Ironman Florida- Volunteering

09 Nov 2012 5 Comments

by jnkmiles.org in General BS, Reports Tags: , , ,

Last weekend we headed down to Panama City to watch a good friend race, what seems like, his millionth Ironman….

Hard to believe someone can do 2-3 of these things a year and yet NEVER be injured….I think I’m going to tell him to write a book and spill his secrets.

While there, I also volunteered in the medical tent from 6-11:30pm.

WOW….

I’m still recovering from the nights events. The mental scars run deep!!

I saw things that I thought were only written about in books or televised for “shock and awe” value.

The 1 thing I did carry away, from my 5+ hours helping these poor people, is that there really is no such thing as being adequately hydrated.

If in doubt, drink. And then drink a lot more.

Every single issue I saw, minor (nausea/headaches) to major (full collapse and being carried on a stretcher to the ambulance) was caused by dehydration.

Stay on top of it!! I can not begin to stress that enough!

Luckily, everyone we knew, finished upright and in 1 piece despite a very hot and humid November afternoon.

And now, finally, the good stuff…

Here are a few pictures, of the day, for your viewing pleasure….

 

 

Race Happy, My Friends!

The Most Unwanted of Visitors

14 Nov 2011 6 Comments

by jnkmiles.org in General BS Tags: , , ,

I’m ALIVE and it feels so good!!

Last Tuesday I woke up around 11:30pm violently ill and my husband found me curled up on the floor in the bathroom.

He asked me if I’d snuck out to the Broke Spoke (i.e. local bar) for Tuesdays Drinkin’ with Lincoln special….

To say that I failed to find him humorous, would be like saying I sorta dislike running in the heat and humidity of South Mississippi.

Yeah, ya’ think???

What followed was 48hrs of sheer torture.

As a matter a fact, I’ve decided that there is no need for the US government to use physical torture to gain information from terrorists. Nope, just give them a good dose of the stomach virus that floats around every year. They’d sing like canaries if they were promised some Phenergan and Motrin to relieve their symptoms.

I unfortunately, was not privy to such luxuries. Despite every joint in my body feeling like it had been through a CrossFit workout from hell, I couldn’t hold down any NSAIDS for about 24hrs. The damn virus was just going to have to run its course. This bug was running its own personal marathon and it was taking its sweet time that’s for sure. It was hitting about a 2hr mile/pace, I’d say. Shouldn’t the course be CLOSED????

I was feeling a bit better by Friday, but still couldn’t really eat. I’d THINK I was ready and then once food was in front of me I just couldn’t get it down just yet.I really hadn’t though about all the training I’d missed since I’d been so focused on my sheer survival, but people were starting to text me and ask how I was handling it. I’m not sure they comprehended just how sick I’d been.

Friday night, I was pretty sure I’d live if I could just eat. Since I was fairly confident THAT would happen, I finally began to get a little antsy about my schedule and how being sick was going to effect things.

Saturday I managed an easy 20 mile ride, but it really wore me out. I was FINALLY able to eat a full meal Saturday night so things were returning to normal and I knew my energy would level would follow.

Sunday I decided to try to run an easy 4.5mi. I could really tell how the virus had sucked up all my endurance for its own greedy self. Those 4.5 miles felt like the 10 miles I’d run the Sunday prior. I was too tired to be depressed about it. I simply came home and took a nap. This was one vicious virus!

Every day gets a bit better, but it is a slow road back to normal. I’m so grateful to be done with this evil bug. And even more grateful that I don’t fall victim very often.

The last time I was invaded, I remember it quite vividly….my son was an infant…14 years ago!

I should be good for another 14…or longer thank you!!

This nasty germ and so many others are going around so keep those hands clean!! Stay out of crowded places after those long runs/rides when the immune system is a bit more fragile. Try to stay hydrated and eat well despite it being”that” time of year!! :)

Hopefully no one else falls victim,but if you do know you have my utmost empathy!

Stay Healthy, My Friends!

Sunday’s Comic

07 Aug 2011 1 Comment

by jnkmiles.org in Funnies Tags: , , ,

About now, the heat is really starting to take its toll.

Nerves are frazzled and irritation is at an all time high as try to squeeze in training sessions around the hottest times of day (which has been running from 6am-8pm as of late), maintain an adequate hydration status, and somehow still work in a bit of sleep.

Yes, everyone is a tad bitchy waiting for those leaves to fall and that 1st cold front to sweep down from Canada.

Glory Days, where are you??!!!!

There coming!! Keep the faith!!

For now…some laughter to help us all solider on through rough times!!

Train Happy, My Friends!

The Drinking Game

15 Jun 2011 4 Comments

by jnkmiles.org in General BS Tags: , , ,

Today I’m climbing on my water cooler to preach about hydration…

I tend to badger everyone around me to always ”drink, drink, drink.” I must sound like a frat guy playing quarters. The stakes however, if you lose this drinking game are much, much higher.

Now that summer is here and it’s hot as hell, maintaining hydration is one of the most vital aspects of training. Sometimes it’s hard to remember just how important fluid balance is to both health and performance. It’s even harder to know HOW much to take in and WHEN to take it.

Water accounts for 45-75% of body mass, depending on body composition. Men and elite athletes tend to have higher body water content because they typically have a lower percentage of body fat. We need an adequate intake of fluid to keep the body topped off with enough water for physical and mental performance as well as to maintain daily health and wellness.

The amount of fluid needed during training varies from person to person and will depend on how much is actually lost.

However, the goal is always the same: To replace AT LEAST 80% of the fluids depleted during training or racing. If this is not accomplished, then a hydration deficit will be created that is almost near impossible to gain control over without several days of rest and constant fluid monitoring.

Now, it’s very important to remember, especially right now while heat and humidity are high, that training while dehydrated causes the body’s temperature to rise rapidly. This is not only damn uncomfortable, but can also lead to heat stroke before you can get to the next aid station. It’s playing with fire and it’s dangerous. Pay attention to your fluids!!

During light exercise in mild environments sweating rates might be as little as 100ml per hour yet during vigorous exercise in hot environments; some individuals are capable of sweating at over 3 liters per hour. That is a 2 liter+ of Diet Coke …just so you get the picture ;) How ’bout them apples??!!

High sweating rates (> 1.5 liters per hour) are more likely to lead to significant dehydration and impaired performance. Remaining well-hydrated therefore requires all of us to continually adjust fluid intake.
 
So the question is HOW MUCH do you need?  
 
To know what you need, you 1st need to know WHAT you lost! This is the easy part. Weigh yourself before an hour training session, weigh yourself after, subtract the amount you drank (in ounces) and record the weight loss.
 
One pound equals 16 ounces of fluids lost through sweat. The average individual looses 1-2 lbs in normal conditions. This is my weight loss when its a nice 65-70 degrees outside. Right now, those numbers are doubled. I’m loosing close to 32 ozs per session and struggling to keep up. Weighing AFTER a workout is good for the ego, but bad for the body if you don’t plan on putting it back on ASAP!
 
Please do not think that swim workouts are exempt. Sweat loss is so close to the same as its land based counterparts, it’s not even worth mentioning the difference. Keep a few water bottles on the side of the pool and drink between sets !!!
 
The take home message: Consume 16 ounces of fluids for every pound lost in an hour of training. If training sessions, climate, or geographic location change then recalculate sweat loss and adjust it accordingly.
 
FYI: If you lose only 2% of your body weight, your performance can decrease 10-15%!
 
HOLY COW! Sorta explains why my runs have been “off” these past few weeks.
 
And as you can see, it doesn’t take long to reach the ‘danger zone” and that’s NOT a fun place to be.
 
As far as WHAT to drink, that’s going to be personal choice and another reason why it’s great to have so much opportunity during training to experiment with new things, see what your body likes, and maintain a good fluid balance at the same time.
 
In the pantry I have Hammer Heed, Gatorade Endurance, Nunn, PowerBar’s Ironman Perform and Pedialyte for those times when things start gettin’ ugly.
 
Don’t forget, daily hydration is important too. You can “under” or “over” hydrate very easily. Drink enough so that your urine runs pale yellow like lemonade, not to the point it’s clear.
 

Doing too much of anything good or bad can throw your body off. Avoid over hydrating in training or in the days before the race. Don’t try to cram a week’s worth of fluid in the night before a race. This will turn out bad, very bad! If you dilute your electrolyte levels it can cause a whole separate set of problems known as hyponytremia. This can lead to muscle cramping, nausea or in severe cases coma.

Remember, balance is the key….along with your drink of choice!

Ride Happy, My Friends!

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