devashish_paul wrote:
There are a lot of "TAKERS" who just go and log in the challenge, but never 'give back' and encourage others. We have 700+, and maybe only 50 actually talking about training. If no one is talking about training or racing, then in this context this challenge and any virtual camp may as well not exist.
So can you guys post about your workouts please and not just log in the spreadsheet?
Ok...so here's my why. Its not as inspirational as getting run over by a bus, but it will have to do....
In 2006 while making my first attempt at training for IM, I was "undiagnosed" with some strange condition in my feet. It felt a lot like plantar faciitis (or a similar connective tissue overuse type of injury), but there were several differences noted by the various doctors that I visited over the course of 2 years. The pain was debilitating, and all thoughts of tension through the lower leg/foot anterior chain were ill conceived. I couldn't pedal, run, or even walk very much....standing was limited to about 3 minutes at a time. The constant overstimulation of my nerves caused constant risk of cramping in my calves, feet, and toes. Any attempt to point my toes while swimming quickly resulted in such cramps.
Over the course of two years I saw 3 internists, 2 foot/ankle orthopedists, 2 neurologists, an endocrinologist, 2 podiatrists, and countless PT sessions. I had every treatment you can imagine stopping just short of any type of surgical intervention. Given that no one had a definitive positive diagnosis I declined to let anyone cut into my feet to do "something". I did have high-intensity ultra-sould as a last ditch attempt to treat it as PF. For those that don't know...it's similar to the effect of someone repeatedly slapping the bottoms of your feet HARD with a principals paddle (form the 70s). That's exactly how I felt when I woke up, and for several days afterwards.
No one every truly figured out what was wrong, and no one ever found a treatment that made any difference. In 2008, I retreated from any thought of returning to endurance sports and looked for more foot friendly ways to occupy my time---car racing. That's great fun, but it makes the expenses of even the most extravagant triathlete seem miniscule.
Fast forward, 8 years. By 2015, I'd gained 60 lbs and was up to a lifetime high of 210 lbs. I was put on blood pressure, and cholesterol meds...and I had borderline high fasted blood glucose. Something had to change. I decided to refocus on my health. I lost the weight over a period of 9 months. I mostly did walking, and just a tiny bit of cycling. My feet were still very sensitive and would frequently cramp up, but I kept at it. I secretly tried a little run/walk. Something like 30s run every 5 minutes. As the weight came off, the feet seemed to bother me less. I was actually able to pedal with some force without suffering major pain in my feet. I was up to running 4 out of 5 minutes.
Anyway, by June of 2016 I was back down to 155 lbs, and was able to run for 20 minutes or so, and bike for maybe an hour. After the car racing season ended I decided to see if I could really do some running, and biking of a more serious nature. Things went ok, and so I tried a little swimming. Again, all ok. So, in the fall of 2016 I got a Garmin 920xt...and announced my intention to return to triathlon to my wife and family. I trained through the winter, and all of 2017. I successfully raced my first triathlon in September 2017 (a local Oly Distance)....14 years after first having the idea (back when Gordo world, and Crucible Fitness were the shiz-nizzle, and it was called trainingbible.com).
Anyway, I found my way to ST in Feb 2017 while the 100/100 was going on. I wasn't quite ready for it then, but I found it inspiring...and planned on doing it over 2017/2018. That didn't work out, because I developed a sports hernia in my final race of 2017...and spent the entire winter and spring of 2018 rehabbing from it.
I restarted run training in 2018 following barryP, and rebuilt my volume according to that plan. I set countless run PRs through the fall and early winter, and have cruised into the 100/100 challenge ready to go. 11 years ago, I seriously believed that I would NEVER run again, and pretty sure I would never ride a bike again. I tried several times during the intervening years with abject failure every time. I don't know what changed in the last few years....but, I'm excited to be back at it entering my 3rd year back in the sport.
So, here I am in 2019 and have joined the 100/100 challenge. I'm currently at 23/25...and I'm planning to double again tonight bringing me to 96% completed through the first 1/4 of the challenge. The legs feel surprisingly good after doubling yesterday, and running today at lunch---as do the feet. I entered the challenge hoping to manage 80+. But, today....I'm looking at 100+ and feeling good about my chances.
