What it takes. . . .July 2012
Will someone please tell me what happened to June? Where did it go? H-E-L-L-O! July?!?!? Where is this year going?
Anyway, hope everyone is doing well out there. I'm doing good. Training is going OK. Haven't been super consistent, but trying to listen to my body and realize that rest/sleep is my first priority right now. I swam last Monday and was tired after the trip to CDA. About half way through the workout, it was like the air was let out of a baloon. All my energy was just gone. So, I bagged it. Went home, dinner, bed.
I did swim with a Masters group I used to swim with this morning. I'm going to re-join and shoot to swim with them twice a week. Going from a 25 yard pool to a 50 meter setup was quite a difference for me. I also had to get into the right lane. Ended up in a too fast lane first, then went down a lane where I was just a tad faster than some of the other swimmers. It was OK because I could just relax. The coach gave me a couple of things to work on (I knew my left side was off). Planning on running tonight.
I'm having problems with my exercised induced asthma and having to use my inhaler a lot. 6 times on my FTP test Saturday. I think I could have used it in the pool this morning. The air down here is HORRIBLE. The ozone levels have been sky high and the smog has been so thick you can't see downtown. It is really frightening. I have a call into my allergist to see if she wants to come in, change meds, or what. I've never had these kinds of problems before.
Work is good. Looking forward to heading up to IMLP for Chocolate Milk, then on vacation to Vail, CO for a couple of weeks, then to IMNYC. I'll be out of the office for 3+ weeks! YIKES! Not sure I'll know how to act when I get back.
Touch base when you can ladies!
Comments
And to all the EN Chicas, I'm going to suspend my membership for awhile. My PT and doc want me to leave off running for another month at the least, so I'm not sure where that leaves me in relation to my September 70.3. I guess I will be a good girl in rehab and hope to jump back in in a month's time. Meanwhile, I'm on FB for those of you over there. I wish you all the best in your racing in the next month or so!
Penny I can't imagine adding asthma on top of how difficult it already is to breath in this oppressive heat/humidity! Yikes! How has the thyroid been treating you? Any luck there? Hope that is sorted out and you're feeling healthy and energized for all of the traveling you're doing - would be great to see you at IMNYC! Have to share this with you (and everyone else!) - long story, but I recently figured out I have some liver stuff going on (nothing near what Matt is going through with his wife, though!) and I wanted to cut out as much artificial junk from my diet as possible... So among other things, I decided to ditch the Endurox R4 that my previous coach had told me to use instead of chocolate milk b/c, as she said "chocolate milk has too much sugar." How I took her word for it and never bothered to check is beyond me (I don't have the #'s right in front of me, but the Endurox had staggeringly more sugar and doesn't taste half as good!). Long story short, after my long run last week (~12.5 miles) and my RR this past Saturday, I did exactly what I always do - drink my recovery drink during an ice bath and throw on the compression gear when I get out - only difference this year is that I'm off the Endurox and back to chocolate milk.... And OMG WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!! I swear it's like night and day... Last year I could barely move after my long runs and RR - this year it felt like I did almost nothing! I honestly can't think of any other changes in the way I'm recovering, and I've been so broken and battered this season that my run volume has been really low - so if anything I should've been super sore after my long run, but i wasn't.
So there you have it - shameless plug for you, Penny! ;-) The only downside is that my kids are wondering where all of their milk has gone!
I talked with my Dr. yesterday. She called in a new inhaler. I ran this morning without using an inhailer and had a good run.
Unfortunately, I can't drink milk (I have a milk allergy). John does though. You may need to try a couple of differnt brands. He said the Hershey's is too sweet but he likes the Nesquik.
Jess: That is great information! I've been using Endurox R4 for years. I may have to look for something different.
Also, I think the fatigue is a combination of the thyroid and training. I've never trained this hard, so part of it may just be an adjustment. I'm making sleep a priority, and if I think I'm too tired I do skip a workout. My Endo has me coming in every 4 weeks or so to stay on top of my thyroid levels. He knows what I'm training for and works with athletes (he was up at the track and field Olympic trials to work with the athlets there).
@Penny - I'm learning a lot since I found out about this liver thing... Had to re-visit some of my old physiology books and review the Cory cycle (glycolysis/glucogenesis) when my doc pointed out that lactic acid is processed in the liver (and converted back into liver glucose =glucogenesis) and a lot of my fatigue WAS training related since my TSH #'s have been good - my liver was getting bogged down processing all of the extra lactic acid I was creating from training so much and that was more likely the issue... Something to think about! ;-)
@Penny - I'm curious to know what type of inhaler you use. I was recently diagnosed with asthma, and I have a 2x/day inhaler, and my rescue inhaler. I'm not sure they do much for me. But I haven't gone back to the doc yet to ask for something different because I think she's sick of me. It's awesome that you have a doc that works with athletes - I wish I was that lucky.
Happy July everyone!
Some of us old hags are still here.
I drink Soy chocolate milk after a long or hard workout (lactose intolerance). My problem is I like it too much. I have to buy the 8 oz containers and limit myself to 1.
I also will make a smoothie of:
- 8 oz plain 2% fat greek yogurt
-1-2 scoops Ironman restore
-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
-2-3 Tbs honey
- 8 oz water
-2 or 3 ice cubes if it is a hot day.
Penny- my first though about your asthma and increased inhaler use was that you needed a different med. Glad your doc was on top of that.
Like many of you I have thyroid issues. Several years back, before I started long course all the time, I went on Levothyroxine.
Once I was doing long course every year, we had to double my dose.
It has been stable for a few years now, but I am also better about work-life-training balance.
I am in the final 3 weeks 2 days until Vineman. One of those bucket list races. Maintain my sanity a bit longer...
@Jennifer: Welcome to the group! It is a type of albuterol. Have a feeling I'll be in to see her. Had some issues Saturday. Sigh.
@Michele: Thanks for the comments on your thyroid. I had a feeling it would need to be adjusted with training. Can't wait to hear about Vineman!
Things here are going well. Training is coming along. I decided I needed more work on the swim so started back with a Master's swim group last week. Planning on going at least twice a week. Head up to IMLP next week, then on vacation for a couple of weeks then IMNYC. Then, back in the office. I'm not sure I'll know how to act after being out 3 1/2 weeks!
@ Penny I hope to get to meet you at Lake Placid. Will you be at the 4 Keys talk?
@ Michele did you see the recent article circulating about the dangers of soy? It's always something new you shouldn't eat for this or that reason! I didn't look into the research or any studies to back up the articles claims.
For chocolate milk, I drink Calorie Countdown. Its technically a "dairy beverage" (who knows what's in it!) but it oly has 80 calories/cup and tastes awesome! Not sure if it has the same recovery properties of reg. choc milk since it is lower in carbs (but higher in protein) Sometimes I use it as the base for my protein shakes. I also drink "Rockin Refuel" which is essentially flavored milk w/ extra protein. It is sooooo good! The vanilla tastes like a McD's shake! I get it at my grocery store in the section in produce with healthy drinks and it is much cheaper than some of the other premade shakes.