medic0020's Group - CLOSED--BUSTIN AT THE SEAMS (Page 63)

Nothing, a day with nothing...  I cannot imagine.  I dream of the day.  Getting about 1/2 my workouts in, work is out of control.... we have a new term.  RIF and our the company lots of folks I know are getting RIF'ed.  That is part of the "Reduction in Force" initiative.  I have been around for 29 years and I have never seen it like this before.  I cannot update all our team photos as I don't know if I will have to "shrink" my teams. 

Gregg,   I hope you get a call back on the job.

Julie and Amy, good for keeping in touch with us so much.

Dee, love the images...

Eric,  You have been our backbone for the last six months... it is OK to take a break, we are thankful for what you have done for all of us.

Pam, I am so proud of what you have done.  Take a moment and smile, you deserve it...

Back later, Emerson

PS:  I put some photos of the view from my home in Cincinnati on my workout log...

OK guys, it is sad when I am a lead blogger on the site....

I have a plan to fix this...

I will share tomorrow.  I need to get to bed, I am running 12 -14 tomorrow... EK

D001 - 2008-06-23 4:40 PM

amy mutz - 2008-06-23 2:19 PM It was my hometown 5k, it's a big draw every year for many, I guess it's because afterwards you get all the free beer you want, I hate beer myself, I was hoping more for a capt-zero. But it is done and I don't want to do it anymore, I just want to sit and cheer people on or do the speed walk, I always used to place in the top 5 for that, a 5k is like having to sprint the entire time...

I'm not a beer lover, either. But what's capt-zero? I've never heard of it. Speed walking??? How cool! Maybe I should think about learning that. It would probably be easier on my knee than running. GREAT PICTURES!

My guess would be a captain morgan with a splash of zero coke. But that is only a guess!

Arrgghh!! Here's my post from the Injuries and Health Issues thread:

Here's a quick refresher on my health. I was born with a heart defect called Tetrology of Fallot which is actually 3 defects. I just had a full workup done including a CPET test (measures efficiency of heart and lungs including VO2 max, etc) and CT scan of my heart. They discovered that my right ventricle has a limited output and starves my left ventricle when my HR is about 160. Normally when I exercise, my HR is in the 150-160 range. At first my doc said it was no problem. Today they called and said I should keep my HR between 120 and 130 when exercising.

That's OK for biking (if its flat and I"m not pushing) but for running there's no way! I'm already slow but for my HR to be that low, I'm at like a 14-15 min mile.

This sucks. If I do that I will be DFL in every race and that won't be fun.

So should I listen to the doc (and give up triathlon) or live like I'm dying?

I'm sorry to hear about your situation Greg.  It has got to be so frustrating on top of everything else.  I guess the question that remains is how important are triathlons to you?  To me, they keep me going somedays while on others it is the only way I can relieve stress.  But that is a decision you have to make.  We make the choices we make each day sometimes knowing the consequences and other days not.  Trust your instinct.  What is most important in your life?  That will guide your decision. 

Gregg, life is a precious thing.  You need to be there for your kids and your future.  Enjoy the biking...

Hay, at 5'5" I would love to play basketball but I get smashed every-time.  So, I don't.... Just take it as a step in life and be a great cyclist.  If things change later, you can always pick up the running again. 

That is my two cents... Emerson

Greg--I'm all about out right stupidity in the name of fun or racing BUT your life is tremendously complicated right now.  You've got to take care of you.  I'd focus on riding and enjoying the endorphins and time outdoors.  If you can find a way to "race" and still fit the parameters that the docs have suggested, then go for it.  You just have to find a way to check the ego at the start line and compete for the joy of it.

I'm slowly getting back on track. My workouts are picking back up, but I'm not quite back into my solid BT routine of making the rounds to each of your logs everyday plus coming here.  Trying to do better.  I love race day but 4 races in 7 weeks is a lot for even me. I was finding it harder and harder to get psyched up mentally. I'd get there eventually but it might be when I was standing in the water at the swim start before it would happen.

That was a crazy race stretch--first HIM, first time hit by a car, hardware at a race, and some PR's at several courses.  I've got 4 weeks and then I start back. Tentatively, I've got a sprint 7/19, an Olympic 8/2, and another sprint 8/23.  After that, a month and then a sprint 9/20, followed by my 2nd HIM 11/1.  I've considered a couple of other smaller races but not sure on those yet.  I've gotten my wife hooked and she had a mini tantrum last weekend over me wanting to race every time she does and not be content cheering for her.  I'm going to try to do better...no promises but I'll try

Hey everyone. Here's a quick update from Texas:

I got the job! We negotiated a deal on Friday morning and I accepted Friday evening. They still have to do background checks, physicals, etc. but I don't see any issues there. No poppyseed muffins for me! ;-)

I have been trying to get some exercise. Walks and rides mainly, but the occasional day in the pool too. Scheduling has been tough. And, keeping my HR at 130 is hard (and boring). After further talks with my doc, my heart output maxes out at 130, so I'm anerobic at everything above that. My muscles need oxygen. My heart is trying to give it. But my right ventricle limits what my heart can do. Very unusual case. I'm sure there are others that have something similar due to similar birth defects, but they aren't trying to do endurance sports. Wimps! ;-)

Stef is continuing to decline. She looks tired all the time and is losing weight. Her pain is still well managed, so that's a good thing. And, the pain meds could be part of why she is so tired. She continues to be active. This weekend is Allstars for swimming. Two of my kids qualified. One swam yesterday and one swims today. She was there yesterday and will be again today. She's like the energizer bunny...though is slowing down.

I'm trying to keep up with everyone but frankly am not doing a great job of it right now. I think about you all the time and wish my life were allowing me to be more of a triathlete and less of everything else, but that's the breaks right now.

Gotta go get the kids fed, everyone ready and off to the swim meet.

Greg 

Greg,

Congratulations on the job. That's great!  Don't worry about keeping up with us.  You have so many important things pulling at your time.  We're here for you whenever you need us.  Every time we hear about Stef, she sounds like an even more amazing woman.  I'm sorry to hear that she seems to be getting worse.  She's a fighter though and wants every minute she can get with you guys.

I know that your training has been a way for you to help get rid of stress.  It's got to be tough to be dealing with the physical limitations.  Hang in there, just do what you can, and try to enjoy it, even though its not what you are used to doing.

We're all thinking about and praying for you guys.

Eric