My Back Hurts

The Thing I’m Doing This Year #8

Not the greatest week of workouts. Wednesday I ran on the treadmill, felt great for 30 minutes, struggled a bit the second 30. Ran 5.2 miles in 60 minutes, as you can tell when it comes to running I’m more of a cyclist.

On Friday I got on the trail with no watch, so when that happens I use the stopwatch function on my phone, which I carry in the tiny compartment on my tiny CamelBak. It’s not ideal. When I was close to the top of the W’s, I decide to get the phone out, which basically requires me to dislocate both of my shoulders and then blindly figure out how to push/pull the phone out. On this particular occasion, after turning on the phone, typing in the pass code and finding the stopwatch, I learn that I somehow hit the stop button about five minutes into the hike.

So I have no idea what my time is, but the amazing thing was the psychological effect of not knowing. My first thought was, ‘well, I don’t have to push it now.’ But instead of freeing me to casually enjoy the hike, the hike becomes a chore. Trudging my sorry ass to the top of the W’s. And it didn’t get much better on the way down.

Finally, on Saturday, I go for a quick bike ride. Five miles in I feel the knot on my spine return. He didn’t go anywhere it turns out. My whole lower back pesters me. Throughout the whole 16 miles, I try to stretch out my back to no avail. At Sam’s final football game of the spring season, I sit on the ground.

My back hurts. I take a hot bath. Back hurts. Grunting and groaning, I do chores to get ready for tomorrow’s hike. I wash all my workout stuff. Fill up the gas tank. Make a new playlist for the iPod. Buy a new Ironman watch to track my intervals. I’m hiking to the incline sign. I’m getting up early and I’m doing this.

My back hurts.

The next installment … ‘Boys Round Here’

I’m doing the Tour de Cure this fall.
For more information, to join or donate, go here.