Mental Manatee Mentors Part 3--CLOSED (Page 25)

kgore - 2013-03-16 2:35 PM

So I posted earlier this week about being down, and I am beginning to think that I had some sort of future-seeing-depression-thing happening (although I am still fighting that today..).

Today, I went in to work, nothing to out of the ordinary --all seemed to be going well, in fact. We then found that the male blue tree monitor (Cobalt--the pic a few pages back) had passed away overnight. I didn't see anything that would be a noticeable "cause", but I believe that he had just gotten to stressed in quarantine, and just wasn't able to recover. I am so sad and though my supervisors and curator were insistent that it was most likely nothing we could have done, and not my fault; I still feel that I should have done SOMETHING to get him in a better situation in quarantine. eesh. I am so heartbroken by this.

THEN....I went to my parent's place, I hadn't heard anything new regarding my dad's heart issue--well, it turns out that he had actually suffered a heart attack in early Feb. and didn't know it. They say that the urgency we were feeling regarding his heart health isn't as bad as originally thought, but that he REALLY does need to watch his diet and lose weight to get better and not have further heart problems. Of course, he is being his usual stubborn self, which is utterly resistant to actually changing his lifestyle (food-wise). He is absolutely addicted to processed food, as well as diet (i.e. "sugar free") sodas, and snack food....He insists that he always loses weight then gains it back immediately---usually 10 pounds down then gain back 15; and of course he insists that he CANNOT exercise...because it hurts. I want to just tell him to suck it up---eating right will make you feel icky as you give up the nastiness--just like any addiction; and exercise WILL hurt--at first, but soon it will feel right. I am so worried about him and so angry with him at the same time.

Truly, tomorrow's race I am not really planning on "racing"--I plan on running along and enjoying the scenery, hoping for more of a 'spiritual, relaxing' type run. I think I need that. (and the badger medal....)

ponderingfox - 2013-03-17 1:00 PM

I was reminded this weekend that I promised to ride a century with someone this September.  Uh oh.  A full century might be a bit too much for me.  I'll probably cut it to a metric century.

And on that note, I think I'm cutting out cycling until after my HM.  That'll give me two months before my first sprint, which is probably plenty.  I want to focus on running, and get miles in.

jogo - 2013-03-17 9:31 PM I am doing my first century in June. Scared to death. I HATE the bike but it is for a good cause so I am forcing myself.

ponderingfox - 2013-03-18 1:43 PM Another run first today: nine miles.  I did it on a trail in a local metropark.  Pretty excited about it!  If I can do a trail run, I can go further on a flat road.  It wasn't a hard run, so therefore, a big mental victory.

jobaxas - 2013-03-17 5:36 PM

Sorry about Cobalt. 

A relative or friend that won't help themselves - soooo frustrating.  My brother is obese and has heart issues, but the doc says he's fine.  Doctors are so scared to tell patients to lose weight.

We had family over on Saturday night, our cousins are obese and one of their kids is going that way.  DH told the mum off, he said you know I love you that's why I'm telling you, put your kid on  a healthy diet.  This is ridiculous.  He's 9 years old and we're buying him men's medium clothes.

She was upset but i think she listened.  It's not fair to inflict it onto the kids too.

ponderingfox - 2013-03-17 6:43 PM Another run first today: nine miles.  I did it on a trail in a local metropark.  Pretty excited about it!  If I can do a trail run, I can go further on a flat road.  It wasn't a hard run, so therefore, a big mental victory.

rrrunner - 2013-03-17 4:33 PM

Looking forward to the RR's!

And luf the Scooby story!

I had an interesting day today. I had a failed race-flat "simulation". First let me start by saying that I was pretty confident in not getting a flat on race day and being able to easily fix it if I did. I live in the desert so goatheads/cacti are EVERYWHERE. So I have Armadillo tires, liners and thick tubes which are also filled with a sealant. It's extremely redundant protection and I haven't had a flat in 3 years of running this system. Until today. The downside of this system is a road repair is next to impossible so if you can't air the tire and get the sealant to fill the hole, you are done.  So I'm happily cruising along about an hour and a half in to my four hour ride and I hear a loud "tink, tink, tink" so I stop and search for the offending noisemaker. There is a rusty nail sticking out of my sidewall!!!!! I pull out the nail and spin the tire to get the goo working into the hole then pull out my CO2 and adapter. I used up my cartridge and my tire (and my mood) were still deflated. I call DH and he manages to get the air in to the tube, but it's still leaking. After a trip to the LBS I now have a new tube and a new CO2 system, but my confidence against flats on race day has definitely taken a hit.  I am more concerned about that than I am about missing out on 2.5 hours of my ride  I guess it's good that I learned about the issues before-hand but I'm not feeling as bullet-proof anymore.

ponderingfox - 2013-03-17 6:43 PM Another run first today: nine miles.  I did it on a trail in a local metropark.  Pretty excited about it!  If I can do a trail run, I can go further on a flat road.  It wasn't a hard run, so therefore, a big mental victory.

cdban66 - 2013-03-17 9:08 AM

PR today in my HM. I'll write it up later or tomorrow. 11 minutes off my previous best, I couldn't be happier. All of your support means so much, and every run discussion I've seen has helped.  Run lots, mostly slow, sometimes fast. 

Thanks a bunch, everyone!

rrrunner - 2013-03-18 11:33 AM

Looking forward to the RR's!

And luf the Scooby story!

I had an interesting day today. I had a failed race-flat "simulation". First let me start by saying that I was pretty confident in not getting a flat on race day and being able to easily fix it if I did. I live in the desert so goatheads/cacti are EVERYWHERE. So I have Armadillo tires, liners and thick tubes which are also filled with a sealant. It's extremely redundant protection and I haven't had a flat in 3 years of running this system. Until today. The downside of this system is a road repair is next to impossible so if you can't air the tire and get the sealant to fill the hole, you are done.  So I'm happily cruising along about an hour and a half in to my four hour ride and I hear a loud "tink, tink, tink" so I stop and search for the offending noisemaker. There is a rusty nail sticking out of my sidewall!!!!! I pull out the nail and spin the tire to get the goo working into the hole then pull out my CO2 and adapter. I used up my cartridge and my tire (and my mood) were still deflated. I call DH and he manages to get the air in to the tube, but it's still leaking. After a trip to the LBS I now have a new tube and a new CO2 system, but my confidence against flats on race day has definitely taken a hit.  I am more concerned about that than I am about missing out on 2.5 hours of my ride  I guess it's good that I learned about the issues before-hand but I'm not feeling as bullet-proof anymore.

Muskrat37 - 2013-03-18 4:00 PM

I miss so much by not being around for a couple days... grrrr..

Sorry about Cobalt...

Sorry to hear about your father.  

Glad to hear about the PR 1/2 marathon - 11 mins...that's a sick improvement dog!  

Glad to hear no IT band issues. 

Sorry if I missed anyone.  

As for me, the calf is still a bit tender, but I am going to venture out for an easy run tomorrow, and I have a 2500 yard swim scheduled...I'll do that after the swim lesson.  It will be my first swim workout in a new 23 week IM training plan I'm starting tomorrow... sure I'll be sore, but I'm looking forward to it.  

Also - in other news...I've completely revamped the blog.  Feel free to check it out, and give me any feedback you may have.  I realized my blog didn't have a lot of direction, so I sat down and wrote a mission statement for the blog, and am in the process of changing it to more closely match that mission statement.  It's mostly done...but still a bit of work to go.  

Have an Awesome week Manatees!  I'm going to.  

4agoodlife - 2013-03-18 2:29 PM

Sooooo...I'm as ready as I can be for 13-14 hours in the car with kids tomorrow.  Had the usual trail hike/run this morning. "Usual", except DH invited a friend along, we decided to take a different return route AND ran out of water 40 min from truck because it was so warm out (we'll carry two water packs next time).

A couple of pics from this morning. Yes, the cactus made me giggle in an inappropriate way, and I thought I could share the chuckle with you all 

cdban66 - 2013-03-18 6:44 AM

Race Report is up. Also, since my sis and Ann were there I got some pictures.  Can anyone guess who was on my mind during the post race drink?

Thanks again, everybody.

cdban66 - 2013-03-18 7:44 AM

Race Report is up. Also, since my sis and Ann were there I got some pictures.  Can anyone guess who was on my mind during the post race drink?

Thanks again, everybody.

amd723 - 2013-03-18 5:04 AM Looking good in those pics Chris![/QUOTE]

x2! 

bcraht - 2013-03-18 9:14 AM

MmmmHmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!

StaceyK - 2013-03-17 10:48 PM Thanks for the laugh, I needed that today.

cdban66 - 2013-03-18 4:57 AM

I wanted to reply to a couple of people this weekend, but have been away from the keyboard until now.

Kate - I hope that you are feeling a bit better. It is tough to watch people we love that aren't taking care of themselves.  If possible, be present when he needs you the most, give him love and support. Just a small push from you could be all the help he needs. And I am sorry for your loss at work. It is apparent how much you love your work and those that are in your care.

Erin - I hope you too are doing OK with the family challenges.  While it may be tough to be in a different house for your visit, maybe you can rest a bit easier knowing the steps you are taking for your loved ones. Family is the most important part of life, and you are going to take steps to make sure yours knows how much you care. Bring peace and love with you and you can't go wrong.

You and yours are in my thoughts and prayers.