Sorry I haven't written for a while. To be honest, I've been feeling a little sorry for myself and trying to make sense of my new situation - two Cardiac stents and a new sense of vulnerability. But, I'm over that for now. :)
All is not lost! Yes, I'm afraid America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride around Lake Tahoe is not in the cards for me this year. Maybe next year. But, Team in Training is allowing me to transfer most of my funds and my event selection to the Seagull Century Ride. The ride is in Maryland on October 15th. This should give me plenty of time to train and to convince the Cardiologist that this is the best thing for me to do. The course is relatively flat and at sea level. A better venue for me right now than mile-high Lake Tahoe with a course that involves a number of very challenging hills. I'm psyched!
Go Team!!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Lake Tahoe
The good news is. I have raised $2,985 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I am only about $700 short of my fund raising commitment with only about a month and a half to go.
The bad news is. Although I will have raised a significant amount of money for a very worthy cause, I may not be able to go to Tahoe for the event. Friday a week ago, I was in the hospital for a cardiac catheterization. The surgeon placed two stents in my left anterior descending artery, the one they call the "widow-maker". Now I have gone from no medication to 5 meds a day including aspirin. Two blood thinners, two blood pressure meds, and a statin to lower my cholesterol.
The wierd thing is. I have never had symptoms that I could detect and I still feel fine. What prompted this was findings on a chest CT that I had done for a completely different reason, which turned out to be nothing.
Major bummer! But, I plan to be back on my bike as soon as the weather clears and I will see what I am able to handle. God willing, I'll be able to try again next year.
The bad news is. Although I will have raised a significant amount of money for a very worthy cause, I may not be able to go to Tahoe for the event. Friday a week ago, I was in the hospital for a cardiac catheterization. The surgeon placed two stents in my left anterior descending artery, the one they call the "widow-maker". Now I have gone from no medication to 5 meds a day including aspirin. Two blood thinners, two blood pressure meds, and a statin to lower my cholesterol.
The wierd thing is. I have never had symptoms that I could detect and I still feel fine. What prompted this was findings on a chest CT that I had done for a completely different reason, which turned out to be nothing.
Major bummer! But, I plan to be back on my bike as soon as the weather clears and I will see what I am able to handle. God willing, I'll be able to try again next year.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
San Diego Rock 'n Roll Marathon - the day of the race.
3:30AM on the west coast, June 6th, I am up and out of bed, girding myself as if for battle. Sweat band, cycling cap, RFID timer and emergency information tag laced into my shoes, and, yes, compression socks all added to my armament. I remind myself that this is the anniversary of the day the Allies invaded "Fortress Europe" during World War II. My effort pales in comparison, but it is still my effort. And I feel a little, just a little, trepidation because I know I am not adequately trained. But, I am resolved to complete the distance, 26 miles and 385 yards.
We board the bus, which will take us to the start, at 4:30AM. Balboa Park is a surreal collection of klieg lights, UPS trucks, tables, tents, port-a-potties, and, of course, runners. There are 30,000 of us at the start. We fill the street for about a quarter of a mile behind the starting line. We are in groups, called corrals, based on our anticipated finish time.
The first group starts at 6:15. My group starts sometime between 6:30 and 6:45. We spend a long time "inching" toward the start before beginning our race. We start in what the locals call "June Gloom", what I would call "morning fog". The fog lasts until about 10AM and spares the slower runners, like me, much of the heat from the morning sun. I run with one of my team-mates for about 6.5 miles until her "trick knee" sidelines her for a short while. She ends up beating me to the finish, probably passing me at around mile 16, but I don't see her again until after the race. It's a long race.
Through much of the first 10 miles we run through Balboa Park (twice), downtown San Diego, and along the harbor. It is a lovely course with live bands every 2 miles or so. Very inspiring. After that is a 4-5 mile stretch of freeway which they have shut off to traffic for the race. I busy myself watching for the many Elvis impersonators who are running and enjoying the many people who have turned out to cheer us on.
About half-way through the race, I felt like I might need something other than the aide drinks to fuel my run. The easiest thing to take at a time like this is this stuff called Gu. Sure enough, that's what they are offering at the aide station just before mile 14 on the course. So, I grab a raspberry and a vanilla flavor packet. Now, for me, injesting this concoction is a real challenge. It is very thick and extremely sweet. Every time I try to swallow this substance, it immediately triggers my gag reflex. So, determined to get it down in order to fuel the rest of my run, I squeeze the entire contents into my mouth and ignore the impulse to immediately expell it long enough to down a full cup of water. It works and I am on my way again.
At 16 miles, I know I am finished. After that point in the race, I am only able to manage maybe a 100 yard trot at rare intervals, but I know I am walking most of the rest of the race. The bottoms of my feet are each covered with giant blisters. I have made the rookie mistake of dumping one cup of water over my head at each water stop early in the race in an effort to keep cool. The water has soaked my socks and is causing me to rub blisters into the bottom of both of my feet.
Mile 18 brought us to Mission Bay. The run around Mission Bay and Fiesta Island took forever. The discouraging thing is that you can look across the bay to the island and see a long line of "ants", runners who are a full 4 miles ahead of you on the course. I have the strongest urge to turn this into an aqua run (partial triathlon?) and swim across the bay to cut 4 miles out of the run. But, I just continue on dry land, putting one foot in front of the other. It is a long slog in what is now a full sun. Occasional cool breezes across the bay serve to slightly reduce my misery. The greater the misery, the sweeter the finish. I am determined to persevere! Live bands along this stretch of the course still inspire if only for a short while and the hundreds of volunteers and supporters are very much appreciated.
We finish at Sea World. I manage a half-hearted trot/shuffle and a heart-felt smile while crossing the finish line. My official time is 6 hours and 6 minutes. Not pretty, but I'll take the finish. I will do this again, but I hope to be better trained next time.
The race is billed as the San Diego Rock 'n Roll Marathon to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the purple shirted runners from Team in Training were everywhere you looked. 4,000 runners from chapters all over the country competed and together raised over $12,000,000 to find a cure for blood cancers. That is, afterall, what this is really all about.
We board the bus, which will take us to the start, at 4:30AM. Balboa Park is a surreal collection of klieg lights, UPS trucks, tables, tents, port-a-potties, and, of course, runners. There are 30,000 of us at the start. We fill the street for about a quarter of a mile behind the starting line. We are in groups, called corrals, based on our anticipated finish time.
The first group starts at 6:15. My group starts sometime between 6:30 and 6:45. We spend a long time "inching" toward the start before beginning our race. We start in what the locals call "June Gloom", what I would call "morning fog". The fog lasts until about 10AM and spares the slower runners, like me, much of the heat from the morning sun. I run with one of my team-mates for about 6.5 miles until her "trick knee" sidelines her for a short while. She ends up beating me to the finish, probably passing me at around mile 16, but I don't see her again until after the race. It's a long race.
Through much of the first 10 miles we run through Balboa Park (twice), downtown San Diego, and along the harbor. It is a lovely course with live bands every 2 miles or so. Very inspiring. After that is a 4-5 mile stretch of freeway which they have shut off to traffic for the race. I busy myself watching for the many Elvis impersonators who are running and enjoying the many people who have turned out to cheer us on.
About half-way through the race, I felt like I might need something other than the aide drinks to fuel my run. The easiest thing to take at a time like this is this stuff called Gu. Sure enough, that's what they are offering at the aide station just before mile 14 on the course. So, I grab a raspberry and a vanilla flavor packet. Now, for me, injesting this concoction is a real challenge. It is very thick and extremely sweet. Every time I try to swallow this substance, it immediately triggers my gag reflex. So, determined to get it down in order to fuel the rest of my run, I squeeze the entire contents into my mouth and ignore the impulse to immediately expell it long enough to down a full cup of water. It works and I am on my way again.
At 16 miles, I know I am finished. After that point in the race, I am only able to manage maybe a 100 yard trot at rare intervals, but I know I am walking most of the rest of the race. The bottoms of my feet are each covered with giant blisters. I have made the rookie mistake of dumping one cup of water over my head at each water stop early in the race in an effort to keep cool. The water has soaked my socks and is causing me to rub blisters into the bottom of both of my feet.
Mile 18 brought us to Mission Bay. The run around Mission Bay and Fiesta Island took forever. The discouraging thing is that you can look across the bay to the island and see a long line of "ants", runners who are a full 4 miles ahead of you on the course. I have the strongest urge to turn this into an aqua run (partial triathlon?) and swim across the bay to cut 4 miles out of the run. But, I just continue on dry land, putting one foot in front of the other. It is a long slog in what is now a full sun. Occasional cool breezes across the bay serve to slightly reduce my misery. The greater the misery, the sweeter the finish. I am determined to persevere! Live bands along this stretch of the course still inspire if only for a short while and the hundreds of volunteers and supporters are very much appreciated.
We finish at Sea World. I manage a half-hearted trot/shuffle and a heart-felt smile while crossing the finish line. My official time is 6 hours and 6 minutes. Not pretty, but I'll take the finish. I will do this again, but I hope to be better trained next time.
The race is billed as the San Diego Rock 'n Roll Marathon to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the purple shirted runners from Team in Training were everywhere you looked. 4,000 runners from chapters all over the country competed and together raised over $12,000,000 to find a cure for blood cancers. That is, afterall, what this is really all about.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
19 days and $1809 to go.
Thanks to everyone who contributed my place on the San Diego team is assured! That's the good news. Also, my calf cramps seem to be totally cured with my use of the compression stockings. But...
Now, for the "not so good" news. After my 18 mile run about 3 weeks ago, I planned an easier week with a maximum run of about 12 miles on the following weekend. I ended up walking the last two miles of that run with a muscle cramp or pain in my right hip. I haven't been able to run more than about 3 miles since that day without the pain returning. It doesn't seem to be the joint, thank goodness, but it has definitely knocked me "off my game" with the training. I may be walking a good bit of the marathon in San Diego, but I am determined to finish. The Dr. has diagnosed iliotibial band syndrome, so I am working hard to stretch and strengthen the muscles - hip abductor (tensor fascia lata), gluteus minimus, and gluteus medius - and tendons running down the right side of my right leg. I'm learning about muscles I didn't even know I had!
As I read the material on iliotibial band syndrome, I came across a discussion of greater trochanteric bursitis. This actually matches the symptoms I am having very closely. The cause (building mileage too quickly) also matches. The treatment is anti-inflammatories, moderate rest, and strenghthening and stretching of the muscles I mentioned above. So, that's my plan for the next 3 weeks until race day.
Now, for the "not so good" news. After my 18 mile run about 3 weeks ago, I planned an easier week with a maximum run of about 12 miles on the following weekend. I ended up walking the last two miles of that run with a muscle cramp or pain in my right hip. I haven't been able to run more than about 3 miles since that day without the pain returning. It doesn't seem to be the joint, thank goodness, but it has definitely knocked me "off my game" with the training. I may be walking a good bit of the marathon in San Diego, but I am determined to finish. The Dr. has diagnosed iliotibial band syndrome, so I am working hard to stretch and strengthen the muscles - hip abductor (tensor fascia lata), gluteus minimus, and gluteus medius - and tendons running down the right side of my right leg. I'm learning about muscles I didn't even know I had!
As I read the material on iliotibial band syndrome, I came across a discussion of greater trochanteric bursitis. This actually matches the symptoms I am having very closely. The cause (building mileage too quickly) also matches. The treatment is anti-inflammatories, moderate rest, and strenghthening and stretching of the muscles I mentioned above. So, that's my plan for the next 3 weeks until race day.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
41 days and $2885 to go
A total of 38 miles this week and no sign of my calf cramps! I really feel like I can start pushing the mileage now. My goal will be at least one 20 mile run before the race day.
I wore the compression socks every time I ran this week and was able to rack up the mileage. Last week I covered a total of 30 miles, ending with a 15 mile run on Sunday. This week I covered 38 miles and ended with a Sunday run of 18 miles.
I took this last monday off to recover from my 15 mile run. Tuesday, I ran 5 miles. Wednesday I ran 10 miles. I was feeling pretty good after that run. It was not so long ago that 10 miles felt like a real accomplishment to me. Not wanting to push myself too hard, I rested on Thursday. I finished my weekday runs with another 5 miler on Friday.
After resting on Saturday, I felt ready to tackle my longest run to date on Sunday. I planned a triple "out and back" on a 6 mile course. That gave me the opportunity for a couple of "pit stops" for drinks and a bathroom break as necessary. I have to tell you, though, it was really hard to turn around and go back out on the course the second time I returned. By that time, my legs were really heavy. But, no calf cramps! Halleluja!
Mostly recovered, I started this morning with an easy 3 miler. I am going to make this an easy week to let my body heal from last week's efforts.
I wore the compression socks every time I ran this week and was able to rack up the mileage. Last week I covered a total of 30 miles, ending with a 15 mile run on Sunday. This week I covered 38 miles and ended with a Sunday run of 18 miles.
I took this last monday off to recover from my 15 mile run. Tuesday, I ran 5 miles. Wednesday I ran 10 miles. I was feeling pretty good after that run. It was not so long ago that 10 miles felt like a real accomplishment to me. Not wanting to push myself too hard, I rested on Thursday. I finished my weekday runs with another 5 miler on Friday.
After resting on Saturday, I felt ready to tackle my longest run to date on Sunday. I planned a triple "out and back" on a 6 mile course. That gave me the opportunity for a couple of "pit stops" for drinks and a bathroom break as necessary. I have to tell you, though, it was really hard to turn around and go back out on the course the second time I returned. By that time, my legs were really heavy. But, no calf cramps! Halleluja!
Mostly recovered, I started this morning with an easy 3 miler. I am going to make this an easy week to let my body heal from last week's efforts.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
49 days and $2885 to go!
A real cure for my calf cramps? Two words - "compression socks".
Dave Scott, Mr. Triathlon, highly recommends them. Many long distance runners use them. Now, I too am a believer.
The reason I am feeling so optimistic about this is that I have covered 30 miles this week without any real issues with calf cramps. My current regiment, which seems to be working, is to wear the compression socks when I run and stretch my calves thoroughly after the run when my muscles have fully warmed. I'm not completely ready to declare victory yet. But, the indications are certainly encouraging.
The compression socks make sense, because the cramping can be caused by localized ischemia in the muscles of my calf during prolonged exercise. Improving the circulation with the use of compression socks should prevent the cramps from starting. That, at least, is my theory. Time will tell.
Here's how the week went. Tuesday, wearing my compression socks, I covered four miles walking one minute out of every ten. My calves were feeling good after that run. Wednesday would be the first real test of my theory. I planned to run eight miles. Again wearing the socks, I ran the first four miles without stopping and ran the second four miles walking one minute out of every ten. I stretched my calves after the run using the "stair stretch". My calves were feeling good after the run. That was an excellent sign. On Thursday, I walked to rest my calves. A three mile run on Friday ended my weekday workouts. The final, real test for the week was a 15 mile run on Sunday. I completed this run in just under two hours and 40 minutes. I am very happy to report that my calves are still feeling good. Despite a few aches from the long run, I now feel like I can begin my build-up to the marathon distance in earnest. Yes, so far the compression socks seem to be doing the trick.
Dave Scott, Mr. Triathlon, highly recommends them. Many long distance runners use them. Now, I too am a believer.
The reason I am feeling so optimistic about this is that I have covered 30 miles this week without any real issues with calf cramps. My current regiment, which seems to be working, is to wear the compression socks when I run and stretch my calves thoroughly after the run when my muscles have fully warmed. I'm not completely ready to declare victory yet. But, the indications are certainly encouraging.
The compression socks make sense, because the cramping can be caused by localized ischemia in the muscles of my calf during prolonged exercise. Improving the circulation with the use of compression socks should prevent the cramps from starting. That, at least, is my theory. Time will tell.
Here's how the week went. Tuesday, wearing my compression socks, I covered four miles walking one minute out of every ten. My calves were feeling good after that run. Wednesday would be the first real test of my theory. I planned to run eight miles. Again wearing the socks, I ran the first four miles without stopping and ran the second four miles walking one minute out of every ten. I stretched my calves after the run using the "stair stretch". My calves were feeling good after the run. That was an excellent sign. On Thursday, I walked to rest my calves. A three mile run on Friday ended my weekday workouts. The final, real test for the week was a 15 mile run on Sunday. I completed this run in just under two hours and 40 minutes. I am very happy to report that my calves are still feeling good. Despite a few aches from the long run, I now feel like I can begin my build-up to the marathon distance in earnest. Yes, so far the compression socks seem to be doing the trick.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
56 days and $2985 to go!
Having problems with my right calf... Again!
Two weeks ago, Easter week, I got in some pretty good training. Four miles on Tuesday, seven miles on Wednesday, and three miles on Thursday. I am still walking one minute out of every ten to make sure I pace myself properly and to try to keep my calves from tightening up too much. I then took a break on Friday and was planning to run ten miles on Saturday morning while we were in Cincinnati for Easter weekend. The evening before the run, I went to the store to look for an electrolyte replacement drink, Gatorade or something like that. The drink I found that had the highest sodium and potassium content was a V-8 fruit and vegetable drink. So, I bought that.
My brother asked if I wanted to ride with him on Saturday as well. Never one to pass up an opportunity like that, I unhesitatingly said "yes". So, we set the time for the ride to be about an hour after I finished my run. I told him not to expect much from me after the long run. The run course consisted of two five mile "out and backs". It's a little disconcerting to return to the starting point after the first "out and back" only to realize that you are half done. But, this is the best way to ensure that I can drink enough fluids during a run of more than an hour. I completed the ten miles in a little under 2 hours, rested an hour, then rode to my brother's house to start our 10 o'clock ride.
I was more than a little tired, but he lives on one of the hills ringing the downtown Cincinnati area so the ride started with a long downhill. This was a good way to loosen my muscles after the long run earlier in the day. We rode around downtown Cincinnati, had a hamburger at Findlay Market and rode back up the hill. It was a total of about 20 miles. Needless to say, I rested on Sunday. Whew!
This past week, I managed a three mile run on Monday and a seven mile run on Wednesday. That last run left me hobbled for the rest of the week. I have been recuperating and stretching since then, trying to get my calf back in shape. Only 8 weeks to go. I had better rethink my training strategy, I'm not getting the longer runs because of my calf problems. I will finish the race in San Diego, the only question is: "What kind of shape will I be in at the finish?".
Two weeks ago, Easter week, I got in some pretty good training. Four miles on Tuesday, seven miles on Wednesday, and three miles on Thursday. I am still walking one minute out of every ten to make sure I pace myself properly and to try to keep my calves from tightening up too much. I then took a break on Friday and was planning to run ten miles on Saturday morning while we were in Cincinnati for Easter weekend. The evening before the run, I went to the store to look for an electrolyte replacement drink, Gatorade or something like that. The drink I found that had the highest sodium and potassium content was a V-8 fruit and vegetable drink. So, I bought that.
My brother asked if I wanted to ride with him on Saturday as well. Never one to pass up an opportunity like that, I unhesitatingly said "yes". So, we set the time for the ride to be about an hour after I finished my run. I told him not to expect much from me after the long run. The run course consisted of two five mile "out and backs". It's a little disconcerting to return to the starting point after the first "out and back" only to realize that you are half done. But, this is the best way to ensure that I can drink enough fluids during a run of more than an hour. I completed the ten miles in a little under 2 hours, rested an hour, then rode to my brother's house to start our 10 o'clock ride.
I was more than a little tired, but he lives on one of the hills ringing the downtown Cincinnati area so the ride started with a long downhill. This was a good way to loosen my muscles after the long run earlier in the day. We rode around downtown Cincinnati, had a hamburger at Findlay Market and rode back up the hill. It was a total of about 20 miles. Needless to say, I rested on Sunday. Whew!
This past week, I managed a three mile run on Monday and a seven mile run on Wednesday. That last run left me hobbled for the rest of the week. I have been recuperating and stretching since then, trying to get my calf back in shape. Only 8 weeks to go. I had better rethink my training strategy, I'm not getting the longer runs because of my calf problems. I will finish the race in San Diego, the only question is: "What kind of shape will I be in at the finish?".
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