Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
The Space Between
It's always a strange adjustment, right after Ironman. I'm never really sure what to do with myself. In this instance, my usual catch-up time has been replaced with doctor's visits galore. Exhaustion combined with a ban on caffeine has me feeling a bit sleepy, but I've been pretty productive nonetheless!
Last night Sam and I had a mid-week date night. We headed to Adrienne's restaurant in New Milford for a wine tasting dinner. It was a lot of fun and we met some great people...not to mention tried some nice wines! It was a blast, but it's back to the grind soon...
I officially pulled the trigger and got myself into Ironman Florida this Fall. Once these tests are done (a Halter test tomorrow for the Sandy Beach Tri) and an Echo Cardiogram on Monday, I should be good to go again... it will be a New Year's in July (or, well, August at that point) as I said to Eric this morning. I'm going to make 2009 a great year again!
Going out for an easy spin today and with that, so begins Ironman training again!
Last night Sam and I had a mid-week date night. We headed to Adrienne's restaurant in New Milford for a wine tasting dinner. It was a lot of fun and we met some great people...not to mention tried some nice wines! It was a blast, but it's back to the grind soon...
I officially pulled the trigger and got myself into Ironman Florida this Fall. Once these tests are done (a Halter test tomorrow for the Sandy Beach Tri) and an Echo Cardiogram on Monday, I should be good to go again... it will be a New Year's in July (or, well, August at that point) as I said to Eric this morning. I'm going to make 2009 a great year again!
Going out for an easy spin today and with that, so begins Ironman training again!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Another update, and understanding better what the heck is going on.
It has not exactly been the greatest few days, but I thank you all for your love, support and well wishes... as one friend put it, we already have the theme for next year's Lake Placid: "Back from the dead". Yea, real funny.
It's been a tough time, lots of things to wrap my head around, but I'm not exactly good at the moping, sad thing. Losing West last week put me near the brink and after Monday, I was feeling pretty low. Scared, but also disappointed and humiliated. Talking with Eric, friends and family has definitely brought me around. I'm not sure I'll ever let go of that irritation and upset of not getting to do those last 10 miles, what would have been a bit over an hour of racing. What would have been a new PR on the Placid course. The what-if's are awful, but I think they serve a purpose. You need that upset, you need that feeling of letdown to wake you up and make you take stock. My father always says you learn more from your failures than your victories. It's only natural that the more racing you do, there are bound to be a few bad days in there. Guess that's the hitch. It wasn't a bad day, it was a great one.
As soon as I got home on Monday, I went directly to my Doc. He started what will be a slew of tests over the next few months. As thankful as I am to the volunteers up at Ironman, my Doc is certain they were a bit over-zealous. A combination of electrolyte imbalance and caffeine overload proved a dangerous (and as my doc noted, potentially fatal) combination. That combination caused irregular heartbeats, causing my heart to beat at a rate much higher than my 202 max heart rate, so when the EMT's took my pulse, my heart was beating so fast, they couldn't feel it. Their attempts at CPR and shocking will leave me bruised and sore for months because of the damage they did to the soft cartilage in my chest.
I've been ordered off caffeine, which I don't ever really have. I drink one cup of tea in the morning, but that's it. I've used caffeine pills with great success at many other races, but I've never used as much as I did at Placid. I usually take 1/2 a pill at certain increments starting on the bike, and I was feeling like I needed more of a jolt, especially when I began throwing up and feeling the chills on the run. It was the wrong decision and negated the broth and gatorade I was taking in.
Still waiting on the bloodwork to come back, but we did an EKG on Monday and I'm scheduled for an Echo-cardiogram and Halter test, which we'll do in a variety of race environments.
This would have been my 7th Ironman finish and while I'm emotionally chafing about what happened, in the overall scheme of things, it is just a race. Time moves one way, so the what if's are no good. All I can do is get healthy and race again...race smarter.
Maybe the point of it all is to get me to appreciate the good. My charity races this year have been huge successes, my consulting business is going full-bore with 4 new jobs, Luna is growing up, Sam and I are getting closer by the day to our one-year anniversary and I have the most amazing family and friends I could ask for. There has been so much good this year, that I refuse to let the bad parts overshadow them. Isn't that how we move on? We accept those things we cannot change? A dislocated knee at St Croix stunk something awful, but I recovered and came back in time to race Ironman. I'll recover from this too and that 10:40 time I was after will be mine in Florida this Fall.
It's been a tough time, lots of things to wrap my head around, but I'm not exactly good at the moping, sad thing. Losing West last week put me near the brink and after Monday, I was feeling pretty low. Scared, but also disappointed and humiliated. Talking with Eric, friends and family has definitely brought me around. I'm not sure I'll ever let go of that irritation and upset of not getting to do those last 10 miles, what would have been a bit over an hour of racing. What would have been a new PR on the Placid course. The what-if's are awful, but I think they serve a purpose. You need that upset, you need that feeling of letdown to wake you up and make you take stock. My father always says you learn more from your failures than your victories. It's only natural that the more racing you do, there are bound to be a few bad days in there. Guess that's the hitch. It wasn't a bad day, it was a great one.
As soon as I got home on Monday, I went directly to my Doc. He started what will be a slew of tests over the next few months. As thankful as I am to the volunteers up at Ironman, my Doc is certain they were a bit over-zealous. A combination of electrolyte imbalance and caffeine overload proved a dangerous (and as my doc noted, potentially fatal) combination. That combination caused irregular heartbeats, causing my heart to beat at a rate much higher than my 202 max heart rate, so when the EMT's took my pulse, my heart was beating so fast, they couldn't feel it. Their attempts at CPR and shocking will leave me bruised and sore for months because of the damage they did to the soft cartilage in my chest.
I've been ordered off caffeine, which I don't ever really have. I drink one cup of tea in the morning, but that's it. I've used caffeine pills with great success at many other races, but I've never used as much as I did at Placid. I usually take 1/2 a pill at certain increments starting on the bike, and I was feeling like I needed more of a jolt, especially when I began throwing up and feeling the chills on the run. It was the wrong decision and negated the broth and gatorade I was taking in.
Still waiting on the bloodwork to come back, but we did an EKG on Monday and I'm scheduled for an Echo-cardiogram and Halter test, which we'll do in a variety of race environments.
This would have been my 7th Ironman finish and while I'm emotionally chafing about what happened, in the overall scheme of things, it is just a race. Time moves one way, so the what if's are no good. All I can do is get healthy and race again...race smarter.
Maybe the point of it all is to get me to appreciate the good. My charity races this year have been huge successes, my consulting business is going full-bore with 4 new jobs, Luna is growing up, Sam and I are getting closer by the day to our one-year anniversary and I have the most amazing family and friends I could ask for. There has been so much good this year, that I refuse to let the bad parts overshadow them. Isn't that how we move on? We accept those things we cannot change? A dislocated knee at St Croix stunk something awful, but I recovered and came back in time to race Ironman. I'll recover from this too and that 10:40 time I was after will be mine in Florida this Fall.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Quick update
Well, not the day I had planned. Was running well despite some
throwing up. At mile 16 I collapsed and lost consciousness (this is
what I was told). I had a major asthma attack and my heart stopped.
CPR was unsuccessful and medics had to shock me. I'm home now and
feeling ok, but a bit sore in the chest and ribs from the CPR beating.
Dissapointed and scared, but I'm sure everything will be fine. Medical
tests are on the menu for this week and then trying to get into
another ironman.
throwing up. At mile 16 I collapsed and lost consciousness (this is
what I was told). I had a major asthma attack and my heart stopped.
CPR was unsuccessful and medics had to shock me. I'm home now and
feeling ok, but a bit sore in the chest and ribs from the CPR beating.
Dissapointed and scared, but I'm sure everything will be fine. Medical
tests are on the menu for this week and then trying to get into
another ironman.
Many thanks to my mom and Sam as well as all friends out there today.
As I've been reminded many times today, there will always be another
race to do and to rock... And placid, don't worry, I'll be back next
year and I'll win. Count on it.
Sent from my iPhone
Lap 1 of the Bike
Mandy just cruised by in her first lap on the bike. The sun has come
out and has warmed up the pavement considerably! Only a few minutes
seperating her from the front of the field of her age category. 57
more miles for her to reel them in!!
out and has warmed up the pavement considerably! Only a few minutes
seperating her from the front of the field of her age category. 57
more miles for her to reel them in!!
----------------------------------------------------------
This communication may contain information that is
proprietary, privileged, confidential or legally exempt
from disclosure. If you did not receive this directly from
Cannondale Bicycle Corporation, or received this in error,
you are notified that you are not authorized to read,
print, retain, copy or disseminate this communication
without the consent of the Cannondale Bicycle Corporation
and that doing so may be unlawful. If you have received
this communication in error,please notify the sender via
return e-mail and delete it from your computer.
Thank you, Cannondale Bicycle Corp
On the Bike
Mandy was looking really comfortable in her first mile of the bike. She gave me and her Mom a big smile as she powered by us. We won't see her for another 57 miles. Time to fuel up, walk Luna and prepare for lap #2.
Fortunately the sun is shining to dry up the roads from the morning showers.
Stay tuned!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
