Roller's

I designed the most effective, inexpensive study-massage-rocking chair there is. After being done with the Erector Spinae group and the QL, move on to sit on it and work the hammis and gluts. That wooden thing is a "Ma-Roller". Foam Roller for "hard" cored athletes I guess.
The other invention would be the ice-roller. It is a water bottle filled with water and put in the freezer. Use it like a foam roller and have a ice-bath effect at the same time!

I take orders!!!

Maybe talking it off my head helps..

I torn my Anterior Tibio-Fibular Ligament on Saturday night. My ankle joint is quite messed up, too and greatly impressed the doc. The injury seems to affect the energy level of my entire body.
It is going to be a resting week after a 2nd try in the pool to go faster than a 1:30 per 100. Must be something wrong.. 1:30 for a 100; naa thanks- skip it.

What also pulled the plug of motivation is the fact that I won't be able to race ITU in 2011. The torn ATFL means I can't race the german cup necessary to get into the German Team for 2011. The 2011 races are qualifiers for the Olympics and now you can think out the rest of the story.
I am angry and feel treated unfair by the higher forces of the universe. At the same time, the situation lets me rethink what is important to me and my values in life. Being honest, realistic and re-evaluative with goals is usually required to get out of a current comfort zone and stepping up in the ladder of perfecting my personality to the very best I can be. So therefore - It must be good for something. For now - not for anything.

Surfing New Zealand

I arrived in New Zealand yesterday and went straight to Piha to catch some waves for sunset. Getting to the swell involved walking through a hole in the rock wall, only accessible at low tide. It was awesome! And it was cold. The sunset was amazing and lasts quite long here. Next time I come back here I will have to bring my roadbike and MTB. New Zealand will host the ITU world champs in 2012.

Gold Coast visit worth it

Despite the fact that I was not able to train much the first week of my Gold Coast "train-ation", I have to say I did a good job making the very best out of every single day. I still feel a bit dizzy and out of balance at times, but my health is improving rapidly and I do have my smile back and my eyes are functioning as well again. Thank you all for including me in your Prayers! This week, my swim was coming back stronger with each workout. I have been swimming at Miami Pool, usually at the same times as the kids of the Pro-Ma Miami Swim Club. Emma Snowsill trains with them as well. Their Coach, Denis Cotterell has been part of the Australian coaching team, attending Olympic and Commonwealth Games, PanPacific Games, World Championships, and other international events. He gave me a few tips on my stroke and it feels even more amazing now to glide through the water. I have been doing 8.5 - 10k of swimming every day. Unfortunately I have not been in the ocean. But I have been doing jogs on the beach around sunrise or sunset, which always was a blast. I have met some very nice athletes here on the GC and once again I was confirmed that Triathletes are cool people - a family. And no matter where in the world you might be "new to the area" you'll be alright. Just smile and say hi and you'll make friends.

I moved to the Gold Coast yesterday to stay here over Semester Break with the intention to train with the Gold Coast Tri Crew's (which is now on hold). So already this morning, I missed Spinning class, bc I could not move properly outside. It will be a morning of waiting till the vertigo is better and then I am planning an easy walk on the beach, going from Burleigh Heads towards Surfer's Praradise. Which, in fact is not a bad alternative. It will be my first attempted walked jog in 2 weeks. I never really get what I am supposed to do at Spinning class anyways. So far, all I understood that woman in front was yelling was "Sick Race!!" - whatever that is... If I ever had to teach spinning class I would draw a graph on a chalk board of what the riding profile would look like and write the workout down like you have it during swim practice.

Adjusting

First of all, thank you so much for all your words, Face-bookers!! Today, I started to do some "movement exercises". It would all be no problem if I had not this severe vertigo going on and this sharp pain in my thoracic vertebra when there is compression on the spine. But I guess it was as good as it gets: So here is the lowdown: Swim: I can swim and put my ear in water, because there is no imflammation. The virus seems to have affected the vestibular aparatus. Swimming is the most challanging. I can't swim straight or at least it seems like I have to swim far right to go straight. Moving my head for breathing is killer; suddenly I don't know where up and down and left and right is- quite frightening experience in fact. So I do a lot of "hypoxytraining", meaning breathing every 7-8 strokes. I also need to take a 10" break to re-orientate myself after 50m. Basically: Slow-Mo -- But well. I can kick though. And I scull. And do single arm drills. It's all good! Bike: I can't ride on the road, because seeing things moving and moving my head throws me totally off balance. A friend of mine put it right saying, "don't call me because you were hit by car tyring to ride your bike." Good advice. So I went for spinning class to just move my legs a little and it was all good!! I need to get a trainer. They had some techno- not Tiesto, but decent stuff. I am still very weak; have not eaten much the last days either. Run: No can run. The pain in my spine when pounding is not acceptable and since i can't even walk without looking like a toddler, running is a no-go. BUT there is DWR. What would I be without my DWR. It is the best ever ever ever ever. EVER. My spine is not hurting, i move slowly enough not to get dizzy and nauseas. I love it.

Reminded how precious health is

I was diagnosed with a nasty viral infection and GBS. I started feeling like getting a cold starting last Wednesday, but kept on training; which I should not have. By Saturday I was flat. I noticed pain in my spine when riding my bike and later I was down with severe headache, dizziness and nausea. When gargling with Listerin that night, I noticed that my face was slightly paralyzed. My eyes did not close properly and i could not smile nor keep the Listerin in. Like having received a shot at the dentist. So off to the hospital. I have been hot and cold and shaking and freezing and feeling miserable for 4 days now and the paralyzing thing is getting worse. I can't speak right- all that comes out is a buff-buff-buff, I can't drink nor eat properly, but drooping it all over. Can't walk right. It is embarrassing. I am so dizzy that i can't even sit straight. I have one more final exams to take - Sports Psychology. I was really looking forward in hitting the library and books for that one, but now I have to stick to the basics. All in all I was reminded to not take health for granted and how lucky I am to have a body that usually functions 100% and beyond. Although the paralyzing thing can get worse and usually sticks around for 3-6 months, I know I will be fine.