Happy November!! Yikes! This means one month left of my "no real fitness plan" plan. And, at this moment, I have no idea what my Oceanside 70.3 training schedule will look like, or if there will even be a training schedule at all. I take each day as it comes and just kinda do whatever it is I want to do. Some days I hop on the Computrainer for an hour or so. Other days I start my morning with yoga downloaded from iTunes from Yogamazing. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I try to hit the 9am T3 Swim workouts. Still other days, I lace up the shoes and go for a tolerable run. Just last week, I rejoined the land of the gym rats and signed up for a membership to Lifetime Fitness. I like the idea of taking different classes, utilizing the pool, weights, and other services. Plus, it allows me to hit the gym when we visit the parents in San Antonio and Columbus. Some people have said I'm overdoing it. I feel like I'm letting the spirit move me.
On December 1st, I have planned to start training for the March 27, 2010 Oceanside 70.3. Everything is so up in the air right now and I literally take my hip labral tear day by day. On Saturday, I was able to run a slow, but comfortable 14 miles. This morning, I got up and joined the Jack and Adams shop ride for the first time. I hadn't ridden outdoors in months and frankly was scared to attempt it (read: intimidated). I was going to join the 20 mile "no-drop" ride, but a few friends talked me into the 35 mile ride with the promise they wouldn't drop me. Impossible to believe I completed an Ironman just a couple of months ago...True to their word, I rode a decent 2 hours and friends Rich, Kevin and Phil didn't let me fall behind. My hip/groin area felt it during hills (as did my heart rate), but overall I was exhilarated to be riding outside on such a beautiful morning in Austin. This afternoon, I went to the gym joined a pilates class and hopped on the foam roller to work on the quads and glutes.
It was one of those encouraging weekends where I felt hopeful that surgery might not be imminent. Inevitable? Probably. But, not necessarily urgent. And yet, there's a part of me that knows I'm also probably kidding myself. I don't know what the deal is, but I now know at least 8-10 people in Austin who have been diagnosed with a hip labral tear. Many of them have either had a hip scope or are in the planning stages. After my run on Saturday, I had brunch with Erin, new pal Amy and Leslie. Leslie just had her hip scoped two weeks ago and showed up in good spirits and crutches! Today, I ran into former Gazelle Rich who has had not one, but TWO surgeries on his hip for labral tears. His road to recovery has been a little more than bumpy. T3 friend Jeremiah just had his hip scoped last week. Muna was scheduled, but switched surgeons and is now booked for a hip scope by one of the high-profile surgeons in Vail in February. There's also Julie (MFJ) and Austin Fit friend Tom who are fighting the same injury. Seriously, what is the deal?! Part of me has the "misery loves company" feeling, but it certainly leaves me wondering why this has suddenly become the new diagnosis. Is it because technology and MRIs are better? Is it because hip scopes are becoming easier and more commonplace to perform? Is it because we are all pushing ourselves too hard? Probably a combination of all three.
So here I remain in this random gray area of trying to work within my pain/comfort limits. I, too, have started the surgeon interview process and will be receiving several opinions from both local and out of town docs. Even patients have differing opinions on what to do. So, while I have Oceanside 70.3 on the calendar at the end of March and Ironman St. George on the calendar in May 2010, I have no idea if I'll be able to race in both or either of them. Ultimately, it doesn't matter, because it's becoming obviously clear that longevity and my future health is more important than any 2010 race.
With all that said, it's time for my evening stretches!
Me, Amy and Leslie after Saturday Brunch! Good times!!!
2 comments:
Hope you get well soon, but I've also noticed a huge increase in hip labral tears as well. Weird.
I'm doing Oceanside, too so if it happens for you it would be fun to meet face to face.
I find it interesting that so many people in your area have had that diagnoses because I hang out in a race club of over 250 people and I don't know anyone who has been diagnosed with that particular problem. It's just kind of interesting, non?
I hope yours behaves itself and gives you as little grief as possible.
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