A Work In Progress, A Race & A Recap

So remember when I said I was done racing for the season?  Yeah....about that.  Well, this weekend my awesome run group is headed to Niagara Falls to run in either the half marathon or full marathon events.  Since I'm not really up to either of those distances at my current fitness level, I signed up for the 5km.   I figure I can tough that out.  I'll tape my knee up and give 'er. 

I know, I know.  I have a problem.  But it could be worse right?

Speaking of knees, I've been on one heck of a roller coaster ride these days.  I feel fine for a while and then I do something stupid, like 2 back to back hilly rides, followed by a run and then they bug me again.  I have an appointment to see Dr. Schofield at Pivot but I was so incredibly frustrated this past week (like to the point of tears frustration) that I decided to make an appointment with a physiotherapist.  So, back to Pivot I went to see Mary Ellen.  After much poking, prodding and testing, she determined that my left knee is fixable (YAY!) and that my deep core doesn't seem to work, along with my glutes.  Actually my glutes work but only on one side.  My hip flexors also like to take on a fair bit of work so I have to learn to shut them off.  She's given me 3 exercises to do every day.  One of them is so subtle it doesn't feel like I'm doing anything.  She also told me to continue with Pilates.   I have a feeling this is going to be a slow going process.  But I shouldn't be surprised really.  I'm sure it took me a long time to get this way so I suspect it will take me a long time to fix it. 

Despite the roller coaster ride this week, I still managed a pretty good week of activity. 

Monday:  55km ride (burned off my turkey and pumpkin pie)
Tuesday:  80 minutes strength & mobility, followed by a 5.66km run that sucked horribly.
Wednesday: 2650m swim in a.m., pilates in p.m.
Thursday:  75 minutes of strength & mobility in a.m, followed by 30 minutes on the computrainer in p.m.
Friday:  2100m swim - all stroke work.  FUN!
Saturday:  OFF - but spent a couple of hours walking around the Annual Fall Bike sale.  Finally got myself some decent warm cycling gloves as well as a nice warm jacket.
Sunday:  20km bike ride along the Scotiabank race course to cheer people on + 25 minutes of core & physio work.

Total:  9h 50 minutes

I had a blast cheering people on yesterday.  I knew so many people racing.  It was a little bitter sweet for me to not be doing the race this year.  It's usually my fall "A" race and this was the first time in 3 years that I didn't race it.  But my vocal chords and arms got a good workout yesterday - I had 3 cowbells and wasn't afraid to use them.  I love seeing the smile on people's faces when they hear their name called out.   My run club worked the Power Gel aid station so I hung out there for a bit and then walked over to the other side of the loop to cheer people on.   It was a perfect day for racing, nice and cool.  There was a headwind on the way back in though but there almost always is on this course.  Several of my friends had PR's which is fabulous.  Christina, being one of them.  I got a few shots of her flying by me.  One of my athletes, Kristen, also had a 4 minute PR even after suffering some knee issues in training.  My friend Heather also had a massive PR yesterday.  She took almost 10 minutes off her time from last year!!  I am SO happy for these guys.  Hard work definitely pays off. 

The lead ladies in a pace line.

Canadian speedster Lanni Marchant hanging with the boys.

Christina a.k.a The Athletarian on her way to a PR

How was your weekend?  Did you race?