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!
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