I just wanted to update everyone on how things are going.  So far, I am feeling great; granted there are days where I am feeling fatigued and needing time to recover, but within a 24 hour period, I am ready to go again.  I think the toughest aspect of training right now is getting up in the mornings.  This week I am training at 5:30 am on two mornings so I can get it done and have my afternoon open...when that alarm goes off, I often ask myself, why am I doing this again.  But as soon as I up and moving and actually start the training, I am quickly reminded.

 On Tuesday I went through a full on evaulation for range of movement, flexitibity, and biomechanical analysis to see if we can come up with the underlying cause of chronic knots resulting in fatigue on my left leg.  Chuck Wolfe with Human in Motion did an outstand job.  Low and behold, it appears as if all my problems stem from the high arch in my feet, which ultimately is limiting my mobility and flexibility, causing a tight left hip, and majority of obsorption on the lateral portion of my quad.  With my biomenchanics and genetic make-up, my left quad has no choice but to take the majority of the work load.  With a couple of adjustments as far as flixibility and strength conditioning, as well as a shoe insert, I should notice a significant difference in the knot size and fatigue within the next month or so.  I'm not sure what it feels like to have two fresh legs.  I was happy to have one; many people feel fatgued all the time through this type of training.

 So Far, things are going well.  I am beginning to think more and more about my upcoming event in Balwin Park on June 29th.  I am ready to see how I will perform with transitions and just being in a competative race senario again. 

Thus far training is going very well.  We are just delving into it and getting a taste of what is to come.  Last week we focused on all three events; some days we transitioned from one event to the next during training, while others we would train a singel event, such as swimming.  I welcomed the swimming days being that it allowed for a little recovery. 

This past weekend was very eventful.  Sunday, Monday and Tuesday we went through all kinds of testing.  Sunday we participated in a fitnes test, which entailed  a general fitness evaluation; all kinds of measurements such as height, weight, body fat, resting heart rate, blood pressure, and typical body measurements (bust, waist, hips).  Following the fitness test we road about 30 miles as a group, ate lunch and moved onto the next set of testing; VO2 Max testing at zernergy.  The VO2 Max test was interesting. To say the very least, it got your heart rate up.  Despite the intensity of the test, it provided me with all kinds of good information, which will help with my training.  Most importantly, I now know a target heart rate when I amasked to perform at specific percentage of my max.  Monday we spent a couple hours at Fleet Feet for a gait ananlysis.  They had us get on a treadmill so they could video and break down the biomechanics of our run.  As a result we were then fitted for a pair of running shoes that would accomodate our individual running style.  Not only were we provided with information pertaining to what type of shoe we will benefit most from, we also recieved feedback on areas we may need to make small adjustments in order to improve the biomechanics of our running style.  Tuesday we met with Gear for Mulitsports, where we recieved a bathing suit and goggles for competitions.  All the vendors and testing was very helpful and informative; essential to improving as a triathalete.

I have a little more testing set up with Chuck Wolfe over at Sports Specific, in order to have a full on body evaluation.  They are going to be looking for assymetery, muscular strengths and weaknesses, as well as an miomechanic flaws that could eventually cause injury later on down the road.  I am really excited about this evaluation; for many years I have been dealing with chronic fatigue to my left leg due to consistent knots developing on my vatus laterlus muscle of my quad.  I am hoping to get enough feedback to either decrease or eliminate the knots; most importantly the underlying cause.  I will keep you all posted as to how that evaluation goes...it will take place at the beginning of next week.

This week, the week of June 9th, training has increased a little.  Coaches are expecting a little more from us as far as intensity and milage is concerned.  Once again, I am always welcoming my swim and recovery days.  To help with recovery,I am recieving weekly massages at Sport Specific; I have also been icing on a regular basis...I really don't want all this training to catch up with me, especially this early in the season.

I will continue to post to keep everyone abreast of how I am feeling,as well as any new and exciting events that might take place.  Oh by the way, I am competing in the Balwin Park Sprint Tri on June 29th...I hope to hear a lot of cheering, even if it is via telepathy  :)

Mandy McLane