Hello again.
Well I have debated how much I really want to or need to write about what happened since my last post. Some of you know, others of you dont and the main thing is that its only a big deal because it happened to me. In the large scheme of life its a blip and one that i would be very happy to forget. Alas, I cant and barely a week out from " IT" I am still freaked out by it.
So if you have a weak stomach or get grossed out my medical talk, then stop reading.
Sunday Feb 9th started well. A short elliptical wko at Mike's as i wasnt quite ready to run. It as 9 days post op and while they say " 3-5 days you will be back to your normal activities..." I was still sore! I will someday write a post called "elective laproscopy for the high level athlete, allow 2-4 weeks."
After that i went home and it was like the clock turned to 2pm and i started getting these intense spasm like cramps in my Right Lower Quadrant. So now, if i hadnt lost my appendix i would think that i was having an appendicitis. I called the MD bc it was that bad. She said " its gas, just take some drugs ( norco) and it will pass." I did, it didnt pass. I tried a hot bathe, that didnt work. By 4pm my lovely sister who had unknowingly come over to use my recovery boots, was driving me to the ER ( same hospital i had surgery at) while i moaned and groaned and writhed in pain. I did allow her 30 min to get her legs pumped with those boots so i am not all that bad of a sister.
We got to the ER and i got checked in around 4, triaged and taken back by about 5. This was Super Bowl sunday so that maybe kept the census down in the ER, tho i do recall in my drugged haze seeing a few Ambulances ( EMTs) bringing back men who looked to have had a few too many cocktail weineies earlier that night.
Without too much detail I was set up on an IV and given a pretty strong pain killer called Dilaudid. It worked well for about 30 minutes then i would need more. It is sort of a blur, but i went from CT back to the ER, then went to Ultrasound, ( which left me in serious pain and literally screaming for more painkillers) and then to another exam room. When she said " we are all set up for you across the hall, lets walk over there" I said " no way i cant walk. " it as that bad. At one point i remember a nurse coming in to tell em to stop moaning. Seriously? I get what she was trying to help me with ( to stop hyperventilating) but she sure didnt have good bedside skills. While i was thinking " Ya right lady" It did help to try to breathe deep but it didnt help with the pain. So while all the scans were clear, other than showing some inflammation and bleeding post surgically I was admitted for pain control. The ER doc was so nice, I was so exhausted and tired and crying. I could tell he felt so bad. At one point when he was talking about going home i said " i cannot go home. " My sister was going to stay with me, and honestly I am so glad she didnt have to, what a helpless feeling to see me like that, Plus she hates hospitals and gets queesy seeing blood, etc.
So up to the Surgery Specialities wing I go. I had a super nice nurse that night. I got settled by 1am, and while i can say that the pain pump helped i was a bit leary to use it. I tried to sleep but i kept having these waves of pain thru my lower right quadrant. What is really interseting and maybe a tad bit embarrassing to say ( but has to be said) is that the only thing they came up with from the tests was that I had some stool in my Ascending colon, which if you know your bowels ( haha, never losing a chance to talk anatomy) is on the Right side of your addominal cavity, travels up and then across to your left side then descends down your Left side. So by the end of all this i was sore EVERYWHERE in my lower quadrant.
When nothing else proved positive ( Thank GOD, trust me i had lots of things going thru my head) i knew that the ER is the place they figure out or hopefully negate all the bad things that could be. I had abcess, hernia, perforated bowel, IUD has migrated to ?? who knows where, I had too many things in my head, even thinking i had some sort of blood clot in my ?? My sister had to tell me repeatedly to " DONT GO THERE" and i had to stop my lively brain.
So Monday dawns ( and honestly I just looked at a calender) as these 72 hours are a blur....and we are still in the same place, lots of painkillers and lots of people poking me. General Surgeon is called in as i started to spike a fever up to 101.8 and my White Blood cells were inching up. So now we have some sort of infection. I am sent down for xray, to see if there is anything they missed, as another CT in less than 24 hours is not warranted. OF course i am like " sure it is, lets be sure" and then the Surgeon says " ok we need to watch this, and i will be around. " You need to just be NPO for now ( meaning nothing by mouth) even clear liquids. I hadnt eaten anything bc now we had assumed we just needed to clear me out and i had started on Miralax and a lovely bowel cleanse such as you over 50's have done for a colonoscopy. So he stopped all that. Till 10pm when he said " you are ok, we arent going to do any exploratory surgery" and so guess what i got to do all night monday night? Sleep is overated isnt it.
But at the same time the fever was still on my head was killing me and they were dripping IV antibiotics and when the bag emptied the pole with 3 lines going into my Right arm would beep like there was a fire ....one time it was so loud and it woke me out of such a deep drug sleep i paged the nurse and the CNA would come and turn it off ( not really its a 2 min pause) and it would go back on. I just remember HOWLING " TURN IT OFF..." and finally I just said " heck " and sat up on mybed and turned it off myself. At least my headache wasnt worse.
I will never take for granted the abiltity to pull myself up in bed, to sleep in my bed without considerable back pain, and to get to the bathroom without a pole. ( because you have unplug that thing everytime) as I was able to rest a bit more and yes start clearing out I still had a fever and my head still hurt. I had a headache even after i got home. I Would wake up and it was like my head just hurt. sort of a frontal lobe ache. WAlking the halls at 1 am, 3 am just bc i wanted to move and not feel like i was hunched and accordioned at my waist. It hurt. Not going to lie. I have never been in so much pain in my life. And to make it worse that tuesday night, when i was faced with a huge jug of laxative plus miralax plus a night nurse who I swear was just there to make sure i didnt die, well I had some weepy moments. I was scared, tired and wasnt sure i could do this. Mainly i was scared bc it was remarkably close to what i know Rich went thru during his hospital stay at Mayo for his initial surgeries. While i know mine wasnt as serious you cant help but think " I am not ready to go see Rich yet." And wonder what the heck, why, what happened? This was supposed to be a super simple surgery.
So despite night nurses ( Who was back tuesday night too, oh joy, and sorry i know they have alot of people to take care of) and not being able to eat, and not being able to watch TV bc my head hurt, and not wanting anyone to come visit besides family bc i just felt so darn crappy...well they deduced that while they cant say for sure what happened they think my body just was UNHAPPY with the surgery on the 24th. IT gives me a bit of piece of mind I guess. To think that i have never ever in my life been constipated:) TMI but still that the week leading into this advneture i had been regular etc, and that AM had had a BM, well...( sorry if this is TMI but it speaks to the WTH?) maybe my surgeon ( OB) was right when i saw her this week " You are delicate, you have never had surgery and after 47 years you had some fairly extensive work, your body didnt like it." I trust her, she is the best. I knew that she didnt knick my bowel and had i had a bowel injury well it would have showed up in days 2-4 not day 9-10.
I got home and started learning to eat again. It still is uncomfortable, but i am on alot of flax and some miralax. But that is like draino. I am not sure how long till i feel normal again. Its getting better. I can swim, i can bike, Running has been a bit less comfortable but i am trying to make some strides so that the rest of my body ( aka hammies and addcutors) dont have such a hard time come March 1st.
I am still tired. Work has been great and while my work is so awesome and i work from home alot i just know i need to keep trusting my body.
Ironman Canada is july 27. My surgeon said " oh you will be fine" and i have to remember i will be but that i dont start training for IM on June 1st. So i have 100% plans for a killer race in Canada but if my body has other plans well, so be it. Ironman will always take my money and refund .555% of my entry fee, :) But there are other races out there later on should my coach and i think that is necessary.
Not much else to report, you have likely heard enough from me for a bit:)
Happy Valentines and special thanks to: My sister Elizabeth, my family for coming to visit me, Mike (I never thought i would meet another man who is as wonderful as Rich), ER, Angela, Sarah..you guys kept me hoping and laughing while i screamed in pain. Even though laughing hurt :) it was worth it.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Endometreosis Continued....
So i realized maybe you have no idea what Endo even is. I know i didnt. I thought, until I looked it up, that it was just stuff that was in your insides ( ie uterus) that was inflamed or not healing right. So that when you had your period you were more uncomfortable. What i found was way more...hmm. icky, for lack of a highly professional term.
From our good friend Wikipedia:
Endometriosis is a gynecological condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus (endometrium) appear and flourish outside the uterine cavity, most commonly on the membrane which lines the abdominal cavity, the peritoneum. The uterine cavity is lined with endometrial cells, which are under the influence of female hormones. Endometrial cells in areas outside the uterus are also influenced by hormonal changes and respond in a way that is similar to the cells found inside the uterus. Symptoms of endometriosis are pain and infertility. The pain often is worse with the menstrual cycle and is the most common cause of secondary dysmenorrhea.
So with that, you can see, its not as simple as my brain had thought.
I left off with the surgery. So to skip the parts about me being nervous about General Anesthesia, and my sister and I playing with all the contraptions on the waiting pre surgery room..." hey lets try this one on my finger, what is your pulse? Wait its 99? that is high. " " No Elizabeth that is your pulse ox/ % you want it close to 100" we had some giggles on that one. We didnt hook take each other's temperatures, and i nearly died when they asked for a urine sample when i hadnt eaten or had anything to drink in 12 hours. amazing how nervous pee is easy to produce ( think pre race).
When i was walked into the OR ( yes i got to walk in there, looking into all the other surgey rooms and seeing people passed out, i sorta wished i had been rolled in. All i remember was i lay down, the started an IV, they put on a BP cuff and then i was babbling ( nerves again) and said I would rather be doing an IM. The nurses ate that up and as i told them " oh no you swim first, otherwise you drown, its 2.4 swim then 112 bike then 26.2 run, " and one nurse was bowing to me. Then i woke up at 1030 in recovery. I walked into the surgery at 0730. Nothing like some Tri talk for them to say " lights out sister."
When i woke up it was a few hours later and my Belly HURT. I am not sure what they gave me but i made the Anesthesioligist repeat after me that i was 123 lbs and that he wouldnt give me gas for a 150 or 175 lb male. I also made sure that my MD didnt inflate me too much. See they pump you full of Co2 so they can see your insides better. I had heard that the gas pain in your neck and shoulders is intense for 48 hours after the surgery. I had a little bit of that pain but It really was no worse than feeling like i had sore shoulders after swimming. It was really not bad at all compared to the cramping. I also learned soon after that i had some bonus organ removal. My guess was my tubes. But phew, those were intact. I just lost some weight in my RLQ ( Right Lower Quadrant) my appendix was inflamed. So who needs that. Fine by me, now i know i wont ever have an emergency Appy.
As soon as i got home ( and starting looking up all the cute Dankso clogs the nurses had on) i remembered not to do anything big in the next 24 hours. Dont get married, Dont sell my house, Dont go buy $500 worth of cute clogs. I love Dansko I used to wear them in the clnic. As an aside friday night i couldnt sleep so i did buy Mike three pair of jeans, And i did buy myself some shoes and a sweater. Oops.
I also emailed my Osteopath, here is what he said :
My understanding of endometriosis is that it starts with a problem with peristalsis in the fallopian tubes. Instead of a smooth peristaltic wave from the fimbria end toward the uterus, the wave is chaotic and somewhat spastic. This results in a backwash of endometrium into the abdomen where it implants, and then bleeds on a monthly cycle.
The peristalsis issue is at least partly related to blood sugar balance. If you have any carb intolerance at all, then this is likely a factor in the initiation of endometriosis. Other factors are a whole manner of environmental toxins that muck up the normal signaling in the fallopian tubes. Detoxification is what is needed in this case, and a very clean diet free of xenoestrogens.
Once the endometrium has implanted, it is up to the immune system to clear it out. I think that sometimes the backwash issue is ongoing and it overwhelms the body's ability to clear it out. Other times it seems that the body just tolerates the implant though it is not at all normal to do so.
We can talk about strategies to try to handle all of this.
** last time i saw him we discussed eatling less sugars while training. I think i may have to try this. I Also know we tried eating Sardines for brekkie and i was like GAG. nope. Cant do that.
You can bet we are talking about this. While i know i am going to be healing and better in the months to come, I also want to do what i can to avoid this recurring. IF that means some diet changes then so be it. I can do that:) I sorta feel like i have to. As much as I can say "oh it wasnt THAT bad," I then have these flashbacks of times where it WAS that bad.
The first night of camp 2013 in Tucson. Period Day 1, me up roaming the condo all night, crying, doubled in pain, not wanting to wake the entire condo, wishing and praying it would go away. Thankful that we werent climbing lemmon that day, i wouldnt have made it. I was a wreck. Stuff like that. The next day we made it up Lemmon just fine. I was fine. But hello russian roulette.
So its now Wednesday, my surgery was last friday. I left the house today. What a thrill. I cant tell you how funny it is to not be totally stir crazy and to actually be feeling like this is the right thing to do. I miss training, but in the big scheme? I hope this is a small speed bump.
What is the prognosis? Well I can start training 10-14 days post surgery. My plan is to start moving more prior to that as my body feels. They said i would have trouble bending over, or reaching. nope. And that i may be quite sore in my incisions ( yes) but they feel secure. The worst is that i have alot of cramping. And I have been taking Ibuprofen for that an it helps. No swimming obviously and i am guessing i will walk before i run and soft pedal before i look at watts.
As far as prognosis for life? not Triathlon? :) Hopefully with some dietary changes and with the addtion of a Mirena ( yup, tell all here) I will have less and less symptoms. If i were one who knew my sisters and mom went thru menopause early on i would have skipped the IUD but mid 50's and still going strong for my sisters means i dont want to deal with this for another 5- 6 years. I know the Mirena has its own challenges in the first 3 mos, but it surely cant be worse than what I have dealt with over time. Plus i am not a fan of OCP's for anyone my age or even after 40. Just my opinion.
I was thinking that i had wished i had done this sooner, but then had an A-ha moment. The last 3+ years i spent taking care of Rich. Doesnt mean thatI couldnt have done this but honestly I had no energy to take care of me in This Manner. So i am glad i was brave enough to do this NOW. Finally.
Ok so What did i leave out? :) not much. I missed the third Polar Vortex and hopefully the last. Its 12 deg out and it feels like its 70:) I am trying to eat more protein but honestly I lived on soup and graham crackers for 4 days. Thanks especially to ER and Angela whose daily emails keep me laughing and thinking that this is ok. And of course thanks to my family and Mike for making me laugh ( now that i can without pain) and for reminding me that sleeping till 1130 then 930 then 9 am even without drugs is a good thing:) Dreamy i know. Wow. Who knew i could sleep like that.
From our good friend Wikipedia:
Endometriosis is a gynecological condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus (endometrium) appear and flourish outside the uterine cavity, most commonly on the membrane which lines the abdominal cavity, the peritoneum. The uterine cavity is lined with endometrial cells, which are under the influence of female hormones. Endometrial cells in areas outside the uterus are also influenced by hormonal changes and respond in a way that is similar to the cells found inside the uterus. Symptoms of endometriosis are pain and infertility. The pain often is worse with the menstrual cycle and is the most common cause of secondary dysmenorrhea.
So with that, you can see, its not as simple as my brain had thought.
I left off with the surgery. So to skip the parts about me being nervous about General Anesthesia, and my sister and I playing with all the contraptions on the waiting pre surgery room..." hey lets try this one on my finger, what is your pulse? Wait its 99? that is high. " " No Elizabeth that is your pulse ox/ % you want it close to 100" we had some giggles on that one. We didnt hook take each other's temperatures, and i nearly died when they asked for a urine sample when i hadnt eaten or had anything to drink in 12 hours. amazing how nervous pee is easy to produce ( think pre race).
When i was walked into the OR ( yes i got to walk in there, looking into all the other surgey rooms and seeing people passed out, i sorta wished i had been rolled in. All i remember was i lay down, the started an IV, they put on a BP cuff and then i was babbling ( nerves again) and said I would rather be doing an IM. The nurses ate that up and as i told them " oh no you swim first, otherwise you drown, its 2.4 swim then 112 bike then 26.2 run, " and one nurse was bowing to me. Then i woke up at 1030 in recovery. I walked into the surgery at 0730. Nothing like some Tri talk for them to say " lights out sister."
When i woke up it was a few hours later and my Belly HURT. I am not sure what they gave me but i made the Anesthesioligist repeat after me that i was 123 lbs and that he wouldnt give me gas for a 150 or 175 lb male. I also made sure that my MD didnt inflate me too much. See they pump you full of Co2 so they can see your insides better. I had heard that the gas pain in your neck and shoulders is intense for 48 hours after the surgery. I had a little bit of that pain but It really was no worse than feeling like i had sore shoulders after swimming. It was really not bad at all compared to the cramping. I also learned soon after that i had some bonus organ removal. My guess was my tubes. But phew, those were intact. I just lost some weight in my RLQ ( Right Lower Quadrant) my appendix was inflamed. So who needs that. Fine by me, now i know i wont ever have an emergency Appy.
As soon as i got home ( and starting looking up all the cute Dankso clogs the nurses had on) i remembered not to do anything big in the next 24 hours. Dont get married, Dont sell my house, Dont go buy $500 worth of cute clogs. I love Dansko I used to wear them in the clnic. As an aside friday night i couldnt sleep so i did buy Mike three pair of jeans, And i did buy myself some shoes and a sweater. Oops.
I also emailed my Osteopath, here is what he said :
My understanding of endometriosis is that it starts with a problem with peristalsis in the fallopian tubes. Instead of a smooth peristaltic wave from the fimbria end toward the uterus, the wave is chaotic and somewhat spastic. This results in a backwash of endometrium into the abdomen where it implants, and then bleeds on a monthly cycle.
The peristalsis issue is at least partly related to blood sugar balance. If you have any carb intolerance at all, then this is likely a factor in the initiation of endometriosis. Other factors are a whole manner of environmental toxins that muck up the normal signaling in the fallopian tubes. Detoxification is what is needed in this case, and a very clean diet free of xenoestrogens.
Once the endometrium has implanted, it is up to the immune system to clear it out. I think that sometimes the backwash issue is ongoing and it overwhelms the body's ability to clear it out. Other times it seems that the body just tolerates the implant though it is not at all normal to do so.
We can talk about strategies to try to handle all of this.
** last time i saw him we discussed eatling less sugars while training. I think i may have to try this. I Also know we tried eating Sardines for brekkie and i was like GAG. nope. Cant do that.
You can bet we are talking about this. While i know i am going to be healing and better in the months to come, I also want to do what i can to avoid this recurring. IF that means some diet changes then so be it. I can do that:) I sorta feel like i have to. As much as I can say "oh it wasnt THAT bad," I then have these flashbacks of times where it WAS that bad.
The first night of camp 2013 in Tucson. Period Day 1, me up roaming the condo all night, crying, doubled in pain, not wanting to wake the entire condo, wishing and praying it would go away. Thankful that we werent climbing lemmon that day, i wouldnt have made it. I was a wreck. Stuff like that. The next day we made it up Lemmon just fine. I was fine. But hello russian roulette.
So its now Wednesday, my surgery was last friday. I left the house today. What a thrill. I cant tell you how funny it is to not be totally stir crazy and to actually be feeling like this is the right thing to do. I miss training, but in the big scheme? I hope this is a small speed bump.
What is the prognosis? Well I can start training 10-14 days post surgery. My plan is to start moving more prior to that as my body feels. They said i would have trouble bending over, or reaching. nope. And that i may be quite sore in my incisions ( yes) but they feel secure. The worst is that i have alot of cramping. And I have been taking Ibuprofen for that an it helps. No swimming obviously and i am guessing i will walk before i run and soft pedal before i look at watts.
As far as prognosis for life? not Triathlon? :) Hopefully with some dietary changes and with the addtion of a Mirena ( yup, tell all here) I will have less and less symptoms. If i were one who knew my sisters and mom went thru menopause early on i would have skipped the IUD but mid 50's and still going strong for my sisters means i dont want to deal with this for another 5- 6 years. I know the Mirena has its own challenges in the first 3 mos, but it surely cant be worse than what I have dealt with over time. Plus i am not a fan of OCP's for anyone my age or even after 40. Just my opinion.
I was thinking that i had wished i had done this sooner, but then had an A-ha moment. The last 3+ years i spent taking care of Rich. Doesnt mean thatI couldnt have done this but honestly I had no energy to take care of me in This Manner. So i am glad i was brave enough to do this NOW. Finally.
Ok so What did i leave out? :) not much. I missed the third Polar Vortex and hopefully the last. Its 12 deg out and it feels like its 70:) I am trying to eat more protein but honestly I lived on soup and graham crackers for 4 days. Thanks especially to ER and Angela whose daily emails keep me laughing and thinking that this is ok. And of course thanks to my family and Mike for making me laugh ( now that i can without pain) and for reminding me that sleeping till 1130 then 930 then 9 am even without drugs is a good thing:) Dreamy i know. Wow. Who knew i could sleep like that.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Mid Winter Break
Well this post will be different from my normal upbeat posts full of love and sunsets and activity. While those posts will return, I wanted to write a bit about my experience this last week AND over the last 6-8 years with endometreosis. Funny thing that word. I thought it was something other people got and was for women that just had some weird stuff going on in their insides. I really didnt even know what it was or that i had it, till about 6 months ago.
One thing i did know was that I have had SEVERE mentrual cramps and at times if i missed my period due to high training or when i had just started doing triathlon in my early 40's I was so overjoyed. I know this isnt a good thing. Getting your period is GOOD. As much as we say that tongue in cheek i know its a good sign that my body is healthy, i am feeding it, there isnt an energy imbalance and in many studies ( which I can find and state if you want them) there is a correlation with women who are irregular or ammenorheic and injuries, especially injuries to the lower leg and feet. ( ie Plantars) So everytime i was balled up and literally unable to pedal my bike or had to get off the trainer to lie down, I knew that this was good for me, isnt it? Recently the " get off the bike to lie down and groan " had gotten more frequent. Even when i didnt have my period. This had also happened when i was Time Trialing or at a race when i was doing a very hard ( well I was racing) effort I felt like i had cramps even when i didnt have my period. It was the strangest thing, and it never happened when i was running or swimming.
Lets back up for a second. I have never had kids. I think that means i am more at risk for this. None of my family has it, that is also a risk factor if mom or sisters have it. I really had no other symptoms they list online ( you know, the BOX OF TRUTH) other than a ton of pain the day before and days 1-2 of my cycle. I dont bleed alot. I wont go into what they say alot of Endo sufferers have, go google it. But the point is every 27 days i would start to get really anxious and try to not plan things for those days. If i had a race? well that was totally a huge bummer. I was more worried about this than the race. I used to dose up on Celebrex, that didnt work AT ALL. When i started seeing an OB instead of listening to my MD ( who by the way is really a well respected sports med MD internist, shame on her) who just wanted me on the pill and NSAIDS for the rest of my life, I got a new Rx for Ibuprofen. This really was a miracle for me. IT actually cut the edge. So all last summer ( summer of 2013) i would dose up to 2400 mg of Ibuprofen starting 2-3 days before my period. That is alot of Advil. I have horse pills that are 800 mg ( 4 advil) and i would use my pill cutter so i could spread it out so i hopefully didnt Kill my stomach lining. It got to the point i didnt even need to eat, i never got an upset stomach. MAybe i just am eating pretty often anyways but so far i never had any issues with that. ( tick tock, i hope i still dont)
Ironman 2012 at Wisconsin before i had the above protocol i had my period. Rich was dying. I got off the bike 3 x, I wanted to quit. I am just amazed when i look back at that. Best of the US race in 2010 I had my period, got it race day. I grimaced that entire run. I think i nearly passed out when i finished and i remember thinking that if that run had been longer than a 10k i could NOT have done it. No way. I guess maybe this makes me sound all gritlike and superwomanesque. That isnt my point in writing this. My point, I think is to share this in case any of you have been told you just have to suck it up and deal with it. and maybe my point is that i decided that i didnt care if this interuppted my training for Ironman bc my entire life was being affected by this.
So when i finally got the clue to go see an OB ( remember no kids so i dont really have an OB) but i went to see Donna Block who delivered my nephews and is a great surgeon. My MD said " She is a surgeon she wants to cut," and yes I Get that. But i also know that Donna knew right away. Over 6 mos ago she said " we should do a laproscopy, we put you to sleep and...." I stopped listening at the general anestheisa part. I was not into that AT ALL. no way jose.
I got the information and promptly started doing the ibuprofen and this past summer of 2013 most my races fell on good days, i seemed ot get my period on monday! Or tuesday! not the weekend. Thank you body. Also maybe in the summer things just seem easier, yet i still had a few days of " ugh, glad i only have to swim today...or glad i dont have a big work day." It really is russian roulette. So i kept up the NSAIDS, never leaving home without my horse pills. OFten wondering what my stomach or liver or insides was thinking about this. Also wondering if when iw as really training hard for shorter courses if somehow i would injure myself bc i was doped up on Nsaids 4-5 days of a 27 day cycle.
But i was doing good. I made it thru the season, and i ran the 10 miler and no issues ( as i said, the calender was in my favor)
So what made me change my mind? Well this fall I must have forgotten to get on the Nsaids on time and i had an episode that rocked my world.I had just met Mike and he was over, I had just started back with JH and had a ride that was not that hard but it really seemed to drain me. I figured it was a holiday weekend ( Thanksgiving) and i had eaten alot of pie andstuff i dont usually eat. ( We will get to the Gluten free stuff later) and i also was tired. Mike and i then went for a 20 min t run, nothing hard. Outside, remember when we used to have days above -25? well we did. And then i got home and i felt really really awful. I got my period and knew. I then got faint. I dry heaved I tried to eat, i couldnt. I lay on the bed in a ball and said to MIke " welcome to my world every 27 days." at that point i didnt want to take any Nsaids bc i had nothing in my gut and i knew that whatever gel or OSmo or Skratch i drank wasnt enough. I have NEVER FELT SO awful and I said " maybe you should take me to the ER." Then i thought clearly. " They will just drug me. " SO, being the resilient person i am i went to the small stash of Oxycodone that Rich told me " dont get rid of this, it has good street value." and i took a half a 5mg pill. IT worked wonders. Dont come looking for them ihave them well hidden.
I have never had to take narcotics before for my period and that was the exact day i knew that i didnt want to deal with this anymore and i went back into see Donna, Dr. Block and got this procedure planned. OF course my next cycle was fine. Fine meaning painful but not like that one i described above.
Background done and if you are still here i will write next post about the procedure and what they found and how i feel. I am really uncomfortable but i know this was the best thing to do. Dr Block told my sister " nobody should be this uncomfortable." Amen to that.
One thing i did know was that I have had SEVERE mentrual cramps and at times if i missed my period due to high training or when i had just started doing triathlon in my early 40's I was so overjoyed. I know this isnt a good thing. Getting your period is GOOD. As much as we say that tongue in cheek i know its a good sign that my body is healthy, i am feeding it, there isnt an energy imbalance and in many studies ( which I can find and state if you want them) there is a correlation with women who are irregular or ammenorheic and injuries, especially injuries to the lower leg and feet. ( ie Plantars) So everytime i was balled up and literally unable to pedal my bike or had to get off the trainer to lie down, I knew that this was good for me, isnt it? Recently the " get off the bike to lie down and groan " had gotten more frequent. Even when i didnt have my period. This had also happened when i was Time Trialing or at a race when i was doing a very hard ( well I was racing) effort I felt like i had cramps even when i didnt have my period. It was the strangest thing, and it never happened when i was running or swimming.
Lets back up for a second. I have never had kids. I think that means i am more at risk for this. None of my family has it, that is also a risk factor if mom or sisters have it. I really had no other symptoms they list online ( you know, the BOX OF TRUTH) other than a ton of pain the day before and days 1-2 of my cycle. I dont bleed alot. I wont go into what they say alot of Endo sufferers have, go google it. But the point is every 27 days i would start to get really anxious and try to not plan things for those days. If i had a race? well that was totally a huge bummer. I was more worried about this than the race. I used to dose up on Celebrex, that didnt work AT ALL. When i started seeing an OB instead of listening to my MD ( who by the way is really a well respected sports med MD internist, shame on her) who just wanted me on the pill and NSAIDS for the rest of my life, I got a new Rx for Ibuprofen. This really was a miracle for me. IT actually cut the edge. So all last summer ( summer of 2013) i would dose up to 2400 mg of Ibuprofen starting 2-3 days before my period. That is alot of Advil. I have horse pills that are 800 mg ( 4 advil) and i would use my pill cutter so i could spread it out so i hopefully didnt Kill my stomach lining. It got to the point i didnt even need to eat, i never got an upset stomach. MAybe i just am eating pretty often anyways but so far i never had any issues with that. ( tick tock, i hope i still dont)
Ironman 2012 at Wisconsin before i had the above protocol i had my period. Rich was dying. I got off the bike 3 x, I wanted to quit. I am just amazed when i look back at that. Best of the US race in 2010 I had my period, got it race day. I grimaced that entire run. I think i nearly passed out when i finished and i remember thinking that if that run had been longer than a 10k i could NOT have done it. No way. I guess maybe this makes me sound all gritlike and superwomanesque. That isnt my point in writing this. My point, I think is to share this in case any of you have been told you just have to suck it up and deal with it. and maybe my point is that i decided that i didnt care if this interuppted my training for Ironman bc my entire life was being affected by this.
So when i finally got the clue to go see an OB ( remember no kids so i dont really have an OB) but i went to see Donna Block who delivered my nephews and is a great surgeon. My MD said " She is a surgeon she wants to cut," and yes I Get that. But i also know that Donna knew right away. Over 6 mos ago she said " we should do a laproscopy, we put you to sleep and...." I stopped listening at the general anestheisa part. I was not into that AT ALL. no way jose.
I got the information and promptly started doing the ibuprofen and this past summer of 2013 most my races fell on good days, i seemed ot get my period on monday! Or tuesday! not the weekend. Thank you body. Also maybe in the summer things just seem easier, yet i still had a few days of " ugh, glad i only have to swim today...or glad i dont have a big work day." It really is russian roulette. So i kept up the NSAIDS, never leaving home without my horse pills. OFten wondering what my stomach or liver or insides was thinking about this. Also wondering if when iw as really training hard for shorter courses if somehow i would injure myself bc i was doped up on Nsaids 4-5 days of a 27 day cycle.
But i was doing good. I made it thru the season, and i ran the 10 miler and no issues ( as i said, the calender was in my favor)
So what made me change my mind? Well this fall I must have forgotten to get on the Nsaids on time and i had an episode that rocked my world.I had just met Mike and he was over, I had just started back with JH and had a ride that was not that hard but it really seemed to drain me. I figured it was a holiday weekend ( Thanksgiving) and i had eaten alot of pie andstuff i dont usually eat. ( We will get to the Gluten free stuff later) and i also was tired. Mike and i then went for a 20 min t run, nothing hard. Outside, remember when we used to have days above -25? well we did. And then i got home and i felt really really awful. I got my period and knew. I then got faint. I dry heaved I tried to eat, i couldnt. I lay on the bed in a ball and said to MIke " welcome to my world every 27 days." at that point i didnt want to take any Nsaids bc i had nothing in my gut and i knew that whatever gel or OSmo or Skratch i drank wasnt enough. I have NEVER FELT SO awful and I said " maybe you should take me to the ER." Then i thought clearly. " They will just drug me. " SO, being the resilient person i am i went to the small stash of Oxycodone that Rich told me " dont get rid of this, it has good street value." and i took a half a 5mg pill. IT worked wonders. Dont come looking for them ihave them well hidden.
I have never had to take narcotics before for my period and that was the exact day i knew that i didnt want to deal with this anymore and i went back into see Donna, Dr. Block and got this procedure planned. OF course my next cycle was fine. Fine meaning painful but not like that one i described above.
Background done and if you are still here i will write next post about the procedure and what they found and how i feel. I am really uncomfortable but i know this was the best thing to do. Dr Block told my sister " nobody should be this uncomfortable." Amen to that.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Florida in Pics!
Weather was better than in MN! 80's to start, 40's when we left. Still no snow!
ONE OF MY FAVORITES!
WOW. SUN. WATER....
Night shot. blurry:)
ME and DAD
TENNIS TIME!!!
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| I must have been telling Mike a secret |
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| Before it got to be 40 deg in the AM we had some lounge time. |
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| we are geeky, matching shirts. and we were on Captiva, i know:) not Sanibel. |
Saturday, January 04, 2014
January 2014, Anyone Still There?
Well its 2014:) and up here in the tundra we are just being pelted with cold temps. My swim pal steve emailed me last night " this weather is freaking me out. " I really believe if the media didnt get hold of it I wouldnt really be thinking about it much, but its the talk of the town up here. Horray. Wonder how the horse and buggy would feel out today, and wonder if my face will fall off if i go outside to run or walk or go to work. I am sure I will be told how to feel tonight on the news. Another reason i dont get a paper and rarely watch the Tv news. My brain isnt as confused!
2013 ended like it started. Pretty mellow. I had a fun night with Mike and his girls, lots of ping pong, popcorn, games and Harry Potter. I know its funny but i had NOT seen the first HP movie and i really enjoyed it, enough to want to see the rest of them ( how many, 6?) of course I havent acted on that. I have had a recent obsession with Mike's homemade popcorn ( tho Boom Chicka Pop) has been decent and sorta healthy, then my mom got some cheese popcorn that seriously was 50% of your saturated fat in one serving and while I dont read labels as often as i should i figured i would rather get my 50% in another food than popcorn cheese!
Training has been consistent. As i ran today ( outside, thank you very much nobody said negative windchills are in all directions, though it hurt and i looked nuts I am sure) I wasnt thinking how awesome I was, i was thinking how boring the TM would have been and how running in cold and wind and awful footing not only helpsmakes sore your stabilizing hip and lower legs but also builds that tenacity and durability you need at the end of a long course race. MENTAL durability. I think of that alot in the winter, doing work. Mike said " do you ever want to just not workout somedays?" And I said " no. " ha. I guess there are some days i know I Want it more than others, but in the big picture i know this time of year isnt for winning workouts its for being consistent, doing work, building strength and as i said for me at least, building mental durability. I have started more weekend workouts after 10 am than i ever have ( thank you weather) and i am alive to tell about it. I know that once the bigger hours start I wont have the leisure to sleep in so I am doing my best to enjoy it.
We had a great trip to see my nephew Chippy in Kalispell, MT and I would love to go back to that area in the summer. I have skiied once. I have to admit I am ok with that. While i miss it I also think that the bitter cold and my hand and feet issues ( Reynauds) makes this a non issue. We have also had alot of snow, so while i miss the skiing I am pleased that others can frostbite themselves for me. Kalispsell skiing was fun. I only fell once:) and i did remember how to skate ski. We also had some fun family time and beer from MT. I also got my mom's head cold. :) I havent had a cold in years so it was my turn i guess. It prompted me to finally get my flu shot. And no for the millionth time those of you that think the flu is a the stomach flu, its not. Its Influenza, its respiratory, head, chest, etc..get it if you havent its not too late. ( and no you cant get the flu from the shot and no i dont want to know what your chiro says )
Here are a few fun pics from the winter. sorry nothing training. I was going to take one running today but really? Try even taking your gloves off when its sub zero, i cant even hit my garmin buttons. So no pictures. And we have all seen enough trainer photo ops. You are welcome.
Ruby had a great Xmas, she even posed for a photo and she never does that. She is usually quite coy.
Emily was in town and we had a great time catching up.
Roger has such good words of wisdom. Random addition to this post but i think it could be tennis, or any sport. Do what you love, win or lose:) who cares what anyone thinks.
More fun memories of Xmas. Cute necklace and cute mug, eh? and Sarah once again trying to mess with me by sending lots of bubbly my way:) Party anyone? kidding Sarah, I now need to have a party to drink up lots of Champagne!
And last but not least, in a week i will be in " PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE ..sunny florida." We met Jack there two years ago. He and Rich were good pals. Hopefully Jack will be back roaming the beach with us in a week.
Happy 2014, stay warm, stay upright and KCCO.
2013 ended like it started. Pretty mellow. I had a fun night with Mike and his girls, lots of ping pong, popcorn, games and Harry Potter. I know its funny but i had NOT seen the first HP movie and i really enjoyed it, enough to want to see the rest of them ( how many, 6?) of course I havent acted on that. I have had a recent obsession with Mike's homemade popcorn ( tho Boom Chicka Pop) has been decent and sorta healthy, then my mom got some cheese popcorn that seriously was 50% of your saturated fat in one serving and while I dont read labels as often as i should i figured i would rather get my 50% in another food than popcorn cheese!
Training has been consistent. As i ran today ( outside, thank you very much nobody said negative windchills are in all directions, though it hurt and i looked nuts I am sure) I wasnt thinking how awesome I was, i was thinking how boring the TM would have been and how running in cold and wind and awful footing not only helps
We had a great trip to see my nephew Chippy in Kalispell, MT and I would love to go back to that area in the summer. I have skiied once. I have to admit I am ok with that. While i miss it I also think that the bitter cold and my hand and feet issues ( Reynauds) makes this a non issue. We have also had alot of snow, so while i miss the skiing I am pleased that others can frostbite themselves for me. Kalispsell skiing was fun. I only fell once:) and i did remember how to skate ski. We also had some fun family time and beer from MT. I also got my mom's head cold. :) I havent had a cold in years so it was my turn i guess. It prompted me to finally get my flu shot. And no for the millionth time those of you that think the flu is a the stomach flu, its not. Its Influenza, its respiratory, head, chest, etc..get it if you havent its not too late. ( and no you cant get the flu from the shot and no i dont want to know what your chiro says )
Here are a few fun pics from the winter. sorry nothing training. I was going to take one running today but really? Try even taking your gloves off when its sub zero, i cant even hit my garmin buttons. So no pictures. And we have all seen enough trainer photo ops. You are welcome.
Ruby had a great Xmas, she even posed for a photo and she never does that. She is usually quite coy.
Emily was in town and we had a great time catching up.
Me playing Vanna White with a growler Mike bid on at the boat club fundraiser. We enjoyed it but it sure went flat fast. Moral is that you had better drink it all in one night.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
The Best of 2013!
Well this could almost be the highlight reel couldnt it? Ive been pondering my next blog post for too long so best thing to do is to DIVE IN head first, right?
Being that Thanksgiving flew by as did the entire month of OCT and NOV, here I sit in nearly Mid December thinking " whoa how did this happen? " Work has been so busy and so fun and I promise you that taking an off season opens up so many doors and so much freedom that it almost makes me wonder why everyone doesnt live in the north where the climate pretty much mandates that you cant ride and run and swim outdoors year round. As much as -5 and -25 windchill isnt fun, the sun is the brightest i have ever seen on these days as it bounces off the snow.
So. Back to the best of 2013. I have to say this was a pretty incredible year for me. Training and racing wise mostly, and also personally. I had alot of support in all those areas and you know who you are, but i wasnt sure how i was going to get thru 2013 minus my biggest fan. At the same time I know I am tough as nails, but we all know that sometimes being tough just means you get thru stuff it doesnt mean you actually are happy. There were many ups and maybe a few more downs personally but honestly what came of that in the last few months has been nothing short of a blessing.
Racing? well I could not have asked for a better year. Starting with the fact that i was injury free the entire year and actually got stronger and faster at the ripe young age of 47? I will take it. More reason to believe your PT when she says you need to do strength 3 x week till failure and more reason to believe that doing Ironman year in and year out ( for me at least) isnt a good idea if you actually like to run and ride fast again. Again relative terms.
So here are some fun pics, maybe repeats from earlier but for me it sums up a great year of family, friends, training and making peace with myself:)
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| Who doesnt love an outdoor pool in January when you visit Florida to drive your parents around? |
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| COOKIE CABIN!!! Just a short ride up to get to that cookie! |
March/early April 2013
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| Nobody makes it up Lemmon without a bike partner. thanks Liz! |
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First race ( du) of the season late may. And man was it hard to muster that smile for Drew! The saying " you get faster it gets harder " is true.
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| Post Waconia late June, me and my rockstars that made me go faster and nearly break a leg trying to outsprint a 23 yo. |
Short time out for some fun cabin time with sisters and dad and Ruby and nephew:) One bonus of short course is i wasnt tied to wkrouts over 2 hours. I know i will miss that this summer!
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| Being pushed so hard by Liv and Cathy at lifetime in july was suerly a highlight. We had waited hours for the rain to let up and felt so lucky we got to race. I couldnt have been happier to win the masters title here as i was always afraid of this course. So the best way to deal with that? Sign up:) |
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| Milwaukee AG nats, my A race in 2013. I must say that was a FUN BIKE RIDE!!! |
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| finishing on the red carpet was the best! |
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| I lied, hanging with my pals from all over the US was the best! |
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| And to top it off to finish top 3 next to these rockstars brought me to tears. Lifetime Maple Grove solidified that i truly love the OLYPMIC distance! |
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| And for about 4 weeks i became a true runner. Running the TCM 10 miler:) Jen got me thru the entire season and i am forever in awe of her coaching skills. Plus she is a great friend. |
Off season meant staying on the bike as long as i could, meeting steve and pam and Kj to swim just enough to earn some coffee and also continuing to run into our great lovely fall. The snow has fallen and outdoor runs are tougher but if its above zero and its not too windy I head out. Cant beat that fresh air and the possibility of Vit D being absorbed into the small patches of exposed flesh.
Off season also meant hanging with friends and family, visitors from all over, meeting new people and realizing that life with triathlon is pretty darn nice, but life without all the racing is pretty darn nice too. I am doing an Ironman next July and I am super excited to travel to a place i havent been. To race my heart out and before that train and see where it lands me. But i also for the first time know i wont be doing Ironman forever, so its nice to know that I am privileged to do this, its a gift not my birthright to do this sport and do it well. ITs also fun to think about spending a summer running more, or travelling or just moving for no purpose. But not this summer:) This summer has open water swims written all over it. That is after the ice melts in about 6 months:) LOL.
Thanks for reading and hope you all have a great holiday season.
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Lots of Off-Season going on
At the risk of not blogging until there is another life changing event ( haha, i mean race) I decided to check in. Nothing much happening here other than working out for no reason other than to burn off all the apple pies i am making ( thanks Caroline!) and the peach pie which i think was more of a hit than the apple.
So getting my head into fresh air has been the best thing for me. It all the sudden got cold, so the cross bike has gotten some road time even tho i am way slower than ANYONE on that so its often a sufferfest which has me thinking " Why are you doing this? You are supposed to rest!" So i work hard then will drop off for a bit if i get a bit "meh" on the quad lock going on. Running has been my savior. I cant tell you how joyous it feels to run, our leaves are still quite nice and its not THAT cold, yet 28 a few mornings had me wondering if we would have an Indian Summer in November. I am not betting on it.
My house has been really really challenging for me lately. I know I know I know. Plenty of you live in a dwelling alone or perhaps you are the person that does all the home stuff. But for me its not so much that i cant do it its just that its ALOT. Take for example, the entire basement is filled with Rich's things. He came to this house post -divorce and i think he got all the wicker baskets and heck of a lot of glassware ( not waterford) and well my lovely husband loved knick knacks. I am talking 300 Sq Feet of boxes and STUFF, some of which is his kids. I actually have a friend come in once a week to help me GO THRU STUFF. ITs that much stuff. Plus the hard part of getting his clothing donated or consigned.
The thing is i am not in a rush to get rid of his things. Some of the things we shared and i love them and i want them. MANY of the things have no memories to me, and his kids have come thru a few times and taken what they want. They will have a chance to go thru more things when i bring a carload of thigns over there tmmrw:) They arent my memories, I cant discard them. And so as much as i hate dropping them in their laps I feel its the right and best thing for all of us. For now its been alot of throwing and alot of labeling. We took a few HUGE loads to a church that was having a sale and i know GoodWill is going to have some deposits as well. I cant tell you how much work it is, and honestly I was too emotional before this past month to even deal with it.
Now I feel like i am regaining ( or maybe gaining for the first time?) my house. Rich moved in almost a year before I did. He had come from a big house, and I came from a 850 sq foot condo. My stuff in our basement now? Race wheels, a bike. and about 3 boxes of Dartmouth stuff. Rich was the Christmas Santa, LOVED LOVED LOVED Christmas. I have found more ornaments and decorations and singing elves and decorated doors and....it goes on and on. Ornamental glasses and mugs and pitchers and plates and....I think i should have a big Xmas party and you all can wear your decorated sweaters and we will eat off of decorated plates!
Work is good, but the above has consumed me. IF this werent a public blog i would also write more about my personal life that has also been consuming me. Its just been all too much and I have relied heavily on a few close friends ( SORRY I AM SICK OF MYSELF, you must be sick of me too) to help me make some tough decisions. In the end I know i am where i should be. I never thought I would be single and 47 yo. No crying in my soup here but it just stings a bit when i waited and worked so hard to find Rich and then POOF, gone. He is physically gone but the way I deserve to be treated and knowing what true love feels like? I have not forgotten.
Thanks for reading, sorry about the little trip down " relationship lane." :)
So getting my head into fresh air has been the best thing for me. It all the sudden got cold, so the cross bike has gotten some road time even tho i am way slower than ANYONE on that so its often a sufferfest which has me thinking " Why are you doing this? You are supposed to rest!" So i work hard then will drop off for a bit if i get a bit "meh" on the quad lock going on. Running has been my savior. I cant tell you how joyous it feels to run, our leaves are still quite nice and its not THAT cold, yet 28 a few mornings had me wondering if we would have an Indian Summer in November. I am not betting on it.
My house has been really really challenging for me lately. I know I know I know. Plenty of you live in a dwelling alone or perhaps you are the person that does all the home stuff. But for me its not so much that i cant do it its just that its ALOT. Take for example, the entire basement is filled with Rich's things. He came to this house post -divorce and i think he got all the wicker baskets and heck of a lot of glassware ( not waterford) and well my lovely husband loved knick knacks. I am talking 300 Sq Feet of boxes and STUFF, some of which is his kids. I actually have a friend come in once a week to help me GO THRU STUFF. ITs that much stuff. Plus the hard part of getting his clothing donated or consigned.
The thing is i am not in a rush to get rid of his things. Some of the things we shared and i love them and i want them. MANY of the things have no memories to me, and his kids have come thru a few times and taken what they want. They will have a chance to go thru more things when i bring a carload of thigns over there tmmrw:) They arent my memories, I cant discard them. And so as much as i hate dropping them in their laps I feel its the right and best thing for all of us. For now its been alot of throwing and alot of labeling. We took a few HUGE loads to a church that was having a sale and i know GoodWill is going to have some deposits as well. I cant tell you how much work it is, and honestly I was too emotional before this past month to even deal with it.
Now I feel like i am regaining ( or maybe gaining for the first time?) my house. Rich moved in almost a year before I did. He had come from a big house, and I came from a 850 sq foot condo. My stuff in our basement now? Race wheels, a bike. and about 3 boxes of Dartmouth stuff. Rich was the Christmas Santa, LOVED LOVED LOVED Christmas. I have found more ornaments and decorations and singing elves and decorated doors and....it goes on and on. Ornamental glasses and mugs and pitchers and plates and....I think i should have a big Xmas party and you all can wear your decorated sweaters and we will eat off of decorated plates!
Work is good, but the above has consumed me. IF this werent a public blog i would also write more about my personal life that has also been consuming me. Its just been all too much and I have relied heavily on a few close friends ( SORRY I AM SICK OF MYSELF, you must be sick of me too) to help me make some tough decisions. In the end I know i am where i should be. I never thought I would be single and 47 yo. No crying in my soup here but it just stings a bit when i waited and worked so hard to find Rich and then POOF, gone. He is physically gone but the way I deserve to be treated and knowing what true love feels like? I have not forgotten.
Thanks for reading, sorry about the little trip down " relationship lane." :)
Monday, October 07, 2013
TC 10 Miler Race Report
Yesterday i raced my last event of the season. In conjunction with the Twin Cities Marathon they started a 10 mile " shortcut to St Paul." Now conisidering my parents live 2 miles from the finish and its the house i grew up in, it really is like i am running home.
I had a nice little break after the last triathlon of the season in late August and I was mentally ready to take on about 4 weeks of a run focus. JH did not let up on me running that is for sure. I felt like she handed me about as much as i could handle including " shake out runs," which i associate with my fast runner friends like Angela.I always felt special to run a shake out run in my Hoka's, and Jen teased me that i nailed those runs as well as the harder one's! She took it easy on me on the bike, as evidenced by my complete near breakdown riding about 48 miles at Rich's Memory ride in mid september. Yikes. Not in bike shape. Swimming has been fine and we have still be in the lake just because we can.
Ok as for the race I had a few niggles that came out of nowhere but i nailed a tough track wko the tuesday prior so i figured unless I woke up on the wrong side of the bed i was good to go. I think Jenny didnt know if i could meet my goal. But my goal was to go zub 7's for the 10 miler. At this point i think she was thinking i was fragile and to be honest SEPTEMBER and well alot of August was really really hard for me. Just too much stuff happening that sorta all came to a head mid and late september so i was fine with her talk of " just go have fun." well I was going to break 70 if i could and i knew deep down i could.
If you read Angela's blog you know, that you basically jump off a cliff ( into the mississippi river) for 2 then climb back out for 5 miles then even off for 3. Welcome to St Paul. JH had said to start at 7s and not faster and descend but i ended up banking some time off that cliff and when i got to mile 5 i was at 7 min pace. I knew from there on that the climbs were more gradual and i knew ( thank you tangerine gel) that i could hurt and hurt and drop that 7 min pace.I negative split those last 5 miles and met my goal with 18 sec to spare. I swear that running cold ( and actually the temps were awesome) is harder than running off the bike when you are warmed up and your legs are already turning over.
Here are a few pics my friend Terry took. Terry Lee like KY is out at so many events, and he is the best cheerer and photo taker. Thanks Terry! I think my glove got all messed up i was trying to wave but it looks like i am asking for a favor.
At the finish I met up with some nice friends and it seems we all ran a bit long. My Garmin had me at 10.09 and i think i run a good tangent and Angela had it as 10.2! I know for sure that those first miles i was dodging bodies even tho i was in coral 1 very close to the front. I jogged another 2 miles back with Ann and then went home to my parents. My mom was a trooper and got up extra early to walk up to the corner with her walker. My dad has a bum leg too, so its been tough to see them work so hard but its so special to have them cheering. None of this means anything If i dont have my family and friends around, racing or not. IT feels sorta empty to me. And honestly that is some of what i am figuring out right now. End of season thoughts i know. No regrets, but also so so so blessed to have friends ( and blog friends) that get this crazy sport and the " its there, why not?" attitude. Special too to get to hang out with CY and warm up with her, to see Erin and Nick at the finish, and to keep my mylar blanket thinking my dad used to use those when he pheasant hunted. Oh wait, he doesnt hunt anymore. I saved it anyways:)
So the off season is underway and I am thrilled to have some mental rest. The physical stuff is fine too, I dont feel all that banged up but i know i need to bank some deep rest as 2014 is a big year!
Thanks for reading and congrats to all the runners, especially the 26.2. Wow i didnt envy you yesterday but i sure did respect you!
And just because she makes me smile:
I had a nice little break after the last triathlon of the season in late August and I was mentally ready to take on about 4 weeks of a run focus. JH did not let up on me running that is for sure. I felt like she handed me about as much as i could handle including " shake out runs," which i associate with my fast runner friends like Angela.I always felt special to run a shake out run in my Hoka's, and Jen teased me that i nailed those runs as well as the harder one's! She took it easy on me on the bike, as evidenced by my complete near breakdown riding about 48 miles at Rich's Memory ride in mid september. Yikes. Not in bike shape. Swimming has been fine and we have still be in the lake just because we can.
Ok as for the race I had a few niggles that came out of nowhere but i nailed a tough track wko the tuesday prior so i figured unless I woke up on the wrong side of the bed i was good to go. I think Jenny didnt know if i could meet my goal. But my goal was to go zub 7's for the 10 miler. At this point i think she was thinking i was fragile and to be honest SEPTEMBER and well alot of August was really really hard for me. Just too much stuff happening that sorta all came to a head mid and late september so i was fine with her talk of " just go have fun." well I was going to break 70 if i could and i knew deep down i could.
If you read Angela's blog you know, that you basically jump off a cliff ( into the mississippi river) for 2 then climb back out for 5 miles then even off for 3. Welcome to St Paul. JH had said to start at 7s and not faster and descend but i ended up banking some time off that cliff and when i got to mile 5 i was at 7 min pace. I knew from there on that the climbs were more gradual and i knew ( thank you tangerine gel) that i could hurt and hurt and drop that 7 min pace.I negative split those last 5 miles and met my goal with 18 sec to spare. I swear that running cold ( and actually the temps were awesome) is harder than running off the bike when you are warmed up and your legs are already turning over.
Here are a few pics my friend Terry took. Terry Lee like KY is out at so many events, and he is the best cheerer and photo taker. Thanks Terry! I think my glove got all messed up i was trying to wave but it looks like i am asking for a favor.
At the finish I met up with some nice friends and it seems we all ran a bit long. My Garmin had me at 10.09 and i think i run a good tangent and Angela had it as 10.2! I know for sure that those first miles i was dodging bodies even tho i was in coral 1 very close to the front. I jogged another 2 miles back with Ann and then went home to my parents. My mom was a trooper and got up extra early to walk up to the corner with her walker. My dad has a bum leg too, so its been tough to see them work so hard but its so special to have them cheering. None of this means anything If i dont have my family and friends around, racing or not. IT feels sorta empty to me. And honestly that is some of what i am figuring out right now. End of season thoughts i know. No regrets, but also so so so blessed to have friends ( and blog friends) that get this crazy sport and the " its there, why not?" attitude. Special too to get to hang out with CY and warm up with her, to see Erin and Nick at the finish, and to keep my mylar blanket thinking my dad used to use those when he pheasant hunted. Oh wait, he doesnt hunt anymore. I saved it anyways:)
So the off season is underway and I am thrilled to have some mental rest. The physical stuff is fine too, I dont feel all that banged up but i know i need to bank some deep rest as 2014 is a big year!
Thanks for reading and congrats to all the runners, especially the 26.2. Wow i didnt envy you yesterday but i sure did respect you!
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Almost a Year
Since Rich passed away.
I have been thinking alot lately about this time last year. With IM Wisconsin taking place recently and how last year at this time I was so ecstatic to have been done with IM and so proud that i even showed up, to the utter craziness of packing Rich into the car monday morning, giving him oxycodone prn, and my sister and i driving him home to MN. How we watched Bridesmaids the night of IM and listened to Mike Reilly cheer in the last finishers. And how i knew that come sunday morning " Party is OVER" back to my reality that my husband was dying.
It's fun to not be trashed from an IM right now. September is a great month to be outside ( usually) and I am thrilled to be happy, in good health and in a good place in my social and work life. But at the same time I have flashes of " OMG, last year at this time...." And usually those are calmed by a visit to Rich's grave or by spending some time alone in thought or with my close friends that have been and are still by my side.
Today was a day that i had looked forward too but also dreaded. I started to get rid of some of Rich's clothing. It was a good feeling ( and trust me i threw in some of mine as well) to give them to a local church sale and some will go to consignment. Rich would have wanted people who needed them to have them. So i am trying to do my best to clear out and lighten up, while at the same time I freaked out when i went to get a t shirt of his and realized i had boxed them all up. I had to grab a few out. I cant go cold turkey yet:) And trust me i wear baggy t shirts to bed Sorry Victoria's Secret, not getting my money!
We also had a birthday dinner for Rich, and his brothers who are all born within a week of each other. It was a few weeks late, yet still I feel so blessed to have in-laws that love me and include me as if Rich were right near my side. ( which he is, i know!)
I have learned alot in the last year. I will write more about this as the days come but i know this blog is often about Tri, racing and all the EGO stuff I do. That is fun and it makes for good reading but while that comes and go's ( hopefully not going anywhere, health and wellbeing intact) what you dont read or hear about on a daily basis or an hourly basis or a second to second basis is what makes me tick when i am not Swim Bike Running. One reason i knew i couldnt do IM this year was the long rides and runs would have killed me. I think 24-7 about Rich and while that is part of the healing process, being with someone when they are dying isnt something that you just say " just forget about it." Maybe some of you can relate, and if you cant, then just read along. But the journey i took with him and the things i saw and the things i heard and did especially in the last week of his life dont just GO away. I have been told it takes time and i am giving myself that time.
What I have learned though is that the people that love me and support me dont have to get it. They are here for me no matter if they dont get it, and they are here for me for reasons they cant even explain. MY family and my friends are what make me tick and the racing and the training is something God has blessed me with as an outlet. So for now this is what i wanted to write, funny how i didnt plan to write a blog on this and here i am, thursday night news on GoBigGreen.
Running the TC10miler in a few weeks, then its time for some deep rest. Lots of running going on in my life and its going great, and excited for some snow ( in the appropriate months) so i can pretend to know how to ski again:)
I have been thinking alot lately about this time last year. With IM Wisconsin taking place recently and how last year at this time I was so ecstatic to have been done with IM and so proud that i even showed up, to the utter craziness of packing Rich into the car monday morning, giving him oxycodone prn, and my sister and i driving him home to MN. How we watched Bridesmaids the night of IM and listened to Mike Reilly cheer in the last finishers. And how i knew that come sunday morning " Party is OVER" back to my reality that my husband was dying.
 |
| Race morning. Rich walked me down to the start, we had to stop and rest in the terrace bc of all the people. I cried. I knew i was TOAST if i cried at the IM Start so i woman-ed up and had a super fast swim. i knew this would be the last race he was at with me. ( well in body i mean) Jen like the hat?? :) |
It's fun to not be trashed from an IM right now. September is a great month to be outside ( usually) and I am thrilled to be happy, in good health and in a good place in my social and work life. But at the same time I have flashes of " OMG, last year at this time...." And usually those are calmed by a visit to Rich's grave or by spending some time alone in thought or with my close friends that have been and are still by my side.
Today was a day that i had looked forward too but also dreaded. I started to get rid of some of Rich's clothing. It was a good feeling ( and trust me i threw in some of mine as well) to give them to a local church sale and some will go to consignment. Rich would have wanted people who needed them to have them. So i am trying to do my best to clear out and lighten up, while at the same time I freaked out when i went to get a t shirt of his and realized i had boxed them all up. I had to grab a few out. I cant go cold turkey yet:) And trust me i wear baggy t shirts to bed Sorry Victoria's Secret, not getting my money!
We also had a birthday dinner for Rich, and his brothers who are all born within a week of each other. It was a few weeks late, yet still I feel so blessed to have in-laws that love me and include me as if Rich were right near my side. ( which he is, i know!)
I have learned alot in the last year. I will write more about this as the days come but i know this blog is often about Tri, racing and all the EGO stuff I do. That is fun and it makes for good reading but while that comes and go's ( hopefully not going anywhere, health and wellbeing intact) what you dont read or hear about on a daily basis or an hourly basis or a second to second basis is what makes me tick when i am not Swim Bike Running. One reason i knew i couldnt do IM this year was the long rides and runs would have killed me. I think 24-7 about Rich and while that is part of the healing process, being with someone when they are dying isnt something that you just say " just forget about it." Maybe some of you can relate, and if you cant, then just read along. But the journey i took with him and the things i saw and the things i heard and did especially in the last week of his life dont just GO away. I have been told it takes time and i am giving myself that time.
What I have learned though is that the people that love me and support me dont have to get it. They are here for me no matter if they dont get it, and they are here for me for reasons they cant even explain. MY family and my friends are what make me tick and the racing and the training is something God has blessed me with as an outlet. So for now this is what i wanted to write, funny how i didnt plan to write a blog on this and here i am, thursday night news on GoBigGreen.
Running the TC10miler in a few weeks, then its time for some deep rest. Lots of running going on in my life and its going great, and excited for some snow ( in the appropriate months) so i can pretend to know how to ski again:)
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Lifetime Maple Grove Race Report and...
Well, this picture brought me to tears. Ask Jen. I called her on the way home and cried. I cant blog about why i cried but i can tell you the overwelming emotion of being done with likely my most challenging yet rewarding season was too much for me. I think i made Jen cry too:)
But lets back up...Its not like i am going to the Olympics, but standing on this podium with Heather ( who just WON, THE ENTIRE RACE at AG nationals) and Cathy ( who needs no introduction) was just the biggest honor i could have ever asked for.
OA Podium
Backing up a bit....This was a maybe for me. I did it in 2010 and had a great race. I didnt remember alot of the course but i did recal it was a challenging course, pretty rough swim and then a rolling bike with alot of open spaces, and a run that was deceptively hot and wide open with more than a few short punchy hills in 2 loops. So why not. I was fit from Nationals and wanted to race one more time. Its weird not doing an IM this year I didnt want to feel like i had to be trashed at the end of the season so i was thinking "one and done."
Swim: We had a small elite wave and all loved that we knew we would be top 10 elite since i think there were 8 women. Beach start and i let the swimmers line up in front. Christina, Heather and CY took it out and were in view for about the first 500 yards then we got mixed into the collegiate waves ahead of us. The swim was long, some say as long as 1.3 miles. All i know is that i swam hard and sighted well bc the sun was an issue, and came out about 2min down on Christina and in 4th. I heard that Sarah was also behind me but T1 was LONG, alot of running in a wetsuit when the water was really warm. They say 77.8, but whatever we all got hot.
T1: other than the usual long leg issues with the timing chip getting in the way of wetsuit removal all was fine. Kerry Y and Yndecam caught me ready to mount up a nice hill!
Bike:
We had some wind for sure and it was hard to tell for sure when and where bc the course had these loops where we were doing squares. It was a great course, a bit rough on one road but fair and wide open. The Moto came thru a few times which i love bc little packs just sort of form even in little races. Well this was 1300 people not that little but it keeps it fair. With wind and inclines and a joule that read 27 miles i was still really happy with my ride. I felt really good. Takes me about 5 miles to settle in and then its " OLY MODE" takes over and its like a sorta easier Time Trial. I passed #3 Christina in there before mile 10 and looked back and she was gone. So i was just riding riding riding. knowing that Sarah is a super biker i just kept the pedal down. Nothing eventful other than a longer than 40k bike.
T2: Quick quick i was in and out. When i dismounted i felt the UGH of sore glutes. My first few steps told me my hammies and glutes were going to be a bit more sore than at Nationals, but whatever. Go run. Funny thing is i grabbed my gel and also grabbed the prayer card i keep in T with me. I bring one to the race so i remember what Rich would tell me at a race. " Any day you can ride your bike is a good day!" So i am running out of T2 and i have the gel ( which i need) and the card ( Which i dont need and i have no pockets) so what did i do? Put it down my top and forgot about it.
Run:
Here is the nice hill we got to do twice out of Transition. Its ok i like hills but the 2nd time up i was about to explode at the top and it was littered with Sprint runners heading out so there was some " Excuse me, Excuse me" going on. all ok but ouch.
My tennis pal and fan extraordinaire lives on the run course in mile 1. This is how i looked mile 1. Ok that doesnt look so good. The guy next to me was hilarious. I caught up to him and he was just running so fast i tried to stay with him and he lost me in mile 3 in the rollers. I just thought " oh boy i am not running to well today i hope Christina cant catch me, she is fast." and i soldiered on.
The 2nd lap was quite amazing. Cindy Blackstock caught me and ran past me expressing lots of quick encouragement ( we both were breathing HARD) it was getting hot. Now Cindy has had quite a year,
Kona qualifier at Madison and about 2 weeks later diagnosed with breast cancer and has a double masectomy, chemo, radiation, the works. NOW if that doesnt inspire me to try to stay with her? I mean what a thrill to be at her side, or next to her, or in front of her or behind her, whatever it was through miles 3-4-5 i was just trying my best to be with her. I mustered the " is this your first or 2nd lap" not thinking really that she was not in the elite wave today, but AG so it must be her 1st. And she said 1st so then i tried to be the run tour guide telling her how many more little hills were coming up. Ya always playing hostess. Anyways around mile 5.5 she fell back a bit and i finished and she went thru another loop but i have to tell you i think it was Cindy that got me a 6:54 average on that course it wasnt me. Not at all what i had thought i was running, and i do think that the 10k was accurate despite the rest of the course being long!
And Yes, the look of " OMG am i done and did i really just get 3rd?" I look a bit like i saw a ghost.
And that prayer card? It was safely tucked in my top, lots of little pieces there but I bet Rich was happy to be drinking gatorade down my front as about 2 oz goes into my mouth the rest of it onto my body. I think Rich had a good ride:)
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Olympic distance. It seems to fit my strengths well and i will always remember that.
As for the season and life in general? Im happy. I havent really been this happy in a long time. I remember telling Jerry M ( the voice of TRI) that I wasnt smiling much other than at races when i saw my friends and listened to him be goofy and talk about tri. He said " I hope you are talking to someone"
I thought about that and realized that I wasnt really happy i was sorta depressed actually. It was a good wake up call as I never think i want my life to only be happy when i am doing well in triathlon ( or any sport or pasttime ) for that matter. Its been a huge process of figuring out my life this summer without Rich. I have grown alot and i am thankful for all the experiences and people in my life, some come and some go. Its all about figuring it out and not settling for anything less than what makes you happy and makes you smile. For now and for today i am in a good place. Of course I am smiling bc I think I kicked master butt this year and Jen is to thank for that. Not only as a coach but as a friend. Sarah and Pam too, you know what you have done, and it cant thank you enough.
I have so much more to say but i wont right now. For now, lets do this....
Tommorrow is Rich's 59th Birthday. August 29th.
What he really would want is for you to get outside and do what you love to do, be thankful for it and to eat some German Chocolate Cake!
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Dynamic Warmups and Muscle Activation
I remember back in grade school and even in college, spending alot of time doing static stretching. We would stretch alot before we would go play, and we always held the stretch for at least 20 seconds.
Fast forward to today and even the last few years. The sports i am doing may have changed a bit but more so the warmups and cool downs have as well.
I had a request to talk a bit about muscle activation exercises and maybe at ANY age they are useful but I think as you get older they are critical. Speaking for many of us that may have overactive lower back muscles, and underactive glute muscles, its really important to get your body in "touch" with what it feels like to get the proper muscles firing for sport. I would say that for running this is 100% critical to me, swimming and biking not so much bc there is a non weight bearing component and biking is easier to get your butt firing. For lack of a better way to state that.
So my lumbar muscles ( paraspinals, Quadratus Lumborum) like to extend my hip. They love to overwork. This is coming from someone who really has no back pain at all. But when running what you want extending your hip ( think push off ) are your glutes and your hamstrings. In that order. If your glutes arent working " enough " your hamstrings will overwork and we all know what that feels like. Your hamstrings have the main job of knee flexion ( think butt kick) and also assisting with hip extension. But when your prime movers and your strongest muscles are lazy ( your glutes) those hamstrings and the lower back will be happy to take over. Taking the path of least resistance is what our body is so good at, but that will lead to some issues. Even calf issues as your hamstrings are tired now and your gastroc soleus and your toe running will try to flex your knee for you. We are a big kinetic chain arent we.
So what can you do? What do i do?
GLUTES AND CORE. Say that 100x.
I like to do alot of lumbar stretching in a rounded spine posture/squat, feet under me, core engaged, knees forward.
MODIFIED SQUATS
Then i hit up some adductor activation to get the inner thigh firing to hold the femur in line since lateral quad and ITB like to pull pull pull laterally. For this i can do this on a curb outside or on a step in my house. I actually have a little wooden box that i use, its about 6 in tall and my PT's dad makes them for us. They are step overs. Cant find a pic but to engage the left adductor, step onto a step, right foot stays on the ground and you need to pull up and in to feel the muscle deep towards your groin, stepping up and over back and forth keeping your pelvis in neutral.
Then some glute side steps, all with a tucked core. lower abs. Lateral lunges yet the foot on the step or curb is stable, not moving, and your back is NOT arched or flat ( bc you dont want your lower back working, do you?) you want your lower abs/obliques on) lunging deeper you will feel your glutes engage. Do about 20 of them and switch sides. You do not need to be adding hand weights to this, think " waking up the muscles " not strength training.
Finally before a run i will do the regular dynamics you can searchonline. Knee to chest, butt kicks, karaoke, wooden solider kicks, walking lunges, all dynamic meaning you dont hold any stretch. You can also do a few strides to get the legs turning over. Its alot easier to do this in the summer than the winter when its cold and snowy out.
top 10 running recommendations
Fast forward to today and even the last few years. The sports i am doing may have changed a bit but more so the warmups and cool downs have as well.
I had a request to talk a bit about muscle activation exercises and maybe at ANY age they are useful but I think as you get older they are critical. Speaking for many of us that may have overactive lower back muscles, and underactive glute muscles, its really important to get your body in "touch" with what it feels like to get the proper muscles firing for sport. I would say that for running this is 100% critical to me, swimming and biking not so much bc there is a non weight bearing component and biking is easier to get your butt firing. For lack of a better way to state that.
So my lumbar muscles ( paraspinals, Quadratus Lumborum) like to extend my hip. They love to overwork. This is coming from someone who really has no back pain at all. But when running what you want extending your hip ( think push off ) are your glutes and your hamstrings. In that order. If your glutes arent working " enough " your hamstrings will overwork and we all know what that feels like. Your hamstrings have the main job of knee flexion ( think butt kick) and also assisting with hip extension. But when your prime movers and your strongest muscles are lazy ( your glutes) those hamstrings and the lower back will be happy to take over. Taking the path of least resistance is what our body is so good at, but that will lead to some issues. Even calf issues as your hamstrings are tired now and your gastroc soleus and your toe running will try to flex your knee for you. We are a big kinetic chain arent we.
So what can you do? What do i do?
GLUTES AND CORE. Say that 100x.
I like to do alot of lumbar stretching in a rounded spine posture/squat, feet under me, core engaged, knees forward.
MODIFIED SQUATS
Then i hit up some adductor activation to get the inner thigh firing to hold the femur in line since lateral quad and ITB like to pull pull pull laterally. For this i can do this on a curb outside or on a step in my house. I actually have a little wooden box that i use, its about 6 in tall and my PT's dad makes them for us. They are step overs. Cant find a pic but to engage the left adductor, step onto a step, right foot stays on the ground and you need to pull up and in to feel the muscle deep towards your groin, stepping up and over back and forth keeping your pelvis in neutral.
Then some glute side steps, all with a tucked core. lower abs. Lateral lunges yet the foot on the step or curb is stable, not moving, and your back is NOT arched or flat ( bc you dont want your lower back working, do you?) you want your lower abs/obliques on) lunging deeper you will feel your glutes engage. Do about 20 of them and switch sides. You do not need to be adding hand weights to this, think " waking up the muscles " not strength training.
Finally before a run i will do the regular dynamics you can searchonline. Knee to chest, butt kicks, karaoke, wooden solider kicks, walking lunges, all dynamic meaning you dont hold any stretch. You can also do a few strides to get the legs turning over. Its alot easier to do this in the summer than the winter when its cold and snowy out.
top 10 running recommendations
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