It has been one of the worst winters I can remember in a
long time. I have actually experienced -52 below (with wind chill). I knew it
got bad when they said they were brining in the Polar bears at the zoo as the
cold was worse then they usually experience.
With all that being said, I am ready for spring!!! I am
ready for warmer temperatures, brighter skies, and race season!
I am still unsure if I will do Kona this year (assuming I
have a chance and qualify). I have stated previously here, and on the Training
Bible Coaching Podcast that I will not if my foot is guaranteed to be a problem
still.
This off-season I tried to enlist all the help I could find
regarding the matter. Dr. Kane of Kane Podiatry in Geneva Il. Has created what
seems to be some great “orthotics”. I put it in quotes, because why they are
orthotics, they are not traditional ones. He feels I have very stiff heels
because of how my bones are, so not something I can stretch or strengthen to
change. For this reason, traditional orthotics would not work. Instead we
created a foot bed of sorts that helps to alleviate the pressure spots and
bring some great relief. I still have to pair them with the right shoes I am
finding but the results to this point are encouraging.
I have also enlisted the help of Garrett Krugg at Turner
Pain and Wellness. He has a strength program that is so individualized to
include daily videos practically of movements and trying to re create movement
patters I am doing wrong. This seems to also be helping.
For all these reasons I have signed up for St. Croix. This
will give me St. Croix and Eagleman to try to qualify. I think I will still do
Wisconsin and focus on that and do Kona the best I can, but with a little less
pressure. I have a goal of trying to get to 10 Kona finishes, so 3 more to go
hopefully.
I continue to see a lot of success with the athletes I
coach. I want to give that some of the attention it deserves so will try (I
always say that, but life gets in the way and actual coachingJ) to do a separate blog
entry on some of them.
Off to our sold out Tucson Camp next week (Feb 6th)
and will be getting there early so I can enjoy some more warm weather while
there. After that we will be doing some
private camps with athletes the end of Feb but am really looking forward to
about 10 days in California before and after Oceanside.
