Ironman USA Lake Placid : Official Thread (Page 2)

You read that whole thread, God Bless you!    Yeah, I disappeared at the end because of my injury and with it getting so close to Race Day, I didn't want to bring any negative energy to the thread.  During my second 100-mile bike ride in mid-June, I developed an excruciating pain in my outer, lower left knee.  I got a script for an MRI, and apparently I developed insertional tendinosis in one of my hamstring tendons.  I stayed off the bike for two weeks and tried to bike again up in Lake Placid, two weeks out from the race, and the pain returned.  So I stayed off the bike for another two weeks, took the family up the Lake Placid, picked up my Race Packet and then tried to Bike the Friday before the Race and unfortunately I couldn't make it more than an hour.  Handing my chip back in Saturday - the day before the race - was very tough.  But staying up there, staying positive, rooting on all my friends (I knew about 20 people racing total) was a phenomenal character building experience for myself; and I believe (hope) I was setting a good example for my six-year-old son.  Seeing what BT'ers like Josh Kaptur went through (he crashed badly a few months out from LP 2009 and was not able to race and had to wait another entire year, then crushed the course in 2010) is very encouraging and motivating.

The overall support from fellow BT'ers was amazing.  The entire LP experience as a whole was amazing.  When I got home I spoke with my physical therapist and an sports orthopedist and my tendinitis, we believe, was caused by improper technique.  Not to throw anyone under the bus, but a particular person in the Triathlon Industry told me to keep my knees in and almost have them brushing the top tube.  By keeping your knees slanted inward you become more aerodynamic, and your center of gravity is moved toward the center of the bike, effectively giving you more power.  I searched online, and sure enough 'knees toward the center' is a practiced TT Position and recommended by many people in the cycling world.  Unfortunately for me, perhaps due to a body irregularity?, keeping my left leg in tweaked my ligmament and pinned it against my outer knee bone forcing it to rub.  So what I learned from this injury experience is *I* need to keep my legs straight up and down when I pedal.  I've since stayed off the bike from July 23rd and on the 38th day of no biking, I went for a 20-mile ride and all is well.  I've since ridden 25 miles just this weekend and, Thank God, the pain has not returned.  Also, in retrospect, during my Winter Base Cycling on the Drainer and throughout the Spring on outside rides, I built my volume carefully but I rarely put forth an EASY effort.  I was also putting forth a Moderate to HARD effort.  This time around I will make certain to include more EASY Rides.  Perhaps this is me being overcautious. 

I'm also going to purchase a road bike and put in a lot of training time on the roadie.  I think consistently hammering out multiple 100-mile months of volume on a TT bike in a TT Position wreaked havoc on my lower bike.  And I was refit three or four times last Spring to try and dial in the best position for me, but *for me* I think I need to log more time in a less aggresive position and then slowly increase my Aero TT Position time as we get closer to the Race.  I've also noticed many pro triathletes Like Macca and Ben Hoffman log a ton of time on there Road Bikes, so there must be something to this approach.  We'll see.

Okay, I'm done rambling about my experience.  I look forward to sharing the Journey of this time-around with everyone on this thread.  I'm gonna call mscotthall as the official Dark Horse!  

Orriginally this winter I planned to just maintain a modest base of 7 to 8 hours a week, then 20 weeks out (1st week in March) I planned to follow the BT Intermediate Ironman Plan.  However, since I was not able to race LP, and since my cycling injury strangely did not affect my running whatsoever, I've been Marathon training and feel I have a realistic chance of qualifying for the Boston at my October (Steamtown) or Novemeber (Philly) Marathon.   If I do qualify, then I am going to take December off (by 'off' I mean maintain a 5 to 7 hour week base of EZ SBR) the start Training again in January with a 60% focus on Running, 20% Bike, 20% Swim ... and once I run and recover Boston, start a 12-week Ironman Program the first week of May. 

Lastly, I will signing up for Rev3 Quassy, June 11th.  Rev3 runs an unbelievable event (see my RR).  I met Craig Alexander and Miranda Carfrae.  My kids played at the Quassy Amusement park for free Saturday and Sunday.  And the Quassy Bike and Run cross is absolutely BRUTAL.  An excellent prep for LP . 

doing the American TTT in Ohio with a bunch of people.

then, the a HIM in Michigan close to my wifes family first weekend of June.

I'm going to cut out a lot of the short races this year...they are fun, but take away from weekend's where I can train steady.....