Monday, January 23, 2012

Feeling Dry?

Like many, I picked up what I'll politely call the stomach bug that's been going around.  One of the joys of working in the ER is I'm exposed to all kinds of yuckiness; despite copious Purell and soap, I do occasionally 'take my work home'.

Gruesome details:  Projectile vomiting for about 5 minutes.

After that, I noticed my heart was POUNDING.  I felt very tachycardic; when I checked, my heart rate was between 90-100.  I laughed to myself - my fast is some other peoples' normal - but it led me to two thoughts.

1.  When you're in decent shape (read: middle of the pack) and your resting heart rate is low 50's, 90 feels miserable when you're sitting there.

2.  I must be borderline dehydrated at any given time.  This isn't good. 

While I try to keep up on my fluids, and I do pretty well before a race, my day-to-day hydration must be suspect.  5 minutes of hurling should not throw me into a dehydration that 2 liters of IV fluid couldn't fix.  I had mutliple signs of dehydration - heart rate, sucken eyes, pale - the diagnosis wasn't in question to anyone who saw me.  How is this affecting my performance and - more importantly - my health?  I've often said that good hydration will fix a lot of bad habits, but what if I'm dehydrated WITH those bad habits?

It really opened my eyes.  Despite attempts to stay hydrated, it stands there with training, rest and nutrition as something I need to keep track of as I am obviously falling behind.  So I'll ask:  how's your hydration?

Off to the water cooler...

Saturday, January 21, 2012

If It Was Easy

If it was easy - everyone would do it.

If it was easy - we wouldn't have bumper stickers.

If it was easy - we wouldn't have medals.

If it was easy - no one would be impressed.

If it were easy - we wouldn't be admired.

If it were easy -

If it were easy - we wouldn't celebrate the finish.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

How goes the Resolution?

So, we're a week-and-some-change into the new year.  The gym is still busy, but getting better; the health food store looks busy, but not as bad as a week ago.

And for you:  How goes the resolutions?  Still intact?

If not, don't wait another 354 days to start over!  Re-adjust, re-evaluate, and reset the goals!  Don't take it as a failure, take it as an opportunity to learn, make changes in your approach, and then go towards your goals.  Next year, you'll wish you had started today...

And pick out your races!

Sunday, January 1, 2012

2012

Vision without action is a daydream; action without vision is a nightmare - Japanese proverb It's now 2012: time to make your dreams into your goals. Write 'em down. Every step needs to be planned out; everything you do needs to be in the direction of achieving your goal. There will be setbacks. It happens to everyone. Accept them as they come, learn from them, then forget the setbacks and move on. And start today. Waiting until tomorrow is a day that is lost. Happy New Year!


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