Tremblant at Night

We see a ton of Tremplant pics in the daytime - of course, it allows you to see a lot more.  While walking the hounds tonight, though, I thought I'd capture a bit of the evening character and also make some eatery recommendations.  I got the idea half way through the walk, so I missed some staple restaurants like Le Shack and La Forge.  Will get those next time.

This is a view of the CP Hotel from the base at the top of the Cabriolet

Center Stage at the top of the walkway.

Looking down the walkway

Here is where we get into some eatery (or liquid nutrition) fun stuff.  

The Caribou is famous and has garnered an interesting reputation.  Dancing ON the bar is expected.  As athletes, you aren't likely to party it up too much, but stop in for a pint and if you're on vacation, a night (11 pm onward) here is worth it.

One of my favorites.  Order a smoked Swiss (2 sausages w/ Sauerkraut and fries) and a beer.  It's all micro brews and they have a great patio and atmosphere.  

If your kids are anything like mine, they'll know how to spend your money really fast in here.  It adds up quick, but if you have a sweet tooth, it can't be beat.  Lot's of retro fun stuff in here, like Lik-a-Maid...remember that?  Anyway, there is a ton of bulk candy of all kinds.  Mix and match and watch your kids fly off the deep end.

Like Maple products?  Here's another place to spend money.  Everything maple inside, including taffy in the summer.  The price just went up to $2.50 per popsicle stick, though.

This is right near the finish line (opposite side of Cabriolet) and is a staple for every trip up.  Various kinds of coffee to choose from and you can even spice it up with a shot of your favorite liquid mind elixir.

The last shot I will leave you with, for tonight, is the future finish line.  The run will come under the arch you see and with the downhill slope, should make for some strong finishes.  It's hard to say where they'll put the line and catch area, but I have to believe it will be in the spot that opens into the base area.  I don't see how you could get spectators up any higher ... it's just too narrow.  

You all likely know WTC announced Ironman Mont Tremblant 70.3 today, which will take place June 24, 2012.  It will be a crazy event given it is also Quebec's National holiday - St Jean Baptiste day.  The single biggest holiday in Quebec.

Thanks for your well wishes and comments on my 'rehab'.  The chiropractor I'm seeing is amazing and she's got me feeling better already.  I did a 3K run yesterday without issue and plan to do 5k tomorrow.  I don't think I'll be up to 94K ride at Muskoka with a 21.1K run to follow though - I've actually resigned myself to a DNS.  Life happens, I guess.  Thanks for reading!

  

We have a diagnosis

I won't bore you with all the details, but my doc sent me for X-Ray on my hip and while waiting for the results, I went to see a sports med center for some treatment.  It was clear to me (and the chiropractic doc) that I have a couple inflamed muscles around my right hip - Glute Med, which is an abductor and internal rotator of the hip.  I can't remember the name of the other muscle, but it is around the front of the hip socket.

After finding the areas of concern, the doc performed some ART and electro therapy to lengthen the muscles.  Not only are the problem areas inflamed, but the muscles are short and tight, so she will work to elongate and loosen.

I have not trained in 3 weeks and have IM 70.3 Muskoka in 2.5 weeks.

I'm having difficulty accepting that I have an injury and an even harder time seeing myself do anything of value at Muskoka.  I am seriously considering a DNS.  My 'A' race is Florida and I really don't want to screw things up for that trip so, I guess things will be day by day for now.  The doc suggested that if I am better for Muskoka, to work against natural instinct and use the race as a real training day - ie: don't have any expectations and just go out and take it easy - stop if I need to, etc.  That isn't my style, however - I only know 'GO'.

One thing I've learned by reading other's blogs is that 'motion is lotion' (I think I can credit The Captain for that one) and I intend, under the doc's counsel, to stay moving, but at shorter, easier distances.  I have been going stir crazy and am anxious to get back out there.  I've also gained 6 pounds in 3 weeks.  Must be eating out of frustration.

I didn't blog much this summer, BUT I have to leave you with this - it is a reminder to all of us about the tenacity and perseverance triathletes possess - and right now, a good reminder to me to follow in my 8 year old's foot steps:

Background: photo taken at an "all-terrain' kids triathlon (Jessica's second).  The bike was on a gravel road and at some point in the loop when she was out of sight, she crashed her bike at a decent speed.  Other children stopped to see if she was ok and said they would send help.  But Jessica actually got back on her bike, shook off her tears as she rode, and came into transition with a really bloody knee.  She wasn't smiling, naturally, but she didn't stop for anything, went straight to her spot on the rack and started running for the 1.5K run.  When she finished, reality hit and she started to cry again.  Her knee was bad, but her hip was worse.  She received an honorable mention during the awards about the spirit of triathlon and the fact she didn't give up.  I needed to remind myself of this tenacity so I don't get sucked into a pity party and go lame on everyone.  Time to get out there!

Needed a pickup tonight

Here's the real deal behind the last 2 weeks - which incidentally is the last time I biked or ran until tonight.

The theory is, my bike fit change caused a hip flexor issue and it shone through loud and clear on my last ride - 150km and 5.5 hours which subsequently wrote my off riding.  Running wasn't much better.

A good friend of mine, a solid 10.5 hour multiple Ironman finisher gave me the advice to enjoy my holiday last week, take off from training and enjoy the family time.  Do nothing.  After some careful consideration, I thought it was wise.  My coach didn't really advise one way or another...I know my body and the hip pain was bad.

Over those 2 sedentary weeks, I indulged in all things tasty that I had deprived myself of for the last several months.  Chips, fries, M&Ms, beer, hamburgers...whatever - it was all fair game, all consumed without moderation.  I've lost a bunch of weight and wanted to lose another 6 pounds or so, which would have put me at a relatively lean 150 - this was prior to the injury and vacation, of course.  Long story short, my indulgences cost me a gain of 6 pounds.  In 2 weeks.

I was hoping I'd be magically healed by now and I tested my hopes with a run.  I skipped the proposed speedwork in favor of 75 minutes of comfortably steady pacing and for the first 15 minutes, I was floating on a cloud.  I was so happy to be 'back', feeling great, low HR...was all good.  Only a short 15 minutes later, I was calling for a pickup as it hurt to run and I didn't want to damage any recent recovery further.

I cannot express how disappointed I am.  And frightened, to be frank.  IM 70.3 Muskoka is in 26 days and IMFL is 80.  If I blew the last 14 doing nothing and didn't recover from my injury, how am I supposed to get the A ticket races done?

I'll have to contact a PT tomorrow and see if I can get in to see her...at least get the issue identified and work on a recovery plan.  I'm already doing a bike re-fit after swimming tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes.

I know I've got to suck it up and move forward, get back to healthy eating, and stay focused on the positive.  And quit my whining!

Keep your fingers crossed for me...!

Some day, I'll post a video of these guys running full speed.  This was just some backyard goofing around...Greyhounds can hit 72 km/h (45 mph) at full bore.  When racing, they cover 550 yards in 30 seconds at the track.  They are incredible athletes but lousy training partners.  We love'em, though!  Thanks for reading.

Where is the summer going?

Obviously, given my last blog update was in June, I've not done a good job of keeping things up to date.  That said, I've participated in many other blogs by doing a lot of reading and commenting.  It's been great to stay connected with other peoples' trials and tribulations of triathlons and it's about time I re-start the blog engine to capture my own activities and thoughts.  I'll skip the detail over the last 2 months sans-blog and shout out the highlights:

• May 29 marathon (first one) was 4:11.  My training leading up to this was nothing short of pathetic.  1.7 runs per week from Jan to May on average.  I vow to never show a lack of respect to this kind of distance again.  That said, I still had a good race (for me) and felt great up until the last 5km or so.
• I stuck to my IM training plan to a T in June, logging 74km of run, 722 km bike, and more or less, 7km of swimming (all in the pool).
• July - 83km run, 942 km bike, 23km swim
• Aug...not off to a great start as I picked up a hip flexor injury and have rested it for the last 10 days.  Feeling good about how it's doing though and I'm confident it should be cleared up before IM 70.3 Muskoka next month.
• Spectated and cheered at IMLP in July and rode 1 lap of the bike course, did some running and swimming as well.  What a great experience though I wasn't able to see many bloggers as I didn't know what anyone was wearing.  Exception being Bryan Payne...saw the dude a few times on the run and at the finish.  Wished I had seen John Proc and a few others, though.
• Did a 3K open water swim race in July in 47:54.  Good race, tough to sight into the rising sun, however.
• I've had to tweak my bike fit several times this summer as a result of a saddle issue.  No sores, but incredible discomfort - to the point where I couldn't ride aero longer than an hour.  Not good when one is heading to IM FL.  I've changed the saddle (again), this time to a Selle SMP Plus.  Longest ride with it is 5.5 hours and it's been great.  I can't believe the difference!
• Just came back from vacation, timed nicely with the hip injury so it was total R&R.  I brought all my gear but didn't use any of it.  A recovery week is much needed, sometimes!
• I haven't been able to get back to Tremblant as planned given every weekend has had something on the schedule.  I know re-paving of the road to the North Side (Duplessis) starts within the next 2 weeks and lasts a month.  If the weather cooperates, I should be able to get one loop done at the end of September and on a freshly paved road!!

Some recent pics, just for fun!  Thanks for reading!!