Several years ago, 3 and a half to be precise, I resumed my soccer career at the urging of an old friend and former teamate. I thought it would be a good idea to get in some speed work and continue to build stamina. There is nothing like playing soccer for 90 minutes to build muscular endurance. Halfway through the season, or thereabout, I pulled my left hamstring pretty good. Was pissed. Kept me off the field for about 6 weeks and took me out of my competitive traithlon season, for the season. Was really pissed. Anyhow, I rehabbed the leg and finished the fall season with the team and decided that I would not return the next year. I had joined Masters Swimming and that kept me very busy as it was. Plus I had a goal in 2001 that in 7 years (roughly the time it takes to mature your aeroic system fully), I would complete a full Ironman, so the swimming was the right move.

Anyhow, this past weekend I was called up to play in an Alumni Soccer game and lo and behold I jerked my other hamstring with about 5 minutes to go. Probably should not have gone out and played with the current state of the Lyme recovery anyway, but I love the game and playing on the old pitch is always worth it. So the strain is not as bad as it was three years ago, but it will set me back a few weeks in terms of long distance training, so I may have to hunt for a November or December marathon instead of October. I'll have to see in a week or two where I am. Yesterday I went for a 3.25 mile jog to see what the status was and the lower part of my right leg reacted to the impaired running done to support the upper leg and knotted and strained terrifically. I've noticed with the Lyme that the muscles are surely tighter than usual and the recovery is slower. The knot stayed for more than 24 hours and still feels like a Charlie horse. Great fun. Anyhow, tonight was strength for shoulders, chest and arms and some flexibility, so no big deal. Maybe tomorrow the bike...

Later, MW