What's wrong with me?

Over the past several years I've had nagging injuries that have hindered my performance and made me question my abilities. This past year was much better as I reached new heights I never thought possible, i.e., a half Ironman. I was very pleased, but still had this lingering feeling that something was wrong with me physically. I decided to contact my friend and Physical Therapist Sara Thatcher from Body Tuning Physical Therapy in Marblehead... Sara is part of my Ironman Team and is helping me prepare for IMLP. Here is what's wrong with me:

Marty’s Power/Wellness Screen. 9.14.03
After a thorough screening of your strength, flexibility and mechanics, I found that you have a lot of strength in certain areas and other areas that are weak links. I am excited that I had an opportunity to look at you early in your training and focus on prevention of injuries. All too often, as a physical therapist, I see people suffering through injuries in the middle of the race season. Many of these hang ups can be avoided if you know what areas may be susceptible to breakdown and incorporate a strength program tailored to the needs of each endurance athlete.

Overall, your range of motion in your trunk, hips and legs is within functional limits. You have some stiffness, especially segmentally in the thoracic and lumbar spine. When the segments of the spine are not gliding and moving the way they should, it can lead to increased stress on the hips and pelvis as well as on the shoulder and neck. The most marked asymmetries in your posture lie in the pelvis and your foot position. The left foot pronates, or flattens, when you are standing. This causes a slight internal torsion on the left leg which is in essence like wringing a towel - there is a twist that occurs from the foot up through the pelvis which can lead to extra wear and tear. When training intensity and volume increase, these stresses can result in IT band syndrome, SI joint pain or shin splints. The main finding today was that you have weakness throughout the hip muscles. This is probably the root of your past problems with your SI joint. The hip muscles do not have a proper firing pattern nor the strength needed to stabilize the pelvis.

You're in a great position to build up your training program for Ironman Lake Placid. You're motivated and reflective; you listen to your body. You didn’t always know what to do with the aches and pains or signals of “fatigue” but now we have gathered some data points. We can target your strength and conditioning program to build a solid framework for the upcoming year of training. You've most likely been relying on your strong quads and hamstrings to power through your run and bike. Once you build up strength in the hips, you will not only avoid injury but also become more powerful and build up incredible endurance. I am excited to see what will happen when you are at full strength. With all cylinders firing, this will be, without a doubt, an amazing year! Sara Thatcher

Oh my Lord!!! So that's what's wrong with me???? Thank you Sara... I've already started the exercises and I'm looking forward to seeing you at my next eval. If you have a nagging injury or are unsure have Sara do an eval... It's time to get to work!

I can only imagine

Inspiration is all around us and you need not look any further than Dick and Rick Hoyt. If you haven't heard of the Hoyt's they are the father and son team that competes in endurance events such as marathons and triathlons...even Ironman distance triathlons.

What makes this team truly special is that Rick Hoyt has finished over 1,000 events with his father Dick pushing him in a wheelchair.

Below you'll find a link to an inspirational video of the Hoyt's. The song featured in the video has a special place in my heart. After my mother had her right leg amputated because of the ravages of Diabetes I imagined what it would be like to walk with her again. I now imagine what it would be like to see her at the finish line at Ironman Lake Placid. I now imagine what it will be like when I am with her again.... here are some of the lyrics:

"I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side

I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine"

Grab the kleenex and watch this video: I can only imagine

Every single day

I've thought about Lake Placid every single day since we signed up. I've thought about the training, I've read incredible race reports from this year's athletes (truly inspirational), I've thought about special needs bags, nutrition, who will be there, hills, hills and more hills. I've thought about Lake Placid every single day.

I've come to the conclusion that in order to be successful I will have to think about Lake Placid every single day and I love it. It shows passion, excitement and commitment....the cornerstones of success.

The Whistle

Today was my last race of the season...the Gloucester Triathlon. I was very happy with my time and place...40th overall out of about 800 athletes, but that wasn't the best part.

When we were kids playing in the neighborhood and it was time to come home we would hear my father whistle. It's a distinct, unique whistle so whenever I hear the sound I expect to look around and see my father. Today was different.

Last night I had asked my father if he was going to the race and he wasn't sure. Since my mother's passing last year he doesn't sleep as well. Sometimes he'll wake up in the middle of the night, watch tv and then fall back asleep. When this happens he may sleep in a bit, so I didn't know if he'd get up to Gloucester.

As most triathletes and spectators know the pre-race routine can be hectic and you're really focused on what you're about to do, so I wasn't thinking about my dad. The race started and when we excited the swim it was a long a run to the transition area. There were hundreds of people watching, athletes running to their bikes, basically chaos. I was focused on getting to my bike and then I heard it! The Whistle. I smiled immediately! I had no idea where he was, but I knew he was there. I heard it!

As I ran out of the shoot with my bike I heard The Whistle again, this time louder, so I knew he was close but I still didn't see him. I put my arm in the air with a thumbs up so he'd know I heard him.

When I came back from the bike and transitioned to the run I heard it again. This time I saw him and pointed at him as if to say, "Dad, I needed that". There he was with a smile on his face, cheering on his two sons.

The day ended well for my big brother... 25th overall. And the day ended well for me. I was very happy with the result, but the best part was The Whistle.

I love my father so much and he's a great guy. He made huge sacrifices for his family over the years including coming to American when he was 26 without knowing a word of English.
When my mother was at her worst because of the complications with Diabetes, he was at his best. My father Vinny is truly an inspiration for me and I am so thankful to have him as my father. Thank you Dad!

I know it will be an emotional moment in Lake Placid, but I can't wait to hear The Whistle.