Ironman USA Lake Placid : Official Thread (Page 60)

For those of you who have followed my blog for the past 4 years know that almost every single season I’ve battle some form of injury woes or health issues to the point every year it becomes increasingly difficult to motivate to keep on training and preparing for another racing season expecting that at some point something might go wrong and that it will stop me from achieving the fitness and results I know I am capable hence ending what in my eyes just another mediocre season, just another could have should have, another "I could have deliver ‘x’ or ‘y’ performance if I was healthy but didn’t" or writing another race report with what in my mind sounds as excuses for my inability to deliver what I was set out to accomplish in the 1st place.

This yeas has been no different; I started the off-season with no swimming due to a shoulder injury from last June 2009 but I was optimistic eventually I would managed to heal and be back to normal. In the mean time I could focus on my biking and running and things were coming along rather well specially in cycling.

Early in Jan I matched my highest functional power threshold PR which I accomplish a year ago during racing season, this time it was on January and I was way ahead fitness-wise and feeling great of my chances even if my swim training could be diminished due to the injury, specially since biking has always been my limiter. My running was coming along a bit slowly but I was focusing more on getting the legs ready for harder work ahead; I know that I can get in great running shape within a relative short time.

But 4 weeks ago after a bike ride my knee start hurting a little after a trainer ride. At first I thought it was part because I mildly sprained my knee running a few weeks before when I almost slipped on black ice but then I figured it was more due to my bike fit that needed a tweak. The fit was indeed off due to a cracked frame (airline did it) and inadequate putting my bike back together (long story).

Anyway, 4 years later and what seemed to be a patella tendonitis might in fact be meniscus related (a minor tear or worst) which probably again will jeopardize the season and my goals. Due to all this I’ve been unmotivated and decided to take a break from all the Tri madness from here but as a coach it is hard to completely disappear; I am not going to lie, as an athlete it hurts to read how peeps are getting ready succesfuly for LP or other races but as a coach I am always interested in the subject and very happy and proud of how my athletes' fitness is improving.  

Last night I got together with a great friend of mine (a register nutritionist) that I haven’t seen in a while. After chatting for a long time and expressing my frustration with my injuries battle and my constant digestive issues she asked me if I was lactose intolerant; I replied yes. She asked if among the different testing I’ve had for my digestive disorder over the years I have been tested for celiac disease (gluten allergy) for which I haven't.

She asked me other questions about my energy levels; even though my diet is great (in her words) I told her sometimes I fight fatigue even when not training much, I contantly fight constipation, abdominal bloating & pain, indigestion, gas, etc. Anyway, more questions were asked for which I almost said yes to everything and then she strongly suggested asking my PCP to request getting tested for celiac disease. It is her opinion all my injury woes and digestive disorder might be a result of that and one of the reasons I might struggle with injuries even when I am not really doing anything stupid and mismanaging my training load (doing too much too soon).

I did some reading today and celiacs tend to struggle among other things bone/joint soft tissue pain/injuries and fatigue among other things due to the loss of intestinal villi which causes malabsorption of carbohydrates, particularly the sugar lactose, malnutrition and vitamin or mineral deficiencies. 4 years ago I developed tendonitis on my left leg while tapering for a race and barely doing any training! I mean give me a f-ing break, I’ve have managed to keep my athletes mostly injury free for seasonS and I on the other hand can’t manage to make it one!

To say I've grown frsutated every year is an understatement; I've wondered more than once why is that I seem to be so fragil to endure training even though I seemingly have the genes to go fast. I sometimes have been so frustrated to the point I was ready to accept maybe this, endurance racing wasn't for me and I began thinking about selling my bikes. I know I understand my body very well and I KNOW I don’t push it beyond its current capabilities hence it is very frustrating struggling with this injuries. I have reached out to fellow coaches friends and people I respect a lot and they have been as puzzled as I am.

Anyway, I don’t know if that is the exact case but today I waked up with a renewed sense of hope and even if I do have a meniscus tear, even if I indeed am a celiac and even if I have a long way ahead of me to deal with all this; it makes me smile at least a little bit that I might have finally found the root of my issues. We shall see but for now, today, at this very moment I am optimistic. Maybe this season might not be what I envisioned and while it stings a bit to think about it, that's ok. I am hopefull I have finally found the problem and I will be able to work towards something in the future and having that hope makes me a happy camper for sure.

---  “Having a positive mental attitude is asking how something can be done rather than saying it can't be done.” B Bennett