I may whine a bit now and again, but even when I'm whining, part of me is scheming up new ways to tackle the current problem, what ever it may be.
And I'm damn proud of my tenacity, even while I admit that at times it causes me as many problems, as it provides solutions.
Yesterdays run was a case in point. It wasn't until today that I knew for sure whether my bullheadedness was gonna reap rewards, or just result in a further setback.
Let me tell you about it.
Against all sense of reasonableness, I decided I was gonna try for another 25 kms, even though 3 days ago I couldn't get past 2 kms without walking. The difference this time was that I was prepared to accept the walking right from the start, and so I set my watch for a 4 min run/1 min walk strategy. That ratio would actually have been the plan for my Ironman, the difference being that in this case I was also prepared to accept any pace, no matter how slow. Here's how it went.
At 3 kms my chest started to tighten up, my heart rate was too low, and I felt a bit faint.
At 5 kms I was still hobbling along, but my heart rate was going even lower. Down to 100 at times!
At 6 kms I felt a wee bit better, and decided I could survive for at least 10 kms.
At 8 kms I suddenly realized that the tightness was gone from my chest.
At 10 kms I decided to go around the block again and actually skipped a walk break.
At 16 kms I had skipped several more walks, and holy cow....my heart rate was suddenly over 120!!
At 18 kms I decided one more block!
At 25 kms my heart rate was at 135 and I had done the last 7 kms with only two little walk breaks!!
In the end it was the slowest 25 kms I've ever ran in my life, but I think it was good for me. The most encouraging part was seeing my heart rate go up. Based on what I see on the BP monitor when I got back from those previous tough runs, I believe that both my heart rate, and my blood pressure were dropping way down when I ran. Strange I know, and I have no idea why, but it sure would explain a lot.
And like I said, the confirmation that it was good for me came today, when I felt no ill effects whatsoever. As a matter of fact I had a very satisfying 67 km ride, which for some reason felt totally normal. Riding of course is much less stressful than running.
So while I'm still a long way from where I need to be, and while I still don't know definitively what's wrong, I at least see a glimmer of hope that it's all temporary. My blood pressure is still all over the place, and I continue to take the thyroid medication, neither of which I like, but time will tell. I'm seeing my family doctor tomorrow just to check in with him, and I think I will ask to get my blood work done again, just to see what's happening. I'll let you know.
And just for today I am so damnably grateful to two special people. My dear wife, and my dear sister Elly, both of who completely understand why I am so damnably grateful that I can buy a toy ....when ever the hell I want!!
ride 67 kms, 30.5 kms/hr, 153 watts
"Don't quit. Never give up trying to build the world you can see, even if others can't see it. Listen to your drum and your drum only. It's the one that makes the sweetest sound."---Simon Sinek
"We do not quit playing because we grow old, we grow old because we quit playing."---Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
I told the doctor I broke my leg in two places. He told me to quit going to those places."---Henny Youngman
Love
Peter
And I'm damn proud of my tenacity, even while I admit that at times it causes me as many problems, as it provides solutions.
Yesterdays run was a case in point. It wasn't until today that I knew for sure whether my bullheadedness was gonna reap rewards, or just result in a further setback.
Let me tell you about it.
Against all sense of reasonableness, I decided I was gonna try for another 25 kms, even though 3 days ago I couldn't get past 2 kms without walking. The difference this time was that I was prepared to accept the walking right from the start, and so I set my watch for a 4 min run/1 min walk strategy. That ratio would actually have been the plan for my Ironman, the difference being that in this case I was also prepared to accept any pace, no matter how slow. Here's how it went.
At 3 kms my chest started to tighten up, my heart rate was too low, and I felt a bit faint.
At 5 kms I was still hobbling along, but my heart rate was going even lower. Down to 100 at times!
At 6 kms I felt a wee bit better, and decided I could survive for at least 10 kms.
At 8 kms I suddenly realized that the tightness was gone from my chest.
At 10 kms I decided to go around the block again and actually skipped a walk break.
At 16 kms I had skipped several more walks, and holy cow....my heart rate was suddenly over 120!!
At 18 kms I decided one more block!
At 25 kms my heart rate was at 135 and I had done the last 7 kms with only two little walk breaks!!
In the end it was the slowest 25 kms I've ever ran in my life, but I think it was good for me. The most encouraging part was seeing my heart rate go up. Based on what I see on the BP monitor when I got back from those previous tough runs, I believe that both my heart rate, and my blood pressure were dropping way down when I ran. Strange I know, and I have no idea why, but it sure would explain a lot.
And like I said, the confirmation that it was good for me came today, when I felt no ill effects whatsoever. As a matter of fact I had a very satisfying 67 km ride, which for some reason felt totally normal. Riding of course is much less stressful than running.
So while I'm still a long way from where I need to be, and while I still don't know definitively what's wrong, I at least see a glimmer of hope that it's all temporary. My blood pressure is still all over the place, and I continue to take the thyroid medication, neither of which I like, but time will tell. I'm seeing my family doctor tomorrow just to check in with him, and I think I will ask to get my blood work done again, just to see what's happening. I'll let you know.
And just for today I am so damnably grateful to two special people. My dear wife, and my dear sister Elly, both of who completely understand why I am so damnably grateful that I can buy a toy ....when ever the hell I want!!
ride 67 kms, 30.5 kms/hr, 153 watts
"Don't quit. Never give up trying to build the world you can see, even if others can't see it. Listen to your drum and your drum only. It's the one that makes the sweetest sound."---Simon Sinek
"We do not quit playing because we grow old, we grow old because we quit playing."---Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.
I told the doctor I broke my leg in two places. He told me to quit going to those places."---Henny Youngman
Love
Peter
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