So what have I done this month to make myself more interesting? I decided to run a full marathon.
I decided there is no time like the present and with each passing year, I am getting older and it will only be harder to do. I really want to be the kind of person that goes after what they want and makes it happen. Its going to happen this year.
What have I learned? I learned a lot about the approach. I've trained before and gotten injured so I'm taking it slow. I picked out a 22 week training plan, which is longer than the usual 18, 16 or 12 week plans. I learned about the different types of runs - Progression, Base, Recovery and Long. I went to the doctor and learned a lot more about my heart.
As of today, I have been green lighted for the marathon!! I saw a new cardiologist today who specializes in arrhythmia's and he assured me that what's going on is not in any way life threatening. Wonderful news!
I'm already in week 4 of training.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Results are IN
Echo looks good. Heart is normal. Stress test shows that exercise is actually normalizing my heart beat!!
Next up, figure out why I have "extra beats" when doing nothing.
Cardiologist specializing in arrhythmia's tomorrow! Excited to get to the bottom of this.
Celebratory carb eating happening now!
Next up, figure out why I have "extra beats" when doing nothing.
Cardiologist specializing in arrhythmia's tomorrow! Excited to get to the bottom of this.
Celebratory carb eating happening now!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Would You Light My Candle?
Do remember that song from RENT? I read a quote about Hanukah, about light dispelling the dark, about one candle making a big difference. I'm not Jewish and perhaps these sorts of comments for the festival of lights are very typical but it got me thinking. How am I going to get rid of the darkness in my life by bringing as much light as I can to my own life and those around me? Don't call this a resolution! I want to make a meaningful change to my attitude in 2012 that lasts for a long while.
We've been seeing family for Christmas, and soon birthdays and New Years'. We're not always happy with how life is going, with the choices people make for their own lives or the comments they have for our choices. Family is so wonderful and frustrating at once, its amazing.
Last week, I went to the cardiologist for an annual visit. As far as I thought, the arrhythmia I was experiencing while pregnant over a year ago had subsided. A day or so later after wearing a halter vest for a day I was told I had to double my medication and go for more tests. I'm worried and sad that this is happening. Still hoping its nothing. I told the cardiologist that I run for exercise and am considering attempting a marathon. I was annoyed with the doctor when he asked with a smirk, "How bad do you want to do it?" and then casually mentions how there are marathoners who don't finish races all the time (because they have died from some sudden cardiac catastrophe!). I mean really, I would like to do a marathon NOT risk my life, I am not insane!!! I do not want to risk my life over anything. Running gives me time to myself and a lot of satisfaction on working towards a goal, training myself to do something I was not capable of doing before I started. I'm only 3 weeks into a 22 week training program but this is disappointing to hear that I might not be able to do this or even lesser distances. I respect the marathon and especially the psyche it entails of anything being possible. It seems so crushing and liberating at once. How much does it mean to me to do one? Well, kind of a lot, doctor, its kind of hard to juggle 3 kids all the time or to find the time or an activity that gives me this special solitude and sense of accomplishment (and possibly maintains my sanity)!
So there it is, this worry, my current darkness. It has given me overall anxiety which hopefully will go away once the rest of the testing is complete. It has made me angry with family members who seem to be perfectly healthy and yet do things unhealthy or even worse just do nothing at all. It made me angry that the knee jerk reaction from some people was just simply stating that a marathon is "too far" as if you can just decide to run 26.2 miles (clearly a comment like this has no respect for the training and work involved in making yourself capable of running 26.2 miles). When stated all out like this I realize that I have allowed this darkness to get bigger. The reality is IF there is something slightly wrong with my heart and I can't do a marathon but can live a very long full life, I can live (quite happily) with that. I am going to focus on that and let it be my light.
We've been seeing family for Christmas, and soon birthdays and New Years'. We're not always happy with how life is going, with the choices people make for their own lives or the comments they have for our choices. Family is so wonderful and frustrating at once, its amazing.
Last week, I went to the cardiologist for an annual visit. As far as I thought, the arrhythmia I was experiencing while pregnant over a year ago had subsided. A day or so later after wearing a halter vest for a day I was told I had to double my medication and go for more tests. I'm worried and sad that this is happening. Still hoping its nothing. I told the cardiologist that I run for exercise and am considering attempting a marathon. I was annoyed with the doctor when he asked with a smirk, "How bad do you want to do it?" and then casually mentions how there are marathoners who don't finish races all the time (because they have died from some sudden cardiac catastrophe!). I mean really, I would like to do a marathon NOT risk my life, I am not insane!!! I do not want to risk my life over anything. Running gives me time to myself and a lot of satisfaction on working towards a goal, training myself to do something I was not capable of doing before I started. I'm only 3 weeks into a 22 week training program but this is disappointing to hear that I might not be able to do this or even lesser distances. I respect the marathon and especially the psyche it entails of anything being possible. It seems so crushing and liberating at once. How much does it mean to me to do one? Well, kind of a lot, doctor, its kind of hard to juggle 3 kids all the time or to find the time or an activity that gives me this special solitude and sense of accomplishment (and possibly maintains my sanity)!
So there it is, this worry, my current darkness. It has given me overall anxiety which hopefully will go away once the rest of the testing is complete. It has made me angry with family members who seem to be perfectly healthy and yet do things unhealthy or even worse just do nothing at all. It made me angry that the knee jerk reaction from some people was just simply stating that a marathon is "too far" as if you can just decide to run 26.2 miles (clearly a comment like this has no respect for the training and work involved in making yourself capable of running 26.2 miles). When stated all out like this I realize that I have allowed this darkness to get bigger. The reality is IF there is something slightly wrong with my heart and I can't do a marathon but can live a very long full life, I can live (quite happily) with that. I am going to focus on that and let it be my light.
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