Slornow's and Wannabefaster's Summer Mentor Group - CLOSED (Page 16)

Wow Stuart, that's good news.  I sure hope your recovery is going well!  How soon will the doctor let you train?

I had a "brick" workout today, 45 mile bike/5.2 mile run.  Well I can't really call it a brick.  The bike was an unexpected surprise as all the stars alligned, our afternoon admissions were cancelled and I rushed home to bike as much as I could before my 5 pm conference call.  I felt great on the bike, did rollers and multiple all out sprints, kind of just mixed things up. After my hour long conference call, I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to run good pace from the beginning.  Usually after a bike my first mile is a struggle.  My quick recovery during that hour indicates to me that my fitness is improving.  What say ya'll?    

Jim

Nancy I have had a high deductible health plan since they came onto the market in 2005.  Being healthy the most common cause for having to pay the high deductible is statistically an accident.  Of course other things happen but the numbers are over 80% an accident.

So I carry an Accident Reimbursement plan that pays for any expense not paid for by my major medical health plan that is the result of an accident.  That means they paid for my Achilles tendonitis PT last year, my radial fracture of my arm (special cast, PT) and now this big one.  The health plan my wife & I are on has a $8200 deductible so I carry a $7500 accident plan.  As far as my health plan is concerned I paid my deductible even though I am getting it reimbursed by another policy.

We pay about $51/month for the two of us.  However, the policy only has two choices, a single person or a family.  So it would be the same rate for a family with 5 kids!

Yes it covers accidents in little league, pop warner, ayso etc for kids.  It covers old guys like me trying to do tris or skiing, or anything else that is not an illness.  It won't cover a car accident because that is covered under auto insurance.  Most of the plans have some exclusions for 'professional' sports so you would want to read the exclusions carefully.

Send me a PM if you want to know more.

Jim I am still immobile until my next follow-up at the end of the month.  If the bone slippage has not gotten any worse from the first week (it was stable two weeks ago), then I will begin PT the first week of June. 

'Training' will be folded in because the two things I can do for PT are swimming and stationary bike.  My doctor will let me be as aggressive as I can push it without pain.

Then the next big test is to see if sufficient blood flow was restored to the head of the hip joint.  That will be another 3-4 months before we will know for sure.  If so, I will compete in the April sprint I missed last month.  If not, a second surgery to replace the hip.  In that case I start all over and will likely miss much of 2014 as well.

Preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.

So cool!! Were you school aged before you left?

Stuart-great news about the $$. Too bad your training is going to be so limited due to the injury. I could sure "rationalize" using some of the $$$ savings for some new gear but its no fun if you can't play with it right away 

I had a pretty good swim at lunch and a decent bike this evening. Tomorrow's swim and bike both seem to be beyond my current abilities. Kind of daunting but I'll give it a shot. Not getting a taper from my coach for the weekend super sprint as my "A" race, Eagleman, is 3 weeks from Sunday.

Had a nice evening at daughter's soccer banquet. She was awarded the offensive player of the year award as well as the top award as most outstanding player.  We are very excited for her. Academic awards day on Friday and graduation on Sunday. Whew! Its and exciting time but I'll be glad when its all done.  

Well ya win some and you lose some.

The seasons are changing here (yes, late for the area) and I always go through this in the spring - wake up with a headache, it goes away, comes back blah blah blah.  Woke up with it but decided to push through and go to the pool.  Bad move.  18 minutes and I decided to call it a day.  If I'm feeling better later I'm going to try a group ride with a new group.  Well see.  Swim again tomorrow.

Stuart hang in there buddy.  Sounds very frustrating but like you said.....hope for the best.

Have a good day all.

Here's something to keep all of this in perspective. The youngest member of my tri team is in the hospital in a drug induced coma. Sam is 18 and an exceptional athlete. He is on the USAT SE Regional Junior team and typically finishes top 5-10 overall in local events. He was at swim practice yesterday when he started feeling ill. He got out of the pool at the Y, sat down and then collapsed. He was unresponsive and apparently his heart stopped. Fortunately there were 1-2 doctors at the Y at the time and they shocked him (not sure the right words there), began CPR and when the EMTs arrived transported him to the hospital. Initally thought it may be an aortic dissection which is apparently very rare in a person his age but that was ruled out. Now they are thinking it may be Long QT Inteval Syndrome which is genetic. Further testing will have to be done to determine that but apparently if thats what it is he will need a defibrillator.

Hard to get my mind around this happening to someone so young and "healthy." Thankful that this happened where there were people that could help him rather than on some rural road in the middle of nowhere.

Don't take things for granted. I know I do. I try to appreciate the opportunity to train and race but sometimes get caught up in the frustration of a bad workout or poor result. On my Road ID I have "Everyday" written under my emergency information as a reminder that I need to enjoy the workout, race or event and be happy that I can get out and do this "Everyday"

Sorry to get deep/serious on the group but I suspect we all take too much for granted and Sam's situation has certainly brought this to the forefront for me.

In more happy news I made it through most of the swim workout I thought would be impossible.

Randy...no truer words have ever been said.

My thoughts are with that young man.  He truly was lucky to have had that event in the midst of individuals who truly could help him.

Randy when you have an opportunity to speak to Sam and his family please let them know that his tri community family is send their thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery.  We all tend to look at what bad things may be going on in our lives without perspective.

I like your Everyday.  It was Ernest Hemingway who said: "Every man’s life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another"

No update on Sam. Thanks for all the kind words. Will certainly pass them along.

Had an intimidating bike workout scheduled tonight. Actually, it went pretty well.....except I ended up with a flat front tire about 5 minutes into my first hard interval. This was weird as I was on the rollers and have no idea what caused it. Swapped out the tire and tube and got back at it. It was tough but made it through.

Who is racing this weekend? I have a super sprint on Saturday in Pensacola.  

Prayers and hugs for Sam and his family

Had my second swim lesson today.  We didn't really time my laps this time as much as we worked on my stroke.  I have more homework and practicing for next week.

However, in the meantime.....I have my duathlon debut on Sunday.  Wish me luck......I'm gonna need it

Keeping Sam in my thoughts.  In my line of work, I get reminders everyday how precious life really is and that I need to be grateful for what I have.

I have had an excellent month of biking thus far.  This week has been particularly slow at the hospital and I've been managing to sneak out in the afternoons for bike rides.  Yesterday I rode over 40 miles and kept my average over 20 mph.  I went riding with a friend with whom we are very similar in ability and it was a race the entire time.  As I usually ride alone, it was nice to have someone to push me along. 

I'm getting excited as my Hoka's are arriving tonight.  I wil let you all know my verdict on them after a few runs. 

No races this weekend, but am going to watch my son Drew play Rugby in the State finals.  He has 2 games tomorrow (if they win the first one).  If they win this weekend, they get a chance to become repeat state champs!!!  My son is the Team Captain and I love watching him direct the team.

So, in curiosity, when biking and if someone passes you, do you get bothered?  I know I should just focus on myself, but the competitive part of me tries to keep up and re-pass that person.  It doesn't bother me so much in running or swimming.  But when out on the road, I feel like "it's on".  Don't know if the person I'm trying to pass really cares about what I'm doing.

Jim