Objective: have fun.

So the effects of my sickness are still presenting themselves, likely coupled with the weather. I ended up at Urgent Care again on Sunday because I couldn't breath. Went to swimming and did about 700 or so. I just could not catch my breath. I have been feeling short of breath for a few days, probably since last week. Just not this bad. The ride in the wind on Saturday probably didn't help. Anyway they were doing fly all day at masters which I figured probably wasn't super helpful anyway and got out and went to the doctor. They gave me a nebulizer which cleared me up. I also got a prescription for some more steroids. I decided to go on the run which felt really good at first but by the end my chest was getting tight again. So now I am taking steroids I'm the form of pills and two inhalers. I really hope this gets better by Saturday. Think I will also call my pulmunologist for an appointment tomorrow.  Two years ago this happened. I think a bacterial and/or viral infection triggers it and then it is exasperated  by the weather. With the wind blowing and the snow melting there is so much crap out there.

Monday- maybe change this day up? Super windy and yucky out there. Also, I still need a swim. Masters tonight?

So after all that. I have obviously been thinking about this sort of big race coming up. I am feeling a little unprepared. Swimming hasn't been great and I was sick and now dealing with the aftermath of sickness which is my lung retaliation. I think the objective of St George is going to be.... Get out there, race as hard as I can, but ultimately have fun. I need to keep remembering to have fun.

Anyhoo....

Wednesday's run was hard. It started hard and never got much better. I just had a hard time settling in. I didn't bring water and the wind was blowing pretty hard so I felt like I was getting super dehydrated the whole time. Also looking back I think I may have been having a hard time breathing. Also, my achilles on one foot hurts and my hamstring on the other leg hurts. The loop I did was 13 miles and I think that is the most tired I have felt all season. So, I did do the run at the end of the day and with the wind and the course I picked, it wasn't easy. I would like to think I was just having one of those off days.

Thursday-
Swim- Busted it out. Really focused on form.
 Beautiful weather. Glad you picked this day for a ride. It was windy but warm. Kept running into friends that were also outside playing after work. Probably rode a little less than 2.5 hours, but not really sure. My watch broke and I'm waiting for a new one. I rode the cross bike and did a sort of town loop which included Triple Tree which is a little out of town.

Friday- Glad to have just a short run today.  The run wasn't super easy though. Hard to find a groove. Erik is going to Missoula tonight. Looking forward to getting some sleep. Which didn't happen. Friends stopped by and stayed pretty late. I haven't seen them in a while, but I was sort of looking forward to an early night to bed.

Saturday- Left the house mentally feeling like I would just go bust put the ride and be done. The wind had picked up and I wanted to do hills so I met Lawrence and we headed up Bridger Canyon and over Battle Ridge. I think the wind kept getting stronger throughout the day. The final 15 miles were character building. I have never been blown around so bad. Going downhill with swirling winds so bad I was almost blown backwards at one point. I would have given the sky the bird but was to afraid to take my hands off my handlebars.  Did I bring enough food and water? No. I planned for more like 3 hours not 4. Which was kind of dumb, but I think Erik stole a water bottle holder off my bike. So I was short a carrying device. Didn't feel super great on the ride. Looking back I know I was coughing a lot and using the inhaler a lot.  Maybe that is why those hills hurt so bad. 30 minute run off the bike was okay. The wind was just pissing me off at that point.

Feeling better

Eased my way back into moving my body. We moved to campus last Wednesday. Brought a bunch of clothes and swim stuff to store I'm my locker at the gym. I really enjoyed the ease of the two minute walk to the gym and the pool. I think it is going to make my daily routine less hectic.

On Saturday there was an organized fun run. Back from Bridger Bowl. I knew the weather was going to be crappy and it was Erik's birthday.  I got up early, picked up Lawrence, and got the run done. We did the 9.7 mile distance. Went over to the gym and swam 1500 almost straight. Just to keep from being bored, I did some 100 builds. My turnover is slow and I felt slow, but no pain. Back a little sore/tight on Saturday night, but not bad. Watched what I could of the Grizzly. Ali Brondson did awesome, huh? I'm glad Matt Seeley won! Were you happy with your race?  I took Erik to Big Sky for the evening. We stayed at the 320 Ranch. Went to the brewery for beer and dinner and sat in the hot tub. It was a really, really good day.

On Sunday we got up and drove back to Bozeman. Met up with William at nap time and headed out for a ride. Managed to get home right after the snowstorm blew in. 48 miles and I was feeling great!

Sick

Horrible what happened in Boston today. Knew a few people racing, brings it a lot closer home.

I have been attacked, chewed up, and spit back out again by something very nasty. A dose of 750mg of an antibiotic that has horrible side affects has barely budged this monster, leaving me with what seems to be a virus. Slept until 3:30 on Saturday, went back to Urgent Care and they upped my dose of antibiotic, layed around all day Sunday, and called in sick on Monday. I think the antibiotic is kicking the bronchial infection, but I am still so tired and feel dizzy. Thought that maybe I wasn't eating enough, but that didn't work either.

Oh- "The Life of Pi "is an amazing read and an equally wonderful movie.

I can't help but worry about the Grizzly. I know I should wait and see but I am usually pretty anxious about the swim anyway, let alone not having swam for at least a month. Being in the pool for 20 minutes is really going to mess up the mens start. Maybe I need to stay and just swim for the whole day on April 20th.  I'm just joking (sort of) about that last part. Honestly though, maybe I should jump into a different swim heat, if possible or bail on the Grizzly this year and set my sights on St. George. I hate feeling like I am failing.

Trajectory

Have a meeting on Thursday at 7:00pm. We are going to vote on our recommendation to the commission our options for the new pools. After that I am pretty sure I am going to step down from that board. It is ineffective and a waste of my time. 

I am feeling a little under the weather. Have a bit of a cough. Erik just got over a sinus infection. Please don't tell me I may now be getting it. Uggh. 

Massage was okay. I admit I didn't leave feeling any better than when I got there. He thought my swim would feel better, so we will see tomorrow. 

Race flier for race at the caverns this weekend. What do ya think? 

Yes, I am a very obsessed fan. I admit it. But come on this is awesome. 

Wednesday- Headed up to Hyalite. Road is closed and it is a nice uphill. For the first time in my life, on the second interval, I was surprised when I only had two minutes left. Perfect location for that ride. Time wise and workout wise. Uphill there downhill home.
Got back and headed out on a run. Legs felt it at first, but then I settled in. Really able to mentally settle into to these runs in the past year or so.

Thursday - got ditched by Michelle. Probably good. My legs were tired. Did about an hour by myself. Ran some hills. Felt better after I warmed up. 

This is a sleepy Mister

This is an I am going to get you Mister

Saturday and Sunday were fun. I drug Lawrence out on the run. Ran with him over the first hill and down the other side and then pushed it coming back up. Met up with him at the top and ran down together. My legs were feeling it the last mile or so. Went home loaded up the car and went to visit Grandma. 

Sunday- Met up with a friend from Billings and another guy EJ to ride. EJ is this 21 year old who can't decide if he wants to be a pro triathlete or a pro cyclist. Funny. He was really nice though. Did a 55 mile ride. Went up and down quite a few pretty big hills. Different climbing than here, and more like St. George and probably Wisconsin, so it was great. Did a big out and back climb at the end and then an uphill through town back to home. It was so nice to get out and road ride with people. Went hard sometimes, chatted other times. Good ride. Felt good at the end of the 55 miles too. Would go back again this spring if the weather here is bad, or not.  I guess it was sleeting in Bozeman.