beat

The past couple of days I had it pretty easy at work. And at the start of yesterday's shift, I only had 3 patients (although two open beds left open the possibility to be slammed with two admissions). Because the census was so low, there was a shuffling of patients and nurses (I think some were canceled) and I ended up with five patients:

Patient 1: peg tube, trach, vegetative state due to traumatic brain injury, etc. complete care, turn every two hours to prevent skin breakdown.
Patient 2: quadriplegic needing pain management and to be turned every two hours.
Patient 3: transfer from surgical critical care unit. needs to be turned every two hours.
Patient 4: pt needs assist of two to get up out of bed. Pain management; Thankfully turns self.
Patient 5: needing pain management, IV antibiotics, thankfully, patient can get up by himself.

Thankfully, by the time I transferred one patient (not listed) and got patients number 2, 3, and 5, most care had already been completed (dressing changes, etc). If I remember right, admitting diagnosis for patients (in no order): wound infection, cellulitis, pneumonia, GI bleed, Cancer, rule out goat. The other days I also had pulmonary embolism, cellulitis, and worsening pneumonia in an immunosuppressed patient.

Reason I mention this? A friend, who desperately wants a job in shock trauma/critical care is working at a small community hospital on a medical floor. She enjoys some of the people she works with, but is bored at work. She feels like she isn't being challenged and she states she knows how to care for pneumonia and congestive heart failure like no other.

I heard this and thought, "wow, I suck." I still question myself (and ask others a ton of questions). I've had some CHF patients. I've had my share of pneumonias. But last night I realized, I don't have those patients every day.

While I sometimes dislike the field of nursing I am in (medical, which is pretty broad as you can see from my the patient profile I've had the last few days), I can't help but think, "wow...I am seeing A LOT." still might not know a lot, but I'm learning. Sounds silly, but writing this out, despite the amount of complaining we all day on our floor, it's pretty damn cool that we see so much!

26.2-FINALLY!

Can I just say how HORRIBLE I am about updating this blog? So where to begin?

Pre Marathon Week:

horrible. tear filled stressful week. My schedule was a mixture of days and evenings and parts of my left leg were really beginning to bother me. I was supposed to work Friday evening before the marathon, which meant I wouldn't have gotten to bed until 1am. Lucky for me, I asked the charge nurse to cancel me and got it. I went to bed around 10pm. Which was good because on Saturday....

Marathon Eve:

Drive to DC. Cold, rainy, windy day. We found the expo, found parking(!) and completed race pick up. It was my first marathon expo so of course I wanted to see everything there. I picked up a jacket, which according to my husband looks like a Michael Jackson jacket (red & black with elastic around the wrists. I heart 80s). We left the expo to eat lunch and the went back to the expo to see all the ridiculous goods for sale. The expo was packed and I didn't get anything except a magnet for my car (the original magnet got washed off in a drive thru car wash). I think I'm officially over the expos though...There really wasn't anything there that I just had to have (except the jacket).

that night was a yummy carb loaded pasta dinner at my friend's aunt & uncle's house and then an attempt to fall asleep. THAT never happened. the entire night was spent tossing and turning.

Marathon Day: I finally got out of bed at 4:45. the hotel had a ridiculously expensive breakfast cafe ($7 for cereal!) so i got a bagel, juice, and coffee & the starbucks kiosk. Ate upstairs. Got ready. packed a ton of Gus (most of which i did not use). My husband and friend had signs and balloons (a palm tree and margarita) and we left the hotel around 7:10 to walk to the start.

There were tons of people walking to the starting line. I was literally skipping I was so excited. Runners dressed as hot dogs. One was putting on a mask of the last VP (I told him if he was behind me I would definitely run the whole way).

Run:

I had to climb over the barricade to get into the runners section. I was somewhere near the 4:45 group. My ultimate goal was to finish. I wanted to break 5 hours, and my training plan said I would run it in 4:40. I thought it would be cool to finish in 4:30, but knew that wasn't reasonable. the start cannon shot at 0800. and my lane of runners was standing still. and still standing. The other lane was beginning to itch forward. We were still. eventually we started running and I crossed the start line around 8:15.

I saw my husband and friend (and balloons!) to the left. And if I could have, I would have cartwheeled. The first few miles went through parts of crystal city. At Mile Two I started thinking, "Damn. I am TIRED." not running tired, but sleep deprived i am coming down with something tired. I think mile 3 started on the parkway and it was a pretty wooded area. People were so funny! A will Ferrell wann-a-be was hilarious. I found my groove around mile 4 or 5, just before crossing the bridge into Georgetown. Georgetown was where I did my first gu between mile 6 and 7. I saw a friend (what are the chances!) and ran with her and her friend through Georgetown and into dc.

At Mile 10 we were getting back into DC near the monuments and I saw my husband and friend (those balloons were AWESOME). I was jumping like a female version of will Ferrell. I obviously got a high and sped up. I didn't know it, but we were entering an area called Haine's Point, which is very pretty, but with hardly any spectators. I was still feeling pretty good and I left my friend because I felt like I could push a little more. through the 1/2 way point. Leaving Haine's Point and entering mile 15/16 I began to feel tired. I saw my husband and friend again and said (with a big grin on my face), "I'm getting tired!" Husband's response? "Keep running!"

I vaguely remember mile 16. I remember the people and seeing part of the Lincoln memorial, but I don't remember how we got around it (the back? the front of the monument?) We ran past the White House (but I don't remember running past the Vietnam Memorial). Ran past the Washington Monument. Ran behind some Smithsonian museums.

Now was I getting tired and super annoyed at the spectators crossing the street. Ran in front of the capital building and began to pick up some speed. ran back up the mall past the other half of the Smithsonians. Was really beginning to feel good again. Then there was a left turn and I saw my husband and friend again (totally unexpected! those balloons- again awesome!). Ran past some drummers and picked up speed while entering The Bridge.

The Bridge. Otherwise known as long lonely stretch where runners started walking and spectators ceased to exist. The lone spectator?

I found the photo on the internet from another MCM runner

Yeah....funny, but I was losing humor at this point. I was just thinking, "This is STUPID. I am NEVER RUNNING AGAIN." I started hating life. But I refused to walk. Finally the bridge took us into Crystal City. At the water station a Marine giving me my drink started yelling my name loudly and over and over again with urgency. RACHEL! RACHEL! RUN RACHEL! GO!

I must have looked pretty crappy for him to do that for me. I tried to pick up speed but couldn't. still refused to walk though.

Crystal City was the hardest part of the run. I lost a full minute per mile for miles 22-25. It was an out and back so the faster runners were running in the opposite direction. With ever corner I saw, i thought, "Ah! The turn around is RIGHT THERE!" (it never was...only once...)

At mile 24 I started to feel better. Holy crap, I've done this! Mile 25 I was BEAMING ear to ear. I did it! I saw my husband and friend at mile 26! Those balloons again! I "sprinted" up the final hill with my arms up above my head and finally, after running for an agonizingly long 4 hours, 44 minutes, and 16 seconds, I crossed the finish line.

Post Marathon: Could not walk. Stopped twice in the crazy mass of people trying to get their medals and food etc to sit. Ate half a bagel and drank some water on the second sitting break. Finally made it out of the fence and attempted to walk to meet my husband and friend but my left groin/inner thigh area hurt so badly (it was bothering me the week leading up to the marathon) that I could only take baby steps. Husband saw me, came walking towards me. Hugged me and I cried (with no tears), "I....can't...waallaaalllllk!" I can't walk! I hurt! I never want to run again!"

Riiiight. 10 minutes later, after some stretching, I was wondering how to register for NYC 2010. I slipped on some flip flops and commenced the 2 mile walk to the hotel (HUH? they expected me to walk two miles after running 26.2? funny, the three of us said the same thing with different meanings....husband was like, "of course! you ran 26.2 you can walk 2!" it was probably good for me. Later, an ice bath a hot shower which DID NOT WARM ME UP. Hot Tea. Foam Roller. Ah, foam roller, what would I do with you?? Sam Adams, Burger, Kahlua Brownie and ice cream. A taxi ride back to the hotel (I walked to the restaurant but was too stiff to walk back). And the best way to end the night? Some good ole golden tequila.

Aftermath: So I still want to run another marathon, ideally NYC. Mainly because I want to run the next marathon better. Especially since I have a better idea of what to expect and how to better train. I averaged 20-30 miles per week and would like to up that. Seeing my husband and friend with the balloons to easily spot them was great. I saw them at the start, 10 mi, 16 mi, 20 mi, and at the 26 mi point. It's a great course for spectators because they were able to walk to all those points. With the exception of miles 22-24 (the crystal city area), the race is NOT a circle. there are no repeats of the course so runners don't feel like they are repeating any part of the course. And about those spectacular spectators. I put some giant iron-on letters on my shirt spelling out my name. SO many people yelled out my name. For the first half of the race, i felt like a rock star. (the last half I felt like they were truly helping me out). I can't imagine running that long WITHOUT hearing and seeing people cheer me on. I've since gone on two slow and easy 2 mile runs. I went to the gym yesterday and will probably go for a run today before work. if i ever finish this blog post (are you still reading? you deserve some kudos for that my friend...) next race? to be determined....

This Seemed Like a Good Idea 6 Months Ago...

6 months ago I gave my cc # to a friend to register me for this event.

What the hell was I thinking? At that time, I hadn't even run my first 1/2 marathon and I was signing up for a FULL marathon? I know what I was thinking: "I can always defer! It's not like I'm 100% committed or anything...."

I ran the 1/2 and thought, "well that wasn't so bad..." slowly I began training for the marathon. Then training began to take over. Go out Saturday night? sure...but I would have to be home early so I can run 16 miles on Sunday, etc. When I got to those 16+ mile runs I hit my first wall. Always at 16.

But when I attempted my first 20 miler, I broke through my wall, and oh, what a feeling!

Ice baths, some more runs, and now, here I am, with less than day 2 days, 21 hours until I will start a 26.2 mile journey to insanity.

And here I am thinking "this seemed like a good idea 6 months ago..." On my 12 miler just over a week ago I nearly fell on my run. darn sidewalk just jumped out at me! and since then I've felt this portion of my left leg saying, "DUMB ASS!"

literally, it's saying that. it is a dumb ass. that area where the thigh meets the butt? on my left leg? funky feeling. left groin? funky feeling. left knee?! FUNKY FEELING! I am popping motrin and ice bags galore to the left leg. I will get through this run. Not just because I've come this far, but because I worked my tail off. I've ran 20 miles twice (well nearly...19.9 should equal 20). I've switched weekends so I could run this weekend. My running gal pal is flying up to see me run. My floor plus other nurses, doctors, PAs, etc know I'm running this.

I will run this race.

Now, time to pack my bag.

funk a di funk funk funk

Marathon is in 10 days. TEN DAYS.



and I'm in a funk. self pity rant ahead....

I should be psyched, but I think I'm psyching myself out.

I tripped and nearly kissed the ground on Monday. ankle pain is gone, but yesterday I did 5 miles and afterwords, my left GROIN area and the back of my left thigh where it meets the butt was aching (a littler over a year ago we were hiking and I fell...ever since that fall, I tend to have mild discomfort in that area where the thigh meets the butt).

I stretched. Last night I put on some tiger balm. Today, I'm supposed to run 2 (my schedule is a little off, I know), but it's 44* and drizzling outside. I'm sitting on the couch in pajamas with a warm cup of coffee (not my favorite mug, since on Tuesday I BROKE my favorite, handmade mug purchased on same hiking vacation as mentioned above).

And my toe. My left big toe nail has been bothering me. I took off the nail polish and sure enough....there's a bit of black in the toenail. I'm not sure if this is from the running or from the oh-so-sexy support hose that I started wearing to work.

And I can't help but thing, "Greeeattt...friends & family know I'm planning on running 26.2. Co-workers are expecting me to run 26.2. I worked so hard to get people to switch weekends with me so that I could run (and not work). AND a friend is flying up to see my run 26.2." and all this! Is it mental? I hope. Because I woke up with a scratchy throat today, too.

This is sounding like a terrible, horrible no good very bad week! Let's hope I get some good vibes soon!

Down Down Down

It's taper time! Yesterday I was supposed to do a 12 miler, one of the last long runs before the big 26.2. Except I was working yesterday from 7-3, and for some reason that I've yet to figure out, I can't run more than 6 miles in the afternoon. My GI system goes crazy at mile 6 and while I can get through the 6+ mile runs in the afternoon, the rest of the afternoon/night is spent in the fetal position sipping Pepto.

So I forwent the Sunday long run and woke up early this morning to get in 12. It was a great run. Started slow and easy, but picked up the pace for the second half of the run (I saw chickens on my run!). The Garmin beeped at mile 10 and looked at my watch and was happy with my pace. kept running. Started thinking "how cool, I'm running 12 and feeling great!" when BAM
BAM
BAM

I was THIS close to kissing the sidewalk. At that point in my run the shoulder of the road is next to non-existent, plus the road is pretty busy so I run on the sidewalk, which apparently needs to be fixed as half of the slabs are sticking up.

Pride hurt. Now the area of my left upper hamstring/butt cheek and left ankle are hurting. not cool.

Ice Ice Baby

A couple of weeks ago, Danica @ Chic Runner wrote a hilarious & detailed post about her ice baths.

When hubs was on his deployment this summer, I would also do my own version of an ice bath. Without the ice. I would sit in a tub of cold water. Not exactly an ice bath, but it was still super hard to sit in that water. When hubs came home last month and I did my first 20 miler, he 'surprised' me with a bag of ice.

Like Danica, I was already sitting in a bath of cold water when he poured the ice into the bath. Unlike Danica, I screamed and yelped so loudly that hubs tried to sush me as surely the neighbors would think something nefarious was happening. This has been happening for the last 3 or 4 weeks. Bath time is 15 minutes.

Yesterday I was on my own. the night before the run, I purchase and shoved 2 bags of ice into the freezer. Hubs didn't say anything about the TWO bags. He left early Sunday morning, I went about my run, came home, stretched, and started the bath. Sat in the bath.

Reached over the side for bag one. Poured it in and tried to not yelp. Then poured the second bag. Yelped and tried to control my breathing. tried to relax my legs. While trying to get all the ice out of the second bag, my sweatshirt got soaked in the bath. so much for trying to keep warm.

Now, usually after about 5 minutes of sitting in the ice bath, I can pick up my book and read a couple of pages. This ice bath was the coldest ice bath I've ever taken. I tried to keep wiggling my toes and moving my feet, but within minutes I noticed that my large left toe was turning a funny shade of purple/blue. After 9 or 10 minutes, I couldn't take it anymore. I stood up with pins and needles in my feet. My entire lower body was bright red and goose-bumped. took a very warm shower and warmed up.

Later, when telling hubs about the ice bath he said, "2 bags? I always pour in just one."

Ahhh! Thanks for the heads up babe! :)

So Close!

Today was my 20 miler day. I've done 20 miles once before, about a month ago, and the hubs found me around mile 15 to cheer me on.

No hubs today as he's out of town.

Up early this morning, ate 2 slices of toast, drank some coffee, and evantually made it out the door.

Turned on the garmin and nothing. No beep. I pressed the power button again, and again, nothing happened. Funny because I had turned it on last night to upload some old runs and to give it a charge. The screen even said "charge complete" when unplugged.

Went back into the house and plugged the garmin into the computer and nothing. not even a sad face on the screen (the old macs used to do that). Great. Thank goodness for backing up your info. In addition to the garmin, I log my runs in runningahead.com and found that it took me about 3 hours 39 minutes to run 20 miles last month.

So finally, around 6:45, I made it out the door and began running. had to stop at home once to pee (how I'm going to do that on marathon day has yet to be determined). I ran and ran. my first gu was about an hour into the run, then about every 30 minutes.

You know when you find that happy pace? I had it today. i felt strong. My pace was good, and got slightly better throughout the run. there were parts where I felt myself slow down, but then I would pick it up right up.

Once back into the neighborhood I wanted to finish, but I was just at the 3 hours point. I'm so glad I pushed myself to go further. For the first time, I didn't feel like dying at the end. My feet hurt a little, but not like usual. At 3:30 I stopped and while feeling somewhat winded, I didn't want to die. I was able to walk.

Which naturally had me wondering if I really ran 20. After driving the run (no thanks to the dead garmin), the final mileage is in: 19.9. woot woot!

off the store to make a pasta picnic lunch :) 20 more days until 26.2!