Hey Yardbarker!

I can't believe it is already August. Mom says time goes faster and faster as you get older. Eek.

In between losing tons of money in a virtual stock game (Garmin and Electronic Arts tanked my portfolio) I've been busy easing my way back into some racing. I've been stretching myself a bit, trying some things I have never done before. On July 26 I competed in two back-to-back open water swim races at Lake Del Valle. (don't ask me where that is, nice place though). I squeezed myself into a wetsuit and swam the .5 mile event, placed 2nd and then swam the 1 mile race. I placed third! The lake was lovely and overall I didn't get clobbered too much in either race. With the amount of physical contact that happens in swim races, you'd think some folks were training for an MMA fight. You don't see the blood because of the water, but man, the elbows to the head and face are just as brutal!

So I've been getting my swim legs (or arms) back and that helps a bit with the confidence. Tomorrow I will be racing the Vineman Aquabike in Sonoma. "Aquabike" is a swim/bike event. A few years back USA Triathlon started a pilot program to test this race configuration along side triathlon events. The idea being that some folks are unable to run, but can participate in swim and bike events. Since I am out of run commission myself for a bit, I thought this is a great opportunity to compete and be part of the racing scene again.

I'll admit I'm nervous. I haven't raced since the ITU Long course Duathlon World Championships last October. I know my fitness is not quite there yet, but I've always believed in 'racing into shape.' Sitting on the sidelines doesn't help any! I'm getting my gear ready and will be headed to registration today to pick up my numbers etc. To keep things in perspective and keep the focus where it should be (on being grateful to compete and having fun) I'm going to race my road bike and not the fancy time trial machine. I figure I will race that rig when my mind and body are really ready to fly. (I'll post pictures of the new time trial bike soon. It is s-w-e-e-t!).

I'll let you know how it goes. It is another step forward. I won't take it for granted. Whatever you have planned for the weekend, soak it up and enjoy!

Hey Yardbarker!

It has been an exciting week with the Olympic Trials for Track & Field wrapping up and of course, the Tour de France. (Don't get me started on Beltran).

I've been flat on my back half of the week following my latest visit to the doc, but its given me an opportunity to read, write and watch some great sporting action.

Here is an brief excerpt from my latest blog entry.

So much of feeling positive and being positive is surrounding yourself with that which brings you joy. For me, being outdoors and spending time with my furry friends is among the chart toppers. Everyday this week my husband and I have been going to the local dog park with our chihuahuas, Zola and Bella. Admittedly we have to keep a close eye on the girls as other larger, canine park visitors might mistake them for a tasty (albeit bony) snack. Still, it is worth everything to watch Zola chase and retrieve her red frisbee.

Great Britain's Chrissie Wellington is nothing short of amazing. This time last year no one in the world of triathlon had heard of this spunky Brit. The Ironman World Champ and three time Ironman winner made it four titles today as she won Ironman Germany. As far as I know there is no triathlete who has won their first four Ironmans. Even more amazing is that Wellington posted the second fastest Ironman time in history clocking an 8:51:24. Only the great Paula Newby Fraser has gone faster. (Wellington was about :31 seconds off of Paula's time).

It is incredibly exciting and inspiring to see an athlete like Chrissie come out and produce such an incredible performance. Doing so raises the bar for the sport and shows the world's top (and future up and coming triathletes) that there is a lot more potential in women's long distance triathlon racing.

Hey Yarbarker!

I've been enjoying my time here in Ventura. I'm taking some time to digest my back diagnosis and figure out how to cope with the reality of a body that has limitations. The doctor is not optimistic that I can return to competitive running or racing, but doctor's don't always have the final word. The great thing about triathlon is that there are three sports. I'll be grateful for what I can do and stay positive.

While my religion is now at least temporarily banned (running has always been my church), I can still ride and swim. So here I am, at the in-laws taking some time to re-group with bike, goggles and my chihuahua, Zola Budd, in tow.

I love the quiet thinking time I have while riding the roads of Ventura County. There are fewer cyclists and distractions compared to the Bay Area. I don't feel the need to test or prove myself and can just focus on being grateful to ride.

One of my favorite routes starts in Ventura, heads to Santa Paula, then to Ojai on 150 and then down the Ventura River Trail bike path to the ocean. Yesterday, I came upon a family riding their cruisers and MTBs on the path. My old self would have politely but quickly passed them by to continue on with my training session. On this day, I slowed down and I'm glad I did.

I ended up having a terrific conversation with "Mike." We talked about Ventura, getting married, kids, work, the cameraderie of sport and a little about triathlon. Mike shared that he was the guy who finished between Kathleen McCartney and Julie Moss at the 1982 Hawaii Ironman. How cool is that! He was a guy who was part of triathlon in the early days and finished smack in the middle of one of the sports' most famous moments. (If you are not familiar with the story, Julie Moss crawled to the Ironman finishline. As she painfully made her way there, Kathleen McCartney ran past her for the win) Pretty neat stuff. Mike says he does triathlons now and then, but always finds it hard to get into run shape. (Don't we all!?!).

I was happy that Mike was cruising along the bike path and not running that day. He gave me something to smile about until I reached the breathtaking views at the coast. Then my smile became a wide toothy grin.

Hey Yarbarker!

I'm currently in the Ventura/Santa Barbara, Calif. area to escape for a week or two to some of my favorite training haunts. I arrived in Ventura on Friday night and not a moment too soon. It was a rough week. I went in for another MRI last Monday to get some updated pictures of my back. The pictures were telling and the story not the type you want to write for yourself.

I am moving beyond the negative and going forward, but here is the jist of the situation. The last disc in my spine, the L-5/S-1 disc, is toast. When we saw the MRI pictures in April of 2007, the disc was in bad shape so I was expecting to see more of the same in the new pictures. However, I wasn't expecting to see the level of degeneration that exists. Basically the doctor said that he has never seen an athlete with my condition return to competitive running (or triathlon for that matter).

This diagnosis puts me in a very weird space. Do I read the writing on the wall and 'retire' or do I try to work around this back thing and return to racing?

I wish the answer were cut and dry. The doctor explained that currently the vertebrae are slipping on the disc casings. (There is no disc to absorb impact, so the vertebrae are literally moving around/sliding on the disc casings like riding a flat tire on the rims. This causes a lot of pain). The doc said that it is possible that when the casings 'dry out' I may have reduced pain and with that reduced pain the door might open for the possibility of running again. How fast or how competitive? There is no answer to that. How long might it take for the disc casings to dry out? Who knows. Could be months, could be a year or two. It is entirely possible that I could return to competition at a decent level down the road, but we don't know how long that road is.

Where do I go from here? The doctor has recommended that I undergo another round of epidural and facet block cortisone shots. That will help calm the inflammation and give me some relief so I can work on more strength training. He suggests that I don't run for 12 weeks or do anything of significant impact during that time. Of course, I am also advised to do as much core strength training as possible. I can swim and bike as tolerable. I've decided that all I can do is focus on what I can do and let the rest take care of itself.

I'm spending almost two weeks in Ventura clearing my head and enjoying my time on the bike and in the water. Although it is not realistic to lay out a race schedule for triathlon or running for the remainder of '08 at this point, I am trying to put together an event schedule for swimming and cycling events. At minimum I get to be out there enjoying the cameraderie of sport and maintain a semblance of the lifestyle that I have lived for so long.

I watched the US Olympic Trials for gymnastics on tv the past two nights. It was very inspiring to hear the stories of Alicia Sacramone and Chelsea Memmel. Granted their stories are entirely different than mine, but the fact that they overcame significant adversity helps me in trying to do the same.

After all 'trying' is all any of us can do. I'll be out swimming and riding tomorrow morning and being thankful for whatever my body will allow me to do. In case you are wondering, yes, I have a lot of other interests and pursuits. However, when something is an integral part of who you are and how you live, letting it go and moving on is extremely difficult. For me, I think I can let go of the competition, but losing the fitness and the body that goes with it terrifies me.

Hey Yardbarker!

I've updated my blog...check out the link for the continuation of the article below.

It would be an understatement to say that I am frustrated. In 2003 I had the first hints of something not being 'right' with my back. At first it was a little twinge that showed up in my lower back. What has transpired since 2003 includes a never ending treadmill of trips to chiropractors, physical therapists and specialists. I've had three MRIs, hundreds of adjustments, traction therapy for my neck and traction therapy for my back...

Hey Yarbarker!

My name is Rachel Sears Casanta and I will be blogging here on Yardbarker...the Yard's first professional triathlete!

Triathlon combines the sports of swimming, cycling and running and while it is a lot of work, its a great lifestyle. I hope that by reading my blog you'll become a fan of triathlon or even try one yourself. At minimum, I think you'll find the hot bodies of the triathlon scene motivation enough to take a peek.

Right now I am at a rough point in my career. I have been battling with a degenerative disc condition that makes even simple movements very painful. I honestly don't know what the future holds for me competition wise. I'm currently strengh training and cycling. I'll be adding back the swimming in the next week or two. With your support, I'll be back on the race circuit shortly.

My hope is that by sharing my situation other people with back issues, both athletes and non-athletes, will find solutions for themselves. Of course I want you all to know a little bit more about the crazy people that call themselves triathletes!

-Rachel Sears Casanta

See the top US male draft-legal professionals take it to each other in the 1.5k swim / 40km bike / 10k run at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I'll be watching the Tuscaloosa broadcast to see where Andy Potts and Hunter Kemper's race strategy faltered and how Matt Reed earned the win. The final team trials race will happen at Hy-Vee triathlon on June 22, 2008. No doubt it will be exciting. Who will it be snagging that final slot on the men's team Andy Potts, Hunter Kemper or does the field implode and see Doug Friman sneak in?

Lately it feels like I am writing only about death and injury. In cycling I guess that is part of the sport. I was sad to hear this morning that one of my friends and sponsor partners, Ryan Barnett, had a serious run-in with a truck warming up before the Roswell Criterium last Saturday.