Back... with hardware.....

This has been a tough summer, had to cancel 3 pretty big races after being put in the hospital with multiple bilateral pulmonary emboli on July 1.  Breathing was a chore, was always short of breath, just getting out of bed was tiring.   Put on coumadin, a blood thinner which has a nice side effect of fatigue.  Suffered a lung infarction as a result.   Some of yo have read the gory details

I've ridden the trainer once during that time, and started running very slowly just yesterday

I started swimming again just July 21 with masters.  First 1600, then 2K, then 3K hanging at the back of the lane, then moving my way up the lane.  Did one OWS of 1 mile.  I think the breath holding and breathing patterns were good for my lung.  

It sucked having to cancel races, and watching my friends train and race this summer, so I decided to sign up for a "race" I could do.  1.25 OWS around a little island in Long Beach. No wetsuit and 63 degree water.

My goal (or, instructions from the wife) was to just take it easy, enjoy the swim.  I lined up in the back row, avoiding the scrum (being on blood thinners and getting whacked in the head don't mix).  My slowest 1.2(5) ever in a race (by 6 minutes), but it was still good enough for a 3/7 AG medal.  There wasn't a podium or medal ceremony, they just hand it to you as you checked in at the end.  At first I put it down with my clothes, then said "screw it, I'm wearing the frigging thing."  

I try not to crow much about medals (frankly I don't get the opportunity very often), but this one was special, given that i was lying in the hospital 6 weeks ago barely able to breathe.  

I wanted to thank BT for all the thoughts and wishes, it's helped me get thru this and back on the horse, happy to do what I can, looking forward to getting back to doing what I miss