So, I'm completely convinced that the system is broken with healthcare now. From my previous experiences with dealing with doctors and billing, it's always been known to me that insurance companies have the power to negotiate cheaper rates than you as a consumer could hope to achieve if you didn't have insurance, or chose to go to a doctor who hasn't signed up with your insurance plan. Generally, we're talking about some marginal increase compared to what the fee normally is. The insurance company may get away with your visit being $50 instead of the $85 your doctor charges. Or maybe $90 instead of the $150 you'd pay him without it.
So, fast forward to my appendectomy that happened about 6 weeks ago. I went to the emergency room. I had a lot of crap done to me. I'm incredibly thankful that everyone was there and literally saved my life. I was in shock and awe when the hospital sent me notice of the charges (just the hospital's portion, not the doctors) and they were billing over $25,000 for one my one night stay, my one (very well done) laparascopic appendectomy, all of the diagnostics, and everything that went along with that. My reaction at the time was "Damn...surgery is friggin expensive."
But today, I got the explanation of benefits from my health insurance. To cut to the chase, the $25,000+ bill was reduced to $2600 and some change, and (thankfully) I'm not responsible for any of it. I'm one of the lucky ones whose health insurance owns up to it, and paid the whole bill for my very emergency surgery. I'm just shocked that the hospital signs up to rates that are a tenth of what they would charge the average joe-blow off the street who can't afford health insurance.
The poorest of our nation can't afford health insurance, and they certainly can't afford surgery. We are a nation of quickly dividing classes, and I'm lucky enough to fall into one that protects me from the disasters that our system sets up (at least for now). I'm thankful, but I'm concerned. I'm alive, and I owe it to everybody who worked to pull out my appendix, because over 400 people die from appendicitis in our country every year. How many of them might be saved if they didn't fear a $25,000 hospital bill, and got to the hospital in time? And how many of them did, and are now bankrupt because of it. We can do better.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Return to Training?
So, since the last time I posted, JC, Steve, and I all completed the Ironman in April--JC and I in about 16 hours, and Steve about an hour faster than that. The conditions were bad with temps in the mid-90s and winds on the bike estimated to be upwards of 20 mph. The race had the third highest dropout rate in ironman history, so I'm proud to have finished--even though my time was slower than I would have liked.
After that, I wound up going to IGLA in DC for a swim meet, and decided to swim the sprints--I wasn't recovered from Ironman so I decided to err on the side of being in pain for shorter amounts of time.
A week after returning from DC, I got an ironman tattoo (pictured), and then a week after that I came down with appendicitis. Spent one night in the hospital and had a laparascopic appendectomy done. My return to training for Ironman Arizona in November is being drastically effected by this. It's been 4 weeks since the surgery, and short bike rides and short runs result in more stomach soreness than I think is probably good.
So, it's about challenging the abdomen, and then letting it heal. This weekend was a 15 mile or so bike ride, and Monday I was in pain. This morning feels all right--I'm not sure if I should try running or not.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The Journey
I've just finished a 2 hour 50 minute run, which by itself, might not sound like that much of an accomplishment. I don't know what the hell I'm saying here--2 years ago, 2 hours and 50 minutes of straight running seemed unachievable to me, but that's not what I'm trying to get at. This run was on the heels of a half ironman done this past Saturday, and a 2 hour long brick workout done yesterday, along with a few other workouts tossed in for good measure during this week of training. My legs were sore and tired to begin with--at the beginning of the run, I found myself gazing down the LA river trail wondering how I would run out to the half way point and then turn around and run home. I had my bus pass in my pocket if I needed it to get home. I premedicated with Aleve just in case my knee decided to flare up on me. Somewhere, something inside of me took over to take my hand and press the start button and start shuffling my feet for what would be something like 14000 steps over the next 2 hours and 50 minutes. Maybe it was the same thing that used to get me to jump into an icy cold pool at 5:30 in the morning in high school--I don't know. I just know that I don't really remember much about the first couple of miles.
They say that Ironman is as much, or maybe more, about the journey you take in training for the race than it is about the day of the race itself. It steels your resolve--it takes whatever was going through your mind when you signed up for the race, and rips it to shreds, puts it through the food processor, and blends it up with some Accelerade to see if you can stomach it on a daily basis. It tests the very core of your determination, to see if the one question you have to ask yourself, is one that you have the right answer to--can you keep going?
Some days, it would seem that the answer is no--but the good thing about such a ridiculously long race, with such long training requirements, is that the "no" usually falls apart given a few minutes, or this morning, as it turns out, an extra hour. I woke up, with a feeling of procrastination on my mind--6:30 turned into time for coffee, for taking out the garbage, for making sure that I had the best breakfast possible before heading out on this run. 6:30 became 7:30, and then 8:30....before I knew it, I'd been up for nearly 2 and half hours and I wasn't quite ready for this run. Mix up some accelerade--what question got blended up in this batch? Do I have enough powergels and salt tablets to get through the run? Do I have enough sunscreen--I'm nearly out--just a tube of "facial" sunscreen--it'll have to do for my legs and arms.
When April 13th rolls around, I know I'll be ready on time--it's easy to have everything in line for a race--the hard part is being ready for each day of workouts--for always having on hand what's needed, or if needed, improvising. I don't know what that one day will bring, but in my mind, I've already won the journey.
This race has brought me solace in my life--it's not about the rat race of work anymore--other things are more important to me. My friends, my family, all of those people who touch my life, on a daily, or even a very infrequent basis--they all inspire me, and I couldn't have done all of this without them. So, I don't know that all of them will ever read this, but if they do--thank you for being there. You make me who I am.
--Drew
They say that Ironman is as much, or maybe more, about the journey you take in training for the race than it is about the day of the race itself. It steels your resolve--it takes whatever was going through your mind when you signed up for the race, and rips it to shreds, puts it through the food processor, and blends it up with some Accelerade to see if you can stomach it on a daily basis. It tests the very core of your determination, to see if the one question you have to ask yourself, is one that you have the right answer to--can you keep going?
Some days, it would seem that the answer is no--but the good thing about such a ridiculously long race, with such long training requirements, is that the "no" usually falls apart given a few minutes, or this morning, as it turns out, an extra hour. I woke up, with a feeling of procrastination on my mind--6:30 turned into time for coffee, for taking out the garbage, for making sure that I had the best breakfast possible before heading out on this run. 6:30 became 7:30, and then 8:30....before I knew it, I'd been up for nearly 2 and half hours and I wasn't quite ready for this run. Mix up some accelerade--what question got blended up in this batch? Do I have enough powergels and salt tablets to get through the run? Do I have enough sunscreen--I'm nearly out--just a tube of "facial" sunscreen--it'll have to do for my legs and arms.
When April 13th rolls around, I know I'll be ready on time--it's easy to have everything in line for a race--the hard part is being ready for each day of workouts--for always having on hand what's needed, or if needed, improvising. I don't know what that one day will bring, but in my mind, I've already won the journey.
This race has brought me solace in my life--it's not about the rat race of work anymore--other things are more important to me. My friends, my family, all of those people who touch my life, on a daily, or even a very infrequent basis--they all inspire me, and I couldn't have done all of this without them. So, I don't know that all of them will ever read this, but if they do--thank you for being there. You make me who I am.
--Drew
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Can Daisy Run?
The answer is: NO!
Tried running this morning with my T/Th running partners but the back and left leg wouldn't cooperate, damn! Warmed up pretty well with stretches and exercises my physical therapist has given me, walked about 1/2 mile to the river trail (our normal routine) and then set off on an easy jog.
About 1/4 mile into it, my leg was really acting up (think bad cramps....) and then the lower back started to spasm. So just walked while the rest went on. They picked me up on their way back, so I walked about 4 miles.
Still not sure what I'm gonna do for April. Do the first 2 legs, skip the run or just collect the $150 and call it a day.
I guess the good thing is I'm not gonna do the surgery they were talking about before. May still take them up on the "big ass needle in the spine" but who really would want that!
Tried running this morning with my T/Th running partners but the back and left leg wouldn't cooperate, damn! Warmed up pretty well with stretches and exercises my physical therapist has given me, walked about 1/2 mile to the river trail (our normal routine) and then set off on an easy jog.
About 1/4 mile into it, my leg was really acting up (think bad cramps....) and then the lower back started to spasm. So just walked while the rest went on. They picked me up on their way back, so I walked about 4 miles.
Still not sure what I'm gonna do for April. Do the first 2 legs, skip the run or just collect the $150 and call it a day.
I guess the good thing is I'm not gonna do the surgery they were talking about before. May still take them up on the "big ass needle in the spine" but who really would want that!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Surf City 1/2 Marathon - Feb 3, 2008
Surf City Inaugural Marathon & ½ Marathon
Super Bowl Sunday, February 3, 2008
It was with great anticipation and anxiety that I eyed the ½ marathon event, not so much based on the course or the distance, but the weather. Super Bowl Sunday was forecasting rain from 7 AM through evening. Fan-tas-tic!
Because the entry fees had already been paid and there is always running training to be done, I considered the event a “go”. I dug out my Honda rain poncho from a LA Marathon event from years past, some water repellent pants, some gloves and layers of upper body garments. I figured the shoes would be wet from the beginning, and there wasn’t too much to do about that.
Got up at 5-ish to the southing pitter patter sound of rain. There was still time to reconsider. Nope. I needed the running work out. A head cold was no excuse; the run must go on. Some coffee and a banana, bagel, smoothie and a Cold & Cough Alka-Seltzer later it was time to suit up. Out the door by 6:15 AM to meet up with IM Steve and Poppy Seed at a Starbucks midway to Huntington Beach, to carpool and hand over Mark’s unused bib number and timing chip. His now-recurring, annual birthday and back injury pain-a-polooza was in full bloom. Mr. Man was sidelined from the run, totally dry and snoring soundly at home in a nest of blankets—lucky Mark. Did I mention “dry”?!
Poppy (“Ms. Seed, if you’re nasty”) opted to bail on the Surf City Rain Trot, and IM Steve decided to spend the “dry time” with her. So, off I went into the rain, to Huntington Beach, with an unused bib & chip. Surely, Amy Ko-ko-puff would want it. She was running “bandit” and this way she could actually finish the race AND get an inaugural medal! What could be better?
Well, Ko-ko-puff decided to get the Hell out of the constant rain and go home to someplace, oh I don’t know, someplace DRY. ^&%$ it, I thought. I’ll run with two timing chips. Lol Indeed, Mr. Man would actually have a time for this event after all.
The rain wouldn’t let up, so I jumping into an early Corral. I figured the sooner I started the sooner I’d finish or collapse roadside, hacking and wheezing with a bout of pneumonia—whichever was to come first. The rain pelted us for most of the event—sideways. The wind whistled and gusted. I saw houses flying into the air and livestock go airborne. Sort of Dorothy meets Twister. Now, where did I put those ruby red running slippers? But I digress.
The best part though was probably when we came around the bend on top of a hill on Summit Drive and found ourselves facing directly into the gale force winds and driving rain. I think I can sum up my initial and lasting thoughts for those next couple miles as “YOU HAVE GOT TO ME F^&KING KIDDING ME!” But soon enough we were out of that neighborhood and the course spit us back onto a semi-flooded PCH. Just 5.1 miles to go! Nothing too exciting after that point. Although the marathon course was parallel to us on the bike path. I made eye contact with a woman running the marathon, and gave her a smile and acknowledgement as if to say “Good for you…I’m glad it’s you running the marathon instead of me, sister, cause this just sucks a lot!” She smiled back as if to say “You ½’ers have it easy; try running 26.2 in this monsoon.” Yeah, it must have sucked to be her. ; p
The Finish Line couldn’t come soon enough. Once across the finish line, we were herded through a lengthy maze. I didn’t see any finish photos to be taken, but that’s OK. I looked like a half-drowned homeless person who had been caught in a concrete flood channel.
I figured if I was going to find any of my peeps (SFR, GGW or otherwise) they would probably be in THE BEER GARDEN! So, I found my way into that fenced in area where beers flowed. I grabbed one and was both satisfied with being done and half nauseous and working very hard not to throw up the sudsy libation. How embarrassing would that be?! Lol No sign of any of my peeps, but there was a soaking wet boy in running shorts cruising me. Even I’m smart enough to know that this must be a half-deranged, opportunist looking for a hot shower and a lifetime of playing house wife. I was having NONE of it!
I exited the cold and wet festivities and drag our soaked selves back down PCH towards Main Street. I was parked on 10th Street so I had a nice, c-c-c-c-c-cold walk back to the car. Then it was a quick ride to HB Steve and Brian’s for brunch with the boys and fellow GGW runner, Drew. Once dry and in fresh clothes, it was wonderful to have brunch with the boys and relax.
After hearing about the event and the relentless weather, Mr. Birthday Man, said he would have likely bailed too. Lol I’m glad it’s over, but I’m glad we did it. Go GGW!
jc
Super Bowl Sunday, February 3, 2008
It was with great anticipation and anxiety that I eyed the ½ marathon event, not so much based on the course or the distance, but the weather. Super Bowl Sunday was forecasting rain from 7 AM through evening. Fan-tas-tic!
Because the entry fees had already been paid and there is always running training to be done, I considered the event a “go”. I dug out my Honda rain poncho from a LA Marathon event from years past, some water repellent pants, some gloves and layers of upper body garments. I figured the shoes would be wet from the beginning, and there wasn’t too much to do about that.
Got up at 5-ish to the southing pitter patter sound of rain. There was still time to reconsider. Nope. I needed the running work out. A head cold was no excuse; the run must go on. Some coffee and a banana, bagel, smoothie and a Cold & Cough Alka-Seltzer later it was time to suit up. Out the door by 6:15 AM to meet up with IM Steve and Poppy Seed at a Starbucks midway to Huntington Beach, to carpool and hand over Mark’s unused bib number and timing chip. His now-recurring, annual birthday and back injury pain-a-polooza was in full bloom. Mr. Man was sidelined from the run, totally dry and snoring soundly at home in a nest of blankets—lucky Mark. Did I mention “dry”?!
Poppy (“Ms. Seed, if you’re nasty”) opted to bail on the Surf City Rain Trot, and IM Steve decided to spend the “dry time” with her. So, off I went into the rain, to Huntington Beach, with an unused bib & chip. Surely, Amy Ko-ko-puff would want it. She was running “bandit” and this way she could actually finish the race AND get an inaugural medal! What could be better?
Well, Ko-ko-puff decided to get the Hell out of the constant rain and go home to someplace, oh I don’t know, someplace DRY. ^&%$ it, I thought. I’ll run with two timing chips. Lol Indeed, Mr. Man would actually have a time for this event after all.
The rain wouldn’t let up, so I jumping into an early Corral. I figured the sooner I started the sooner I’d finish or collapse roadside, hacking and wheezing with a bout of pneumonia—whichever was to come first. The rain pelted us for most of the event—sideways. The wind whistled and gusted. I saw houses flying into the air and livestock go airborne. Sort of Dorothy meets Twister. Now, where did I put those ruby red running slippers? But I digress.
The best part though was probably when we came around the bend on top of a hill on Summit Drive and found ourselves facing directly into the gale force winds and driving rain. I think I can sum up my initial and lasting thoughts for those next couple miles as “YOU HAVE GOT TO ME F^&KING KIDDING ME!” But soon enough we were out of that neighborhood and the course spit us back onto a semi-flooded PCH. Just 5.1 miles to go! Nothing too exciting after that point. Although the marathon course was parallel to us on the bike path. I made eye contact with a woman running the marathon, and gave her a smile and acknowledgement as if to say “Good for you…I’m glad it’s you running the marathon instead of me, sister, cause this just sucks a lot!” She smiled back as if to say “You ½’ers have it easy; try running 26.2 in this monsoon.” Yeah, it must have sucked to be her. ; p
The Finish Line couldn’t come soon enough. Once across the finish line, we were herded through a lengthy maze. I didn’t see any finish photos to be taken, but that’s OK. I looked like a half-drowned homeless person who had been caught in a concrete flood channel.
I figured if I was going to find any of my peeps (SFR, GGW or otherwise) they would probably be in THE BEER GARDEN! So, I found my way into that fenced in area where beers flowed. I grabbed one and was both satisfied with being done and half nauseous and working very hard not to throw up the sudsy libation. How embarrassing would that be?! Lol No sign of any of my peeps, but there was a soaking wet boy in running shorts cruising me. Even I’m smart enough to know that this must be a half-deranged, opportunist looking for a hot shower and a lifetime of playing house wife. I was having NONE of it!
I exited the cold and wet festivities and drag our soaked selves back down PCH towards Main Street. I was parked on 10th Street so I had a nice, c-c-c-c-c-cold walk back to the car. Then it was a quick ride to HB Steve and Brian’s for brunch with the boys and fellow GGW runner, Drew. Once dry and in fresh clothes, it was wonderful to have brunch with the boys and relax.
After hearing about the event and the relentless weather, Mr. Birthday Man, said he would have likely bailed too. Lol I’m glad it’s over, but I’m glad we did it. Go GGW!
jc
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Bloomin' Daisy
OK, so I thought I'd at least look at the blog and update now that I can finally start to think about a run. The back has settled down. Seeing a Physical Therapist now 3 times a week and he's putting me in traction...........at least I'll be taller after this. I can now walk without too much pain. "Fred Sanford" is officially gone, thank god!
Hopefully will be on a treadmill walking next week and soon will be able to run. Riding hasn't been too bad, even though the PT thinks that might be worse for the back, so I'll just take it slow. Swimming seems to go OK, finally. Will try to compete this weekend!
Daisy is coming back, boys!
Hopefully will be on a treadmill walking next week and soon will be able to run. Riding hasn't been too bad, even though the PT thinks that might be worse for the back, so I'll just take it slow. Swimming seems to go OK, finally. Will try to compete this weekend!
Daisy is coming back, boys!
Friday, November 16, 2007
Race Wheels
So today, I started wondering how much time I could save by purchasing a set of aero-wheels for the upcoming ironman, and I'm actually rather baffled by how little a difference they seem to make.
According to a couple of different resources on the web, the savings for a 40k bike ride is something on the order of about 90 seconds (difference between least aero wheels and a full disk in the back/deep rim + min spoke combo). Since a 40k is about 24.2 miles, we're looking at about 4.5 times that amount of just about 7 minutes over the whole bike course.
While I don't disagree with the fact that it works out to be a "free" 7 minutes, I just can't justify the expenditure of several thousand dollars for it right now. It's certainly important for people racing up at the top (elites and age groupers trying to qualify for Kona), but I'm a little far from that point right now.
I could probably save more time by investing some money in a vacuum cleaner and a hypodermic needle to suck the excess flab out of my gut right now.....or at least by committing to pee on myself during the race. I'm guessing that over the course of the ironman, I'll probably spend at least 7 minutes either in or waiting for a porta-potty.....and I've got a long way to go before peeing on myself becomes on option.
Yeah, so I'll revisit the race wheel purchase option at the same time I revisit the bathroom plan.
Drew
According to a couple of different resources on the web, the savings for a 40k bike ride is something on the order of about 90 seconds (difference between least aero wheels and a full disk in the back/deep rim + min spoke combo). Since a 40k is about 24.2 miles, we're looking at about 4.5 times that amount of just about 7 minutes over the whole bike course.
While I don't disagree with the fact that it works out to be a "free" 7 minutes, I just can't justify the expenditure of several thousand dollars for it right now. It's certainly important for people racing up at the top (elites and age groupers trying to qualify for Kona), but I'm a little far from that point right now.
I could probably save more time by investing some money in a vacuum cleaner and a hypodermic needle to suck the excess flab out of my gut right now.....or at least by committing to pee on myself during the race. I'm guessing that over the course of the ironman, I'll probably spend at least 7 minutes either in or waiting for a porta-potty.....and I've got a long way to go before peeing on myself becomes on option.
Yeah, so I'll revisit the race wheel purchase option at the same time I revisit the bathroom plan.
Drew
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Back in Training this week
So, after enjoying a recovery last week, it's time to be back in training this week. I blew off Tuesday's workouts (bad boy)--but have managed to make it through the rest of the workouts so far. Monday a.m. swim workout was coached by Brian, followed by an evening 50 minute run. The earlier sunset is causing me motivational issues and screwing everything up. Whoever came up with the concept of daylight savings time clearly did not take into account ironman training needs in it's design.
Like I said, I blew off Tuesday, so I owe myself a weight session and a bike ride today (which would have been my day off). Wednesday was morning swim practice followed by a 2 hour run. The run was good, ending at just over 10.5 miles--very solid zone 2 effort the whole time. Even with that back off in pace, it still managed to hurt appropriately. I'm interested to see how the concept plays out. Next week is a 2:15 run, and the week after that is 2:30. Following that, the hard training weeks top out at 2:30, and what should happen is that the pace gets faster at the same heart rate resulting in longer runs for the same amount of time.
In any case, it's off to work for me now--
This weekend holds a 50 mile bike/2 mile transition run for us GGW'ers. It looks like we'll be starting at HB Steve's and then having some breakfast afterwards.
Drew
Like I said, I blew off Tuesday, so I owe myself a weight session and a bike ride today (which would have been my day off). Wednesday was morning swim practice followed by a 2 hour run. The run was good, ending at just over 10.5 miles--very solid zone 2 effort the whole time. Even with that back off in pace, it still managed to hurt appropriately. I'm interested to see how the concept plays out. Next week is a 2:15 run, and the week after that is 2:30. Following that, the hard training weeks top out at 2:30, and what should happen is that the pace gets faster at the same heart rate resulting in longer runs for the same amount of time.
In any case, it's off to work for me now--
This weekend holds a 50 mile bike/2 mile transition run for us GGW'ers. It looks like we'll be starting at HB Steve's and then having some breakfast afterwards.
Drew
Monday, November 12, 2007
Spin, Guts ‘n Butts – November 8
Amy Ko (see linked blog) and I decided to attend Spin Class on Thursday evening followed by the Guts and Butts class. Both session are taught by Stacey at Gold’s Gym on Pine Avenue. Stacey rocks, and her work outs rock too.
The spin class was challenging as usual, but Stacey mixes it up and keeps everyone entertained. She’s an entertaining mix of high energy, hip hop inspiration and visionary; we usually go for a mental image ride down PCH or to/in San Francisco with hill and speed work to match.
I’m a “sweater” so by the end of the hour I was perched on my stationary bike above a pool of my own man sweat. Nice. That is usually where the fun ends, but not today. Amy Ko and I had already decided to go to the next class of Guts and Butts. Actually, I was on the fence buy Amy kept poking at me with verbal barbs as sharp as a spear: come on sissy boy, it’s time to get that gut in shape! Or my favorite “my puppy has better abs than you do, Buddha!” So…off the class we went.
We only stayed for the “guts” part. Amy said something about the butt session making her butt into a small, rock-like body part, and she’s not going to impress the ladies with a rock ass nugget. I guess she wants some “back” which is fine; now if I could only find a way to donate her some of mine.
Great combo work out. “Thank you sir, may I have another!?”
Amy Ko (see linked blog) and I decided to attend Spin Class on Thursday evening followed by the Guts and Butts class. Both session are taught by Stacey at Gold’s Gym on Pine Avenue. Stacey rocks, and her work outs rock too.
The spin class was challenging as usual, but Stacey mixes it up and keeps everyone entertained. She’s an entertaining mix of high energy, hip hop inspiration and visionary; we usually go for a mental image ride down PCH or to/in San Francisco with hill and speed work to match.
I’m a “sweater” so by the end of the hour I was perched on my stationary bike above a pool of my own man sweat. Nice. That is usually where the fun ends, but not today. Amy Ko and I had already decided to go to the next class of Guts and Butts. Actually, I was on the fence buy Amy kept poking at me with verbal barbs as sharp as a spear: come on sissy boy, it’s time to get that gut in shape! Or my favorite “my puppy has better abs than you do, Buddha!” So…off the class we went.
We only stayed for the “guts” part. Amy said something about the butt session making her butt into a small, rock-like body part, and she’s not going to impress the ladies with a rock ass nugget. I guess she wants some “back” which is fine; now if I could only find a way to donate her some of mine.
Great combo work out. “Thank you sir, may I have another!?”
Sunday, November 4, 2007
The Big 5-0... and then some!
Today was the GGW first group 50 mile ride, followed by an optional run.
We all benefited from an extra hour of sleep, since we "Fell Back" last night and gained an hour due to Daylight Savings Time. Yea! This was even more appreciated as the Grunion Award Banquet was last night also. The banquet was a great end to another season, and contained all of the necessary elements: laughing, crying, Mexican food, awards, and incessant heckling by rowdy audience members for the emcee award winners to "take it off" throughout the evening.
The plan today was to start at IM Steve's gated compound and Love Shack (baby!), head down to HB and back, logging 50 miles. There would be an optional run immediately following on the Bixby Knolls Cruise Path & Flood Reservoir.
Aside form the extra hour, today was a big day for all GGW for another reason: we were joined by the cheetah-like and glamorous Miss Pop Pee Seed for the entire ride and run. Heads turned all the way down the beach and back; no one stuffs muffins into spandex like Miss Seed. A big group dose of Grunion Love to Pop Pee for her guest appearance and inspiring display of baked goods.
Dastardly "Coastal Eddie" was in town and he is thick. We started off in a virtual fog bank that lasted pretty much until we finished the ride, just over 3 hours and 45 minutes later. While it was a welcome relief to soaring hot temperatures, at least one GGW was Grunion Gone Frostbitten for much of the morning (memo to self: buy some "winter" appropriate cycling gear!).
The cycling was fairly uneventful. Although we remained on heightened German Cyclist Watch, there were no such sightings today. However, Clause van der Hottenfuugen, a vision in white, may have been masked by the fog...
The brick run has become a "love/hate" (mostly hate) event for me and my fellow GGW'ers, I believe. IM Steve sprinted out of the gate with almost giddy exclamations of "it'll suck for the first mile but then it'll be much better! " And with that, and a few skips later, he was gone. That left me, Pop Pee and Mr. Drew Carry Me Away to shuffle through the run. The sun began to peek through the fog and for a moment all seemed good and right for IM AZ training. Then, out of the blue, er, um, clearing fog...BAM! A virtual mental and physical devastating bitch slap: the running path dead-ended down by the "Only Bixby Bad Boys Come Down Here" picnic and butterfly viewing area. The only way out was to retrace our steps out of the bowels of the muddy reservoir, effectively doubling the distance of the run.
Finally, though, we wrapped up another Sunday long ride. Go Grunions--Get Wild!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Shoes make the man
My new shoes seem to work well--this morning, I ran for 2 hours--started out slowly with the pups for about 2.25 miles, then headed back out and ran out to the turn around point--at some point I got annoyed with trying to keep the heart rate low and just ran....so it turned into a harder run that it probably should have been. In that mode, I was going just under 10min miles, but when trying to keep the heart rate low, it was more like 12min miles.
Since I wound up running faster on the back half than the front half, I was 1 mile from my finish point with 15 minutes left, so I decided to crank back the speed to use it as a warm down. My heart rate had climbed to 180 during the run, and I managed to drop it back under 160 while jogging in the last mile.
Drew
Since I wound up running faster on the back half than the front half, I was 1 mile from my finish point with 15 minutes left, so I decided to crank back the speed to use it as a warm down. My heart rate had climbed to 180 during the run, and I managed to drop it back under 160 while jogging in the last mile.
Drew
Congrats to Daisy!!!!
And sorry to hear that it's getting to you! I hope the trips to the chiropractor pay off soon. But congrats on doing as much as you could at SOMA, and getting through it, and double congrats on backing off when you needed to! Sometimes it's harder to quit a race than it is to suffer and aggravate that injury--
As for me--I'm trying to get back to training today--the 3 days of the early shift (wake up at 2am to get to work by 3:30) knocked me off my schedule. I'll try to run this morning--my foot's bothering me--but hopefully the new shoes will knock out that pain. Then I'll be there for swimming in the evening on Friday--
See you guys soon--
Did you say naked yoga?
Drew
As for me--I'm trying to get back to training today--the 3 days of the early shift (wake up at 2am to get to work by 3:30) knocked me off my schedule. I'll try to run this morning--my foot's bothering me--but hopefully the new shoes will knock out that pain. Then I'll be there for swimming in the evening on Friday--
See you guys soon--
Did you say naked yoga?
Drew
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Monday - Yoga
Tuesday Morning - planned to run, but nerve still not letting me put any pressure on the leg. Did 15 min on elipticle (how do you spell this?) and 45 min on a stationary bike. Kept HR at 150.
Tuesday Afternoon - Chiropractor appointment. Complete with x-rays and electro therapy to relieve some of the pain
Tuesday Night - Swim practice - 500 yard warm up, 6x 50, 3x100 corkscrew, then backstroke clinic with Jacquie
Wednesday Morning - spin class (60 min) average HR at 155.
Wednesday Morning - Chiro follow up - NOT GOOD NEWS. Weird curvature in lumbar region. 6th lumbar vertabre (not normal, but not something you can do anything about). He's put me on a 3xweek schedule for a month to see how it reacts. No running until mid week if the spine reacts well to the adjustments. He said not to swim but we'll at least try to pull the longer sets. Cycling should not be a problem.
Tuesday Morning - planned to run, but nerve still not letting me put any pressure on the leg. Did 15 min on elipticle (how do you spell this?) and 45 min on a stationary bike. Kept HR at 150.
Tuesday Afternoon - Chiropractor appointment. Complete with x-rays and electro therapy to relieve some of the pain
Tuesday Night - Swim practice - 500 yard warm up, 6x 50, 3x100 corkscrew, then backstroke clinic with Jacquie
Wednesday Morning - spin class (60 min) average HR at 155.
Wednesday Morning - Chiro follow up - NOT GOOD NEWS. Weird curvature in lumbar region. 6th lumbar vertabre (not normal, but not something you can do anything about). He's put me on a 3xweek schedule for a month to see how it reacts. No running until mid week if the spine reacts well to the adjustments. He said not to swim but we'll at least try to pull the longer sets. Cycling should not be a problem.
Monday, October 29, 2007
SOMA Half Ironman Weekend
OK, so this stupid sciatic nerve issue really got the best of me this week. Tried to train through the pain while still trying to taper for the weekend.
Sunday - swim 2600 yards. tried to keep it slow and easy (I know you're all thinking....."Has he ever swam anything other than slow and easy?") Pain not so bad once it warmed up.
Monday - Spin class 1 hr in the morning, keeping heart rate right at 140-145. Then Yoga (naked yoga, baby!) that evening.
Tuesday - planned an easy 7 miler but the smoke and wind in the OC was nasty so kept it to 45 min on the treadmill. Ipod helps but I didn't want to continue getting used to it since the race doesn't allow the ipod during the race. Swim that night (with the hottie JC). Again slow and easy. Lot's of stretched out strokes.
Wednesday - swim that night.
Thursday - took the day off. The sciatic nerve was really acting up! Lot's of advil and ice but it still hurts like a dickens.
Friday - tried to do a mini tri (500 yards at the gym pool/45 min spin/15 min run). The swim really started to hurt with any type of kick with the left foot, tried different body positioning to alleviate the pain to no avail (oh, no! what's gonna happen this weekend). Spin went well. Kept the heart rate at 135-140. then the run......if you can all it that. I got on the treadmill got the speed up to 6 mph and nothing! The leg was dead! Pain, pain, pain! so I stopped! feeling dejected and mad!
Saturday - nothing but package pickup. Buddy had to get new goggles, so we went to the pool where we staying to try them out. Got in and swam a few laps.
Sunday - race day! Decided that morining to go in a complete as much as I could. Make decisions at each transition.
Swim - 0719 start. Water was nice 70 degrees. Smooth, clearly marked course. Gun goes off and the mayhem starts. Let most of my wave go out and I start. Right away I feel the sharp distinctive shot of nerve pain down the leg. Start figuring out what position/stroke will get me through. All the while while I'm breathing I see the shore.....should i just call it a day and climb out....I can't get into a smooth stroke....I think I'm going to die in Tempe Lake....and this nimrod swimming next to me, just won't let me move to the shore....damn him! Keep swimming until I leave him or he leaves me, then I can get to shore and climb out. Buoy #1. Hey, that wasn't so bad, I guess I have to swim....45 min later I'm out. Pulled out by a massive bear of a man! "HELLO, DADDY! My name is Daisy, what's yours?" Wetsuit strippers are next....find the cutest one, have to wait just a few seconds....rip, there is goes.....call me later, please! Run through transition....nice grass, that feels good on the feet. Leg not hurting so bad....maybe I can run today?!
Transition - find my spot...Thank God for the big rainbow flag! Damn it, not my bike, don't know why I was drawn to that spot. Put on my jersey (not a fan of swimming with it) race belt with number, socks (wait dry your feet dummy!), shoes, glasses. Take a powerbar to eat while I run. Helmet, you nimrod....now go!
Click, click, click on the cement. Mount, go! Not bad.
Bike - 3 loops let's see how this goes. No wind to speak of, I'm feeling good. Steady climb but I see the other riders on the return coming down, look forward to that. Starts getting warm on the first lap at about mile 10. Rio Salado, head wind out, but can hit up to 30 miles coming back. Little short hills on the other side of the lake, actually nice to get out of the saddle. Heart rate good, but little spikes at the hills. The course is narrow and slow with all the turns. Keep it around 13-16 through the traffic. Loop 2, the first wave of pros are now zipping by....my god, how can they go that fast! my lower back is hurting, my sciatic is annoying on the downstroke, CRAP! Just get through this. Stretch the back, get off at the next aid station to walk it off and relax the back. Good call, get back on with new legs and back. Loop 3, feeling good, running under 3:30 for the bike, which is good considering how I'm feeling. Mile 50, just get your lower back through this....oh, my we have to get some miles in to just train the body to get through this race! Final push, see some friends cheering as I come into the transition at about 3:30 according to my watch.....let's see how the leg feels as I run. Oh, no, it's hot! without the wind in your face from the bike you really feel the heat. Run, not feeling good.
Transition - get the helmet off, shoes off, slip on the running shoes, swig of water, wrap my fuel belt, hat on, start to run (moment of truth), Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! can I work it out through the transition...Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! No, this isn't going to work today....crap, I'm done!
Still feel good, got out in the water, on the bike course and know what I have to do between now and April. Feel good about swim workouts, just need more time on the bike.....run (probably my strongest leg) will be OK once this damn sciatic calms down. Looking into accupuncture as an option. But yoga (naked yoga, baby!) should help get my spin more flexible (and maybe a date ;)!)
Sunday - swim 2600 yards. tried to keep it slow and easy (I know you're all thinking....."Has he ever swam anything other than slow and easy?") Pain not so bad once it warmed up.
Monday - Spin class 1 hr in the morning, keeping heart rate right at 140-145. Then Yoga (naked yoga, baby!) that evening.
Tuesday - planned an easy 7 miler but the smoke and wind in the OC was nasty so kept it to 45 min on the treadmill. Ipod helps but I didn't want to continue getting used to it since the race doesn't allow the ipod during the race. Swim that night (with the hottie JC). Again slow and easy. Lot's of stretched out strokes.
Wednesday - swim that night.
Thursday - took the day off. The sciatic nerve was really acting up! Lot's of advil and ice but it still hurts like a dickens.
Friday - tried to do a mini tri (500 yards at the gym pool/45 min spin/15 min run). The swim really started to hurt with any type of kick with the left foot, tried different body positioning to alleviate the pain to no avail (oh, no! what's gonna happen this weekend). Spin went well. Kept the heart rate at 135-140. then the run......if you can all it that. I got on the treadmill got the speed up to 6 mph and nothing! The leg was dead! Pain, pain, pain! so I stopped! feeling dejected and mad!
Saturday - nothing but package pickup. Buddy had to get new goggles, so we went to the pool where we staying to try them out. Got in and swam a few laps.
Sunday - race day! Decided that morining to go in a complete as much as I could. Make decisions at each transition.
Swim - 0719 start. Water was nice 70 degrees. Smooth, clearly marked course. Gun goes off and the mayhem starts. Let most of my wave go out and I start. Right away I feel the sharp distinctive shot of nerve pain down the leg. Start figuring out what position/stroke will get me through. All the while while I'm breathing I see the shore.....should i just call it a day and climb out....I can't get into a smooth stroke....I think I'm going to die in Tempe Lake....and this nimrod swimming next to me, just won't let me move to the shore....damn him! Keep swimming until I leave him or he leaves me, then I can get to shore and climb out. Buoy #1. Hey, that wasn't so bad, I guess I have to swim....45 min later I'm out. Pulled out by a massive bear of a man! "HELLO, DADDY! My name is Daisy, what's yours?" Wetsuit strippers are next....find the cutest one, have to wait just a few seconds....rip, there is goes.....call me later, please! Run through transition....nice grass, that feels good on the feet. Leg not hurting so bad....maybe I can run today?!
Transition - find my spot...Thank God for the big rainbow flag! Damn it, not my bike, don't know why I was drawn to that spot. Put on my jersey (not a fan of swimming with it) race belt with number, socks (wait dry your feet dummy!), shoes, glasses. Take a powerbar to eat while I run. Helmet, you nimrod....now go!
Click, click, click on the cement. Mount, go! Not bad.
Bike - 3 loops let's see how this goes. No wind to speak of, I'm feeling good. Steady climb but I see the other riders on the return coming down, look forward to that. Starts getting warm on the first lap at about mile 10. Rio Salado, head wind out, but can hit up to 30 miles coming back. Little short hills on the other side of the lake, actually nice to get out of the saddle. Heart rate good, but little spikes at the hills. The course is narrow and slow with all the turns. Keep it around 13-16 through the traffic. Loop 2, the first wave of pros are now zipping by....my god, how can they go that fast! my lower back is hurting, my sciatic is annoying on the downstroke, CRAP! Just get through this. Stretch the back, get off at the next aid station to walk it off and relax the back. Good call, get back on with new legs and back. Loop 3, feeling good, running under 3:30 for the bike, which is good considering how I'm feeling. Mile 50, just get your lower back through this....oh, my we have to get some miles in to just train the body to get through this race! Final push, see some friends cheering as I come into the transition at about 3:30 according to my watch.....let's see how the leg feels as I run. Oh, no, it's hot! without the wind in your face from the bike you really feel the heat. Run, not feeling good.
Transition - get the helmet off, shoes off, slip on the running shoes, swig of water, wrap my fuel belt, hat on, start to run (moment of truth), Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! can I work it out through the transition...Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! No, this isn't going to work today....crap, I'm done!
Still feel good, got out in the water, on the bike course and know what I have to do between now and April. Feel good about swim workouts, just need more time on the bike.....run (probably my strongest leg) will be OK once this damn sciatic calms down. Looking into accupuncture as an option. But yoga (naked yoga, baby!) should help get my spin more flexible (and maybe a date ;)!)
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Drew's Friday and Saturday Workouts
Yesterday, I ran on the treadmill for 30 minutes and then swam 1000 yards. I was going to swim more, but I wound up getting this huge headache. Maybe I was dehydrated. Maybe the air quality was still poor--but I felt like crap, so I stopped.
Today (Saturday), I biked about 30 miles and then ran 2. Heartrate was bouncing around 130s-140s on the bike, and then then run was right around 150--pace for the run at that HR was just under 11 min. miles, which seems like an improvement already, since just a week ago, I was flirting with the 12 min mile mark at that heart rate.
Probably not training tomorrow--I'll be drinking at Oktoberfest tonight.
Drew
Today (Saturday), I biked about 30 miles and then ran 2. Heartrate was bouncing around 130s-140s on the bike, and then then run was right around 150--pace for the run at that HR was just under 11 min. miles, which seems like an improvement already, since just a week ago, I was flirting with the 12 min mile mark at that heart rate.
Probably not training tomorrow--I'll be drinking at Oktoberfest tonight.
Drew
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Gave up due to Toxic Fumes in air
The california wildfires going on got the best of me. I was supposed to go out for a long run of an hour and a half, but I did nothing. At first, I was going to do the whole thing on the treadmill at the gym, and that just ate at the very core of my soul. Running for an hour and a half on a treadmill is the purest definition of hell that ever existed.
Then, I decided I would go to the gym later and run on the treadmill for half an hour, so I did some annoying stuff around the house--scheduled some people to come out and finish the kitchen, made the doctor's appointment I should have a year ago, called in for a refill on Max's phenobarbital, and fixed the alarm system. This last one required me to go outside, which resulted in my eyes burning from the smoke in the air and me getting a slightly irritating cough....at which point I thought it might be better to skip the exercise altogether.
So, there you have it. I'm a total pussy and didn't do my long run this week.
I suck.
Drew
Then, I decided I would go to the gym later and run on the treadmill for half an hour, so I did some annoying stuff around the house--scheduled some people to come out and finish the kitchen, made the doctor's appointment I should have a year ago, called in for a refill on Max's phenobarbital, and fixed the alarm system. This last one required me to go outside, which resulted in my eyes burning from the smoke in the air and me getting a slightly irritating cough....at which point I thought it might be better to skip the exercise altogether.
So, there you have it. I'm a total pussy and didn't do my long run this week.
I suck.
Drew
Am I the only one training?
Ok--So yesterday, I lifted weights (same AA weights at 2 sets of 25 reps on all of those exercises) and then went to a spinning class. I'm not wild about this particular spinning class because there was so much time out of the saddle. I don't think that's ideal for building strength and endurance in the seated position.
This morning was swim practice with Dr. Tom:
(SCM)
200 Swim/200 kick/200 pull
400 pull alternating breathing every 3 and every 5
Main Set: 4x100s on 1:30
3 x 50's on 39 (didn't make it, so had to add a second to next round)
3 x 100's on 1:30
3 x 50's on 40 (didn't make it, so added another second)
2 x 100's on 1:30
3 x 50's on 41 (made these--if the set continued, that would mean dropping a second)
1 x 100 on 1:30
6 x 50s drill 25/swim 25 on 1:10 either backstroke or breaststroke
2 x 25s no breathers
JC/Steve---you guys out there? Doin' anything? Anything at all?
I'm having coffee now and then doing yoga.
Toodles--
Drew
This morning was swim practice with Dr. Tom:
(SCM)
200 Swim/200 kick/200 pull
400 pull alternating breathing every 3 and every 5
Main Set: 4x100s on 1:30
3 x 50's on 39 (didn't make it, so had to add a second to next round)
3 x 100's on 1:30
3 x 50's on 40 (didn't make it, so added another second)
2 x 100's on 1:30
3 x 50's on 41 (made these--if the set continued, that would mean dropping a second)
1 x 100 on 1:30
6 x 50s drill 25/swim 25 on 1:10 either backstroke or breaststroke
2 x 25s no breathers
JC/Steve---you guys out there? Doin' anything? Anything at all?
I'm having coffee now and then doing yoga.
Toodles--
Drew
Monday, October 22, 2007
Training Sunday and Monday
POST FROM DREW:
Okay, here's what I did--
Since our meeting yesterday, I ran, lifted weights, and swam.
Running was yesterday, around the track--about 0.5 mile warm-up, then 3 repeats of 1 mile (Heart Rate Zone 3), each followed by 2 minutes of rest. My garmin was nice enough to beep at me constantly when not in the correct zone. Warmed down with about 0.25 mile jog.
Followed that up with about 1 hour of AA weights at the gym (leg sled, leg ext., hamstrings, calf raises, bent arm pulldown, lat pull, tricep ext, dips, and core work)
This morning, Brian kicked our asses in the pool with:
Warm up (200, 2x100s, 4 x50s)
4 x 100s KRLS
10 x 200s on 3:20 (He wanted them faster, but my body would just not oblige)
Okay, here's what I did--
Since our meeting yesterday, I ran, lifted weights, and swam.
Running was yesterday, around the track--about 0.5 mile warm-up, then 3 repeats of 1 mile (Heart Rate Zone 3), each followed by 2 minutes of rest. My garmin was nice enough to beep at me constantly when not in the correct zone. Warmed down with about 0.25 mile jog.
Followed that up with about 1 hour of AA weights at the gym (leg sled, leg ext., hamstrings, calf raises, bent arm pulldown, lat pull, tricep ext, dips, and core work)
This morning, Brian kicked our asses in the pool with:
Warm up (200, 2x100s, 4 x50s)
4 x 100s KRLS
10 x 200s on 3:20 (He wanted them faster, but my body would just not oblige)
Let The Training Begin
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
