Wednesday, October 31, 2012

End of Season Thoughts


The Army Ten Miler was a couple weeks ago and that is the official end of my planned season. I did well- 6 min PR from last year on the course- 1:39:13! According to my watch I ran about a 9:41 pace. That is pretty fast for me for distance.

A couple weeks prior to that 7 Oct was the BAA Half. I had a Half Marathon PR of 2:16:59. I desperately wanted to be 2-2:15- SO CLOSE! Then Monday I ran the Tufts 10k with the plan of it being a fun run. Well ended up 1:02:58 which was a course PR and pushed J to a 10k PR! The weekend after there was a 5k in memory of a college friend's sister so why not right?! NEW 5k PR 27:05!

I had a season filled with PRs and course PRs! Every triathlon I did with the exception of Timberman I received an division award at least. And lets be honest a 35 min PR at Timberman- PRETTY AWESOME! I even was the female OVERALL winner at a swim race! As I look back at my races this season I had a really good season. I had some hard days of training, hard days of racing but it was the hard work that pushed me and brought results.

This was the first season I went into with a full winter of training. I put in the preparation early to set me up for a long season. I thought taking on 2 half iron distance events in one season was going to be too much. I ended up with great results at both! By the end of the training for Timberman I was ready for a break.

The start of my winter training has been a bit tough. I am just getting off 3 straight weeks on the road. It was really tiring and long days so my training suffered. I have a hard time keeping the pressure on when I don't have big races on the horizon. In talking with O, my coach, the training for November and December are kind  of a break. A reset time. Which right now is nice. I plan to add in at least one day a week of Bikram Yoga. I am already starting to see the benefits of a somewhat regular practice again! Adding in some plyometric training. And of course swim, bike and run.

My big goal I am working toward this off season: RUN THE WHOLE HALF MARATHON AT MY NEXT HALF IRON. I run the whole thing at a stand along half marathon but after the swim and the bike my body just hasn't had the steam. We are going to work on run training a lot starting in January.

I know for now I won't be doing Hyannis Half in Feburary- but never say never! For right now the next race is the Thanks-4-giving 10k our annual tradition. Maybe I can break 1:00! But mostly for now I am just enjoying a little time with not such intense training to get ready for what will surely be an awesome 2013 Racing Season! In a new Age Group- EEEEEK!

Friday, October 5, 2012

Athena Continued Struggle


Upon the suggestion of D I thought I would throw this out and see if anyone could help. If anyone has suggestions I am open to testing things out.

I went my PCP last Friday, I haven't been in 2 years. And since I am generally healthy it isn't an issue- though I did get scolded for it! As expected clean bill of health! But I went in with a specific purpose. 2 years ago I tried to talk to my doctor after receiving clean blood work and clean bill of health about my weight struggles. She told me that since my results didn't show anything she didn't have much to offer.

Well fast forward 2 years- I have now finished countless running races, swim races, multiple sprints, olympic distance and 3 half irons! My results continue to improve, which is great news but for some reason my weight stays constant. Tons of training hours, tons of calories burned and lots of watching what I eat isn't amounting to squat. Now I know I use the term weight I mean it in terms of the scale not moving and the fact that I am wearing the EXACT same size I have been for the last probably 3 years.

I am baffled. I went into my doctor to ask her for help on Friday and her response to me was "its muscle not fat" well any of you that have ever seen a picture of me know I am not 6% body fat asking for another 1%. She told me if my blood test showed nothing again I would not be able to go to the endocrinologist, "they won't see you for nothing". So if my blood test shows nothing again her only suggestion was Nutritionist. Well- 3 years ago I went to one of the top sports nutritionists in the country (maybe even the world) and it helped with a lot of things but I didn't see a change in my weight/shape.

I will be going in early next week for my blood test which I am 99.9% sure will show the same thing as always- NOTHING! I am very frustrated. Frustrated that I feel like my PCP didn't even entertain my issues when I told her "I came to you hoping you would help me with this." I am wondering if anyone has any ideas/thoughts/suggestions?!

Right now my plan is:
1. get my blood tests done
2. focus on nutrition
3. take the new herbs my acupuncturist recommended (at least she listens when I say I want to fix this)
4. FIND A NEW PCP
5. add in weight training and bikram yoga in hopes of changing things up will kick start things.

I would really appreciate it if anyone has any suggestions. As you all know I train like crazy. I eat a balanced diet. I have been the same size for the last 3 or 4 years. I even have gone so far to take the  ice cream/yogurt treats and pizza after big races out with my training this year!