Fred D Mentor Group - Part II (Page 72)

Neil - this has been happening to me on a regular basis in both training and races for a couple of years. Only not my quads; instead it is my adductors. It seems to happen like clockwork at either 60 miles, or just before my ride ends, whichever comes first. This is not a joke, but I have honestly decided that it is in my head because of the oddness/regularity of its occurrence. When I feel it coming on, I simply jam a lot of salt tabs down my throat. I know this does not do any physiological good as the root problem is one of muscle fatigue due to insufficient fitness coupled with poor pacing and NOT the lack of electrolytes. However because it is all in my head, the placebo effect of the electrolytes actually has a positive impact and I seem to be able to shake the adductors out relatively quickly. I also have learned that you don't really need your adductors to run, so it is not that bothersome to that end. Knowing that there is a mental component to this problem does not retard the desired outcome, instead I actually think it accelerates it. I suppose it is the same thing as saying "shut up legs," just a little more politely.

Same thing here. In the adductors.

and I have a standard FSA Gossamer crank (I think) on my road bike but would rather a compact.  So Fred sells you his Quarq, you send me the compact, I send Fred the standard!  

I would get another crank for sure.  With the quarq it makes sense to go back and forth but I would find it to be a big PITA if there was no benefit other than just not having one.

I went to the pool for the first time in 3.5 weeks this morning.  Just an easy 1000 meters mixing things up.  Right shoulder was a bit cranky about the whole affair but I think it's just a matter of banging the rust off.

While I was there, the swim team coach reminded me that the World Masters swim championships are in Montreal in 2014 and that he knew of several local swimmers that were interested in going.  Definitely something that interests me given it would be an easy travel situation for me.  Something to think about more for next winter though than this one.

and to make it even more interesting, he just offered to let me swim with the University swim team.  $200 to have a coached practice with options to swim any day of the week except for Saturday from now until the end of March.  This seems like an offer that I would be a fool to pass up on.

Yep - if their practise times fit your schedule, seems kind of hard to say no to that one.

I don't think this was the same thing for me (as long as I'm understanding the adductor).  When my legs seized, it was literally the quad muscles at the top of the leg, rather than feeling it in the thigh on the inside of the leg. It really did come as a shock to the system since I was only ~70km into the ride and had no indication of any issues before it happened.

I was happy to have my compact with granny gears at Muskoka.

I think I am going to invest this year's tri budget into liposuction.

How about shorter cranks. Did you consider this ? New crank is the time to do it

The kool-Aid is mighty tasty!

I would for sure talk to my fitter about this. And now that you are unhitched from the quarq you could go crazy short if it made sense from a fit perspective.

I am usually around 170-172 at 5'10. 

I will put a Strava up for Muskoka. First let me "adjust the watts"

I've been to US Masters Championships - it's a blast. I'm sure worlds would be amazing!

So, post-sickness funk, I've got two slow, slow 2 mile runs in the books.  Could have been worse I suppose.  Baby steps and all - going to shoot for as many of these 2-3 miles I can get in for a couple of weeks.  I had slacked off running due to foot pain before the sickness funk, so really baby steps.

Here's the injury question for the day: I've had foot problems for a couple of years.  Metatarsalgia/extensor tendonitis/weird foot structure/no fat in balls of feet/etc. etc.  Tried podiatrist, sports chiro and orthopedist without success.  During my time off being sick, my legs have also started experiencing pain/soreness (quads/calves, ITB tightness).  In fact, when I'm running now, and sometimes just walking, it's almost as if I have to flop my right foot forward. I also have pain/soreness in my right/outside shin.  It might be just temporary weakness due to the layoff, but it sure feels weird.  I'm also starting to think that my socks and shoes might be too small now - almost as if my feet have gotten bigger through settling (or something).

I think I need to see someone who can sort me out pretty much from the waist down.  I don't have a clue as to which doctor to see?  Someone mentioned a physiologist in a prior post, but I'm having a hard time finding one at a legit provider in a fairly large city (just internet searches thus far).  Any suggestions on a type of doctor I should try?  Thanks.

ratherbeswimming - 2012-09-12 10:21 AM Pretty sure I strained my calf over the weekend. I've been feeling tight on my upper calf just below the back of my knee. I did a short run yesterday, and I don't think it helped. Oh well. Superfrog is less than three weeks away. Gotta get this calf back to normal! Not going to do anything stupid.

Superfrog ? Cool. Isn't that the race LA is doing ?

marcag - 2012-09-12 11:33 AM

ratherbeswimming - 2012-09-12 10:21 AM Pretty sure I strained my calf over the weekend. I've been feeling tight on my upper calf just below the back of my knee. I did a short run yesterday, and I don't think it helped. Oh well. Superfrog is less than three weeks away. Gotta get this calf back to normal! Not going to do anything stupid.

 

Superfrog ? Cool. Isn't that the race LA is doing ?

Yup. But I'm cool - I signed up before him

Actually, they had an Active.com Schwaggle deal, and it's a friend's first half - so she convinced me to sign up.

I've got mixed feelings - the bike is 4 loops, which is going to be an interesting mental challenge... but I love San Diego and the beach, so maybe that'll carry me through!

ratherbeswimming - 2012-09-12 8:53 AM

marcag - 2012-09-12 11:33 AM

ratherbeswimming - 2012-09-12 10:21 AM Pretty sure I strained my calf over the weekend. I've been feeling tight on my upper calf just below the back of my knee. I did a short run yesterday, and I don't think it helped. Oh well. Superfrog is less than three weeks away. Gotta get this calf back to normal! Not going to do anything stupid.

 

Superfrog ? Cool. Isn't that the race LA is doing ?

Yup. But I'm cool - I signed up before him

Actually, they had an Active.com Schwaggle deal, and it's a friend's first half - so she convinced me to sign up.

I've got mixed feelings - the bike is 4 loops, which is going to be an interesting mental challenge... but I love San Diego and the beach, so maybe that'll carry me through!

Any race in San Diego is a good one We used to live there. 

I think there is some running on the sand in SuperFrog so get that calf happy before the race!

How about an Osteopath?  Not a doctor but holy smokes my Osteopath has fixed me up better than any other health professional I've seen for things similar to what you describe.  That's not a knock against any doctors or physio, chiro etc as they have done some great stuff for me as well.  She just takes a very different approach to things and was the only one who fixed the Sciatica I had last year.  

There was an interesting interview with Pete Jacobs I read a while ago (maybe on ST?) where he described problems he was having with his feet.  The ultimate solution for him was something like a realignment of his rib cage and shoulder.  

http://www.slowtwitch.com/Interview/Can_Jacobs_advance_at_Kona__3005.html

Re-reading it, it wasn't an Osteopath for him but an ART physio so that could be an option too.