The Two Week Curse

I am seriously cursed. I keep getting sick/injured 2 weeks before my races. Seriously. 2 years ago, 2 weeks before the alberta challange olympic triathlon I was coaching hockey and I tripped on the ice and landed smack on my elbow. While all the 5 year olds were laughing I was trying not to pass out. I went to the hospital and it turns out I fractured my elbow. So into a sling I went. I decided to do the race anyways since my elbow wasn't broken right through. The swim was interesting as I kept swimming sideways because my left arm had no strength. The bike was funny because if I was in the drops I couldnt put any weight on my left arm. The run was tough but that was just because running is always hard for me. Doing the race probably wasn't the smartest thing to do because to this day it still aches ocassionally, but I finished and I did my best.

Then there was the big disaster of last year. Where I fractured my foot 2 weeks before the osoyoos half ironman. And guess how I did that? getting out of the SWIMMING POOOL. Yes, my arms were tired, I slipped and I bashed my foot. Convinced I was fine I went through the entire day before finally going to the hospital, where they told me I was fine.. because I mean who breaks their foot getting out of a swiming pool right? Finally, a foot specialist and a bone scan later it was confirmed that I had fractured my cuboid, and had to miss the race. Then almost the entire summer since I was in a air cast and crutches until August.

Well, the race organizers last year were understanding and postponed my race until this year, and it happens to be in 2 weeks from today. Remember how I was super sick and was put on antibiotics. Then I thought I was either getting sick again or having terrible allergies. Well, turns out I was getting sick again, and the cough came back. Then this past week I was SOOOO exhausted. Like getting out of bed was a chore. I was light headed, and was short of breath even just chewing food and walking around the block. Finally friday I decided to see the doc. Well he listened to my lungs and decided that the bacterial infection I had 2 weeks ago was back.. and that it wasn't just any bacterial infection it was pnuemonia. Aparently when you have pneumonia but can still somewhat function it's called walking pnuemonia... which gives me the mental picture of a bunch of infected zombies walking around (which is pretty much like how I felt.) So he put me on some MEGA antibiotics. The kind that is going to kill pretty much anything in sight, including good bacteria so the pharamists also put me on probiotic pills to take as well. Ugh. The doctor ordered me to rest. SO what does rest mean to a triathlete? cutting your 3.5 hour bike into a 2 hour bike of course. I did get 2 hours in yesterday but I had to make sure my heart rate stayed pretty low so that I didn't start coughing up my lungs.. literally. Then today I tried to run, but that only lasted 15 minutes because my breathing became very laboured and I was coughing hard. Not the best thing for your ego when you have a race 2 weeks away. For this coming race I have no expectations except finishing the darn thing.

So there you have it. I am cursed. 2 weeks before my races something always interfers and I dont think I've ran a race healthy/injury free.... ever? Oh well, that doesn't mean Im' going to give up... I'm just going to do the best I can. That's all anyone can ask for. Ben asked me the other day if I enjoy training, and the funny thing is I do. I love going for those long runs and bikes. But aparently my body disagres.