Thanks to all of you who helped talk me down out of the tree yesterday. I swear the mental aspect of being injured is way worse than the physical one.
As I mentioned, I managed a 90-minute pool run last weekend. I went back to the YMCA where I am no longer a member and begged them to let me in as a guest. The uber gym we belong to now has copious pools, but none deep enough for pool running (WTH?). The front-desk woman at the Y could not have been nicer and told me I could visit three times, free of charge. Bless her heart.
Before I knew it my mom-kini and I were back in the pool wrapped in the familiar pool-running flotation device. I’d first pool run here in 2010 while I rehabbed a strained achilles. It all worked out then. It will now. Except right now I’ve let doubts creep in.
The pool was fairly empty, save for a few swimmers in the Circle Swim lanes, whatever those are. The lifeguard gave me a curious glance then looked away before we could make eye contact. His pool-deck boombox played the likes of Metallica, AC/DC and White Snake.
I started off to Rock Me Like a Hurricane.
True to form, I went out too fast and was pooped after a few minutes. This was harder than I remember. How would I ever last 90 minutes? Eventually I found my groove.
Other swimmers came and went:
- Olympic Medley girl swam laps in the lane next to me, splashing like it was her job.
- Then came really old man.
- Then a father/son team intent on getting to the bottom of the 12-ft. section and analyzing how their ears felt.
Source
During the last half hour I took off the flotation harness and did sprint intervals: Basically flailing in the water, simulating a running motion as closely as possible, enough to stay afloat. These are hard. Hard is good.
After 90 minutes on the bike and 90 in the pool, I was spent. To the extent that I was lightheaded. Approaching pass-out territory if I stood up too fast. Silly me did not fuel like I do when I run. Doh.
I was back in Dr. Miracle’s office yesterday, lamenting my failed running attempt. He added more voodoo to our usual routine, in the form of an air-gun like device he shot all over my hip and ITB. He also assigned more exercises. Go me.
The plan going forward is to stay on the pool/bike/Chiro routine this week and try to run again this weekend.
The bad news is the Y pool is closing for rehab on 8/25. So no more deep water….unless I find another pool…or heal up already.
Where there’s a will there’s a way, right?
Make the most of every day
So sorry to hear that you are fighting an injury. Hoping it heals up soon to get you back on the road. Meanwhile, good for you doing everything you can to maintain that fitness!
I’ve never tried pool running. Way to go on the 90 minutes! Weird that there are no other deep pools in the area. Hoping you will be back on the road before the pool gets remodeled:)
Swimming and pool running is no joke! It’s hard and a great workout! I wish we had a pool so that I could dedicate more time to pool activities. Hang in there!I know exactly how you feel…I thought my life was ending!
Oh geez, so sorry to hear the hip flared up. That was a tough pool workout! Hope it helped your mindset, and that the plan works so you can get out there this weekend!
Chiro tools seriously baffle me, but they work!
Your workout sounds nuts, but I love the descriptions of the other characters there! Hang in there!!
Ahhhh people at the pool, always worth the price of admission
So sorry you’re still struggling with this, Marcia! I hate being injured 🙁 Don’t know if this helps, but I was out for 12 weeks a few years back with an achilles tear, could only cross train, and ran a marathon within a few minutes of my standard time with no problems. I think as long as you keep training in some form, you will be fine. You have a solid base.
so hoping this week allows the rest of the healing time you need and that you are back out there feeling strong soon! thinking of you!
Gah. It isn’t supposed to be this hard for you! Thinking uber healing thoughts for you…
Absolutely where there’s a will! Hopefully your plan with your chiro will nip this speedily, but if not, another comforting x-training routine lies out there for you and you will find it.
90 minutes pool running? Holy cow, girl – you are incredible! Seriously, don’t know how you can do that (I’ve never pool ran before because all pools around me are too shallow). Thinking of you and hoping for good news with the hip SOON! (I’m off to see Tara and baby tomorrow…wish you were coming with me!! Soon though :)).
90 minutes of pool running is no joke! You’re doing everything you can to get that hip to play nice. Hoping for good news for you soon!
Your so mentally strong – doing a 90 minute workout in the pool would do my head in but there you are doing it because you know it will get you to your goal. I hope Dr Miracles voodoo is strong and gets you up and going really soon.
Wow…pool running sounds seriously tough! I know this has to be so, so frustrating, by try to remember how much you’re certainly helping things by playing it smart and treating the injury early. Hang in there!
Whoa! 90 minutes of bike AND pool? You kick ass!
I’m so impressed with your pool running! That’s something I’ve always wanted to try. You’re so right that the mental aspect of injury can be just as hard, if not harder than the physical aspect. I’m trying to come back slowly from this shin stress and it is frustrating. A 7 mile run brought a little tenderness back- I just want to be out there doing double digits again! Let’s hope we both heal up completely asap!
This is seriously impressive considering that you dont do this every week like running! I love playing character asassination while running – from your descripions I’d probably do it while swimming too.
I am so impressed with your pool running! Keep up the awesome work and I know you will be rewarded!!Sorry about the other swimmers. People are clueless sometimes!
So sorry to read this, Marcia. I know how frustrating it is. Two falls ago when my foot was in the hard cast for 6 weeks and I couldn’t do anything weight-bearing or in the water, I used the rowing machine at the Y. I could strap my cast in the pedal thing and row. It’s not running, but it works up a great sweat and workout.
Also, can you get a referral to physical therapy so they can help you work on your inbalance that’s causing the TFL pain? That’s how mine went away — glute work. Walking backward on a treadmill works great for that, even though it looks ridiculous.
Very impressive… and love your way of telling story … so much! Good luck with it all.
Nice work getting into the pool AND on the bike for 90 min each! That is true dedication & perseverance. Hoping everything comes together for you for the race. Keep up the fight!