And They're Off!...The Bandages That Is.

Exactly one week after my op, I finally got to take the restrictive, sticky and ever so slightly smelly bandages off.
I had strict instructions not to get the bandages wet until the day of removal, where I was to soak in a warm bath and slowly peel them away from the steri-strips covering the small cuts underneath. The bath felt great but I was really nervous about peeling back the bandages..would it hurt?...would I open up the wounds underneath?...would I pass out with the pain?! Thankfully, none of the above! In fact, the worst thing about the whole experience was the nasty colour of the bath water once I'd finished!

These pics were taken just after the removal of the bandages. Every one of those steri-strips hides a cut! I was shocked at how many there were! I was only expecting to see half a dozen cuts, but at least the bruising wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I've still got quite a lot of pain in both groins which means when I walk, I can barely take a stride of about a foot length!

The nerve endings in the skin on my shins is still a bit haywire too. They feel like I have been stung by stinging nettles...weird!

I hope these pics aren't too 'gory', but I think it will help me when I look back at them and hopefully see the progress I'm making. (Check me out - the amateur psychologist!!)

Train well.

Walking is Tough!

It's been 4 days since my legs were operated on and things seem to be moving slowly...literally! Thankfully I was only in hospital for the day, getting home about 10pm on the day of the operation, which was last Wednesday. The next day was spent laid up in bed with both legs elevated on a couple of pillows. Since then I have gradually been getting more mobile as the days pass, and today I reached the dizzy heights of a 15 min walk/shuffle with the dog, sensibly supervised by my wife, Tracie.

I have been bound tightly from toe to groin in sticky elastoplast type bandages which, at the moment are pretty restrictive. But the main problems with my walking stem from the two rather large cuts in my groin. These cuts feel like they pull on my lower abs so as you can imagine, any movement has to be slow and deliberate so as not to dislodge the stitches. I think these cuts are going to be my biggest obstacle to getting back to training, rather than the other smaller cuts and bruises which are currently hidden beneath the bandages.

Each day I try to 'move' a little bit more and this should become a bit easier once I've taken the bandages off. My 'big reveal' will be on Thursday when I have to soak the bandages off in the bath. I am kind of looking forward to removing them but at the same time I'm a little apprehensive as to what my legs are going to look like! I just hope that the sticky bandages peel away easily and don't tug at the strips underneath which apparently cover all the smaller cuts on my lower legs. Oh the joy!

All this rehab, otherwise known as 'sitting around a lot', is driving me crazy! However, while sitting in my chair, I've managed to find one exercise I can do...tricep dips! And for variation I alter my hand position! Well I have to do something!

Enjoy your training...(I'm sooooo jealous!)

A Hilly 10km Race, Then Off to Hospital!

Did the Richmond 10k in North Yorkshire last Sunday. If you like hilly runs then this would be right up your street! This was the first 'run only' race I'd done in ages and it felt weird not having a machine and a bag full of kit to prep!

It was a very 'pretty' route which started on the cobbles of the Market Square and finished in the grounds of Richmond Castle. Right from the hooter, the first kilometre was a steep and twisting descent which was quite tricky with 500 runners all vying for position before being funneled in to a path which followed the river. I found myself just off the back of the leading pack of about a dozen runners and when I checked my watch at the first km marker, I realised I'd probably gone off too quick. I'd read that this was a hilly course but the next couple of k's were still a bit of a shock as the route climbed and climbed. Thankfully after that, the next few k's were quite flat before the roads started to resemble the Big Dipper again with more fast descent's and more steep climbs! By now my quads were feeling a tad battered from the downhill sections and my calfs were burning from the climbs. The final km seemed to go on forever, as we climbed up across more cobbles and into the grounds of the castle. As I slowly climbed towards the elusive finish line, one guy came past me. It's fair to say that I was suffering but was determined not to let him get away, and with about 20 metres to go I managed to retake him and thankfully he didn't kick again, otherwise I would have just let him go!

I finished in a time of 38:40 and came 19th overall with a cheeky 2nd prize in age group- gotta be happy with that!

After the race my legs felt like they'd been hit by a sledge hammer but I enjoyed the run out.

As for the next few weeks, there will be no training for me. I go into hospital tomorrow to get my varicose veins removed from my legs. Nice. It will involve some cuts at the top of my groin, around my knees and down my shins and the veins are then pulled out. Nice. Post op, I get my legs bandaged from ankle to groin, which stay on for about a week, and I have to keep my legs elevated as much as poss while popping pain killers like M+M's!

Hopefully, I should be able to resume some light exercise after about 3 weeks...time will tell.

Once I've recovered, my shins should no longer look like a map of the M1 and the doc said it may help reduce my susceptibility to lower calf injuries...time will tell once again!

My time in 'rehab' will give me plenty of time to plan my winter training regime which will give me something to focus on until my legs are released from the mummification!

Train smart.

They Think It's All Over...It Is Now!

Sadly, the 2009 tri season is now over for me.

My last race of the year was the Humber Sprint last Sunday. It was a good race in a decent setting and not too far away from home. It was also good to meet up with Daz Sharpe who seems to be finishing his season strongly.

The day before the race it was mighty windy and very wet and I wasn't looking forward to ending the season in dodgy conditions. Thankfully, race morning weather was clear skies and light winds; although it was very cold at first but once the sun came out it warmed up enough so that my fingers and toes wouldn't freeze on the bike.My swim was ok, although the lanes were quite narrow with up to 4 swimmers per lane fighting for space. I got out the water in about 6 and half mins (400m), and was clocked through T1 in 7:10 after the long run from the pool.

After a faff with my timing chip coming off and nearly a minute in transition, I hit the bike for the single lap of 20km. The route was 'undulating' and a little technical but not overly hilly. My legs felt a tad heavy at first but once I got my second wind I felt good and worked hard on the second half but only managed to post a rather disappointing time of 35min 41sec.

T2 was a slicker affair and I went through it quite quick compared to T1! The 5km run route was a 2 lap jaunt along footpaths and over a footbridge a few times, which added a little variation to what would have been a totally flat and windy route. My time of 19min 36sec was pretty good considering my lack of speedwork this season.

All-in-all, it was a satisfying race to finish on. I finished with a time of 1:03:50 which meant 8th overall and 4th in age group (annoyingly only 24 secs from 2nd in age group...that flipping timing chip!!!). Daz did well taking second overall...well done mate!

What this race has highlighted is that I have a lack of bike power at the moment. So my winter is going to be all about the bike. In particular, I will be hitting the weights and I will learn to love squats!!

Before then I'll have a crack at a couple of local 10km road races, just for fun, before the serious winter base stuff starts.

Train smart.