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.

Well Played, Asics!

Asics just got a fan for life. I bought a pair of Asics Gel-Kayanos at my local megamall recently, to replace my worn-out New Balances. I'm very picky about fit (after too many bad experiences) and liked these a LOT. But when my foot doc told me to wear custom orthotics I took out the factory insoles and put the orthotics in.

Turns out I HATE the orthotics and want to try the shoes again with their original insoles, but couldn't find them anywhere. I emailed Asics to find out how to get replacements, and they sent me some immediately, along with: a mesh backpack, reflective armbands, and armwarmers! I don't actually get the armwarmers - why wouldn't you just wear a long-sleeved shirt? At least when you get too warm you can peel it off and tie it around your waist. Under what circumstances would you need arm-warmers, exactly? The other items seem much more useful.

But thanks, Asics!

5K in 40 minutes and I feel proud!

I haven't run a race since June - I've been sitting on the couch, metaphorically speaking. My internet and Facebook addiction has seriously affected my workout schedule and I've overindulged my injuries. So yesterday I just did it - entered a small local race on the rail trail (thus almost flat) It was a perfect re-entry. Turns out I knew a bunch of people there so it felt very friendly and supportive. The course is a very slight downhill slope out, and thus very slightly uphill all the way back.

In preparing for the race, my biggest dilemma was shoes: I brought my old, soft, well-worn New Balances, and my new Asics with the orthotics. I warmed up with both and decided to go soft and comfy rather than heavy and stiff, and was very glad of it. I managed to run the whole course, except for a few very brief walk breaks in the last quarter mile (mostly due to anxiety - when I'm in view of the finish line I often have an anxiety attack, thinking I'm going to pass out or puke from the effort in front of all those people!)

I crossed the line in about 40 minutes - a 13 minute mile. I'm comfortable with that and felt GREAT for the rest of the day.

I think I may give upon the orthotics altogether and just put the regular insoles back in the Asics for a while. (If I can find them - wonder if I can order new ones?) I'll still wear my very supportive chaco's and keep the dress orthotics too. But the running ones have always felt awful. Maybe I can get my money back!

South Beach diet

It's the only diet that's worked for me, long-term, in the last many years. With little fanfare (a week's throat-clearing and ingredient-preparation) I started last Monday, for REAL - i.e. no exceptions. (The last dozen times I supposedly went on it, I didn't stop drinking or really cut out fruit and all bread. So it wasn't South Beach at all.) I've been hungry a lot this week, especially towards the end, but I lost 5 pounds. I know that 5 pounds that disappear in a week can also come back in a week, so I'm not dancing a jig or buying new clothes, but I AM refocusing and doing it again this week. My hope is to lose the 15 pounds I gained over the last year, and another 10 beyond. That would get me to 185 or so - well over what is supposed to be the max for my height - but I think I'd feel and look fine. (Besides, I'm following the zsa zsa gabor theory : at my age, it's better to keep a little more in my fanny than lose to much in my face!)

Plantar Fasciitis still bothering me, so I've asked for a bike trainer for my birthday (this Friday.)

Back on the road

After about six weeks off for physical therapy, rest, and lots of drugs (Mobic, a strong anti-inflammatory) I ran yesterday. I took it easy - ran 2, walk one, for not quite three miles. I felt GREAT. Legs a little heavy, but not terrible, and I didn't feel like I'd lost too much endurance despite the fact that my swim and elliptical workouts have averaged only about 20-30 minutes, 3- 4 times a week. It was just nice to be outdoors, on a not-too-hot late summer evening, feeling myself work.

After, I stretched well, iced for 20 minutes, took my mobic, and woke up feeling pretty good this morning - very little tenderness. I'm still going to ease my way back in, trying make sure I alternate with bike, elliptical and swimming as much as possible.

I'm not sure what goal to shoot for now as far as races - I wasn't going to do the Dutchess County Classic (half-marathon, one month from now) anyway, but the Harvest Heart 10k is in about 6 or 7 weeks - that could be doable. I don't see Philly in my future either - a half-marathon in 3 months? Or I could just try for a fall 5k (maybe Falls Village) and then work my way back to longer distances for spring. I guess I'll see how training goes in the next few weeks and decide by late September.