Tuesday, June 21, 2011

RIP Eugene

So, I got out of the pool yesterday after drinking my share of pee water and started coughing. Thought it was the chlorine (or the piss or the hairballs or the e-coli), but as the day progressed so did my cough. Last night Sam asked what the heck was wrong with my voice. I told him I had taken up smoking copious amounts of pot. And cigarettes. It helps with my training. And, my glaucoma.

I’m not sick SICK, so when my alarm went off today at 5am for my riding group it never occurred to me to not go. I mean, training under adverse conditions is what it’s all about, right? Makes us stronger or something like that?

There is actually a pro triathlete (well, he won the Ironman World Championship in 2010), Chris McCormack, who, in an effort to learn how to deal with GI distress during race, eats nachos with super spicy hot sauce before long runs. Yes, the dude deliberately instigates cramps and farts and the need to evacuate. In his own words (I find this fascinating!):

“I always had this problem of my stomach shutting down during the marathon of an Ironman. So I thought if I could run with my stomach shutting down, I could do it in a race. So once a week I would sit down and eat nachos with really spicy hot sauce. Then I’d get my running gear on, go for a run and of course, my stomach would shut down, but I’d just keep going.”

chrismcc

I don't see any shit in this picture.

“They were brutal training runs. But then on race day, when my stomach would shut down I’d think, “I can deal with this.” I’d be able to keep going. Doing this paid off so many times over. I’d do this 10 weeks out from Ironman until two weeks before race day. It’d be a horrible run, but it had a huge impact on my overall race performance.”

He is hard core. But, what he doesn’t tell us is about shitting on the side of the road, what TP he used, etc. (Thanks, Jason, for putting this on your blog).

I, on the other hand, do not need to eat nachos before a run because my body already knows how to cramp and shit itself without any hand holding.  It is a built in training strategy. I could win an Ironman.

Anyway, the ride was amazingly beautiful, but I have to admit I felt like dog crap. Probably smelled like it too. I think it’s funny when you start getting sick. At first you say, “Oh, it’s probably allergies” or “Oh, I have something in my throat.” You deny the sickness for as long as possible. But then there comes a point of acceptance.  I can’t deny any more that I’ve got some respiratory crap.

But, when you're with a group, there is no wussing out or turning back early, so I sucked it up. Shut up and do not be a pussy.

We headed towards the foothills, then up Lefthand Canyon.

lefthandcanyon

As we passed the spot where Eugene Howrey, age 73, was killed on his bike on Friday, I took a moment to think of him and to send healing thoughts to his family. Here’s a guy well into his 70s just trying to stay healthy and to live an active life. To make matters worse, come to find out that the trucker who hit him was charged with reckless driving two years ago for nudging a cyclist into oncoming traffic. I know he didn’t do it on purpose, but he probably was being more aggressive or less cautious than he needed to be. 

Anyway, 1,400 feet of climbing (from about 5,000 feet to 6,400 feet) in the first 14 miles kind of kicked my ass. But it was downhill the whole way back, so I lived. I can’t tell you how much I love this group. Not just because the women are strong and amazing, but because it pushes me to whole new levels.

image

I call this the “tit” ride. Thanks for pointing that out Matty!

But, now it’s time to take a load off.

P1100122

Are you in denial when you get sick? Do you still train? I deny it for awhile. If there is no fever, I can breathe okay and I don’t feel too run down, I still train. But, maybe a bit lighter than I would otherwise.

Ever purposefully eat crap before running just to see what happens? No, I don’t. I once, by mistake and before I was really a runner, ate beef stroganoff for lunch before a run. I think I threw up.

Are you an early morning workout-er? I love getting up and getting it done. Plus, morning is my favorite time of day. So full of possibility.

SUAR

51 comments:

  1. I'm definitely early morning. Never tried anything overly strange to fuel beforehand, but I can tell you that Trader Joes dark chocolate with almonds does not work as fuel for long runs.

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  2. Yup I love early morning workouts.

    Your bike profile looks like a boob.

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  3. If I didn't train when sick or injured, I wouldn't train! I've never been a great morning runner; it takes me being awake for 4 hours before my body stops creaking.

    Worst thing eaten before a run? Corn oil. Grabbed the wrong bottle. The only time I've ever puked bile during a run.

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  4. I live in denial about my illnesses while training. good for you for getting out there but take a couple of days off and see if you are better. Oh, and give up the smoking. >;)

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  5. That's terrible about Eugene! :(

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  6. Macca rocks! I just started reading his new book "I'm hear to win", just a fascinating guy.

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  7. That's probably "I'm HERE to win", but whatever. You're not scoring grammar right?

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  8. Very sad about Eugene--there are far too many of those stories these days.

    I have learned over the years that my body responds to sickness really fast IF I stop training for a few days. If not, I tend to get crap in my lungs that lingers forever. Not worth it.

    I like Macca's style though--may have to try that sometime!

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  9. morning used to be my favorite time of day, too- until I became an insomniac

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  10. I was wondering last night if you miss a running-only training schedule. I love that you've gotten into this triathlon training routine and what you're sharing about it but do you miss the days when you just run (almost) everyday? Maybe you can do a post on triathlon vs. plain old running training? Thanks!

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  11. In my ultra running days, I used to run from my house in Niwot, up Lefthand Canyon to Jamestown and back for a 36 mile long run. I'd do this weekly for 26 weeks in a row in prep for my races. I was always concerned with having acute contact with a car on that road while running, especially since most of my runs were at night. The good thing was that I could hear the cars well over a mile away so I would get on the opposite side of the the road well in advance. That was a luxury of being on foot vs on a bicycle. Now that they connected the trails from Niwot to Boulder and from Niwot to Longmont, I have close to 60 miles of car free running at this point. What a relief.

    Dana

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  12. Did your group make it all the way to Ward? My husband loves that climb. He's only gotten to Jamestown but keeps.

    JessicaH

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  13. Queen of denial. If that scratchy feeling starts, gotta run right immediately and long to chase it away. Even if I feel too sick to work (almost never), I always try to run.

    Remember trying to "coat your stomach" before a drinking binge (no, just me?)? Sometimes I'll eat a bagel to calm my stomach down if I've had too much fiber during the day.

    Early works for long runs, but shorter workouts during the week are usually in the evenings toward sundown.

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  14. I am the anit-morning runner. Most of my runs are at night with a few mid-day.

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  15. I get up at 4am to workout every morning. I love getting my sweat done with early on (especially in the summer).

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  16. that comment didnt make sense. I was too busy making sure I wasnt typing "I am the anti-Christ" that I typed anit instead of anti.

    so..

    anti

    :)

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  17. Jessicah - we just went up to the point where you turn to go up to Ward. Maybe next time...

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  18. I usually workout sick or not. I effort may change but I still think I can "sweat it out."

    No way would I ever induce GI problems during a run. It's bad enough when they happen on their own.

    I think I like running in the mornings best but by the end of the day I change my mind. ;-)

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  19. That is so sad about Eugene. Nice job on getting out there, even when sick. I'm long past sick denial, if I'm sick, I stay in bed. #yesimawussandicanlivewiththat

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  20. I will readily admit that I have 0 desire to have stomach cramps while running. At my old age of 28 i've developed enough GI issues to not want to have stomach cramps, well, ever. yuck. That being said, I run in the morning for those very reasons.

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  21. I run at night. Mornings would be nice, but I just don't get up early enough to get it in before the melƩe that is my household starts. I have never on purpose eaten something "upsetting" before exercising, but I have done that lots of times on accident... like Sunday night :P I am really good now at taking time off when I think I might be getting a little bit sick!

    The "tit" ride... it certainly doesn't look like MY tit. But that's funny anyway.

    I hope you are feeling great soon :)

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  22. Denial? Ummm... I wouldn't stop running when I had Whooping Cough. Probably why a year later I'm still having issues... but I figured "what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger' and i was not going to let my sickness get the best of me.. Whose laughing now!
    I'm at my strongest early afternoon. That's the best time for me to work out. I can do it in the morning, but I'm not at my strongest.

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  23. I am an early morning runner and have been for two years - I LOVE the mornings, especially in summer when they are nice and cool, the Nebraska wind hasn't started yet and no one is on the streets. Perfect! Plus, I only have a banana in my stomach, which helps immensely with those tummy issues - the longer the day goes, the more chance that some bite of food I haphazardly threw into my mouth during the day is going to seek revenge and mount a full-on assault at the most inopertune time.

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  24. that is a sad story..life is a B sometimes...really

    morning for me, In SoCal it has to be otherwise I bake...a baked me is not pretty

    eating bad food on purpose before a run: hmmm no that is a bit dare I say...stupid...I got a lot of GI problems...a lot..why add to it just to see what will happen? I dont get that...maybe it is just me.

    sick...yep major denial....I wait and I wait and then I feel really stupid because I know I should have rested.

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  25. that totally happens to me all the time i end up thinking it is allergies or am in denial and do it anyway, never works out well. Last time, i was actually smart and did not work out and i was amazed at how i got better quicker!

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  26. I'm sorry to read about Eugene - that's so sad. :(

    Interesting training tactic by Chris - I can't imagine doing that!! Hey, whatever works...

    Hope you feel better quick!

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  27. I got into the habit of running at lunch once I started working full time and I love it. Of course, once it starts really heating up I have to quit and then I start running in the morning.

    I take a day off when sick or injured and find that it makes me NOT get sick or injured. If I still feel lousy the second day I make sure I sleep more. Nothing like pushing through the pain to make me end up with a cold from hell.

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  28. I used to be a habitual morning runner, then school changed their times and well, it's just easier on my non-sleeping body to workout after work. Thankfully, my kids are older.

    See you in a couple days. Yay.

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  29. I hope you feel better.

    Wow I ate that stuff for lunch today. I can't image my GI shutting down. It's always fine after eating something like that ...

    oh oh, I spoke too soon.

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  30. Beth, I love your posts. Great riding this morning!! You rocked it up that hill. Way to make me look like a slacker :)

    Jenn

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  31. One time I ate a HUGE bag of dried fruit before a run. The ENTIRE bag.

    Big mistake.

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  32. Morning, morning, morning.

    For example this AM when I got up at 3am and it was 80mph winds and hailing out I thought to myself how can I get my OWS in today? This is crazy I want to be swimming by 630a.

    Karen convinced me it wasn't happening and so I put it to rest and went back to bed for 1 hour and then up and on the trainer and a run.

    I may have to do the nacho trick when my IM training starts. That was going to be my secret weapon for those that tried to pass me. Learn to control my gas so that I could use it as a weapon. They may dodge my piss but they can't dodge the gas mask....

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  33. I have done this unintentionally.

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  34. I've eaten or drank things (Cafe Mocha works everytime) if I feel constipated, but NEVER would I do that prerun.............I prefer an early morning workout, but can only fit them in on my weekends.

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  35. Oh yeah, I'm the poster child for denying sickness. I had bronchitis a month or so ago, didn't know it at the time but thought it was something I could "run off" and get better. Sweat it out. Wrong. It's a month later and I'm still coughing up mucous. Gross.

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  36. I hadn't heard about Eugene, the cyclist :( Such a sad story! Stuff like that happens way more often than it should, and I think in CO people tend to think they're 'safer' than elsewhere - truth is, there are levels of reckless drivers everywhere. Ugh.

    Anyway, your ride sounds TOUGH but worth it - I'd love to have a gal-group to ride with around here! i'm sure there are plenty, all of which would rock my socks off.

    Hope you feel better soon!

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  37. Oh, after all that rambling...I couldn't agree more about the a.m. workout. I am ALL about that early alarm clock setting! And I can't even imagine TRYING to sabotage the intestines before a run - I've done it unintentionally, that's unpleasant enough ;)

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  38. I so do the denial thing. I'll blame allergies in the dead of winter rather than admit my immune system has a crack.

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  39. I've thought about "trying" to work through stomach stuff before so that I can do it in a marathon but it's SOOOOO hard, blech. I can't believe he uses the nachos though..with hot sauce. I think I need to give it a try, seriously.

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  40. I work with middle schoolers, so as soon as I feel a tickle in my throat, I spaz out and start pounding Emergen-C and gallons of waters. Doesn't also work out for me though. This school year I had a cold [a really nasty one] from December 12 to the weekend after St. Patrick's Day. Maybe I'll try denial next time!

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  41. No way would I eat Nachos before a tough run - or before any run. But hats off to him. If he can do that he can do anything.

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  42. i always denial train. now as for eating stuff to make those stomach issues worse, i've never done that a my freaking guts give me enough hell as it is. sometimes i go into workouts knowing it could be a crap-shoot (sorry couldn't resist the horrible pun there), it could be a 'good' day or a 'bad' day. on that note, thanks for the shout out to jason's blog, more than happy to find someone being totally frank about said issues!

    and mornings are the best time to workout for me too. hope you feel better, even though you're really not sick. :)

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  43. Morning workouts definitely rule. In regard to the sad story of Eugene, I am not so sure about the theory that motorists don't do things on purpose to cyclists. I think that some take on a attitude on trying to be 'cute' or 'I'll show him (cyclist)', or 'I'll see how close I can come and make him poop his pants'. Then, the unintentional, accidental part happens - in trying to be cute and driving too close to a cyclist, the cyclist hits a pot hole or reacts when a bunny darts out in the road and scares the stuffing out of him and ends up under the too-close vehicle's wheels. Then those 'cute' actions aren't so funny anymore. But it was just an accident....
    Yeah, but it could've been prevented. We all do stupid things over the course of our lives but some have more tragic consequences than others. If the trucker had been cited a few years ago, he has a history and didn't learn. Too sad all the way around.

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  44. I like mornings - it's nice to know that I've accomplished something before 6 AM, you know? Plus, that way, sleeping past 7 on the weekend feels positively decadent.

    I also try to power right through being sick. I can hide under the covers and be miserable, or I can get stuff done and be miserable. I guess I don't really want to deal with catching up - on work, on fitness - when I'm better again.

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  45. Training when sick is very much it depends. How sick? What is the plan? How intense? But once I'm sick I stop till I'm feeling better.

    Try to eat as little crap as possible as a general rule. I have tried new things on a training run or ride just to see how it works out. That's how I found out Perpetueum makes me want to barf. Horrible stuff.

    Swims are first thing. Runs can happen any time from 4am to about 7pm, but generally the earlier the better. Biking is so weather dependent up here. Given my druthers I aim for the window between too cold and baking hot.

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  46. Sorry you are(not) getting sick, but I like how you redirected your thoughts to overcoming adversity...but, nachos pre-long run?! Recipe for the trots for sure!

    Heartbreaking about Eugene. Can't begin to imagine.

    Your bike map makes me think U2 EL-E-VA-TION!!!!!

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  47. That is seriously hardcore. Thanks for making me feel like a total wimp.

    RIP Eugene

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  48. Morning is the best time but it almost always leads to an al fresco dump. Sometimes I've just got to wait and lighten the load!
    In terms of sickness, symptoms from the neck up = keep training, neck down (chest, bronchial) = rest up!

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  49. Hope you're feeling better soon! Once I had spicy thai tofu before a trail race - not with the purpose of giving myself stomach cramps, or with the purpose of showing that sometimes I avoid using common sense - boy was it an interesting disaster of a race. Diarrhea everywhere!

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  50. I am an early morning workouter. But late night yoga usually makes for good sex.

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