When you've got some broken bones........... My favourite song, not quite those lyrics but you know what I mean, the retro afficionado's will no doubt remember that this great song (A long way to the top if you wanna rock 'n roll - AC/DC)also has one of the simplest and greatest film clips ever - jammin' on a flat top truck croozin' down Swanston St. Melbourne, Bon Scott growling his lungs out, the Young brothers ripping fingernails off on their guitars and the Rats of Tobruk pipeband duelling the guitars with their bagpipes - it all made for an absolute classic.
My journey back to the top starts. It sounds a bit of a toss - 'back to the top', truely I never got there (top) in terms of results, but to me 'back to the top' is simply about me being in good enough physical shape to take on whatever task I want to apply myself too. I've stated in a previous post what my goals are and nothing has changed. What has changed a lot, though, is my body shape, it has reverted back to my pre triathlon shape (read: footballer or even better - attacking half back flanker!!), being very top heavy or thick chested and skinny legged. This is no doubt due to doing a stack of upper body weights and not much in the way of leg weights. This will hopefully turn around soon as I start putting more power through my legs. I've increased my riding up to 30 minutes a session which is once a day with spinning currently done in a 39/17 gear for a 'power set'. The gearing and time will no doubt increase until I'm back on the roads in early September.
Getting me ready of course is being left to the expert. John Quinn has been putting me through the wringer with some pretty tough and thorough workouts in the pool. It's amazing what a difference a true professional makes. His exercises are all very structured, with one drill complimenting the next drill until every part of my body aches and I can't take much more, then he pushes me a little further. A great part of my rehab is being able to do it with an elite AFL footballer who is also going through some trials of his own. Matty Egan plays for Geelong and has several honours next to his name such as being a member of the '07 AFL team of the year (All Australian team). He's a great bloke who has been struggling with a navicular (bone in the middle of the foot) problem and has turned to Quinny to try to get him ironed out for another tilt at playing footy. We're working together using a medicine ball in the water and various other exercises, some of which are semi competitive. It's hard work being put up against someone who has played at the highest level whose competitive nature really shines in the one on one stuff, but it does, and will, get me to the next level even quicker.
Before you start questioning my sanity with a medicine ball in the pool, the answer is yes! We are doing it. It really and I mean really puts a tremendous load on your core muscles when you have someone throwing a heavy ball at your scone, catching it, then throwing it back quickly before moving to the next post ready for the cycle to begin again. A full lap of the 25m VUT pool doing that and it is nearly time to bring the breakfast up ! I'll add some photo's in soon of rehab and me doing some drills with Quinny and that will hopefully better explain what I'm doing.
As for me, things are going great. Work is getting busier and I'm really enjoying working on a few personal goals I've set myself. Walking is easier although I'm still limited with distances ie: if I have to walk over 50 metres, use the crutches! All walking around home, the pool, gym etc. is done 'freestyle'. I'm enjoying weight lifting and have gone from struggling to bench press 15 kg's 2 months ago to benching 3 x 8 reps @ 60kg's just a few weeks back. I've done a few 1MaxRep tests where I was benching my body weight (80kg's), but as mentioned this will really taper off now as cycling places more emphasis on my legs.
I feel great, hugely positive and really can't wait to get back on the road and start working at getting closer to the goals I set myself.
Until next time, train hard, smart and safely,
Matty
