I'm not going to show anyone my scar.

I have a hard time getting to the computer now that I have my second kid in middle school. He’s on here more than ever, and it takes the jaws of life to get him to leave. My daughter uses her computer, but shelling out for another computer is just not in the budget these days. Why is it that as soon as I start getting ahead financially, the economy tanks? This has happened before. Is this some kind of conspiracy to keep me from getting ahead?

I’ve been running at night lately. I take a a Beta Blocker, an ACE Inhibitor, a Platelet Inhibitor and an aspirin (an antiplatelet) in the morning. The beta blocker, as I understand it, interferes with my heart’s ability to speed up in response to stresses. This is intended to help prevent a second heart attack. Excuse me, “cardiac event.” I didn’t have a heart attack, I had a cardiac event. Next time I have an event, I want balloons, elephants, celebrities.

Anyway, I take this medication first thing in the morning (I also take a statin at night -- statins work best at night because, again as I understand it, that’s when liver function is its highest). I figure that that’s probably not the best time of day to go for a run, since the medication hasn’t really kicked in, yet. At 5:30, my resting heart rate is around 49 to 52. My exercising heart rate is around 130-145. I’m not sure what those rates would be in the morning. In addition, my wife would rather that I be on the road at a time of day that other people are also out on the road. So, I go out after I get home at 5:30 PM. I’d still like to be going out at 3:00 or 3:30 in the afternoon, but I’m at work until 5 and even if I could arrange to take my lunch then, I would’t have anywhere to shower. I’m still thinking about trying to rearrange my day so that I could run then, and I’ve been dropping subtle hints with my bosses about the best time of day to run.

All this antiplatelet medication has had some interesting effects. I bruise easily -- small bruises have appeared on my arms when I can’t remember anything unusual or traumatic happening -- and I bleed a lot. If I cut myself shaving (and I do that a lot now), I end up with a large scab, no matter what the cut looks like. I used to heal quickly, now things take a bit longer. Of course, that was happening anyway, since I’m now over 50 and that kind of slows down at this age anyway.

I posted an ad on the local running message board for a running partner. So far, no responses. My wife would like there to be someone to call 911 if something should happen to me. I think I’ll add something to my initial ad making it clear that I don’t actually need anyone with any CPR or medical training, just a willingness to call for help.

My running has actually been getting better. Not like it was seven months ago, but I am improving. My times are down around 8:30 pace over the course of 4 to 5 miles. I think that I can improve some more, maybe get back down below 7:00 pace. I think that a large part of the reason I’m not back at 100% is mental. I think I’m slower because I’m careful. When your heart rate monitor is set to give you a warning when your heart rate exceeds 141, it does limit your ability to run fast. I'll have to discuss things with my cardiologist.

On another note, I can tell you one really effective way to lose weight. I don’t recommend it, since it involves being in a coma, but I did lose some weight while I was unconscious.

Regular Schedule

I'm on a regular schedule now, running (or at least jogging) on Sundays and Thursdays, rehab on Tuesdays. I've been getting a lot of ads for this outfit lately. Of course, it immediately caught my eye. A sponsor? That would be great. I'd love to not have to worry about the ever-increasing cost of running shoes, and if I could afford an actual coach, I might see some real improvement in my times (still thinking about my times, even after cardiac arrest).

I'm just not sure about the "system". Whether I have to buy their product would be a consideration. Between medical bills and college tuition, I don't have disposable income any more. Strength training without a gym membership would be just fine with me, but their equipment isn't free. I'll have to think about it and find out more before I decide what to do.

Milestone

I passed a milestone in rehab. I am down to only one session a week now, and I'm getting some exercise outdoors. Well, a little bit of exercise outside. I ran around the block twice (half a mile each time). My wife wants me to do my outdoor running where she can keep an eye on me. At least I don't have to run around a quarter-mile again and again -- I will have to run only half as many laps.




The temperature was up in the 30s, and I was very comfortable. Wearing the jacket made it hard to see my heart monitor watch, so I had to take off the watch and carry it. I'll have to wear the jackets with elastic in the wrists, so I can keep the sleeves above the watch.

I'm hoping it warms up a little, so I can go out without a jacket. Unfortunately, here in upstate New York, we have 10 more weeks of winter.

I'm a Celebrity

My story was published in the local newspaper. The reporter, a columnist in the weekly in the small town where I almost died(!), did a very nice story on my "event."

This story ran in November, and a followup ran in December.

Since my "event," I've been very emotional -- or more likely, I don't have the ability any more to suppress my emotions. I get choked up whenever I read this story.

What?

what is the logo on the side of this shoe supposed to be?

I am the luckiest man alive

In the summer of 2010, I decided to run my first multi-sport event. Since my bicycle is a hybrid on- and off-road bike, I chose an off-road duathlon with a running course in a local park and a cycling course on adjacent unused railroad beds.

I’d been commuting on my bike for about a year, and I had been extending the distance and increasing the difficulty of my rides since the weather allowed me to ride again.

I don’t remember anything about the day of the race. I don’t remember getting up, whether I ate breakfast, or any of my morning preparation for the race. The race was 2 miles running, 10 miles biking, then another 2 miles running. At some time during the second running portion of the race (I’m not sure how far I’d gone), a small piece of cholesterol, around which a clot had formed, blocked the circumflex artery in my heart, and I went onto cardiac arrest.

As I lay on the ground, other runners stopped to help me. One of the first people to stop was Sarah, a Registered Nurse, who had worked in the Cardiology at a local hospital. She and Jamie, another runner who was trained in CPR, began working on me. A third competitor, a Physician’s Assistant (also named Sarah), assisted in the CPR. Another runner was carrying his cell phone, and called 911. Sarah called for an Automatic External Defibrillator, and shortly, a Sheriff’s Deputy arrived on a small vehicle with one. I wasloaded onto the vehicle and taken to an ambulance.

At the hospital, I was taken into the Cardiac Cath Lab. My ID had been removed at some point, the emergency personnel handed it over to the Emergency Department staff. My identity had to be confirmed and my family contacted.

The social worker in the ED noticed that my shoes had mud caked on their soles, so she immediately began checking trail races in the area. She confirmed that I had been entered in the race and called my house. My wife was not home at first, and my son decided not to answer the phone. The hospital staff tried several times to contact my wife, and when they were about ready to send a police car to my house (which would have absolutely terrified my son), my wife came home and answered the call.

At the Cardiac Cath Lab, my body temperature was cooled to 32 degrees Celsius, and two stents were inserted into my artery. Two days later, I woke up, with no memory of anything that had happened. I'm in cardiac rehab now, working my way back to where I was. I'm currently the healthiest person in rehab. Also the luckiest.

Spammers

I hate spammers. I didn't want to moderate comments on this, but I'm glad I did. The latest one was by someone purporting to be the "Association of University Lecturers and Researchers - Iraq", and they left the comment "thank you for your wonderful efforts." along with a link.

I don't allow any comments with a link, unless the comment has actual content and the link is to something that pertains to the comment.

What a bunch of idiots.

Trail Run

I went down to a local park today for a trail race.There were three races today; a 12 miler starting at 8:30 and a 4-miler and 8-miler both starting together at 9:00.

I wasn't sure until Wednesday that I would be able to run today; and by that I mean physically able to run, at all. I showed up and signed up to run the 4 miler. I was not ready for an 8 miler today. Anyone in the 4 and 8 could switch to the other race if they wanted to, since the race was over a 4 mile loop. At 4 miles, either the course marshals misunderstood me, or I misunderstood them, and I went around again. About half a mile into the second loop, I realized what I'd done.

I've never DNFed a race, ever, so I went around again. Long story short, I finished in 21st place overall and 6th in my age group. there were 9 in my age group and 42 in the 8 mile race. So I guess I did OK, for someone not ready to race 8 miles.

Seriously, this is the longest run I've done since my pneumonia I contracted during a half marathon in April. You're not supposed to race a longer distance than you run in training.

back on the bicycle

So I'm back on the bicycle for now. I'm treating the PF with a frozen water bottle, some stretching exercises and massage. Yesterday, I rode for around 22 miles. A good portion of those miles were on trails (the majority, though were road miles). I was hoping to get to the hamlet of Fishers. there's a former railroad bed which runs right through the hamlet, and on a part of which there's an off-road duathlon. I'm hoping to be able to run in the off-road duathlon in October, assuming that I'll be able to run.

Halfway down the railroad bed, there was a fence. A fence across the trail. I thought it was a public trail. I had to turn around (I had gone just over 11 miles) and ride straight back up the trail the way I came.

Anyway, I looked into another route to get there, and I'm going to try again, maybe next weekend.

So far...

So far, this has been a pretty bad year. This is my first year of serious training since my surgery. I was doing pretty well as of mid-April. I'd run in a few races, the longest of which was a 15K at the beginning of April. I signed up to run the Flower City Half Marathon, and felt pretty good about my chances in the race. the week of the race, I came down with a cold, which evolved into pneumonia on race day. I ran the race, not knowing that my simple cold was going to make it difficult to breathe. I took a little over a week off from running, and shortly after I started again, I developed Plantar Fasciitis, just in time for the Lilac 10k. the Lilac 10k, for the first time, included Dick Beardsley. I would have loved to run a race with Dick Beardsley, but I couldn't run at all.

I am now riding my bike as frequently as I can, and treating my PF. I hope to be back on the road (on my feet) before too long.

Been gone so long...

I haven't been updating very often, mainly due to a lack of time on the computer. Lets see, where to start...I had surgery on my ankle in December, 2008. 2009 was a recovery year for me. I gradually ramped up the mileage in 2009 and ran my first race on Thanksgiving Day, 2009. Since then, I've been in a few races and shown some improvement. I'm still wearing a brace on my ankle which prevents me from bending my ankle when I run. Obviously, this prevents me from running naturally. I'm gradually increasing the amount of running I can do without the brace


Recently, I ran in the Flower City Challenge Half Marathon. The race was on a Sunday. Friday at work, I developed a slight cough, which by Saturday morning was more severe. Sunday morning, the weather was cool and rainy. Perfect distance weather, around 50 degrees, a very light, misty rain, more hanging in the air than falling.

At around 4 miles, right in front of the George Eastman House (and International Museum of Photography) my cough began to get worse. My chest felt full and tight, and breathing became difficult. Naturally, I was forced to slow down, and it lasted until about 10 or 10.5. For the first time, I was forced to stop and walk in a race. Afterward, I felt terrible, and inside the lobby of the War Memorial Arena, I was waiting to see some of my friends and I was shivering and my teeth were chattering. After a short time, I decided to get home and try to warm up.

The next morning, I went in to work. I felt like crap and left around 9 am. Tuesday, I tried to get back in to work, and again left by 10 am. After leaving, I went to the doctor and found out that I had come down with pneumonia. Of course, I was out of work Wednesday, and I gave running a bit of a rest. Yesterday, after almost two weeks of not running, I went out for about 4.5 miles. Thursday of this week, I got out the bike and rode home from work.

I'm starting again to run, and I hope to be racing in the Phelps, N.Y. Sauerkraut 20K this summer.

Oh sh*t Oh sh*t Oh sh*t Oh sh*t Oh sh*t

This morning, at around 5 am, I went out for a run. A quarter-mile into the run, I stepped on a rock. A round rock. I rolled my ankle over a little bit. The arch of my foot is now sore, so maybe I haven't re-injured my ankle. I will take it easy for a few days and see how it goes.

Almost Killed

I almost got killed (or seriously injured) today. Crossing a side street, with the light, in the crosswalk, never suspecting that a driver wouldn't stop for a red light. He barely slowed down, intending to roll through the light, making a right on red, until I yelled at him to stop. Of course, no turn signal, so I had no idea that he was turning.

I've come to believe that the right on red after stop is the worst law that this state has passed in connection with driving/cars/traffic.

Most people skip the "after stop" part, and a majority don't seem to understand that they don't have the right-of-way over other cars, much less that they have to look for pedestrians, too.

I felt pretty good today, made a 3.5 in 7:50 pace the whole way. I will probably go out again around 4:30 or 5:00 for another 3.5 to 4.

Since I got the OK from my doctor, I've been commuting on my bicycle. That is, in the morning, I ride the bus in and I ride my bike home.

There's no way I could ride the bike in, because I'd get too competitive. I'd arrive at work with sweat pouring off me (even though the commute is roughly three miles straight line), and I have no shower facilities at work. I think my co-workers* probably appreciate my not working up a sweat on the way in.

I think I'll be commuting with the bike as long as I can – that is, I'll probably stop when the snow forces me to, but as long as I have traction, I will be riding home.

Occasionally, I get irritated with the drivers while I'm riding – for instance, when I was riding along the right-hand edge of the road, as close to the curb as I could, at about 15 mph, when a car, traveling in the same direction as me, turned in front of me. As if that wasn't bad enough, the driver came to a complete stop partway through the turn, blocking me from going through the intersection, and looked straight out the window at me with a somewhat stunned look on her face. I had to come to a complete stop, because of the other cars in the road (actually a bridge). So, I'm almost going over my handlebars, and this driver is staring out the window of her car at me. And don't get me started about the guy texting and starting to roll forward through the intersection. I had to scream at him to stop, and he's lucky I did, because he'd have been T-boned if he'd kept rolling forward.

On the other hand, I see some pretty unusual stuff from my bike. The other day, I was stopped at an intersection, and next to me, a young woman rides up on a red Vespa, wearing a red helmet, red and white dress, and red high heels. My first thought was that I'd been transported to a movie about post-World War II Italy. After that, I thought "I've got to start bringing a camera with me."

scar

scar
Originally uploaded by bigvalleystrider

Here's my scar from my surgery. There were no stiches at all.

Back on.

It's been a long time since I posted anything at all here, even longer since I posted anything of substance.

Let's see, what's happened. December 16th of last year, I went in for surgery to repair the posterior tibial tendon in my right ankle. the surgery went well, and I spent about two weeks in a cast, taking Vicodin. We just found the log I kept of when and how much I took. After I got out of the cast, I was in a boot, and on crutches for a few weeks. Of course, the winter was snowy and icy, and I spent January and February slipping and sliding around, fighting the snowbanks and icy sidewalks.

I spent a few weeks in physical therapy, regaining strength and mobility in my ankle and foot. After that, the doctor gave me the OK to ride a bike. Since March, I've been taking the bus into work and riding home. About two weeks ago, I got the OK to start running again. I've been going about a mile at a time, once or twice a week. I still have to wear an ankle brace, but I won't be in that forever.

The last race I ran was the 2007 July 4th race that starts and finishes in front of my house. I finished in 20:39 (6:40 pace), wearing an ankle brace, and with an undiagnosed tendon tear. Not too shabby, I was 53rd overall and 6th in my age group. I'm hoping htat next year I will be racing that race again.

Bad News

I got the bad news today. I've been hurting for almost two years now. Today I saw the orthopedic surgeon, and it appears that my right posterior tibial tendon is torn. I may need surgery on it, which would mean no weight-bearing for four to six weeks after the surgery. there would be PT for some time after that, and there would be no running for quite a while.

Taking it easy

I'm back up to 3 to 4 miles at a time, now, after having injured just about everything I could injure below the waist. The weather hasn't been too bad, letting me get out as often as I want to.

In the last few days, I've started running in shorts and a long sleeved t-shirt, and had the temperature drop while I was out, enough for it to snow. You know you're in upstate New York when you've worn shorts and a parka within hours of each other.

I couldn't resist

Well, I got out and ran today. I only went about a mile, since I am still recovering from my latest injury. I couldn't stop myself, though -- the temperature was about 62° -- In January! It's usually more like 5° around here this time of year. It was literally a record high temperature for the area. I took it easy through the mile and didn't push it at all. My tendon is feeling OK.

Year-end reflection

Well, this year has been a complete suckfest, and I don't mean that in the good way. In February, I twisted my ankle over hard, and have been in an ankle brace ever since. At various points during the year, I have injured my gastrocnemius, my hamstrings, my quads, my back, and a groin muscle (this last one was the most tragic, coming as it did less than two weeks before my anniversary).

The most recent injury was to the tendon that comes out of the back of my knee into the gastrocnemius. The injury happened at work – I was stepping down off a step, and felt something snap just below the back of my knee. As it turns out, it was just a hyperextension of the tendon, and I'm off running for a couple of weeks.

Now, I'm just sitting around gaining weight while I wait to be able to start running again. I'm doing stretching and some heat treatment, while taking Tylenol. I can't take ibuprofen any more, due to the unfortunate effect it has on my stomach.

Sometime after the first of the year, I'm going to start running again. Meanwhile, I'll just reflect on the past year and try to think of ways to avoid injuries.