Good news

I will make this a painless as possible !
I started taking methotrexate 4 weeks ago and with that drug comes a long list of nasty side effects !

Mostly a nauseous crappy feeling that just hangs around for a couple days also a bit of fatigue! But most days my fatigue is from training or not enough sleep !

So methotrexate plays havoc with your immune system making you a little more susceptible to colds and viruses so what the doctor thinks is I caught some kind of viral infection that caused my arthritis to flare up !

So then to a triathlete that can't train is one of the most detrimental thing one can think of ! Plus me the biggest drama queen on the planet to boot !
Oh well it's all over now just have to take it easy for the next few days till I come around !

Lesson learned!!!!

And just think I'm still learning ! And the dream of ironman still lives !

Sitting at the hospital

Well wish me luck !

Just at the hospital in Toronto waiting for some answers !

Still not better

So after all night and most of the morning still no relief from the pain and no answers ! Some of the simple things in life we take for granted like moving! Take it easy out there be kind to your selfs !

Hospital

So now this wonderful day has started in the hospital! I woke up about 1 am and couldn't move !! I got erin up and she took me to the hospital and now I'm waiting for tests.
I cant win!


Have a nice day !

Now what?

So my twisted roller coaster of failed weight loss and injury riddled body (lol) has came up to another road block! I'm not sure what has happened but I woke up this morning and all my joints were so sore I couldn't move! I mean a pain I have never felt before, enough to say that if it's still like this tomorrow there will be no training and that will be bad seeing my first race is 19 days away and I'm in reverse!

I think it's because I stopped the methotrexate that's the only thing I can think of !!

I have an appointment to see the doctor on Wednesday but he is a dermatologist and not a rheumatologist so who knows when I'll get into see her next !

I've been thinking all day about this but the nurse told me to stop taking the methotrexate last week because I was a mess but I think it was because I was dehydrated and messed after my ride that I got real sick ! I was going to take them today because of the pain I'm in but decided to wait till Wednesday to speak to the doctor again! That might change tomorrow if I'm still in pain but as of right now I can't even walk, twist off a cap on a bottle of dressing or lift my arms above my head so that rules out swim, bike and run ! Great problems for just before my first race !

I was thinking about canceling the race but that's not me ! It would take a whole lot to stop me from not racing I think it would devastate me not to try ! After all the time and money this little race and all my races have cost ! The countless hours on the trainer spinning spinning spinning and then spinning some more ! I'm not going to give up that easy!

I know many people will say "it's only 90 bucks" but it's more than that ! Even if I have to walk it I'm walking it !

What a crazy day!
I'm going to lay down and hope the pain disappears by tomorrow so I can at least ride my bike !

Have a great day
Cross your fingers !!!!

Fun planned day

Things will seem better now that the methotrexate will stay in the container today ! Still lots to think about when I go to the doctors on Tuesday about the next thing they want to try ! I'm still leaning on not trying new things during the season ! With my first race 19 days away and my half ironman 15 weeks away testing will be a disaster!

Today we have out meet and greet social for the Durham Region Triathlon Club (Drtc) a wonderful group of supportive caring people all interested in the same thing ! With the odd bit of craziness every now and then!

Just a total of fluids I drank yesterday !
8 liters of water
1 large coffee
1 large choclate milk
1 liter of Gatorade

Wow that's a lot!

On my ride yesterday I ate :

1 peanut butter and jam sandwich
2 gels
1 cliff bar
1 bagel

And I still felt low on energy lol

I will keep testing !

Hard battle today

Very hot ride ! Had to stop a couple times on the way back to regain composure but got the job done!
Every time I ride long is a new test to see if I'm hydrated properly and have the right nutrition ! But today I didn't start eating soon enough and didn't start eating soon enough!

My whole ride I played catch up with nutrition and hydration ! Once I have this mastered I will be good !

I did notice I lost 8 pounds of water weight during today's ride so that will be my new goal to hydrate and eat. Properly!

We had to do this great big giant grinding hill twice today while coach Paul stood half way and coached us threw giving helpful pointers and kind words as we were grinding up the hill !

Off to bed have a great weekend

Feeling better today

I searched and searched for some data on endurance training while on methotrexate, I will say one thing "NO"
It does not work! For me anyway !!
It did make my ankle not hurt but it turned me into a pile of mush but didn't make me go south till the third week and I'm not trying it again !

From this point forward I'm not taking any drugs that will impact my life like those terrible methotrexate! They might work well for some people but not for me!

So this week I missed two swimming sessions and one short bike ride but I think I will bounce back, my first race is around 20 days away I'm struggling a bit on the run but as long as I'm ready for Kingston I'll be fine !

Tomorrow morning we have or second club ride of the year and I can't wait ! I'm only about 65 % but I'm going to give it a try !


Have a great night !

Good bye methotrexate

That is horrible stuff !
The fatigue that has over-come me is terrible !!! There is no possible way I can train with that stuff in me!

I called the doctor today because I was barfing and sleeping for two days, so dizzy I couldn't drive and just feeling crappy, also I was having trouble with my vision ! They pulled the plug on the drug, or I would have myself !

Hope I get feeling better for Saturdays ride !

Bad day ended good !

I had a good ride and a good run tonight !! Far of my blazing pace I wanted but good for me none the less!!!

So my weekend was a huge fail ! Dehydrated on the bike translates to huge pain when the constipation sets in ! I know, I know gross ! Yes it is but a huge problem for me ! This is my big test !!! Practice drinking enough water!! And how much water does a 269 lb triathlete require? LOTS and LOTS Saturday's first hot outdoor ride messed me right up! I spent today drinking 250 ml every half hour and three water bottles on my ride one contained Gatorade then two on my run ! And how many times have I gone pee today ? Twice !!!! Not good!

I'm hoping to recover water tomorrow and threw the day on Thursday before my short two hour ride on Thursday then rehydrate like hell on friday for Saturday ! My long ride will bring on a good pace with constant intake of calories and water along with sports drinks ! It takes lots of fuel to keep this ship moving !!

Also more rest !!!! Starting now !

Proper nutrition and hydration

Yes this topic haunts me again! I will have to focus on both those issues now that mileage is increasing ! If I kept this rate up in the year of a full ironman I would never finish! I'm not sure if its work, kids, life or what ? Maybe poor organization and planning but if I want to have a fun successful day on September 9th I better get it together!

Yesterday was a disappointing training day, I was cooked from the ride on Saturday but I know now why has to be done, hydrate and fuel before the ride !!! Starting at a deficit does not work !!! I'm lucky I slowed down or I would have been worse yesterday !

Last night brought on my first bout of barfing from methotrexate it was a horrible night and one I'm not looking forward to next week ! This is the third week I have been on this drug and I'm seeing improvement on my skin and joints ! Tuesday threw Friday I have no pain Saturday to Monday pain is moderate !

Goals for this week ! 1 coffee not three or 4
Proper nutrition fruits veggies meat and starches!
No missing any training !


Have a great Victoria day!!!

Texas ironman is finished

So my friend Lisa had a great finish yesterday I stayed up and watched for about three hours last night !!! If you ever need inspiration just watch an ironman finish for a few hours and see all the faces come across the finish line and you will understand (maybe) what this sport is all about !

Today so far has been bad for me! My recovery yesterday was all wrong I really need to work on that ! Very dizzy and dehydrated, I can feel my chemistry all wrong !!!

I'm going to try to save the training day so the run will have to be later in the day by then I'm hoping to be back to right !!!

Have a great day !

Great DRTC ride

What a nice day ! 70 km under the belt!
So today I took a friends advice and slowed myself down ! Kept my heart rate in a reasonable area and things felt awesome!

Lots of new faces today glad to see everyone ! Now for watching the updates for ironman Texas and the awesome Canadian athletes down south!!!!

Exciting weekend

Good birthday evening !

I love having my birthday on the may 24 weekend ! Well it used to be much more wilder but I'm still happy!

Tomorrow brings a day filled with excitement with the first outdoor ride with our DRTC members very very happy the season is about to bust open here in the great white north!

Down south is a different story there is a few Canadian athletes down in Texas getting ready for the big show and I'm so happy for all of them !!! They are all terrific athletes getting ready to light up ironman Texas !

One of those athletes is my good friend Lisa, she is the true meaning of IRONMAN being a full time mother and wife, holding down a full time job, also comforting some of us tri newbies when times get tough for us and training for an ironman is an amazing accomplishment, one only a select few can achieve ! I have several friends who have also achieved such amazing accomplishments and are always there to lend a comforting bit of advice or occasionally kicking you in the butt when you need it!!!! To all those amazing IRONMAN athletes thanks you are defiantly an inspiration !!!

I hope I can sleep tonight with all this excitement !!!


Go get em Lisa !!! Rip that Texas ironman up!!!

Pre birthday ride !

Had a wonderful ride today ! It's catching up with me now ! Tired ! I took it kind of easy today kept my heart rate around 140 to 150 and 160 on the hills and felt great !

Really looking forward to riding with my team on Saturday ! 70 km is on the plan with an increase of 5 km every week up to 110 or 120 km I'm not sure what the final number is but it seem like fun either number !

Nice swim tomorrow on the books then long ride on Saturday !


Have a great day !

Great swim Wednesday

Good morning :

I guess the methotrexate is working because I swam hard last night with absolutely no shoulder pain ! I think there was a bit of inflammation in the shoulders to affect things because I blew threw my 2000 m swim in 42 minutes my first 750 for my sprint race in Guelph will be less then 15 minutes with my wetsuit on!

My ankle/foot pain has disappeared but another different pain has appeared but will monitor that! It's on the outside of my right foot and came out of nowhere ! Injuries seem to be part of the game and after my meeting with coach Paul on Sunday I feel my more at ease about injuries ! I usually get wound right up about them but now I'm taking a new approach !

Big surprise yesterday went to get my license renewed and found out I have to write my air brake endorsement which gives me no time to go over the book since my birthday is tomorrow !
So I hope I pass lol.

Have a great day!

Ironman Texas

Good luck to all the athletes going to ironman Texas !!!! Canada is well represented

Great training session

Good evening

So today I did my second brick workout of the season ! I have started my heart rate training, what ever my fitness is at now it will probably not get much better cardio wise !!!

So I put my heart rate monitor on and jump on the bike, and away I go !!over the next couple months I will train with this on and run myself as hard as possible at a comfortable heart rate.
Today I was able to keep it at around 145 to 165 on some hills very comfortable at around 28 km per hour average and still had some left for the run ! Next week I'll turn it up a bit and see how it works !

During my run I got a weird pain on the outside of my foot, one I've never had before !!! I hope it's just nothing but I'm in some kind of pain right now !

I'll take it easy on it tomorrow maybe it's just one of those things !


Have a great night !

Some things you have to sacrifice

Good Sunday morning :

Just in time for a 7.5 km run ! Which is hard when I don't like to run in the morning!

Last night I had to go to a friends jack and Jill it was a good time but way different being the only sober person their ! Since the day that I decided to get healthy almost 2 years ago I have only had 5 instances of drinking which was good for me compared to the alcoholic I was, drinking almost every day and too excess on the weekends !

So I went to this jack and jill party which is like a stag but for everyone, they had various games and draws and door prizes and lots of drinks which was fun for my friends but a little weird for me ! Normally if I wasn't on methotrexate I probably would of had a few drinks but I'm glad I didn't have that choice because I'm up ready to do my run and weights and I'm not sick like the others!

My other sacrifice is my yearly guys weekend, I have been through a lot with my buddies, about 25 years worth and this was one of the things that kept us strong but I hope they understand that this quest for ironman is very important to me. It's very hard for a person that doesn't understand what this sport is all about ! But pus onward and upward !

So it's methotrexate time !

Wish me luck !!!


Have a great day

Great team ride!

We had our first team ride today ! It was amazing ! I did figure out one thing though, no ironman next year !!! I think I'm going to wait one more year we only did 65 km today and I could never even imagine a 20 km run right after!!

I rode today with some team mates
that that are awesome cyclists ! The small group I rode with are all doing the same races so it's kinda neat to train with them !

Lisa and Michelle are ready to go to Texas for their ironman, I wish them the best of luck ! My other friend Liz is going to Texas also for a race, I wish both amazing athletes the best of luck !

Have a great day !

Another good read

I found this article a while back but it's interesting.




Triathlon Training: The Myth of Time Management

Its your job to determine the amount of time you’re going to spend training day in and day out to achieve your goals. Sure, there are lots of books devoted to the subject of time management and even a number of triathlon training books that take a stab at it so you certainly don’t need me to take you through some exercise on calculating how many hours you have available to train each week.
My job is to help you get the most out of the time you’ve set aside for triathlon training. And since I don’t think most of those time management pundits get it quite right, I’d like to offer up an alternative view.
Train On Purpose
A number of years ago I came across a book title that I’ve never been able to get out of my head: How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything. This title speaks volumes in terms of how to get the most out of your training time and step up your race performance. Here’s what I mean:
1. Solve Your Identity Crisis. Who you think you are matters; you must develop an Athlete Identity. Are you a person who does triathlon, or are you a triathlete? Yes, it may sound a bit trite but if you don’t think of yourself as a triathlete then you’ll not behave as one. This means how you eat, sleep, train, recover and maintain fitness during the off-season must be congruent with the triathlon lifestyle. If you behave badly, you can never become as good a triathlete as you can be given the time you have available.
2. Live in the Present. If you really want to get the most out of your training time then you have to learn how to focus on the moment you are in. This may sound simple… but it’s not easy. Pushing out all the other distractions and giving your full attention to the task at hand is the shortest path to improved performance. It’s sort of like watching people reading a magazine on a bike trainer, or plugging into the TV while running on a treadmill to watch soaps so they don’t have to “think” about the exercise! Do you think they can ever get as fit as they could? Can YOU if your mind is drifting off? If being present is difficult for you then take a hard look at your reasons for training and racing. Perhaps your reasons just aren’t powerful enough.
3. Focus, focus, focus. When you sign-up for a triathlon there are lots of things you could do to train for the race and there are a number of things you might like to do, too. The only thing that matters is what you have to do. That means managing the time you have allocated to training with great care and laser-focus. If you set aside your speed work training for another day, or push your swim session off yet again, you are setting yourself up for lackluster performance and have no one to blame but yourself. I know… been there done that myself. Getting clarity around what must be done in every single training session is the surest way to knock it out of the park.
Last time I checked, there are still only 24 hours in the day. None of us has the ability to add hours to the clock or to “manage time” so from my perspective triathlon excellence has nothing at all to do with time management. It has to do with how you manage the things you can control. If you want to get great at this sport, then get great at managing the most important resource you have: YOU and whatever goals you aspire to achieve. That is the only thing that matters.

Good article

Balancing Your Life
Balancing three sports is difficult enough, but life doesn't stop for triathlon training, and triathletes need to adapt their demanding training schedules to work, family and rest. In addition to knowing their bodies, successful triathletes must be masters of time management, knowing when to train full-throttle and when to hit the brakes.

Finding time to train for a triathlon while working a full-time job can be the most difficult time-management consideration for many aspiring triathletes. Because the 40-hour workweek places limits on training, many triathletes subscribe to the weekend warrior routine, training very lightly Monday through Friday and going on much longer runs, swims or bike rides on the weekends. This technique can actually be quite beneficial in preparing for a triathlon. Those long training days can push you to the limit, simulating the physical and mental stresses of race day.

Training for a triathlon can be just as taxing on loved ones as it can be for the triathletes. Some common complaints are that triathletes are cranky, tired, self-absorbed and generally difficult to be around in the weeks leading up to the big race. Getting support from family and friends is a vital component of training for many triathletes.

Triathlon training can be lonely and alienating at times, which is why experts suggest training with a partner (many husband-wife teams train together) or hooking up with a local triathlon club. Training with a partner or a group can help motivate you to get out of bed and train, even when you don't feel like it, and it can help push you to reach your goals. However, if you choose to train alone, numerous national organizations, Web sites, forums, books and magazines exist to help you become part of the larger community.

Triathletes are like acrobats, walking a tight rope while juggling three demanding sports. The challenge can seem daunting at times, but the key to success is approaching each sport methodically, getting proper rest between training sessions and balancing the other aspects of your life.

Hard ride today

What a hard ride today with the headwinds at a couple points today I was down in bull low on a flat ! I managed to sneek in 35 km in an hour and 20 mins then finished my full two hours on the trainer ! It was nice to get on the cannondale for 45 mins! I still love that bike !

Today was a real hard day but I put my mind to it and pulled it off! I was very happy with myself, I was on the edge of making up an excuse not to ride, but it's in the books now!

Looking forward to the outdoor group ride this weekend !


The season is fired up!

Train hard

It hurts up to a point and then it doesn't get any worse.

Train hard!

Now the switch is in the on position

And won't come off till the middle of September after muskoka 70.3!
I have no doubt I will finish the race and I'm very excited to rip it up !
I like to look back at my posts and see what I planned and what I do !

So right now my plan is that I will find a nice groove on the swim I should finish in around 40 mins, then transition is no time for me to mess around ! In and out!!!! The bike is my only hope to make up ground I plan to train to my max speed all summer and give every thing I have but save just enough to keep a normal jeff pace up for the run!

I have a strong competitive personality and like to race which might be my down fall on the bike ! I might give to much but my plan is to practice and train hard to know exactly how much to give !

That's my plan for the big race !
My plan for the sprint is as fast as possible lol ! And the Olympic is going to be a bit slower than the sprint but still max then a steady pace for the other two !

Also this year I'm putting in a three week break at the end of the season !


All this will passed threw coach paul ad course !

Have a great day !

Why

I know I have asked myself this question many times over and over again! And still no answer, I wake up tired I go all day tired I train tired I'm always tired !!!! Yet I still go on, I train injured (safely but still injured) because I don't want to fall behind in training .

Today was by far my best training day ever ! I averaged 32km per hour and that was off the gps on my phone that doesn't account for lights and stops do still that's fast ! I still had plenty of gas left in me so I know I could have gone another 20 at that pace and by the end of the summer at my a race I hope to be at 30 km average over the 90 km bike which will buy me some good time for my slow ass run !

My run pace was 7.8 km per hour and the first 10 minutes I had a nasty calf cramp I had to walk run through other than that it was pretty well a run ! (well a run for me) I really needed today's awesome workout to rebuild my confidence !!!! One thing I have learned is with the good workouts come the not so good ones so I'm not getting too wound up over it !

I had a fast pace going on the bike because I wanted to see what kind of gas was in the tank and it was hi octane !!! A real good burn !

My ankle was great for the whole bike and run but soon as I stopped it tightened right up and started up hurt !
With this methotrexate I hope the after pain will go away !!!

I have been looking for intel on methotrexate and endurance training but had no luck finding any but I will keep up the hunt !!!


Have a great night !

Day number 2

So this methotrexate is a real bummer but a must I feel a little sick and very tired it will make track night very difficult. One thing for sure is my support system is so amazing I can almost overcome anything !

I will need to keep up on my planning because sleep has become very important and I will be unable to stay up late anymore. My schedule is becoming more difficult to manage be still within my means. This is only the first week of the drug so I'm sure it will get better the only problem will be side effects.

I'm still struggling with the eating problem and I don't think it's going to be easy I know what has to be done and gave had plenty of good advice but can't do it till I put my mind to it ! I really need some time to just have all to myself, dome time to unplug from the phones and Internet and everything like maybe a bike ride for fun instead of a training ride ! I'm going to try that and see how it works.

Tonight we had our monthly DRTC meeting and it looks like we are going to have a great year with many wonderful and fun ideas for our members !

Well I better get to bed my day off always seems to end fast !!
Tomorrow nights workout ---- the first brick of the year ! Hour ride hour run !!! Good luck !

Day one methotrexate

So far not to bad just some mild nausea and a bit of a headache, off to bed to get a good start to the week !

First outdoor 5km

40 mins 5 k first day outside running!

Now to start the methotrexate cross your fingers no side effects !

Head winds

That something that a trainer will never simulate. It seems every time I ride outside they are heavy.
I went out with Peter today it was a good ride until I stopped for a second and a large angry dog came running to pay me a visit ! I was afraid to jump on my bike and take off because I knew he would chase me and I'd never get clipped in before he got me. So I walked backwards keeping my bike between the angry devil dog and myself, I shouted "get lost" and the owners must gave herd me and called him back! Note to self !!! DON'T STOP

So tomorrow is my first day to start methotrexate ! I'm a little nervous but I'm going to do it !

Have a nice night !

Rip MCA

This is a sad day in the hip hop world !
Artist MCA from the beastie boys passed away! When I was growing up I lived the Beastie Boys and still do!
There isn't to many people that don't know the song "NO SLEEP TILL" yes you know the rest .....but anyway RIP MCA ! You will be missed !

I'm really looking forward to the upcoming season especially the club race ! I think it will be a fantastic day for the club ! I hope we turn out in huge numbers because it will be a great way to bring on new members for next year.

I was talking yesterday about my race plans for next year and my friend also has the same idea ! Only one thing will change my mind, if I can't put the dedication in for this summer and finish strong I might not be able to do it! My body may shut down on me!
It's already hurting every day from being old and not treating my body the right way but I'll see after this summer !

Have a great day
And enjoy that last spin class !

Closer and closer

So the first race of the year is getting closer ! And I'm still struggling with my time ! Lol story of my life !!!! That Milwaukee trip threw me off a bit but it was fun ! Now it's time to focus on the triathlon ! I won't have the luxury of having a triathlon time out next year with a ironman possibly looming in the future !

Coach Paul puts a great amount of importance in the steps of triathlon and I totally understand why! Starting from scratch like I did will take about 3 years to get ready for ironman ! Maybe even more ......but I'm sure it will be worth the wait!

I really want to do Ironman Canada but may have to wait an extra year due to the cost of flying my family out to BC ! So I might end up doing one closer instead next year ! Like the one in Montreal ...

I get to start my methotrexate on Sunday night!!! Can't wait to see if it works ! It's been along time fighting with psoriasis and the constant pain in my ankle and spine !

Hoping for a nice weekend to get our on the new fast bike !!!!


Have a great night !

Home from the USA

I'm always glad to get home from a long trip ! I love my country and I love my family !
One thing I discovered in America is the quality of living in there is lower than in Canada. We stopped in many places and saw lots of lower income family's, I was very surprised to see the number of fast food and eating places! And everything that was on the menu was covered with cheese's and butters now I'm sure it's not like that all over but it was apparent in Milwaukee.
Now that the trips over there is nothing else standing in the way, and the rest of my sacrifices will be triathlon related!
I got the behind the seat bottles by profile design so I'll mount them and give it a try !


Have a great day !