Kelly's Big Adventure

Summer fun

2010-09-29T06:51:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been about a billion years since I updated this blog, so I will do so now. Hmmm let's see.....I think I last left off after I finished the Oliver half iron. I switched my focus to trail running and mountain biking to prepare for the Vashon Island Xterra- the worst race I have ever had! My goggles broke minutes before the start, I wiped out during the bike and bruised my ribs, and broke my chain but was able to fix it. I did finish and actually had a fun time despite the mayhem. My next adventure was the Log Train Trail marathon just outside Port Alberni, which was flat and all on trails. The biggest challenge in that race was the ridiculously high temps that day--up to 36 C. The heat didn't really bother me as much as it should have, because I was so focused on negotiating the rugged trail surface.

Now, it is the offseason and I am just screwing around-lots of easy trail runs and mountain biking with pals, and cyclocross racing. Good times-no scheduled workouts, no plans, no structure, just fun fun fun.

One down, two to go...

2010-06-21T17:32:00.000-07:00

Well, life just keeps getting better! How's that for an optimistic first sentence? Two weeks ago I participated in the Oliver Half Iron triathlon and had one of my best races ever. It was probably

the only triathlon I have ever done without some sort of injury/ailment/affliction/issue/random, nebulous pain. I have always struggled in the run portion of a triathlon since I like to go HARD on the bike, but this time I had a strong, steady effort biking and left enough for a solid, consistent, and almost pleasant run. Now, it's time to turn my attention to my two other races this year--the Vashon Island Xterra July 11, and the Log Train Trail Marathon August 15. No problems at all with my back despite running more than I ever have. It's been great getting off the road bike and getting on the mountain bike-the sense of peace and tranquility one achieves while screaming down boulder-strewn singletrack at 45 km/h while dodging trees, roots and occasionally small mammals is almost mystical...love it.

Doin' it in the dirt

2010-05-03T13:16:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been out a few times on my mountain bike and man, do I ever love it!!! I took some holidays recently and am currently enjoying a pleasant little stay-cation at home. I went up to Port Alberni last week to ride the course of an off-road marathon I want to do in August an took some video>>>>>>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ueu24siikro

Awesome...rad...gnarly...bitchen...

I upgraded the wheels on the bike (Mavic 819 UST rims and XT hubs) and put on some Avid BB7 disc brakes to replace the ancient v-brakes that were on there. Today, I went up to the Dump to try them out. They were really sturdy, and although they weighed a bit more than my old wheels, they were super stiff, which is more important than weight to me, being a larger fella.
Thanks to Scotty and the kids at Pro City recommending the wheels and disc brakes. Now, I have to figure out how to fit in training for the Oliver half Iron, the Vashon Island Xterra in July, and the Log Train Trail Marathon in August. Oh yeah, no problems at all with the back other than minor old man aches and pains....kind of forgot why i started this blog in the first place.

It's All Good

2010-04-12T20:26:00.000-07:00

Well, things are still full speed ahead since my last post. Training is going very well and I am really enjoying riding and running in the decent spring weather. I bought a used mountain bike about a month ago-my 4th mountain bike but my first full suspension cross country race bike. I've been trying to get out and ride it since I'm doing the Vashon island Xterra in July, but I'm still training for the Oliver half iron so I still have to put those road miles in. I am really enjoying trail running, and our friend Ann has introduced us to Francis King park, which has tons and tons of singletrack and fire roads that Chief, the Magic Pitbull also loves to run as much as we do. I'm having no back or leg pain to speak of, which is simply amazing. I couldn't be happier. Oh wait, I will be when we get out of the pool in a month or so and start swimming in the lake.

All systems go

2010-01-25T20:06:00.000-08:00

Life has been very good since my last post. We got a new member of the family-an 18 month old pitbull cross named Chief from the SPCA. One of the many many benefits of having a dog is that you have to walk the damn thing, which is the best possible thing for my back. By November, I was back up to 100% healthwise, and ready to begin some light training for the coming season. I ran in a 10 K cross country trail race called the Gunner Shaw, and all went very well despite my ridiculously low run fitness. Currently, I'm training regularly and haven't experienced any dreaded nerve pain despite doing 3 hour hilly bike rides and some crazy trail runs.

It's been awhile

2009-09-30T19:25:00.000-07:00

Well, I revisited this blog after well over a year, since I completely forgot it even existed until a few friends started to write their own blogs. So, I'm thinkin' I should update it. I fully recovered from my surgery and did 3 triathlons this season--a sprint distance race in April ( the Sooke tri), a half-iron (Oliver), and an Xterra (Vashon Island in Washington). Since the early summer, I have had a minor relapse of nerve pain, which could be a disc bulge/herniation or a few other things. A bit of leg/hip/back pain, but nothing really severe. I stopped running until a week or so ago but have continued to cycle on and offroad with no problems. It is about 50% better than it was 6 weeks ago, and I expect I'll recovery fully in 1-2 months if not sooner. I am going to get a CT scan of the area just to see what's going on, but I'm not too concerned. It's the offseason anyway--time to forget about triathlons and just have fun outside.

Update

2008-07-12T06:14:00.000-07:00

Well, things are going very well so far. I am 17 days post-op and feel really good. I'm spending a lot of time walking, averaging 8-10 K a day in total spaced out over 2 or 3 walks. The first few walks were really weird, like my nervous system had to adjust to the fact that I could actually use both legs. Since I have been favouring my right leg for 6 months or so, the muscles in my left leg are a little atrophied, while the right leg muscles have been overworked. It will all balance out eventually. I still have very little pain at the incision area, just some stiff back muscles that are recovering from being cut in to. Everything is healing up as it should, thanks in part to the 2 or 3 naps I take during the day as well as sleeping 9 hours at night. I've been trying to read a lot but keep falling asleep. I miss riding my bike, and it KILLS me to see people riding down the street on a perfect 24 degree day with the sun shining. I should be able to try some stationary cycling in a couple of weeks. It's better than nothing I guess.

Home!!!

2008-06-27T06:58:00.000-07:00

I'm home!!!! Everything went well with the surgery and I now can stand and walk without brutal sciatica in my left leg. It's still early, and it's common to have relapses and brief periods of nerve pain, but things just feel right. My lower lumbar area is extremely stiff, but there's not much pain at the incision site, which I am told is about 3-4 cm. Before the surgery, I was walking around hunched like an old man, and now I walk upright like the rest of the world. The surgery went by pretty quickly--I was at the clinic for less than 24 hrs in total. I'll be spending a lot of time today either walking, laying down, or standing, since sitting for more than a few minutes puts too much pressure on the lumbar area. I can't wait to get outside and walk around--I walked the decks of the ferry yesterday like I was a little kid on one for the first time!! I think it will be hard for me to balance rest, activity, and mental stimulation over the next while, but for now I'm a happy guy. Oh yeah, the painkillers are fun---the resulting constipation, not so much. maybe I'll start a separate blog detailing.....oh, never mind...

background info

2008-06-21T11:46:00.000-07:00

Well, how did I get into this pickle? It all started when I developed a herniated disc between the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae (L4-L5). I was stretching after a run one day and felt a pop in my back, and then a searing pain down my left leg, known as sciatica. This happened in October 2007 about a month after I finished my second Ironman triathlon. After a winter and spring of crappiness, I will be having surgery on June 25 to remove the part of the disc that is compressing the nerve to my leg. The surgery is called a microdiscectomy and will be performed at the False Creek Surgical Center in Vancouver. Lots to do before the big day.