Hoffa's Disease / Fat Pad Impingement

I am kinda sorta back from my blogging hiatus. I've been going to doctors nonstop.

Here is my doctors list:
3 Physical Therapists
1 ART Specialist
1 General Doctor
3 Orthopedists


Pretty awesome right? After all those doctors appointments and a lot of misdiagnosis I have finally been told what is going on with my knees. I have Hoffa's disease aka impingement of infrapatellar fat pad . That sounds like I have some end of the world illness. Not true. It's definately no cup of tea and I don't wish this upon anyone. It's actually pretty rare and not many studies are online (I'm such a champ at being injured that I get the "disease" nobody else seems to have). I am actually hoping that by writing on this blog post I may be able to get in contact with someone that has it or even better would be if they HAD it. I am trying to put the pain filled days behind me so if anyone has had this injury feel free to chime in at any point. I'd love to hear how you are dealing with it or have gotten over it.

Thanks for reading all.

Himalania Dark Chocolate Covered Goji Berries REVIEW

 Vitacost sent me a box of goodies I have been testing out over the past couple of weeks. Now I am finally able to share with you all the goodness. The next couple of weeks I will have reviews for you.

It's no secret, I love dark chocolate. (You probably do too so don't lie.) Sometimes you just feel like rewarding yourself after a hard workout with some dessert. I know I do. Dark chocolate is my go to for a treat. I'll always pass on alcohol is chocolate is an option. BYOC (Bring Your Own Chocolate) anyone?

 

 

Straight up, these Himalania Dark Chocolate Covered Goji Berries are pretty much impossible to not finish in one sitting. I have a little self control so I was able to make them last. They actually we perfect in a post-workout trail mix. In case you haven't tried a goji berry yet think of a raisin on steroids, natural steroids that is. Goji berries contain 18 amino acids, 21 minerals, glyconutrients for cell communication and more beta-carotene than any other food on earth. Talk about power packed!

Check them out on Vitacost

 Time to hit the pool for some laps!

Spring Sprint Race Results

 I did a little duathlon for kicks on Cinco De Mayo. I know I know everyone else was out drinking an excessive amount of margaritas and I was just trying to run and bike around in circles real fast. Honestly I didn't put much thought into this race. I signed up a week before and didn't really taper for it. (I mean it was just a sprint distance duathlon... how bad could it be?)

 Started out pretty strong.... too strong.... haha. I'm not a particularly fast runner. Never have been and probably never will be. I'm ok with that. (sorta) As you can see below I am keeping up with the boys and ran a 6:47 mile.

 

And now I am ahead of those boys. Silly boys. You just got chicked.

 

Then came the transition to the bike. I was in and out of transition pretty fast. I have no clue how that happened. I hadn't practiced that this season yet. So fast my mom even missed taking a picture of me. She is in all black on the right side of the photo below. She is looking for me haha

The first lap of the second run was better than I thought it was going to be. But I was obviously exhausted and my running form suffered. I managed to still sneak in as the 4th female overall and 1st in my division.

I do love me a 1st place medal.

Next up is the OC Duathlon this weekend. This Cinco De Mayo race was just a warmup for that.

Wish me luck on this insanely hilly course for Sunday. Why is the world did I sign up for a hilly race?

Workout:
Brick: 15 mile bike + 20 minute run

Counting down to ITU San Diego. 25 days away. Had to do the first brick since ummm last August. Went surprisingly well sans jello legs. Made me all the more confident for my first race. I am hoping to set a personal PR for the sprint distance.

I asked all my Instagram friends about this one. I am testing out different sources of fuel.  So far I am digging GU Roctane but I am open to suggestions. Let me know what you all use friends!

I went on the shoe search again. Ended up leaving the store with the saucony kinvara 3. The white ones not the pink/orange. (I am conservative with my running kicks.) I am hoping this is "my shoe" you know like the slipper in Cinderella. I'd love to not have to try a million different shoes again.

 

I'll leave you with a little doodle I did.

Escaping from the office

Today was the beloved rest day. So these photos are obviously from last weekend.  When the sun was out and I wasn't trapped behind a desk. I am slowly healing from my hamstring strain so that good. Now just battling endless aches and sore spots. I can deal with that though. Got a nice run in by the beach.

I love the weekends because I can end my runs on the beach. Running by the water makes for an excellent cool down.  My aunt and mom just got me this awesome Kentucky Wildcat shirt. My mom is from the lovely Bluegrass State so I proudly rock that wildcat blue.

Don't you hate it when people post sunset shots? Yeah me too...

Sorry I am not sorry.

I really dig where I live. Where else do you find a band playing on the ocean in March? Seriously.

My life is full of really rough choices. Which one do you think I picked up first? I so torn between spending money on triathlon stuff and everyday clothes.

Just one more piece of chocolate...

My diet to get to race weight starts tomorrow.

 

It won't last knowing me but I'll work on it. I figured if I wrote in in a blog post it might actually happen. Like I owe it to the internet to be true to this "race weight diet" uhhh yeah right.

 

Not true. I am training to kick your ass. Sorry to disappoint.

Things not to do with an iPhone.

Things you probably shouldn't do with a cheap iphone cover:

This. One little thing and wabam I drop my phone and it shatters. 

Whatever Vince and I are cool and ride our bikes like rebels.

Don't ask about my life on the edge. It's too crazy (as I wear a helmet).

We saw a guy catch a sting ray and then be a badass and release it back into the ocean without getting stung. Freaken' champ. I would have gotten stung for sure. That's the nice thing about biking by the beach: the view. It's to die for. Plus let's face it I am a wimp when it comes to hills.

It's raining now but hopefully the rain stops so the sun can dry my bike path for this week.