The "Incident"

I'm talking, of course, about yesterday, where I landed in the ER after experiencing an aura.

Here's how the day went up until that time:

• Woke up, looked at clock, I'd slept 8 hours.  EIGHT HOURS!  I haven't slept that much since early August.  That correlates to when my weekly training hours jumped to over 18, but it also correlates to when I was being bumped up in my levothyroxine (I'll call it STH rest of this post), and they accidentally made my HYPER-thyroid and it messed me up.  I am typically sleeping 7 hours nightly, and I attribute this to my "new normal" which is all I need when I am properly medicated, so I do not think this apparent lack of sleep (which I've felt fine on, thanks) is an indicator of anything in particular.  Now, I'd had a "bonus massage" on Wednesday, as someone cancelled their appointment (a government employee affected by the shutdown, so anyone who says this does NOT affect private sector is full of it), and I don't have another scheduled for 2 more weeks and needed it.  I believe the massage helped me to sleep really well.
• I assessed how I felt upon waking, and the virus seemed to be at bay, not fully gone, but I didn't begin coughing right away.  In fact, I felt STUPENDOUS!  I felt happy, overflowing with joy despite having a virus, I felt like I'd accomplished a million things on my to do lists, and could relax this morning, meaning I didn't need to do dishes, do a bunch of stuff on the Internet, do any work.  There are always a million things to do, but I felt for this one morning, I could relax.
• I got ready to lift weights, including donning my new neon pink capris.  I was so happy, I snapped a selfie see above.  I put on a brand new pair of running shoes that I would use later on to run 1:30.
• I did some organization around the house (it never stops--shit just moves around), and was feeling rarin' to go on my day.
• At about 7:15, I saw a bright flash in my right eye (or so I thought), and I initially thought I'd looked at something really bright and was just having a temporary blind spot.  But then I looked away from the computer screen and saw it still.  Since I've had big floaters in my left eye since just over a year ago, and bright, flashing lights in field of view can be indicative of retinal detachment, I did a quick check on one eye, then the other, and I could see the flashy shape in both eyes, and with both eyes closed.  So I recognized this as an aura, since I'd had one over 20 years ago, which was followed by a migraine.  I never got checked out after the prior one, and this one concerned me because there were other things going on that might be related--I'd recently stopped taking Evista because I believe it was causing leg cramps (a known side effect), I had edema in my right leg for 4 days right after I stopped the Evista, I have a virus and was taking various OTC meds that seemed to make me extra hyper, and I didn't know if they were interacting with the STH and that that is just how I am now and I need to try and not use them (which I already did, but this virus has lingered).
• Still calm after these self checks, I called the Nurse Hotline associated with my healthcare coverage, because I wanted to establish if I should go to the ER.  I described all of the above to this person, who then suggested I first contact my opthamologist.  If she had told me that what she suspected was this, then maybe that's appropriate, but considering the other items on my list that I carefully enumerated, I thought that wasn't good advice.  I told her my opthamologist probably wasn't in now, and even if he was, I didn't feel like I should drive myself because I had no idea if these flashes (and the shape in the link is dead on) were going to get worse and my vision would drop out completely or what.  Then she said call him and if he's not available THEN go to the ER.  Needless to say, she wasn't very good, and I decided it would be off to the ER I should go.  While this person was waffling on what I should do, that is when I first began to feel my BP rise and adrenaline and all that, because when I said all these things out loud to her, it made me realize there could be something seriously wrong here, like a blood clot, and it started to worry me greatly.
• I called my friend down the street, Carol, to ask her if she could take me to ER because I couldn't drive myself.  She said yes, but it would take her a bit of time to get moving, and I was fine with that, but really didn't want to wait very long.
• While waiting for Carol, I called Lori, who is a nurse, and told her all the above, and she said I was correct in going to the ER because there could be a number of things going on and they should try and find out what's causing the aura.  While I was on the phone with her, the aura disappeared, and I was waiting for migraine to show up, but it never did.  Lori told me what to tell the ER people (including NOT telling them right away that I am training for IM because that could bias their decision process), and I began writing it down so that I wouldn't forget, and I could tell them when the aura started and when it stopped.
• Carol arrived about 30 minutes I think from when I called, and meanwhile, I was freaking out a bit, because while the aura was gone, it can be an indicator of serious trouble.  She drove me to Good Samaritan ER, dropped me off so she could park, and by the time she got in, they were already checking me in and getting me ready to put in a room.
• I had 2 people ask me questions, and then they weighed me (that was entertaining I was like I'M FAT and I'm sure this overweight young lady was laughing at me), and then they began escorting me to a room.  They asked me if I wanted my friend to come with me, and I said YES.
• They hooked me up to BP and pulse monitor and put electrodes on my chest and a blood collector in my left arm (after changing into a gown and not being shy about nudity in front of 4 people) and collected some blood and got upset about my BP and contacted a doctor to come check me out and figure out what tests should be run.
• I knew enough once the aura started and making a decision to go to ER that I should not drink anything or eat anything in case of tests that would want you on empty stomach, and by now it's like 8:30 and I hadn't eaten since 4:30 so I'm starving and I am also thirsty.  But I'd drunk a lot of water already so I was hydrated and needed to pee right before they were going to hook me to the machine, so I asked if I could go pee first and this nurse, Maryam, who was SO nice (they all were in the ER), asked me, "May I collect that pee?"  We both had a big laugh about that, and I said, "Yes, but it will be more than that cup will hold."  When I brought it back, I showed everyone and said, "See how hydrated I am?"  I was all smiling.
• They did an ultrasound on both legs to check for clots (negative), did a CT scan on my brain to check for bleeds (none found nor did they find any robots or flying monkeys in there to my knowledge), did an EKG (it was normal).  Then they kept getting on my case about my BP, is it usually high?  NO.  I check it, but I am quite anxious right now and this happened to me once before in 2005 when some idiot man hit me hard on the hand while swimming 1 week before IMWI and my hand swelled up to the size of a baseball, and I went to the ER to get X-rayed, and nothing was broken, but my BP shot up like a champion then, too.  So I knew my reaction was anxiety induced, beginning with the idiot nurse on the hotline. 
• My BP did settle down but not to the best level while I was still there.  They want me to go to my Dr. in a few days and also see a cardiologist.  I think I should wait until this virus clears because I am not going to have normal vitals until it is done.  We'll see.

I was checked out around 11AM, not bad for all those tests and all, and asked Carol if she wanted to go have lunch, she said yes, we went to Egg Harbor, and I had Swedish pancakes, 2 eggs and a raspberry orange juice and a cup of coffee.  I did feel more relaxed, and was SO happy to have FOOD!  Then Carol had the nerve to BUY ME LUNCH! 


We drove back to my house, and I modeled my new awesome dress, and got an approval from Carol. I gave her a box for some shipping she needs to do and she left, then I posted all this crap on Facebook and contacted work to let them know I was done for the day.  Then I went for a 6 mile run, and it rained on me a bit, but I saw a huge, double rainbow that made it all worth it.  I ran real easy, and here I am when I got home:

If you look closely at my face, you can tell I was still shook up a bit, but boy was I glad to go for a run.  I am sporting my hospital bands, and I think I got some funny looks while I was running perhaps because of all the green neon, but also the bracelets.  I figured if anyone asked, I would say, "Well they let me out of the hospital to go for a run," and if I stroked out, at least I'd have the ID band on me, right?  Which reminds me I should get a Road ID, huh?  I'm ordering one today.

I felt much better and relaxed after I showered and had a beer and the BEST SANDWICH EVER topped with my homemade muffuletta, and I fell sound asleep at maybe 7:35, slept well, and now I am going for a swim.  I will take my BP first.  I know it's still somewhat elevated, or maybe not...I feel fine at any rate.  I will be watchful the next few days.  Knowing that what I experienced may just have been that ocular migraine is sort of reassuring, that my head and heart checked out OK is reassuring, but I still feel like a science experiment being on STH and clearing the Evista from my system.  Funny, I just checked Evista side effects and FLU SYNDROME occurs in 13.5%!!!  What the fuck, now I think that maybe it was enhancing my viral thing as well.  Oh well, glad I am off that crap. I'm not saying Evista caused my virus--I'm saying it may have made it worse initially when I caught it.  I am angry that my own doctor, who I saw just last week, said NOTHING about how Evista can cause a flu-like event.  This is a lesson to us all that WE need to stay on top of these things and know our bodies better than any physician can.

I still feel like a science experiment and don't think I will know how I am until after this virus is gone, then I'm supposed to get another TSH test in 3 weeks and also a flu shot.  I don't usually have issues with flu shots, but I better think about that.  I do need to do more research on STH and its side effects, because my body just doesn't like drugs AT ALL.

Stay tuned, I will stay on top of this.

Closing In

This is going to be a very rambling post.

WTC STILL hasn't posted the start list for IMCOZ.  WTF???  You can't put up a fucking list of people on the Interwebz?  I need to know who my competition is, so that I can either get excited about the possibility of a Kona slot, or I can relax, knowing it probably won't happen.

I am 8.5 weeks out from race day.  In case you haven't been fucking paying attention (oh, did I forget to say this post will be LITTERED with F-bombs?), here's the remaining training:

That is some hefty fucking training, eh?  I don't fear it, though, since I've done more than this in my build for Ultraman Canada.  I have to keep telling people that because they still look at me all cross-eyed when they see how much training I am doing NOW.  Either they don't have a fucking memory, or they have just recently jumped on the Crackhead bandwagon.  I know--it's a wild ride, isn't it?

I get almost a villainous laugh when faced with a training block like this.  Why?  Because to me it's ALL KINDS OF FUCKING FUN!!!

I get to test my mental toughness in a huge way, since it's likely I will be doing some very long trainer rides (I think my longest ever is 5 hours; I will go up to maybe 6:15 this time around), including 3 of what I am calling FUCK ME biking weekends:

• 10/19 4:00 hours, 10/20 5:30
• 10/26 3:00 hours, 10/27 5:00 hours
• 11/16 5:30, 11/17 4:00 hours

Thing is, I've done this shit before, only FUCKING OUTSIDE!!!  At least one, possibly all three, of these weekends will be trainer rides.  But you know what?  I don't fucking care.  For one thing, my homey Shelley (who I haven't seen in 4 years can't wait!) will be here for the first one, and her job is to tell me how fucking amazing I am, fetch fresh, cold bottles from the fridge, tell me what an idiot I am, take stupid pictures and post to Facebook, and commiserate with me in general.  I think we will be watching James Bond movies--I just got the Blu-Ray 23-disk set that includes Skyfall. Then we will consume mass quantities of food--I plan on sushi one night and Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket the other.

Also, on 11/9, I do my race rehearsal ride, which will most likely be 6:15 in duration, and Cortney will be here for a wedding, and she gets to perform Crackhead sherpa duty that day.  I've never met her in person, so this should be interesting.  Cortney is a budding Crackhead herself, so I am pretty sure we will have a great time!

My birthday (57 CAN YOU FUCKING BELIEVE IT???) is on 10/22.  Shelley will be here in close proximity, so we will no doubt celebrate.  I have already gifted myself of many things, and really don't need anyone to buy me stuff, although I joke about it all the time on Facebook.  I have been given nice things by nice people.  Gatorade is always appreciated, as are superhero action figures and gift certificates to Desoto and Zoot, hint hint.  Last year when I was so depressed, one of the irrational thoughts I kept having was that I am old and ugly.  Well maybe I AM old, but at least now I am OK with it.  I tricked my best friend, Susan, into believing that I would never race Ironman again, and that it would be a GOOD thing.  I have since notified her that I was crazy at the time, and that this training and racing is what keeps me sane, vital, vigorous, sexy, good at my job and just loving life!

As you already know, I've had my early fall illness already.  I still have somewhat of a cough, but I feel like I'm OK without the inhaler, except right before exercise. Yesterday was a drug festival, though, as I woke up after 5 hours of sleep, drank coffee, swam, came home and worked, took some Ambien to try to sleep, never slept, woke up feeling drugged, worked more, finally started feeling better and had a Coke, passed out around 7PM and woke up at 2AM.  I am just rolling with this oddball sleep schedule.  Tonight I may take the Ambien right before I go to sleep at around 8PM and hope I sleep until 3AM.

Oh--yesterday I went to this little boutique in town and bought some fancy ass clothes, including this dress:

It looks really good on me.  The owner is all excited about having me as a client since I'm pretty tiny and look good in all this designer shit.  Although I think I have a strange physique now--either I'm fat (I've put on about 3 lbs. last 2 months but plan on dropping it), or I am really carrying a lot of muscle.  My size 3 (ACTUAL SIZE 3 NOT WHAT PASSES FOR 3 NOW) jeans fit me just fine, even a bit loose, but my ass is huge.  I have rather big legs for such a small person.  I wonder whether with my thyroid function fixed that my metabolism is allowing me to keep more muscle on me?  Whatever, apparently I have been eating enough to put it on.  Yesterday I started an austerity program for the last weeks before IMCOZ--no more candy, no more Twinkies, Pringles and Cheetos sparingly, watch my beer intake.  That is all it will take to shed those 3-4 lbs. in maybe 4 weeks.  I feel really "thick" if that makes sense, which is a feeling of being solid, not jiggly, so maybe this is muscle.  I plan on getting my metabolism measured sometime after my next blood test, assuming my TSH level is where I want it to be which is between 1 and 2.  If it's higher, that means my thyroid continues to crap out and I will need to go on a higher dosage.  This is so much fucking fun, NOT!

That dress will be making an appearance in Vegas next March, where I and 2 girlfriends (maybe Shelley if she can get out of a stupid work trip) will be visiting Susan and running the Red Rock Canyon marathon, and then going out on the town.  I wish I had an occasion to wear it before then, but stupid men I fancy are afraid to get with all this.  I mean, look, I DO have time for social life, just the rest of my life is far from normal.  I manage to kick ass at a sometimes high pressure job, maintain a house and gardens, cook (WELL I might add) for myself, train for a fucking Ironman, manage to keep a few good friends, coach Brad, and be generally awesome. What is not to like about that?  I know people who ask me about my training are doing mental gyrations and thinking, "she can't POSSIBLY have time for a relationship," but that is just not true.  Sigh.  Well, I can't be concerned about the man thing right now.  If someone is brave enough to take the Crackhead challenge, great, STEP THE FUCK UP.  Oh, I guess with an attitude like that I can be a little intimidating.  GET THE FUCK OVER IT GUYS!!!  As my brother, Mike, says, "someone in the relationship has to be smarter."  Fortunately, I have a few friends that "get" me and aren't trying to hold me back or tell me to "tone down" or "be more girly" or "quit being so boisterous."  While I may have a foul mouth, I am quite girly, thank you very much LOOK AT THAT FUCKING DRESS!!!

Also, I am getting back on my strength training.  I got off kilter there for a few weeks with IMWI and then getting sick, but I'm back on the weights.  That is crucial for me, since it helps me to support my training and my life in general.  I figured out that the reason I was cramping (lower legs and feet) while swimming was due to the Evista I was taking for osteoporosis.  I've been off it for a week, and already I can kick like a mad fool and not cramp.  Leg cramps are a documented side effect, and since I can't tolerate cramping up during a swim, I stopped it.  I am working with my doctor to figure out what alternative I will take, but I don't plan on starting anything new until after IMCOZ since I don't want to fuck with potential side effects.

The other thing about Evista is that it can increase your likelihood of DVT.  I was already planning on asking whether I should stop it prior to flying to Mexico, so at least I can take that off my to do list.  I was also experiencing some excess edema in my right calf, which MIGHT have been from spraining my ankle, but I think it was also related to the Evista.  One day last week when I was running I became paranoid that maybe I was experiencing DVT, but all that swelling is gone, so PHEW!

I should probably tell you how I've done against my planned training.  If you recall, I registered for IMCOZ on 7/22, and I quickly put together a training plan which has since become what my protégé, Brad, is being killed by...er...following.  It only took me about 3 iterations to eyeball it for making sense, being a reasonable progression, and getting me in top-top shape.  So here's how I've done against the plan so far:

Not too shabby for a working stiff, eh?  Also, since 1/1/2013, I am averaging 14.8 hour of training per week.  My highest ever was 16.3 while training for IMLP 2009, so I'm a bit of a slacker, but that's because I really didn't do much from January through early July.  As of 7/21, I was only averaging 13.7 hours per week, which is really nothing for me.

Now, if you look at my average training hours per week since 6/17, it's 17.8 as of the end of last week.  THAT is good, serious training!  I dropped off a bit from 18 due to being sick.   HUGE NUMBERS MAKE ME FUCKING HAPPY!!!

This week is a "rest week," meaning not much running--only 2.5 hours scheduled.  I will still swim quite a bit and bike like 9.5 hours, so other than running, this is still a solid week.  I know the rest is working its magic on me since yesterday I was going a bit crazy since all I did was swim.  So I finally got my weights on, at least a start on it, and I did some gardening, too.  I can already tell that I will go batshit crazy during my IMCOZ taper.  It's been awhile since I've been in this kind of shape, and soaring to the peak of fitness and then dropping out the volume to taper is sure to turn me into this:

But I LIKE that feeling!  There is nothing in the world like it!  When you are at the top of your game, all mental and physical systems in your body are in perfect synchronicity with your goals, WHO WOULDN'T FUCKING WANT THAT FOR THEMSELVES???

Yet, it can frighten the shit out of people.  I've already put myself on notice at work to watch my attitude, because I get pretty aggressive right about now.  DON'T FUCK WITH ME.

Here are the to do items I have left to go for my IMCOZ preparations:

• Try out my race clothes.  I hope to do this today, as the weather will be warm when I bike and run later.  You might guess I would wear zebra stripes or skulls or both, but actually I'm going with simple red and black.  Skull Kingdom has plenty of skulls, as does my aero helmet.
• Make my reservation with Tri Bike Transport.
• Have Magic Mike take another look at me in the pool.  I am not going to get any faster before IMCOZ, but I want him to check if my work the past few weeks has made a difference.  I DO plan on working with him on my speed beginning in January.
• Put new saddle on Death Machine and get cleats for new shoes.
• Figure out when the fuck I will have time to get my final bike tuneup before dropping it off for transport.
• Go insane and try to not commit any felonies.

Today I get to do a broken tri-ath-A-lon (as my friend, Mark, pronounces it, which makes me smile): 2900 swim in the AM, then 1:30 bike with :20 brick run.  I am SO looking forward to getting on the bike today!
Congratulations if you made it this far.  NOW FUCK OFF!!!!  Just kidding, have a wonderful day!

Fuck this Shit, I'm Training!

OK so back to Tuesday.  I felt a bit better than on Monday, well enough to try working out or else I would go out of my mind.  I managed :35 on elliptical trainer (in lieu of running which I didn't think my lungs would support), and then I hopped on a Cybex stationary bike for 1:15.  I was able to push it on the bike, and I even paid attention to my heart rate, which was reasonable.

Wednesday morning I felt like I could swim, and it DID feel really good.  I managed 3500 yards, including 2400 with paddles and pull buoy (yes, my shoulders are really strong--when I was training for Ultraman, I'd sometimes do paddles/pull buoy for up to 4,000 yards at a pop).  It was a gorgeous early fall day, and at 12:30 I headed outdoors to give running a try.  Since I didn't know how hard I could push it or for how long, I decided to run "block repeats," which is around this big block from home that is 1.15 miles around.  That way, too, I didn't need to carry any fluids with me.  I managed 5 times around at 9:34 pace, slow I know, but I was OK with it as I was still fairly sick.  Plus, no reason to push the pace until I knew the virus had cleared.

Thursday is long run day, and the plan was for 2:10 with some 1/2 marathon and 10k pace intervals.  I knew I couldn't do the interval work, and I had no idea if I could complete the time either running or some combination of running/elliptical/Arc Trainer.  The Arc Trainer is a Cybex machine that is fucking awesome and much better than any elliptical.  I used it to train for the stair climb I did in February, and now I consider it a fine substitute for running.  It doesn't have the same impact forces as running, but if you LEVEL THE FUCK UP like I do, you get a seriously hard workout, especially your quads!  It's funny to me now that I can go so much harder on that machine now than I could back in February!

Anyway, once again since it was nice out, I thought I'd start with some block repeats, just to see what I could do there.  Apparently, working out the prior 2 days had introduced some unanticipated fatigue considering I still wasn't well.  I did 2 repeats at about 10:15 pace, which was fast enough given my physical state, but then felt like I was dragging ass, so I switched to run 1 minute/walk 1 minute, because I didn't want to dig myself into a deep hole.  I know you are laughing at me--how could I even think about running 2 hours when my voice was gone, I was having regular coughing fits and even a little bit of dizziness?  Because I'm Crackhead, that's why!

I ended up getting in 7 miles outside, and then I decided to do another hour on the Arc Trainer at the Y.  So I pretty much got in enough running/AT to cover my long run and then some.

Friday morning I was feeling better--more energy, still with the cough, though.  Fuck it, I'm swimming.  I knocked out 4200 and felt great doing it!   Around noon, I headed outdoors on yet another glorious early fall day to run.  I was a bit perturbed with myself that I could still only manage 9:15/mile, but I need to give it time, I will be back soon enough. But at least this was a full-out run!  It was during this run that I'd worn a bra top I'd acquired recently that happened to match the shorts in this pic:

Actually it's this bra in the color "busy red."  It matches those shorts perfectly.  It comes with slight padding, which I don't really want, but whatever.  So it was rather warm on Friday, and I am 1.5 miles from home, and I'm HOT and I stop and remember there are pads in my top!  So I took them out (they came out through roughly the side of the top), commenced running, and flung them in the next garbage can!  I was laughing my ass off, as I often do, at how comical this seemed to me at the time.

Saturday the plan was a 4:30 ride and :40 brick run.  I wanted to get an early start so that I would have time to nap or just lay down in advance of a party my friend Mark was having.  It was cold outside (for riding), only low 50's, and what with my cold and still needing to take hits from an inhaler and occasional cough syrup, I thought I'd be better off on the trainer.  I started at 5:15, and did 1/2 hour pretty easy, although my legs felt really great!  It had been 2 weeks since I'd been on Skull Kingdom, so I was really happy to ride her again!  I had tunes blasting, maybe waking up my neighbors, but they are used to me being up in the dark.

1/2 hour in and it's time to start intervals.  I figured I won't know whether I can do them until I try, and I was happy that I could manage them--3x(20' @ 85%, 10' @ FT, 3' @ 105-110%, 7' Easy).  HELL FUCKING YEAH!  All the while I'm drinking Infinit and blowing my nose like it's going out of style.  Well it did warm up, but I saw no reason to make the transition to outside, as I was quite comfortably ensconced on the trainer, and besides, there are a handful more of long rides coming up where I will be on the trainer, and besides, I've done this before, it doesn't bother me.  I ended up at 105 miles!!!

I quickly checked the weather and it was now 60's meaning I didn't need to wear much to run outside.  I grabbed a 12-oz. bottle of Cheaterade after slugging a big glass of water and headed outside.  I ran super easy, which is how I'm supposed to run off such a long ride, and I didn't feel bad at all, most likely because for once I was running how I should run in an Ironman.  I ended up really enjoying myself, and my pace for 4.2 miles was 9:44.  What the fuck, if I could do that in Ironman, I'd be...I'd be...qualifying for Kona.  Here I am when I finished running, I am pretty happy with myself considering I was still a bit under the weather:

I felt pretty good after all this for a bit, but then the tiredness set in.  After a shower and food, I got in bed.  I don't think I ever actually fell asleep, but it felt good to lay down.  After about an hour, I got up, cracked a Coke and stretched (funny usually it's a beer but I didn't want any until the party later), got my shit together, and headed to my friend's party. I was going to try and avoid wearing any compression, but man my legs were feeling it and I wanted to wear full on compression tights, but I settled with just compression socks (HOT PINK!) and "regular" clothes.

Not sure I can remember everything I ate that night, but I know there was brisket, pulled pork (my favorite), ribs (also my favorite), cupcakes (also my favorite), random raw veggies, chili (also my favorite).  I think I had 3 or 4 beers, but they kept getting warm and/or I lost them so I would just crack open another one.  Then someone brought jello shots and I think I had 3 or 4 of those, but they weren't that strong.  I had a ton of fun with Mark and his friends, well I should say the ones that weren't put off by me.  There were a few women there who just could not get on board with me being so athletic, even though I didn't say ANYTHING to them about what I do--either they know from Mark, or else it's true like his sister, Laura, told me--IT'S THAT OBVIOUS from how I look.  OK, so maybe the compression socks gave it away, but other than that, I think I look like a normal person in normal clothes?  Maybe not.  Toward the end of the party, someone told me I have "Michelle Obama's arms," and I was like WTF???  I HAVE HAD THESE ARMS WELL BEFORE SHE DID JACK SHIT PEOPLE.  I did get a bit upset by that, but on the other hand, kudos to Mrs. Obama for looking a little like a Crackhead!  My arms are better than hers anyway.  TAKE THAT PRESIDENTIAL FIRST LADY BITCH!!!

So I managed to extricate myself from the party just before 10PM, lest I hang out and try and keep up with Mark's drinking, which would be no contest--I would pass out well before he was even on his way to major buzz.  I fell asleep blissfully, thinking I might not have too much of a hangover the next morning.

I slept until 5AM, which is rare for me lately, and I felt pretty good when I woke up.  Not particularly hungry, meaning I must have chowed down enough at the party.  I wanted to ride outside, and the plan was for a 2:30 ride / :40 brick run.  Same interval work on the bike.  It was cold again, and I had time to wait until it warmed up, but it really wasn't happening too fast.  So I putzed around the house, cleaning, organizing (it's a never ending process when I'm in heavy training), and finally around 9:30 I decided it wasn't getting any warmer anytime soon, so I may as well suit up and head outside.

Here I am pre-ride with my hangover face

I am sporting my new neon helmet, which cost all of $49.99!  Isn't it cute?  It's actually an MTB helmet, but I ripped off the visor.  Now I need neon sunglasses--I'd like hot pink.  I'm wearing my lucky Jordan Rapp jersey, I LOVE that thing, and I busted out a new pair of Castelli toe warmers.  It really does pay to have good gear.  Skull Kingdom was so happy to get outside!  At first, my legs were a little crunchy, but then after 1/2 hour warmup, HERE COME THE WATTS!  I was enjoying hills, just a little wind, more hills, and LOTS OF WATTS!  I was about :20 from home and being done when I thought my front brake was rubbing, looked down, and the tire was flat.  I pulled over onto the sidewalk, took the wheel off and inspected the tire and found either a tiny piece of glass or else a really sharp rock shard in the tire and knew that was what did it.  I changed the tire leisurely, needing to remove the jersey because I was now in the sun!  I had one offer from a woman to help out, but I was fine, and then as soon as I put the wheel with new tube back on, a guy rode by who works at a bike shop offering to help.  I told him, nope, I'm done, all good, and tested the wheel spin, and it was off and rubbing, but it wasn't the brake.  I was like, fuck, is the rim bent?  I took the wheel off again, and then slammed the fork down onto it.  I forgot my front fork can be truculent in how it sits on the skewer, and that was the problem.  PHEW!!!  I rode home and was excited to see how I could run, if at all.

By the way, before I'd started riding, I noticed I was able to take in a deep breath, and I was so happy for that!  But while I was riding, I was Queen Snotula, OMG you should have seen the snot ribbons coming out of my nose!  It was pretty gross a couple of times when I'd stop to blow it out and it would just hang off my nose maybe 8" worth!  But I was glad all that snot was coming out of me because it meant my system was clearing the virus.  And about 4 miles from home, I started singing with my tunes!  My voice has been so fucked up and/or gone, I was like shit, I can sing again!  Happy day!

So I get home, put Skull Kingdom in the house, drink some water, pee, change into running clothes, grab a 12-oz. bottle of Cheaterade, and decide to run the same route as the day before.  Only today, I am running faster!  Yip-fucking-ee!  I didn't feel at all bad.  When I was on 63rd street, the song YMCA was on my iPod (part of a mixed CD of Motown stuff and related), and I was so happy I began doing the arm signals while I was running!  I even stopped once or twice and did it for the passing traffic, I was laughing so much!  I am sure people think I'm batshit crazy, but I don't care.  They WISH they could be in as good a condition as me and be able to run and dance and sing all at the same time!  I knew I was ahead of pace from the day before, and when all was said and done, I'd run 9:18/mile, not bad considering I'm coming off a virus and training like a beast.

Here I am once again pretty pleased with myself and feeling awesome:

When all is said and done, I got in almost 39 miles of running (or its equivalent--I have a "fair" conversion algorithm for Arc Trainer, etc.) last week WHILE SICK!  Right now, I feel nearly 100%--the cough is all but gone, there's still some mucus coming out my nose but nothing bad.

This week is a REST WEEK, which means a rest from running--there will be some serious amounts of biking (9.5 hours planned) and swimming, though.  Today I am taking the day off from work and I'm going to go see the Snake and the Mongoose movie.  I'm really looking forward to it!  I'm going with my friend, Carol, from down the street.  No running or biking until Wednesday, which means my legs get complete rest unless I decide to lift today and/or tomorrow, which is a distinct possibility, although I think I will lay off the leg work until tomorrow.  My right ankle is nearly healed, and I continue to work on various physical therapy modalities for my right ass (combo of sciatica, I'm sure, plus the ankle fucked it up plus I've pulled that right hamstring at least 3 times so it's always a bit vulnerable).  So things are coming around for me, and I can't wait to see how I feel by the end of this week!  I should be good as new, which means I'm ready for my final IMCOZ push. 

THE RACE IS ONLY NINE WEEKS AWAY.  I AM SERIOUSLY FUCKED!!!

Nope, I'm Crackhead, I've done all this before.  The plan for the next 7 weeks is, of course:

--Harder, longer, faster, tougher--REPEAT