"Favorite Thing" Fridays - COME BACKS!

Everybody loves a come-back!

So, now that I've answered the question, "Is she still alive?", what about you? Are you still out there? :)

Wow! Well, its certainly been a while since my last post. I just got increasingly difficult to keep posting since I felt that most of my posts just focused on my hip/hammy drama. And since in the last (almost) two months, I haven't really been doing too much running and nothing had changed with my injury, well, there seemed to be little I wanted to write about.

Watching everyone gear up for marathon season has been so difficult. I'm okay with not running one this fall, but I'm not okay with the fact that I still can't run.... well, can't run fast and frequent like I normally would be. Also, my new career as a medical circus poodle has consumed my life and temporarily sucked the passion out of my very being. ...and yes, I have become a bit of a drama queen!! However, things in the circus poodle realm did take a bit of a twist a few weeks ago. Let me explain, but let me start from where I left off in the summer...

Since my labrum tear diagnosis in early August, I have been on a steady recommended diet of slow, flat, infrequent running. I have complimented this insufficient meal with a few servings a week of the elliptical and swimming. As you may recall, following my diagnosis my Orthopedist, Dr. Bharam said that he wanted me to go to physical therapy because he did not feel comfortable operating on me until he was certain that my symptoms could not be fixed by PT treatment. In his words, "I treat patients and symptoms, not MRI films". I found this very honorable, but frustrating since, in my mind, it meant that the saga would continue. He sent me to his "go-to" Physical Therapist, Ben Gelfand (owner to S.T.A.R. Physical Therapy) in midtown who spent a decent amount of time assessing me and asking questions. He prescribed two weeks of VERY slow and flat and short (could this get worse) running. Ben had a great sense of humor and I like his action plan, so I was content with backing off and logging my progress. After two weeks, I e-mailed my progress to him, which really wasn't all too promising. After a few weeks of phone tag and a long over due conversation, I was set up with an appointment to meet both Dr. Bharam and Ben together at one place.

Finally, judgement day arrived (or at least that's what if felt like) and I met with both Bharam and Gelfand to discuss my fate. After another evaluation and a significant conversation about my progress (or lack there of), they decided that surgery to repair my labrum tear would be the next best option. And so there you have it... I'll be going in for the procedure next month with the hopes that my symptoms have been related to this injury or that they will be better treated by first fixing this deficiency in my hip.

When I first met with Ben he promised me the Broad Street Run in 2009. And not just a "you can finish" the race, but a " you can race the race". When we met to discuss the surgery, Ben assured me that I would be underwhelmed with the recovery. A few days on crutches, a few weeks until I was returning to activity and then a few months (4-5) until I was out running.

Oddly, I had peculiar dream last night which concerned my recovery. I dreamt I already had the surgery and had just woken up in the recovery room. To my surprise, Coach Cane was in the next gurney and he had just had the same surgery. After saying hello and exchanging the normal niceties (of course) I jumped to my feet and started walking. Everything felt great! So great that I was like, see ya Coach Cane and I went in the next room where there was an indoor pool and I started swimming a few laps. ha! I mean Ben did in fact tell me I'd be underwhelmed by the recovery! Anyway, my hip and hammy started to hurt of course and so I went back to tell Coach Cane who immediately said, I told you so. ha! ...That Coach Cane, such a wise man!

So...back to reality and now it's count down to surgery day. I'm back bloggin' for now.. but the true comeback starts November 18th. Stay tuned!

Brooklyn Biathlon

I swung by the Brookyn Biathlon yesterday morning in Prospect Park to observe the transition and to check out the performances of some of Coach Cane's crew. Here are the results of some of the City Coach athletes from his blog. As you can see there were quite a few strong performances!

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And my fellow blogger friend scarinzic had a solid opener of the season as well!

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Great Job Everyone!

Five simple (and silly) things I learned about multi-sport transitioning...

1. Experienced bi/tri athletes do not re-tie their shoes and simply slip on their racing shoes and take off ...which makes perfect sense.

2. The area between the "dismount" and the transition section can sometimes leave you running 20-30feet in your socks or cycling shoes. I was wondering how that was going to work.

3. Transitioning is probably much smoother if you do the same thing every time, as in developing your own routine and sticking to it (which will probably help you also avoid #5). It looked like a lot of people had their own unique plan of attack for this process.

4. The size/shape of the bi/tri athlete means nothing about whether or not they are good or not (where as in running, this isn't as often the case). There were some "larger" people out there whooping more "fit" people on the bike. I wonder if that one man's stomach was actually one round muscle and not a beer belly??? ... because he was flying!! :)

5. There really are goobers who run out of the transition area with their helmets still strapped to their heads! Coach Cane wasn't kidding, it does happen! :)

(MRI) - My Ridiculous (health) Insurance!!

So, here I am in my naive little world complaining the other week about having to pay money for a doctor's visit where I didn't learn anything new about this chronic hamstring issue. I've missed days, I mean weeks, of running and am still in pain just walking around... and on top of all of this I just found out that my MRIs (yes, two) are going to coast me $500 out of pocket. Seriously?!?! Not to mention the woman I dealt with at United Health Care, wasn't the most pleasant and caring person in the world!!


I do not want to turn this post into a b*t@h fest and I had plans of writing something fun and uplifting in celebration of today, my 28th birthday!! I wanted to write about how I woke up to a great gift from my roommate and to several fantastic texts, e-mails and messages from my friends, family and fiancé. I wanted to write about how I bought a birthday gift for myself, a beautiful brand new road bike (with Coach Cane's help) and how excited I am about it. But instead, I'm holding back tears regarding this health insurance issue and thinking that life is just sometimes unfair. Ironically, I've spent the last week and a half consoling countless friends, family members and students (at work) who were on the edge of complete breakdowns. The amount of people crying to me has been borderline absurd! (Must be something in the air??) And now, I'm sitting here fighting it.. wishing someone would come around the corner with a violin because at least that would be really really funny!

I am fully aware that there are bigger issues out there and this is seemingly insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but either way, I'd just rather not have to deal with things like this. But I suppose, such is life... and you just have to keep rollin' on.

So, if anyone out there really wants to make me happy this birthday ...just send me a new left leg so I can just forget about dumping all this money into fixing a mysterious problem and can just get back out there on the road! I miss running! ...But yes, I will "make lemonade" with the 500 lemons I've been dealt... and I'll get on a cycling/swimming schedule, but it's just been difficult to do with everything that's been going on.

Tonight: A pool workout.. . YES, it's can be a "Wet and Wild Wednesday" today .. and then celebratory birthday drinks and some sweet potato fries at pommes frites!

Happiness IS a New Bike!!

I just came across this blog post from Runner's World. Yes, maybe directing my focus towards the purchase of my new set of wheels will be the route of my new found happiness. With the little running I'm actually able to do, I think I need to join fellow blogger "Gotta Run" and "Saddle up"! :)


Coach Cane has been helping me search for a new bike within my budget, but with all my running around of late (and, ironically, the lack there of "actual running"), I've put off actively searching through eBay like I should have been doing for the past four weeks. You know that dumb saying your mom used to annoy you with is really true, "when it rains it pours!". I can just hear the sound of mom's voice and her following up by telling me that I just put too much on my plate! ... what can I say, I have a big appetite! I've just been overwhelmed with life and have felt like I can't get it together. geesh! Seriously, I'm way to stubborn to not to keep ploughing through, but if it's not one thing it seems to be another. I'll eventually get it all under wraps.. and especially now that I have all this time that I'm not running.

The pool workouts are getting a bit monotonous and the hammy doesn't hurt when I'm cycling so I think that's the right direction for me. Okay, off to spin!

Also, my doctor's appt is set for this coming Monday. Fingers crossed!

Myth Busters!

And just because I still thought a few of these were true, I'm posting this up for all of you!

Top 10 Nutrition Myths from Active.com

Myth #1: Eating late at night will make you fat

Myth #2: Eating extra protein builds muscle

Myth #3: Cholesterol-free foods are heart-healthy

Myth #4: Eating fish is the best way to get heart-healthy omega-3 fats

Myth #5: Athletes don't get osteoporosis

Myth #6: If you're craving certain foods, it's because your body needs the nutrients they provide

Myth #7: Dark breads are more nutritious than white breads

Myth #8: Since herbs are natural, all herbal products are safe

Myth #9: Water is all I need to rehydrate after exercise

Myth #10: I should drink eight glasses of water a day

Read on, my dear blog friends. The full article has a few interesting tid bits.

And while you're at it, also check out Coach Cane's post on recovery nutrition.

Remember kids, knowledge is power! :) Happy Tuesday!

Sunday- FunDay- RunDay

Today's Training: After two intense days of cross training... it was back to basics this morning. I got in a nice 8mile run over hills followed by striders and some core strengthening work. Ah.... it was chilly but wonderful to be out running again!

Review of Week#3 Training Schedule -(March 3 - March 9):
Monday: 3miles
Tuesday: PM: RUNNYC (5.8 tempo run) total: 7.5m- 4 X 20 sec striders
Wednesday: PM: 6miles
Thursday: AM: 6.5miles
Friday: AM: 60min -YOGA, PM: 60mins Ultimate Street Fighter class
Saturday: cycling session at City Coach 17miles (including warmup/cool down)
Sunday: 8miles, 4 X 20 sec striders
Totals: 31 miles + 60min of YOGA + 60min kickboxing + 17miles of cycling

Thoughts: Well, losing the Saturday running mileage lowered the original goal number (35miles), but I got in some quality cross training with yoga, cycling and kickboxing. The run Tuesdasy night with RUNNYC kicked my butt and I was still recovering through Thursday. Friday's Yoga+Kickbox combo top off with a spur of the moment late night dance party with some friends made Saturday's AM cycling session way more of a challenge!! Shorty got LOW on the dance floor and it defintely did a number on her hamstrings and quads (esp after 60mins of kickboxing!!). Whoops!

But all in all it was a great training week. I got in lots of quality core work and I'm really diggin' the YOGA class I've been going to. It's unlike any other yoga class I've ever attended. It combines lots of core strengthening and stretching poses but with very high repetitions. The instructor is great and the class leaves me wonderfully exhausted but refreshed at the same time.

Yesterday's cycling session was particularly disappointing. I got off to a slow start since the bike City Coach has generously lent me (until I get my own) was given a new seat which from the moment I hopped on... was an obvious problem. Let's just say it was particularly painful... and pretty much hurt like a little b*tch. The seat is designed so your sit bones rest directly on both sides of the split (picture on right). .. And HOLY HELL!!, it was painful. I had to sit on a towel for extra cushioning about half way through and finished the ride as bent forward as possible to take the pressure off my screaming sit bones. On top of that the bike wasn't changing gears correctly and kept skipping over gears as I tried to adjust. The big gear wouldn't even slide up to the big wheel (I know, I need to learn my cycling terms!) so I had to stay on the middle wheel. So, on top of my legs feeling like lead (from the kickboxing and dancing night before) there were several factors that distracted me from having a good ride. I was bummed about it, but I understand that sh*t happens.
I've learned a few lessons this time around... so hopefully next week's ride will be better! :)

My New Life as a Cyclist

Clearly, I have a lot to learn! But I left City Coach studio feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and spent (in a great way!). I'm in a little bit of pain today (in the seat) :) , but it was well worth it. I loved it!

Yesterday's indoor cycling "intro" session was lead by City Coach - Assistant Coach, Shane Neil who had us start off with a quick 4.5mile interval set where we worked on hills and regulating our cadence, which is the number of revolutions of the crankset per minute. It was definitely challenging since learning to keep proper form on the bike while also maintaining speed took more focus than I thought it would. After the 4.5, they put the class on a 15mile course over rolling hills, but we only had another 40mins left of class so I conquered 11.5miles is that time. The rest of my overall mileage (20) was in my warm up and cool down.

The way the simulator works is you can see on the scene in front of you all of your stats and where you are exactly on the course as well as where everyone else in the class is in comparison. I have to admit, my favorite part was kicking it into high gear on the down hills. So much fun!!! It's the best how you can see it coming so you put your finger on the gear trigger as the anticipation builds. As soon as the resistance changes, BOOM! you kick it up and rock it out. It's fantastic.

I'm so green when it comes to this sport, so I hope the more experienced cyclist-readers aren't too turned off my my naivety. I had an excellent time cycling yesterday and can't wait to get my own bike and hit the open road! :)

Today's Training: 8miles, 4 X 20 sec striders

Evaluation of this past week (week#1):
Monday: 5miles, core routine
Tuesday: PM: 6.5miles, 4 X 20 sec striders
Wednesday: Cross train - post work - pool running workout
Thursday: PM: Tempo run - 5miles
Friday: AM: YOGA, PM: Women's self defense/cardio kickbox class-55mins (long story) followed by 2mile run
Saturday: 20miles indoor to cycling class,
Sunday: 8miles, 4 X 20 sec striders
Total: 25 miles + YOGA + 30min pool run + 20mile cycling + 55min kickboxing

Thoughts: I need to get my mileage up and take out some of the other junk. I'll post week#2 of training (for the upcoming week) shortly.

Día de los Presidentes!

HAPPY PRESIDENT'S DAY! I love Mondays off!!

Wouldn't everyone just be more productive if we had three day weekends EVERY week (my apologies to those of you who had to still work today). Seriously though, starting a work week on Tuesday is just lovely!

So, in honor of Presidents Washington & Lincoln .....and thoughts of a world where we never have to work on Monday again, here's my training plan for:

training week#1 (Febuary 18th - 24th):

Monday: 5miles, core routine - Enjoy the 60-degree weather and a Monday mid-morning run through Brooklyn. Spring Fever?... hells yeah!
Tuesday: AM: YOGA, PM: RUNNYC in the evening (6miles?), 4 X 20 sec striders
Wednesday: Cross train - two options currently: 1. 6:30am cycling session at City Coach OR 2. post work - pool running workout
Thursday: PM: Tempo run - 5miles (details on next Thursday's blog), 4 X 20 sec striders, core routine
Friday: AM: YOGA, PM: Women's self defense/cardio kickbox class-55mins (long story)
Saturday: 6miles, 4 X 20 sec striders
Sunday: 8miles
Total: 30miles + weds cross train + kickboxing

City Coach - It's Almost Time to TRI

So, as I mentioned I headed off to meet with Coach Jonathan Cane at his City Coach Studio in Brooklyn. Shockingly it took me about 10mins to walk over to the studio from my apartment. How I didn't realize that the City Coach studio was so close to my hood, I don't really know.

When I got there the 12pm indoor cycling session was just wrapping up. It was great to see a training group in action working on what looked like on heck of a 24mile ride! I watched for awhile and then went to the back to find Coach Cane. We started to chat about my goals as far as running this winter/spring and how that works in with getting started with biathlons and triathlons. This whole experience is exciting and nerve racking since I'm not quite sure what I'm getting into. I know that I'll be able to do this, but the "how well?" is yet to be determined.

So here's the meat of it....

Goals for Winter/Spring:

Feb '08
Start cycling (rental) - work on getting a bike
Work on swimming form - get feedback

March '08
Coogans Salsa, Blues, and Shamrocks 5k - March 2nd
Observe the March Madness Biathlon in Central Park - March 30th

April '08
Brooklyn Biathlon - April 13th

May '08
Broad Street Run - May 5th
Queens Biathlon - May 18th

And that's all I have for now. It's a good start, I think!

As for the gear I have to purchase for this new sport... Well, let's just say it' s going to be a lot different than simply strapping on my shoes and heading out the door. Here's the basics I'll need to purchase in the next few weeks/month (some things sooner than others):
Helmet
Gloves
Shoes
Shorts (padded)
Jersey
Tool kit
Arobars
...and of course, a new bike

Coach Cane helped break things down into what I'd need immediately and on what items we can spend some time looking around for deals. I greatly appreciate him taking the time to go through the specifics with me and help me break down what I need to do in the next few months. I'm definitely less intimidated by the whole endeavor having talked things through with Coach Cane. This has been a goal of mine for some time and I'm excited that things actually seem to be getting off the ground. It's going to surely be an investment of time, money and commitment, but I'm really excited for this new adventure.

Crazy Laces

The other night one of my girlfriends asked me why my laces were tied funny. To be honest, I've been tying my laces the same way for so many years that I completely forgot I was doing anything apart from the norm. The reason I started lacing up this way was because my college coach had recommended it after I started having issues with my ankles. So, today I noticed that Runner's World had a video posted which give instructions on tying your laces in this particular way and I wanted to share. Why? Well, because sharing is caring. Happy Saturday!



And btw, I just want to say how happy I am to be home here in NY this weekend. It was so nice to get out and do one of my local weekend runs... and then just relax the rest of the day. I got to sleep in for once and just chill out! A bit on the lazy side, but I think I needed it. Tomorrow I'm heading over to talk to Coach Cane at City Coach about my potential life as a triathlete. :) stay tuned!

Today's Training: 5.6miles

Happy Hump Day!

This week's hump day didn't get all Wet-N-Wild, but I still managed to have a little fun. I'm starting to get the sniffles and decided to stay out of the pool. So, instead of the normal Wednesday pool workout, I decided to go out for a "productive" five miler in my neighborhood.

The goal was to get out and get some food on the way home. I must admit, since I've been away every weekend this month, my cupboards are completely bare! Well, mission accomplished! I did one of my normal loops around the hood and traveled down to red hook to the new Fairway (love that place!). I could only buy what I could physically run with for the 1-mile it takes to get back home. And trust me!!..... you DON'T want to be walking through red hook after dark! It was great motivation. :)

Last night's run with RUNNYC was excellent. The weather and atmosphere in Central Park couldn't have been more perfect. I kept a nice steady 7:30 pace and stuck to mhttp://wwwy place of putting in 4 x 20sec striders after my run. Sweet!

After my run, I had the chance to talk to Coach Jonathan Cane about my aspirations to do a triathlon in the near future. Coach Cane is a coach for several running groups including RUNNYC and his coaching service, City Coach. I also ran into one of my good friends Phil Reichner who is an EKIN (NIKE spelled backwards) rep. And in my short conversation with both Coach Cane and Phil I somehow talked my way into starting to train for a triathlon (with CC's support to get me going) and also trying out a pair of NIKEs (as my new training shoes). We'll see how this all turns out, but it makes me kind of happy that I have so many supportive and motivating friends in this big city!

Also, I'm happy to announce that I'm definitely going to train for the Philadelphia Broad Street run. I'm going to continue my "base" training for the next two weeks and then kick it up a few notches! New Nikes and another race to train for... things are definitely going to get interesting next month!! :)

Today's training: 5miles and short core strengthening routine.