Foot update and race report(s)!

It's been awhile since my last post pouting about my foot. Since then I have started seeing a chiropractor who practices A.R.T. (Active Release Technique is a soft tissue system/movement based massage technique that treats overuse injuries.) I have faith in him being able to help me, as he has an amazing track record in curing many athletes of their plantar fasciitis. I am seeing him every few days, and taking it easy on running the next couple of weeks, as to nurse my foot back to health in time for Colorado training camp.

I'll be heading to Colorado Springs in late May as Coach offers a triathlon camp where we can enjoy some intense altitude training for 4 days straight days. It will involve 2 workouts a day, running and biking up and down mountains and all around a great "vacation" with the team. I am really looking forward to it! I hope I can stay off my foot enough until CO to get it better; just in time to beat it up again.

Race season has started! My first "race" of the season was the Trail Mix 25k. I finished the race, probably pretty close to being in last place. The race was two 7.75 mile loops around the trails and hills at Hyland Park. I had a feeling my foot would hurt at some point, but I figured it would be tolerable. The first loop went well, but as I started the second loop my foot started to hurt. It was painful on the uphill's AND the downhill's, so I took it easy and actually walked most of the ups and downs. I finished the hilly 25k in 2:36. I believe 2:36 is better than the one other 25k I have run in my life, but still nothing I was thrilled about. I did it though, and my foot wasn't any worse off after running the race. I was able to try some new inserts for my running shoes, so more than anything I wanted the 'test run' to see how they felt.

The following weekend was the MN Ironman bike ride. The plan was to ride 100 miles... my first century ride! All would have gone according to plan, but the weather didn't cooperate and after making it to the first rest stop with my feet practically frozen off, I decided to go the 65 mile route instead. When the day was said and done we rode 70 miles followed by a 30 minute run. I really felt good when I was done with the 70 miles which convinced me I could have gone the full 100, if the rain and cold hadn't nearly sidelined me at the beginning of the ride. Note to self: Next year wear wool socks in cycling shoes!

On Saturday I had my first triathlon of the season. It was a sprint triathlon (600 yard swim, 13 mile bike, and 2.8 mile run) in Alexandria, MN. Since it is an early season Tri, the swim was in a pool. Overall the race went well. I was pleased with some of it and displeased with some, but that's what racing is all about. To learn what worked and what didn't. The winds out on the bike and run course were wicked! I watched the news that night and they said winds in Alexandria were 41 MPH at times. I felt it. Through the wind, I hammered through the bike and it paid off; I had the fastest bike split for the women!

Overall I ended up fourth.

I won a cute trophy for being second in my age group. Here I am with my award.

The next few weeks I'll be doing a lot of swimming and biking and taking it easy on the running. I'll get to run a few half hour runs, but other then that, now is the time try and heal up for Colorado Camp.

I'll be skipping out on my first race EVER this Saturday. I was signed up for the New Prague Half Marathon, but the doctor said a half marathon is a little too much running while we are working on getting my foot healed up. *Sigh* I will miss the 'free' T-shirt! I know I need to keep my focus on the big picture and that skipping this one race will be for the greater good. :)

Happy May! Spring has finally sprung!