Monday, August 31, 2009

New sports

I think I got to a point where running to me became less of a sport and more like work. And so that is why I took some time off. I know that I have an important race coming up on Monday, but I know that I will do my best and I will be happy with it.

Tonight I went out with my buddy from work Kevin, and ran with him. He is helping his wife run a Galloway program to get ready for the Donna 26.2 race in Jacksonville Fl in Feb. It had been a while since I ran ratios but it brought back a lot of memories. I really needed this run tonight. I have been some what out of the saddle for a while.

Yesterday brought a lot of fun during church and afterwards. Austin graduated from K-5 and went to 1st grade. The church had a program where they line up the kids in front of everyone and give them new bibles. I am so proud of him. He loves his Sunday School. After church we loaded up the truck and went to Lake Juliette for some swimming and eating. I was able to get in about 250M worth of swimming and before I got out, I asked Stef to watch me for a minute. I leaned over, put my face down in the water and started swimming like I am suppose to do. She said I was doing it right and I just needed to work on my breathing. I think that was a big accomplishment for me to get my form down like it is suppose to be. I am going to the pool this week to work on form and breathing.

I am slowly progressing forward with this whole TRI idea and I am not looking back. I know that it takes time to perfect anything you do and I will only get better in time. Sometimes you just have to go back in order to go forwards.

Have a great day and if you see a big fat kid splashing around in a pool, just tell me hello.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

The week in review

Sunday- swimming at Lake Juliette or trying not to down
Monday- swimming at The Wellness Center
run with my friend Kevin and his wife
Tuesday- track workout 5x400's with a slow jog in between laps
Wednesday- 26 miles on the bike and turned my fastest time so far averaging 17.2 MPH
Thursday- swimming at Wellness Center
Friday- OFF
Saturday- training swim at Vidalia at the TRI site
rode the 12 mile course averaging 18 MPH



As you can tell, I am trying my best to get ready for the triathlon. I initially had big goals set up for the Labor Day road race but that is in the back of my head now. I am liking the new sport cause it makes me work my whole body and not get STUCK on just working on one thing. If you don't know me, I like a good challenge and I don't like to settle for a par level.

I am really having a big problem with the open water swim. I just thought I knew how to swim. I have been watching videos, listening to lectures and looking at lots of pictures to try and get down the right technique.

So far it is taking a lot longer than I thought it would. I have not happy with myself. I keep saying the wring things. Putting myself down. Saying I am a failure that this will not happen. Telling myself I am going to drown when I put my face in the water at which messes up my swim when my legs fall down. I AM SO TIRED OF THIS!!!!!!!!!!


WELL NO MORE.


I AM GOING TO TELL MYSELF EVERYDAY THAT I WILL FINISH EVEN IF I AM IN LAST PLACE. I WILL FINISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I have so many friends like Kenny and Stefanie that are working with me to try and help me to get better with my techniques. They are even telling me that they will drag me out of the water if that will help. Well it probably will if you eat your Wheaties :o)

To sum up this post, I am not going to give up cause I have so much to gain with my friends, family and memories. So if you see me post something and it is nothing but a quote, you will know that I have not given up.

Thank you to everyone.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Open water swim

Today I went to Lake Juliette for my first open water swim. I have not been able to swim for a week and a half since I had my eye surgery. I met Kenny, Stef and Sam at the Lake and Mandie and Austin went with me this time. We had stopped by McDonald's on the way so that I could have a little food in my system for the swim. I did not want to be in the water and start thinking about food instead of swimming. So I kept it light with a small cheeseburger and fries. I have read about drinking carbonated drinks is a no no before swimming so I got an unsweet tea.


Well, by now my nerves are going crazy. Here is the water and I have to swim how far. Last week it did not look that far. I guess that was because I was not doing it at the time. I told Kenny and Sam to go ahead and I would go in a few minutes. I did not feel comfortable about the long swim. I told Stef that I was going to try and stay near the shore line in case I get tired. So off I went and it was not pretty. I was trying all the strokes I could possibly think of and it was killing me. I made it about 100M before I had to take a break on the shore. By this time my arms were starting to get sore. I thought it was going to be easier than want I was making of it. I was wrong. I was not happy with myself. I told Stef that I wasted enough time and it was time to try and go back. So off we went. OMG did someone move the shore. I really need some more time in the pool for training.

We got back and I took a break. My arms were killing me. I was so ready to get out of the water and go riding or running. There are some buoys in the water to tell people about boats need to watch for people and they are in a triangle layout/ It looks like a small TRI set-up. So after a little rest, we swam around them to practice working on sighting and turning. It was fun to see what it is like during the race. I was somewhat mad and embarrassed about not being able to swim the entire distance tonight but my wife reminded me that I did not run marathons overnight. I really hate it when she is right. I now have about 3 and a half weeks to get ready so it is going to be a busy month.

I am going to try and go the pool in the morning before work and work on my stroke. I hope to get over the open water phobia soon so that I can get ready. Until then, it is time to for me to wake up Sponge Bob.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

I have totally lost......

If you know me you could probably answer this statement with so many different statements. But today I have the correct answer..... my mind cause I just signed up for my first TRI.

YES IT IS TRUE

Today I went out with Stef, Kenny, Samantha and one of her friends from the base and we went to Lake Juliette for some swimming and running. Well they went into the water and I had to walk around the edge of the Lake. Since I had my eye surgery I am not allowed to get into the lake until 2 weeks. At least I can get back into the pool in 1 week. 5 more days and then it is time to start practicing my flipper skills. I guess this week will be working on my running times and stamina cause I still have the Labor Day race to participate in and try and shoot down my old PR times.

Well like I said in the beginning, The Vidalia Onion Sprint TRI in on Sept. 19. There are some others that are from the Bike Club in Warner Robins that are going to enter also. The swim is the only thing I am concerned with since that is not my strong attribute. The bike and run I should not have any problems with as long as I still breathing after the swim.

So for the next few weeks I am going to concentrate on getting my swimming better so if you have any extra prayers, please send them my way. Have a great week.

Friday, August 14, 2009

I can see clearly now......

This is a name of a song but it is how I feel now. I have had some issues lately on what to do but now things are alot clearer. I would like to say thank you to alot of people who have helped me get through some of my decisions.





1. What to do about my running? I will continue to train and run as hard as I possibly can without disrupting the balance of runner and daddy/husband.





2. What to do about training for a TRI? I have joined the Wellness Center and it allows me to swim in the morning before I go to work. Last week I was able to swim 400M on my back. It might have been not very fast, but I was able to get through it.





3. To have Lasic surgery or not? Well for this question you will have to continue to read for a while.





















Yes that is me on a table in the doctors office. I would first like to say a big thank you to Dr. Matkins. He is first class. His staff made me feel like I was at home during me visit.

I went to the doctors office yesterday after Mandie left from her doctors appointment for her back. Surprisingly our doctors were only 3 blocks away. I was only in the office for about 5 minutes before I was called back to start my visit. I had a traditional visit in his office. Looking at my eyes, putting drops in them and trying to read charts. During the visit, they kept telling me that they were surprised that I was able to see with my glasses because they were too strong.

WWWWWHHHHHAAAAATTTTT????????

I could not believe what I was hearing. My glasses were too strong. I knew the doctor told me on my last visit that my vision had gotten a little better but I did not know how good it really was. I was totally shocked. They were still telling me that my vision was not as bad as I thought it was.

The nurse asked me how long I had thought about having the surgery and I told her about 2 to 3 years. Then she asked me if I could have it, when would I do it. I asked her "What time do yall close up tonight?" I guess she thought I was joking but I was not. She then went down the hallway and got some papers for me to sign. It was the papers for the surgery.

Oh Snap, it is really happening. I am going to have the surgery. No turning around now. The papers are signed and now it is time to talk with the surgeon and get it on.

Now I am beginning to sweat and get very nervous. The nurse brought me some Valium to help calm me down but I think it was nothing but a salt tablet. It did not help cause I felt like a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. I was talking about everything trying to get my mind off of it.

Now she came in with the goody bag and booties to put on my feet and head. OMG, here we go. Off to new vision. I was asked to lie down on the table while Mandie sat at the glass door and watched it on the monitor. They started putting numbing drops in my eyes and a patch on my left eye so they would do the right one first. The nurse let me hear the laser first and it sounded like a jack hammer going off. It scared the **** out of me when I heard it. I was not expecting it to be loud.

Now the doctor came in a said lets go. As he was placing tape on my eye lids and placing medal spreaders in my eye, I asked him if my eyes were completely numb. He then grabbed what looked to be a metal hook from a dentist office and was moving my eyeball around. YES it sounds terrible but I did not feel anything. Thank you Lord for pain pills and eye drops.

19 seconds in my right eye while the nurse did a count down for me so it would calm me down. The worst part of it was when he lifted my corina up and he told me I was not going to be able to see for about 4 seconds. Everything went through my mind if I could not see again. But then it came back. Now it was time for the left eye. Same story but only 14 seconds for the left one.

Then he peeled off the tape and the nurse helped me to me feet. I walked back to the exam room for a check up and then I began to sweat very badly. I then began to feel a little queezy on my stomach and asked him if he could wait a minute because I was not feeling good. He asked me if I was going to pass out and I told him no that my stomach was just upset. Before I knew it, he grabbed an ammonia inhalant, put it under my nose and laid me back. I was about .25 seconds from passing out. The nurses were fanning me , one of them went and got a box fan and Mandie went to get me a Sprite to drink. I was so embarrassed. Here it is that I am a Paramedic but my nerves got the best of me.

After about 10 minutes had passed, I was able to sit up and finish the exam. Dr. Matkins said it was normal for people to get sick from the nerves calming down and I was not the first to do this. He then shut the door and asked me a favor. I said sure what can I do for you?

He said "There is a client next door and she is thinking about having the surgery but she heard everything that happened in her and she is scared. She thought you were in pain. Can you tell her if you had any pain?" I told him lets go talk with her. I told her that there was no pain and I just got sick from my nerves.

Mandie drove me home where it felt like my eyes had sandpaper in them. I continued to put drops in them to make them feel better.

Today I went to the doctor here in Macon and he told me that my eyesight is now 20:15. He was also a TRI athlete and he told me not to swim in a pool for a week and not to swim in open waters for at least 2 weeks. This is going to be tough for me to try and get ready for the Sept event. I am going to conitnue to get ready to see if I can do it but if not, there will be others.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Just call me Daddy......

If you have done anything for a long time, you will understand that sometimes you just have to start over to get better.

I found that out about 5 months ago when I asked Sam to help me get stronger, smarter and faster. I have and I will truely be in his debt for the help, knowledge and friendship I have now. I have seen a big progress in my running ability and I want to go further with it. Just not right now. I have jump into new waters and I think I like it. I want to try to finish a TRI.

I was told tonight that I have been spending too much time away from my little buddy and it is so true. I can look at him now and see how much he has grown. I just need to take a little break and just be called Daddy.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Jim Herring recap

Today was a day for me to remember for a long time. Long days and lots of long, hard hours were put into a great run today. Today was the annual Jim Herring 5/10K run in Centerville Ga.

I have put many hours of training into preparation for today's race. I have put a lot of things on the back burner. I have missed out on doing normal stuff like an every day person would do. So what do I get out of all this.

Well I will tell ya

It was not a sub 60......

It was not a sub 59.......

It was a sub 58 at 57:53

It is called a new PR on a 10K course that was very humid and hot!!!!!!!


I had decided to go out with a preplanned time on each mile split and I was on track through miles 1,2 and 3. That is where I think I got into pace-lock. I tried to go faster but my HR was climbing the roof. I then decided to continue at my pace and settle for a new PR but not what I had told everyone I was shooting for. Yes I know it sounds crazy, but that is me.

I would like to give a big shot out to my friend Stef who ran her first 10K today. It was kind of strange that she has run all other distance races including a marathon but had not run a 10K.

Lots of people today got new PR's. I guess it just goes to show that you do get out of life for what you put into it.

I am now going to lie down and get some much needed rest.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Man I am tired

Week recap: Monday 1 1/2 mile practice run with my friend who is trying meet qualifying times
Tuesday 6 mile KILLER track workout and swimming afterwards
Wednesday 19 mile bike ride with my friends
Thursday 3.1 Tempo run in the 90 plus degree heat and missed my race
PR by only 45 seconds

Tomorrow I am taking a break to get prepared for Saturdays Jim Herrin 10K road race. I hope to be able to write back and have news of a new PR of something in the 58 range.

I found out today that I am going to join our Wellness Center so that I will have a place to train on running, weights and a pool. YYYEEEESSSSS!!!!!!!

Monday, August 3, 2009

Just run...

I have had some time this weekend to think and talk with friends about this subject. I know you think you would look at my title, Paramedic Marathoner, and you would not think I would have problems with running. Well it is true.

I think I just started thinking of running in a sense of working. Well it is time to get up and run. Let me look at the chart and see what there is to do today. NOT!!!!!!!

I am not going to put myself in these shoes anymore. This does not mean I am not going to follow my schedule and try to improve on my PR. This only means that if I get out there to run a tempo run and I feel like crap, than I am just going to run what I can and be proud of being out there. I am no longer going to bet myself up and down. I am runner. We have good and bad days.

I have missed some days lately due to having my uncle's estate sale and I have logged in some long days with it but now it is time to get ready for Jim Herrin 10K. This is the 10K where I broke the hour mark for the first time so I hope I wake up Saturday morning with lots of energy. I am going to try and push myself to beat my PR time by at least 1 minute.

So as far as my running goes, I will continue to run and strive for new goals so that I become a better runner, but ultimately I am going to strive to become a better athlete.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

My Birthday

Yes, today is my birthday and what am I going to do today you may ask? Well it is going to be sitting at home with my little buddy who woke up this morning throwing up. He said his legs hurt from staying out last night and playing with Monica's dog. I have been watching cartoons and just got through watching the Irongirl TRI on NBC. My friend Stefanie was in it. I saw myself on TV in one of my spots where I was taking pictures.

Lately I have had some issues of running. I for some reason don't know why I don't want to just go run. I have to tell myself that I need a reason to go run. What happen to me??? I normally can just go to the track or wherever and run. I knew what I needed to do for the day and just went and did it. Now I don't know whether or not I want to run, bike or try some more on swimming. Is this normal for people to go through? Some days I want to run and then some days I could care less about going out and pushing myself to the limit.

When I first started running with team POD, I was excited about the improvement I was making. So what happened? Now it is like well I guess I am going to go run. I don't know if I am going to ready to run the Labor Day race that I wanted to possible PR. Heck I cant even push myself to go run and easy day. How can I push my body to go to the limits when I cant even get my butt off the sofa.

I hope this is just another passing problem. This last week I had to put a lot of things on the back burner. We had my uncle's estate sale this weekend and we are all tired. It takes a lot of work to pull these things out. Maybe now I can get my mind and body back into a routine. This Saturday is the Jim Herrin 10K where I wanted to bust my PR by about 1 to 2 minutes. I hope I can still do this.

Until later, I hope yall have a great week.