Dear Coach Sharpie...from Cookie (the pup)

Dear Coach Sharpie,

Since my two-legged Mom started working with you, she seems very happy. That said, our workouts have changed a little. After adopting me, she discovered that I am an awesome running buddy (pretty amazing for a dog who survived significant burn injury). I don't stop to sniff, and rarely go to the bathroom. Even when I see another dog or other two-leggers, I am only temporarily distracted. I am all about the task at hand.

We used to run pretty fast. We got outside and I wanted to run, run, run. Now my Mom goes a lot slower, and checks that thing on her wrist all the time. Before, she would drop me off at home and finish her run alone because I was worn out. Now I am with her for the whole run. I don't understand why she does these crazy things sometimes (hopping, skipping, and other weird things with her feet I have never seen before), but we have fun. She has even taken me on a new route through the woods and near lots of horses and deer.

I also like when you have her ride on the spinny thing. I get to sit on the couch and bask in the sun while she does all the work (don't tell my Dad!). I'm working on perfecting my downward dog when she does yoga.

Thanks for making my two-legged Mom so happy, and thanks for the awesome training plan. My legs are solid muscle now and all of my cold-weather clothes fit much better!

Love,
Cookie the Wonderdog

A note from my 10-year-old self

While cleaning the basement the other day, I went through my old camp trunk which was filled with memorabilia from elementary school through college. I came across an autobiography I wrote in 1986. It was amazing how much parts of it resonate today.

"My Historical Perspective:
I can remember lots of historical events that have happened during my life, but one thing I remember is when President Reagan was shot in 1981. Anything and everything in the papers was about the attempted assassination.

The year of 1986 has probably been the most historical in my life. To begin the year, the space shuttle challenger exploded and killed six astronauts and Crista McAullife (the first teacher in space). This was caused by a faulty seal ring on one of the booster rockets.

In March, Corazon Aquino won the Philipines presidential election. Her opponent was Ferdinand Marcos.

In April, a woman bombed a TWA plane to Italy. The bombing killed 1 man, 2 women, and 1 baby. People think Qaddafi had something to do with it. There has been a lot more bombings this year, for instance when Reagan bombed Qaddafi's headquarters and killed Qaddafi's 2 month old adopted daughter. So far nothing else has happened."
(Amazing how so much has changed, yet so much has not)

"Remember Me: 
I would like to be remembered as a person who cared and loved animals. I would really like to be remembered as the world's greatest equestrian. I would also like to be remembered as a person who helped other people. The last way in the world I would ever want to be remembered as a terrorist."

Ok...so maybe I'm not the world's greatest equestrian, but I did spend a year on the Equestrian Team at the University of Maryland, and I would say that working as an NP counts as helping people. My kids might call me a terrorist at bedtime, but otherwise I think I am safe.

:) Thanks for sharing my blast from the past.

30-Day Transformation

Ok, so the title of this blog sounds like the title of an infomercial. There are no shortcuts, there are no free rides, and being successful in the sport of triathlon (or life in general) requires hard work.

After the year 16 months of crummy health issues (blah, blah, blah), I was so over all of it. I kept thinking if I could just maintain a positive attitude, I could get it all turned around. I was convinced that although my health issues were seemingly random (ectopic pregnancy, abnormal heart rhythms, hearing loss, etc.), there had to be something tying them all together. Nutrition? Emotional well-being (perhaps I hadn't allowed my self to grieve the loss of a pregnancy that was a surprise in the first place)? Bad luck?

Every time I thought I got a handle on things, something else cropped up.....my migraines got much worse, my hair was falling out. While it isn't good to rest too much on dates (i.e. "It will get better next year), I decided to try my hardest to make sure that my health was better in 2012 than it had been in 2011.

I had amazing support from family, friends, and teammates during all of my health issues. So it certainly wasn't lack of love and support that was exacerbating things. I decided to make two big changes.

1. After getting worked on by my friend Andree's chiropractor in South Carolina, I decided to try chiropractic and see if it made a difference in my health and my ability to train.
2. I made the decision Carole Sharpless (team Rev3 "Mom" and awesome friend) offered to take me on as a coaching client. I hoped that working with a coach who "got" and respected my crazy life would help me achieve my goals successfully (primarily to train smart and train healthy).

Fast forward 30 days. I emailed Carole two weeks ago and said "I realized on a run today that I will run over 20 miles this week, and I got choked up". This time of the triathlon season isn't about distance or speed, but about building a healthy base. Holy cow! What I've done in the past month is more than I did practically all of last year, and I feel good doing it. She even has me looking forward to my swim workouts.

The other amazing thing? Two days after a 9+ mile run last week, I saw Dr. Ray Moss, my chiropractor and frankly my current BFF. I nearly bounced into his office, very excited to tell him that I had NO pain in my right sacroiliac joint (lower back). This was AFTER running 9+ miles. I should have been in a lot of pain, and stiff, and sore, and uncomfortable.... At least if my previous experience had anything to say about it. I am still in the initial phases of chiropractic, and have days where the arthritis in my pelvis does both me, but not nearly like it did before.

The month of January exceeded my wildest expectations. I still have a long way to go, and as I type this I am battling the sinus crud and am bummed that I missed a workout this weekend. But I'm also overjoyed with the progress I have made, and thankful for a new year.

I would be remiss if I didn't say thanks to everyone who has been on the roller coaster of my health the past year+. Tommy spent his share of time in waiting rooms and let me cry when I needed to, family members who made sure the kids were covered, Katy was there both times I needed to go to the Emergency Room (since we work at the hospital), coworkers who covered me, and my friends and teammates. Your encouragement and listening ears will always be appreciated. I'm not kidding myself that I might not need them in the future, but I'm hoping those moments come much less often.

Here is to an awesome 2012!!!!!!!!

Read this if you are a woman, or know a woman

Today is national Go Red for Women Day. Before you think that you don't have to worry about cardiovascular disease, read on.

"A" was a 30-something mother of two when she suffered a massive stroke. Working at a local school one day, she became unable to speak or move one side of her body. A quick-thinking co-worker called 9-1-1, recognizing that "A" was suffering a stroke. EMS providers got her to the hospital quickly, where we gave a clot-busting medication. These medications work only if a stroke patient gets to the hospital within 4 1/2 hours of the onset of symptoms. "A" was healthy, and would never have expected to have a stroke. The clot-buster work, and she regained her speech and movement. Groundhog day was the 6th anniversary of her stroke. I am happy to say that now I see her on Facebook, rather than as a patient in our hospital.

Shari was a mother of three, who ran regularly with her good friend. On one of their early morning runs, she began to feel poorly. As they got close to home, she collapsed. Her friend Cathy began CPR and was assisted by their husbands. EMS providers arrived quickly, continued CPR, and were able to restore a normal heart rhythm. Shari did not wake up, and there was concern for brain injury due to lack of oxygen. We initiated a hypothermic state, chilling Shari to protect her brain. She made a full recovery.

So I ask you to take a minute on "Go Red for Women Day" to learn the warning signs of heart attack and stroke. You can save a life. Learn CPR. Know the warning signs. It may be the most important thing you do one day.

Warning Signs of a Stroke (Think "Fast")
Face- Smile (do both sides look the same?)
Arms- Raise both arms over the head (are they symmetrical?)
Speech- Say a Sentence (slurred? does it make sense?)
Time- Call 9-1-1 quickly!!!!


Warning Signs of a Heart Attack

• Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
• Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort
• Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness
• As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.
• If you have any of these signs, don’t wait more than five minutes before calling for help. Call 9-1-1...Get to a hospital right away.

The following two videos are funny, but convey a serious message. Both are made by the American Heart Association to raise awareness. 

"It's Just a Little Heart Attack"

"Push Hard and Fast"

11 Things...my turn

I thought I could escape the "tagging" by my teammates, but Laura got me. It must be retribution for the pictures I posted of her after our night at the Ulman Cancer Fund's Blue Jeans Ball. Since all of my teammates and the bloggers I follow have already been tagged, I am making this blog post a note on facebook and tagging 11 people there.  

Here we go:

1. Post these rules
2. You must post 11 random things about yourself
3. Answer the questions set for you in their post
4. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer
5. Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them
6. No stuff in the tagging section about you are tagged if you are reading this. You legitimately have to tag 11 people!

11 Things about Me:

1. I have allergies and seem to always leave crumpled tissues in the bed. It drives Tommy CRAZY!

2. I tend not to forward chain emails, but I can't pass this one up as I have enjoyed reading everyone else's post. I think I shy away from the chain letters/emails, but to this day am a bit haunted by a childhood chain letter experience. A friend of my Mom's had a son younger than me (I was probably 10 or 12). He had Leukemia. I remember my Mom talking about him having low platelets, and me picturing little plates floating around in his blood. He sent me a chain letter at some point, and I put it in my desk thinking I would reply at some point. Mikey passed away before I replied, and at the time I felt horrible, since people always said breaking the chain brought bad luck. So I guess now I ignore them entirely because otherwise I would stress myself out about responding to EVERY chain email. (More thank you wanted to know, huh?)

3. I was on the Equestrian Team (a club team) at the University of Maryland for my freshman year of college.

4. I have been known to talk a LOT. When I get focused on a project, I get really quiet, and it tends to freak those around me out a bit.

5. I became a firefighter when I was 18 (yes- I actually rode fire engines and put out fires), and met Tommy at the firehouse.

6. I was fortunate enough to travel across the country twice with my grandparents in their Ford pickup and travel trailer.

7. I cannot pee on my bike. Many triathletes can do this, but I have never been able to accomplish it (I have no problems doing it in my wetsuit or while running, though)

8. I went to a High School with a graduating class of 18 people and a total size of 80 people.

9. Because of #8, I played softball (co-ed), soccer (co-ed), basketball, and ran track in high school. Yes, I was 5'1" and the point guard of our bball team!

10. I fell madly in love at 17, he dumped me at 19 (in retrospect the best thing that could have happened for us), back together when I was 22, married when I was 23, and at 35 I love him more than I did 18 years ago.

11. I think there is nothing better than the sound of my children giggling...even if it is 9:11 pm as I type this and they should be sleeping.

Laura's Questions:

1. What is your DREAM job?

This sounds dorky, but I LOVE my job. I love the "Nancy Drew" aspect of my job. Someone comes to the hospital with an ailment, and our job is to figure out what and why. Sometimes this is very difficult, and I love the feeling that comes with solving the mystery. I also love explaining things to patients and their families in understandable terms and helping them "get it". 

2. If you could live ANYWHERE where would you go?

Cairns, Australia

3. Tell us your BIGGEST secret! ha.. okay a smaller one you are willing to share.

Hmmm...I'm kind of an open book. Not much to share...and I'm not telling you the really good ones.

4. How often do you weigh yourself?

Almost never...I can tell where I am better by how my clothes fit than what I weigh. 

5. Do you keep up w/ politics and current events?

I read the front page, the Metro section, and the Obituaries in the Washington Post. I definitely keep up with local events, and watch the news when I can (hard with young kids around), but I would not say I am keeping up with politics. I will pay attention when the primaries roll around and the current pre-election dust settles. I read the obits because I often find out about patients who have visited our hospital at some point passing away that way. 

6. What is your favorite time of day?

Morning. I love the promise of a new day, and I love the mornings when Tommy gets off work and comes home to greet us before we head out to work/school. I really look forward to him coming in the door those days. 

7. How many hours do YOU sleep a night?

7ish

8. What is your BIGGEST lifetime goal//dream?

Ok- I am a bit dorky. Thanks to an amazingly supportive family, I have been able to cross a lot off my "bucket list"....honestly I don't have much of a bucket list because as things come I take them on. Most of all, I would like my kids to one day look back on their childhood and think that I was a good Mother.

9. Would you consider yourself a half empty or half full type?

Half Full. Almost disgustingly so. Have you heard of Polyanna. I honestly want to find the bright side in most situations, and want everyone to be happy. (Not to say I don't have negative moments, but I think when you work in healthcare you have a tendency to think "It could always be worse."

10. Do you reduce, reuse, recycle?

Our county is phenomenal about recycling, so they make it easy. They actually started charging for plastic bags at all stores to reduce pollution, so that has made me remember my reusable bags on a regular basis now. 

11. Do you strength train?

Not lately, but core and yoga. 

My Questions:

1. Beer or wine?

2. What is your favorite holiday and why?

3. If there is one famous person (celebrity, historical figure, author, etc.) you could meet, who would it be and why?

4. If you could be on a reality show (and have whatever talent required to be on that show), which one would it be?

5. If you could only have one artist on your Ipod, who would it be?

6. If you had to change careers, what career would you choose?

7. If you had to go back and re-live one year of your life, when would that be?

8. If you could be a professional in any sport, what sport would that be?

9. What is your all-time favorite book?

10. What scares you most: sharks, snakes, or spiders (or none of the above)?

11. If you could visit one place in the world that you have never been before, where would it be?

VLOG: Rockin' the REV3 "R"

So my teammate Laura threw down a challenge to do a video blog about what the Rev3 visor means to us. So here goes. Enjoy!

"50/50" Why We Fight

I just watched the movie 50/50 during a trainer ride. Disclaimer: I love Seth Rogen. "Knocked Up" is still one of the funniest movies EVER to me (I think because it came out after the birth of my second child and many moments resonated). "50/50" did not disappoint. It can't be easy to make a movie about cancer that makes you laugh, but it did. Humor aside, there were two things that struck me...

#1- Anyone entering (or already in) the medical profession should watch this movie. I would like to think that I am a good communicator, and explain things well to my patients. Watching this movie from the patient perspective (the physician blurting out a diagnosis using huge medical terms, not looking his patient in the eye, not providing support, a novice therapist in a teaching hospital) reminded me that some of the most skilled practitioners are crappy communicators. When I worked in cardiac surgery, the best surgeon had the worst bedside manor. I would have wanted him as my own surgeon if I ever needed it, but I can see as a patient/family member with no point of reference, this guy was an ass (plain and simple).

We ask our patients every day to trust us with situations that are potentially life or death, but we don't always consider the gravity of these conversations. We don't have time, we aren't good communicators, the patient or family is "difficult". Even the temperature in the physician's office, as you are waiting to find out if your chemo treatments worked, took on gravity in this film. (I was focused on the nurse's reaction at this point). So I think this should be required viewing for new med students, nursing students, pretty much anyone who works with patients. We can ALWAYS do better.

#2- Without saying it, this movie highlights the value of the cancer navigator role. What do cancer navigators do? Pretty much what it sounds like. They help a cancer patient navigate the system. They are an advocate, an ally, someone who is perhaps more aware of the resources available, and most importantly help an individual become a more educated advocate for themselves. Here is the goal of the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults navigator program.

To improve the ability of young adults to manage their own cancer experiences and long-term cancer survival through:

• access to support resources tailored specifically to young adults;
• increased knowledge of their disease, treatment options and lifelong implications of treatment choices; and
• effective communication with their medical care team

This is why Rev3 staff and Team Rev3 members are participating in the Run Across America. To raise $100K to support the navigation program at the Ulman Cancer Fund. So check out the Ulman Website, consider making a donation, and watch the movie.