1. The black numbers on my skin letting me know today, I am a competitor
2. The Big A$$ gatorade bottle at the transition zone!!
3. Knowing I am most competitive with my old man in the water (GO TURTLES!! YAY)
4. The way the sun looks above the water in the early a.m. from the shore
5. The tightness in my stomach pre-race that lets me know I am gonna push hard today
6. The big huge transition, start and finish inflatables
7. The awesome volunteers
8. The calmness I feel when it's me and the water
9. The lactate building up in my legs on the bike, knowing I have to run yet
10. Washing my feet in the bucket to get all the sand off after I get done with the swim
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
SCS - Still Can't Start
Friday morning I received a call from my doctor confirming I did indeed have iron deficiency anemia. Great, one more thing to hold me back (or an excuse to be as slow as I am). I wish I had discovered this ailment sooner, but I guess it makes sense. I have many of the signs, cramping, restless leg syndrome, chronic fatigue, heart palpitations, irritability and slow to heal. The doctor recommended this iron supplemant called Slow Fe which is supposed to cause the minimum amount of constipation and stomach irriatation as possible. So far so good. I am doubling the dosage in hopes of coming back sooner than a month.
As for the foot, well the jury is still out on that one. I am still waiting until next Wednesday to go for my MRI. I hope whatever it is I can fix all this once and for all. It is kind of bumming me out to hear all my friends going off to fall races and knowing I can be there on the roads with them. I am hoping to get my lazy ass up one of these mornings and start hitting the "Y" for some early a.m. swimming as soon as the iron pills take effect and I don't need to sleep 10-12 hours a day.
As for the foot, well the jury is still out on that one. I am still waiting until next Wednesday to go for my MRI. I hope whatever it is I can fix all this once and for all. It is kind of bumming me out to hear all my friends going off to fall races and knowing I can be there on the roads with them. I am hoping to get my lazy ass up one of these mornings and start hitting the "Y" for some early a.m. swimming as soon as the iron pills take effect and I don't need to sleep 10-12 hours a day.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Piece by Piece
That's how I am going to get healthy and back into running.
Back to the doctor again for my foot, my cramps in my legs and arms and my inability to breathe when under stressful conditions.
The pain I had been experiencing in my left foot over the last few months when I get up outta bed and after a run had not gotten any better. I took off from running for 2 weeks in July hoping it would help, but it didn't. I ran the river run on September 9 and have not run since, but that didn't help either. It still HURTS!!
Got to the doc's at 2:30 and after check in found out one of the residents that was shadowing my doc was a childhood friend. She looked great and was graduating from OU with her focus in pediatrics. the doc had me take off my shoes and socks and gently pushed all around looking for tender spots. She found one very localized spot on my 3rd metatarsal. Her guess was a stress fracture, but she wanted x-rays. I walked for her to demonstrate my slighltly gimped walk and then headed over to x-ray with my paperwork. X-ray took all of about 15 minutes and then I was back in my doc's office and guess what.... NO FRACTURE!!! She explained that it should show up by now, but you never can tell with these sort of things, so she ordered an MRI which I am going to try to schedule next week.
On another note I had explained that I thought the cramping in my lower calves was due o some of the tendonitis but she thought it could be related to an iron deficiency so again I headed to another lab for a blood test (CBC, iron, ferratin).
I also found out I may have been misdiagnosed with regards to my asthma. Asthmatics have trouble getting the air out, but I have trouble getting the air in and the inhaler has not been effective. My doc once again made an attempt to fix me by stating that I may have vocal cord syndrome in which the vocal cords close upon inhalation and air can't get in!! Now that sounds more like it. She wrote me a script to go see a speech pathologist that takes only 1 trip to her office to fix it!! I am in for that. I see RECOVERY in my future.
Back to the doctor again for my foot, my cramps in my legs and arms and my inability to breathe when under stressful conditions.
The pain I had been experiencing in my left foot over the last few months when I get up outta bed and after a run had not gotten any better. I took off from running for 2 weeks in July hoping it would help, but it didn't. I ran the river run on September 9 and have not run since, but that didn't help either. It still HURTS!!
Got to the doc's at 2:30 and after check in found out one of the residents that was shadowing my doc was a childhood friend. She looked great and was graduating from OU with her focus in pediatrics. the doc had me take off my shoes and socks and gently pushed all around looking for tender spots. She found one very localized spot on my 3rd metatarsal. Her guess was a stress fracture, but she wanted x-rays. I walked for her to demonstrate my slighltly gimped walk and then headed over to x-ray with my paperwork. X-ray took all of about 15 minutes and then I was back in my doc's office and guess what.... NO FRACTURE!!! She explained that it should show up by now, but you never can tell with these sort of things, so she ordered an MRI which I am going to try to schedule next week.
On another note I had explained that I thought the cramping in my lower calves was due o some of the tendonitis but she thought it could be related to an iron deficiency so again I headed to another lab for a blood test (CBC, iron, ferratin).
I also found out I may have been misdiagnosed with regards to my asthma. Asthmatics have trouble getting the air out, but I have trouble getting the air in and the inhaler has not been effective. My doc once again made an attempt to fix me by stating that I may have vocal cord syndrome in which the vocal cords close upon inhalation and air can't get in!! Now that sounds more like it. She wrote me a script to go see a speech pathologist that takes only 1 trip to her office to fix it!! I am in for that. I see RECOVERY in my future.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
One Spoonful of Stress Please
I am trying to keep up on this blogging thing for my brother who is as I stated in my last blog in Mississippi preparing to go to Afghanastan.
Stress, stress, stress. I try to keep my blogs positive, but the shit has really hit the fan. My brother has left for the military, both my grandfathers are not doing well, I think I have a fracture in my left foot and to top it off I think I may have moved in with the roommate from hell!!!!
I know I can be a cold bitch and compartmentalize my emotions when I find it is futile to communicate with someone or change a situation, but right now I just want to sleep. I keep praying my family will remain safe, and hoping my roommate will come around. I wish we could agree to disagree, but it just seems like no matter what I do I feel as if I am offending her. I can feel myself going on the defensive and wanting to do prepare for a war, but then just like a romantic relationship I get to the point where I realize she can't hurt me and I will be the bigger person no matter what the situation. The big downer though.... once again I see another selfish person that lacks hope and faith and can forgive. Once again another person that believes revenge and being angry are the way to go.
Oh, well on a positive note it will be a constant reminder of why I need to get my nursing degree and better my life.
Stress, stress, stress. I try to keep my blogs positive, but the shit has really hit the fan. My brother has left for the military, both my grandfathers are not doing well, I think I have a fracture in my left foot and to top it off I think I may have moved in with the roommate from hell!!!!
I know I can be a cold bitch and compartmentalize my emotions when I find it is futile to communicate with someone or change a situation, but right now I just want to sleep. I keep praying my family will remain safe, and hoping my roommate will come around. I wish we could agree to disagree, but it just seems like no matter what I do I feel as if I am offending her. I can feel myself going on the defensive and wanting to do prepare for a war, but then just like a romantic relationship I get to the point where I realize she can't hurt me and I will be the bigger person no matter what the situation. The big downer though.... once again I see another selfish person that lacks hope and faith and can forgive. Once again another person that believes revenge and being angry are the way to go.
Oh, well on a positive note it will be a constant reminder of why I need to get my nursing degree and better my life.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
30 Already??!!!
It has finally happened. I turned 30 two weeks ago and I hate thinking I am not in the 25-29 AG anymore. I do like the fact though that most people guess my age at 25-27.
I have been so busy. But here is the shizzy.
My brother left for Mississippi on October 1st for 3 months and then to Afghanastan for a year. I miss him already and there is no address to send him stuff to available yet. I send him text's but he is very busy and I have only gotten one. I bought bands that say "Support the Toops." Everybody at work wears them and so do my parents. I try to pray for him every day. He is a soldier, but in my eyes, he is my little brother.
I moved into my new rental. It is a wash. I am happy to be on my own as I am 30, but I miss my dog and the shores and the lake. I miss a few hundred dollars every month now too (ha ha). The rental is okay. I have painted and done a few minor things to fix it up. I bought a big television, towels and everything is coming along okay. My roommates are pretty sweet. Some minor issues to work through.
My boyfriend is still wonderful. He has been helping me move my stuff and no matter what the task or activity we enjoy being in each other's company (even when painting or moving in the hot, humid heat).
I am also enjoying my Muscular Phys class and hating my immunology class. I am barely passing. It is soooo much harder than I thought. I am debating whether I should drop the class now. Oh, well we took our first test on Friday. If I got a C I will be satisfied.
I have been so busy. But here is the shizzy.
My brother left for Mississippi on October 1st for 3 months and then to Afghanastan for a year. I miss him already and there is no address to send him stuff to available yet. I send him text's but he is very busy and I have only gotten one. I bought bands that say "Support the Toops." Everybody at work wears them and so do my parents. I try to pray for him every day. He is a soldier, but in my eyes, he is my little brother.
I moved into my new rental. It is a wash. I am happy to be on my own as I am 30, but I miss my dog and the shores and the lake. I miss a few hundred dollars every month now too (ha ha). The rental is okay. I have painted and done a few minor things to fix it up. I bought a big television, towels and everything is coming along okay. My roommates are pretty sweet. Some minor issues to work through.
My boyfriend is still wonderful. He has been helping me move my stuff and no matter what the task or activity we enjoy being in each other's company (even when painting or moving in the hot, humid heat).
I am also enjoying my Muscular Phys class and hating my immunology class. I am barely passing. It is soooo much harder than I thought. I am debating whether I should drop the class now. Oh, well we took our first test on Friday. If I got a C I will be satisfied.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
River Run 1/2 Mary
The River Run 1/2 marathon was today and boy was it wet! This race is pre-registration only and as a seasoned runner who knows she can survive a half I felt obligated to make an attempt at running in a possible down pour. I had told the Walrus I would meat him at the finish and drive him to the start since it is point to point and we did not want to ride the bus from the finish to the start or vice versa. The rain was sooooo bad on the way out there in some spots my wipers on high were barely allowing any visibility. I knew I was in for a wet, wet day. I picked him up around 6:45 am and we headed to Berea leaving dry clothes and his car in Rocky River. This is when Murphy's Law kicked into high gear. I had one gel with me for the day, but decided it would be best to take a second. I asked my dealer (the Walrus) for an extra and to my dismay he did not have any (not even one for him). I knew I was running this race as a training run and decided I would just give him mine and hope not to "bonk" somewhere in the race. One of my favorite quotes is "The Body achieves what the Mind believes." Well, I knew I could make this run, just might not be anywhere near a good time for me. Next I asked what he had done with the keys to the bad scandanavian auto (the Saab - the piece of shit). He held them up and I said "are you going to carry them to the finish?" He looked perplexed. He didn't want to lug keys around. Thankfully our friend JR would be there and we hoped she would take them with her. We were in luck she did.
We got to the park at about 7:25 am hit the bathroom, switched into our running gear and grabbed hats. Lisa Mathews and I decided to run together and chat for the first part of the race and I actually got to look around and enjoy the scenery. I was running right around a 9:00-9:30 pace which was a bit slow but it was a training run. My feet became soaked by mile number 4 and stayed that way for the remainder of the race.
The rain never completely stopped but I did enjoy watching everybody coming and going around me. Around mile 9 I had to go to the bathroom as always seems to be the case this year (Blah!!). I was going to stop at the port-o-potty but this tall blonde beat me and I did not want to waist THAT much time waiting so I plodded onward in hopes I could literally keep my shit together :) I began to relax at mile 10 and opened up my stride for the last 3 miles and decided to finish as best I could with only a bit of gatorade and a mint.
I crossed the finish in 2:03.01. Not even close to my PR, but I found success in the fact that I had a comfortable run, finished with no gels, could still walk, didn't feel like shit and beat a girl in the Road Race Series that I had yet to beat!!
Now I need to rest the foot. Still can't figure out what the heck is going on with it.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Where the Hell did yesterday go???
Crap!!! Has it really been so long since my last blog.
As always I am swamped with too much to do and not enough time.
Here is the 3 week recap.
After the GCT I went to the doctor and had my pulmonary test done. The findings.... I have a 33% increase in my smaller airways with an inhaler. Normally, people don't even need them, but when running or doing intense activity they are utilized, so now 2 puffs about 20 minutes before running.
The following Saturday I ran the JCM 5k in Hudson. I used my inhaler for the first time. I decided to run it as a tempo run and NOT kill myself since I had the Perfect 10 miler the next day. The first mile was at 8:00 flat. I felt good and just tried to stay relaxed. The next mile I slowed and that was where I stayed for the rest of the race. The inhaler did not seem to make a difference. I was still wheezing a little the last mile. I finished in 25:30 thinking I would probably get 3rd in my AG, but I was just a bit too slow that day. I took 4th (uuuuggghhhh). I did however, win a gift card to Yours Truly restaurant.
The next day I headed out to Mayfield for the Perfect 10 miler. It was overcast and big chance for rain. I wanted to beat my time from last year but I knew from yesterday's race my legs were still a bit tired (probably from the GCT). The course was a bit different from the year before due to construction, but 10 miles is 10 miles. I hooked up with some friends before the race joking about who was gonna beat who. The horn sounded and I began my longest race thus far without the comfort of my I-pod. My first mile was too fast. My second mile was even faster. What was going on??? There were some girls playing the Spice Girls on the radio around mile 3 and my time was still too fast, but slower. I later found out the mile markers were off. I was on my way to mile 4 when I realized I had NO gels. What a dumb mistake!!! It wasn't my first race!!! Shit!!! This could get ugly. The next 2 miles dragged on. I was tired. I couldn't relax and my breathing was a bit labored and I was picking up time every mile. I saw AS ahead of me and focused on just staying with her. I liked her pace. She was running very well. I made a decision then to run with her as I knew my PR was a very long shot and she was going to blow her's away. We stuck it out to the finish and she got one person by 2 steps at the finish!! I was stoked and gave her a big hug. Finished in 1:30:05 (I think). Not a good time for me. Chalk it up as long run for the week.
The next week I ran a 26:48 at Penitentiary Glen's 5k cross country course and then ran it again as a cool down and chatted with some friends before going out with my BF KK for drinks that tasted soooooo good!!! Best Bloody Mary's.
That Sunday the Walrus and I went to N. Chagrin to run with a group but my breathing was shitty and as I was on my way back to the car to get my inhaler a sweat bee stung me in the throat and motherf#cker did that smart! My throat swelled a bit and turned red but after some ice and walking I was gonna live. I opted to end my run at about 30 minutes that day and wait for everyone else with my coffee.
Wednesday I went to the Buckeye Trail to run for an 1:10 before class only to find not only was it treacherous, but there were coyotes! Yeah, frickin' coyotes. I heard them yelping nearby and could only pick up the pace and hope they did not eat turtles. I picked up a stick and as I ran for my life I looked at every tree wondering if I could climb it. Needless to say I made it out of the woods to the safety of my truck. I don't think I will do that again.
I have since then gotten in a couple nice long runs at N. Chagrin without falling, rented a house, partied with my brother who is leaving for Afghanastan in 3 weeks (which deserves a blog all of its own - soon to come) and managed to start another semester of school while working around 35 hours a week and prepping for my marathon.
As always I am swamped with too much to do and not enough time.
Here is the 3 week recap.
After the GCT I went to the doctor and had my pulmonary test done. The findings.... I have a 33% increase in my smaller airways with an inhaler. Normally, people don't even need them, but when running or doing intense activity they are utilized, so now 2 puffs about 20 minutes before running.
The following Saturday I ran the JCM 5k in Hudson. I used my inhaler for the first time. I decided to run it as a tempo run and NOT kill myself since I had the Perfect 10 miler the next day. The first mile was at 8:00 flat. I felt good and just tried to stay relaxed. The next mile I slowed and that was where I stayed for the rest of the race. The inhaler did not seem to make a difference. I was still wheezing a little the last mile. I finished in 25:30 thinking I would probably get 3rd in my AG, but I was just a bit too slow that day. I took 4th (uuuuggghhhh). I did however, win a gift card to Yours Truly restaurant.
The next day I headed out to Mayfield for the Perfect 10 miler. It was overcast and big chance for rain. I wanted to beat my time from last year but I knew from yesterday's race my legs were still a bit tired (probably from the GCT). The course was a bit different from the year before due to construction, but 10 miles is 10 miles. I hooked up with some friends before the race joking about who was gonna beat who. The horn sounded and I began my longest race thus far without the comfort of my I-pod. My first mile was too fast. My second mile was even faster. What was going on??? There were some girls playing the Spice Girls on the radio around mile 3 and my time was still too fast, but slower. I later found out the mile markers were off. I was on my way to mile 4 when I realized I had NO gels. What a dumb mistake!!! It wasn't my first race!!! Shit!!! This could get ugly. The next 2 miles dragged on. I was tired. I couldn't relax and my breathing was a bit labored and I was picking up time every mile. I saw AS ahead of me and focused on just staying with her. I liked her pace. She was running very well. I made a decision then to run with her as I knew my PR was a very long shot and she was going to blow her's away. We stuck it out to the finish and she got one person by 2 steps at the finish!! I was stoked and gave her a big hug. Finished in 1:30:05 (I think). Not a good time for me. Chalk it up as long run for the week.
The next week I ran a 26:48 at Penitentiary Glen's 5k cross country course and then ran it again as a cool down and chatted with some friends before going out with my BF KK for drinks that tasted soooooo good!!! Best Bloody Mary's.
That Sunday the Walrus and I went to N. Chagrin to run with a group but my breathing was shitty and as I was on my way back to the car to get my inhaler a sweat bee stung me in the throat and motherf#cker did that smart! My throat swelled a bit and turned red but after some ice and walking I was gonna live. I opted to end my run at about 30 minutes that day and wait for everyone else with my coffee.
Wednesday I went to the Buckeye Trail to run for an 1:10 before class only to find not only was it treacherous, but there were coyotes! Yeah, frickin' coyotes. I heard them yelping nearby and could only pick up the pace and hope they did not eat turtles. I picked up a stick and as I ran for my life I looked at every tree wondering if I could climb it. Needless to say I made it out of the woods to the safety of my truck. I don't think I will do that again.
I have since then gotten in a couple nice long runs at N. Chagrin without falling, rented a house, partied with my brother who is leaving for Afghanastan in 3 weeks (which deserves a blog all of its own - soon to come) and managed to start another semester of school while working around 35 hours a week and prepping for my marathon.
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