medic0020's Group - CLOSED--BUSTIN AT THE SEAMS (Page 51)

you are soo gonna rock...will make sure to send some nice glittery pictures to inspire you! sorry still no word on my race, but will be back with info, when I get it!

GOOD LUCK GIRL! all those flips you do on the diving board will hopefully help! have a great day and do not get all dizzy on us! GO GET EM....

Did you say long weekend in the pool...that should have been me!!! how did your long swim with flip turns go!? I am going to go and swim...swim....and then i am going to swim some more today!

The flip turns went surprisingly well especially during the mile swim.  There were a few were I sucked in a ton of water but for the most part pretty good... I also didn't lose my goggles jumping off the blocks which I was surprised.  That was my first time jumping off the blocks.  Well good luck with all that swimming.... I want to hear that you are a fish when you are done!! 

well...I finally got the official word from the City of Moraga.....so hope you will go and see my race report to get that info....thanks to all of you, I did very well in my first race! even mentioned some of you!! and it was nice....how about that!

What a weekend for the group!

Julie (aka triathlete passing on left) - awesome race report. I hope you at least high fived on the hill! lol to the other peeps. If you want to know what I'm talking about, read the report ;-)

Emerson, I knew I smelled a PR. Way to go speed demon!

 Pam, just thinking about a mile of flip turns makes me dizzy. Incredible.

Hope everyone else is well.

Greg 

Congratulations!, Julie!!!!!

Thanks Greg...now how is Stef? Still having headaches? how is the new treatment? I was at work Sunday and the stupid computers were down....I could not even get wireless..so, I had no way of calling you - your numbers were stored away so nicely in my messages...SORRY GREG!...I will catch up with you later this evening.... hope things are going ok...you need to work out, you hear me!?...Good for the miind! make sure to take some time for yourself! I PROMISE it will help you sort thru things and to keep your strenth and health up!!! best thing for you! so go boy! and tell Stef I love her and that I am praying for her.

You are an amazing guy....don't you ever forget that!! can't wait to mee the kiddo's! I have already begun to contact some potential sponsors...can you tell me who you already have so that I do not duplicate any!  but do this in your time frame...do not go out of the way for this info..

Take care,

Julie

Thanks Julie. Honestly, things aren't good. Last week 2 friends died - 1 funeral was Sat and 1 tomorrow. When we left the Sat funeral, we had a call from her oncologist (on Saturday with his cell number). Stef's cancer has spread to her brain and we found out today her spine. They are stopping the trial and starting radiation. We'll know more about that tomorrow. They told us today she has realistically 6 months. If she were a normal stomach cancer patient with this much disease, she'd only have 3 months.  So now I'm trying to figure out the balance of taking care of my wife, taking care of my kids, taking care of me and somehow trying to earn a living. When I train I feel guilty because it's time I'm losing with her. Even though I know it's better for us both, each moment is precious. And the balancing act get worse (because of my caregiving load) before it gets better.

This Saturday I'm racing in a sprint, then we are having a party at our house (crawfish boil!!) Regardless of the bad stuff, you have to seize life when you can.

Greg 

Greg,

You cannot be the man you want to be for Stef, your kids or yourself unless you are strong!!!  You need to breaks, you need the reflection time, you need the endorphins, you need your body to be the "platform" to launch everything you do.  There is a reason that on the airplane they say "put the mask on yourself first, then the child next to you."  You cannot help the child unless you are breathing!

You cannot help Stef if you are not at your best.  Fine, skip a race or two... but do NOT skip the exercise!!  There are martyrs and marathons.  On group burns at the stake, the other manages their energy and finishes the day....  You are a marathoner who wins, not a martyr.  Martyrs are forgiven, but they cannot help those they love.

Be the best you can be... then you can be the husband, father and provider you want to be.

We are all here for you my friend.  In our prayers...

Emerson

My race report is now up...

Well said Emerson.  Greg-we're all thinking about you, Stef, and your family.  I know that it must feel like bad news is piled on top of bad news lately.  Your family really does need you to be at your best and you have to take care of you too for that to happen.  We're not saying go out and ride for 3 hrs but get in some time for you every day, even if it is 30 mins on a trainer or treadmill.  Stef has already shown how strong she is and how much of a fighter.  I'm sure that you're incredibly proud of her and it shows!  We're here for you whenever you need some support.

Some Photos from Big Sur -- complements of Donato Cabal...

Here is our good friend Donato with me at Big Sur... I think the gut size may have effected our two different times... Do you think???

The big hill at hurricane point.  Two miles and up 520 feet!!!

Does it get any better than this??

This is the link to Donato's log, where I got the photos from:

http://www.zenhiking.com/08-04-27%20big%20sur%20marathon/index.htm#7

Beautiful pics Emerson! Looks almost like Houston. Ok, maybe not.

 Thanks for the encouraging words and the kick in the pants. I've used the airplane anology myself on others. Sucks when my own material is used against me! ;-) I know its true - it's just hard. I'm working on it. today I'm going to see my cardiologist to see where my surgery stands and to get a full workup before starting on HIM training. Hopefully I get an OK to keep up my training. It's been 2 yrs since I've seen him, so I'm due and have been having some concerning pains especially on big training days. I've always just written it off to stress. I can't do that anymore. The best news I can pray for is that I either have surgery right away so I can recover while Stef still feels well or that triathlon has postponed it for years. I'd hate for my kids to have to carry me through that alone.

 Have a great day all!

Greg 

Is it wrong to reply to your own post?

Cardiologist visit went very well today. Going to do not only an echo but also an exercising lung/heart test (more than just the treadmill stress test). I'm very pleased because this will also tell me my VO2 Max, LT, AT, etc. He also told me that I may not need surgery after all - ever. This was much different than my previous doc had told me. This test will tell us everything that is going on with the total aerobic system, then I'll be able to rock n roll ... or run, bike n swim. Those tests are in 2 weeks.

I did a 2 mile run today. Was running at an 8 m/m pace but can't hold that for even 2 miles yet. Including some walking, finished at a 9:30 m/m pace. Stef starts radiation tomorrow for 3 weeks, so there's some built in time I can train, or clean house, or walk the dog, or cook dinner...

Pushing through,

Greg 

Greg,

It is sad when you reply to your own post because that means that not enough of us are out there on the board   I'm very happy to hear that you may not have to have the surgery!  That is really great news.  As far as I am concerned anytime you have to worry about your heart is a very scary thing.  I have been there and done that and will have to do it again soon as well.

Send Stef our wishes and nice job with the run... I should be heading out the door myself!

Greg,

I am very happy for you that it went so well... Pam's point is well taken.  It is OK to reply to your own quote but better we do.  We are with you.  Four days off for the race and backlogged work... no excuse, just the current reality.  I will be back tomorrow to catch up with everyone... EK