Tweedle Beetle Tri-Atheletle

Setting the Stage - The timeline:

Last December, 2009 - I made the decision that I was going to begin my training for the Pacific Crest 1/2 Iron Man in Sunriver Oregon.


December 19th, 2009 - Beautiful December day - 20 mile light ride. Tingling in my left hand.

December 21st, 2009 - Woke up to the most intense pain ever radiating down my left arm. (http://tweedlebeetletriatheletle.blogspot.com/2009/12/locked-up.html)

January 21st, 2010 - Complete Artificial Disk Replacement surgery, to replace the badly herniated Disk between C6/7.

Febuary, 2010 - Cheryl Kosta agrees to ignore my ridiculous insurance and provide to me the very best in physical therapy.  Thank you!!!!

The Badly Herniated Disk between C-6 and C-7.

The Group:

The North Lake Group, lead by Physical Therapist and North Lake founder Cheryl Kosta, took me under their healing wing back in February 2010 - after my C6/7 artificial disk replacement surgery.  This surgery corrected my badly herniated disk which resulted in excruciating pain, muscle waisting on my left shoulder, pectoral, bicep and triceps, numbness in my left hand and paralysis in my left triceps.

What They Did:

Rather than just rehabbing my cervical spine and shoulder area, the group took on a holistic approach - viewing the body and a system of interconnected subsystems.  I completed my rehab with two sets of ortohotics (one for daily use - the other for running/cycling), a professional and complete bike fit, and I am ecstatic to report that I have made a complete recovery.  The orthotics are designed to not only align my bone structure preventing some of my most chronic injuries (Achilles Tendinitis and IT Band Tendinitis) but also increasing performance!  By aligning my structure I increase efficiency and power transfer.

Post Surgery - Notice the artificial disk between C-6 and C-7.

The Result:


On May 15t,h 2010 (less than 4 months after my spine surgery), I returned to competing at the Pole Pedal Paddle. (http://tweedlebeetletriatheletle.blogspot.com
/2010/06/first-race-of-year-2010-us-bank-pole.html)

On June 6th, 2010 I competing in my first Olympic Distance Triathlon at Blue Lake, finishing 125th out of 405 finishers.
(http://tweedlebeetletriatheletle.blogspot.com/
2010/06/2010-blue-lake-olympic-distance.html)

My Sincerest Thank You!

There is no question that North Lake's direction during my recovery not only helped my physical recovery from my spinal injury but also returned me to a stronger, more limber and faster place.

To Cheryl and everyone at North Lake, thank you for your guidance, your support and your financial assistance!

“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...

On June 26, 2010 - 1000 hopeful Tri-Athletes will pour into Wickiup Reservoir near Sun River Oregon...  their breath falling short and chest clenching from the near freezing temperatures.  They will pull their way through a 1.2 mile swim, peddle through 56.3 miles of mountains and run another 13.1 miles to the finish at Sunriver Resort outside of beautiful Bend Oregon.

I am going to be one of them. 

Assuming I finish (this is a bit iffy at this point) 4 to 9 hours later I will stumble across the finish line, collapsing into a bliss filled coma at the feet of my very overwork wife and two terribly impatient toddlers.

With any luck I will be so exhausted that I will be unable to hear or maybe comprehend the whining that will inevitability accompany my two wonderful children after waiting at the finish line for hours on end...  I have to admit, I hope they will be there.

First off - who am I?  What a messed up question is that???  Eight years ago, I would have answered with something like, "Oh, I am a Chemical Engineer."  Six years ago, I would have blurted out, "I am an Operations Manager!" Three years ago, I would have proudly said, "I am a small business owner."  Recently, I have come to realize that all of these things are all about what I do and not who I am.

Who I am is a imperfect soul who loves his family more than anything.  My two little boys have showed me who I should be and my wifes forgiving love keeps me on track.  I am the reflection in my families eyes.

What am I doing?  I am trying to get some accountability around a very serious challenge.  My wife and children will love me regardless of whether or not I finish this race... all of you - I hope not!

What is this blog about?  Taking a 10K race ready athelete to a 1/2 Iron Man ready athelete, all the while maintaining my marrage and continuing to be the Dad my boys deserve.  This journey will last 6 months and will come to completion on June 26th, 2010.