Injuries Stink...What To Do...?

Injuries are part of sports and particularly endurance sport due to the same motions/movements taking place thousands of times. Injuries stink because they take you out of your normal training routines, which effects your racing, which messes with your mind even bringing on mild depression. If the injury is severe or long-term or reoccuring, it can take some people into more serious depression and a loss of identity.

Food for thought about injuries from a guy who's had 'em all and is now dealing with heel pain that's gone on for 9 months.
1. Let injuries help you to remember what REALLY matters in life. Running, triathlon, cycling, etc. are hobbies for 99% of us. Let's not take ourselves too seriously.
2. If an injury won't let you run, then put in extra time in the pool. If it won't let you do this...do that. Focus on some other stuff while you heal up. Volunteer at a race instead of competing.
3. If it hurts to do it...probably shouldn't do it - let it heal
4. No athletic activity or performance defines anyone. Your value isn't found in your performance even though our society says it does. Your ultimate value is found in the fact that God created you and loves you.
5. Study your injury and the best treatment for it. EASE back into things. Often, ice, ice and more ice can be a great, free therapy along with The Stick - see list on left side of blog.

Hang in there. Very few injuries last more than a few weeks or a month or two. Injuries do stink, but they can be a valuable part of our life-learning experience and can develop a gratitude for the health we do enjoy.

Winter Season - Toughest Time To Gear Back Up - Motivation?

Some athletes stay in top shape year around. Not me. Since moving back from Phoenix to Omaha two years ago, I've taken a serious "off-season" each fall. This year I gained 12 lbs. since my last race in August. Now, the tough job of starting to get that off begins. Indoor winter training for me never matches what I do outside in the Spring and Summer so it's tough to see that scale move much. Skipping workouts don't seem to matter much since my next triathlon is several months away and oh, those holiday goodies...they're still around.

Motivation - What has to motivate me from this day onward is...my goal for 2011 which is, to qualify at US Nationals in Vermont in August for the World Championships next year in New Zealand. What I do EACH day, from now on, will have either a positive or negative effect on THAT day. Each day...that day. It's how it works. The small choices we make every day, effect who and what we'll be 6 months from now or a year from now or 10 years from now. What goals do you have? How would you like to see your life change? It'll only happen day by day, choice by choice, keeping that goal in mind. You've got choices/options. I've got choices/options. What choices will we make?

I love the Kia car commercial on TV with the hamsters rapping, "You can go with this, or you can go with that, or you can go with this, or you can go with that" So true. Choose wisely today and you'll be glad you did on THAT day.

Young Life Triathlon Report - Aug. 21, 2010

To my sponsors...
Everyone - Just wanted to give a quick report from the Young Life Sprint Triathlon this morning. This is an annual race held in Detroit Lakes, MN. There were 217 in the race this year so it wasn't a huge race, but...I'll take the results... Last year, I took an overall first place victory so, I was trying to repeat.

Had a good swim in my Xterra wetsuit and Predator Barracuda goggles. Chose the clear lenses as it was real foggy due to the high humidity. I was 4th out of the water and on to my Valdora PHX. I rode faster than I ever have in 17 yrs. of racing as far as mph go. My bike computer said I averaged 24.7mph. I had the fastest bike split on the day. I really felt like I was flying at times.

I had a quick T2 pulling on my newest sponsor's product - my Somnio racing flats - www.somniorunning.com I now use Somnio Pacemakers for training and the new Hot Sauce flats for racing. They are custom fit for each athlete and even each foot. Check 'em out. It's like getting a bike fit, only for your feet. :)

Anyway, I had to hold off a fast 25 yr. old and a few others right behind him but by God's grace, I did and scored my 9th career overall first place victory. Pretty fun for a 53 yr. old!

I'm very thankful for your support, encouragement and great products and services this season. I plan on doing some road racing this fall to keep some race fitness...then the long NE winter.

Lord willing, I'm hoping to race at US Nationals next year for my "A" race, qualifying for the World Championships and Team USA in 2012, aging up and racing in the 55-59 age group. I love aging up!

Thank you so much for you help. I'm grateful to the Lord for all of you and grateful to Him for the strength He gives me. It's been an amazing season getting an overall win in a 5K and this tri, and getting top 6 overall in four other triathlons, winning my age group in every race I did this season, except for one, where I missed first in my age group by one second.

Blessings!

Lincoln
www.ICTriNet.com

Somnio Running Shoes - GREAT shoes

I want to recommend Somnio running shoes. Go go www.somniorunning.com Somnio has a very unique appoach to shoe fitting. They actually fit the shoes to you, as the shoes have dozens and dozens of various combinations of compenents. They can "dial in" the shoe to meet your needs and fix your foot, leg and biomechanical issues. I'm loving mine that's for sure. Find a Somnio shoe fitter close to you on their web site and try some on!

Somnio's mission: "Our missions is to keep ruuners healthy and on the road so that they may realize their goals. We aren't selling shoes, we're solving problems. This is our dream at Somnio, and we hoep that you will join us."

Omaha Triathlon - Aug. 1, 2010 - report

Omaha has a few small triathlons but this was the first ever Olympic, large scale, USAT sanctioned race in Omaha with a major race management company putting it on. 700+ signed up for the race, most individual triathletes but some doing the relay and some the aqua-bike race plus a kids race.

I had been nursing a bad hamstring/adductor for two weeks since straining it at the Okoboji tri, so I had no idea how it would hold up. Dr. Faye Jones of Blair Chiropractic did some great ART work on it which was very helpful!

The race start was delayed 30 min. as we waited for the EMT guys to get there. We knew it was going to be very hot and humid so we weren't excited about having to wait... There were about 450+ who raced in the individual category. I wanted to swim in the 25s and came out at 25:51 thankful for my XTERRA skinsuit in the no wetsuit swim and my Barracuda goggles as we swam directly into the sun for 1/2 the swim.

Quick T1 and then I flew over the very difficult 40K+ bike route. Some have said this is the hardest tri course in all of NE and IA. I couldn't believe how good I felt. I had my Hammer Nutrition dialed in perfectly. My Valdora PHX bike was amazing - so fast, light and responsive! Love the cool deep-rim wheels too.

The run was tough as the course is super hilly and it was getting hot out there. I stayed steady the whole run and when a bit of cramping came on, I popped some extra Hammer Electrolyte caps and I finished strong. My time wasn't close to my Olympic PR but considering the hilly bike course that was longer than 40K, the very hilly run course and the heat and humidity, I was very pleased.

Out of about 420 individual finishers, I got 11th overall and first in the 50-54 age group. Take out the Elites and I was 5th. I beat some guys I've never beaten before or hardly ever beat. I actually beat 4 Elites. It was a blessed day for sure. I carried a copy (which got destroyed during the race) of Psalms 91 in the back pocket of my tri top. Someone had sent it to me that week in an email so I printed it out and took it with me. Great encouragement in that chapter - it applies well to triathlons!

Thanks to you all for your encouragement, support and great companies and products. I appreciate you all!
Lincoln