Mad Manatees 2015.3 CLOSED (or Poptarts? Pet pics?) (Page 65)

So I've been seeing a guy for a couple weeks . He's a chiropractor who also does ART, and his office is about 2 minutes from my house, and, most importantly, he's a triathlete.

The first day he took x-rays and did ART stuff. No adjustments until he saw the Xrays. The Xrays, interestingly, show that my right leg is about 8mm shorter than my left. Never had this diagnosed before. So he gave me a lift to wear in my shoe (feel like an old lady). He said it's up to me whether I use it while running. He also told me not to start running with it before Pikes Peak. The Xrays also showed that my upper back and neck are both straight-ish where they should be curving back. So he has me doing stretches (sort of) for that.

The most noticable improvement, however, is that he's been doing ART on my IT Band. I really noticed the improvement yesterday on the trail. Recently when I step down from larger rocks I've been favoring my left leg and making my right leg do all the steps but yesterday my left leg felt great and did it's share of the steps. Yay! Now to try riding again  (after pikes peak)

I'd proceed very cautiously and gradually introduce the lift if you decide to go that route.  The human body is very adaptive and has over the years probably  compensated for this with a number of physiological changes.  I've had some pretty severe injuries from my younger days and I have seen how other muscle groups, tendons, etc. will change and adapt to compsensate for asymmetrical situations.  That is great about the ART helping your IT band.

On another note, as I've mentioned before my knee has been kind of tweeky and I rediscovered the magic of plain old ice.  Put an ice pack on after my run last night and it has felt much better. 

What?!  In the middle of summer we have no one racing?  I feel like I should find a race just to make up for this craziness 

And wow, only a week away from Pikes Peak ascent. I can't believe it! 

It's such a strange thing to train for in that the mileage is a HM but the endurance part is more marathon-like. Tapering is already such a weird thing without that kind of complexity! 

Right now they are predicting great weather. Hopefully the T-storms will hold out till the afternoon (as is normal for Colorado).  I did a trail in Taos yesterday and about 3 miles in the legs were letting me know that it is time to give them a break and begin the taper.  The PPA plan they've been emailing out  mentions no climbing for the last week so I think I'll take that advice. Any running I do will be as flat as I can get in this area.

So excited for you two!!  What are your estimated times?  I want to be sure I'm there at the finish when you come in but would like to sleep in if I can.

I was just thinking how different our races are going to be next weekend.  I've done Seawheeze the last several years and have written about what a crazy weekend it is.  Here is a peek at the whackiness that is this event.  It is more of a yoga party/girls night out but the vibe is just amazing.  People come from all over the country for this.  I am committed this year to staying sober until after the race.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgVtCC4BhPc

I'm afraid you've got a tortoise and a hare to cheer home . I'm sure Salty will be super duper speedy. I, on the other hand, am hoping for a 5 hour finish. My wave starts about 20 minutes after Salty as well. DH will be there to greet me if you'd rather go down to the festivities at the park with Salty and wait for me there.

Right now they are predicting great weather. Hopefully the T-storms will hold out till the afternoon (as is normal for Colorado).  I did a trail in Taos yesterday and about 3 miles in the legs were letting me know that it is time to give them a break and begin the taper.  The PPA plan they've been emailing out  mentions no climbing for the last week so I think I'll take that advice. Any running I do will be as flat as I can get in this area.

That's good. I wasn't even going to look at the weather until the day before. Sheesh even the day of, things change so rapidly in the mountains. I am really hoping it holds. I know that lighting can be a total buzzkill. It is relatively warm in Manitou Springs though, correct?

I'm going to do some climbing tomorrow and then move to flat and rest up. I've been really tired anyway so it is a very welcome break.

I'm afraid you've got a tortoise and a hare to cheer home . I'm sure Salty will be super duper speedy. I, on the other hand, am hoping for a 5 hour finish. My wave starts about 20 minutes after Salty as well. DH will be there to greet me if you'd rather go down to the festivities at the park with Salty and wait for me there.

I'd like to be on the course to provide some encouragement if I can.  If they'll let me, I'll try to hike (very carefully!!!!) a little way down from the finish to cheer for you.  Salty, since I've never met you, look for the woman wearing a Team RWB shirt and white hat.  I'm also going to see if my friend will loan me her kids' maracas (you know, Manatee Maracas!!) and will be dancing and hollering like an idiot for everybody to the extent possible given the altitude.  I'm not sure you'll want to hang out at the expo/party until I come back down because I'll probably stay there until the last racer goes by.   Don't know why I do that; I just end up feeling an obligation to be there for all the racers, not only the ones I know.

RWB. White hat. Maracas. Got it. Haha.

Well, it doesn't sound like us racers are allowed to spend too much time at the top so I am not sure what my plan is. I will check some warm clothes at sweat check because I KNOW how quickly you get cold when you go from sweaty running to being idle on top of a mountain.

I'm not a big expo/finish party person so I will likely go back and shower and then find some beer. Might watch the awards as they will be later.

Still want to do the brewery tour in the evening?  If not, maybe we could all just hang out where you or TJ are staying and I could pick up a sampling of good local brews.

All this racing, mountain, beer talk is making me really jealous!!  ok, it may mainly be the beer 

Still want to do the brewery tour in the evening?  If not, maybe we could all just hang out where you or TJ are staying and I could pick up a sampling of good local brews.

Hey, weren't you thinking about doing the Zion in 2016?  I rolled my entry over to next year.  Wanna join me?

If any Manatee was sort of following my friend who was hiking the Appalachian Trail, she summited Mt. Katahdin  a little while ago!  So, she finished the trail in 4 months and just over a week!  Pretty awesome!!    

That is incredible! Four months of hiking with few days off. She had some crazy weather too. So glad she was successful. What a journey, what a memory.

And now, after a few days off the trail, she's going to hike the rest of the Vermont Long Trail.  Apparently, about half of it is also the AT, so she's just going to finish it off.   

I'm up for whatever. I'd like to see the awards if Salty is getting one  

My hotel doesn't allow alcohol  It also doesn't have TV's but DH assured me he'd be ok without the afore mentioned items in the room.

Salty are you going to the pasta dinner Friday night? I'm thinking the 60th anniversary presentation might be cool.

I should re-read the book while we drive to Colorado (AGAIN) this weekend.

And now, after a few days off the trail, she's going to hike the rest of the Vermont Long Trail.  Apparently, about half of it is also the AT, so she's just going to finish it off.