It's a very slow process - two steps forward, one step back - but I'm inching in the right direction. - Rob Reiner

August 10, 2012

My How Time Flies

It’s been over three weeks since my last post.  Oops.  I guess I haven’t really had too much to blog about (workout wise).

I have kind of been a disaster since my Racine 70.3 race.  I was taking an antibiotic prior to Racine, and apparently you were absolutely supposed to avoid sun exposure on this particular antibiotic……ooops.  Do you think being in the hot sun for like 10 hours was a bad idea?  Apparently that explained the heat rash and probably the accelerated dehydration as well.  It seems I may have also been slightly allergic, which is what caused the multiple days of hives and itching.  (If you don’t know what I’m talking about read my race report). After a few days off the medication and on an allergy pill I was feeling better.  But then out of the blue, about 4 days after the race I developed horrible vertigo.  The Dr. is still not certain if it was also related to the antibiotic or just a bad coincidence, but all of a sudden my world started spinning 24/7.  It was so bad that I could hardly stand up or drive for several days.  The worst part lasted about 3 days, but it was followed by pretty bad vertigo for almost a week and a half.  It didn’t matter what I was doing – standing, sitting, laying down – the world was spinning.

Luckily it has slowly improved, and while it’s still there, it’s is much better and only now seems to bother me when I move my head quickly, lie down, or lower my head.  But at least I’m not dizzy all the time, which is good.

Needless to say this hindered my workouts considerably.  I didn’t do a single workout for the first week after Racine, which was ok because my body probably needed to rest.  Over the last couple of weeks I have slowly gotten back into my workouts, but still haven’t done much a few short runs and one bike.  I still haven’t attempted swimming yet – I think my vertigo issues will keep me from this one potentially for awhile.  I have begun doing strength training again.  I have been working out with a personal trainer 2 times a week for the last 2 weeks.  That is freaking HARD.  She pushes me far beyond where I would push myself.  But that’s good. 

This is not actually me at the Olympics, but I'm currently lifting about this much.


The strength training was all part of my post race plan.  I know I need to get stronger to avoid injury and actually get better.  If I’m going to keep at this running and triathlon thing (which I intend to do) I would eventually like to be better than bottom 25%.  But I’m a work in progress that’s for sure.

Well that’s what’s new with me.  Other than that, the Olympics has been occupying all of my time.  I’m kind glad that it’s almost over.  I’ve spent a lot of time TV watching lately and I never do that.

What’s up with all ya’ll??? 

14 comments:

  1. Wow so it's true, sorry to hear that doesn't sound like fun side effects! I was on the same type of antibiotic right before my IM in '08 and the Dr. told me that but when I almost cried he said ok you can do the race but make sure you put tons of sunscreen. Guess I got lucky!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow - I've never heard of that antibiotic!

    First race of the season is tomorrow - sprint duathlon. Looking forward to getting back into racing again - just not looking forward to the predicted freezing conditions! Brrrrr!

    ReplyDelete
  3. So sorry you've had so many issues! That vertigo would be awful!!! At least things are starting to look up and way to go on the strength training!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow, that vertigo sounds scary! Glad it is starting to subside and you are getting back at it.

    Strength training sounds hard, but I'm sure it is hard in a good way. Good to see you back blogging!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I hate vertigo. Glad it is lessening for you as it is disorienting to say the least.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Just quietly, I'm glad that the Olympics are almost over too. I love them. Watch them obsessively. But two weeks of disrupted sleep is long enough. I'm just about ready for real life to resume.

    Have fun with that strength work. Will we be seeing you in Rio in 2016?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi there! so sorry you are not well...vertigo sucks..I hate it..I get sometimes

    are you still running Disneyland next month?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Antiobiotics can be powerful stuff! I found out the hard way that I was allergic to Bactrin. That.Was.Ugly!

    Good luck with the strength training!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow, sounds brutal! I will pray for quick healing.

    I am also trying to make strength training a bigger part of my training.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yikes! Tough stuff! Hope you're feeling better.

    ReplyDelete
  11. That really stinks, Michael. I hope you're feeling MUCH better by the time of this comment. Antibiotics do weird things to you, that's for sure--I always notice my running suffers a little when I have to go on them. I try to eat lots of yogurt and drink Good Belly to keep the digestive system normal.

    The personal training sounds great!

    ReplyDelete
  12. So glad you're back! My husband just did his first 70.3 on Saturday and Im so glad I had read you're recap because I told him all about your experience. Those hives must have been terrible. Yike! So glad you're feeling better.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi there! so sorry you are not well...vertigo sucks..I hate it..I get sometimes are you still running Disneyland next month?

    ReplyDelete