TriHard

First Mission Accomplished!

Well, I finished my first triathlon of the year this morning.  Grinning ear to ear with nothing left in my gas tank, but a lot of heart still with me. 

I received my second round on Botox shots on July 6th.  More in the post tib, (more than the first time) and two shots above my ankle to control my toes.  After the Botox shots my doctor went to the outside of the calf and needled spasms in a very very tight muscles.  (Stuck a needle into the area that was spasming and then went to the center of the spasm and broke it up). It was so tight it reminded me of a tight guitar string.  That was the spot that would cramp up so much it looked like a ball the size of a fist and was so painful it would stop me dead no matter what I tried.  I went back July 13. this past Wednesday and had more needling above my ankle to break up more spasms.

I decided that a good triathlon to do would be the Women's Only Orangeville Triathlon, just north of the west end of Toronto.  It is a time trial event, where swimmers go off every 5 seconds.  I had a good swim, most of the time I swam alone.  I love that!  The bike is an out and back course, fairly flat, and the run is two loops with a little slope.  Distance, 750 meter swim, 20 Kilometer bike, 5 Kilometer run.  I have done this event three times now and have always really enjoyed it.  The weather was questionable, as I drove through rain storms and fog to get to the event.  It cleared up and became really hot and humid.

I got out of the swim and was able to run to my bike, so far so good!  We had a long way to run with our bikes before the line to mount our bikes.  I had a good bike, this is where the cramping usually starts, no cramps so far, yes!!!  I was able to push a little on the bike keeping in mind that I hadn't run 5K in a year, and I had to leave something.  Off the bike at the line and able to run a little in to transition.

I was able to run out of the transition, something again that I really had difficulty doing, and on to the road.  I just let my legs carry me.  Was it fast? Not in your life!  Was it pretty, well a lot prettier than it had been for years.  I ran until about 4.5K and the legs were running out of life.  I had to work hard to get into the finish, got their running with the biggest grin on my face!  I still did not have any cramping.  My leg had gotten weak and was fast losing control from fatigue, it got me there and that mattered so much!

I had just conquered a huge road block in my life.  I went from almost not being able to walk in April to running a triathlon and not having leg problems in such a short time.  This is a sport that has given me so much, that has taught me so much, and has become a lifestyle that I really wanted to stay in.  All of a sudden I had a future doing the sport that I love again!  I am a little emotional this evening.  This is a lifestyle where my friends are and my interests are and I am back able to do what I really love doing.  What more could I ask ! Tonight I feel like the luckiest person in the world!  Boy what a difference can a few months in ones life make.  I have been very fortunate to meet such awesome people, my sports doctor, and the doctors of physiatry.   Who know that Botox would make such a difference!

Power Gel

Power gel has changed!  They have reformulated. 

It used to be thick, so thick that if you raced or trained in cool weather it was hard to squeeze out of the package.  Now, it is thinner, moves easier out of the package on the go, and actually tastes better.

The old formula used to have the same consistency as icing.  Which is great on graham crackers!  I actually liked it, many of my training partners could not get the gel down, too thick or too sweet.

One word to the wise...if you are used to the old gel and try the new, make sure the gel is not in the top of the package when opening it.  I had gel all over my hand, then my brake levers...you get the picture!

If you haven't used Power Gel before it is definitely a must try.  My favorites are vanilla and strawberry banana.  Added attraction, Canadians are now able to buy Power Gel with caffeine in it!

Finally able to train again!

After my first Botox shot in April I began to notice a difference in a few days.  A week and half later I really noticed a difference.  I could push through a run, and started to cycle gradually building my mileage up.  My first cycle was slow and only lasted about 20 kilometers.  My run started as a run walk on the treadmill and went gradually to a trail run.  I was still suffering from a lot of tightness and spastisity on the outside of my calf.  I was feeling little muscles in my calf that were getting a real work out because they now had to work harder as I had  lots the use of some major muscle.  My leg was beginning to feel great!

After a month and half the Botox started to wear off.  I had burned the elixir out of my system.  I thought it was going to last longer!  I really liked having the freedom in my leg, I liked not having pain and tightness.  I wanted more.  Another shot was coming in late June this time we would use more.

Botox usually lasts about three months and then has to be repeated.  Once Botox has been injected into a muscle, it must wear off before it can be used again. The second shot I would get more Botox in my post tib and a few other muscles.

Before my first shot I ran for my doctors on the treadmill, and they taped it.  A week and half later they taped me again.  There was a great deal of difference.

BOTOX- The magic elixir

Botox, shot in to my leg!  No wrinkles here!  No really, it was shot in to my leg to reduce spastiticy.  I had increasing spactisity in the post tib of my right leg.  Lay mans terms, the inside of my leg was so tight that it was pulling my foot off balance causing me to walk on the outside of my foot, ouch, it really hurt!  This resulted in a series of spasms on the outside of my leg and the larges peroneus longus you've ever seen (the muscle that runs down the side of your leg and attaches under your arch). 

This all came to a real head when I competed in Madeira, Portugal in May 2004.  I started having spastisity in the swim, it never worked out on the bike, instead got worst, and felt like a huge cramp, and just got worse on the run.  My peroneus was bulging out so bad that I  was beyond pain.  I finished the run backward as the street was slopping out and my leg just simply would not work going forward anymore.  The photographers teased me afterwards telling me the thought I just wanted everyone to see the words "Canada" printed across my bum!

My first Botox shot was in April, only in the post tib of the right leg.  At that point I was having problems walking and training was out of the question.  My leg was even bothering me in the swim.  It was tight and sore all the time.  Sometimes walking was so restricted and painful my body was just shutting down and not let me walk at all.

I noticed a great deal of difference a few days after the first shot.  I started to have balance on the right side.  I could stand on my right foot with it flat on floor, put my left sock standing on without leaning against a wall or dresser.  A week and a half later, I went for a trail run.  This was a pretty important occasion in my life as I don't recall the last time I was actually able to trail run without twisting an ankle. 

All was not fun and laughs through this, as this brought on gait, back and neck issues.  My lower back was getting increasingly tight, especially on the left side.  My neck and shoulders were very sore and tight.  I see an incredible masseuse, Angela, who worked really hard keeping me loose.  The best thing I found that really helped, sitting on a sit fit at my desk at work, and using my exercise ball at home.  That and really watching the amount I increased my activity.  While I really wanted to go out and see how hard I could go at ever thing I loved to do, I knew there would be big consequences if I did.  So slow and steady was the name of the game.

Why TriHard?

Why TriHard?

Because that is what my life is all about.  I have always tried harder to do everything that I do.  I am a 7 time World Triathlon Champion as a disabled athlete.    My disability...I had a stroke when I was 9 years old.  It happened on my left side leaving me paralyzed temporarily on my right side.  I had lasting effects especially in my leg. 

Thus, I have had to work hard to over come the issues that I was left with.  Am I bitter, not at all.  I guess I really don't know anything else.  I have always believed in hard work any ways.  I was brought up to believe that anything I wanted to do bad enough I could do.  I may have to work for it, it is achievable if you want it bad enough!  Thus, TriHard!

In my blog I will take you through my journey as a triathlete, my daily training and some of the interesting things I have to deal with because of my disability.  I have had a lot of problems with spastisity in my leg.  Gradually over the last few years it has gotten so bad that this April I got to the point that I could not walk at times.  For those with medical training the tone was so bad,(it had never been like that before) that everything I tried would not break it.  I received my first Botox shots and the results have been awesome!  A lot more on that to come!

I will also review some of the new products geared towards triathletes and related sports, and put on some training tips.  Some will be coming from experience, either mine or some of my training partners.  I will take you through some of my racing and my quest to qualify for this years World Championships in October.  I am a very poor athlete right now so some of this blog may even encompassed how I am looking for the funds to get to the worlds.  Sometimes that is more of a challenge than qualifying!

Please remember to TriHard in everything you do!  It has brought me a great a wonderful life!

Triathllon Course

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