’s amazing how some of the spots trigger an instant and dramatic neural reaction that can shoot out in multiple directions. Some areas get an extra “jump” with electro stimulation complete with alligators clips. It’s a pretty neat sensation. Unless we crank it too high.
Here are my thoughts on how acupuncture works, based on my highly scrutinized scientific method, n=1. (John, forgive me…)
Acupuncture breaks your body out of endless pain… Read the rest
While June was a busy month for racing, July and early August are reserved for a solid training block to get ready for the second half of race season. I’m averaging about 12 workout sessions a week for swim, bike, run, and strength training. That translates to roughly two-a-day workouts six days a week and one day off. Sessions of course vary in intensity, duration, and purpose. Coach Jim and Kurt keep things fun and interesting (busy brain = happy me) and it is very rare that I don’t look forward to a workout. I try to knock out both workouts one after the other early in the morning to push my endurance and to keep the day clear.
I know I’m gaining strength and confidence and ideally that will translate to upcoming races August 13, 14, and 20. The tendonitis is all but gone thanks to a mix of ice, acupuncture, massage, and strengthening, and so is the bit of pre-run anxiety I had been experiencing because of it. It feels great!
I wrote about tackling some daunting (for me) swim intervals recently. This week were two notable challenges on the bike and the run. On Tuesday Coach Jim made had me do a time trial through our valley and up the big hill into town. The only time I could fit this in was mid-day when the boys were at camp and it was 91 degrees out. I often laugh thinking to myself that one… Read the rest
I met with Mario today for some pain-threshold intervals….I mean deep tissue massage. When I realized it hurt to just lay my quads on the roller the other day, I knew I was long overdue to pull out the big guns. Mario is the big gun. He is one solid, low-bodyfat, muscular guy who despite his very sweet and calm demeanor shows no mercy to adhesions, knots, and obstinate muscles and fascia.
Lordy, that is just one unique kind of pain. There’s nothing quite like the elbow to the piriformis, thumbs in the traps, or a forearm squeezing out a quad.
I went in with my laundry list of areas to address, but he pretty much hit things head to toe. Even the parts that I didn’t think had issues, apparently did. He’d say things like “this doesn’t hurt when you run?”. Uh, no? “Hmmm…”
Eventually I felt the knots start to give way. Now I’m just left feeling a bit battered. But I know the drill. Lots of water, take it easy today. I will probably feel like crap for the day as my system is overloaded with all the garbage flushed out by the massage. Then tomorrow I will feel like a million bucks. (An aside: this is my public proclamation…I am VOWING to roll and stretch regularly starting NOW. I mean it this time!!!)
I’m definitely a proponent of deep tissue massage but I think it takes finding the right person and working with them over time… Read the rest
June is a packed and chaotic month with three races in four weeks (one completed, two to come). I’ve abandoned all hope for structure and order this month.
from the Salem tri.
My friend Jennifer and ILast week it was all the end-of-school-year festivities. This week the hubs is out of the country again, returning just in time (I hope) for me to head out to the Bath County Triathlon Friday with friends Jennifer and Tanya. Next week the kids head to 4-H camp and Coach Jim leaves for Australia for two months. Then it’s the TriAdventure Sprint Triathlon and the day after I head to Vancouver for a conference for four days (good times with the American Society of Engineering Education). Then I’m home for one whole day to madly unpack/restore order/pack the family for a trip to the beach. It’s all good stuff, I can’t complain. Still, I’m glad that July looks to be much calmer!
Goodbye, routine.
Hello, creativity and improvisation!
My tennis pro friend, who is also falling apart, gave me a roll of kinesio tape. I used it probably two years ago for a knee situation. I honestly think it works… Read the rest
This morning I had a double-brick (ride-run-ride-run) and the first real workout on the new Q Roo. That bike just flies and I am flying high from seeing what we did out there today. Now that it’s officially mine (i.e. the check cleared), it needs a name! My old bike was “Ace” (it was a Jamis Ventura…”Ace Ventura”…get it?).
I decided to name the bike “Teddy” in honor of my dad, Ted Vargo, as today is his birthday and I attribute my need for speed to him! He was involved in car racing in the early days, long before everyone and his brother became a NASCAR fan. We have pictures of him as a flagman in the 50′s for the Penn Western Racing Association and he’s been to Daytona back when they raced on the sandy beach and the A1A Highway. He dragged me to the local racetrack a few summers ago and I loved it! Appropriately, he drives a Corvette. My dad has always been a staunch supporter of my hobbies, which growing up meant he spent a lot of long days at horse shows, holding horses, shining boots, and driving the horse trailer. He continues to be supportive but is probably happy that the torch (and related expenses) has been passed to my husband.
Me and my dad in the Corvette last summer
Post double-brick on… Read the rest
How’d that asterisk get in there? No, really, I truly meant how, as a mother, I am finding time to rehab my legs, that’s all!
If you are wondering why the blog-a-thon (blogorrhea maybe) over the last few days, there is a perfectly reasonable explanation.
I’m taking a few days OFF from all structured exercise. Need I say more. The unspent energy gets redirected to the areas of my brain responsible for writing….and sarcasm. For that I apologize.
The time off was strongly suggested by (threatened by?) all those who know and love me and admit I needed it. I’ve been pushing through, digging deep, exercising and working out in every way possible for the last few months and I hit a physical and emotional wall and was starting to come unglued.
Anyway, I recently admitted that I have not taken the time to do PT/rehab at home for my lower legs – balance exercises, theraband, calf raises, that sort of thing – or do my part to work out the kinks in the rest of my battered parts either. So I had a brainstorm! I will cleverly find ways to do it all AS part of my daily life, so here are some of the things I am doing. I hope they might give you ideas to creatively fit stretching or rehab into your life!
- Hair drying: calf raises when drying the top, and hamstring stretches when drying the underneath.
- Tooth brushing: balance on one foot to work stabilizers,
While I am making progress in my return to my former ferocious triathlete and runner self, it is not without speedbumps and a bit of a toll booth.
Eight weeks of gimpiness left me with misalignment in the back and pelvis, knots in my muscles to make any sailor jealous, and a protesting peroneal nerve. Hello, chiropractor! Hello, massage therapist! Right now I’m switching off hot dates with Dr. Greg Tilley, chiropractor, and Mario Travis, massage therapist, both who work with the Virginia Tech sports teams and know athletes. On the plus side, we can take pain and will do anything to resolve an injury. On the negative side, we are less than completely patient.
Here’s what a misaligned pelvis looks like when it runs:
(Photos courtesy of Coach Jim, taken Thursday when it was 34 degrees and raining, but who did not take me up on my generous offer to postpone. And yes I shed my long sleeve top in the interest of science. Don’t judge me! The hot pink Saucony Kinvaras rock though!!)
Dr. Tilley’s big catch phrase with me is “don’t panic, I’ll tell you when and if it’s time to panic.” That gives you an idea of my personality.
About my dates with Mario, who I’m certain could crush a bowling ball in one hand, well I thank God that I took a childbirth class (any man reading this is probably recoiling now). I tell you… Read the rest
On February 15, 2011,
in I am going to rename this blog: Swim Bike Klutz.
Yesterday, I was zooming out my front door for Court (carrying ten bags, a file and a notebook) I step on one of those little rolly pinecone-like things. Right on the front porch.
Twist! Left ankle.
I drop bags, curse the world. I’m okay, I’m okay, I’m thinking, and really, nothing hurt. Whew. Dodged that one.
Approximately eight hours later, I am zooming into the house, returning from Court and crunch, twist – AGAIN!? The same damn rolly pinecone! The same ankle? Are you serious??
Yes, I am totally serious. Only this time, my pride and my ankle hurt a little. I drop my bags, pick up that pinecone and throw it with a vengeance into the neighbor’s yard, screaming something like, “Curse you, tiny pinecone” (another Despicable Me joke). I limp into the house. By the end of the night, I am not feeling any real pain, so I’m thinking that I avoided two ankle crises in one day – that’s awesome.
However, it’s six o’clock in the morning and my ankle is bothering me from the fight with nature yesterday. But it’s fine. Ice, Aleve, repeat, and I’ll be good to go.
Today is yes, another rest day spent whining about my boo-boos.
I’m always hurting my ankles. The Expert jokes that I should wear Reebok Pumps all the time. For constant ankle support. Luckily, the ankle I destroy always seems to be the left one – which… Read the rest
Yesterday was a rest day for me, which I was welcoming with open arms.
But as I walked to the bathroom at work – poof, out of nowhere – my left hamstring (or hammer, in old school weightlifting speak) starts bothering me. And it gets worse throughout the day. Who gets hurt on rest day? I totally feel like Vector from Despicable Me (“These aren’t pajamas! This is a WARM UP SUIT!“) So, I grab ice and sit with my leg up at my desk so people could say: “huh huh, what’s wrong with your leg” and that sort of thing. I ice all night. I’m cursing this – why does walking to the bathroom get me injured? (Although I am thinking back, and it could have been those squats and leg presses last week – I remember feeling a twinge….)
So, like avoiding the flu last week, I am now thinking my left hammer well and fine and dandy. I was supposed to do a spin class today per training scheduled. Instead, I will wait and ice all day…see if I can spin tonight at home on the bike.
No time for this! No time, I say!
Some periods of your life things go like clockwork. Last year was one of those years in terms of training and racing. I hit every race I wanted to do, achieved all my major goals, had no downtime due to injuries, and had a blast! I won a bench press meet, a 10-miler, raced 5 triathlons and placed in the master’s division of the VTS, ran Richmond and re-qualified for Boston, and competed in various road races and swim meets. It could not have gone any better!!
But for every up, there is a down.
Here’s the downer. Today I had what I hoped was a final visit to the orthopedic doc for my leg injury. I had a retirement ceremony of sorts for the boot Friday and headed off for a nice walk with the kids and dog Sunday. I feared this appointment knowing I still had a hot spot at the site of the fracture, but expected to hear that it was a normal part of the healing process. That was not what i heard.
Bottom line is I’m headed for an MRI which will tell us if it’s still a bone issue or just the connective tissue. The latter I can work through. The former lands me in the boot for 5 more weeks with greater restrictions than before. There are even worse possibilities than that.
So right now the boot is back on. I enjoyed my weekend of freedom. I had my cry. I admitted that Boston… Read the rest
