Last year I wrote about going to my Cardiologist, Dr. Borno, for heart pains and crazy heart beats (my technical phrasing). Even though I went through all kind of testing nothing has ever really been figured out, and no matter how much I have changed my lifestyle my cholesterol is still high (overall 246). So I started the journey of trying to find something that would lower it along with me training my butt off.
Sorry, I am getting ahead of myself. First, I need to go over my last race - HITS 70.3 Marble Falls. I promise that this will be the shortest race report you will ever get from me. If you want more gory details you will have to contact Tim since he made me write my race report to him first.
Overall: 71st out of 223
Age Group: 11th out of 33
Swim: 33:03 - Lost 5 lbs before the race sweating in my wetsuit, but swim ok other than that.
T1: 1:31 Uphill and long!!!!
Bike: 3:07:28 I don't believe there was a flat section on this entire bike. Heat and humidity started really cranking up near the end. One of the toughest bike courses I have done. Considering the course I was happy with my bike, but I could tell my legs were done. I made a huge mistake on the bike by trying to take in too many calories, but didn't realize how I was going to pay for it until the run.
T2: 1:59 Flat but still long!
Run: 2:26:45 I ran until I hit halfway through the first hill (about a mile), then the walk/run started. I either felt a huge gas bubble in my stomach, or when I could run my legs just wouldn't move. At the turn around I finally was able to start running a little more consistently, but not for more than a mile or so without walking.
My legs have never ached like they did on this run. Once I could see how hot and humid it was going to be I knew my race plan was out the window. A few good things that were different from this race than Boerne:
- Since I was walking I got to meet some knew cool folks
- Several guys from Lubbock were there, and it is always great to race with some of the great Lubbock guys
- Instead of racing I survived, but I didn't quit.
I won't lie I was very down and pissed off to have another race go south for me. Not to mention the month before Boerne was a weather issue that I battled through, but I am not sure I felt this bad even during my first 70.3 in 2009.
Luckily, I didn't have long to dwell on things. We packed my stuff up and met the Burwell Clan for a burger and beer. It was great to see them and their kids, and to see all the kids get to play in the rain in the parking lot. Also, we were blessed that our friends Jason and Diana let us stay in their home in Horseshoe Bay. So for the first time in a long time we were able to relax and unwind a little after the race. We can't thank them enough for the great house stay!
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| The Long Transition Run! |
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| My Nice Pink Stool |
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| No this is not after the swim! This is how much I was sweating! |
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| Yes this is me walking out of transition. Not a good sign. |
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| The girls entertaining themselves with local art! |
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| Everyone is tired after a long day of cheering! |
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| Pool Time! |
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| Such a great place to relax after a tough race. |
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| The reason all of the pain is worth it! |
Now back to my latest meeting with Dr. Borno. It went something like this.
Me: I feel like crap and every time we try another med I feel crap covered in crap!!! Then I list all of my ailments. Blah Blah Blah!!!
Dr. Borno: That's it. No more meds. You can't tolerate them, and the good isn't worth you feeling bad. You are doing everything you can do, and you don't have any evidence of heart disease yet. So I will see you in a year, and we are just going to live with you having high cholesterol.
Me: What about the other issues? Chest pain and irregular heart rate.
Dr. Borno: You might have what is called a heart bridge, because of the tests that we have done and your training it is not something that we need to worry about unless the condition changes. With everything that we have been trying it will take a little bit for you to recover your endurance, but it will come back.
So it has now been a couple of weeks, and I am finally starting to feel like I am coming out of a hole. I have had to miss a few workouts because of work, but I am not going to stress about it. I am still feeling the fatigue I was feeling, but I am finally feeling like I am starting to recover.
A big thanks for that needs to also go to Tami Outlaw Massage for the torture of separating my ribs :)
The one thing that I have realized is that it only takes a little shift in someones health to feeling bad to make it where it is impossible to lose focus on all that is around you. Then all we focus on is feeling bad. Luckily, I knew what feeling good should feel like, and with the changes over the last few years I wasn't going to give up until I could feel that way again.
No matter how bad things feel sometimes never give up the hope that things can be better. It is hard to keep putting one foot in front of the other. If you can then you not only give yourself hope, but I promise you are giving others hope.
Here is a conversation with Anna that has stayed with me since the race:
Anna: Daddy was the that race tough?
Me: Yes Anna. It was very tough, but I didn't quit no matter how bad I wanted to all day. I just pushed myself to keep going.
Anna: Daddy every time I push myself I feel like I lose.
Me: If you are trying you won't ever lose. You might not win, but I promise you won't lose.
Anna: Ok Dad. I won't quit.
Next up Buffalo Springs 70.3!
Keep fighting!
Keebler
