So far, so good. This month has been without madness and perhaps my luck is improving! I really like the idea of ending the year on a good note.
I have been putting in 45-50 hours/week trying to get in some OT to spend on Christmas gifts as I LOVE giving presents way more than getting them (my checking account probably doesn't agree). I plan to really delve into the shopping world with less than a week before Christmas just to put a little pressure on -- haha!
I was fortunate enough to receive a $50 gift card from Fleet Feet and a $200 gift card to Liquid Lifestyles from teh Stan Bugarcic Memorial Fund Raiser. I donated $100 in hopes of pushing the fundraiser line closer to the goal. I know the money is no replacement for his loss, but perhaps it will be one less thing for the family to deal with. MR even threw in a hoodie with the NCM logo and some gloves. I can never thank him enough for all the support he has given me through the years and volunteering at his races has become a favorite past time of mine.
I brought myself home a laughing hyena award that poked fun at my supposedly snapper bitten wetsuit that won me a brand spanking new one from Blue Seventy. I am not sure what kind it is, as it's on backordered until January. It just so happened my mom bought me a reaction for my birthday, but hey, who doesn't want 2 wetsuits? :)
And now, I am diligently entering contest through the holidays and hoping by a stroke or two lucky enough to win a brand new Garmin 910xt here: http://falkeetriathlon.blogspot.com/2012/12/win-new-in-box-garmin-910xt-gps.html. He needs 75 entrants or no dice -- I mean Garmin. So, go sign-up! I'd rather see a friend of mine get it. I mean if I don't that is ;)
I'm also doing the USATNCC to motivate myself to workout more. It's easier said than done. I was hoping to run 50 miles and swim 10-13. Running is going well, but I can already tell you the swimming is a #FAIL! I have hit the pool one time, so far --EEK!! I entered this DecDoubleDown challenge @girlsgonesporty too and I think perhaps when it's over I am going to be renamed this girls gone portly!! Ahhh!!
Anyway, hoping to pull out some workouts via gym rat style here for the next 2 weeks.... or more!
Monday, December 17, 2012
Monday, December 3, 2012
December -- Please Go Easy On Me!!
I was doing well for a minute there, getting a little more diligent about my blogging and then -- BAM!! Life happened.
This fall has been a little hard on me (to say the least). In August, I was hit by a car while riding my 2 month old brand spankin' new tri bike. Then in October I finally had the breast reduction I had wanted for about 20 years and with the arrival of Novemver, I had planned to head back to work in time for the holidays and put in some OT but unfortunately, my grandfather became ill and passed away.
Needless to say it has been hectic and now --- THE HOLIDAYS! I am taking each day in stride just trying to find a balance between work and starting to train, again. It's never easy and now seems even more difficult due to the fact my fatigue level has been worse than normal. I had my annual check-up and my red blood cells and hematocrit came back low with my hemoglobin right on the lowest point of normal. I assumed it was because I had surgery and RBCs take about 53 days to replenish themselves, but then I saw my TSH levels and those were moderately elevated, so that is the next saga for me. Hopefully, it will literally just mean a "magic pill" and no side effects.
To be continued....
This fall has been a little hard on me (to say the least). In August, I was hit by a car while riding my 2 month old brand spankin' new tri bike. Then in October I finally had the breast reduction I had wanted for about 20 years and with the arrival of Novemver, I had planned to head back to work in time for the holidays and put in some OT but unfortunately, my grandfather became ill and passed away.
Needless to say it has been hectic and now --- THE HOLIDAYS! I am taking each day in stride just trying to find a balance between work and starting to train, again. It's never easy and now seems even more difficult due to the fact my fatigue level has been worse than normal. I had my annual check-up and my red blood cells and hematocrit came back low with my hemoglobin right on the lowest point of normal. I assumed it was because I had surgery and RBCs take about 53 days to replenish themselves, but then I saw my TSH levels and those were moderately elevated, so that is the next saga for me. Hopefully, it will literally just mean a "magic pill" and no side effects.
To be continued....
Monday, November 12, 2012
Smelling the Roses Ride
I chose a flat loop that had no climbing in it and would take about 45 minutes. The plan was to keep my heart rate under 130, but from the moment I left my house it was in the 130-140 range. Undoubtedly, adding to the situation was my sore lady bits. Apparently, my lady bits are just like a muscle -- can't just go out there and ride for nearly 2 hours without having some residual. You can forget HTFU, I need to "harden the crotch up!" (HTCU!)
As I gingerly, pedaled up Glenwood I came up on a kid on his BMX bike riding on the wrong side of the road (against the traffic that is) and without a helmet. I could only shake my head in dismay. I whole heartedly wish there were stricter cycling laws in Ohio, especially after my own little body meets car, body meets cement episode. To make matters worse the kid started pedaling harder trying to "race" me on his side. I was very happy we were approaching the drug store where he was going and I was turning the opposite direction. It's like riding and defcon 1...all the time!
I began to relax a little after about 20 minutes and my heart rate started trickling down. I soft pedaled frequently and felt at times like I was barely moving, especially when I hit the spots with a headwind. I tried to look around and just take in the scenery and the fresh air. As I made my way back, I did 4 hard pushes of anywhere from 1-3 minutes at the end of my ride. I pulled in the driveway breathing hard, sweating and de-stressed.
By The Numbers:
Bike: 12.01 miles, Time 46:59, Avg 15.3 (with stops), Ascent 343Ft, Avg HR 143 (with pushes) 136 (without pushes), Max 182
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Let's Get It Started -- Again
Officially past the 2 week mark and stir crazy does not even come close to depicting the amount of restlessness and mild case of insanity I've acquired.
It never occurred to me that the "resting" for 2 weeks would be the most difficult part. Thankfully, the weather broke THIS weekend and I took the Joker out for a 28 mile ride (only the second one since Rev3) and I even (wo)manned up and rode past the crash site (GULP!!)
The light was read when I got to the fateful intersection. I spent the few minutes I had brushing away any thoughts of angst I had. It had been a freak accident (one I never wanted to experience -- EVER). My heart was pounding in my chest and my mouth was dry. I took a sip from my water bottle and debated turning left, instead of going straight. I was up in front of every car so they HAD to see me (right?) it couldn't happen again. When the light turned green I took the path most crashed (by me) passed Mario's with no cars passing me, let alone riding a white Aztecs side panel before crashing head first into the passenger's side door and richocheting off the cement ground with my face. Nope, I just pedaled right on by.
When I got home I managed a 3.5 mile trot through the grass around my neighborhood with 2 sports bras (like usual) with minimal bouncing and no pain. After 2+ hours of working out I still hadn't suffered enough, so I threw in some lunges and crunches for good measure. A sense of normalcy, had started to return to my life.
By The Numbers:
Bike: 28.79 miles, 1202 feet of climbing, 1:45:13 (with stops) avg 16.4 mph max HR 177, avg HR 158
Run: 3.47 miles, 32:49, avg 9:27/mile, max HR 187, avg HR 172
Wgt: 139 lbs. ( I gained about 5-6 lbs. since surgery -- grrrrrrr!!!!)
Friday, November 9, 2012
Franken-Boobie
I survived my surgery. It was of course, a little nerve racking as it included a foley catheter (which I begged them not to do, because of the risk for UTI's -- I had some when I was younger and boy do they suck!), intubation and lets not forget just plain old cutting into my chest for 3 hours.
My breasts are definitely higher, but I am (so they say) pretty swollen. He did indeed remove about a 1/2 lb. from each. I have sutures entirely around both my aereolas and from my side below my armpit pretty much to my sternum and from the bottom of my aereola down. My old nursing school buddies lovingly named me Franken-boobie when I met them for dinner one night. Apparently, my breast tissue is pretty dense which makes for some heavy solid boobies -- yippee. It also means it may take forever to heal. I think I thought I would see more of the finished product right away, but it looks like it will be a good 3 months before the girls are at the pre-planned size. I am swollen enough now I am at best a 36D. I can squeeze into my 34s, but with all the swelling it can be a little tight and uncomfortable on my sides.
The procedure itself was pretty easy for me. Once I received my IV and my surgical team confirmed with me about 8 times that we were doing a mastopexy with reduction, the doc took a marker and drew lines and dots where he wanted my new boobies to be. All I had to do then was just walk into the operating room hop up on the table lean back and within less than a minute I had new breasts. Well, it wasn't really a minute, but they spared no time in knocking me out that's for sure. I was glad because I couldn't eat or drink anything after midnight and it had taken over and hour to go from check-in to the OR, so I had time to get nervous, that's for sure. AH was so nervous I told him to go home and rest or go to the main building and get some food or shop, but he just sat in the Crile building diligently watching the screens to see when I was in OR and PACU.
I was able to follow commands almost immediately. My vitals were stable and i had no reactions to the general anesthesia. When I'd had my wisdom teeth out I'd woken up crying and hysterical and the nurses spent a good 5 minutes trying to calm me down, over what I will never know. I had a burning pain that I told them was maybe a 3-4 on a scale of 1-10 and without even asking they just gave me some fentanyl and boy did that stuff work fast. My pain was a 1 within a few minutes. The only problem was my head was floating and I thought I was going to vomit. They jammed some zofran in my IV with no improvement and then pepcid. Neither worked. I fought to stay awake and prove I was okay to myself. I muched on some water and graham crackers, but the crackers made the nausea worse. After about an hour they took out my IV, told me to get dressed and brought in a wheelchair. Just like that I was all done.
A transporter wheeled me down to the first floor where AH had pulled up the car and I gingerly transferred from the wheelchair into the front passengers seat. I didn't where my seatbelt as the band on my chest hurt and every little bump in the road jarred my breasts and caused a little pain. I complained to AH his driving was hurting me, so he started swerving more to avoid bumps, but that just made me feel like I was going to vomit. Finally after an hour drive in the car we made it home and I thankfully laid down in the recliner.
I ended up having to change the bandages a few times the first two days because of the drainage, but then they only needed changing once a day after that. It's been a little over 2 weeks and I can almost sleep comfortably on my sides. I do however sleep in a bra and I have since the surgery, which isn't very comfortable, but it's improving each day, albeit slowly. The steri-strips are off and the sutures will disolve on their own. I had to go to the doctor yesterday, because I felt like I had a UTI (I knew that damn foley was going to give me one!!) and they put me on antibiotics for a few days. Now it's just a matter of time and a whole lot of patience as I watch the girls heal and hopefully shrink.
My breasts are definitely higher, but I am (so they say) pretty swollen. He did indeed remove about a 1/2 lb. from each. I have sutures entirely around both my aereolas and from my side below my armpit pretty much to my sternum and from the bottom of my aereola down. My old nursing school buddies lovingly named me Franken-boobie when I met them for dinner one night. Apparently, my breast tissue is pretty dense which makes for some heavy solid boobies -- yippee. It also means it may take forever to heal. I think I thought I would see more of the finished product right away, but it looks like it will be a good 3 months before the girls are at the pre-planned size. I am swollen enough now I am at best a 36D. I can squeeze into my 34s, but with all the swelling it can be a little tight and uncomfortable on my sides.
The procedure itself was pretty easy for me. Once I received my IV and my surgical team confirmed with me about 8 times that we were doing a mastopexy with reduction, the doc took a marker and drew lines and dots where he wanted my new boobies to be. All I had to do then was just walk into the operating room hop up on the table lean back and within less than a minute I had new breasts. Well, it wasn't really a minute, but they spared no time in knocking me out that's for sure. I was glad because I couldn't eat or drink anything after midnight and it had taken over and hour to go from check-in to the OR, so I had time to get nervous, that's for sure. AH was so nervous I told him to go home and rest or go to the main building and get some food or shop, but he just sat in the Crile building diligently watching the screens to see when I was in OR and PACU.
I was able to follow commands almost immediately. My vitals were stable and i had no reactions to the general anesthesia. When I'd had my wisdom teeth out I'd woken up crying and hysterical and the nurses spent a good 5 minutes trying to calm me down, over what I will never know. I had a burning pain that I told them was maybe a 3-4 on a scale of 1-10 and without even asking they just gave me some fentanyl and boy did that stuff work fast. My pain was a 1 within a few minutes. The only problem was my head was floating and I thought I was going to vomit. They jammed some zofran in my IV with no improvement and then pepcid. Neither worked. I fought to stay awake and prove I was okay to myself. I muched on some water and graham crackers, but the crackers made the nausea worse. After about an hour they took out my IV, told me to get dressed and brought in a wheelchair. Just like that I was all done.
A transporter wheeled me down to the first floor where AH had pulled up the car and I gingerly transferred from the wheelchair into the front passengers seat. I didn't where my seatbelt as the band on my chest hurt and every little bump in the road jarred my breasts and caused a little pain. I complained to AH his driving was hurting me, so he started swerving more to avoid bumps, but that just made me feel like I was going to vomit. Finally after an hour drive in the car we made it home and I thankfully laid down in the recliner.
I ended up having to change the bandages a few times the first two days because of the drainage, but then they only needed changing once a day after that. It's been a little over 2 weeks and I can almost sleep comfortably on my sides. I do however sleep in a bra and I have since the surgery, which isn't very comfortable, but it's improving each day, albeit slowly. The steri-strips are off and the sutures will disolve on their own. I had to go to the doctor yesterday, because I felt like I had a UTI (I knew that damn foley was going to give me one!!) and they put me on antibiotics for a few days. Now it's just a matter of time and a whole lot of patience as I watch the girls heal and hopefully shrink.
Monday, October 8, 2012
Do you like the boobs?
That's become part of the Jersey Shore theme before every episode begins. Deena asks the question.
I've always had the same answer about my own -- NO!
For 20+ years now I have micromanaged the extra weight in my chest looking for permanent solutions and find a way to accept what God had given me. In High School I usually wore a sports bra and 2 when competing in sports. I even inadvertently learned to stand with my shoulders rolled inwards to minimize the hugeness of the girls. I tried a few nude, white and black "regular" bras that provided minimal support. I even bought a strapless once (it was a complete waste of money and fell down). I shyed away from swimming suits finiding them as supportive as a toothpick. I searched websites to no avail through the years for the right option and finally opted to go with a super powered "over the shoulder boulder holder" and a secondary sports bra over the top. It felt like my chest was being squeezed, but it was the best I could do to support them. I suffered through sore neck and back muscles and sternum burns throughout my years as an athlete (and still do).
Until now...
I had been considering a breast reduction / mastopexy since pretty much the day the girls showed up. My mother had scorned the idea saying "I needed to appreciate what God had given me." Over and over I tried to accept them, but enough was enough. I made an appointment in September with a plastic surgeon, went in for a consultation and scheduled an appointment to have them reduced. It was unfortunate they would not be covered under insurance because he couldn't remove 1 pound from each and I didn't have any severe condition my breasts had caused (i.e. chronic back pain). I was offered a 20% discount through my employer and only had to pay 38% up front, with the rest being deducted from my paycheck. I took the deal and signed the paperwork.
On October 24th, after years of fighting to accept my body and change it through physical activity and fancy bras I have decided to go under the knife. I'm a 34DD and have asked to be as 34B. I worry about the pain and the risk for infection, but when it's all said and done I hope to say exactly what my doctor's NP told me "women leave all the time saying they should have done this 10 years ago and are extremely happy."
Since the amount removed from each breast will be less than 1 pound it's considered a mastopexy. Here is a video (minus removal of tissue) of pretty much what they will be doing to me incisions and nipple resetting --- ouch and barf!!
Mastopexy 1
Mastopexy 2
I've always had the same answer about my own -- NO!
For 20+ years now I have micromanaged the extra weight in my chest looking for permanent solutions and find a way to accept what God had given me. In High School I usually wore a sports bra and 2 when competing in sports. I even inadvertently learned to stand with my shoulders rolled inwards to minimize the hugeness of the girls. I tried a few nude, white and black "regular" bras that provided minimal support. I even bought a strapless once (it was a complete waste of money and fell down). I shyed away from swimming suits finiding them as supportive as a toothpick. I searched websites to no avail through the years for the right option and finally opted to go with a super powered "over the shoulder boulder holder" and a secondary sports bra over the top. It felt like my chest was being squeezed, but it was the best I could do to support them. I suffered through sore neck and back muscles and sternum burns throughout my years as an athlete (and still do).
Until now...
I had been considering a breast reduction / mastopexy since pretty much the day the girls showed up. My mother had scorned the idea saying "I needed to appreciate what God had given me." Over and over I tried to accept them, but enough was enough. I made an appointment in September with a plastic surgeon, went in for a consultation and scheduled an appointment to have them reduced. It was unfortunate they would not be covered under insurance because he couldn't remove 1 pound from each and I didn't have any severe condition my breasts had caused (i.e. chronic back pain). I was offered a 20% discount through my employer and only had to pay 38% up front, with the rest being deducted from my paycheck. I took the deal and signed the paperwork.
On October 24th, after years of fighting to accept my body and change it through physical activity and fancy bras I have decided to go under the knife. I'm a 34DD and have asked to be as 34B. I worry about the pain and the risk for infection, but when it's all said and done I hope to say exactly what my doctor's NP told me "women leave all the time saying they should have done this 10 years ago and are extremely happy."
Since the amount removed from each breast will be less than 1 pound it's considered a mastopexy. Here is a video (minus removal of tissue) of pretty much what they will be doing to me incisions and nipple resetting --- ouch and barf!!
Mastopexy 1
Mastopexy 2
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Akron Marathon Relay - Five Fast Femme Fatale Freaks
Here we go again!!
The email offer from Daisy sometime in August. She was requesting the prescence of 4 additional females to participate in the Akron Marathon 5-person relay. The 5F have always put up a top 3 finish, even last year down one runner and with a turtle (myself) and I didn't want to be the reason they didn't again. This year with everything that happened (Rev3, the accident and my eternal ongoing battle with my foot) I felt it best to be a smartass and volunteer to be the 6th (wo)man and I emailed Daisy my as such intentions, to which she replied with a welcome to the 5-person team.
Aww, crap! I had only ducked under the 8:00/mile (barely) barrier a handful of times all year and holy cow did it hurt not only my lungs, but my foot and most importantly my pride. Every run I had indicated my glory days had come and gone. She reassured me it was "for fun." Ha! I had run a 5k two weeks prior and knew I would probably be about a minute a mile slower than everybody else, nevertheless they kept the fat kid.
I picked up my packet and a nice little pink outfit (it's FS women's sports from the national running center -- and I love it) at the expo as per instructions from our captain and took a few benadryl since I was still on nights and needed to catch a few hours sleep before the 4:30am wake-up call. Everything was going smoothly until I realized I forgot the damn snap bracelet in the car and had to head back. It was too much for my simple runner mind, a D-Tag, a race bib on the front, a race bib on the back, and a snap bracelet. I was brain dead, but apparently that wouldn't be the only thing I forgot yesterday.
We waited impatiently for AM and CV, but they had a mix-up with directions and with only 10 minutes to the start I headed out missing them (mind you I would be handing off to AM and I had only seen her for about an hour nearly a year ago on a trail run). All I knew is I had to find a blonde in a pink shirt when I got to the relay point.
As in years past, the sun was not quite up when the gun went off. I started somewhere near the 3:25 pace group and on the left. I only wore gloves figuring I would be pretty warm once we got going. The first mile was blissfully easy going downhill and flat. I even held back and still passed Bill Rodgers running on a relay team. My garmin split 7:22.
I felt a little concerned as we finished the bridge and started to make the left turn through the neighborhood that I might blow myself up and tried to rein it in. I was hoping for 7:30-7:45, but knew 7:22 would be a death sentence. I was breathing pretty hard and just kept trying to relax. Mile 2 split 7:52.
I was uncomfortably okay and my foot was throbbing like a mo`fo. I had gas in the tank, but my stomach was a little upset at that point. I kept telling myself "it's supposed to hurt like this" and "keep going." As we crossed back over the bridge I clung to the pace group to carry me through. I tried to imagine I was running the full and I had to relax and stay on target. We hit the end of the bridge and the only hilly part on my section of the course. The pace group pulled ahead of me and I suffered climbing that little hill. My stomach went south and I felt like I needed to poop, pretty bad. I felt the ground even out and the cheering crowds helped me forget my pain and push a little bit. I heard Daisy cheer for me and I waved. I split 3 in 7:42.
Just 0.9 miles to go and the pain would be over. I felt mentally abused at this pace, after training slow and long all summer this was quite unpleasant. I had looked over the final instructions and relay runners were to veer to the left. My foot was screaming at me to slow down, I ignored it. I saw the sign that said "Relay Runners" and ran for it, ripping the snap bracelet off my arm. I finally saw the exchange mat, but no relay runner -- what the heck!?!?! I crossed the mat and kept running, then I saw the runners standing in the rode ahead. They had made the runners start way in front of the mats, grrrr! Now I was on AMs time searching frantically for her. I thankfully saw her up on the left in a YELLOW shirt and start screaming her name. She screamed "yeah!!" and waved me over, bouncing up and down. After and what seemed like the longest tenth of a mile I finally ended my torturous leg with my last mile being 7:47. Garmin said 4.01 in 30:44, but my official time is 3.9 in 30:25. AM went on to run a mile farther than me and in a faster time thankfully negating my turlteness on the first leg.
I immediately jogged up the ramp and stretched looking for my friend who wanted some redemption in the marathon after suffering through his first in 90 degree weather. I used the extra time to stretch, but man it was getting chilly, so I might have bounced around a little too. My foot was aching, but much happier. I saw him roll through and jumped in with him for the next 5 or so miles back to the start. My foot hurt a lot less at that pace. I ran into BB and we changed and got some coffee before tracking the insanely fast AM down (she ran 6:11/mile).
Not sure how we were doing we headed into the stadium. We headed down to the field to cheer for Daisy when she came in. We had to wait less than 10 minutes before the blonde bomb shell came FLYING into the stadium. We immediately started cheering and screaming her name. We finished in 3:00:45, good enough for 2nd place female team (out of 192) and 13th relay team overall (out of 1225). We found solar and got a group photo minus CV, who was missing in action in the stands.
It was an exciting and fun day (as always) and I am super lucky to have such wonderful friends (and fast ones).
With the pain in my foot now spread up toward the front near my toes and surgery in less than a month I am closing the door on the 2012 race season, in hopes I will heal up ready for next year.
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