You’ve heard 100 walkers say it 1,000 times. You have to listen to your body. Well, make this 1,001. Don’t just roll your eyes at me or nod your head and say, “Yeah, yeah. I know,” because I did that, and that’s exactly how I landed myself in Urgent Care Friday night.
Let me tell you, it was more fun than a barrel of monkeys. (Does anybody even know what that means?) OK, so the respiratory tech was very nice and kind of cute, but still, I can name 20 better things to do on a Friday night without even straining my brain. The worst part is that it was totally preventable had I simply listened to my body.
I’ve already talked about being sick and out of commission during Week 13. Well, I didn’t let myself get all the way well and I jumped back in, doing too much too soon.
I knew I wasn’t bouncing back the way I should have. I knew the walking was more difficult than it should have been. I knew I was still having trouble breathing. Bottom line is I was struggling. I just didn’t pay attention, attributing it instead to some mental block. It wasn’t mental, at least not entirely. The root was very physical.
The doc took a listen to my lungs and said I was barely moving any air. My peak flow was about 300, well below normal. After an albuterol treatment, my peak flow was up to 400. While that’s still below average, it was a huge improvement, and I could feel absolutely feel the difference. It was a bit disconcerting.
With a diagnosis of acute bronchitis (I really should have known.), I left with a Z-Pak (yay), some codeine cough syrup (double yay) and a refill for an inhaler coupled with orders to actually use it. I also had instructions to take it easy on the walking for a few days, at least until the doc could take another listen to my apparently uncooperative lungs. I told him what was scheduled for the weekend, and he said flat-out no. I obeyed.
So, here I am, with nine weeks to go until the Arizona 3-Day, and while I’m not exactly sidelined, it’s pretty close. (It would have been far worse had I not finally sucked it up and gone to Urgent Care. I realize now I was only a step or two from a hospital admission. Talk about a wrench in the training.) I won’t lie and say that it doesn’t worry me because you know me too well for that. I fret. I am a world-class fretter. It runs in the family. Seriously, if my mom, my sister or I am not worried about something, you might want to check our pulses because we might be dead. Worrying is just what we do and we do it well. Very well.
While hooking me up for an EKG, the nice/cute tech asked me if I had any history of anxiety. I told I am sort of a Type A personality.
“In other words, yes,” he answered.
Laying on a table in a sexy blue gown with a dozen leads attached all over the place, I wasn’t exactly in a position to argue. Not that I would have. He was, after all, correct.
So, yes, I am worried about how the past month and the next few weeks are going to affect my training. If they do, they do. But it won’t change anything I have accomplished.
As I sit here writing, “Pay It Forward” has started on Ion Television; it’s playing back-to-back tonight. You know how I feel about this movie. I haven’t seen it since early April, not long after announcing my intention to take on this challenge called The 3-Day. Tonight, as it did then, it reminds me that anything – everything — is possible. Sick or healthy, injured or in the best shape ever, this event – and everything that goes with it, including a cure for breast cancer – is possible.
In the movie, Trevor (Haley Joel Osment) asks his Social Studies teacher Mr. Simonet (Kevin Spacey), “What’d you ever do to change the world?”
Simonet said he gets a good night’s sleep, eats a hearty breakfast, shows up on time to work and passes the buck.
Me? I Keep Going®. It’s the only thing I can do, the only thing most of us can do. That and listen to our bodies.
This isn’t the giveaway I had planned to start with, but it seems fitting – a DVD of the movie, “Pay It Forward.”
Te enter, just leave a comment on this post – make sure you include an email address so I can contact you – and tell me if you’ve ever been on the receiving ending of a pay-it-forward-like good deed, big or small.
Giveaway Rules: Giveaway ends Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 11:59 pm MST. Giveaway open to U.S. residents only. One winner will be chosen by the WordPress Plugin “And The Winner Is… .” You must have a valid email in blog profile or leave email in comments. I will notify the winner in a post and by email. If winner doesn’t respond within 48 hours of notification, a new winner will be chosen. I will be purchasing the DVD from amazon.com and will have it sent directly to the winner.
[...] Thank you all for sharing your pay-it-forward stories. [...]
Hey Cat,
Hang in there. I think what you are doing is amazing. When I trained for a half marathon I def. had to cross some hurdles and I know you can do it. Keep your focus on how great you are going to feel after you have completed the walk and about all of the people you are helping and inspiring. It well help you get back out there sooner and in good form.
Best of Luck!
Melissa (Playa Del Rey)
Thanks so much, Melissa! I’m definitely better now that my lungs are cooperating with the rest of me. Overcoming the hurdles just make success that much sweeter, right? Thank you for checkin’ in on me.
Wow Cat! That stinks! I always seem to wait til the last minute to go, too (in trying not to be a hypochondriac)…so anyway, at least you went and you’re on the road to recovery (that cough syrup is good stuff!). Don’t worry too much about the thwarted training…I’ve got 3 weeks to go and I’m just not getting in the training that I need. I truly think our desire and drive and adrenaline is half the battle with this walk. (I did tons of spring training, then tailed off over the summer). Try not to get too anxious about it and just be as prepared as you mentally and physically can. That’s the best you can do….I hope you start feeling better soon. On the pay it forward front…just last week at the County Fair, not one, not two, but 3 different people leaving the rides area gave my friend and I their extra tickets for our kids to ride the rides. We still had to purchase a few so all the kids had enough tix to ride 2 rides each but in the end we ended up with 3 extra tickets so I passed those on to another family who had a bunch of kids with them. And I still haven’t seen that movie.
I actually am kind of a hypochondriac, and I am so not a fan of doctors. I’m like you and tend to wait. I’m working my way back to full training and am hoping to catch up at least a bit. I think you’re right, though, about desire, drive and adrenaline. I’m partially count on the vibe and the excitement of the event to help me through.
Thanks for sharing your pay-it-forward story. Things like that just make me smile. 
Your posts always hit close to home for me. I’ve spent the last week and a half worrying about my stress fracture and the “what ifs” associated with it. After reading your post I realized that I have already accomplished more than I ever thought possible.
Wow, Lori. Stress fractures are not to be taken lightly. Please, please, please take care of yourself. And absolutely be proud of what you’ve already done!
I had a total pay it forward experience when I was training for the 3 Day in 2008. It started with someone doing a very kind thing for my teammate Kelly and I (which I wrote about here: http://kscincotta.blogspot.com/2008/07/silver-comet-trail.html) and ended with Kelly and I being able to pay it forward to someone else (which I wrote about here: http://kscincotta.blogspot.com/2008/10/training-update.html). I think the 3 Day experience just lends itself to these kinds of experiences, don’t you?
Glad you’re feeling better! Training is definitely a lot easier when you are actually taking in oxygen properly!
~ Kristen
I absolutely think The 3-Day lends itself to all sorts of amazing experiences, and I haven’t even walked my first event yet!
Girl! I have been away from the virtual world for a few days and can’t believe that you had such trouble. I’m so sorry you had to experience this, but hope that it helps you to take it easier on the event…and the next few months!
I love Pay it Forward. I think the best example I can think of is one I shared recently in my interview with John (http://60miles3days.com/2010/09/leannes-moment/). My dear friend and team captain, Laurie is the one who got me suckered into walking in the 3-day several years ago. She told me I could do it. It was a small event for her, I’m sure, but has completely changed my life. The experiences that I’ve had, the decisions that I’ve made, and the people that I’ve met are all because she invited me to join her team – because she encouraged me to walk. Hopefully since joining the 3-day family I have helped encourage others to raise more money, walk more, etc. The impact is exponential. She had such a remarkable experience walking that she couldn’t help but pay it forward to me. And I do what I can to continue paying forward that gift.
Take it easy, Cat. Don’t push it. You want to be able to participate so make that your goal. Training will happen, right now you need to care for yourself.
Thanks Leanne. I’m much better now and easing back into training. I loved your interviews with John. It’s fantastically interesting that one moment, one experience can have such a profound effect on your life. I’m finding that, too, as I get closer to my first walk.
I had something similar happen when I was training for Michigan 3-day. It is tough but I guess we have to learn the hard way.
My pay it forward example is actually a 3-day Example. My knee was killing me on Day 1 so on Day 2 I planned to stop at the Walgreens I saw on the walk into Camp on day 1. When I got there I realized that when my pack broke day 1 and I switched I somehow forgot to get my ziplock with my ID, insurance card and money into my new pack. I was almost in tears when another walker who had stopped asked me what was up. This nice woman bought me the knee brace. I asked her what her tent number was so that I could catch up with her in camp and repay her. She said that it was on her that she just wanted me to help another walker when I saw someone in need. This amazing women completely changed the way my 3 day was going.
lisa.mcgeen@hotmail.com
I’m good at learning the hard way, Lisa. Thanks so much for sharing your pay-it-forward story. The 3-Day community never ceases to amaze me. People are incredibly kind and generous and always willing to help. Your story is a perfect example of that!
Wow Cat! I had heard a few things on the fringe about something happening to you, but I didn’t know what! Take it easy and get back to health!
I made the fringe? Wow! I’m much better now, John, thanks. New doctor’s orders are “Have at it and don’t be stupid.” Back to all-out training!