Sunday, September 3, 2017

All Green Lights........

Image result for discoid meniscus
Hey Coach, update from the bench. Dr Musgrove is very happy with the results, says if I were a pro athlete he'd play me this weekend 😳. So I guess I'm ready to get off the bench Coach, except that I woke up with the flu this morning and very well might be dead by the weekend!

Says that my D shaped meniscus is now a C shape after he cut away the tear and he was totally surprised at the lack of swelling when he examined my knee. Says he wishes he could claim credit for that but says I'm lucky. I had a ganglion in the back of my knee he suspects from a previous injury. I think possibly when I fell last time on that knee, he says the ganglion was getting in the way so he removed it..

I'm feeling really good on the knee, better than pre op with no pain except for locally behind where the stitches were.

Dr Musgrove says back to swim, bike, cross trainer, 6 weeks look at running stuff. Of course we are in no screaming hurry for that, plenty of time. Onward and upward for the come back kid. 👍
 

Friday, August 25, 2017

A Stitch in Time........

A week down already. Happy to say the foot is planted firmly on the ground and I am walking a whole heap better. So happy too because the butt/glute and the calf were experiencing a couple of tight spots because of the limping. Stretching was problematic as I couldn't straighten the leg fully. But I think the mobility is getting a lot better. Anyway, all that matters is I have made positive moves forward.

Today was another physio session and Coach offered to remove the stitches. I just nodded and continued the conversation, which was going 100 miles an hour and filled with laughter, as usual. I have to say my physio treatment is good for body, mind and soul and if we can throw a little triathlon in there occasionally, well, I aint complaining. So, a nice way to finish the work week and an early finish. Now for a movie and a square of dark chocolate..

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Back at the Starting Blocks Once Again..........

Ahhh  That moment when you knew it was time to hit the showers, cause Coach had blown the proverbial whistle and pointed in the general direction of home...
 
That familiar feeling of sitting on the bench waiting to be called into the game.....
 
That final green light moment when you have finally sorted some shit out and brushed yourself off and know you need to get ready..... TO GET BACK IN THE GAME!
 
IT'S DAY ONE....... Of the best Come Back story you are going to see for a while. Big hype for a little girl, I know. Hey Someone has to do the dreaming, so may as well be me, I say.
 
Quick recap.
 
Since December 9, 2016 I have been hobbling around with a torn meniscus to the left knee after a fall while out for a training run. Damn tree seed pods rolled under my foot and brought me down like a tonne of bricks. From there it has been a solid 9 months trying to rehab the knee. To no avail, and so 3 days ago I went under the knife and had the ol' pesky cartilage cleaned up.

Insert cool post op photos. (And sneaky cute smooshy, puppy face)
 







So sexy, matches the other scar from a few years back and another fall. I was feeling pretty darn good prior to that fall too, just quietly. Darn it! And the other knee is pretty much the same.

So now it is a waiting game for the stitches to come out. But already, day 3 and I am walking around and putting weight on the foot. No crutches or pain killers required. Because I am a tough ol' bird and that's how I roll AND I can better use the Panadeine Forte for during the Ironman race. shhhhhh don't tell anyone the 'Come Back Kid' plan includes another I.M bid......



Sunday, July 2, 2017

She Reins Supreme........

I saw QueenB this morning. Arghhhhh she looks amazing. Good on her. Easily a size 10 and probably weighing about 62kgs. She looks fit, taught and terrific. Meanwhile, I sit here eating dinner and my belly is pushing my boobs up under my chin. Oh my! She was spruiking about signing up for I.M Cairns. Oh way to rub it in!

I saw the incredible and stunning Ms Onions this morning. She dropped by with some Kombucha for Big Gazza. She looks amazing having lost around 30kgs now. All of which has landed on my lower back and a$$.

Big Gazza has lost 3kgs after a painful stint in hospital with Diverticulitis. Luckily, I found it, picked it up and attached it to my arms.

Seriously though, what the hell. No running is an obvious weight gainer for me. But it seems almost out of my control now. While everyone around me seems to be dropping weight, I am finding it and putting in it my purse. Something needs to change significantly.

Sunday, June 25, 2017

Back on the Road.......

So this morning I woke up at 4:45am. I was awake so rather than go back to sleep for an hour and 15minutes, I got up. I decided to join the 5am club earlier this year after listening to Robin Sharma tell me of all the benefits. And I have to say I agree. One of the biggest changes has been to my sleep. I can now say...95% of the time I sleep through the night in a solid block. Years, I tell ya, years! since I have slept like this. So 5am it is, or just before. It's such a productive time, I did some study and then Big Gazza got up at 6am and we started our day.

The aim originally was to have the gang ride together. It was such a shame not to have everyone together. Roberto pulled the pin in the morning after a big night on the wine....someone has to intervene here, I think. And MrsS and The Mountain Goat stayed close to home and went out a little later in the day.

So it was just me, Big Gazza, The Onion Man and The Plasma. The boys seemed to be doing it easy, while I huffed and puffed along behind them. I felt like I was riding hard the whole way, not shattered, but working hard. A couple of small hills saw me dropped out the back :( But it was over before too long and we finished with 52kms. Yep, a whole 52kms!

Its interesting to watch the body work sometimes, the body does its thing and yep, it might be groaning and creaking from lack of use, fair enough. But the mind is such a sabotaging bitch sometimes. Wow, such a great positive reinforcement of ones abilities......boo hoo let's stop, this hurts, I don't want to do it anymore, why does it have to be so cold, aren't you to old for this? Shouldn't you be in bed. That kind of sabotage. You would think that at least your own brain would work and be on your side. I mean geez, you need a bestie at times and you can't even rely on yourself!

Having listened to Tony Robbins now I understand that the brain is wired for negativity as a defence system in case there is a lion in the bushes, so be on guard, everything just might eat you. Knowing this now, makes me understand and able to deal with it a bit better. Still doesn't come easy when you are hurting and the boys are pulling away up the hill. But awareness is the beginning of change hey.

So now I have to decide what to do next weekend. Head North with Coach. He wants me to go and I think I should, its just that I am embarrassingly under prepared and its going to hurt. I haven't ridden North for such a long time and yes it will be cold. Geez, there's that Bitch again!!!

I'll keep you posted.  

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Baby Elephant Chunks...........

So the come back has started. A great couple of swims so that this morning I felt pretty comfortable throughout the entire 3km set. I have made a date with The Onion Man now a few times and I have really enjoyed swimming with him. He laps me every 6-8 laps so I try hard to be aware and keep left for him. He is an amazing swimmer. The commitment to meet up with him has seen me getting out of bed with enthusiasm. I'm missing Roberto like mad, but hopefully we will have him back on the road soon. But The Onion Man keeps me honest too. He doesn't stop swimming until I have my set done. So for my 3kms he has easily done 3.5 to 4ks.

I had another fun session with the music on blast with good mate MrsS. She needed a push to get started and admittedly so did I. So when the tunes started pumping through the speakers and the lights of the Rave playing on the TV started flashing, I found the old spark and enthusiasm. We had a good laugh and because its winter I turned the heater on and so before too long we were sweating buckets in the dark and counting down the minutes with each set. Well, 1:15mins later and the buddy had to dash off and I was left feeling relaxed and happy. Happy to be back in the saddle.

The diet has been hit and miss for a while. Mostly 80/20 clean so not too bad, but no weight loss. But I have been reading Tony Robbins' book, Awaken the Giant Within. Tony prompts that while not easy, we simply need to make a decision. What ever it is, just decide. Transfer the decision to discipline and make good practice a habit. I had success with this with the 5am club of which I am now no longer a rookie trial member, but have signed up, subscribed and now a valued member of the 5am club. And, I have successfully rewired my neural pathways so that now, for the first time in so many years, I am sleeping through the night. It stands to reason that I can choose another thing I would like to change about me, make a decision, decide, apply discipline and subscribe until it becomes a habit. While I can't take on the whole list (as Big Gazza says the list is soooo long) I can choose the top couple to focus on. So the 'to do' list is diet and TV. (Next blog stay tuned)

Meanwhile,
Next step.... hmm, the road back to Triathlete has so many options. Let's see. I think importantly, I need to get back out on the road again. Find some hills. But first a cruise around the bock would be good too.

I heard something that stuck with me today from a Blog

The excuses you make are lies; and are apparent to everyone else but you!

Monday, June 12, 2017

Bottom of the Barrell........

Today, I have decided, is the bottom of the barrell. It's by no means the lowest of the low. But, it certainly is scraping knuckles on pavement, life sux kind of bottom of the barrel.

A quick recap. Not much to say other than, no serious training for 6 months now. Its just over 6 months since I tore the meniscus in my left knee. And now I am struggling to be able to fully straighten my knee. I can't lie on my stomach as it hurts my knee and can't stand on one leg or even stand on both for very long. Concerning, even if I wasn't planning on making a triumphant return to Ironman, it's no way to spend my normal life. I have considered taking up darts, but I don't think I'd be even be able to stand at the bar for a beer right now. Time to change it up.

A quick phone call with Coach who suggested I revisit the surgeon and get the knee cleaned up. So a phone call tomorrow to book an appointment is the first job. Nuts! I feel like I don't have a lot of time to spend waiting for things like this to happen. While others might say, you have all the time in the world. I feel like my triathlon career has an end date and I have a real sense of urgency to get back.

Having said that though, I feel I could as easily curl up in a ball and go to sleep. No activity makes me slow down and yes, its winter and I can bleat on for hours about how winter sux and I struggle and my body wants to hibernate. I think I have been writing this blog for some 8 years or so now and you will find a similar post each year somewhere in the archives related to this seasonal adjustment disorder I get. I try to think of the folk living in extreme cold climates and think how lucky I am to have such a mild place to see out my winter, but bah humbug!

Anyway, I have all of the systems, processes, tools, resources and warm clothes at my disposal to get back. But right now I have to be the most unconditioned I have been ever! Even before I took up Triathlon and running. That's why the bottom of the barrel reference. "Then I'm down in the bottom of a pit in the blazing sun." Yes, I know, always so dramatic.

So what ya going to do about it Sammi?

Well, focus on what I can do and can control. Make adjustments as required AND, get ready for the biggest come back of the millennia.....

Friday, March 3, 2017

Eeyore vs Tigger

I firmly believe there are two types of people in this world.

Eeyore and Tigger

Eeeyores or Tiggers.
 
Each has a different view on the world.
 
one has an outlook that is sunny, positive, up beat, loves life and bounces into their day. Just like Tigger.
 
And then there are those that sit back, and are slow to see the positive, worry about what might happen, approach life with a steady hand, some trepidation, or like to keep their feet planted on the ground. ol' mate, Eeyore.

Both are loveable characters otherwise A.A. Milne would never have brought them to life in his books and we would never have fallen in love with them.
 
I like to see myself as a Tigger. I'm bouncing into my day with gusto and enthusiasm. Life is fun! Life is a party, you just need to find the lemonade in every part of your day. I tell my team that we are in the business of squeezing lemons to make lemonade while the sun shines. Sure, sometimes the lemon gets added to a gin and tonic and sometimes we just need to suck on a lemon. But for the most part, I love lemonade.
 
 I hope that makes sense. It does to me anyway.
 
So, being a Tigger, I find it somewhat tedious and tiresome when I run into an Eeyore. They are hard work. Grumbling through life in a slow methodical way. Not really looking up and over the next tussock of grass in the field to see the wonderful sunset. I have to apply a lot of energy and effort to the relationship and often will grow tired of bouncing to share my energy and get any kind of response out of them. I wonder sometimes if they are even alive. What matters to them? Are they just existing? I find it hard to believe that people can mosey through life, while I am riding the roller-coaster waving both hands in the air....weeeeeee.
 
So anyway, this little Tigger is feeling a little Eeyore creeping inside. A bit woe-is-me about the knees. These tears are not getting any better. I got to the point of everyday life with out pain. And then could swim and bike without any pain during or after and found my kick again in the pool last Monday night at squad training. Then Coach said try a run. Well 43secs into the run and a sharp pain hit the knee. ok, stop. Pull up and walk all 50 metres home, aching ever since. I know I will get back to where I was and will be able to swim and bike again soon. But its now been 3 months. I'm losing my bounce and just going at it with a slow methodical, oh well, maybe this is never going to get better attitude. I don't like this Eeyore attitude in me.
 
I seriously hope that a year from now when I read this blog I will be able to laugh at myself and say "come on ol' girl, get up and bounce."
 
On the inside there is a Tigger just coiled, ready to spring back into life. I'm getting tired of the woe-is-me attitude so trying to keep a sunny attitude. But its hard after finally getting back to running 10kms and doing hill repeats and finally enjoying my running again, to be whacked again by an injury. A stupid injury too. Its Wollongong Tri this weekend and the gang are all racing AND to read that 'The Buzzard' is putting out on F.B that she is considering Busselton, is just rubbing salt in Tigger's eyes. T-I, double guh, err.

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Yo, Over here....I'm over here......

NO, I haven't shut up shop. I'm still here.

December 6 2016, saw me tear the meniscus in two place on my left knee. From then until now it has been a slow recovery, MRIs and a resting bitch face that wont leave!

So where we are we at?

More determined than ever! Can I run another marathon? That's the million dollar question I guess.

I asked myself a question. What was working or what worked once upon a time, that I can bring back now and use. Sure, a lot of things have failed, or I grew bored. But there were a lot of things that did work. I only really realised they worked when they stopped being present. So, I have been dialling in a few things that worked previously over the last months while I have been rehabbing the knee.

  • I have pulled out the old training diary again and started to keep track of my progress, mood, energy, soreness, stress etc.
  • I have returned to Genesis gym. Close to home, 24/7. Its changed a lot but for the better, the gym seems more flexible. You can move weights about without fear of getting frowned at.
  • I have gone back to the Dietitian and have been staying off the scales and on the Dexa scans.
  • I have signed in to a Challenge to keep me focused and driven. I know now that I need to do 6 months hard work to get back to my race weight and reset the set-point for my weight. Slowly heading down again.
  • I am tracking my macros so I can keep my protein up.
  • Gone back to Vicki's stretch class, an hour and a half of sustained stretching. Of course the knees and wrists are cranky as.

new stuff to though:

  • Up at 5am every morning regardless
  • Listening to motivational podcasts
  • Also decided to throw in full-time study on top of everything else. Just to keep it interesting.
I'll keep you posted.