Feeling Discouraged

[HillSlugger]

I got it into my mind to do a triathlon and have set my sights on the Iron Girl Columbia Triathlon on August 19. I've also signed up for another triathlon with a 300m pool swim as a lead up to the Iron Girl.

I started running in October and have been posting nearly continuous improvement each time out but last week I experienced right ankle pain after running. I didn't knowingly twist it or anything so I figure I had an overuse injury. I did the R.I.C.E. therapy and ibuprofen and also added Superfeet green insoles to my running shoes. I did my first run today and have not had any ankle pain. However, halfway into my run I started feeling like the insole was cutting into my right foot on the inside of the arch, Now I have a blister and don't know what to do about my shoes or insoles.

I went to the pool in November and discovered that I'm a poorer swimmer than I had thought. I found a swim coach and started weekly sessions with her in December. She has me using fins to improve my kick. I feel speedy with them on but rolling to breathe feels like a major effort and I often get tired and lose my coordination. Without the fins I feel like I'm barely moving. We took two weeks off over the holidays and were scheduled to swim this last Wednesday. However, she's in the hospital and probably won't get back to coaching for a few weeks. I went to swim anyway on Wednesday and feel like I lost almost everything I had learned. I've become completely unnerved about being able to do the swims.

I've got 6 and 7 months until my events, but right now, between the swimming and my foot/running problem, I'm feeling like Iron Girl (or any Triathlon) is a crazy dream and that I've wasted my money on entry feels and equipment.

How to I regain some confidence?

[Bikingmomof3]

I do not have any words of wisdom since my tri will not be until 2008. I am sure the tri girls will ahve a lot of encouraging words for you.

[rocknrollgirl]

DO NOT GET DOWN!!!!!

You can do this. My event is scheduled for may 20th. I have been down and out for the past week with a chiropractic neck injury and now I think I have strep throat.
Your foot WILL get better, your swim strokes WILL improve. I WILL get better, and be back to training asap.

You/ We have plenty of time to get ready.

WE CAN DO THIS!!!!

WE CAN DO THIS!!!!

I just can 't get in to my freakin' wetsuit!!!!!

Ruth

[Thorn]

Just keep swimming. I refuse to believe that your swimming style is worse than mine was before my first triathlon. Really, I was the kid that the high school teacher would toss in the pool to demonstrate to all the other girls how *not* to do a swimming stroke. I'll never be a beautiful swimmer, but I worked hard to just be bad, not abysmal and...I'm darn proud of that level!

So, make a list of the things you need to improve on with your stroke. Pick one and concentrate on that one thing. When you find yourself doing it without thinking, pick another one to work on. One thing at a time. Sure, in the meantime you may be inefficient, but you'll be exercising and improving. When your coach comes back she can help you do a better job of refinement and, who knows, by then, maybe you'll have permanently crossed off a thing or two.

But, get in the water, woman! Learning a skill takes time--put in the time and you will see improvement.

[Offthegrid]

Do NOT let the swim keep you from entering this event. Don't worry about it. I mean, get in the pool at least 2-3 times/week, but don't worry about your speed, etc. You will survive the swim. Repeat after me: You will survive the swim. It may not be pretty, it may not be fast, it may be tediously painful at times, but you will survive the swim.

Then you'll kick some serious butt on the bike.

[KSH]

Do not give up.

Where to start?

You have many months to prepare. Put in the time and practice... and you will get there.

Keep working with different inserts/etc. in your shoes. You will find the *perfect* combo at some point.

Also, how are your socks? Poor quality socks not make for running or to prevent blisters... will cause blisters in a heartbeat.

I would also say not to get too concerned about pain from one run. Your ankle pain might have been a one-off, and maybe putting the insoles in your shoes... didn't really help you. I only say this, because sometimes... you will just get weird pains from running. One day my knee might bother me... and it doesn't even again.

You can do this. Stay focused.

I was out all last year, because of a running injury, but I told myself that one day I would run again... and I would compete again. I'm running again... and up to 4 miles at a time. Sure, it's not without pain... but I'm learning how to manage my pain and difference between pain and suffering.

Good luck!

[tygab]

DO NOT GET DOWN!!!!!

You can do this. My event is scheduled for may 20th. I have been down and out for the past week with a chiropractic neck injury and now I think I have strep throat.
Your foot WILL get better, your swim strokes WILL improve. I WILL get better, and be back to training asap.

You/ We have plenty of time to get ready.

WE CAN DO THIS!!!!

WE CAN DO THIS!!!!

I just can 't get in to my freakin' wetsuit!!!!!

Ruth

This is making me feel better too. I had to take this week off too for a myriad of reasons. At this moment, I'm sitting here thinking, 'gawwwsh tomorrow's going to seem bad at the gym' because of the disruption versus 'I can't wait to go tomorrow!'

Down with negativity! oh wait... um. let's try...

I can do this! WE CAN DO THIS!

At least I am registered for *something* now (the PMC). Still need to register for my races and tris tho.

[Edit, I also have been telling myself, it is still JANUARY, despite what it feels like here, so it's not that big a deal yet.]

[rocknrollgirl]

Well, back from the doc, I do not have strep, but I do have a bacterial infection in my throat...going around school. I feel fine, I just can't swallow. Doc says low level training is ok...no fever or congestion, but it looks like rain here all weekend. That made my chiropractor happy. More time off the mt bike for my neck.

So I can't swallow food...but can I get into my wetsuit???

how long until May 20th???

WE CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


where is the wine?? who took the wine????

[tygab]

Well, back from the doc, I do not have strep, but I do have a bacterial infection in my throat...going around school. I feel fine, I just can't swallow. Doc says low level training is ok...no fever or congestion, but it looks like rain here all weekend. That made my chiropractor happy. More time off the mt bike for my neck.

So I can't swallow food...but can I get into my wetsuit???

how long until May 20th???

WE CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


where is the wine?? who took the wine????

I have plenty of wine! We even have cheese and crackers, yum! Sounds like a great idea!

Glad to hear on the no-strep verdict. Take it easy, you do not need to stress yourself too much! We will ALL BE FINE!

[KnottedYet]

Hillslug - if you pronate so badly that you get a blister from a neutral footbed, you might want to consider exercises to strengthen the foot. (that would help your ankle, because the "stirrup" muscles wouldn't be trying to hold your arch up) You may also need a lower profile footbed, like the blue Superfeet, if you are irritated on both feet. The shop that fitted you for the insoles should take responsibility for the fit.

don't give up on neutral footbeds yet. make sure you have good socks. And try a couple basic foot exercises once a day. But if the exercises HURT or CAUSE DISTRESS, DON'T DO THEM!!!

FIST AND SPLAY - make a tight tight fist with your toes. Hold for 10 seconds. Splay your toes out as widely as you can, get some air between them. Hold for 10 seconds. Do 10 times each foot.

*If your intrinsic foot muscles are very weak, you might get some cramping. If that happens just make softer fists and less-wide splays.

HEEL AND TOE LIFTS -stand at the kitchen counter, holding it for balance. Slowly rise up onto your toes. Pause. Slowly lower back down. Do 10 times. Then slowly lift your toes off the floor, so you are standing only on your heels. Pause. Slowly lower back down. Do 10 times.

*Watch out for the tendency for you body to want to do this fast so it can use big muscles and momentum. You want to give all the little dudes involved in every aspect of the motion the chance to join in!

THREE POINT FOOT - stand in front of a mirror, and look at your feet. Slowly roll your weight onto the outsides of your feet and pay close attention to how it looks and how it feels. Slowly roll your weight onto the insides and see how it looks and feels. Then try to find the weight balance where you feel equal pressure on the ball of the big toe, the ball of the pinky toe, and the heel. (your 3 points) Your arch should be nice and arch-like and your shins should look like they're centered right over each foot. Hold that for 30 seconds. Do 3 or 4 times.

*This is a tricky one, because you will feel like there is too much weight on the pinky toe if you're used to pronating, but the foot and shin will look good in the mirror. If that happens, go by the mirror.

There are some really good exercises for the hip muscles to help you keep the entire leg aligned. They take more explanation. If you're interested, PM me.

If you don't like these exercises, don't do them! If you keep having trouble, please go see a sports med physical therapist.

[Wahine]

So, I second everything that Knott said because she's my new hero.

The thing that I would add is that triathlon trianing is tough. Not just tough physically but also mentally. I would self distruct if I trained at consistent volumes and intensities every week. So, I follow a periodized program. This means that I build my fitness for 3 weeks then on the 4th week I cut everything back to about half intensity or volume or both. I automatically give myself at least one extra day off that week, sometimes 2 and I mentally let go of my focus. This gives a much needed break. It lets you come back fresher in the following week, when you build again taking up from where you left off in week 3 and it gives your brain a break. Sometimes we stop improving because we're not giving our bodies time to adapt. A planned break can really kick up your rate of improvement.

And don't give up on the swimming. More time in the water means more familiarity on how to move with less effort. So be sure to hit the pool 3 times a week, even if you just do a short workout, spashing around and having fun. You'll get through the swim, don't worry.

[HillSlugger]

Wet roads and an all-day threat of rain made me bag my road ride. Instead, I did and indoor/outdoor brick: 11.5 miles on the trainer and a 2 mile run. Amazingly, I posted my best trainer times and run times ever. I didn't feel any leg problems in the switch from the ride to the run.

I KNOW I can do these two events. Now, I need to gain the same confidence for my swim! (maybe I should be doing duathons...)

[Tri Girl]

See- you did great on those bricks yesterday! You CAN (and WILL) do the events and do them very well! Most people don't like the swim- they just tough it out to get to do the bike and run. We all start from somewhere, and right now you have the nervous "I don't know if I can do this" itis (a serious mental, but curable disease). I was so scared my first year doing tris because it was all so hard. Now I look back and thank that woman for getting me where I am today.
You can do this!!!! You can do this!!!!! We all can do this!!!!

Great job on the bricks!!!!! (and dus are fun, but I love tris so much more).