I owe you guys an update on my Ironman training and today it’s time to come clean. I’m currently taking performance-enhancing drugs to help my training.
Don’t worry, the only drugs I’m taking are in the form of a doctor-prescribed inhaler!
Let me back up and explain how I got there.
You may remember that a few weeks ago I was sick. I assumed it was a cold, but it hung around for over a week and completely knocked me out of training Monday through Friday of that week. I struggled through a bike and half marathon race that weekend.
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The next week I struggled through a few workouts before a work event that lasted through the weekend. I did manage a long bike ride the morning before the trip, but it wasn’t my best effort.
Last week I tried again to get back to to normal and pushed through what I could, but even short runs were still rough. My long run was planned for Thursday night before a weekend in the mountains, but even 3 miles reduced me to walking…several times. I tried to write it off to getting over sickness, put on a happy face, and push on.
In the mountains, I realized that I was breathing hard with just short hikes on the slopes. Something was definitely wrong.
I made an appointment at a doctor early this week to see if they could figure out what was going on. I expected the doc to hear something in my lungs, prescribe some meds, and move on with life. Instead, I was sent to radiology for a CT scan with a suspected blood clot in my lungs. After that came back negative, I got an EKG to clear any potential heart problems.
Finally, the answer was: “we don’t know”.
I hate that answer. Instead of a real solution, I was prescribed an inhaler to take before workouts for the next few weeks. The guess is that the extra dry air, combined with after effects of being sick, are irritating my airways. I know I don’t have asthma as I had a definitive test before I was certified for scuba diving years ago.
What now?
So for now, I’ll hope and pray that this helps enough to get me through this enough to train. Kirk has readjusted my schedule for the next month to try getting my training back on track. We’re at almost a month of sketchy training, which is obviously NOT good during Ironman training.
I’m at the point that I accept this Ironman might not happen, but not ready to accept defeat quite yet. Any prayers you can offer are much appreciated. And I’ll try to keep my optimistic outlook, because I know that being negative at this point is not helpful either.
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Questions for you:
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How do you deal with unknowns that pop up on the way to BIG goals?
{ 25 comments… read them below or add one }
Prayers are being sent your way!!! Hopefully you find some answers soon. I know it can be frustrating–hang in there and keep investigating, asking questions and hold on to the positive attitude!
Michelle @ Eat Move Balance recently posted..Friday’s Five: I did it!!
Thank you – I really appreciate it. :)
Thinking of you and sending positive recovery-filled thoughts your way!!
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More recently posted..Fitness Friday // A Rough Week & Positive Outlook
Thanks Katie!
OMG – I know you’re going to get through this. Sending every good vibe possible your way.
I had to use an inhaler for a while too (despite not having asthma). It did help and I haven’t had to use it since.
You got this!!!!!!!!!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted..Strange But Good Blues
I hope you already know this, but your support is always awesome and I really appreciate it! :)
Eep! I hope the inhaler works well for you and you start feeling back to normal again soon. I would have a hard time with an “I don’t know” diagnosis too. I can deal with bad news, I can’t deal with no news.
Alayna @ Thyme Bombe recently posted..Baked sweet potato with miso butter
I’m posting an update tomorrow, it’s been a frustrating month. I am not good with I don’t know! :(
:( I hope you feel better soon. That is super lame news. But it’s good to hear that it might just be temporary.
I readjust and find another goal. Like right now instead of focusing on training for a marathon that’s in October, I’m trying to rehabilitate some injuries and build my fitness back (which is kind of training for it, but I’m not running).
Maybe it’s time to take a bit of time off? I hate that statement, but sometimes it’s good to just take a break and recover (I know this all too well after the year I’ve had).
Calee (@chimes) — life + running recently posted..Flashback Friday: My abs. 2007.
Great advice, I’ve been thinking through things a lot this weekend and have a revised plan (I think). Update coming tomorrow!
Oh, I’m so sorry. I know exactly how it feels to go to the doctor with a problem, and not get any real answers. So frustrating! I hope everything gets better soon, and I will send some prayers up for you!
Natalie @ Free Range Human recently posted..Reasons to Not (Completely) Hate Spring
It kind of reinforces the reason we sometimes avoid doctors, right?
I am one big walking unknown right now LOL. So glad it wasn’t a clot. I’m still dealing with that one. If it ends up being asthma, at least there are some awesome medications you can take now. I’ve been on Singulair for 10 + years now and can do things I never ever could have before (like run). I sure hope they figure out what’s going on though. Hang in there!!
Heather (Where’s the Beach) recently posted..Fun For Friday – Public Restroom Quirks
Well, on the one hand, at least you know there was something to all of the difficulties you were having with running…even since you moved out to Colorado. I will be praying that this works! I don’t know anything about asthma–sports induced or otherwise–or breathing ‘issues’ but I wish I knew someone who did so they could advise you.
Don’t stop believing in the BIG goal. You will get where you need to be. Even if it isn’t where you thought.
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen recently posted..Roasted Green Onion + Apple Tapenade
As I’m so sorry girly. Was the asthma test you had done a methacholine test? When I was running I experienced breathing problems. I did the listen to your lungs thing and breath machine at my doctor and passed both. Then I had a methacholine test done at the hospital and failed after my fourth dose. They said even though I don’t have asthma day to day in certain situations I do have asthma.
Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie recently posted..Getting Back on the Treadmill: Running with Asthma
Oh no! Hope you can figure it out- I don’t know is one of the worst things to hear. I’ll keep you in prayer. Definitely keep us posted!
Goodness girl! This has really stuck around for a while. I’m def sending prayers your way!!
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables recently posted..Friday Five
Definitely praying for you!!! And hang in there…my friend battled the same sounding issue through our marathon training! After steroids, etc she is FINALLY better, but it took a while! And ironically enough, I just got an inhaler… evidently all of the cool kids are doing it! Wishing you a speedy recovery and answers!
Holly recently posted..Why I Hired A Coach
I’m so sorry you are struggling! Praying this gets cleared up soon. I hate it when mind and body are not on the same page!
Oh no! I hope everything works out!!!
My mom has something similar with her lungs. Whenever the weather gets bad she feels something in her lungs. The doctors couldn’t diagnose anything and gave her an inhaler. I don’t think she ever uses the inhaler and she seems to be doing quite well. It’s weird how there’re so many things that doctors can’t diagnose these days…
I’m in the same situation as Erin except that my doctor thought that failing after the fourth dose meant not asthma. Didn’t stop her from giving me some medicines that helped, though. If you need the inhaler very much or for very long, I’d keep investigating, maybe your lungs have changed since you got the breathing test for your scuba certification. And maybe you can get on something else that will make it so you don’t need the inhaler anymore. Either way, I hope your lungs settle down and the issue resolves itself.
Mary@FitandFed recently posted..Training with Hip Pain | My New PT Routine
take it one day at a time friend. We are all praying for you! But ultimately, God has His plans for you! Sending hugs!!
lindsay recently posted..Strange But Good: Food & Fitness Edition
Oh Heather, I’m sososo sorry that you’re feeling so crappy. I really feel like this is just going to be a small setback for you, and you will come back to kill the ironman! Sending you tons of love and positive energy!
Ari @ Ari’s Menu recently posted..Weekend Ramblings
Sending lots of prayers your way!! Just remember how fortunate you are to be living a wonderful life where you can have goals and dreams :) All in God’s plan!!
Nicole @ Curly Mommy recently posted..I’m not a great runner, and that’s okay
Ugh, being sick is terrible and not knowing why is even worse! Hold onto hope for Ironman though, this could just be your body telling you to build more slowly, also, might I suggest that you look around for a half Ironman distance race at around the same time of year that can be your back up? That might make it easier to give up on doing a full Ironman this year if it comes to that (which, of course, I hope it doesn’t!)
Sending good thoughts your way!