How Many Perfect Days Left this Fall?

It is a picture-perfect day here in Boston.  The kind of day to go ride 50 miles.  Or go to an orchard and pick apples.  I'm talking no clouds in the sky, a slight breeze, beautiful sunshine and about 60 degrees.  A little nip in the air this morning, but just perfect today.  Unfortunately, still recovering from the rib injury makes the 50 mile ride not a smart idea.  Even climbing a ladder and reaching for apples is probably asking for trouble.

But, I had a great day today.  This morning, Juliet and I took Elin to a little one-hour "play group" at Isis -- the local "maternity" and children's store nearby in the mall.  This was the first of twelve "classes" -- there were about six children all 10 to 12 months old in the class.  I was the only "dad" there -- maybe it's not cool if you're a dad to go to these kind of things?  I won't miss it!  It was fun.  Though I'm still trying to figure out if this is mostly for the kids, or the parents.  There was a bit of "group therapy" on children's routines, nap-time, bedtime, bath-time; how the children are doing with naps, etc.  We sang songs, the children got to play little instruments, and play with toys.  It was only about an hour -- probably just about perfect.  Every Saturday for the next twelve weeks.  Cai Cai (our nickname for Elin -- it means "guess guess" in mandarin -- she was named this while Juliet was still pregnant, before we knew whether she was a boy or a girl) really enjoyed herself!!

After "class" we walked to the local espresso cafe a few blocks from home (not the "chain" but a local place which we really enjoy).  Cai Cai fell asleep in the stroller ... so instead of hanging out in the cafe, I got my latte and we just walked home.  She was crashed in the stroller in the funniest position:  one leg over the bar across the stroller, and her head resting on the bar.  She looked like a pretzel the way she was twisted on her side, I couldn't imagine how she could possibly be comfortable!!

While it's beautiful out today, the days are getting shorter and winter is definately on its way.  It now gets dark around 6:30 pm; in fact, it's now about 5:15 and already the sun is starting to set and there is that nice yellowish-golden glow from the autumn setting sun.  Tomorrow is going to be a nasty day -- looks like rain all day long.  Keith is going to do the Nantasket Beach Triathlon -- a short swim in the ocean (1/3 mile); 12 mile bike, 3 mile run, supposedly on the beach.  It is probably the last triathlon on the east coast (at least that I'm aware of) and he wants to do it, even if it is pouring rain.  He doesn't care.  I am going to go to the Patriots game, so won't watch his tri.  Funny guy -- he said "I don't think there are any sea walls to fall off there, dad...."   Hahahaha.  Nice guy.

The perfect day today; and the forecast for tomorrow (total ugliness:  rain all day) makes me wonder just how many "perfect" days we have left this year?  Not many.   It's almost October; and while we've had some nice days in October the last couple of years, it is just inevitable that "perfect" (or even "good") days left this year for outside running and riding will be pretty limited.  I do distinctly remember that we have had several really nice Halloween evenings the last three years, at least.  Every Halloween since we've been in this house we have sat on our front steps, ordered pizza, opened a bottle of red wine, and shared with our next door neighbors while the kids came around trick or treating.  But, October is when it starts to get cold and nasty; we've just been lucky on Halloween the last few years!

I am healing ... definately getting better.  My ribs are no longer tender to the touch, or being "pressed" on.  However, there is some soft tissue soreness still underneath and below the ribs.  My physical therapist said the bones will heal in 4-8 weeks; but if there is any "connective tissue issue" (I liked that) that will be 10-12 weeks to heal.  That said, I can tell that each day I am getting a little better.  Today I swam in the Endless Pool for the first time in three weeks (YEAH!!!!)...VERY slowly, and only breathing comfortably out of my right side (which is the side where I broke my ribs, which makes sense), though I did try to breathe out of my left as well (not enough strength to pull with my right arm/back AND breathe out of the left side).  Really stretching in the water and making myself as "long" or "tall" as possible is still a little uncomfortable, so I just tried to focus on my stroke form and entry.  I did about 30 minutes at 3/4 my normal pace, and did ok.  I also got on my bike on the CT ... and while the aero position was not comfortable for an extended period of time, I was able to ride for 45 minutes, get the old HR up past 130, and average about 175 watts for the full 45 minutes.  I would sit up about every 5-7 minutes and get up on the bars.  Definately progress; but still too early to push myself.

I will definately post some pictures now that I have sort of figured out how to do that.  My blog layout is ugly.  I'm such an amateur at this, but I will figure it out.  My profile picture is like 1,000 times too big here, and I cannot figure out how to size it down some.  Unfortunately, I don't have the most current pictures of Elin on this computer, so I will update this blog later with recent pictures of her and Juliet.  Maybe even of the one of her crashed in her stroller today, walking home from the cafe after her little playgroup!!

Each Day a little better...and I discover the power of the blog land...

Today was jammed.  Early morning video conference.  Then, the rest of the day in a meeting with the Agency.  Tense discussions.  Good debates.  Some great advertising from different parts of the world.  Dinner out (sushi -- yum!)  Came home dog-tired.  Then, there was Elin, our little ten month old soooo happy to see me!!  "Why am I working" I think to myself?  Sometimes I just wish I could stay home all day and just play with her.

But, the big surprise in my day was logging on and seeing all of the really nice, uplifting comments on my blog!!  It made my day hearing from other athletes -- mostly all other athletes coached by Jen -- offering encouragement.  Man, did that make my day!!

Before I hired Jen as my coach, I probably interviewed and talked with at least a half dozen coaches.  One or two "local ones" and some as far away as Singapore (where I used to live) and even New Zealand.  Ah, the power of the internet -- who cares where your coach lives as long as we've got TP and the internet?  I was literally about to lock and load on a coach when, the night before, somehow (I don't even really remember how), I stumbled on to Jen's website.  I sent her an email that night and when I woke up the next morning at 5:30 am to go for a bike ride, there was already an answer.  We talked on the phone later that day, and I hired her on the spot.

Why on the spot, when I had interviewed (and slept on, mulled over and pondered) at least a half dozen other coaches?  Well, the first thing that struck me was how she made a "community" out of her athletes.  I read a bunch of your blogs ... and it was just "cool" how she had formed a community around her of like-minded people from all walks of life with one passion:  triathlons, and that kind of multi-sport lifestyle.  Second, when Jen and I talked on the phone, she totally "got it" about my needs -- I didn't need to completely spell it all out.  Third, with a job where I travel a lot (about 50%) and all over the world, she convinced me that she could be flexible, and work with what is available to me for training, when I'm out in the middle of no-where's-ville with only a treadmill to train on.

And, it's been great.  While it's only been a few months; and I've been injured part of it -- she put together a great training plan for me while I couldn't run with the stress fracture; and she's "been there" as a source of encouragement as I've been healing my broken ribs.  I KNOW that I will come back stronger...in part because she is telling me I will (and I'll hold her to it).

But, the really neat thing that happened tonight, as I opened my blog...was I got connected to all of you, who also gave me encouragement or shared your stories of injury and recovery with me.  It's NOT been easy not being able to workout the last few weeks.  It has been agony.  It was really hard to miss the last few tris of the season because of the stress fracture; and missing Berlin because of the broken ribs.  But, hearing some of the other stories, and reading some of the other blogs of what others are going through puts the broken ribs in to perspective.  I loved reading some of the other blogs tonight...and now I see how blogging can become so addictive.  I felt connected to others in Jen's circle of athletes, lots of similarities and shared ups and downs.

In a few weeks, I will be back.  I am lucky.  We are lucky.  We have our health, and even though I might be temporarily sidelined with a few rib fractures, I will bounce back strong.  And, we're also lucky to have a coach who pushes us and also reassures us and encourages us along the way.  Thanks to everyone who has left me encouragement the last day or two ... it was great to get your support!!

First workout ... the journey back begins slowly...

Well, after the failed attempt at working out on my bike on Sunday, I gave it a few more days and made another attempt at working up a sweat, and getting my HR above 60. 

Success!!  After talking with the physical therapist I've used before, and his suggestion to try either the eliptical or the stair master, I gave the eliptical a try (the one where you DO NOT use your arms...just hold on tight and pedal basically).  Success!!  Initially the breathing was a little tough once my HR got up above 100, but I finally got to a place where I could do intervals and get my HR up around 140, hold it for a few minutes, recover around 120, then back up to 140 -- not very different than when I run, though I'm sure really only using a few muscles in my legs in this case.  But, I did 40 minutes, with an average HR of 125, my shirt was wet, and I had a big ol' grin on my face at the end. 

It's not 10K at a 7:15 pace.  But, it IS progress!! 

Unfortunately, I got back to the office, and within ten minutes, I had to sneeze, reminding me (as if I needed it) that my ribs are STILL not fully healed.  At least it happened after my workout!

But, it did feel GREAT to workout, sweat a little, get the HR beating again, and put smelly, stinky, wet gym clothes back in to my workout bag!!  Hopefully it won't be long and I'll be able to do more.  For now, anything with the upper body is still a little scary.  I'm even afraid of someone bumping in to me in the mall or something.  I don't know how football players come back after broken ribs and play after two or three weeks??  I guess maybe if I were getting a million dollars a game, maybe I could too ... but honestly the thought of getting slammed right now with the ribs feeling the way they do makes my skin crawl. 

I know I sound totally fixated on my ribs and getting back to my regular routine.  I must say that I am feeling a little bit better every day.  However, the nights, and sleeping, are still very difficult.  It is still painful to lay on my side (either side, though the "good" side is ironically more painful than the "bad" side, my theory being that when my "bad" side is down, there is less "bend" and pressure on the back, muscles and ribs on that side).  And, I'm not, by nature, a "back" sleeper -- so after a few hours on my back, my entire backside is sore and ready for a change.   Unfortunately, I have nothing comfortable to "change to" ... I can't sleep on my stomach, and it's still too painful to sleep on the side.  So I get up, walk around, rub my butt some, and climb back in to bed, sometimes propping myself up on an extra pillow or two so as to at least change the position and put pressure on different spots on my butt and back. 

But, I can tell climbing in and out of bed that I am making progress.  Slowly.  But, progress is progress.  I keep telling myself it has only been a little more than two weeks.  They said one to two months.  I'm probably on track for something around one month, I hope.  And, if I can start mixing in a little eliptical trainer, and maybe stairmaster, and soon my bike, then I'll eventually be ok. 

Berlin -- Not there but wish I was

Well, the other downside of these broken ribs is that I was supposed to be in Berlin this weekend to run the Berlin Marathon with my youngest son, Keith (22).  He ran it and had a pretty good race, though he said it was hot and sunny the entire way.  He ran a 3:26 and change, only a minute or so faster than Boston.  I'm sure that the heat was a factor.  I can't wait to catch up with him via Skype here in a little bit (I hope).

It is a beautiful, sunny, Fall day in Boston.  I'm just back from a really nice walk with Juliet and Elin around the South End.  We stopped at the Espresso place/coffee shop up on Columbus and W. Springfield and had a cup of coffee and sat on their deck.  It was really nice.  That, after stopping in the park for Elin to play in the playground.  She is still a little gun-shy of the swing, not quite sure what to make of this feeling of being "suspended" above the ground, kind of dangling there.

I talked with Keith on Skype and heard all about the race.  Thanks to Greg at work, somehow Keith got the "VIP" treatment at the race.  He met the race director; also met the race director of the London Marathon; and got to line up for the race with the Elite Athletes, using the "elite tent" before the race.  He started just behind Haille -- but says in hindsight maybe that wasn't so smart since he went out too fast.  But, still what a great experience.  They replaced his number with an "Elite" bib (with his name, "KEITH" across the bib, instead of an actual number!)  Pretty amazing experience for a second-time marathoner and someone running in the middle of the pack.  He said the heat, sun, lack of water the first 5 km, all had an effect.  Plus probably still being jet-lagged; being on his feet too much yesterday with his friends sightseeing around Berlin, etc.  Anyway, just to finish is great.  To finish with a time faster than Boston, all things considered, is even better.  Couldn't ask for more.  Tomorrow he flies down to Florence, where he studied his sophmore year, to visit friends and professors/advisors from the Program. That will be fun for him.

Today, I'm going to TRY to ride my computrainer, easy.  I need to at least try it and see how it goes, even though the ribs and back are still bothering me.  Last night I slept on one side (ironically, it's the "bad" side that I can sleep on, I guess because it stays relatively "flat" against the bed -- when I tried sleeping on the "good" side -- just too painful) so ... well...I will see how the CT goes while I watch a little of the Patriots game (against the Jets) on TV.  I won't break any speed records, or watt output -- just an easy spin for 30-45 minutes so I don't make it worse, but so I can get a little sweat going and feel like I got my HR up above 100.

Well...hahahaha...I DID try to ride my bike.  I think I managed about two or three minutes.  I just couldn't comfortably get in to the aero position.  Too much "stretch" in the upper body, and I think supporting my weight on my forearms, in that stretch, just required too much from my back muscles.  It's just not worth taking the risk or either extending the injury, or making it worse.  So, I'll give it a few more days, and then try again.  Maybe on my road bike, in less of an aero position, it might be better?  I have to remind myself that it's still only been just over two weeks...and a month is probably the earliest I'll really be able to manage.  I'm just going crazy though....

After trying to ride, I checked out the Berlin Marathon on video on the internet.  Prior to the race, they had video of the elite athletes warming up, as they ran "to" the starting line, in reverse from the course.  There was Keith!!  Amazing, running there with all of the elite athletes warming up.  And, then at the start of the race, we could easily see him at the start -- he had a great place, considering there were probably 30-40,000 people running the race!!  And he starts within two seconds of Haile!!  Incredible.

I'm downloading a few hours worth of video of Elin from this summer.  I'll make a few videos of her tonight and hopefully get a few posted.  She is so cute ... she was watching the marathon video with Juliet and me and she kept getting excited, jumping up and down!!  So cute.  

Broken Ribs

Saturday, September 19

I'm really starting to go crazy. Two weeks ago I took a bad fall and broke three ribs. It could have been a lot worse -- I was lucky. Like a lot of accidents, this one can be chalked up to stupidity, and loss of focus. I've been asked if it was a bad bike fall. I wish. It might have been easier to deal with the recovery if it was done "in the heat of battle" during a race, or something. No, I fell -- about ten feet off of a seawall in Plymouth, watching my son do his first olympic distance triathlon (which he placed fourth in his age group!)

It's been two weeks now, and my back and side are still very sore. While I can bend and move around reasonably ok, it is still wicked painful to cough, sneeze, burp and, worst of all: sleep. The only position in bed I can be comfortable in is flat on my back. I'm normally a side sleeper, and it hurts (too much) to sleep on either side. And, forget about sleeping on my stomach. One, I can't do it. Two, I can't get comfortable there, either. So, I sleep as much as I can on my back. The first ten days I had to take morphine the pain was so bad. Actually, the first five or six days, I couldn't get IN or OUT of bed without help. Anything that engaged any of the muscles in my back, which includes lying down or getting up out of bed (but also includes standing up after going to the toilet; pulling up your pants after the same act; putting on shoes, etc etc) I just couldn't do without some help. I was going crazy.

Then about a week ago I was able to start moving a little better. In fact, during the day, when I am moving, it's really not too terrible. Unless I cough. Or sneeze. And, then I'm reminded that I have a few broken ribs. Two days ago I was thinking to myself "I think today or tomorrow I might be able to try to do a light spin on the computrainer." Two minutes later, while drinking some water, I sort of gagged, went in to a coughing spasm...and the pain was so intense. I was like "um, nope, not going to be riding for another few days."

The worst part is doing nothing. I've been recovering from a stress fracture in my right foot. So, I haven't been running in now eight weeks (it was six weeks at the time of the fall). At least with the stress fracture I was still able to swim, ride, even lift weights. With this -- NOTHING. I can't do anything right now. And, it is really, really starting to drive me crazy!! Ugh.

I've missed three triathlons because of the stress fracture: Timberman half IM; a sprint tri in Sharon, Mass; and then the Plymouth Tri (Olympic distance) two weekends ago, when I fell as a spectator. And, this weekend, I'm missing running in the Berlin Marathon. My son said the broken ribs were God's way of keeping myself from tempting myself to run Berlin after being on the sidelines for six weeks with the stress fracture. I might have tried it -- he is right. It wouldn't have been fun; it probably would have been ugly. But, it was going to be a father-son bonding trip to Berlin, run the marathon together; both try to qualify for Boston '10. The broken ribs made it no question i wasn't doing it this year!

So, I guess on the flip side -- the good news is that I have (1) started to clean up my desk at home; (2) started a blog, which never would have happened in a million years if I weren't injured; (3) have even started reading BOOKS again. And, best of all, I guess, is I have been able to spend more time with my wife and little baby girl the last two weeks -- and I sure can't complain about that.

Jen (my coach) has been great at keeping me motivated and looking forward to getting back. As I've told many people about my accident (1) it was only due to my own stupidity; (2) it could have been a LOT worse (eg fatal if I had landed a little differently); (3) they are only broken ribs -- they WILL heal and I WILL be back. Hopefully...really, really soon!!!