The back battle continues...

Wednesday, September 26th:
Today included the same run up Lee Hill Road that I had done the previous week. Hill repeats up a steep dirt hill! (Hill? It's the side of a mountain!) Oye. Joanna had a track workout that morning so we decided to warmup together until she split towards the track and I towards Lee Hill Rd. We were both procrastinating in getting going. I dreaded my workout knowing what it was like last week... finally we both said, "Ok, let's get going!" We jogged up Hwy-36 until she split and I kept going to warm up. I ran about 45:00 before I began the first climb. Happily, I found the run this week to be better! I felt much stronger than last week, which helped my confidence.

Runners always say the descent down the mountain should be quicker than the ascent. They don't take into account the wimpy way I pick my way down a mountain. I am slow and cautious, sure I will twist an ankle if I try to pick up the pace. In some ways I prefer the suffering of the climb, just because my footing is firm. I am certain there is a metaphor about my personality in here somewhere, but I'm not sure I want to know what it is.

I felt great about my run today. It went well.
The day was so beautiful that JZ and I decided to add an easy 90 min ride to our schedules even though neither of us had one. It was too beautiful not to venture out. I always laugh to myself when riding with this woman, how hearty her easy pace is for me. I notice how comfortable she seems while I labor and struggle to keep up (and catch up!). We rode to some canyon and the journey was simply breathtaking. We passed lakes and colored leaves with a backdrop that left me awe struck. It is no wonder people crave to live here....

Little did I know this was the calm before the storm...

The next day I had a long ride to include 2 rounds of a climb up to Jamestown and a climb up Olde Stage, with some steady riding in between the two rounds towards Carter Lake.
I made it through the first round, nothing too concerning with my back but it was a little sore. However, the second round turned into a mini-catastrophe. My back almost completely blew out and I was in a lot of pain... I somehow made my way to the top (sheer will, I imagine). I was going to Jamestown! ..... but then dismounted my bike in the absence of an alternative.

I was completely hunched over, unable to stand straight. It hurt like hell!!! I plopped myself on the asphalt and tried to deliberately straighten my legs so I was aligned. This took several attempts and I heard all kinds of cracking and popping sounds from my spinal cord. It scared me. The lingering ache in my back, coupled with (likely) frustration over the whole ordeal, brought me to tears. I contemplated calling JZ to pick me up but I had no cell coverage.

There I was on the side of the road, on my back, crying, for a good 15:00. No sobs or wails, just tears flowing as I continued to stretch and try to relieve some back pressure. It hurt tremendously -- but mostly I was just exhausted by it all. ALL of it. This type of pain and suffering (to include the sacrifice of my lifestyle) just is too much. If I was some professional athlete on some multi-million dollar contract then, sure, you endure. Take cortisone shots, get iron IV's, do whatever you have to do to assist your body in absorbing the physical torture. But for this, what I do.... for 2007 as a professional athlete I have grossed $2,900 in salary ....the ends just do not justify the means.

Various cars pulled over as they came upon me to ask if I needed help. I was embarrassed - if I wasn't seriously hurt I imagined I looked awfully melodramatic. I thanked various drivers but said I was ok.

Eventually I summoned the courage to get back on my bike. I was better now and could tolerate the 10 mile descent and 10 mile rollers back to JZ's. It took a while, but the higher cadence spinning actually seemed to help loosen something in my back. It felt a bit numb, but something seemed to loosen. During these miles again I tried to come to some decisions about my body, my sport and my life. Not necessarily in that order.

I walked into JZ's house; she was on her computer.
JZ: "You've been riding this whole time?"
It had been well over 5 hours.
CS: "Yes.. but it was a disaster." I didn't cry but my eyes were swollen from earlier and my chin began to wobble. She could tell I was fighting back the tears.
JZ: "What?"
CS: "My back almost completely blew this time. I was on the side of the road at Jamestown lying down."
JZ: "Why didn't you call us to pick you up?"
CS: "No cell coverage.... I can't take much more of this. I can't train like this. I'm done."
She instantly stood up from her computer.
JZ: "We're taking a look at your bike right now. You are still too aggressive. I was watching you ride yesterday. Come on!"

With that we headed to the garage, pronto. When Joanna is on a mission, you'd better follow or get out of her way. Thank God her mission was for me...
She made a list of all the things I needed to do. She told me to go right that very second. No shower (even though I smelled like crap and was still in my cycling outfit), no food, just go.
Back to the bike shop I went for a whole new bike set up... then to her massage therapist for an emergency session. A total of about 11cm was added to my drops when all was said and done.
GOOD GRIEF.

I hope this starts to bring some relief to the situation... my mind, my body and my spirit have collectively had it. The only good memory I have of all of this is Joanna and how calm she has stayed in the midst of it all, how reassuring, and how supportive. She has never once made me feel as though I am complaining without merit or being a total pus. Quite the contrary. Though I do not have even a fraction of the athletic accomplishments she has, she treats me as though my issues are just as important as hers would be. She takes them seriously. You should have seen her take charge, spend time taking bike measurements and search through her old stash of profile equipment to see if there was anything she could give me to avoid my having to buy something else. You'd think I was some sort of Ironman Champion, too.

I could spend the rest of my life trying to convey how much her help has meant to me and it wouldn't be enough. Anyone can do something for you when there is something in it for them. But what can I do for her? Nothing. I can't even help her with her swim - she kicks my ass in my only strength. :) She bends over backwards to help me when there is virtually nothing in it for her. As far as I am concerned, this says everything. I'm not sure what I have done to deserve her support but she continues to be such a generous mentor. How lucky am I? This fact is not lost on me ... I constantly remind myself that I must be doing something right. Maybe being a kind and good person does matter after all.

The mornings....

Just when I had laughed at myself for bringing so much clothing for colder weather (I hadn't yet needed it), things here in Boulder turned chilly. I am so used to the 90-100 degree days in Atlanta that the crisp mornings and cooler evenings here are a welcome change. The sky is a brilliant blue and the air is so clean I almost feel cleansed as I inhale...

Yesterday I wore a thicker jacket and leg warmers during my ride. Funny that 4 days prior I had been a sweating pig in my sleeveless jersey.

The last few nights I've been sleeping with the windows open to have woken up tightly wound in my blanket cocoon. I always sleep so much better when it is cold. But my body clock is seriously wacked. It has been soooooooo difficult to drag myself out of bed even by 7am here. I am always so tired. Each time I force my eyes to stay open I remind myself it is 9am at home... THIS motivates me!

So, last night - HILARIOUS. Billy Edwards came by to pick me up and we met Brandon DeCampo, Mark Van Akkeren and their friend, newly-transported-Aussie Teresa, for dinner on Pearle Street. We had various unprintable discussions .... (perhaps Brandon will be more forthcoming on his blog re the transcript?) ... but the 5 of us were laughing so hard our stomachs hurt. Ug. Good times.

Each time Brandon or I would say something 'revealing', we would mimic writing down what was just said to imply: THIS IS GOING ON MY BLOG! Funny, funny.

Such a great group.

I have got to come up with a better response than, "Um, I have a house in Atlanta.(?)" when I am asked why I am not living in Boulder. Almost every day it seems I am asked what is keeping me from moving. ? I really need to come up with a valid reason because the ones I am giving seem unacceptable.

A couple days before I left Atlanta I had a business/social dinner with my life mentor :) Susan Edwards. We were talking about professional and personal opportunities for me (outside the sports arena) as my triathlon retirement seemed closely imminent. She was pleased I was headed to Boulder and thought some options for my life path could continue to appear. As we said goodbye that evening, her final words were thought-provoking...

"Be open to serendipity", she counseled.

It's all about the GLUTES

The weather has been beautiful in Boulder since the day I arrived over a week ago.

This morning it was pouring .... I mean the proverbial cats and dogs... it went on for hours. Unusual for Boulder - showers here move out quickly. Thunder, lightening, the works.

I wanted to swim and then JZ was going to show me some exercises to help build my glute strength. She had a hunch my glutes were likely pretty weak given my poor cycling strength and incredible back pain. She and I waited for hours for the rain to pass.... it wasn't .... eventually we just got tired of waiting.

I went on ahead to Flat Irons as I wanted to swim a bit more than she... that way I would just get out when she did and we'd hit the weight room. Swimming.... swimming... swimming... as I was on my final 100m JZ swims into my lane in front of me ... I pop up... "What?" .. "Lightening! And it's close!" she says. We bolt out of that pool and into the club in record time.

So... Joanna demonstrates some exercises to strengthen my glutes. Balancing on one leg, hand touching various floor markings, body perfectly aligned. They look easy enough. No problem.
I attempt to duplicate. HOLY CR@P!!!!!!!!! My body was tweaking, shifting, rotating, falling, all over the place!!!! I could NOT believe it. The more exercises she showed me, the more she had to continue to modify their degree of difficulty in order for me to actually do them. It was incredibly humbling, and illuminating. "This is why your back hurts so much. Strengthen these muscles and your cycling will fly!"

I can see her point. I had no idea this muscle was so weak, but with no glute strength, and with hamstrings so tight I can 't even bend towards them, it is easy to understand why when in the aero position my back gets recruited. My glutes and hams aren't strong enough...

I can't begin to tell you how much this woman has and is doing for me. She is not only perhaps reigniting my desire to train and race in 2008, but she is likely saving my sanity.
Everything she has suggested since I got here over a week ago has been 100% on the money.
Everything.

We came home from the gym.... and napped. :)

The weekend in Boulder...

Saturday, September 22.
I expected a tough day today. JZ invited me to ride 4 hours with her and I was eager to give it another shot after my new bike fit (which has seemed to be a miracle! I have felt so much better!). I was damned determined to stay with her for longer than 11min this time! :) I got the ok from my coach to "blow myself completely" to stay with her as long as I could hold on. Excellent.

She wanted to swim first so I decided to throw my bike in her car and bike home after our swim to get in a bit more bike warmup before she and I began our ride. I think I need a bit more juice before I can go high-octane immediately, which is required of you if you ride with Joanna Zeiger. I think the biking home was a smart idea but when I got back, I wolfed down a huge egg burrito and 2 pieces of toast with PB. Man, I was a bloated pig with all that food! What was I thinking??!! It wasn't an 8-hour ride!! In retrospect, too much food, but I got back on the bike for 15min before our scheduled departure. More warmup before the Zeiger-Torture-Chamber would be wise.

We scoop up Matt Reed on Jay Road/Hwy 36 and off we go. I was ready. Psyched up and nervous... what a dork I am! The first 5 miles were pretty tough with the rollers. JZ is so much lighter (and stronger) than me so she would dust me uphill and I will kill myself trying to catch up. I was burping all kinds of egg and PB smells. Downhill I made up a ton of ground. Not much for the ego (weighing more) but I didn't care.

She and Matt rode side-by-side down 36 for about 10 miles, completely silent. This aspect of Boulder is always an eye opener. It is ALL BUSINESS. There is no chit-chat, people are working and the atmosphere is serious. Being in this environment over the last 2 years has upgraded my professionalism a great deal.

We rode another 4-5 miles and I hugged tightly to JZ's wheel, completely stoked I had made it this far. It had been an hour and, granted she was taking all the wind, but I was staying with her and it wasn't completely killing me. Then, no sooner did I scream up to JZ, "Dude, I am feeling really good" -- my nose completely exploded with blood. Yup, epic nose bleed, blood pouring out. I scream that my nose is bleeding and she looked back to yell, "HOLY CRAP! STOP!" Her sense of panic sort of scared me. She said to stand still until the bleeding stopped. Once it did, I told her it was all good. "Ok!", she said and I swear she shot off like a cannon. Not even 10 seconds for me to get clipped back in and back into the groove, she was OFF on a mission. Matt tore by me to catch her. I tried with all my might to catch them for over 30min but it was futile. I couldn't do it. On her wheel I would have been able to stay longer and I was bummed by the nose bleed that thwarted my great ride... but that hour with her did a lot for my spirit. I felt a ton better.

I went on to add a 3 hours and rode up Left Hand Cyn to climb the backside of Lee Hill Road. Oh man, that ascent was a KILLER. I was going 4mph for most of it - no lie. Good grief.
Descending was awesome, though. The homes nestled in the mountains were so beautiful... I hung on for dear life but tried to absorb some scenery and hoped my brake pads would not wear through....

When I coasted back into JZ's garage, I sat on the floor for a few min to rest and stretch my back which ached like it was broken. The new bike fit has made a HUGE, mofo difference, but I have a lot of residual effects from long-time damage done. My back will continue to be an issue for a long time, I fear. JZ came out from the house and told me I rode a lot stronger today. I absorbed her praise happily.

Sunday, September 23.
Today was a 2+ hour run holding a higher HR in the later stages. I decided to do this run at the Res and do 2 loops so I could reload fluids at the car after loop #1. After waking up with a really sore back, I was worried about this run, but it actually went ok. My pace is still pretty slow, but I am feeling better so I'll take it.

It was a chiller morning than recent ones so not too many people there so early in the morning. On loop #1 I saw a speedy Tim DeBoom running in the opposite direction, long shirt and gloves. The dude was seriously flying. He smiled and waved to me, which surprised me since he is normally tunnel-visioned during his training. I yelled out, "You look great, dude!" He did.
Loop #2 was strong for me. I was pleased. I saw Tim again and again he waved. I smiled and waved back... I have met him a few times but I think he thought I was someone else. ? Anyway, he really is such a kind soul - I hope he has the day he wants at Kona.

I saw Nicole (DeBoom) standing in the distance when I finished my run but I was so late - I wished I had a chance to say a quick hello. She's a really cool chick.

Raced back to JZ's... my friend Jon Robichaud was in her driveway 9 min after I got home so I could drop him off at the airport ... eeek! I smelled!.... quick shower.... Dropped off Jon and then met the Mayor of Boulder, Michael Stone, for some lunch (he's not really the mayor but JZ calls him that because he seemingly knows EVERYONE). After lunch and some crazy-ass banter :) Michael and I vegged at his place with ice packs on our backs watching "The Illusionist". GREAT movie with Edward Norton if you haven't seen it.

Raced back to JZ's in time to head over to Billy Edwards and Lara Cooper's place for "Motivational Film and Spaghetti Night" for the crew going to Kona. Justin Daerr, Brad Seng and Mark Van Akkeren showed and we all laughed to the hilarious Blades of Glory movie. Some stupid humor is boring to me - but this movie was surprisingly funny.

Full weekend of activity....
Somehow Boulder feels like a second home...