Longhorn 70.3 Prep

My triathlon friends will know what the title of this post means. For my "normal" friends (haha).  70.3 is a 1/2 Ironman.  140.6 would be a full Ironman.  As far as I'm concerned I still cannot fathom doing a full Iron distance race.  Anyway, so I'm going to do Longhorn 70.3 in Austin on November 8, 2015.  My history with the longhorn began last year.  I was scheduled to do the race and had to drop out in the middle of my training due to an injury to my back that I needed to let heal.  The truth is I will probably always have to be careful with my back.  I have been seeing an awesome PT at Advanced Physical Therapy in Anchorage and I've really been feeling quite good!  I decided that I need to redeem myself and do this race.  So, I requested the vacation time, have been doing some pre-training stuff and am feeling really good.  So after a couple months of thinking about it I signed up. 

I've never been one to quit anything or give up because something gets tough and I don't plan on starting now.  I was feeling so good, training coming together, ready to get started on my official training plan.  So day one I ran a course that when I first started I ran in about 47minutes, with some alternating walking, etc...well, this time I ran it in about 30 minutes.  Talk about a confidence booster!  Also had a nice swim in the lake with Todd and another friend.  A great start!

The next day I'm slated to do a 1.5 hr bike ride.  I decide to get outside because it's summer and you get enough trainer time in winter.  Head out and ended up going about 1hour and 50 minutes just because that's where the loop took me.  The way back got interesting!  First I see a dead black bear on the side of the bike trail that wasn't there when I went out.  Thought about taking a picture, but no!  Then the last mile the guy was cutting grass so there was grass, sticks, and other debris covering the trail.  I'm about 50 yards from the parking lot and I swerve to miss a stick.  My tire slides on a large wet leaf and I lose control.  It happened so fast I have no Idea what actually took place.  All I know is I was laying on the sidewalk a little bloody and my right shoulder is killing me.  At first I could just lay there hoping no one was watching me, but definitely in pain.  I don't think I've ever stayed down after any sort of injury that long.  My shoulder was by far the most painful.  I thought it may be dislocated or even broken.  Can't say I've thought something like that too many times in my life.  I felt it and knew that it wasn't dislocated.  I got to my feet and still throbbing in pain I picked up my bike with my left arm.  I go to get on my bike to coast into the parking lot and realize that my tire is facing one way and my aerobars the other.  Hmmm no more riding right now.  It wasn't rolling either bc my brakes were pressed into the tire on one side.  While balancing the bike on my body I used my left hand to center the brakes so the bike would roll.  Voila' it worked.  So I hobbled my bike back to the car, got in and drove myself home.  All the while my shoulder is still throbbing.  I could move it through a full range of motion though, so at least no dislocation! 

My friend who happens to be a doctor was already supposed to be meeting me at the house after my ride.  I asked her to come over and patch me up a bit.  There were scrapes on my right shoulder and elbow that I couldn't wash the grass and dirt out of myself so she graciously washed them out for me.  Besides for pain I did notice that there was a slight prominence of my right distal clavicle.  Now, making a longer story shorter I texted my orthopedic surgeon friend, got an xray and basically she said I have a grade 2 shoulder separation.  Pretty much a bad sprain.  7-10 days full immobilization and 4-6 weeks for healing....NO TIME FOR THAT! 

So talk about feeling a little defeated in starting my new training plan.  I did take today off to do some resting and icing and pain control, but tomorrow I'm going to put the bike on the bike trainer and show that bitch who's boss!  I'll be riding upright because putting pressure on the shoulder is not good at this time.  So basically I'm going to do what I can when I can until I can get back to full training.  Riding the trainer,  running and swimming when I'm able.  Swimming will probably present me the toughest problem with the shoulder, so I'll wait on it till I'm really ready.  No need to re-injure or continually aggrivate things. 

Here's the xray.  Notice on the right side how the clavicle is elevated...bummer. But at least it will always stay that way...kind of a cool scar without the scar. haha.  And check out that amazing heart and lungs.  Most xrays I look at do not look like this.  haha

I talked with an old friend about it and she said something that I really like.  Champions Adapt!  She's right.  I'll adapt my life and training plan to keep on moving and finish my race in November.  The good news, my back feels ok.  If it can sustain a crazy fall like that going 20mph or so I hope I can count on it. 

Well, that's it for now.  Back to training tomorrow.  Because Champions Adapt!  Thanks Saundra!

Lake Trip Summer 2015

Once again as usual I've gotten far behind so I'll describe some things that are fresh and just use some pictures to hit the hot spots of the rest!  One day I'll make the time to just keep up with this stuff.  

Erickson Lake trip

This last lake trip was so awesome.  First of all we both needed some time together and away from work.  It was a really amazing Alaskan summer lake visit!  Temps were in the 80's which to me felt surprisingly hot.  I'm definitely not a Texan anymore.  I was dying!  The sky was an amazing blue for 19 hours a day!  We truly enjoyed ourselves immensely.  The dogs also had a great time.  I'll just let the pictures tell the story on this one.

We love our cabin and hope that we can make many more memories there!

Last 2015 Lake Ski Trip

April 2015

In 2014 we bought a little cabin on a remote lake and right after my husband of course I am in love with it.  Both summer and winter it's just a great place to be.  Fly in only, not another soul around, just peaceful tranquility.  The pups love to go too.  You ask them if they want to go for a plane ride and you better be ready to go.  If you're not while you get ready you trip over 2 very large dogs everywhere you go in the house.

The most important thing upon arrival.  Make a drink!

Once we get the plane all loaded, we just open the door and in they jump!  They're getting better at just curing up.  They know when we're coming in to land and they are ready to sprint out of the plane.  In the winter they jump out onto the lake and just run all over.  In the summer to get in the plane they will walk the floats...when getting out it's a little more of a splash!  They go straight to swimming up a storm.  It's so much fun to watch them have so much fun.  I'm so glad that Todd and I both love dogs so much and that we are able to provide a home for them with so much dog fun.

A few pics from our last trip.  About Ranger on the snow machine...usually we run the machine up and down the lake and Ranger chases it everywhere!  Well, Todd was making several long runs to make a runway for us and Ranger followed him a few times, then he sort of stopped 1/2 way like he was getting tired.  On Todd's way back he stopped and motioned for ranger to jump on the machine.  He sure jumped into Todd's lap and was happy as could be to be riding along.  Now he always wants to ride.  It's pretty funny.  Bree and I also took a ride in the little cart we pull on the machine.  Ranger was definitely having a better time, but she tolerated it.

Dogs curled up in the plane.  Lucky dogs!

Now's the time of year here in Alaska where the lakes start thawing out.  It's time to wait  for the lake to clear so we can put the floats on the plane and land on the floats.  I really love float flying.  It's just my favorite for some reason!  Looking forward to the summer and enjoying this time right now to get everything all prepped and ready.

These next pics are just from a hike we did when we got back from the cabin this week.  It is on a trail at Eklutna.  I've viewed the lake from this far above before, but from flying over.  I think my comment was it's a lot easier to get up this high in the plane...but it's also a lot more expensive!  It's always fun to push yourself and see a view that not many people get to see.  Makes me thankful for the things that I am able to do and for choosing a life filled with activity.  Hopefully many more hikes to come in this lifetime!