ANDEE vs. THE TRIATHLON PT. 2 - slight change of plans

from wildflower to big kahuna - a continuation of sorts

last year was hard, this year will be hard in another different way. trying to train hard, but also not re-injure my leg!

Thanks so much for the support with my triathlon training and fundraising, it means the world to me. I know it's tough to find any extra money these days, and I'm super proud to be working my ass off for such a good cause, and that folks have managed to donate money and email me with good wishes. Now comes the 'change of plans' part.

Well, needless to say I was pushing myself pretty hard, wanting desperately to go back to Wildflower (which was my first race ever last year) and beat my time from last year and generally kick ass. Well, that combined with a new coach who also pushed really hard, resulted in me, sustaining some sort of injury. Didn't feel so bad at first, so just kept running and riding, but finally at track practice one night, I went to run and my leg decided it has had ENOUGH and began to hurt like crazy. I decided then that perhaps I should stop running and have someone look at it.

I went to a sports medicine doctor, and she suggested I stay off it for a few weeks (until it stopped hurting) and then slowly build back up to where i was before the injury. I explained to her that I had a race in a month, and she explained to me that if my injury was not totally healed, and if I did a race on it, I could injure myself that much more severely and possibly be out for 6 months or a year or more, instead of just a few weeks. I took it easy, stopped training. Did lots of exercises, stretching, and all that. but it continued to hurt. So I went to the regular doctor to get an x-ray, make sure it wasn't a stress fracture. Thankfully it wasn't, but that doctor also suggested a few weeks off and echoed the first doctor's recommendations about the race. With a little more than 2 weeks before the race, and my foot/ankle only beginning to get back to normal, it became evident that it was probably indeed unwise to tackle a race, that UN-injured was damn near impossible. So attempting it slightly injured and having not trained for the last 3-4 weeks seemed unwise. Well, seemed pretty ridiculous actually.

So I made the tough decision to switch races. I was forced to drop out of wildflower, but am instead doing a race called the Big Kahuna at the end of the summer. same distances (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, 13 mile (half marathon) run), same charity, just different time, and different location. On the one hand I can't complain too much as this race is in Santa Cruz, so it won't be nearly as hot, or as hilly, but I'm a bit disappointed because I wanted to go back and face the race that so brutalized me last year. And I will do that, will just have to wait until next year.

So there it is, I am finally feeling better, and am beginning to get back up to speed and get training again, and will attempt my second triathlon at the end of the summer, injury free. and as of right now i'm also planning on doing the Chicago Marathon in october, then Wildflower next year and hopefully a full ironman in the next couple years.

A HUGE THANKS to everyone who has donated. and FEAR NOT! All of your donations still go to the Leukemia And Lymphoma Society, and all of your donations roll over to my triathlon at the end of the summer and go toward me metting my fundraising goal. So thanks. you're supporting a great cause, and you've helped me toward reaching my goal.

Those of you who have not donated, but were planning on it, please still do! All donations made this season, like I said, will transfer over to the summer season when I run my race, so every penny counts and helps me reach my fundraising goal. And I know it's frustrating, donating and then having to wait months to see me sweat and strain and suffer to get your moneys worth, but believe you me it's still worth it, for me, and for the cause. And it will be worth the wait, because I WILL strain, and I WILL sweat and BOY will I suffer ; ) Training is going to be extra hard this time, trying to push myself as hard as ever, but to at the same time be mindful of my injury.

So if you'd like to donate, there's three ways to do it, and of course it's tax deductible. and that's always good.

You can donate with a credit card right here on this page. in that little box to the right.

Or you can donate via PAYPAL to this address: mailorder@aquariusrecords.org with ANDEE'S TRIATHLON in the comments section.

Or you can donate with cash or a check made out to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and sent here:

ANDEE
c/o aquarius records
1055 valencia street
san francisco, ca
94110

So thanks everyone for taking time out of your daily life to read about my race, and my injury, and for putting up with my emails, and for donating money, or for thinking about donating money, and for emailing me with lots of support, and just generally being super cool.
It is much appreciated. and when I am out there running the race, or just out there training, it's nice to be able to think about all you guys rooting for me, laughing at me, or shaking your head wondering what the hell I was thinking. It's pretty awesome.
So thanks. a whole bunch.

Will definitely keep everyone posted on the training, the healing, and the preparation for the new race!

xoxo

andee