Up To Date

I have been taking longer and longer breaks from blogging, and it is hard to get it started back up!!!!

Now that the baby announcement has been made, I can catch everyone up a bit.  :)

Dave and I talked about having children back in 1997.  I am not kidding....we weren't even dating.  But, there was this really weird connection we always had, and we had this suspicion we would get married even back then.  And, I remember exactly where we were when he brought up the topic of having kids way back then.  I definitely believe in life circles, and this is one of them!

I found out I was pregnant in October.  I had just started back to light running at about 20 minutes at a time post walking pneumonia/EBV/sitting on my butt for 2 months.  To say I was out of shape was putting it lightly.  My HR had been high for the past week simply because I was out of shape, so I had been jogging at MAF to get some aerobic fitness back and help my legs get used to weight bearing again.  But, on the third day or so, I went for a 20 minute "jog," and something just felt different.  My legs felt fine.  I was ready to run, but my breathing was way off. 

I can't say what triggered my instincts, but I just turned around, went home, and took a pregnancy test.  I have had so many single-lined, negative pregnancy tests that I was just stunned when I saw a second line.  I thought those two-lined test results didn't exist!!!! 

So, I took 2 more tests just to be positive :) (Even though I know there are really no false positives on those things, it was still unbelievable). 

I spent the first trimester with this big secret.  We wanted to wait a bit before telling our families and friends just in case the pregnancy didn't progress as planned.  I do have to give huge props to:   1.  Kari for hosting my boring, slow, non-drinking self in Pittsburgh.  She was the first person to know, because I couldn't think of a single good excuse to go to a football game with her and not drink.  So, I had to 'fess up.   and 2.  Angelina ADC for being my other preggers friend during this time.  We knew we had both been trying to get pregnant for a while, and it was great to have another friend, albeit an ocean away, just a few weeks ahead of me to give me encouragement.  We would talk almost daily about our "little secrets!" 

After making it through the first trimester, we gave our family a Christmas surprise.  :)


So, that brings everyone up to date!

Dave and I are of course thrilled.  It took some time for this to happen for us, but I always feel confident that there is a time for everything, and it is different for everyone. 

So, how about that first trimester?  I will save that for the next post....

The Big Present

Black clothes do "hide things" a tad, and a generous camera angle to slim things up a bit...

 A short run tonight with my husband- who has suddenly become the BEST run partner ever now that I don't make our runs an all day affair.  For once in our relationship, I am the one needing the pace to slow down.  WAYYYY down. 

 

 Mmmm...but throw on some color, and there is no way to hide a thing anymore!!!!  SURPRISE!!!!

Christmas Eve run with Dave in Audubon Park, New Orleans.  I told you....suddenly he is Mr. Running Buddy!

About 14 weeks ago, our 14 year relationship suddenly took a new twist. 

Christmas weekend 2012- Last Christmas just the two of us!

Cayenne, Rooney, and Breesy are about to have to make some more room in the pack.

And it looks like I will be cheering all of you guys on this spring/summer in your racing while I play a little catch up in the family department.

To quote the best message we have received so far from our friend Alejo:  "I am assuming that June 30th is the day that this world will be blessed with another soccer star...if so, congrats!" 

Soccer star (!) or fashionista (doubt it) or book worm :) or baseball player (please, no!) or drama queen (I do deserve a little payback)...there is some sort of personality heading our way this summer!

Happy Holidays

****EDIT*** Okay, all of the moms out there are laying into me now.  I am not bah humbug about Christmas.  I LOVE many things about the holiday (but you have to read the whole post to get that).  I don't like, however, the commercialization or tortuous Christmas buying that results in JUNK.  I have been trying hard each year to be more minimalistic in my own home.  So, read this with the understanding that I DO WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!****

I am a moderate Christmas participant.  I love Christmas, but I don't buy into it fully.  For one, I don't like holiday music, except at Christmas.  I don't believe in the whole month of Christmas songs.

I don't believe in buying expensive gifts, even for Dave.  Some years when we are really broke, we have a $10 limit for the two of us.  It usually never exceeds $25.  It takes the pressure off of us financially and allows us to have less stress and expectation. I wish the whole world would slow down and put less pressure on gifts.

I don't enjoy doing tons of gift exchanges at work.  It just creates overspending and more junk in this world.  However, a cookie exchange is awesome. We need more of that.

I don't like making my Christmas list for my family.  I feel greedy.  Plus, I got a horse for Christmas when I was a kid, so I think I used up all of my Christmas wishes in that one year.  So, now when they ask me what I want, I kind of have to say "nothing."  And it really is the truth.  I have just about everything I need.  And, if I have to put it on a list, it ruins the surprise. 

I don't send out Christmas cards...anymore.  That is mainly because I am lazy.  And I guess I don't want to spend another $50.  Maybe next year...but I think I say that every year.

But...I do like the cards you send me!!!  I hang them up every year, and I love to see pictures of your families.

I do like surprising random helpers in my life with presents.  This year, I am giving the kennel workers at the Humane Society gifts cards for always making my Friday nights so awesome.  I think when people take care of animals, they should be rewarded.  I am also giving my mailman a present, simply because he has always taken the time to say hi to me and ask how my training is going. 

I also like buying gifts for my nephew.  It is really easy to find toys for him.  Kids love it all!

I think it is awesome that I have a serious collection of Star Wars ornaments- as well as a full collection of the rocking horses.  

I LOVE going to holiday parties and spending time with friends.

I also really, really love Cajun Eggnog Daiquiris.  YUMMMYYYY!!!!!!

I LOVE spending time with both of my families....and eating delicious food.  Enough said!

So, Christmas has a lot of good. When we trim the excess spending and useless junk, we are left with good times and great people.  Ho Ho Ho!!!


Happy Holidays from Dave and I to you.  Will get back to you sometime next week!

Good Shares

A few things to occupy your mind for the week....

Jen Harrison and Elizabeth Waterstraat podcast #2 on coaching.  I am surprised at how many local athletes have not considered a coach.  I am also really surprised at how many people are not aware of the wonderful coaches outside of this area!  This is a good podcast to give you some information.  And, if you ever have questions on finding a coach or want to ask me about the coaches with which I have worked, ask away!

Fun blog discoveries:  Liz Lyles (pro triathlete-great stuff!), Angry Runner (have no clue who she is, but has the sarcasm we all think but don't say), and Saltyrunning (fun running blog for women). 

Throw this on next time you are on your trainer.  Watch Farah and Rupp run the most amazing race, and shed a tear at the end like I did (again) this week. 

For Memphians, head over to Sun Studios and the Stax Museum.  Learn a little bit more about the history of Memphis music.  It is really incredible, and reaches far beyond Elvis.  I was a little embarrassed about how little education I had on the soul of the city.

Watch the Breakaway Running video on Paul Sax- local legend.  After a decade hiatus from the track, he coerced me back out there in 2006, and the world of running opened back up to me.  He is a marathon winner, but more importantly a mentor to many. 

Enjoy!

Taking My Time

I ran jogged 75 minutes today. Hooray!  This has come after a lot of slow and easy building over the past couple of months.  VICTORY!

I never doubted that things wouldn't be okay.  I might have been a little (or a lot) whiny that I wasn't getting my health back faster.  Okay, I was super whiny and I HATE to sit out.  I feel lazy and awful and hate life.  But I knew the end result would put me right back out there, doing what I love to do.

Why?

...simply because I was willing to sit on my big butt and get a little fat and a lot slow.   And I am not too proud to get out there and be slow and build.  I don't care that I am not even a blip on anyone's radar right now, or that I could show up to a local 5k tomorrow and no one would have a clue who I am.  (nor would they figure it out as I came straggling in at the back of the pack!  I definitely would not be "running" a 5k right now.)

I think the thing that differentiates me from a lot of other athletes I know is my ability to be a jogger, be slow, be nothing for a while.  I sometimes see other athletes struggling with injury, illness, or plateaus, and I just want to kidnap them from all of the bad advice and coaching they get and just help them get back on track.  I could go on and on about this, but there are so few athletes and triathletes that I know that are willing to just take it slow when they are returning to sport.  As a result, they have one or two good races and then end up injured and burnt out all over again.  Or worse, they are never injured, they just never really pass that threshold to reaching their dreams as they stay in that same semi-burnt out level for a long time.

We have to remember as athletes that we are embarking on journeys.  Our goals can take years and many set backs.  The results that are worth it do and SHOULD take a lot of time to reach. 

I think this is really something to think about, so I am saying it again.  Goals SHOULD take a lot of time to reach.  It is okay for athletes to not qualify for Boston or Kona, win races, or become supa-stars right away!

In a world full of NOW, we need to get back to remember patience and delayed gratification.  As a lifetime soccer player, I can honestly say it took me around 16 years or so... even past college play...to start reaching some of my goals.  Why don't runners and triathletes think it could take that long?  If I can play DAILY with some of the best coaches and players, and still take almost 2 decades to reach some goals, it is probably no different in other sports. 

(If it sounds like it is talking to you, well, I am talking to myself, too!)

Today I was taking my time on my "jog."  I am also taking my time to re-engage in training. It is so exciting to start this process over again.  Instead of frustration for being so slow, I felt so engaged and happy to be at work again! 

Here we go!

(that was for Kari;)

Rock 2013

I am more than happy to be returning to Wattie Ink for 2013.  I can't say enough good things about how great Sean and Heather have been to me through the year.  Their complete faith in the athletes on the team is remarkable, and they have been some of my biggest fans and supporters through 2012.  It goes without saying, there is no other team for me.

And as for my teammates?  The fact that I spent most of my morning talking to them instead of working speaks for itself....and fortunately or unfortunately this is an every day occurrence.  They are awesome teammates- and even better friends. 

So, I think 2013 really starts NOW!

Watch Out Now!

Dave had the biggest shock of the past 4 months when I work up this morning AND left the house before him.  Oh yes.  In the past, I was gone by 5am, not to be seen again until 7 or 8pm.  For the past 4 months, though, I have just let him get ready for work while I sneak Rooney into the bed and continue to sleep. 

But, I guess Sunday's desire to ride and energy to exercise was not a fluke, because today I was up and at 'em!  And guess where I went?  The pool!!!!

However, the 60 minutes I allotted myself before work for a little swimming and strengthening dwindled to 30 minutes when I happily got stuck talking to a lot of people.  When you haven't shown your face in 4 months, you have a lot of catching up to do!

Good- the swim felt great.  It felt the best it has felt to get in there and move in months. 

Better- going to work with a little exercise under my belt to start the day.  Boy I have missed that feeling!

Best- I will get to come home from work tonight with more than just work as an accomplishment.

xo

Hitting the Road Again

August 4th was my last bike ride on the road.  It was my 100 mile ride to Oxford, which I was able to complete, but I knew something was wrong.  Today, 4 months later, I hit the road again for the first time. 

I have not been riding the trainer since I got sick.  I have been on it a couple of times, but my power was so low and the fatigue was so high, it just became more of a burden than enjoyment.  I think the last time I was on the trainer I was able to ride 10 minutes before I just felt so tired and sick I had to crawl off and feel sorry for myself. 

This morning I woke up, and for the first time in 4 months, I felt like taking my bike outside.  I rode for a very easy hour down the Greenline, and just came face to face with the months of inactivity and depression I have battled the past few months.  I was really uncomfortable on my bike, and I could hardly get my cadence to 80, even at the easiest gears.  But, it felt so good to be outside, and for that span of time, I felt hopeful.  I remembered why I loved all of the training I did- all of the solo bike miles that I actually love to put in. 

When I got home, I was happy.  And then sad. I went to the back yard and sat with the dogs and just cried for a bit.  Dave told me everything has been "the perfect storm" for me this time around.  It is the combination of the months of no exercise, the ensuing depression, the medicines that were prescribed that were inappropriate for me, and the rounds of dose pack steroids/prednisone-taken for the first time in my whole life- in over abundance this year, and the insidious weight gain that I have to face.  Fortunately, I am no longer working with the doctor of medical malpractice- that prescribed me inappropriate medication (thank goodness I was smart enough to say NO to some of it), tyrannical abuse of my psyche by telling me I didn't care about my health and making me cry in his office for an hour with only harsh, ugly words, and crazy, unacceptable and unsustainable diet of only certain vegetables for months at a time. 

So I cried it out a minute, and then I felt better and now I am watching swimming and making a grocery list :)  I am no stranger to sitting out, injury, etc.  My first MCL tear and major injury happened when I was just 15-years-old, so I am a pro at missed training, missed seasons, and starting from scratch.  Every injury I have ever had has seemed like the worst possible thing at the time.  Of course, this is no different!  When you are living it, it is hellish.  But, it will one day be in the past...with more successes and set-backs for the future to discover!

So, that is just a little glimpse into the struggle/recovery cycle of this all. 

So, glad to be out there.  Happy this December gave me a day in the 60s where I could get outside and feel my wheels beneath me.  I am glad things are starting to turn- especially in my attitude and desire to get out there again. 

Words of Wisdom

Please excuse the ongoing writer's block.  I expect it to be gone by January, so bear with me!

This past weekend, Dave's Pop Pop had his 90th birthday.  He was a career naval intelligence officer and lifelong naval pilot.  He completed xxxxx number of missions over the course of several wars.  Pop Pop has probably kept so many military secrets over the years, it is scary.  He never tells us those stories, but every now and then we will get a fun story like the time he was bored one weekend and just took a plane off base without telling anyone and flew between all of the rims of the Grand Canyon.  Bet you couldn't pull that type of thing off these days!

We asked Pop Pop if he could impart one piece of advice to us all, what would it be?  What has he learned in his life that he would share with us?

Pop Pop is a very smart, determined, and precise man.  What I like about him is that he does not ever assume the attitude of "false positive."   By that, I mean a person that takes the positive approach to everything- to a point where it prevents an honest baring of the soul.  Positivity is a wonderful thing, but so is honesty. 

So, when Pop Pop said the following, I knew it was not a "oh, let me be as positive as I can be for everyone" type of statement.  It was a true nugget of wisdom from him.  He simply said,

You CAN do it!

Don't EVER give up!  

He really encouraged all of us to go for it and never give up on what we want to accomplish....and to never feel that we cannot do something, that something is too hard for us, that we are not smart enough, that we are not good enough. 

So, I will share those thoughts with you this week....the thoughts of a 90-year-old man who knows a thing or two!

IMAZ watching

I LOVE ironman.  I mostly love racing it, but I am excited to watch/read about it as well.

Yesterday, a really kind person and amazing Wattie Ink athlete, Gerry Forman, finished his first ironman at IMAZ in 15:17 to win his age group as a 74-year-old.  It gives me chill bumps to see something this amazing.  I was so excited to cheer him on all day long!

There were some other awesome finishes yesterday amongst my friends.....especially my camp friends!   Tim went 10:19, and I am still in awe.  That time to me represents some majorly, awesome hard work this year.   And, it gives me hope that I can get faster as well!  Nancy, Kevin, and Shelley also had 1st time ironman finishes.  I was so proud of my camp friends!!!!

There was a little bad luck out there today... Kris got taken out on the bike and ended her day with some stitches.  Anne-Marie had a string of bad luck with a flat tire and medical withdrawal after a long day battling out there.  You never know what the day is going to bring you, and that is what makes ironman so special and hard.  The age grouper does not get the chance to do these every weekend. 

I am very, very much looking forward to my next ironman.  I just love them!!!!!!

Listening

After writing my post yesterday, I realized there is so much noise in my head, that I wasn't listening.  The way to move forward was right in front of me, but I couldn't get past myself to see the way. 

Today I was driving to a 5k Walk for St Jude in memory of one of my best childhood friends, Michael McEachran...aka Mikey...aka Mac.  You have heard me mention him on this blog before.  He is one of my guardian angels, and one of the two friends (Mac and Chad) that I carry in my heart through my racing.  The morning was clear and quiet.  He started to talk to me, and I started to listen. 

Mac got cancer when we were in 2nd or 3rd grade?  I can't remember the exact moment he got it, but  I do remember that he had his arm amputated and started to lose his hair.  As time went on, he also had a total hip replacement...and later, surgery on his spine.  All before we finished 4th grade. 

Mac NEVER complained.  And I mean never.  He was the kindest spirit you could ever imagine.  This is not a distorted memory I have of him- everyone remembers him as the strongest angel in the world.  He just was.  I have met people over the past 25 years that knew Mac, and not a single person that knew him did not have their life altered in some way by his gentle soul.

And, he was an athlete.  He was an EXCELLENT athlete.  There is video of him as an 8 or 9-year-old hitting home runs and making game winning double plays from the outfield...all with only one arm. 

This morning he reminded me that he suffered set-backs as an athlete too.  He asked me if my injuries were really worth the drama, and could I find peace in the struggle and thankfulness for the gifts I have?  He told me he would help me find the patience to move forward.  He reminded me that he too, had shoulder problems (bigger problems than mine!), but it didn't stop him from playing sports. 

Me, Barrett, Gayle (Mac's mom), and Keith

After my talk with Mac, I joined Gayle, his mother, the Delta Dukes team, and my classmates from grade school Barret and Keith, for the walk for St. Jude.  We had such a great time reminiscing and telling stories about Mac.  Even though we lost Mac 25 years ago, he has never left us in spirit. 

Ah.  So with a renewal of spirit, I came home and thought about the struggle I feel right now.  I was able to break it down in manageable pieces.  This thing is, I wasn't focusing on the trees because I could only see the forest.  I was spending so much time worrying about variables out of my control.  With Mac on my mind and a peaceful heart, I was able to review the struggle and take the edge off of it.

1. The walking pneumonia is surely gone.  I sat out and took care of it.  Let it go. 

2.  The Epstein-Barr will probably hang around a bit more.  I am doing what I am supposed to do, which is rest.  There is nothing more to worry about, and I just need to let it run its course.  Let it go. 

and 3.  I will just focus on this one thing for now.  The brachial neuritis/parsonage turner syndrome is not resolving.  I have lost all function of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and deltoid muscle via an infection of the brachial plexus.  The nerve has been damaged.  Best case scenario suggests I can receive some return of function within a year.  What can I do about this?  How can I help?  I am not sure if I can.  I feel like I have zero control over this condition, but all I can do is try the following:
- No more complaining.  I will try anything and everything that doesn't include complaining.
- I have a PT visit scheduled
- I now have an acupuncture visit scheduled. 

One thing at a time.  It is like following the Dave Ramsey plan- pay off your smallest debts smallest to largest instead of trying to clean up everything at once!  It all seemed so simple once I opened my heart to listen to Mac today.  

Thank you again, Mac, for always being such a great friend and guardian angel.  My heart is open to listen, because I know you have more to teach me about being an athlete, and person, and a friend.

Static

As in not moving.  Or as in the static on TV when nothing is on.  That is me!  I am so static right now, I am finding it hard to blog.
   
I have not made any progress in the exercise/training world.  That is what is tough for me right now.  There is just absolutely zero progress in strength, energy, ability to get moving.

 It is so hard to explain what is holding me back.  In honesty, I can't quite figure it out myself.  In my 28? years of being an athlete, I have just never experienced such a profound weakness.  Nothing has prepared me for this.  No surgery or injury or time on the bench had me mentally prepared to face something and feel so hopeless.


This list of challenges is so long right now, it is overwhelming and pretty hard to face.  I was trying to explain to a friend the other day why I am facing this huge, profound loss of fitness, but I realized as I was rattling off everything from the Parsonage Turner Syndrome to walking pneumonia to Epstein Barr, that I just sounded crazy!  If it sounds crazy to me, I know it sounds crazy to everyone else.

So, right now I am stuck with just being able to do some minor exercise- maybe a 30 minute jog here and there on days I feel good.  I thought I would be further along than that, but I am not.  I have a really significant loss of core strength, along with a 10 pound weight gain, so I have been trying to go to Pure Barre to work on getting all of my muscle groups engaged again.   I could care less about the weight gain, per se.  I was heavier than this in college and strong and fit.  The frustration is that the muscle is just going bye, bye, bye....

It has been extremely hard going to the classes and not being able to do 1 push up, or lift a 1 pound weight over my head from the shoulder injury.  The nerve has not regenerated, and I have absolutely no muscle function in my rotator cuff or deltoid.  It is pretty insane.  If you were to see me in this class, you would never believe that I did an ironman in May.  You would think I was just an out of shape girl, looking to lose a little weight and tone up.   

So, I came home the other night and was telling Dave how I can't even lift a single weight in class, perform a plank, do a push-up, etc.....  It was just so overwhelming to me, because no matter how many classes I attend, it doesn't get better.  I can't strengthen a muscle group that doesn't work.   I also just cannot find the energy that isn't there.  It is as if my body is completely asleep.  I am just at the hugest loss.  Dave has been amazingly supportive, and he texted me this message the following day while I was at work to lift me up:

"The thing is you know that you have the capability to attain that type of fitness.  Most don't possess that drive.  This is just a rough time in your life with health issues.  You have to remember that you and I know that you are still and will always be that person.  I love you."

And when I read that text I just feel so grateful that I married such an awesome guy and friend.  He has been absolutely key in trying to help erase the static in my life right now.  Last night when I got home from work, I was just so tired (from what?  I have never felt tired like this) and ready to do nothing.  I just don't have even a fraction of the energy that I normally have.  Dave gave me a workout...."you have to go jog 45 minutes.  I don't care how slow you go."  I was so overwhelmed....45 minutes?  Normally that would be NOTHING!  But now, it is overwhelming. 

But, I got out there and ran 10+ minute miles and didn't come back home until 45 minutes had passed.  And I was fine.  It was just hard to get out of the door. 

So, there is simply just a lot of static in my life right now.  I am trying to move through it in a positive way.  I am listening to positive speakers and reading good quotes to encourage patience.  I am going to physical therapy after Thanksgiving with a PT that works with baseball players to see if we can get anything to respond in my shoulder.  I am trying to do a little something every day, even if it is just 30 minutes of very low intensity movement.  I am accepting the fact that with injury sometimes comes depression, and weight gain is common with depression, huge loss of exercise, and dose-pack steroid type medicines that I took this year.  So, I just have to let it go and give my body a chance to rebound.  I am going to keep going to the Pure Barre classes to get my core and hips to wake-up and start participating.

Everyone has told me that I can expect at least 6 months of EBV.  So, I am really looking forward to January!

So, that is all that is going on in my static world.  I haven't give up, I just haven't moved forward.  I am still looking for my big break, and I know it will be coming around the corner eventually.  In the meantime, I just have to keep myself in check and make sure I am not letting negativity and hopelessness prevail.  

“You can start to change your luck today. Begin believing that you can have what you desire and superior things will arrive.”
― Steve Backley, The Champion in all of Us: 12 Rules for Success

“Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough”
― Oprah Winfrey 

More play...

I so badly want to write of killer bike rides and long runs.  Hopefully by January this blog will take a turn back to the training side of things.  For now, I have to find contentment in more family, more friends, and less sport.  It is a hard adjustment, but I am getting to have some nice social weekends along the way.

My super cute nephew, Nathaniel had his 1st birthday on Saturday.  My sis did a great job hosting a fun party for family and friends.  She even made home-made cupcakes....  she unfortunately sent home a full container with me, which is not so full anymore..... dern her!  Sister sabotage!!!!

I woke up early this morning for a double shot of volunteering/cheering at the Overton Park 10k and the Outdoors Inc Cylocross race.  A friend recently complimented me for not sitting around with my thumb stuck up my butt while I have been sick.  In reality, my thumb is completely stuck up my butt!  But, the more I am around my friends, the more I don't sweat the small stuff.  Volunteering, friends, cheering... it makes the time pass in a more positive way. 

There is so much you can do locally to show support for friends and teams.  Even when I am not racing with Los Locos or running with Memphis Runners, it is still great to get out there and just support those that are racing and lend a hand when needed.  The support always comes back to me x 10 when I seem to need it most.

On a side note, I want to share with you this great podcast discovery I had this weekend by Jen Harrison and Elizabeth Fedofsky.  There are only 3 coaches that I ever consider consulting with on triathlon, and Jen is one of them.  I consider her one of my biggest mentors.  She was my very first triathlon coach in 2008 when I wanted a coach to help me finish my first ironman, and I have to say, I was EXTREMELY lucky to have her first.  I base all of my coaches off of her, and if they don't meet the standard, I can't work with them.  This says a lot about the way I feel about Jen. 

If is funny how my perception of coaching has changed since 2008.  Initially, I thought getting a coach was to help me with an event.  But, through the fun years, surgery, good performances, break-through, and peaks....followed by valleys, I learned that a coach can be oh-so much more than just somehow to help you finish x, y, or z.  I didn't realize I would want a coach for more than just to help with a race.  I now can't imagine having my big goals and NOT having a coach to help me get there.  It is a long term process....not just a one-shot deal.

Anyways...I still go to Jen as one of my mentors, and I trust her opinion greatly.  I am so excited she has started a podcast.  It will be such a great tool for everyone.  So, check out the first installment!!!!

More Of The Same

My life is rolling along, but I have so little to blog about on the training front.  I am getting in some exercise about 5 days a week.  My runs are mostly capped off at 30 minutes, simply because that seems like a good, round, easy number.  I ran 60 minutes on Sunday and felt fine, but I am trying to err on the side of short and sweet right now.  Running feels the easiest for me right now.  I have been running my entire life, and I can get out there and go without having to generate much power.  Cycling and swimming have been much harder on me.  I thought it would be opposite and that I would jump back to these two first.  But, what I have discovered is that they require some sort of power to perform...in a way that running doesn't require for me.  So, a 30 minute spin is much harder than a 30 minute run.  And a 30 minute swim puts me out for the day.  So, loss of muscle has really affected the bike and swim more so than the run.

I am hesitant to plan anything, as I feel that until I feel great, I should just take it day by day.  But, I am thinking that I will follow something like this if everything keeps moving along:

November:  I have noticed that sitting out several months has not only robbed me of a ton of visible muscle, it has also weakened a bunch of smaller, less-visible muscle groups such as hip abductors and internal core muscles.  I decided that before I start training and end up with an injury from muscle imbalance, I am going to do Pure Barre for a month.  (I am not yet ready to lift heavy weights, so high rep, small movement is great for me right now).  That is not my normal scene, and I am super uncomfortable in the class and stick out like a sore thumb around the well-put-together, East Memphis moms.  However, my hips and abs are thanking me for addressing their weakness. 

December:  I am looking to do the 30 runs/30 days.  This seems doable, based on the ease of running right now.  Little bouts of small, easy runs to bring back some consistency to my days.

January:  Maybe the same, but with swimming....

I am lucky to have lots of motivating people surrounding me in triathlon.  From Wattie Ink to my local crew, Los Locos....there is no shortage of great athletes.  And now, Los Locos can boast that we have World Champion on the team:  Lucia Colbert, AG World Champ at Xterra.  If she can bounce back from a year of virus to a World Championship, what is my excuse?  :))))

More!

My energy is returning in leaps and bounds. I am being really cautious with my "training" and trying to keep everything on the lower and easier end of things. This is easy to do when I remind myself that I don't have any races for many months!

 

I took the husband and the dogs to the trails today for a 1 hour "jog/hike."  Out of the 4 of us, I am the fattest and most out of shape.  Yet somehow, I was the only one that felt like running!  15 minutes in and my crew needed to walk.  So, we hiked, talked, peed on things...all of the things you do on trails. 

 

I was so excited to see that I was ready to run and wanted to run!  I could have run the whole time ~ and that was good to know.  I am telling you, though....there is nothing better than hitting the trails with the dogs.  There is something so natural and wonderful about it. 

And look at me!  Twice in a day?  I haven't seen two workouts in a day since July!!!!  I flopped around in the pool today with my awesome swimming friend Jen (as in she laps me on everything awesome college swimmer).  But, listen to this.  All of a sudden, my stroke count went from 24+ the other day to 19-21 today.  Everything felt easier, times were faster...it was crazy?  Jen kept me on track with an easy swim- we kept it short and sweet with no intervals and no speed.  Just getting in and getting used to swimming again.

So, easy does it.  Energy is good, and I am making sure I don't sabotage it! 

Happy home with the dogs and kitty.  I think they love their mommy :))))))))))

Slowy But Surely

The Steelers game was almost exactly how I envisioned it would be.  I had guessed it would be cold, and only the hardy would survive...and I was right!  I had a great time psychoanalyzing Steelers fans (and Northerns in general), watching RG3 play, and listening to the guy next to me flirt with Kari the whole time, while his dip drooled from his mouth.  I would like to say that Kari and I are triathlon friends, but I think we are more like football frienemies that just happen to do triathlons.  I don't think I have another girlfriend that would sit in that weather and just truly watch the whole game.  Good stuff:)

I am back to "exercising."  Once I turned a corner...about 2 weeks ago, I was able to just start moving again.  I was told it might take around 6 weeks to feel better from the walking pneumonia, and sure enough, it seemed to be right around that time I just felt a ton better.

After almost 2 months of ZERO exercise, my butt is sagging and I have lost all muscle.   I am also 10 pounds heavier now than I was at this time last year.  At only 5'4", I have no where to hide it.  Lord knows it never goes to my boobs. 

The first week back I did 3 total hours of "exercise.  The next week 4, and you got it...moving on to 5.  Easy does it.  I feel quite a bit like I did after knee surgery.  The loss of muscle just really makes things harder than they should be.  My knees even feel achy, and I know it is because I do not have the muscle in my legs to attenuate the force and impact.  I think I did a really great job of rehab and training post surgery, so I am following some of my same guidelines with this.  I am looking at 10+ min/miles right now, but I am not discouraged.  I have never been too proud to run that slow.  I am just glad to be there.

The bike has been much of the same.  Pace is slow, watts are low.  But, I am on it and feeling fine, so that is on the up. 

The swim has been a whole different animal.  For what it is worth, I guess I haven't been truly swimming since I hurt my shoulder in March.  Boy was I in for a rude awakening when I felt ready to hit the pool again!  1:50 became the new 1:30 T- pace for me.  I kid you not!  For the past 2 weeks, I have just been starting from scratch with pace and distance.  1000 yards was really hard for me initially.  A 1:45/100yd felt all-out, and it took me 24 strokes to get across 25 yards!

But, I am just getting in there when I can and building one little piece at a time.  I think back to the 100x100 I did in March at approx 1:30-1:35 pace for all of them.  It took me years to get there.  Years and yards and work.  From not being able to swim across the pool, to swimming 10,000 yards.  I did it once, and I can do it again. 

So, everything feels like it is moving in the right direction.  I won't feel confident in dispensing advice on handling immunity/infection issues until you see me on the start line of a race, but I will let you know what I have done up until now that seems to be working:

1.  I did no exercise as prescribed (that means NOTHING...not even lifting weights).  I took more time off in the past 2 months than I have taken in the last 4 years combined. 
2.  I really worked hard on my nutrition during that time to give my body a fighting chance at healing itself.  Lots of vegetables.  No dairy, no sugar, no wheat/gluten....nothing that might be affecting my gut.  I have even cut back on alcohol.  (insert tear drop)
3.  I added probiotics to my diet.  I have no clue if they are helping me, but it sounded like a good thing to do. 
4.  I read up on Epstein Barr and mycoplasma pneumonia A LOT.  Here are some interesting links: 
- Huge forum where you can find lots of EBV information. 
- Cycling article on EBV (near bottom) with some good information. Here is another good one. 
5.  I reached out to a professional triathlete that has had EBV.  I listened and learned.  
6.  I have had a huge problem with insomnia since this all came on.  Apparently, this is pretty common with these infections.  So, I don't beat myself up with I stay up late, sleep late, or take naps.  Whatever brings me rest is cool.  And, wouldn't you know, as I have felt better, I have started to sleep at night as well.
7.  I am coming back slowly.  You won't catch me with the boys on my bike or see me at any workouts for many more months.  No one day feels as good as an entire season of healthy, fast racing will!

The main message I have learned is this:  having a poor immune system and susceptibility to viral and bacterial infections does not come from "over-training" as so many people suggest.  If it did, all ironmen would have EBV, because we all exercise beyond what is prescribed as normal, healthy limits.  However the majority of people that have EBV are non-athletes and severe "under-exercisers."  Exercise is only one of three components to some major immune-related disorders.  Immune health is comprised of nutrition (probably most important), exercise, and rest/relaxation.  For triathletes, it is easy to see how we can be so wrong in at least 1, if not all 3 areas! 

So, that is all I have for now. 

And, since I didn't have any kids to dress up for Halloween, I will share with you some of my favorite Halloween pics of my sister and me. 

Happy Belated Halloween....and happy All Saints Day!

Hello From Pittsburgh

Yesterday was my first full day in Pittsburgh.  I have only crossed the Mason Dixon line a few times in my life, and I definitely never had a reason to come here before now.  So far, I love the city.  It is beautiful and huge!

We ate some typical (At least what I consider typical of northern food) at Primanti Brothers...sandwiches with slaw and fries on it.  This is also where Kari and I discovered that our worlds have collided before triathlon, as we spent our New Years Eve 2000 in the same place. 

 

We spent the day at the Natural History Museum.

A little known fact- I had a cat when I was maybe a 5-year-old that I named "Alex"sauras.  What kid doesn't name their pets after dinosaurs? He was named after Allosaurus, pictured above.  But, when I was a kid, I thought it was pronounced with an Alex.   Anyways, I always have to get a picture made with the real "Alex"saurus whenever I see one.

Every good museum has a T-Rex!

This was Kari's favorite exhibit!  LOL!

And we ended the night hanging out with another sweet blogger, Anne Marie!  She is doing IM Arizona in a few short weeks!  Good luck!!!

Gotta go- off to a Steelers game with Kari!

Fall Happiness

Fall is the best time of year.  I love that every weekend is busting at the seams with friends and events.  The weather is beautiful.  Life is good.

First....a pumpkin carving party!

I made a Darth Vadar carving this year for my pumpkin.  I want the force to be with me this fall!

Darth Vadar:  "I find your lack of faith disturbing."  Didn't my pumpkin turn out well? :)

 Our group of pumpkins!!!

 Yesterday I had some catching up to do with my training buddies.  I have missed my Saturday group ride for the past 10 weeks or so.   I hate that I have missed out on the training, but equally as important, I hate missing out on hanging with my guy friends!  A girl can learn a LOT riding with a bunch of guys.  So, in order to catch up with my cycling guys, I went to a University of Memphis football game yesterday with Dave and Tom O.  Good times...good stories. 

The guys took this picture to show me that men's sized frames do NOT fit my face. 

 

Today I just spent time with Dave...it was a high romance day at the grocery store.  I have been cooking recently.  GASP!!!  When I am not training 12 hours a weekend, I seem to have extra time to make meals.  Most of them have been veggie-centered to help my immune system.  Congratulations to me for making my first Julia Child's eggplant recipe.  I had to throw a little shrimp/veggie dish in there for Dave as well.

This is kind of a big deal, because friends and family know I don't like to cook.  I hate to disappoint Dave, but I think all of this kitchen time will disappear when I hit the roads again.  I love eating good meals, but I like it more when someone else makes it :)

 

Ah.....the best time of the year.  Time for snuggles and good times. 

More to come this weekend, as I pack my bags and head to Pittsburgh with Kari Mayhew for some football!

Motivation A Coming....

I have done most of my time in "jail" I believe. :) Like a good little athlete, I truly sat out and rested, knowing that better days and good training would be coming for me in the future.  The future is not yet realized, but a corner has been turned, I believe.

I have done so much reading on immune system, nutrition, Epstein-Barr and similar virus-type infections, etc...enough to make my head explode!  It seems that there are 3 main components to the immune system:  nutrition, rest/relaxation, and exercise.  Get one out of balance with the other, and you will have problems.  It is easy to see where I can improve.  I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch, so when I truly get back out there, I will let you guys know what worked....and what didn't!

But looky what arrived just recently to give me some motivation as I slowly start to get back out there and re-discover the sport when the time is right!

Some new Wattie Ink gear!!!  Yea!!!!!!!!!!  Love this squad.  Thank you so much, Mu and Dusty!!!!!  I have amazing teammates- it has been awesome to Rock the W this year!!!!  What a great team!

After almost 3 months off from swimming,  I needed some new suits for motivation.  I can always count on Splish to send me some fun stuff in a grab bag- great deals!  And, you never know what you are going to get!  I love that I got some sparkly stuff this time.  And the funniest suit was the "Team Lovato" suit I got.  I don't even know the Lovato's!  LOL!

I was fortunate enough to get a kit from Michelle Landry as she retired this line.  It is more beautiful in life than you can even tell in pictures.  She only has maybe 2 or 3 more pieces left with this design, so check out her site if you want to grab one last piece.  I can't ride outside yet, but when I can, I know I have a beautiful kit waiting for me for some motivation.

Kona Watching

Kona watching is one of my favorite things to do.  I missed maybe 20 minutes of the whole race yesterday when I took a break to walk my dogs.  Otherwise, I was in bed, chilling, and watching.  I had the house all to myself for the whole day.  It was such a restful, wonderful day. 

 

Kona has so many types of athletes, and these are just a few of them:  

-the pro that can win

-the pro that is looking for a big break

-the pro that has been a consistent performer for years

-the age grouper that works hard and races well consistently- making the annual Kona pilgrimage

-the age grouper that just loves ironman racing

-the age grouper that isn't really passionate about ironman, but they are so good at triathlon they go to collect another championship

-and the age grouper who has dreamed about Kona forever.  

Of course I LOVE the athletes in the last category.  So inspiring!  Check out Dawn's blog to read about a journey from someone that fits that very last category.  I would recommend reading her whole year, including the meeting she had with Julie Moss that changed her view on "deserving to qualify."  Dawn is one of the best friends I made this year through camp, and we have been supporting each other all year long.  I was so happy for her yesterday.

Dream realized!!!!  (sorry I stole your photo, Dawn! :) 

As the night came to a close, I was sad to turn off the computer and go to sleep.  I felt so much adrenaline all day long, it was as though I raced!  But sometime in the middle of the night....2 or 3 am or so, I got a phone call from Mustafa.  I ignored the first call- I figured he was just Kona dialing me something dumb as he was at the big island spectating.  But, he called again immediately, and I answered the phone, thinking maybe something had happened to a friend. 

***Now, before I go any further, let me explain that all of my friends (husband included) know that I love Andreas Raelert (and there might be a mini-crush in there as well.  Nothing wrong with that.  :)  He is my favorite triathlete and has been since I started ironman.  I could go on and on about why I think he is the most talented, classiest athlete out there.  If I could emulate any athlete- it would be Andreas.  He is the only athlete whose picture has been put on my bulletin board.  Ask my husband to name a triathlete, and he can only name Andreas Raelert.  So, obviously my friends like to tease me, and I am cool with that.  But, I am the type of person that would never go up and talk to him.  I would be way too shy/embarrassed.***

Back to the story.  So I answer the phone, and Mustafa is super excited and says something like, " Damie, Damie!  I am here in Target with Andreas Raelert.  Here!  He wants to talk to you!"  Half asleep, and being confident my friend is teasing me, I just said something like, "whatever Mu."  And hung up the phone.  Of course my friends want to tease me about Andreas any time they can, and he was posting pics for me all day  :)

I could have killed Mu, since I haven't been sleeping well anyways, but jokes are funny.  My head was back on the pillow and eyes closed when my phone beeped again with this picture of Mustafa and Andreas.  I didn't even have time to process it before the phone rang again and Mustafa had handed the phone to Andreas to talk to me.

It was absolutely hilarious, because what in the heck were we going to say to each other?  So, we both just sat on the phone laughing...he apologized for waking me up, I congratulated him on final kilometers (which were amazing) and some more laughing and small talk.  He was so great- super talkative and nice, even though I am sure he couldn't understand a word I said with my really heavy, Southern accent.  And that was it.  Such an awesome guy.  Of course for me, it was the hugest mixture of embarrassment and awe that I have ever felt in my life.  I am sure Mu told him there was some girl in the USA that was his biggest fan and would do anything to talk to him.  I just shudder to think about it. 

So, I have now talked to Andreas Raelert.  I have done nothing to stalk him, but thanks to Mustafa, I feel like a huge stalker so I will never be able to go and get an autograph at a race because I will be too embarrassed.  

I love my friends.  Most of them, anyway.  Not sure if I love Mu or want to strangle him.

Congratulations to everyone who competed yesterday!  Triathlon is such a great sport!

A Full Circle

Just this morning I was on my way to work, and BAM.  Black lab mix, scared, ribs showing, shitty neighborhood.  I stopped and left food for him, but he wouldn't come to me. That is just the way it is sometimes.  At least I had the food to give him, and maybe it gets him through another day to get to a place where he can be helped.

It is hard to make the choice to stop and help- not just with dogs, but with anything in life.  Once you involve yourself, there is some responsibility for the outcome.   Life give us lots of opportunities to help, but it doesn't always make helping easy.

But, sometimes life throws us a small bone to keep us motivated.  You know, like that good race after a bunch of bad ones to give you some faith?

 Remember this dog?

Sweet girl.  Scared but friendly.

Hundreds of fleas.  Skeleton of a body.  Pressure sores.  Broken teeth?

I stopped to help.  I didn't know it would work out.  I know there is a risk of failure when I stop and help.  I am not a marketing guru or a professional kennel.  If I can't find a dog a home, I am faced with some very hard decisions. 

I had to beg.  BEG!  For help.  I cried a lot.  I was told NO a lot.  I have gone through this before with Shelby Angel.  It is enough to make you feel like a failure.  The Humane Society finally helped.  It was not roses to get her there, but I somehow made it happen.

Well, big stinking lover, AZUMI, went home today with a family + 3 kids.  She was only available for adoption for 2 days at the Humane Society before someone scooped her up.  I TOLD ya'll she was great. 

I wish I had more pictures with her.  I always wish that.  When good things come full circle for me it gives me hope that life can be great.