I am not going to be overly dramatic about today, but it was miserable! I say that happily, as I was fortunate enough to fit in all three sports. The misery was a function of how I felt during most the 4:15 minutes of exercise today. I am sure it was nothing compared to riding 3-weeks in the Tour de France, competing in the any major outdoor event in the COLD, being deployed to the middle east, or undergoing cancer treatment. With respect to Andrea, I am sure today was pretty easy compared to labor as well. Despite the difficulty and discomfort, it was a great "training day".
Still, I had a headache all day, I was dehydrated all day, and plain empty, absolutely zapped and exhausted. I was aware of every stroke in the pool. Every step running after the first :40 minutes was like 3-steps more than I thought I could take. I couldn't slow down enough to get my heart rate down. But, by babysteps I did it, and I was only able to because I thought of the hardships others go through - some by choice, others by circumstance. Today, I thought a LOT about Andrea and labor.
We got home at about 9:45 pm last night. Instead of going straight to bed, I stayed up to watch the local news - KPRC Local 2 to be exact. While in the birthing classs, we learned about the "man's role"; Wow, am I lost, but I will do my best to say and do the right things to get Andrea through labor. Today's effort was about getting to "that place" where I shifted my awareness to the nice things around me rather than my headache, cramps, dry mouth, and general lack of "oomph". Hopefully, I will somewhat empathize with Andrea during labor.
For some crazy reason, I woke up at 6:30 am, and actually got out of bed! My mom is here, so I made some coffee and took the dogs out. Then I prepared my bike for the "Tour" and rode along for 2 Hours. It was nothing special. Just the beginning of exercising before my body really wanted to. Andrea and my mom headed out to do some shopping, so I cleanned up and actually took a NAP. Then I ran some errands and went to the pool. I wanted to swim about 3700 m like my last workout, but who can really count to 74 laps accurately. I figure, at today's pace, I was in for another 1:15 minute effort, and I just felt awful - plus the water "dirty" green at 24 hour fitness - not that really bothers me. After an hour, of swimming, I had called it a day. Certainly not a wasted effort. I am sure I was over 3,000 meters for the day, so I will take it. It was 20 minutes of 100m drills on 2:00 followed by 1 minute of rest, and then 40 minutes of straight swimming.
After touching base with Andrea and my mom, I realized I could squeeze in a run before they finished shopping. 83 degrees, 75% humidity, 91 degree heat index. I absolutely flogged myself for 1:14 minutes - that is about how long it takes the best pros finish the 13.1 mile run in the half ironman races. I covered a measly 8.6 miles. I good have gone faster in theory, but I was a slave to my heart rate monitor. I didn't do too well. 162 average, where 155 average is the
goal. It was almost a walk, but I kept shuffling.
Today, is just a reminder, in case I ever forget. This is a difficult undertaking, and it doesn't always get easier.
Thanks for Reading!
Hopefully tomorrow will be KONASPEED!!!
I think I can.. I think I can . . . .
2 comments:
Pretty good day, dude. I started to get ready for the big Sanibel bridge run this week. I think I'm going to do the full. . . 5k. Ya know. Worked all day. Work was higlighted by a response I recieved from Newton Running about their shoes. Pretty sad. I had some questions about shock absortion and my particular (running ) malady. They wrote back to say that the lady who can answer my question is in Lake Placed for Ironman. . but the wrote back. I'll drop $175 for kicks if I can run again. I ran three miles on the treadmill the other day. It's not hard doing the distance, I just pay the price the next day in hip pain, back pain, and a general feeling of not goodedness (copywritten word of mine). I shouldn't be such a pansy considering some of the things you higlighted today about what other folks deal with. Maybe that's my motivation for tomorrow. That and the morning constitution test. The test isn't to see if I can have a morning constitution. . .I'm money at that . .it's how long it takes me to stand up straight afterwards!!! Some day I'll film it. Old Man Poli inspired me at this morning's coffee-banker-reflection to get back in the pool for no other reason than if I can get some level of fitness up by the time we head to Kona (paid $656 for my ticket, but I got it), I can do the practice swim with you Friday. That would be pretty cool. . . cept I'd probably be last morsel in a sea of Tiger sharks. After work I mowed the lawn for wifey. I've decided that I need "people". It was 95 and 100% humidity. It's like extreme lawn mowing. the neighbors got a free wet tee-shirt contest. . . did you hear that. . property values just went down again! I got finished just before the sky opened up for the daily rain storm. BTW, Dunkin is a wuss when it come to storms. Thursday night is pizza night and I think Uncle Mike was waiting in the bushes for me to come back from Nino's with the prize!!! No sooner did I pull in to the driveway did he call so say he was " in the neighborhood". He did a not so fast dine and dash and hung out for a Sam Adams. I was kinda shaky from my extreme lawn moving so I actually passed. . . put that on the calendar. Off to bed to get ready for another exciting day at the Bank. Keep up the good work. Tell mama cakes (both of em) I said "Que pasa".
you guys are funny.
xox Laurie
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