I walk the line...

It has been a really busy week for me past. Worked kicked into over drive and I have worked everyday this week and into the evenings/nights with the exception of tonight. We are launching our H1N1 site for the school tomorrow. Last minute changes from VP's had our team scrambling to get everything completed for tomorrow mornings launch. Thankfully I enjoy what I do for a living.

Mel landed a job with the city this past week (Yeeeeaaah Mel!). It seems to be a great opportunity and I am REALLY glad - after she had to leave an amazing career in Halifax to come back out West. With dual incomes again we decided she would come to Florida with me next week. Bought the ticket today and booked the kennel for the dogs. Already scoped out the outlet mall to hit up after the race. I plan on parking in the food court with a book and relaxing while she shops for some new work clothes.

I managed to make it home from work for the last hour of Halloween trick or treaters. We dressed the dogs up...Jessie was a princess and Sammy a bumble-bee (see new blog image). Unfortunately J is afraid of cameras so we did not get a good pic of her to post.

Training has been OK - I won't say great but it hasn't been as frustrating as before. After a pep talk from Mel things started to fall into place and I am starting to accept what is instead of what could have been.

That said I have been able to manage my knee pain through the following:

• Icing it at least 3x daily for 20 - 30 minutes and immediately after each workout.
• Got some new runners - my old worn ones are likly the cause of my issue.
• Wear my orothotics everywhere...I switch them into whatever footwear I am wearing at the moment.
• Put new orothoics in my cycling shoes
• Stopped riding to work and take the bus/train.
• Bought a knee support brace I wear when commuting to/from work.
• Adjusted my biking position - instead of sliding all over my seat throughout a ride I now ride 1-2 inches further ahead on my saddle and stay there. I have the new saddle sores to prove it. I also stay in my aerobars as sitting up aggravates the knee. Good thing I suppose for a flat course like Florida.
• Running - I power/speed walk for 10 - 20 minutes to warm up and run 10 & 1's throughout the run. I have found that 10 minutes of running is the max I can run before the pain kicks in and I have to stop and walk it out.
• Wear my knee brace during bike/run workouts.
• No pushing off the walls when swimming - this got old really quick when I was doing a 2000m time trial earlier this week.
• Lots of self-massage - the knee that is.

By doing the above I have been able to keep it from getting worse, while at the same time, making it manageable  to train through.

This week I also started wearing layers during my bike/run workouts to start getting use to the heat we'll experience in Florida. Mel laughs and shakes her head.