- Change my lifestyle and save my life
- Complete a Marathon
- Complete an Ironman
is bound to encounter setbacks. These come in many shapes, and forms. Accidents, injuries, life.. These can not only be major, but even the minor items can be annoying, and discouraging.
Shortly after I started gaining some momentum in this, I ended up getting an umbilical hernia. Not major, but a 3 month setback overall. I didn't get discouraged, I just knew my timeline changed, and since I've set goals in the past I realize that sometimes, things happen to alter the plan, but never the dream.
Now, comes another setback, or is it. I took up running as part of the overall plan in mid-May, and ever since, I've struggled with numbness in my left foot. At first, I shrugged it off to not being in running shape, and that as I lost weight, the numbness would stop. I'm losing weight, getting in really good heart shape, but I'm still struggling with numbness. Well, some light has been shed on this recently, and I'm not discouraged, but concerned. A physical therapist, who happens to belong to the Y running club said he thought it might be compartment syndrome in my lower leg. I did the research. Unless the muscles in my lower leg start getting used to the pounding of running, the only correction is surgery.. Another 2-3 month setback. He said give it about 5-6 weeks of running 3 times a week (run/walk) and see if it's getting any better. If not, then see a specialist.
Now, while I'm still not discouraged from my overall goals, the goal of running a marathon before I'm 55 is evaporating.. Do I give up on the running and Ironman and just focus on cycling? I can ride 60 miles easily now... doens't seem like a lofty goal to be able to comfortably ride centuries. There aren't many aquabike (some refer to them as aquavelo events - swim/bike only) around this area of the country.
I'm not going to let it get me down and will deal with it, and keep on getting healthy which is the primary objective anyway, but I really want to compete in some triathlons.
Keep checking back.. :)
Dave
