Anyone still out there reading this?

I don't know why you would bother - it's not like it's a triathlon diary anymore. I should rename it Jenny's Rehab Diary. I gave up running after the Sharon Triathlon in June - just too much pain. I have been swimming, reasonably reliably, all summer, 2-3 times a week, walking some, stretching, rehabbing. I've managed not to regain any of the weight I lost in the winter, but haven't lost anymore - still up nearly 10 from my lowest point a few years ago, and 25+ from where I ought to be for health and fitting into non-plus-size pants.

But I just couldn't stand it anymore - I was feeling antsy, jittery-legged, and jealous of all my tri-blogging friends who are doing 50K runs, Ironmans, and otherwise going faster and farther while I go nowhere at all.

So yesterday I strapped on the shoes and the ipod shuffle and gave it a whirl. It was a gorgeous, cool-ish, warm-ish late afternoon, and I did my favorite short route (not quite 3 miles, very hilly, very pretty.) I had that wonderful first-run-in-a-long-time freshness in my legs, and even better, no pain anywhere. (not much.) The weird knee was OK, the weird hip was OK, the various heel things were fine. I walked a bit, ran a bit for 40 minutes - but the running was at least half, and I pushed and worked hard.

And I felt AMAZING after. A cruddy, dark, self-flagellating mood turned serene and full of love for all the world (except Glenn Beck.)

My achilles throbbed a bit later that night but was fine by morning...BUT:

Awful pelvis pain back today! Hurts to walk! F%*#%!!!!!!

Back to all the stretches, core work and "skeletal retraining" the brillian Roberta Roll gave me. But I will keep running. I need it.

Also: bought a serious new Thule Helium bike rack for The Blue Cloud, replacement Vehicle for Dead Big Red. (The Blue Cloud = gorgeous, like-new 08 Honda CRV, replacing hideous, like-crap Subaru with 233,000 miles on it that gave up the ghost a few weeks ago.) So I WILL BIKE some before winter sets in. Yes. I. Will.

And keep swimming.

And take a dance class.

And maybe a yoga class.

OK maybe that's too ambitious.

But I will keep swimming!

Team JKL Rides Again

Team JKL
Originally uploaded by jahansell

Only instead of Kate, her husband Rick did the ride; Lynn swam, and I ran in the second annual Sharon Sprint Triathlon. Lynn and I were a few minutes slower than last year, but Rick was quite a bit faster than Kate had been, so we improved our overall time by nearly 10 minutes. But it may be my swan song for running - the plantar fasciitis and achilles tendinitis are just too bad. I'm going to a new physical therapist and doing lots of home exercises, but meanwhile, it's the pool for me.


The youngest tri - team - Annika, Simon and Paris.


Awesome volunteers.







I guess after the swim I forgot to take any more pictures!

Selective memory loss

Or is it just complete memory loss?

I ran a almost 4 1/2 miles yesterday, feeling good and strong - I only walked a minute after each mile. I told my husband it was the longest and fastest I'd run in over a year. But looking back at last year's entries, I've clearly forgotten almost everything. I did the Sharon Classic - 5 miles - in a faster time than I ran yesterday. I am, maybe, a little ahead of where I was at this time last year or the year before, but only marginally.
I've also apparently forgotten how many times I started a diet over the past year - various workout programs, South Beach or Weight Watchers, every few months. The truth is, I've probably woken up every day of my life vowing to lost weight starting now.

But so far, this time has been different that at least the last few efforts. I've lost almost 10 pounds, and I THINK I weigh less than I did at any time in 2009. (Never got below about 202 - now I've scraped under 200. But my attitude is different - Welbutrin and therapy are helping with that. About which, more anon.