Up and 'Running'

Thanks for the prayers friends! Surgery went great and I feel like 'running and gunning'. Opting to rest, walk, and ice for the next few days and then get my tail back on the CompuTrainer.

I got the Real Course Videos of Placid, Kona, and Madison and look FWD to 'tasting' these in 2010. As you all know...I am huge fan of these vids.

I am super excited to have to work back up to racing form. So eager to see how long it will take and to experience training again.

This piece of scripture is very relevant right now:

Acts 17:28 (New International Version)

²⁸'For in him we live and move and have our being.'

For the record...

Just had to throw up another post before the knife. Wanted to make sure people were not thinking the IM in 10 method/approach brought this injury on.

The more I thought this whole meniscus tear out I finally came to an acute moment in May last year. I was doing a last pre-race ride and when I went to dismount from the old Trek my trailing foot slid on the black asphalt like it was ice. Yep...flat on my bike I fell and the medial aspect of the L knee walloped the top tube. The pain that ensued was so intense I saw white.

The funny side to this biff on the bike pre FL 70.3 was that someone saw this 'go down'. There I laid sprawled out on the 'black beast', blood running down my knee, helmet skewed to the L, and the cool factor totally tarnished.

No words had to be spoken as the SUV pulled up along side me (window still closed). I smiled, he smiled and we both put our hands up in the air as to say 'oh well...it happens'.

Anyway, I just wanted to document the acute incident that blew the meniscus.

I can't wait to see how things will develop in 2010 once this tear is eliminated.

Lets do this (as Luke would say)!

Game On

The official 'reset button' will be pushed next Wednesday as I get the L knee scoped. Nothing beats having to rebuild the engine. Excited about it in fact.

Yep, the MRI showed a posterior tear in the medial miniscus w/ a cyst accompanying it. Looking FWD to Dr. Connor doing his thing and snipping and cleaning things up.

So, remember how I mentioned all 'my' plans in a few posts back? Well...it looks like most of those events (Feb-May) I was eyeing will be erased for 2010.

Loving the journey, Coach L

Good News

I endured a 23 min MRI this Saturday and was reminded how blessed I am. Being told not to move at all was tough for this cat. Having recently lost a friend to ALS (Bill Adair) most recently I was reminded of how he had to endure this for years and not minutes. Seeing Bill go from an active and able man to a bed ridden man was heart breaking.

Its crazy how we can take things for granted. I know I have. This MRI reinforced how blessed I am. I thank God for allowing me to get out of my bed each morning, feed myself, wiggle my toes, and to move in general.

No joke, the folks assisting me with this MRI most have thought I had lost my marbles. The moment my feet hit the ground outside the 'portable MRI trailer' I took off running! To feel that fresh air against my face and feel my heart pounding was joyous! Praised God instantly!

The following scripture holds relevancy:

Acts 17:28 (New International Version)

²⁸For in him we live and move and have our being.

Besides the obvious 'good news' above I have more to share. The MRI showed I have a miniscus tear (medial). I am stoked and fired up to have some sound input on what has been ailing me for months now. Looking FWD to getting this thing scoped and to be back on my feet running and gunning again.

What gets me so excited about this 'setback' is to see how He will work through this for me. I want to glorify Him every step of the way and see how mighty and powerful Christ is! I want more reasons to praise Him for 'victories' in life.

I am really excited to see how this season will unravel. This will make the whole IM in 10 project even more to execute in 2010!

Stay tuned friends! Coach L

THE Planner

This is the time of year where most of us tri folk are registering and getting all jazzed for the 2010 season. In my last post I mentioned 'my' plans, but neglected to mention a few essential points.

(1) I have been hesitant to make much of it, but it is clearly a relevant matter. For some reason the medial aspect of my L knee is simply not cooperating. Training has been mediocore at best for the last 3 or so months despite my efforts to correct this matter. I will be taking the next logical step, which is an MRI. I want to make sure all the details are out there so the journey through 2010 can be truly documented.

(2) Dovetailing off that last point I want to make sure I can give God the credit for His mercy and faithfullness. I trust fully in His will and plan for me. In fact, amongst the 'gray' and the unknown of where this knee thing is going I find great peace about the season. I can plan all I want for this season, but I know He will direct my every step. This gives me great peace, confidence, and ultimately joy.

So, there you have it. My hope is that I can eliminate this knee problem w/ His assistance and have the kind of year I hope for. Ultimately, I desire to glorify Christ in 2010 and not myself.

Scripture that gives me strength and is relevant:

Luke 6:48 (New Living Translation)

⁴⁸ It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.

In this very small setback/roadblock I will continue to trust and 'build' my foundation on Him. In both the good and the bad I know all things come to me to shape and refine me. To prune from me what is not of Him.

I look forward to seeing how He will work in and through me in this season.

Praising God along the way!

Coach L

2010 - Take Two!

Happy New Year!

I hope you are all getting fired up for the upcoming season. Planning out your season can always get the juices flowing a bit.

"Team Leo" has two key items on the docket for this year:

(1) Bring another little one into the world. The expected due date is July 12, 2009. We are very excited about this new addition and I am certain Luke will enjoy a new 'training partner'. I only wish the nausea was not so intense for Annie.

(2) Further refine the "Ironman in 10" training methods with intentions of qualifying at IMF 2010.

I also plan on dabbling in the NCTS; Cool Breeze, Huntersville, Belews, OTM, Latta, LKN, and a few others will serve as 'threshold tests' for 2010.

With that being said, I plan on bringing more detail to my IM prep and the many steps that I will be implimenting along the way.

Generally speaking, I will be keeping volume low at this stage of the game and be focusing on boosting my high end aerobic threshold via loads of interval work.

I will be spending a significant amount of time in 2010 on myofascial work and corrective exercise. This will be executed prior to all of my training to keep 'hidden weak links' from surfacing later in the season as full blown injuries.

I plan on posting baseline data for the three disciplines in the near future. This will set the stage for preping for the sprint/international distances that will springboard to IMF down the road.

I look FWD to another fun filled season and hope to learn much from it...

Happy training folks...Coach L