Slight training setback.

On July 30th, I headed to Atlanta on a business trip. While in Atlanta, I felt like crap all week. I blamed it on picking up something on the flight. When I returned home on Aug 6th, I still felt like crap. Fever, body ache etc. At 10PM on Aug 7th, I went to the emergecy room. After several hours, the doctors ordered a complete blood count. It was determined at that point, I had almost zero for counts. Immediately they put me into a clean room and people began masking up before they came into my room.  I had no immune system at that point.

The doctor explained that I may have some type of virus. He also mentioned that it could be some form of leukemia. I did not even know what leukemia was 22 days ago. Next came the phone call to my wife. It is 2 AM.  She had stayed home with the kids. She was a CNA years ago so she has a decent medical background. That was a tough call to make.

So the next several days consisted of blood tests and my bone marrow biopsy.  Keep in mond, I almost passout at my yearly physical when they draw blood.  Results came in on Aug 12th. It was Leukemia.  Specifically AML M5. Immediatly in went the PICK  (line that goes into your arm and feeds into your checst cavity ) and induction started Chemo started.  This consists of being on IV chemo for 22 hours a day for 7 days.  On day 14 they tested my bone marrow (by drilling into it) and the chemo had worked.  It put the leukemia into remission as the doctors had hoped.

The next step is to wait for my white blood counts to come back.  It is now day 22 and my counts have not come back up yet.  I have had 4 blood transfusions and several platelet transfusions.  This is pretty typical treatment from what I understand.  As soon as my counts come up, I can go home.

The next step is a bone marrow transplant.  We have a meeting scheduled with a doctor in Boston for the second week in September for a consultation to see what that involved.  The doctor feels that without the transplant, the leukemia will most likely relapse.  My sister has sent in her sample and we are waiting to hear the results.

Last night I broke a fever.  This is a big when this happens since my immune system is so weak.  Nurses come running in, take tons of blood, I have to pee in a cup bah blah..  I just broke another fever this afternoon.  Same deal, more blood, more urine.  This time they took an x-ray of my chest to ensure I do not have pneumonia. 

The doctor is a bit concerned my numbers have not come back up yet.  She did another bone marrow biopsy today to see if possibly the leukemia has returned.  We need to wait until Tuesday for the results.

Right now I am just bored and want to go home.  Most of my hair has fallen out.  Doesn't bother me though.  We are staying positive and taking 1 day at a time.  I have lost that 10 lbs I have been trying to loose for over a year :)

I just want to thank all of our friends, family, co-workers for everything they have done for us over the last month.  It has been overwhelming.  Just overwhelming!!

Man, I am lazy....

So, I took 2 weeks off.  Not sure why.  Could blame it on the rain???  Life has not been that busy.  I have just been well...lazy!!!

Got back on the treadmill yesterday.  Felt good.  Got back on the bike trainer in my 80 degree furnace room.  Felt good, real good.  I love the kind of sweat that runs off you when you are on the trainer.  I had to cover my bike computer with saran wrap to keep it from shorting out.

I have only had (1) 6 pack of Shipyard in the last month.  I do miss it.  That being said, since I have not been exercising for 2 weeks, weight loss has not happened.  Still over 180...

I need to loose 10 by the Polar Bear.  That is a little over a month away.  We shall see...

Spring Has Arrived!!

Well, this weekend was unbelievable.  High 60's and sunny, IN MARCH!!!!.  It was great.  Crystal and I got some yard work done then spent time with the kids outdoor.

Training has been going pretty good.  Been getting in 3.5 to 4 hours a week for the past couple of weeks.  Mostly running and biking on the trainer.  Have been getting to the pool 1 to 2 times a week.  Actually swimming better than I thought after not being in the pool for months.

Today was the first day I got the bike out and actually pedaled on pavement.  We got the new bike trainer about a month ago.  I have put over 100 miles on it.  Crystal is not far behind.  It has made a huge difference.  My first ride last year was painfull.  Averaged around 15MPH.  This year first time out, average was just over 18MPH over 10 miles (5 miles right into the wind)

I followed the bike up with a 3.3 mile run.  First 1/2 mile was a little tough, but the legs came into it.  Just under 8:00 /mile for the run.  I am happy with that for the first brick of the year. 

Polar Bear Tri is about 2 months away.  I would like to get up to at least 5 hours a week of training by then.  Also, I need to be 10 - 15lbs lighter.  It is that time of year I must say goodbye to my good friend Mr. Shipyard.  I will see you in May after the race.

7 year old Nolan was able to get the go-cart out this weekend.  Here is a link: Nolan on Go Cart

Polar Bear 5K

Had the first race of the season today; a 5K in Portland.  I ran this race last year.  Last year it started at Peak Performance.  There was a pretty good hill right at the start of the race that climbed from Marginal Way up to the Eastern Prom.  This year they started on the Eastern Prom, went downhill and then had a very tough hill at the end.  Below is the elevation map:

I went out Monday to run the course for the first time.  I parked my car in the little round about at the end of the Prom.  When I opened my door, the wind caught it and blew it open.  I thought it was going to blow it off.  When I got out, the wind took my breath away.  Was 20 degrees out with wind blowing at about 20 MPH. 

Today, it was much nicer!.  No wind to speak of and in the high 20's.  There was close to 300 entrants this year. 

The race started off fast on the downhill.  It was a bit crowded but thined out pretty quick.  I hit mile marker 1 at 7:10.  This is waaayyyy to fast for me.  The first 1/2 mile was down hill and the other 1/2 was flat.  I knew I had to slow a bit.  The next mile was pretty much flat along the water.  The sun was shining.  I finally settled into a decent pace.  Heart rate was around 170.  I usually am in the high 170's during a 5K.  I was taking it easy because I knew I had a good hill comming up.

Then the hill.  It was rough.  It started at just before mile 2 and is close to 1/3 mile long.  By the time I got to the top, HR was at 180.  I passed mile marker 2 half way up the hill at 15:30.  After the hill, the course flattened for the rest of the race.

I could hear someone running behind me the whole way up the hill.  SLAP, SLAP, SLAP was all I could hear. Finally this 70 year old lady goes by me.  She was cruizin.  She had on those running shoes that are nothing more than fabric covering your feet.  Basically gloves for your feet.

With a 1/2 mile to go and my HR back down to 165, I decided to kick it up.  There was an OK crowd as I approached the finish.  I was feeling pretty good.  I made it past the 70 year old and a few more before finishing.  Overal time was 24:24.  Works out to about a 7:53 pace.  Not my best, but OK for my first race this year.  Main goal was to stay under an 8 minute mile.

Will definately sign up for this one again.

Good week

Had a good week training.  Got a total of 12 miles running, 30 miles on bike trainer and possibly getting a swim in tomorrow.

Had a birthday this week.  Just turned 37.  I don't feel it though.  Maybe late 20's.  Definately not late 30's!!!  Where does time go?  It is sobering.

Love the new bike trainer.  I have it setup in the basement in the utility room (furnace room).  Average temp in there is around 78.  Makes for a warm ride.  But a hell of a sweat!.

Have Polar Bear 5K next weekend.  Will try to get out this week and run the course a few times at lunch.  Will be interested to see how my time compares with next year.  I feel as though I was in better shape last year.  We shall see.

Thanks for the birthday cards everyone and the birthday wishes on Facebook. 

Bike Trainer Finally Arrived!

Went together quick.  Crystal's bike and my bike slide onto it like a glove.  Going to give it a try tonight...

Signed up for first race of season

On Friday, Crystal and I signed up for our first race of the season.  It the Poalr Bear Sprint in May.  It is a fun race.  Pool swim with a pretty flat bike and run.

The sign up was at Gorham Bike and Ski this year.  Hats off to Tri-Maine this year.  It was one of the best sign up procedures yet for this race.  They had 2 registers open so I was in and out.  Doors were supposed to open at 7:30 AM for sign up.  I got there around 7:15 and they were already open.  This worked out great because I had an 8:00 AM meeting to get to.  Got there in plenty of time..

Bike training still has not showed up!.  Damn eBay sellers...  Crystal is out birthday shopping for Paige.  She is going over to St Joes to hit the pool when she gets back.  I am going to try to get over tomorrow.  Will be doing Kenpo tonight with P90X.  Always a good workout!

So the 2010 season is here!!

So, the new year is here!  For Christmas I got P90X.  I have been doing it for about three weeks and have noticed a difference already.  It is a tough program.  I realized last year when I did the Kennebunk Olympic race that I need more leg strength if I am ever going to get to the 1/2 Iron distance.  P90X has a couple great leg workouts.  The Yoga routines have helped my flexability also.

We just ordered a fluid bike trainer.  We got pretty much the cheapest fluid trainer out there.  It is a Kurt Kinetic.  It has a lifetime warrentee so it should last us a while.

I have been hitting the gym at lunch 3 days a week to get in 5K 3 times a week.  I have a 5 K in a couple of weeks.  It is named the Polar Bear.  Gotta love winter in Maine.  Last year it was in the 30's so it was not too bad.

I just posted my planned races for 2010 in the column to the right.  I put the Pumpkinman 1/2 Iron on my list again this year.  Last year I did not make it.  This year I will.

Of the 8 events planned, it looks like Crystal may be doing 5 of them with me include the Blackfly.  That will be her longest event to date.  .25, 21 and then 5.  Strange distances, but it will work into my schedule perfectly!

It's official, I am now out of shape.

• Last time I ran - over a month ago
• Last time I biked - at last race 2 months ago
• Last time I swam - 1 1/2 months ago -(for 15 minutes)

I guess it is just about time to end "the off season".  I am signed up for the Polar Bear 5K in February.  I need to get my ass in shape if I am going to beat last years time.  I am about 15 pound heavy right now.  I usually call that winter weight, but it has not even snowed yet. 

So, Starting Thursday before turkey, Crystal and I are going to get back into training mode.  I am going to hit it hard this year.  Wait and see...

The end of the season is near...

Soooo. It has been a while since I updated my blog. Last update was after Beach to Beacon. Since then, I have been training fairly steadly. I completed my first olympic distance race. .9 mile swim, 25 mile bike and 6.2 mile run.

The Beach 2 Beacon was a great race as usual. I never run the course other than during the race. I really love the course. It has just the right amount of flats and hills. It is a fast course. I took a few minutes off last years time. It turned out pretty hot during the race. Way hotter than I like. I felt good though. Next year, I am looking to break 45 minutes. We shall see..

The Olympic race was TOUGH. I knew I would not be in the front of the pack. The swim was moved from the beach area on Mothers Beach in Kennebunk to a protected cove. There was a tropical storm of the coast and there were 6 - 8' seas. Kind of like the Scarborough tri last year.. It was a 2 loop swim. They were big loops though :) I never really got into a groove until close to the second loop. I felt fine during the second loop and actually passed a few people.

T1 was slow. I was not rushing. Crystal, Nolan and Rhonda were right next to my transition area. I giggled with them a bit about how slow I was. It was fun... Off on the bike.

The bike was a 25 mile loop. Fairly flat. I had just got new clip in pedals so I was really happy with my time. I felt good when I got off the bike.

Then the run. My legs felt a little crampy. I thought they would come out of it. They did not. They hurt. They just were not strong enough. I ran the whole 6.2. I was satisfied with the time though. 55 minutes for 6.2. Beach 2 Beacon 6.2 was 48.27.

Crystal and I have our last race this weekend. The Mainiac Sprint Tri. It is in Biddeford. 1/4 swim, 15 bike, 3.1 run. I may run the 1/2 marathon in a couple of weeks. Still up in the air.

After that, a few weeks off. I will then concentrate on leg strength and cardio for the next few months. I attached some pics also. Orange shirt and wetsuit is olympic tri. Other is B2B finish.