Socks and Superstition

Following the marathon, I was pretty sore from say... the waist down. Actually, the hips were okay, but the tendons behind my knees (or at least that is what I was told by some of my colleagues at the university who teach kineseology and anatomy) were pretty tight. Not to mention my calves—which are already freakishly large according to my wife—felt swollen and stiff as well. I started to think about compression socks. Would that aid in recovery? Would race compression socks stave off some of my late race calf cramping? I started reading about both race and recovery compression socks in the usual triathlete and running magazines. Here is what I've learned:

The Theory: During a race, the body tries to pump blood to all of the extremities as equally as it can. However, over time, gravity causes blood to pool in the lower legs and feet often leading to fatigue and leg cramps. The rationale behind the socks are that they increase endurance capacity by enhancing venous return to the heart through a more efficient calf muscle pump. And there is also the belief that because muscles are kept more compact, balance is improved and muscle fatigue is minimized.

The evidence: According to a study conducted at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, there is no statistically significant differences in heart rate, or maximal oxygen consumption for runners who wore compression socks than those who did not on a treadmill test. However, runners who wore compression socks did have a faster lactate recovery rate after exercise suggesting a speedier recovery rate after a strenuous workout or race.

The Conclusion: Whatever the case, of the 1732 athletes that competed at the 2008 Ironman World Championship in Kona, 417 of them wore compression socks. From what I can tell, more and more athletes are subscribing to compression socks and that should not be taken lightly either.

Unfortunately, compression socks by manufacturers like SLS, Zoot and 2XU are expensive, averaging at around $54 hard earned American dollars. Which begs the question, will the $14 pair of compression socks from my neighborhood Rite Aid work just as well? I do not know if I am going to spend the dough just yet. Prior to running the marathon, I hadn't really had any soreness unless I was coming off of a really long training run (13+ miles.) There are so many other things that I could spend the money. I am starting to put a few more dollars in my piggy bank every week in the hopes that I will one day purchase an "affordable" tri bike.

Finger Lakes Official Numbers:

Place: 93 Time(With 2-minute penalty:) 2:38:07

Olivieri, Mark Bib# 85 Male 35-39 Place in Sex: 81 Place in Group: 13

Swim Time: 0:29:21 Overall: 84 Place in Sex: 70 Place in Age Group: 14 Pace 01:48

T1:02:27 Overall: 89 Place in Sex: 75 Place in Age: 15

Bike Time: 1:09:16 Overall: 42 Place in Sex: 37 Place in Age:10 Pace 20.5

T2: 02:22 Overall: 159 Place in Sex: 109 Place in Age: 19

Run Time: 0:52:41 139 109 16 Pace: 08:30 Position 2

A PR at Finger Lakes Triathlon

Waking up to a 38-degree thermometer at 4:30 in the morning was a little nauseating. I threw on a hooded sweatshirt and some sweatpants and put on some coffee and had a bowl of cereal.

I arrived in transition around 6:20 and it was already bustling with activity. I thought for sure I would be one of the first crazy folks down there. I should have known better.

They have not published the splits yet, so I can only guess what my times were. I think I had a PR on the swim though. I looked at my watch running to transition and I had 24 minutes. As I was exiting the water my long-time training partner, Adam Groom was right behind me and gave me a complimentary "nice job Marco!" "Hey—you too," I responded. Turns out, we had been swimming right next to each other almost the whole time.

I passed a lot of people early on the bike who were probably still trying to regain their breath after a "brisk" swim in the barely 50-degree air. I believe the water temperature was about 62-64 degrees. How is that for a little motivation to swim fast? My bike was okay. My legs, knees, and feet were still very fatigued from the marathon the week before. I averaged around 17.8, which I thought was pretty slow for me. I had done that course earlier in the year and averaged near 20. The run was the most worrisome. I had been thinking about it the last 6 miles of the bike. How was I going to feel? When I arrived in transition, I downed a couple of more Hammer Endurolytes with some water and I was on my way to find out. I made it through the first 3 miles without stopping. Half way through the second loop I could feel my knees tightening up and I tried to convince myself that it would pass. I had to walk off the lactic acid, or the residual pain I was feeling from the marathon (which I am convinced is the case.) I finished with a time of 2:36, BUT I looked online today and it appears I received a penalty for mounting my bike incorrectly. Man! That would have been my first top 10 age-group finish. It effectively moved me from 9th to 13th place. That is a major bummer. I do not think I actually did anything wrong, but that is part of racing. If one of the race officials said I did, then I will have to honor that ruling. Still, this race gave me great confidence going into next season. I know I have a 2:26 in me yet. If I can put together my swim yesterday with some improved running (and run penalty free) I know I can do it!

15 September 2009

Hi Everyone. Still a bit sore for the big run on Sunday, but not terrible. I can now walk without looking like I am nine months pregnant! I am headed to the pool this evening for a cool 1800 yards. That should help those legs. I am bringing my oldest son who will be competing in his first kids triathlon this Sunday—a 50 meter open water swim, 2 mile bike and a quarter mile run. I am more excited to talk him through transition than I am about my own race.

MARATHON MAYHEM!

I ran the Rochester City Marathon yesterday. Well, when I say run, I mean I ran most of it. I walked more than a few miles from mile 18 on, but it was my first marathon and I did not have any idea I was going to actually run it when I woke up in the morning. How is this possible you ask?

Well, about a month ago I received a desperate mass email from this woman looking for a fourth person for their relay team to help with the marathon. Oh, and she also indicated that the registration fee was already paid for. I immediately shot her back an email and said "I'm in!"

Our schedules were so busy that I did not even meet my teammates until minutes before the race start. So, I told myself I am not going to wake up at five in the morning to come out here and run a 10K, I will just run a half. Well, at mile 13 I still felt great and I ran a 1:41 half. I was not pushing it hard, just taking my time. In the back of my mind I kept thinking, if there is the slightest possibility that I might run more, I better lay off. Long story short, I kept going, but I hit the proverbial wall at mile marker 18. I walked a bit, but talked to a lot of really cool people along the way who were in the same boat as me.

The good news: it was an amazingly fun training run for my next marathon: Wineglass Marathon on 4, October 2009 which it looks like I will run with my longtime training partner and friend, Adam Groom.

It is 24 August 2009. I am gearing up for my last triathlon of the season—the Finger Lakes Triathlon on 20 September 2009. I am struggling to want to run the last few weeks. I have been doing some short 4 and 5 mile runs, with nothing longer than a 10k. This is far different than the three half marathons I ran in the months before The Musselman 70.3 in Geneva. I just have not felt that motivated to run lately. Plus, we have had a unusually cool summer in western NY and my body has been so use to going out for runs in cooler weather with far less humidity than we are currently experiencing. It has gotten much warmer, with humidity around 90% every morning. Running has been a real struggle. I have wanted to get in the pool and work on my swimming and ride my bike. However, this morning I decided that when I hit obstacles in my training, I just need to find ways to mix it up a little bit. So, this week I am going to try and get some lengthy trail runs in—6 to 8 milers. I think this is exactly the kind of thing my psyche needs to rebound from my running slump.

I ran an uncomfortably hot 48.38 and 51:50 10k last week. I will rebound soon!

Cayuga Triathlon Skinny

First, let me say that I would never suggest that anyone ever attempt a ten hour car ride straight through the night to race the following day. This is exactly what this "braniac" did. The first 200 meters of the swim were brutal—the lake was really choppy and I was tired from lack of sleep. I also went out way too fast. I almost... ALMOST, turned around and headed back to shore. Then a little voice in my head said "C'mon, you've trained for this.. you just ran a half-Ironman. Get going, slow and steady."

I was happy with my bike and run:

1:13:00 (20 m.p.h. average) and 53:46 (8:40). This was the first triathlon that I was able to run the whole run leg without stopping.

Looking forward to see what is possible with adequate rest the week of a race. Look out Canandaigua!