Todde's Tri Blog

I am setting up this blog to post about my triathlon life. I recently signed up for my first Ironman so I need a place to document the goods and the bads leading up to it. The race is Ironman Arizona and the date is April 15, 2007.

I am on the tail end of my 2006 Triathlon season and I am already thinking about next year. This year definitely has had its ups and downs. I started the season in January with Buffalo Springs Half Ironman as my #1 race. Things got off to a good start, but I think I increased my volume to fast and by March I was already in trouble. I began to have problems with my right hip and left knee when running over 5 miles. I continued to push the envelope and some ITBS was kicking my ass.

My first race came in April at the Cactus Challenge. I had an okay race but I cut the swim course behind a group others (unknowingly) and was therefore DQ'd from the final results. I think my time was in the 2:22 range for an olympic distance. The highlight was having my parents in town to see the race. We chowed down the next day at Salt Lick in Driftwood ; )

Shortly after that race my knee was really killing me. I went to a knee doctor who immediately sent me for an MRI. His initial diagnosis was my knee seemed way to loose. Fearing the worst I went back a week later for the results. The doc was very blunt. he said my knee looked awful for my age and recommended ACL surgery. He said it appeared I had torn my ACL some time ago and I had some wear and tear damage to the articular cartilage on the end of my femar bone. He said if I continued to run I would probably need a knee replacement in 10 years. I honestly felt like shit for the rest of the day and went out that night drown my sorrows in beer. After listening to my friend Keith tell me several times that I dont even need an ACL, I decided to get a second opinion.

Before the 2nd opinion came a had already committed to the CapTexTri in Austin. Being a dedicated triathlete I went against better judgement and did the race. I did well (2:22ish) and had a great bike which lead to a weak run. I gave so much on the bike which left me with nothing for the 6mile run in some wicked heat/humidy. The knee did okay.

The second opinion went much better and the 2nd doc had alot better credentials. He agreed my ACL was damaged but said surgery wouldnt neccessarily improve my situation. He told me the ACL wouldnt affect my swimming or biking and as long as my running was straight ahead then my ACL should hold up fine. I went on to rehab the muscles around knee to help strengthen the leg and take pressure off the knee. Things are better but I still get sore for a few days in my left knee after running.

I recently did my 3rd race of the year and it was my best yet. I took 4th overall (1st in my age group) at the Aquarena Sprint in San Marcos. I really nailed the bike and followed it up was my best run in a race yet (6:30 mile pace). I was a wierd feeling racing in front. I past 2 guys early in the bike and then never saw another person until the turnaround. From then on it felt like I was being chased. Once on the run I really went for it and ended up being the 2nd person the cross the finish line (the 2 others that beat me started after me). It was a good feeling with all the issues I have had this year.

That brings us to now. I am currently training for the Ironstar Half Ironman in Conroe in Oct. My goal is the knock 1hr off my time from last year. That means I need to come in at 4:40 this year. My swim is the same as last year but my bike is way ahead. I should able to make up 25 minutes here. I hope to drop 4-5 mins on the swim and an additional 8 minutes on transitions. That leaves 22 - 23 mins on the run. That is the part I need to focus on over the next few months. In conjunction with training, I need to get to soreness in my left quad and hammy out of my life. I am working on that as we speak and I will talk about that more in the future. Alot more!!!!!

Now that everyone is up to date when can get on with business. Today was a gym day for me. I lifted weights for about 40 mins, mostly focused on the legs. I changed it up today. I went from doing 3 sets of 12 reps with heavier weight to 2 sets of 20 reps with lighter weights. I want to avoid that dead feeling in the arms and legs when I swim and bike after doing weights.

time to wrap us this post and finish my beer. Thats right, I am drinking a beer. I might even have some ice cream before bed. I have been killing the ice cream lately!!!!!!!!! Blue Bell's chocalate covered strawberries is the bomb!