And... I'm Back!

On Tuesday 1/3 I had my post surgery follow up appointment and... drumroll please... I'm cleared for all athletic activities!  (Pause for applause).

That being said I've been doing spin classes and running for about a week now... don't tell the doc.  So now that I'm back what has changed?  Whats going on with training?
What has changed?
Two things have changed.  First of all riding a bike is no longer like riding a bike.  I rode for the first time since my crash on Sunday and it was more than a little nerve-racking.  Every turn I took I could feel my bike sliding out from under me.  Very odd compared to how comfortable I was on my bike a month ago.  I understand that it is going to take me a few weeks to get comfortable again and I willing to put the time in.  I intend to go on short rides for the next 3 weeks or so and by Feb 1 I hope to be doing long group rides again. 

Please note: anyone who knows me in no way expects me to wait until February to do another long group ride... they are probably right.  This plan looks awesome on paper but my lack of patience and self preservation will without a doubt have me doing another long ride before February. 

It was kind of funny that at the beginning of my recovery I wanted nothing to do with triathlon or sports.  I knew how long I was going to be out of the game and simply wanted to forget about it all and be a bum for a few weeks.  That sounded great until my co-workers dropped off a gift basket with a copy of Triathlete Magazine... Woops.  Suddenly that fire to train and learn about triathlon was back.  I spent a lot of time on websites researching new ways to train, the 2011 lineup of bikes (I'm buying one in March) and nutrition.  Through the research I stumbled upon a few articles on the gluten free diet.  This sparked the second major change during my recovery.  I decided to give the gluten free diet a try.  Since I started running about 14 months ago I had been battling GI issues on a regular basis.  The gluten free diet has been shown to totally cure this in some cases.  I figure it is worth a try.  I've been on the diet for a little over a week now and will continue to provide updates on how its going.

Whats going on with training?
I am actually having an easier time getting back into it that I thought.  I can tell I've taken a step back, but not near as far as I thought I would.  My muscles are going to take a little time to get used to training everyday but I think I can get there soon.  I'm definitely going to have to ease my way into... the Houston Marathon at the end of the month.  That's right, I am signed up for a marathon in 3 short weeks.  I'm going to see how training goes the next week or so but right now I intend on running it.  Its going to be incredibly challenging to go from no athletic activity for 3 weeks to marathon readiness in less than a month. 

I promise I am smarter about training than it looks like.  I am very good at listening to my body and will not push myself to injury just to run a marathon.  On the note of listening to your body, I am currently reading Brain Training for Runners by Matt Fitzgerald.  So far a great book.  I'll write more about it later but am really enjoying it so far.