Friday, November 30, 2012

Good physio and Acupuncture!

So the new physiotherapist is doing great things. I think I have been twisted and pulled and pushed and snapped in two...had ultrasound and ice and Active Release Therapy (deeeep tissue stuff) and my butt is loosening up.

This morning I submitted to an hour of acupuncture and wow....I had needles up and down my leg and in my back. It was easy to let happen and it felt like a mini-laser light show was taking place in my body, notably up and down my right leg. When I finally stood up I was dazed, and as I walked back to the office I noticed my right side, hamstring and butt muscles were notably looser and more relaxed. Relief!!

I bought a 75cm exercise ball this morning for the office, and it is a welcome change from the static office chair I have been sitting in as well....

Hopefully I can start running -crossfitting-biking again soon!

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Injured again?

So this pain in my right butt has been getting worse and worse. The physiotherapist I saw after the July track session said it wasn't a hamstring.

Well I went to a new physiotherapist and it's actually the spot where my right hamstrings join my ischial tuberosity. I thought it was piriformis syndrome but it's not!

So I have been ordered off anything that stresses my hamstrings. Yuck. So it's push-up and pull-up time. I have to ice and heat three times a day, and give this little tear time and a chance to heal, and as much blood flow as possible.

I also bought a little stability disc to sit on in the car, so while the pain is gone in my butt, my head grazes the roof. Must look into getting a Jeep or a minivan.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Preparing for 2013

So after last year's torture  68km workout, I decided that I'd really take a wait-and-see stance on the 2013 CSM. The snow melted really quickly after the marathon, so I don't recall getting out for any serious skiing...I think my daughter and I did a bit on the golf course, but that was it.

We took a vacation as a family to Florida, and when I got back I began to run. I wanted to be in good shape for the spring Adventure Race put on by Raid Pulse.

www.raidpulse.com

My ski buddy Gord pointed me to the Hudson Runners and Athletes club.
I began running Thursday nights with a really great group of athletes. Thursday workouts are held at the track, and are interval workouts. Twice a week I'd meet with some cool folks at 6am, and we'd do 6-8 kms. That was great too.

My fitness really improved from the intervals and regular push I got from my 6am runs.

Last May's adventure race went really well. I finally finished a 50km Bike, Bushwhack and kayak race in 7 hours. It was an emotional experience, as I'd been working towards this goal for three years.


I learned how to eat all the time....I brought apples, chocolate and sausage. I even had a Red Bull in my second transition box (in a cooler) that I drank for the kayak leg. I don't normally drink that stuff and it really pumped me up.

After that success we went to Spain, and I ran 14 out of 19 days. That was magical, running in ancient Spanish cities as the sun rose on old castles.

Upon our return I bought new shoes, and promptly injured myself at track.

Turns out it's that nasty little piriformis muscle stressing my sciatic nerve.
After passing the month of August in physio, I began Crossfit at L'Usine Crossfit  in September.

In August the email came from the Canadian Ski Marathon and I promptly signed up, just in case I really wanted to do it again!

Another really important decision I made was to begin eating along the guidelines of the Paleo diet. After I read this article on Low-carb Ultramarathoners, I realized I needed to make some changes.

I bought Robb Wolf's book, and cut the grains, rice and soy, about 90 days ago.

I have lost ten pounds and feel amazing. Lots of great physical changes that I won't go into here.

After two and a half months of Crossfit, I feel like I'm in better shape than ever. My core is stronger than ever, hams, glutes and back. I'm very eager to get going with Cross Country skiing.

This past weekend I dropped my skis off at Wayne Johannsen's in Chelsea. He is the Master here in the East of stonegrinding. http://www.gatineaunordiquesport.com/home.en  He will make my ski bases flat again, hotbox them and put a nice layer of base wax down.


All I need is snow!