Painless!

This is a short one. Practically trivial. It’s a very good sign, however, and means a lot to me. Today was my first pain-free run in nearly three months! I’ve had trouble with my hip ever since my bike crash back in March and it has taken until now to finally get a little consistency back. I’ve yet to run over 45 minutes, but at least I’m back up to 5x per week and now, without pain, and going strong. That should curb my

Like I said, not much, but enough to make me a happy little camper.

23 June 2005

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Thin Air

Amongst all the changes in my life recently, one of the better ones was moving in with my boyfriend. I live on a mountain now – 9,000 feet above sea level – on a dirt road surrounded by pine and aspen trees. Our neighbours aren’t too far away, but their houses are hidden by the trees. What a treat to look out your window – any window – and not see into your neighbour’s rooms.

The sky is so incredibly blue up here – as it should be. When there is a full moon high in the sky, or even a half moon, it lights up the nights so brightly you could almost read by it. Especially in the winter when the world glistens under a blanket of pristine luminescent snow. It reminds me of the time a couple friends of mine and I did the Death Valley by Moonlight ride way back. The light from the moon reflected off the salt flats so intensely you didn’t even need lights.

I start each day with an early morning soul-soothing walk or run with my four-legged friend, Jake (he’s an Australian Shepherd). I listen to the wind whisper through the trees and the birds sing their happy songs. I breathe in the smells of the season and let my mind drift leisurely wherever it may choose. It is the most peaceful and reflective time of my daily life – and the most valuable.

My commute to work in Boulder is equally awesome. Boulder end-to-end is less than five miles and I work right in the middle of it. My drive home after a long day of work follows the base of the Front Range Mountains and then up along a winding mountain road home. I can’t help my eyes from being drawn to the mountain range and the rolling green hills at its base as I drive. I carry my camera with me because every sight is a sight I want to keep with me for all of my days to come. If you have to commute for you work, I really can’t think of any better commute to enjoy. Instead of having to deal with the stress of bumper to bumper traffic after a long day of work, I’m soothed and relaxed as I sail along at the foot of such magnificence.

I was walking the dog this afternoon. The day was cool and the clouds sat low and heavy on the mountain. I couldn’t see more than 200 yards through its thickness. In the distance thunder rumbled softly. Rain was coming and I was hoping for a downpour before I made it back home. Sometimes there is nothing more soothing than walking in a downpour and getting drenched completely through. I beat the downpour, but I was just as happy as I sat listening to the thunder rumble and crash its way overhead.

These are the things my mind and my soul needs to help me find my way back onto my path.

19 June 2005

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Hello, Mr Mojo?

I’ve had a little trouble training for a while now, and looking back, it’s really no surprise at all why.

There have been quite a few changes in my life these past few months. Some pretty major changes, in fact. They all seemed to come in a drove. With so many changes to go through at once, its no wonder training has suffered. As it turned out, my first two and a half weeks back in the “regular” workforce I could hardly train at all. I was so tired all the time - I think I managed to do four hours of training. That won’t get me through an Ironman.

Things are finally starting to settle in and I’m managing to train a little more, but I’ve been having issues. I get out on my bike – want to get out on my bike – and feel great for the first little while, then, without fail, I hit the three-hour mark and suddenly I want off my bike. That’s it. I don’t want to ride anymore, but since I was out to accomplish a four or so hour ride, I’d find myself too far from my car to stop. So I ride... if you can call it that. I spin so easy my pace drops at least 4mph and I totally coast it back in. Same with the swim – I hit 45-60 minutes and that’s it. I stop looking at the clock, stop keeping track of splits, don’t even listen to the splits the coach gives out, and drop from the front of the lane to the back.

My masters coach thought I was doing too much, I of course disagreed. So at my next masters session, she moved me into a different lane. I looked around and realized I was with the lane that I normally swim one up from. After the warm up, she realized I was too fast for them and moved me up a lane. All was well until I hit my imaginary wall and the coach said, “I think that’s probably enough for you today, Wy”. Hmm, demoted and kicked out. I understood where she was coming from, but, I haven’t been back to masters since.

Then there’s the running – or lack thereof. Still recovering from my bike crash in March, I haven’t been able to run without pain, if I could run at all, since then. It is so discouraging when all I want to do is go for a run, a good run, and not hurt. So of course, this adds to my waning motivation.

Here’s a funny, sort of. I went to the doctor for a check up and when she checked my blood pressure asked if it was normally high. High? I was surprised since my blood pressure has always been about as normal as normal gets. She asked if I was feeling a little stressed as that can cause a rise. I had to laugh, “You could say I’ve been a little stressed out lately.”

Some people think I’m burning out. Some say that I’ve been going strong for more than a couple years now and am due for a solid break. Some are saying I might consider writing this season off altogether. I don’t think I’m burning out. I want to train and I want to race, I just think there has been so much going that something has had to give. I guess training has been it unfortunately.

One thing I do know is that this is just another passing phase we all go through on our journeys through life. I have to do my best to ride this out. I have to do my best to re-evaluate my life, re-align my goals and refocus on the future. I know that I have a long way to go, but I know that I will make it out the other side stronger, wiser and better for it all. I suppose, in a way, this is a rough transition into the next chapter in the journals of Walkabout Wy.

June 2005

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