Kona Project Update: "Two Steps forward; One Step Back"

I'm learning the hard way that preparing to qualify for Kona is a "two steps forward; one step back" process.  After a solid beginning to my training last fall, I was forced to pull-back during late December and early January due to some back pain that was most likely a result of increased training and lack of maintenance work such as stretching and strength training.  Again, following several months of solid training and improvement from February through early April, I was forced to pull-back again.  Scheduled recovery from a hard block of training as well as unscheduled recovery from sciatic pain in my right glute/leg, increased fatigue from being sick, and increased asthmatic symptoms forced me to post-pone the final hard training block that leads up to Eagleman.

On Saturday, April 19th, I completed 101.72 miles on the bike with an average normalized power of 252 watts followed by a 3-mile run, on which my legs felt surprisingly good.  Following that workout, I told Laura that I was feeling strong.  Despite having some mild sciatic pain in my right glute and some normal asthmatic coughing while exercising, I could feel the improvement and benefit of all the training. It was very exciting! In the days that followed I had some severe fatigue and wondered if I had come down with mono.  My normal asthmatic coughing increased greatly and left me almost unable to take a deep breath without coughing.  You can imagine trying to train under such symptoms.  Finally, the sciatic pain in my glute prevented me from bending over and touching my toes.  I knew I had to pull-back and get my body right.

Afer talking with Coach Chad about pulling back a little on the training, I scheduled appointments with my asthma doctor and Dr. Brad at DeNovo Pittsburgh Chiropractic.  The increased rest along with a change in asthma medication and Dr. Brad's miraculous Active Release Therapy have me back in full swing and ready for this weekend's Columbia Triathlon, which is now organized and run by the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.  This weekend's race will be a small but important step in my final preparations for Eagleman on June 8.  Look forward to my race report next week to see how I did.