Status

I saw my doctor a couple weeks ago and he said my blood tests "looked good". Great news! The blood was drawn while I was on the thyroid hormone for hypothyroidism, and I told him in the mean time, I had stopped taking it. So that made me wonder, if I don't need it, why the test results would have been good while I was on it. I had been off it for a few weeks, and really felt fine... The doctor told me that hormone has a half life, so really after just a few weeks, quite a bit was still built up in my blood stream. I had gotten to the point with my health that I just want to start with a clean slate, and then see. I stopped taking anything and everything (which mainly was the levothyroxine, vitamin B, and a multivitamin). Surprisingly enough, he was all for that. I'm going to go back the end of June and have my thyroid levels checked again.

When I say I stopped taking anything and everything, that includes my nightly glass of wine or gin and Squirt or Mango rum and Peach\Orange juice. Damn, that hurts! For the past 20 years or so, that has been one of my majorly enjoyed vices... a night cap. But in the last year, my sleep has really taken a turn for the worse. I have noticed a direct correlation to that one drink before bed... and fitful sleep. It's hard to believe, but after testing the theory for several weeks, it's without fail. If I drink even one glass of wine past 8:00 or so, I will have insomnia in the middle of the night. So no more alcohol during the week... Fridays, however, are mine!!!

I have definitely been feeling better, but the cramping following a hard workout still continues to plague me. After my ride\run brick on Thursday, I ran on Friday evening. It was hotter than hades out, and I was sore. It was an extremely difficult run... and I paid the price. Bad cramping until the following day (but at least there wasn't any blood involved!). Researching this a few months ago (when there was blood involved), I came across the term "condition the gut". I need to find more about what that means. I guess I'm not too smart; I went ahead and ran Saturday too, but kept it short (4 miles) and easy.

I was feeling back to normal today, so I went out for a 32 mile ride, followed by a 2.5 mile run, and then 500 yards in the pool. The pool was outside, and extra cold still... very refreshing on my sore body. I'm really encouraged by my rides so far; every time it gets a little easier, and I'm really feeling my legs come back. And today, for added measure, I wore my tri shorties! I felt great all day today (although I'm a little sore tonight). I'm thinking about my first 2009 race...