I always feel like September is New Year's, probably from being in school for so long and now working at a university. So, I'm taking stock at the end of the year, the end of what would normally be race season, and thinking about the year to come.
I'm still dealing with my hip issues and am not much further ahead than I was. It seems that the issue is "frozen" hip joints (adhesive capsulitis), which resulted mainly from the pelvic surgery I had in 2012 between my two Ironmans and the stress my body was under as it tried to heal and train. I didn't race at all this year. I missed Ironman Coeur d'Alene and the Lake Stevens 70.3 and I won't be going to Austin for the 70.3 there, either. I have kept up the training as much as possible though. I've ridden my bike a fair bit - about 3200 km. I've swum about 100,000 metres in the last year and my BFF and I have been out at Hubbles Lake a lot this summer having 'swim therapy' - so, so great. As for running, I've only done 200 km and haven't run since March. Now I need to regain my flexibility and get stronger and slowly build myself back up. It feels like it's taking forever.
In some ways, it's been great to have a year of training for fun and keeping the intensity low. I've had a lot on my plate this year with my separation so I didn't really need to add an Ironman to that, too! But this has been hard, too. Sometimes, I can hardly see myself as a triathlete anymore. I've only watched the races I thought I'd do. Today I rode with my club and couldn't even keep up. It was demoralizing.
I'm feeling a little sorry for myself today but most of the time, it's not so bad. I am hopeful and I know what I need to do. I worry that it won't work but I have to put that aside and just do what I can do. Spin starts in 2 1/2 months and I want to be able to do that. Next summer, I want to get back into racing by doing sprints. That would be fun and it would make me so happy to be a triathlete again!
My life is good and happy. I just get bummed sometimes. But I will press on and hope for the best and do what I need to do to get there.
