Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try

Okay, so a bit of a log update. Lets start with the 'not so great' news and get it out of the way - I've been back to the specialist for my year check up (about 2 weeks ago). She is no longer of the opinion that this is going to burn itself out....apparently if it was I'd have gone from 10mg meds in October to 5mg in Jan, instead I'm back up to 15 and trying to hold off increasing to 20mg. I wasn't exactly over the moon but - it could be much worse, I heard a few stories from friends yesterday of two separate people in their 30's recently diagnosed with progressive MS - I'm lucky.

February: I didn't run at all, just cycled.
243 miles on the bike

March/April: I took a week off work in March and did a few lovely very slow jogs some of the days, bliss, and in the last few weeks I've either jogged a parkrun or done the trails in the Phoenix park so very little running and mostly cycling all at low average heart rate. I do have a 120 mile week under my belt on the bike though which I was delighted with although apparently some people run that in a week....

475 miles on the bike
44.6 miles running

I"ve also been off the drink for lent and have to say it's making a massive difference so I think I'll stick with that for the time being.

So what does the updated diagnosis mean regards running? It means I can jog and that's it really. I can't execute a training plan, do any speed sessions or even a tempo run and most of all it means I can't race. There will be periods where my bloods are in the normal range and I might be able to up the pace a little (watching HR all the time). So what does an ex runner do when they can't race anymore? ADVENTURE RACE of course

I may have signed up for a teeny tiny one at the end of this month but I'll just be 'taking part' and as I've nothing to compare it too I'm hoping to leave my competitive side at home.. I'm not training for it but I have done some kayaking practice recently, two hours on Blessington Lake which was truly gorgeous! Have to admit my arms/shoulders were in ribbons for a few days afterwards but I'll be back for more. And yesterday I did my first BRICK workout by cycling to St Anne's parkrun, doing the parkrun and after a brief interval filled with tea, a bacon sandwich & laughter, cycled home again (all relatively easy paces). It's the first time in a long time I had that high - you know the one you get after a lovely long run?! Possibly partly due to the jovial festivities of the day with Killerz and FerrisB being dressed up for their milestone runs - fair play lads you didn't bat an eyelid! Great to catch up with Mrs Mc, KennyG & Mrs KG, FBOT, Killerz, FB & everyone else.

Have caught up on a few logs and glad to see everyone doing so well If I survive the adventure race I'll pop in and do a little race report if that's allowed

Happy Easter peeps,

AuldManKing wrote: »

interesting hearing about the drink (or lack thereof)??

Not that I needed to be attending my local AA meeting or anything but having been off it for Rotterdam training I'd definitely gone down the slippery slope of consoling myself with my favourite vino of a weekend which is not conducive to a proper 8 hour sleep which I need to help the ole body heal itself. The meds don't say 'don't drink alcohol' but I'd imagine they're more effective without. Anyway, I feel better off it which can't be a bad thing

Wubble Wubble wrote: »

Great to hear from you AM. Sorry to hear about the checkup, but glad you've still got plenty of other ways of keeping yourself active. Hopefully I'll catch up with you again soon.

Was just reading your great parkrun yesterday!! Well done, hope the studying is going well. AMK's suggestion of a change of venue is a good idea too, Hartstown is probably a bit quicker than Porterstown Happy Easter J.

Good to see the update A.M. Sorry to see the outlook is not as good as it could be. Love the attitude though .

We don't mind biking and kiacking updates, it's a training log after all. Good to see you in good form, don't wait for race report.

snailsong wrote: »

Good to see you posting in your log again, AM.

Sorry to hear the medical outlook isn't exactly as you would have it for now. You'll have to learn to live with it for now but it looks like you're already doing that really well. I admire your positivity.

Good luck with the adventure racing. I've done a fair few, they're very popular around here. Adventure races are all consuming, addictive and above all, great craic. Maybe we'll have you down here doing one some time.

I really only came in looking for your race report! and of course to say goodbye to tang whose demise will be mourned by all - of course we can say what we like about him now he's not here to see it, isn't that right B

Re the bit in bold, I'll have to be super careful on this, some of those races are beasts (isn't one called the Beast??!) the worst thing I could do is become addicted to them and replace one thing that's bad for me with another that's worse - the one I signed up for is in Leitrim where I have family so not too far from your part of the world Also, Neady is on the case so no doubt I'll be down West doing one before long - as long as it's short and doesn't involve ANY of the things she normally does in hers such as climbing a mountain carrying her bike or running through the night etc etc etc

Singer wrote: »

Nice to get an update from ya! You have a great approach in staying positive and active, which isn't easy given the nature of your ailment.

Are you getting bloods done frequently, or can you tell how things are going from HRM / going by feel?

Yes, regular bloods (quarterly when all is okay and monthly when not) but yes to going by feel too, I"m pretty good at detecting a change and everything gets logged in a diary so I can work out if something I'm doing is causing that change. Plus there are some known signs such as long nails - I've always wanted long nails, bloody typical that when I have them now it's a sign something is wrong :rolleyes: If I remember correctly you mentioned getting your thyroid bloods done recently and I meant to ask you about it - do you have an issue too?

Singer wrote: »

Both my thyroids got removed after a minor bout of thyroid cancer a few years ago, so I'm on thyroid meds for the rest of my life! Routine bloods done a few weeks ago and visiting my endo later this week. I suspect that levels were high as I think I had a few hyperthyroid symptoms, it's so hard to tell though. Mostly I was sweating a lot while sleeping, which is kind of weird and gross. It coincided with crappy running too, so I think something was up... or maybe it was just all in my head

Holy crap! Although now that you say it I've a very vague recollection you told me that before, it's easy to become a bit self absorbed....So you're on meds for Hypo then? That must be tough to manage too - I must hook up with you at river valley some week. High temperature at night is a hyper symptom and one I hate the most as its so uncomfortable, hopefully some med adjustment will see you sorted. The crappy running is an odd one, you'd think with hyper you'd be flying along but the opposite is true..

On a scale of one to ten ...... how excited are you?

annapr wrote: »

At least 8 i would say, judging by when I saw her on Saturday!

Maybe that was the beer and I was trying to keep the excitement levels low cause I know you think I'm nuts :P

Neady83 wrote: »

On a scale of one to ten ...... how excited are you?

12 :D I was looking at last years results to make sure I wouldn't be last, it's not a given but hopefully I'll do it under 3 hours, the big unknown being transition times (that time is based on me not killing myself on the runs in case anyone thinks I've a goal in mind - okay okay! so I do have little goal...)

hillsiderunner wrote: »

Getting my Good Lucks in early, enjoy the race on Saturday. Hope you're having a couple of easy days first ...

Thanks M I was just catching up on your log yesterday - lots going on! Still have a few more entries to read. Interesting observation on the hill walking building strength, possibly wouldn't raise the HR too high either...

No bike today, got the bus to work so while that may be *easier* on the body I'm not sure it's less stressful!!, will work from home tomorrow so no bike then either although a trip to the vet with woody for x-rays on suspected cruciate ligament damage might involve very high heart rates all round :eek:.

Could you remind a tired auld fella what the weekend's event is?

Ferris B wrote: »

Could you remind a tired auld fella what the weekend's event is?

Tired? what? have ya not recovered yet

This it's just a baby adventure race which obviously I won't actually be 'racing' - it's all about the taking part dontcha know :cool: unlike fletch who will probably win the damn thing!!

Paddle that canoe like a Deamon, cycle like the wind & run easy to a pb, best of luck.:)