Another month gone …

Very glad that it is the weekend, and very glad that Adrienne is coming home tonight after a few days down in Geelong looking after her mum!

Just a normal day at work today, followed by a short bike ride (more just a quick dash around the block to check the gears etc.). Happy to report everything seems smooth as silk again. Then another home workout.

Chinese take-away tonight I think, no-one can be bothered cooking.

Monthly Summary

Running: 86 kms at 5:34 min/km (YTD 430 kms at 5:40 min/km)
Cycling: 251 kms at 23.7 kms/hr (YTD 2381 kms at 24.9 kms/hr)
Other: 4 swims and 10 home workouts

A disappointing end to the month with 5 days of no running or riding as ordered by Dr K. I was looking forward to my first 100+ km month for over a year – oh well, maybe next month. I managed to continue a reasonable number of home workouts for the month.

Bike finally serviced …

I finally got around to having my bike serviced today. The gears haven’t been quite right since I had a fall off the bike a couple of months ago, and during the service they confirmed that was an issue as they had to re-straighten the rear derailleur hanger. It was again a good service experience at Rapido Cycles in Niddrie. I had booked the bike in for their “deluxe service” which costs $99. My mobile phone rang at about 1pm and I thought “Oh no, they’re ringing to tell me it’s going to be expensive or something”, but they were just ringing to say that it was ready to pick up, and that they had completed all of the deluxe service items, and fixed the gears, but that they were only going to charge me $65 because they didn’t have to do much cleaning of the bike (normally part of the deluxe service) because it was so well looked after.

Obviously the rain, and the fact I’m resting my knee, means I haven’t tried it out yet, but looking forward to a nice smooth ride next time.

Just a home workout tonight, incorporating my physio directed strengthening exercises.

I’m really watching my food intake this week as I’m not doing any cardio exercise, the weigh-in this weekend is going to be a close call.

If the cortisone doesn’t work …

If the cortisone injection doesn’t work, Dr K said yesterday that the next thing she’d like to try is Synvisc. This is a gel like substance that is made from hyaluronan (a natural substance that already is found in the joints). The synvisc is injected into the knee joint where it acts as a lubricator and shock absorber for the joint. I’d be interested if any of you know anything about this, especially if you, or someone you know has tried this.

A day of meetings today (back to back meetings from 8:30am-3:00pm). No exercise today due to the cortisone injection, but I might go throw some weights around and do a core workout now.

The kids and I are having to fend for ourselves for a couple of nights as Adrienne’s mum was discharged from hospital today and Adrienne went down to take her home and is going to stay with her a couple of nights.

More cortisone and dry needling …

Another visit to Dr K today resulted in another cortisone injection in the knee and some more dry needling in the ATB. I’m not sure if it was because she pushed the needles in a bit further, but this time the dry needling was a bit more uncomfortable. I can’t run or ride until at least Sunday, but am allowed to swim with a pull buoy.

I can see I’m going to be a grumpy old man this week.

Edit: Andrew, to answer your question, dry needling is when they just stick needles in you, a bit like acupuncture, so in my case I had about 6 needles inserted along various spots of my lower ATB, then left for a bit, then pulled out a bit and pushed back down. I think the theory is that it stimulates the muscle into recovery or in my case to loosen it up a bit, I think. If anyone has a more definitive medical definition feel free to offer it up in the comments.

Born To Run

Most of todays post is a book review. I just finished reading “Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen” by Christopher McDougall. Put simply, it was one of the best books I’ve read for a while, and probably the best book concerning running that I’ve ever read. It is such a great story, that it almost seems to good a yarn to be true, but it is not a work of fiction.

The story starts off with the authors quest for pain-free running, after a foot injury – and ends up with him successfully finishing an ultra-marathon in some of the world’s least hospitable terrain. 

Central to the story too are the Tarahumara, an indigenous tribe, native to the Copper Canyons of Mexico. For these people, running, and running great distances is central to their lives, and central to their being. Add to this an eclectic caste of ultra-runners, trying to match it with the Tarahumara in their own territory and a great story is born.

As well as the wonderful story though, there is also very engaging theory along the way too. Including the very powerful thesis that man was not only born to run, but that running, and running long distances was central to man’s superior anthropological development over other species. McDougall also questions the current “running industry” – for example, do our current super-cushioned, supportive running shoes actually increase our risk of injury?

Perhaps the books most powerful message though, for me anyway, was that running, and running long distances is possible for anyone, and if approached properly can be a joyful, life-affirming activity. He’s given me some hope of being able to complete an ultra, and provided me with the inspiration to try! Something I didn’t think I would say.

McDougal is an excellent writer and in “Born To Run” has a wonderful book that will entertain, inspire and fulfill those who read it. I highly recommend it.

What a wonderful sight to see Lance Armstrong back on the podium in the Tour de France – a sight I thought I wouldn’t see again. As Mark said in his comment yesterday, 2010, with Lance leading his new RadioShack team promises great things too – I’m already looking forward to it.

Deb and I ran our normal 8km loop this morning before work, neither of us really felt too great, so it was a slow run, 5:48 min/km average pace. For me, the knee was a little bit sore for the first 4 km’s, but after that seemed to come good, the last 2 km’s or so though were tough as my tummy started to rebel a little.

No PP for me …

No Princes Park run for me this morning. I’m still sick and feeling a bit down,  it hasn’t been a particularly good weekend. It seemed silly to pay for a run around Princes Park that I could go do anytime I wanted, especially when I wasn’t in any shape to either enjoy it, or do a decent time. Knowing that a lack of sleep (caused by watching those cycling superheroes ascending the Mont Ventoux) would also be an issue, was the clincher. So, I stayed in bed, and got up a bit later for a 41km ride from my place to Essendon and back. A nasty headwind on the return journey.

Good job your sporting teams can still put a smile on your face. Go Cats! Go Vixens! Go Astana!

Reasons ..

Not much blogging recently, there are a few reasons for that,

• we are a bit pre-occupied around here because my mother-in-law is in hospital after a heart attack a couple of days ago. We went down to Geelong to see her today
• we’ve exceeded our internet allowance again, so are back to dial-up speed for the rest of the month – god, it’s painful
• still feeling sick, not sure if I’m going to feel like running Princes Park on Sunday morning, but will probably still do it, even if I’m not feeling up to PB shape
• Bejeweled Blitz is so bloody addictive

Just a short bike ride last night and a short home workout tonight.

Lance still has it …

Well, Alberto Contador looks very strong, but Lance showed last night that he still has what it takes with an amazing ride across the gap to catch the yellow jersey group with about 33km of last nights stage to go. It will be awesome to see him on the podium in France (here’s hoping). Feel very sorry for Cadel Evans who is obviously very disappointed with the way this year has turned out.

An 8km loop with Deb before work this morning. It was harder than usual, I think the headcold affected me a bit, but glad I got out there and did it.

Blurgh !!!

I am coming down with the dreaded lurgy again!

I have that horrible phlegmy feeling in the throat and general feeling of unwellness, but am not going to let it beat me!

A 6km slow run (5:42 min/km) tonight. Not much else to report.

How much fun does this look like? It’s Swamp Soccer from Finland!

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