Random Thoughts

This was supposed to be a rest week.  The weekly goal was 8.5 hours.  Since I missed the long ride last week, I put it in this week so I ended up with 15.5 hours of training.  That is good news,,, the better news is that I had my first session with the Physical Therapist.  The PT was great.  He gave me some good news.  He does not think that I have Shin Splints.  He thinks I have an irritated nerve in the lower back and that it is causing the pain in my leg.  I was skeptical at first because,, that is what I do.  He showed me a chart with the nerve bundle coming around from the back and to the front of the leg, down to the shins and foot.   He said that I have some balance / bio-mechanic problems that is causing my back to inflame the nerve.  That combined with some flexibility problems in my ankle, is the root of the problem.  At least that is what he thinks.  He did a chiropractic maneuver and popped my back and lower spine.  Afterwards,,, believe it or not, the pain was diminished quite a bit.  He gave me some exercises to help strengthen my core.  I ran three miles on Friday.  It was good to run again,, although it felt weird,  The good news is that the pain in the shin was tolerable.  It has gone down quite a bit so I am optimistic that it will go down with time.  In the meantime, I am continuing to use the elliptical trainer and Aqua jogging.

Highlight of the week:  Brody Michael Jones was born on Sunday the 14^th.  I am a grandfather.. It does not get much better than that.