Season Update and Pumpkin Bomb

I wrapped up my Chi Running class with Pat's Personal Training last week with a pretty good idea of how I tore my piriformis earlier this year at the Tobacco Road Half Marathon. In trying to change my heel-striking form to a mid-foot strike, I was landing too far forward in my stride and too far forward on my foot resulting in overly tight muscles that couldn't bear the strain. In attempting to correct a style that never got me injured in 20 years of running - I got injured. For about half the Chi Running class, I thought I would just abandon the mid-foot strike all together and going back to my heel-striking ways. But, then I had a few "aha!" moments during the class. So, I have decided to continue working on improving my form.

Speaking of form, after about six week of four days of riding per week, I'm pretty sure I need to be re-fitted for my Kuota. I got my old road bike back from Sonny last week and after a few adjustments, spent 3 hours on the road including a jaunt on the bridle paths at Umstead. Super fun ride and practically no discomfort. Generally, in 2 hours on my Kuota, I'm pretty restless in the saddle and itching to finish up. But, I also need new tires. I just shelled out nearly $100 on two tires over the summer. One got a huge gash on only my second ride (I replaced it with my 4-year-old Vittoria I saved for emergencies) and the other tire is seriously worn. I've been doing a lot more riding than normal but, am pretty disappointed in the tires I just bought, which wore faster in 3 months than my VIttoria's did in 3 years. So, in short, I need new tires and a fitting.

Considering the incompleteness of my change in running form and my bike issues, it doesn't appear that I'll compete in a triathlon at all this year. I kind of knew that would be the case which is why I was training in hopes of competing in cyclo-cross but, there's just not money in the budget for a new bike. I considered selling a bike but, I just can't come to grips with selling the road bike (my first which I used for IM Florida) and I can't bear selling my Kuota - a gift from my sister and family. In dry conditions, I think I could pull off a cyclo-cross event on the road bike but, it was pretty squirrely on Turkey Loops descents. It would be crazy to risk another injury since this one has taken so long to recover from.

So, for the remainder of the year, it looks like I'll just be running, cycling and swim for the health benefits which sadly, doesn't offer enough motivation for me to workout when I'm not in the mood. You can read my editor's note in the October issue of Endurance to understand that more completely. On the other hand, skipping a three-hour ride in exchange for a hike with the family and a Pumpkin Bomb - pumpkin spice beer and goldschlager in a honey-spice-rimmed glass - is much more mentally rewarding!