Tweedle Beetle Tri-Atheletle

“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.” - Lance Armstrong

Photo: AP
OK, OK...

I think I got a little ahead of myself in thinking I was out of the woods.  This morning I woke up feeling like I had just been pulled out from under a Mac Truck.  My esophagus felt like it had swollen substantially, my neck felt like it had been cemented into place and the muscles surrounding the incision were sore, sore, sore.  I was told to expect this but I was a bit spoiled yesterday as I felt very little pain.  Maybe the remaining adrenaline and other shock related hormones that came after the surgery helped in the 24 hrs after?  Regardless... it hurts now.

That said, I do believe it is time to reevaluate some of my fitness goals and acknowledge what the next 6 months are really going to look like.  For one, I think it prudent to rethink the Pacific Crest long course triathlon - and maybe target a long course triathlon later in the year.

OK - here are how things look:

• Jan 21st - Recovery from surgery begins.
• Feb 4th - Follow up with surgeon - hopefully relieved from "coffee cup lifting limit". Start back into cardio training on recline (granny) stationary bike. Start physical therapy to regain strength in tricep and maintain/increase range of motion safely. Start water running.
  
• March 4th - 6 week mark - hopefully relieved from "milk jug lifting limit".  Get started back into Spin (stationary bike) bike and road trainer.  Start back into swim training. Start light running.
• April 4th - 10 week mark - hopefully relieved to full duty.  Ease back into full training and begin racing.
• May 15th - Run 10K at Pole Pedal Paddle (Defend title with the "Innovators") PR - 35:42.
  

Getting back to training on April 4th, gives me 10 weeks to be ready for the Pacific Crest Long Tri and looking at this realistically, I think it foolish and irresponsible to try and force my body into such a grueling race on such a short training schedule.  I don't want to give up on the idea of racing though so I am revising my goal to compete in the Olympic Distance Triathalon on June 26th, so...

• June 26th - Compete in the Pacific Crest Olympic Distance Triathalon

I will be adding some more events to the schedule but even more than all of this - I am simply looking forward to being a Dad again and a Husband.  It kills me each time my son asks me, "Is your back feeling better Dad?" I am so excited to say - yep! and snatch him off his feet and tickle him as he dangles mid air from my shoulder...