Week one was a success. Just got my Custom Supplement DNA kit in the mail. It’s all about optimizing my health. Check it out…
WLC Video Blog DAY 4
Last night I made beef stew before I went to bed. It would be tough to make it through one of these challenges without at least one slow-cooker full of beef stew. The original recipe comes from Paleo Girl in the City that I’ve modified a little (left out the wine and a few other ingredients because I either don’t have them or couldn’t find them in the store).
My house smells so amazing right now!
WLC Video Blog DAY 1
I’ve decided to do a video blog of my progress through the Whole Life Challenge. Every couple days I’ll post about how I’m doing, the challenges, the amazing food, workouts, and the supplements I’m taking. Speedo optional…
New Mountain Bike Race…
Picture this…it’s Friday evening. You’ve had a rough week at the office. What better way to let off some steam? A mountain bike race on a fun course only 30 minutes outside Portland.
Details coming soon to xterrapdx.com. In the meantime here’s a teaser video of the course.
My new body
Discipline
Lucky 13
“If life gives you lemons, make lemonade”
“Everything happens for a reason”
Whenever I hear someone say some form of these type of feel-good comments I puke in my mouth. Don’t get me wrong, I think that if you work hard (smart) and position yourself to take advantage of opportunities you will have a better chance at “making lemonade”. Now I find myself unemployed for the first time in my life and I wonder if this really happened at the right time for the right reasons. I am also at about the half-way point of a typical male lifespan, my magical 40th birthday will be here in September. So the big question is, “What do I want the rest of my life to look like?”
I am very passionate about helping others get fit, train for racing, supporting family and friends at events, and helping people change their lives for the better. I have two amazing kids that love to compete in their chosen sports and I LIVE to help them excel. Right now I have the opportunity to turn my passions and dreams into reality. It’s not going to be easy, and it certainly won’t happen overnight, but it is going to be worth it!
2013 is going to be a great year for me. Lucky me. Lucky 13!
I’m WHAT like a race horse?
Two weeks ago I went swimming in The Clackamas Cove with a friend. I was feeling pretty good until about 15 minutes into the swim when I became short of breath. My lungs felt like they were filling up with fluid so I coughed a few times to remove the junk that was in my lungs. Quickly my breathing became shorter and I couldn’t cough up the junk in my lungs. I started screaming and my friend swam over to me. At this point I couldn’t get more than half a breath and was feeling a little panicked. I don’t know how I was able to stay calm, keep my head above water, cough, kick, dog paddle, and breath while moving slowly toward the shore. We were about 200meters from land and I swear it took me 10 minutes to get there!
When we finally reached the shore I quickly unzipped my wet-suit and continued to cough up what I discovered was blood in my lungs. I became light headed and continued to cough up blood but as soon as I would cough it out my lungs would fill back up. My friend drove me straight to the emergency room.
At the ER I was immediately connected to every contraption in the room designed to measure vital signs. They must have been giving me huge amounts of oxygen because every staff member commented, “wow you’re getting level 4 oxygen”. I later found out that my oxygen saturation level was well below 90% (I was told anything below 92% is “really bad”). The bleeding stopped 3-4 hours later but they decided to keep me overnight because the doctors had no idea what was wrong with me.
Fast forward a few days and umpteen blood tests, x-rays, CT scans later when I’m finally released from the hospital. The only explanation the pulmonologist could find is very common in race horses, “Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage” or EIPH. (from Wikipedia: EIPH, also known as “bleeding” or a “bleeding attack”, refers to the presence of blood in the airways of the lung in association with exercise. EIPH is common in horses undertaking intense exercise, but it has also been reported in human athletes…)
My doctor wanted to be certain it was EIPH and not something potentially serious in my heart so he referred me to a cardiologist. Yesterday, the cardiologist performed a “hearth cath with exercise.” Basically, he had me ride an exercise bike while I was on an x-ray table with a tube and balloon inside my heart. I maxed the bike out before my heart rate reached 160 and was released with a two thumbs up to start training again.
After all the tests, stress, long nights of googling every possibility it all boils down to this: I am as healthy as a race horse.
Lose to Win $10k contest
Thrills and Spills at Hagg Mud 25k
This was one of my favorite parts of the race because of all the hilly, muddy sections. I hope you enjoying watching as much as I enjoyed filming this one. I will post a couple more videos of different parts of the course.
