un-Break My Heart

So I've been going to First Choice Healthcare for two weeks and I can't say enough positive things about the place. Dr. Nik's listening abilities may be as great as his Graston Technique skills. After battling with problems for the last 5 years and reaching a point where I thought it was just something I had to deal with, it's awesome to see results so soon. In just a week I shaved 8 minutes off of my TNR 7.2 mile time. That is a pretty sizeable amount in a very short period of time. Not only has the doctor been working on my left knee, the cause of the right hip problems, he also has me doing exercises that are teaching me to engage my core. When I finally figure out how to get everything working together it's going to be pretty amazing.

So far this week my work out has looked like this

• Monday- Swim(I think it was 6 or 700 the pool is really short) and Yoga
• Tuesday- Pilates and 7.2 mile run
• Wednesday- Swim (900m) Graston Technique (not a exercise but it hurts worst than all the others
• Thursday- Pilates and treadmill intervals

(yoga and pilates are always on my lunch break)

With freezing rain in the forecast for Atlanta on Saturday, I pushed my long run back to Sunday and prepared to go out on a Friday night. Since I haven't able to hang out with my college friends in a while, I took the drive down the road to Auburn to hang out and crossed a major milestone in the life of me and The Green Machine. 200k miles, now that is a lot of living. While the plan was adult beverages and good times once I got to Auburn, my body decided something else. All Friday evening my chest was tight and I wasn't really able to breath deeply though I thought it was just sinus congestion. I truly was hoping some Whiskey would knock it out but the whiskey and I failed at that one. Well it only got worst and Saturday I woke up feeling like I couldn't breathe and some sharp chest pains so I reluctantly went to the hospital. Well long story short they thought I had a heart attack. Yes, scared the shit out of me too. The EKG machine was full of shit. So then I spend the entire day in the ER getting the full work up of blood work, cardio sonograms ... everything. It's funny while the nurse is drawing blood she breaks in to friend mode with her "so do you do steriods?" huh ... this is the guy who just started drinking beer in 2008, really makes me laugh. I'm 6'2 190 lbs and pretty lean maybe I don't know how steriods work. I guess it's flattering. "No bff I definitely don't do steriods, hell I rarely do caffeine." So the bloodwork comes back to show I didn't have a heart attack, nor had any drugs in my system (Drug Free class of 2000 here, thanks Nancy Reagan.) Doctor told me to take a few days off. I sadly do have to follow up with a Cardiologist when I get back to Atlanta, I hate going to the doctor, in fact I hate it so much I don't even have a primary care physician. So now I need to find a primary care doctor and a Cardiologist. What sucks is now every time I think i feel something in my chest, it's going to go back this. I don't want to be a self diagnosing fool.

The ING Marathon is looking more and more like a half marathon now.

I leave you with quite possibly the best super bowl pray for victory dance on this side of the Mississippi. Blue Jay and the Russell Experience

Same story different day

Today I went to the doctor (who can't type) for my ailing hip, and of course he did exactly what I thought he would do. Take my 15 dollar co-pay and order a x-ray and refer me to the Orthopedic. He did surprise me and actually bend my leg inward to make me say "ow", that was definitely not expected. I really don't understand why he ordered an x-ray when the pain is not in the bone, but I guess it's standard HMO procedure to go cheap and proceed from there. I'm going to the Ortho on Dec 1st so hopefully we can get to the bottom of it.

After going to the doctor I couldn't keep myself away from TNR. 3 weeks was a long time to miss out on these runs. I don't know if I miss the runs more or the hanging out with friends having dinner afterwards. I knew I wouldn't be able to handle the 7 mile loop, because of the hills, so I went out on a flat route opposite of the other runners. It's a good thing I did choose the flat route because the pain is still there. On the flats it doesn't get to the point where I absolutely can't run so I was able to pushed through. I'm in a lot of pain now but it was worth it (we'll see how worth it it really was tomorrow). I'm so excited to be healthy, whenever thats going to happen.

I got a email asking me for some of the highlights from my Triathlon season so it looks like i'm going to get an award at our end of the year party this weekend. I pray i'm drunk enough that there is a speech (I'm assuming it will be a most improved award and I don't think you can win that more than once so this will probably be the only time I ever win an award). Kind of sad that it takes alcohol for me to do it, but it is what it is. Sadly I went from a 100 miles running in October to what looks like it's going to be 20 miles in November.