Time to Re-Focus

Exactly one month ago yesterday I completed an Ironman. It was a great finish to the end of my 2011 season. It wasn't just that Ironman, but Ironman Wisconsin was just about 8 weeks earlier. I was due for some much needed rest.

I came home from Florida on a Monday. The following morning, I found myself in the pool. During sets, my training partner asked me, "OK, what time do you want to ride tomorrow?" Really? We did set a time and ended up riding...

But now is NOT the time to be in a routine. No structured workouts. It's a

time to kick back, relax and let the fitness level come down a bit before trying to get better, faster, stronger for 2012. So why am I having such a hard time letting go of the "routine"? I should be RESTING.

I did go to now my FOURTH doctor to take a look at the big toe. I just realized last week that in April, it will be 2 years that the toe has been

bothering me. It was Turf Toe - cortizone shot. No. Sessamoiditis - boot for 12 weeks. No. Physical therapy for over 4 months. Not good. Go to a doctor about my calves and he says, "You know you need surgery on that toe, right?" So I went to a 4th doctor - and it might as well have been the same guy, "You are going to need surgery on that toe."

Well, I'm not a fan of surgery and feel like the body should be able to heal itself. But I feel like I've exhausted all my other options and am ready to bite the bullet. And what better time of year to have this done than now when I should be RESTING? And, though I try to put it out of my mind every time I run and even when I'm walking, the toe really doesn't feel good.

So now I need to re-think my whole race strategy for 2012. In 2011, I had taken so much time off running, by the time January came around, I was ready to go! This coming year, I likely won't even be able to put a shoe on for that month. It's a bit challenging as there are so many really fun off-season, cross training workouts I want to do - for example - cross country

skiing! However, all of them require the use of my foot, so I have to forego them. And by the time I recover, I'll have to put the hammer down and be training for specificity if I have any shot at being competitive this year.

So maybe the "forced" rest will be good. Maybe not. It would be really nice to run again without pain or trying to compensate for it. I've decided I've done a really good job at compensating for it this past year, but what further damage could I be doing? So here we go. I've been collecting lots of books to read while I'm down for the count. If you have any suggestions, please share. Funny enough, all but 1 of these books are sports-related or some sort of self improvement book. Wish me luck.