My Last Chapter of the Cadence Kona Challenge

I finally had an MRI on my knee and it looks like there is Arthritis. I now have to take the images to a sports doctor who can fully diagnose the problem and hopefully help me with an action plan to get back running. Its been about 2 1/2 months since I completed the sprint triathlon that seemed to be the breaking point. Since then I have been to see 3 different types of therapists, submitted a lot of receipts to my healthcare plan, and spent a bunch of myown money to try and get this fixed so that I could run and get ready to do Arizona in November.

I thought if I could be running by the end of August then I still would have 13 weeks to prepare. I wouldn't have cared if I had to run slower, just that I could run. Well, that hasn't been the case. I have tried once a week for the last 2 months and each time I haven't made it more than 2km then I'm done. Its not one of those pains that if you walk a bit then you can start up again, its like a knife being plunged into my knee and then I have to endure this as I get myself home. Walking becomes extremely painful. After a couple of hours its gone and I'm back to normal. This has been part of the problem, when at the doctors or physio, they pull and stretch and prod but it usually doesn't cause any pain. I can bike moderately and swim with very little discomfort so I would get excited and head out for a run thinking that its going to be OK but like I said, I have had no luck.

So, I have cancelled my plans to do Arizona, and also the Muskoka 70.3 Ironman next week. But all the news is not bad. I did register for the Ironman Calgary 70.3 and also got an online spot for Ironman Canada. I have almost a year to get this knee figured out and I'll be able to finish what I started. Calgary will be fun as we have family there we can stay with and my wife's cousin has also signed up and this could be his first triathlon. Not too many people sign up for a 1/2 Ironman without previous experience so give him full credit.

Ironman Canada, I believe was the universe consoling me for having to drop out of Arizona. I was trying to think of an event that I could do next year but you're limited to what is not already full, and then I got the e-mail sayiny there would be online registration so I made sure I was at my desk and got a spot at 12:00:01. My sister and my father live a few hours away from Penticton so it will be a good chance to see them next year.

This will probably be my last blog, honestly, who really wants to hear about a guy struggling with a knee injury? I find this boring to write about now but it this can be my closure. I've had a pretty cool year, a few trips to New York, my spot in Triathlete magazine, some pretty awesome prizes, and reaching a level of fitness that I had never experienced. I have had a few problems along the way and this last one put a dark cloud over everything but I still completed the Florida 70.3 and I know that I could have done a full ironman if my knee was healthy.

This has been an interesting interlude in my life. Would I do it all again? in a heartbeat. I might change a few things but for the most part its been a good ride. The mental aspect of triathlon is huge and I believe I did fairly well. I was surprised with myself after Florida that I wasn't overly excited about finishing. I was happy with the finish, glad to be a part of the experience, but I still thought "That was it?" It didn't seem like a big deal. At that point I knew I was ready to do a full Ironman, I wanted to go longer. I wish my brain and my body were on the same page! Cause I'm sure my knee was saying "That is it!".

I would like to thank everyone who read, commented, sent notes, voted, talked to, etc. etc. etc.
Whats more fun than Triathlon? Talking about Triathlon, and I've done my share on the topic this year. This is what helps motivate you.

Oh yeah, I have one final note before I sign off....Al, who rocked the bike in Smith Falls? Yup, it was me!

Scott