Waiting and worrying

Five days now since my cortisone shot. Th initial numbing medication has worn off and now I am waiting to see if a more sustained improvement will actually happen. Thus far, I am not all too hopeful as I still clearly feel some pain deep inside my joint. Meanwhile, I also had my last physical therapy session for the time being with my awesome therapist Wing.

A bit of needling

The last couple of weeks have mostly been annoying. As soon as I felt some minor improvements in my hip, just as soon came the setback with more pain and discomfort than before. And the last week, any training practically become impossible. Even working out at the gym became a burden and at times a bit painful.

So for today I finally had my cortisone shot scheduled at the Hospital for joint diseases at NYU. The treatment itself (injecting the cortisone directly into the hip joint under xray guidance) was fairly painless, and even now, hours later, I feel little discomfort. Now the big question: Will the drug work to bring the inflammation down significantly over the next week or so, and if yes, for how long?

FAI, or 'femoroacetabular impingement'

In short, an impingement of my right hip joint and early/mild signs of osteoarthritis have been keeping me off running and most other serious training now for a couple of months. I have now seen a great physical therapist a sports medic and a hip specialist at the NYU Hospital for Joint Disease. The good news, everyone is in complete agreement as to the diagnosis and (almost) in agreement as to the course of action. The bad news: It is not a pretty picture. Physical therapy has increased my range of motion in my right hip, but has not alleviated all the pain. Next up, a cortison injection into the hip joint. Lovely can't wait. If that works, I will slowly get back into a more serious training regimen. If it does not, arthroscopic hip surgery

Why am I even back on this blog?

It's been way over two years since I last wrote an entry into this blog. Life has a way of getting in the way of blog updates, Facebook has practically replaced my need to keep this form of a diary, and my triathlon ambitions have taken a backseat to fatherhood, my career and other fun pursuits. This is not to say that I have been inactive over the last couple of years, in fact I have had a couple of great races, joined a new Tri Club (Brooklyn Triathlon Club) and am still very intrigued by the prospect of managing a PR in a tri or run race even at my age (now 47).

California Dreaming

It's mid February and I am fully engaged in my off-off season. Meaning I am working out little to none and having ten extra pounds of weight to show for it. This week we are spending a great week out West in Southern California. First a few days in Los Angeles and now at our little hide-away in Palm Springs. With the warmer weather also comes the chance for some specacular little workouts. On Sunday I ran along the Strand in Hermosa and Manhattan Beach, a slow but still inspired six miles, two of them right along the surf. Today I managed an hour and 3000 yards at the Palm Springs Swim Center.

The No Goal New Year?

Ok, it is now more than half a month into the New Year. Still I have absolutely no triathlon related performance goal for 2009. Should I be worried? Panicked? OMG, I haven't even signed up for a single race! Why do I feel so relaxed though?
Here is what I have done in the last few weeks:
I have gained about 8 pounds over the holidays
I have enjoyed spending more time with my family (still am)
I have gone to lots of kids playdates and birthday parties instead of running in the freezing cold
I have begun to see the inside of my gym a bit more, having some fun while at it
I have started to look at potential races for 09 that are closeby and fun for the whole family
I have decided that 2009 will be a year where triathlon ranks far beyond family and work
I have promised myself to have more fun while at it
I have not looked at my bike in six weeks
I am fine with all of it.

Happy New Year!

2008 - It was a very good year

The Christmas Holidays are behind us, New Year's has come and gone, maybe a good time to reflect one last time about last year. Sure, it's rough out there, economy, stock market, 401k (or what's left of it) plenty of reasons to be a bit worried or upset. Personally, 2008 was a very good year. We moved into a great new apartment in Brooklyn, we are all healthy, Kiera is enjoying her young life and her new pre-school.

And, as far as my triathlon life, this was probably my best season ever. I tried to ramp up my training volume without going crazy or neglecting family and work. The race season started with a solid Olympic distance performance in early June at Keuka Lake NY, then a hot, humid but good New York City Triathlon. From then on it was all about my goal of preparing for my first Ironman. The Nutmegman Half Ironman in late September was a grueling race, but also led me to my first Top 3 age group finish at a sanctioned race (yes it was a rather small race). And then my first Ironman in Arizona in November.

Since then, I really relaxed, worked out as little as possible and the last few days of the year we enjoyed the Holidays and a few days of skiing at Brian Head in southern Utah. Now, it is 2009, the successes of last year no more than a memory and personal history. Still, I am happy with what I have accomplishe. It was a very good year!