What next?

Since the triathlon I have been taking things pretty easy. Apart from my cycle commute, I haven't been training. Unfortunately my cuboid injury is worse and I'm off running for a month now, have it taped up and am trying to keep it rested.

Tomorrow I think I'll head to my local pool and join up with the Triathlon club. Swimming with them twice a week, plus cycling to and from work will hopefully keep up my fitness levels until I can start running again too. My next target is the UBC Triathlon in March, which has a pool swim.

Cuboid Syndrome

This morning I suffered a re-occurrence of cuboid syndrome in my right foot. With 2 weeks to go I defied my physiotherapist and went out and bought a pair of orthotics. These days you can buy standard-fit orthotics and mould them to your feet with heat - amazing!

This is quite annoying. I'm getting that dull ache and weakness that I had before, it actually feels worse this time. It happened after 12 minutes of running (on concrete) and I stopped straight away. I have a physio appointment tomorrow, hopefully some ultrasound magic will do the trick.

This might be good time to take stock of triathlon expenditure. After saying I would do this on the cheap its actually turning into a big investment.

~$1,000 Bike - Kona Dew Deluxe (a much lighter commuter bike - multipurpose!)
~$30 - swim mitts (like paddles)
$100 - Craft triathlon shorts
$85 (bargain!) - wetsuit from MEC
$50 - Orthotics

Total so far ~$1265

Today I saw half-price Timex Ironman watches and managed to resist, so its not all bad.

Tomorrow's training is my first swim with the VOWSA. Time the try the wetsuit out.

Physio appointment and injury prevention

The first week of training is going well so far. I'm on track for what I committed to. Here's a summary:

• Swimming. This has been tough, shoulders and neck very stiff. Need to remember to warm up and stretch too. Not necessary to do 30 lengths each time, just concentrate on good posture and getting used to the routine for now.
• Biking. Only one bike session at the gym so far. Tomorrow is a bike commute day. More to come.
  
• Running. Got two personal bests this week (according to nike+)! Fastest mile and fastest 5km in separate workouts. Trail run was fun on Sunday.

This morning I saw a physiotherapist with goal of injury prevention. He complimented me on my very strong calves, and then said my glutes / thighs are letting me down! Lots of squats and lunges for me. He recommended some stretches and exercises for my ridiculously tight muscles. Here they are:

• One legged squats, concentrating on keeping my knee from falling inwards.
• Stationary lunges, upper body upright sinking vertically into lunge.
• 4 key stretches (glutes, hamstings, calves and quads).
• Running, swimming, biking all require an upright posture, chest up - shoulders back and down.

The plan is to get on with this, then in a few weeks go back for some variation in the exercises.