Cross your fingers

I am feeling really good lately (in terms of not having any knee pain)and part of me feels like this is too good to be true. I have been very careful in my progression and I am doing rehab and ART 3 times a week. I guess after 8 month of pain I can't help but question whether we nailed it this time. I can tell you that I feel an incredible high everyday I am out training. I feel like a little kid running and riding on all of the local trails. I have been in the pool a couple times this week too and I am even enjoying the pain of swimming laps =) It is so true that you don't know what you have until you lose it. For me, I feel like I lost a part of who I am. I won't race forever but I will go out and push myself athletically and I will always cherish the ability to do so.
So, from here I will just keep building and hopefully the knee will remain solid and it won't be an issue. I am on the ground floor in terms of fitness so it will take some time and a lot of hardwork to get back to the level I need to be at to compete but, mentally, I am ready for the challenge. If I can train pain free this year I will be a happy man and deep down I think I can pull off some good results ;)

Enjoy your new year celebrations...I know I will. We are saying goodbye to a tremendously challenging year...one that brought about a lot of heartache but also some of the greatest lessons I have ever learned. I am stronger because of 2009 and I will take that strength with me into 2010. It is going to be a great year...I can just feel it!

Road to recovery...

It has been a pretty hectic week....shipping Skinfit orders, meeting customers, visiting family, training/rehab, photoshooting, etc, etc. It has all been a lot of fun though!
My knee is feeling amazing. I have been gradually increasing my riding and running time. I even rode the mountain bike twice this week and it felt INCREDIBLE to be back out on the trails! I just love mountain biking and running on trails...not having the opportunity leaves a huge void in my life. I am taking it slow and I always feel a bit hesitant to even say my knee is feeling good since it has been so long since it has been 100% but the reality is that it is getting better everyday. The goal is to just take it nice and easy so that come Feb. I can start some "real" training. I am back at Rehab United a few times a week to increase mobility and strength...everyone in S.D. that is interested in becoming a faster, stronger athlete should seriously use this great facility!
Tuesday I did a photoshoot for Xterra Wetsuits. It was a great time despite the FREEZING air temp and wind! It is one thing to be out there running or something but to just stand there with very little on and be in and out of the water isn't that cool! Regardless, I met some great people and, once again, Glynn and Keith from Xterra Wetsuits impressed me. Their suits really are AMAZING! I can't wait to see some of these shots...the lighting was awesome! In 2010 Xterra Wetsuits will have 12 spreads in Triathlete Magazine so keep an eye out for them.


--Chris Lieto is hiding under the jacket =) It was a little cold in La Jolla!

Wednesday and Thursday me and the fam hit up Balboa park and the zoo. Good times showing everyone around and taking some time to really enjoy all that S.D has to offer. We also went to some great restaurants all over the county.

--Love this guy...all the hair reminds me I need a haircut!

Good times all around. Now time for Xmas celebrations starting with breakfast at the beach condo! Have fun out there.

New Skinfit blog post

Check it out!

More of the same with a tiny bit of exercise

Wow, I feel like I have been working everyday, all day to get this new Skinfit website launched. It has been a lot of work but we are finally close ( I swear!)and I am really excited about it. I have also been hammering out the 2010 marketing budget/plan and tapping into all of our resources to make sure we have a successful year and website launch. There is no shortage of stuff to do regarding Skinfit but the good news is that we are making some MAJOR headway! Seriously, some really good stuff on the horizon. In fact, we just signed a deal to sponsor the Tri Club of San Diego, which is the biggest triathlon club out there (thousands of people!). It is a great group and we are happy to be in their corner for 2010! Plus, we sponsoring Lesley Paterson 100% this year...she will be decked out from head to toe in Skinfit. Headquarters came through big on this one!

Switching gears, I was cleared to do some light riding this week. I am serious when I say light...30-45 min in my easiest gear. I have been doing it on the trainer. I also started back at Rehab United with stretching, super light strengthening, and ART. It does feel good to be active again even if it is for such short periods of time. I long for some hard riding and running but I feel so far off from that it is a bit discouraging to even think about it. So, baby steps and I hope things will turn the corner at the magic 6-8 week mark (post procedure). Living day-by-day at this point but I have come to accept it. Just focusing on the positives...good thing there are so many right now.

So, that is it from here. Just plugging along. I am certain all the hard work will pay off and you can bet I will be the first one celebrating when it does ;)

Have fun out there!
I found some good pics on the computer...sources of motivation for me in my quest to get back.

-First and last race as an Xterra pro (the past 2 years haven't been kind to racing!)

--The Skinfit boys at the West Champs (when it was actually in CA...bring it back!)

--Racing road trip...good times with good friends

Working hard....

Post Thanksgiving I am feeling FAT....ha, ha oh well. It was a fun holiday and I am rolling (maybe literally) right into Christmas!

I have been crazy busy lately trying to get the new Skinfit website up so we can maximize our exposure during the Xmas rush and Ironman World Championship viewing. I am so excited about our new website I can hardly contain myself. You will all see is soon!

I am still resting my knee, which means the only exercise I get is walking my dog on the beach (not bad I guess =) ). This Friday it will be 3 weeks post procedure so I think I will be cleared to do some light riding next week. We will see what the Dr. says. Whatever he says I will do b/c I want to be healed and back to enjoying the outdoors. So, if it means another week of nothing then so be it. I am going a little crazy but all the Skinfit work is keeping me more then busy. They say at 6 weeks the procedure should have regenerated the tissue. The procedure along with some "real" time off should do something good for me. I mean, really, all I want for Christmas is a healthy knee!!! Come on Santa!

Well, back to work. Just thought I would give an update. Have fun out there!