Cortisone shot week

(Monday, 28 July)

Got in to see the doc today, and was pleasantly surprised to be fit into the schedule of a doc who actually knows a little something about sports medicine, and didn't just tell me to stop riding my bike. Turns out he was a fellow who knew all about Caltech, does triathlons, and works part time in the sports medicine clinic. Cool! So, he was eager to get a shot of cortisone in me and get me on the road again. It felt really weird and was numb for almost 24 hours. 

I rode the psychotrainer for a little less than an hour before dinner, and it felt good. I was able to pedal almost normally for pretty much the whole time with much fewer breaks than before. 

Also, I have now added interrupter levers (which I prefer to call " 'oh shit!' brakes") on my road bike. 

(Tuesday, 29 July)

Ran Patrician with Gustavo and Kangway. It was really nice feeling! We took the flats pretty easy and the climbs too (except for Gus, but Kangway hung back with me which was nice). I wasn't in the mood to hammer it, but it was still encouraging to have that kind of a run (longish, challenging hills) feel doable and not like a huge deal like it used to be. I lifted afterwards and did some good stretching. 

(Wednesday, 30 July)

Did a longer-ish Lorain (up St Albans and Virginia) with Susan, Kangway, Ian, Gustavo, and Sedona joined us for a little bit of it. It was really nice out today; cloudy and fresh feeling. We laughed that there was 6 of us (7 counting Megumi) and only one (Sedona) was actually doing XC next year! Stephanie says she'll be joining us tomorrow so that'll be good. My legs are feeling suprisingly good, I totally could have pushed it more (considering that we just did hills yesterday). I'm looking forward to doing a big hill run with Megumi on Saturday! 

In the evening, I stopped by Open Road for a few things and had this delightful exchange with Steve:

Me: You got a lot of new bikes in! (referring to the enormous mountain of unopened bike boxes). 

Steve: Yeah, I'm so far behind. 

Me: (pause) Do you ever need any help around here? 

Steve: Yeah! Oh definitely. (pause) You could try and build bikes... I'll pay you to build bikes for me. You can work at that stand outside. 

Me: Okay. When's good for you? 

Steve: Whenever you want. You come in and I'll pay you to build bikes. 

So basically this is the sweetest deal ever. All the parts I need will be right there, I can come in whenever I want, and I will get paid. Totalmente dulce. 

Recommendations on a hot bike mechanic outfit I could wear? I am already thinking I should get a tool belt. 

(Thursday, 31 July)

Easy run on the Huntington median. Kept it real chill with Heather, but a nice sized gang was there - Sedona, Steph, and one of her friends. It was awesome! Lifted afterwards. 

(Friday, 1 August)

Lower Arroyo with Susan and Ian. Feeling pretty good, and it was nice this morning so life is good. One of my quads kind of got crampy at one point but it loosened up after a mile or so. I tuckered myself out the rest of the day hanging with Julie's kids and Rene and Mandy later on. Whew! 

(Saturday, 2 August)

Brutal. One of the top-5 hardest runs of my life, ever. Now that I think about it, the only others I can think of off the top of my head that were as hard were the marathon I did my frosh year, multi-duals this year when I got that really bad side cramp, the time I ran with Mr. James and bonked hella bad the summer of my soph year, and the time post-last track season I tried to run that 5k on the track and had a total meltdown. So yeah, it was rough. 

So what was hard? We did Bailey's canyon up in Sierra Madre, and I checked and the MEAN grade is 13%! Holy crap! Here's the rundown. Me, El Guminator, Heather, Stephanie, Sedona arrive, early (6.30-ish). Within a few minutes of heading up the trail, I'm in trouble. Breathing is barely holding at 2-in-2-out, shoulders are coming up, we're dropping the rest of the gals like they're peglegs and I'm thinking.... how long am I going to be able to keep up this charade? 

Eventually Megumi was right that the breathing would settle down. The contributing factor, though, was probably that I insisted on being in front so I could set the (pathetically slow) pace. Once we slowed down a hair I felt much better, although still at my LT or above. I estimate my HR was about 185-190. It seemed like it took practically forever to get to the campsite [in actuality, 29 minutes], but that little bit of a break really gave me a new mental resolve to make it to the turnaround point. I thought it would only be about 15 minutes (in fact, it was actually like 18 or 19!) of effort so I just visualized it as a time goal since I didn't know what it would look like. 

After a few more minutes it started to get even steeper, and there were a few rocky/sandy spots where the footing was challenging to my tired legs. After less than 10 minutes, I was really in bad shape, and I knew that I was not really close yet, and I started to get scared. My HR was extremely high (195+ I'd estimate). My shoulders were hunching, a side cramp was lurking, my head was dropped, I had the Claw, and I thought I might not make it back to the car, let alone to the top of the trail. 

About this time I became aware of the fact that, from her breathing, Megumi seemed to have made an abrupt and terrifying transition to the point where even she was in rough shape. A panicky voice in my head told me that I was going to have to be the one to hold things together!

I noticed myself slowing down to a crawl on the less steep parts (which in hindsight were probably about as steep as the parts I thought were really steep at the beginning of the run) and Megumi urged me on. After an eternity I noticed the scenery changing; there were less plants, and then we emerged onto a sunny ridge. We must be close! I knew I only had a short time left before my heart would burst inside my chest so my head screamed at my legs to keep going. I became paranoid that I would not see the signpost that marked the end because I could only see about 2 strides in front of me. I told myself not to give up, but it was really hard, and I slowed and slowed as I grew frightened that the sign might not be until the top of the ridge (which was really far!). After what seemed like forever, I spotted the sign -- a devastating 100m in front of me. I thought I'd never make it. When I finally did, I just held on, and walked a bit until I could function again. My heart rate about a minute after stopping was about 185, so I suspect it was at least 200. [It took 48 minutes to get up and 80 minutes total.]

The rest of the run I was relieved to be able to chat and just focus on my footing. When we got to the parking lot I was so happy to have made it and just laid down and it felt wonderful. The pancakes were excellent, and I spent the afternoon tinkering at Open Road. A great success!

(Sunday, 3 August)

So, so sore. Quads especially from the downhill, and also my medius and all the hip-stabilizer muscles. Oddly, my calves are not sore at all. Going down stairs is really rough, as is getting up from sitting. I haven't been this sore from running in a long time!

I ran easy because I thought it would help me not be as sore tomorrow, so hopefully that's the case. We went to the RB trail with Jasper and Lini and trotted around. I got a chance to try out the stroller thing for the future sake of running with Susan, so that's good! The rest of the day I have just been a mess. 

The finger is feeling good, it triggered a bit this morning but right now it feels fine. I think I will be able to ride this next week. 

Week's total: 41 somewhat hard miles and lifting. Sweet!