Bob Stocks' Group - Full for now! (Page 19)

 That's not what the Groundhog said this morning!  6 more weeks of winter.  I hope he is wrong (although it is good for the skiing!).

Congrats to all the Steelers fans.  Great game although I thought they were going to penalty themselves into a loss!

Chuck the Staten Island groundhog didn't see his shadow. And it's about 50 degrees in NYC today...spring is here!  Not, but a guy can dream, no?!

So, one week into the official HIM training plan and I am injured.  I seem to have injured my left knee.  It hurt really bad when I was on my bike on Friday night, but not on Saturday.  I went for a run Sunday morning, and it did not hurt, but while watching the football game, I went into the kitchen and my knee gave out and started hurting really bad again.  I saw my PCP (she's a marathon runner!) this morning who thinks I might have torn my meniscus.  She referred me to her ortho.  I have an appointment scheduled for next Monday with the ortho.  My PCP said that I could continue to swim and bike as tolerated, but she doesn't want me to run until I see the ortho.  

Here's a question Kristen probably can help me with.  What are my alternatives to running?  My pool only goes to 4 ft depth, so I can't run in the pool.  Would an elliptical work?  I'm freaking out right now thinking my season is over before it even starts.  (Yes, I am a bit dramatic at times.)

Yes, spring is here until the next storm comes tomorrow.

Barb - Sorry to hear about the knee. It's still very early in the training and you haven't talked to the ortho yet so don't start panicking.   AquaJogging is an option, most pools have the belts that allow you to aquajog. As long as you can do it pain free it would be a good alternative. Elliptical machines are also a good alternatie. If you can bike without feeling pain I think that is your ticket. Biking will keep your legs in shape for running and will only make your biking stronger.

The cross training is one thing that makes triathlon such a good sport. If you get injured in one discipline you have 2 to fall back on.

Let us know how you're doing.

Lots and lots of fun last night!   Couldn't believe it turned into such a thriller, but in the end it all went well for the good guys!!

Sorry to hear that Barb.  I hope it's not as bad as what your friend thinks.  Good advice though to stay off the running until you know for sure.  How is it to walk on it now?

FYI - PCP = primary care physician.

Right now, my knee is quite painful, but I had an x-ray this afternoon and I had to twist it all around for the pictures.  While walking around my apartment, my knee didn't hurt a ton, it just feels weak, almost like it can't handle my body weight.

Yes, the game was a good one.  I was rooting for the Cardinals, as they were the underdog.  But, I was pretty impressed with the 100 yd runback of #92 (don't know his name).  I love seeing the big guys make a big play like that.  No one could take him down!

Sorry to hear about that Barb.  I hope you get good news from the doctor.  Take it easy for a week until you find out.

Thanks everyone for your support!  I will be going to the ortho on Monday (2/9).  The doctor I am seeing is the director of sports medicine at a local hospital.

Later today, I will be going for a trainer ride.

Are we going to change from a Mentor Group to the Knee Injury Support Group?  Instead of Bob, Kristen will be our leader. 

I hope your injury heals soon and you can back to regular training!

I didn't sign up for that support group!  This is my first journey down the tri road, don't want to mess up my knee before I even get to race 1!  LOL

I think Kristen set a good example of how patient recovery can lead to a speedy recovery so she would be a good leader for the Kneeds Help Group!

Brad, I have zero experience with this but I have read that leg stroke that is misaligned on the bike can cause knee pain (knee pointing too far out or in during the stroke).

I hope everyone gets over their knees, shoulders, sniffles, and other ailments quickly.

Weather reports look like we're going to be above freezing for the next week - I can't wait!  It was 0 as I was driving in this morning. 

Running in the snow isn't as much fun now as it was a month ago.....

Be thankful you have snow at your end of the state.  All I have is ice, ice, and more ice.  This weekend should be nice; there calling for temps in the 50's here.

We are supposed to be in the 40's this weekend.  I may get my first outside run in a while if it doesn't rain.

Great swim for me today--2400 yards.  First time going that far in one workout!

Nice job on the swim!! I am looking forward to a run or ride on Saturday in the 40's!! I am so ready for spring. I don't know why but -4 on the thermometer this morning seemed much colder than -15 a couple weeks ago!!

A thought went wandering through my head during my swim today and I wanted to share. (No, it didn't hurt!! )

It's important to incorporate some speed work into your swim workouts. Hard 25's or hard 50's are great for this. In order to swim faster in your OWS's and distance sets you need to do just that, swim faster. When doing these speed sets try to increase your arm turnover while maintaining control of your stroke. Ideally you want to keep the same stroke count as you normally hold, same stroke count + faster turnover = faster swimming. Try to do these sets at the end of a workout and don't forget to cool down afterwards.

All that being said about speed it is also important to work on pacing. This is my favorite part of swimming. (Actually, this is my favorite aspect of biking and running too!) Pacing sets are sets that you set a goal pace and try to hold it. Ex: 3 x 100 @ 2:00 holding 1:40's. These sets are the bread and butter workouts of a distance swimmer. On my swim tonight I went a bit too hard on my 1st 100 and went a 1:06, my second 100 was a 1:10 but felt like a 1:20 I was so beat from the first one. I settled myself down on the last 2 and held 1:08's fairly easy. By settling down into a steady pace and focusing on a long stroke I was able to conserve energy and go faster, BONUS!!!

I haven't been feeling like a very good mentor lately. Fire away with any questions about the swimming tips above or anything else for that matter.

It looks like most everyone in the north is getting sick of winter. Spring will be here soon enough! Keep those trainer rides and treadmills going and spend that time in the pool!! Winter is a great time to improve your swimming!!

All that being said about speed it is also important to work on pacing. This is my favorite part of swimming. (Actually, this is my favorite aspect of biking and running too!) Pacing sets are sets that you set a goal pace and try to hold it. Ex: 3 x 100 @ 2:00 holding 1:40's. These sets are the bread and butter workouts of a distance swimmer.

Bob

I just got hand paddles. I recall you saying you do drill with a free wrist to help sculpt your stroke and hand position.  Can you explain this alittle more?  thanks.

I have been trying to do more of this.  My last 500 of today's swim was a 5 x 100 set on 2:15 trying to come in under 2:00.  I was able to do this for the first two 100's but the last three were at 2:05-2:09.  I feel really fatigued after the first two which probably says something about my stroke mechanics.  Hopefully as my stoke gets better I will be able to hold this pace longer.