Hydration

I'm a registered nurse.  I take care of cardiac (heart) patients and everything related to that.  So yes, many of my patients come in with chest pain; I also take care of a lot of patients who have hyponatrium (low salt), dehydration, syncope (fainting) etc.  I also am an athlete currently training for a half marathon at the end of March.  So with the two combined, you would think that I know enough about the importance of hydration and the consequences that will occur if not done right.

My days at work are 12 1/2 hours long but more like 13. LOTS of walking, 75% on your feet, little time to eat lunch (15 minutes if I'm having a good day) and bathroom breaks....So drinking water becomes a challenge when I'm on the floor and spend little time at the nurses station where drinks are only allowed.  This past week, half was spent in WI (my home), flew back to Tucson on Thursday and then spent Friday thru Sunday working. 

Flying just dehydrates one period. So i made sure I bought the largest bottle of H20 I could find after security and finished that on the plane.  Came home to sleep, then run, then to bed.  Friday....5:00 am the alarm goes off. Drank 8oz of water with my breakfast, had the 20oz G2 at work and that's where it gets fuzzy.  I remember eating glasses of ice with water but I don't remember how many.  Early Saturday am I got up to use the bathroom.  I remember thinking, "wow, my legs are really wobbly."
Next thing I know, I'm crashing into the closet and on the ground. Yep, I have passed out.  Now, I always tell my patients, sit at the side of the bed and make sure you're not dizzy before getting up. Yeah...I didn't listen.

I went into work the next day and had my charge nurse check my blood pressure-it was low, lower than normal.  So I began to drink. Drank my G2. The next thing I did was set my alarm on my watch to go off every hour.  When it went off-as long as I wasn't in an emergent issue, stopped into the nurse's station and downed a glass of water.  A quick 2 minutes (and piece of mind)

My point-do what you need to maintain adequate hydration, especially being an athlete.  For me it's setting the alarm on my watch at work.  I don't have an issue with my water intake while I'm off since I'm glued to my Nalgene bottle.  Also, though, make sure that you are replacing your electrolytes. If you become over hydrated, you can also run into other issues that can potentially land you in the ER (not to scare you).  I really don't want to see you on my cardiac floor; I'd rather see you at a race!!

-T

Valentine's Day

So as Valentine's Day approaches, I decided to blog about that. These past couple of days have not been easy for me. As some know, or just saw, my boyfriend decided to end our relationship via email. Now this was a person whom I thought I was going to marry and be with. I was willing to sacrifice weather and a move back to a state that I REALLY dislike to be with him. And in one email, one click, he decided that it was over. Obviously, things could be worse..a death or divorce..but those who have been where I stand can understand. I was and still am crushed. It's now Saturday and the reality has finally hit me that I am single again and he has totally blocked me from his life; he doesn't even want to discuss it when I return home in 5 days.

I have received a world of support from friends/runners on twitter whom are my family (I'm in AZ right now and base is WI). One stated "he's not man enough to say it to you in person." Another, whom I've held numerous conversations with, thought he might come around aka grow some balls and step up to the plate-yea that didn't and won't occur. That person also helped me understand some of myself like I first come off as intimidating to a weaker person but that is a great trait to have. I'm still processing that one. Others said "your better off" or "focus on yourself and find yourself" or " I deserve better and I'm strong enough to move on".
To each and everyone who made one of those comments, thank you.

To Valentine's Day, I just don't like the day. It's 2 days before my ex-marriage wedding day and I have never had a good experience with the day. Not a good date or something with a relationship goes wrong. Case in point. So cheers to all those happy couples out there celebrating this happy day. For the rest of us, I propose a toast-to being single. It may not be all fun a games but we are only accountable to ourselves! Cheers to all

-T

February

It's only 5 days into February, so it's not too late to say this: My goals for this month. My overall focus, though maybe selfish, is on self improvement.
1)Always have my Nalgene water bottle with me. I can't tell you how many times I have forgotten it for work and come home so dehydrated that it isn't funny.
2)After each run, practice forefooting drills. I just saw, and heard stories of a teammate of mine, @KGIRLTRIS, and her strides she made this week up in Denver.
3)Keep my stress level as low as possible. I just spent January de-stressing it. My job is stressful enough-working with patients that are ticking time bombs..enough said
4) Take the Personal Trainer cert test on February 20th to make that goal come true!
5) Learning to re-accept myself as it is. I think Pink's F***ing Perfect http://www.pinkspage.com could possibly be replayed everyday

PF Chang Marathon

Let's rock and roll baby!! Actually, I didn't run this race but had the awesome opportunity to work one of the med tents at the finish line. First, lets back this whole thing up to Saturday where I managed to meet a whole bunch of twitter friends from across the country. @dragonflytweet, @indianabackdoc, @KGIRLTRIS, @funegrl262, @LJ3000, @MissJewels212, @aimeespencer, @sarahstanley, @bedmadthen, @azrunningman, @britishbulldog, @allyspeirs..i think that is all. I know it was quiet a few; some at Starbucks and then some for dinner at Thia Elephant. All and all, Saturday was a blast talking and hearing stories of transformation, encouragement, and determination.
Sunday: Big day for all who where running. Beautiful day, cool start temps with the sun out around 9 am. Congratulations to all that ran, finished, PR...it was great race, run right, with the right people. I had a lot of fun working in a tent fun of many pharmacy students, MD, 3rd year medical student, and a Pharmacist. Lots of interesting things to be seen, stories heard. Now my two cents:
1. After running a marathon/half marathon, please remember to re-hydrate, eat more than just 2 oranges. You wont be okay. You will be on your way to see me, dehydrated, confused, and sent to the hospital.
2. When on the course, drink more than just water!!! Your sweating out all the electrolytes in your body. If you can't drink the course mix, bring your own. Otherwise, again, you will be on your way to see me.
3. After the race, get the heck out of the sun. You just exhausted your body; pushed yourself to the extreme and need to relax. If you do choose to hang in the sun, make sure to continue to re-hydrate or *surprise* see ya at the med tent.

I would like to thank @runrockandroll for a very well run event. I can't wait to volunteer at my next one. Even better, run my 2nd marathon in Georgia!!
-T

2011 Goals

So this year I have decided to make a few with running and my personal life. Things last year got blown off with running due to my work schedule, traveling due to work, and being sick. I also have lost touch with my friends which I will try to amend.

Running:
1. To find local races in the areas that I am going to be at. This will take planning on my part but it can be done.
2. Continue with my cross training with p90x/turbo fire/rev abs. These programs have kept me going when I haven't been able to run and also saved me the expense of finding another gym. All I need is dumbbells and resistance bands that travel with me
3.Master goal of doing a Half Ironman this year...TBA
4. Attend local training camps wherever I may be on running etc to help my improvement and gain more information

Personal
1. Find a success partner to hold me accountable to my new biz
2. Read 6 books this year...that will be a REAL challenge on my part.
3. Reconnect with friends via phone calls and letters (yes, snail mail)
4. Continue to work on my long distance relationship with my boyfriend in WI
5. Attempt to find a permanent job in WI!!

The main thing that will help me is finding that success partner. I think everyone should have a success part-for business, workouts-it goes a long way!

-T

2010-what a year

2010 has been a year for me. It has been filled with its heartbreaks, injures, sickness, weddings, runs, and lots of airplanes. I assembled this vision board at the beginning of the year to help me keep on track with what I want my future to be like. When my friend @twittyrun got a peek at it, he said " You are running across America..instead of so much flying." I laughed.
I have done so much traveling for my job and running that I can pack on 5 minutes notice to catch a plane 1:30 hours (literally had to do that). With that said, here are a few things that I have to say.

1.Places I've been in a year
I start in Albuquerque, NM still my traveling RN position there. I also went back to Greenville,NC to continue with a long distance relationship. Went to DC (wedding shower) and New Orleans (RnR half marathon) in February. March-WI on 5 min notice. April-Richmond, VA (wedding) then Westerly,RI(new job and yes I drove xcrountry!!) May-nothing. June-San Diego (RnR half marathon) and the to Santa Barbara (job). August-Chicago/WI (RnR Chicago)
Sept-drove home to Milwaukee to fly to Dallas (wedding) to fly back and drive to Iowa City, IA (job). That was all in one week. November-Tucson(job). December-WI x2. My car has literally been from East coast to West coast in a year and everywhere in between. I have done a lot of traveling.

2. Injuries/sickness
New Orleans I prepared for in one month. Luckily I was training at 6000 ft and running at to below sea level. My personal trainer/bodybuilder pulled me through that one. Next to San Diego. Got a call from a from boyfriend to run this race a month prior; hence @coachprs comes in. I struggled to find time to run, breathing, training now in warmer weather, IT band issues but I wanted to run. Ran San Diego-got to meet @twittyRun :) I suffer from chronic sinus infections, which made breathing difficult, messed with my HR. Enter CA and working nights-now a whole new issue. I tried to run but I couldn't. Migraines, knee issues, IT band. So I took a month off of straight out training and ran to ran. It eased my stress level. I ran RnR Chicago but not how I wanted to. Now comes the sad part. October I didn't have a job but I was already registered for 2 more halves-scratched. I didn't know where money was coming, if I would be able to afford flights..those are the hardest for me because I didn't even get a chance.

3. Heartbreaks
I entered the year in a long distance relationship from a guy in the 82nd Airborne. Met him in Sept 09 and things were great or so I thought. All in all, he cheated on me and told me so when I received a box with my things from his house. On to California and I met this surfer boy from Canada-how things happened I don't know but he gave me the ultimatum: you travel and this ends. Well, we know where that one head. Now to present day. Yep, I'm back in another long distance relationship but with a FF I once dated prior to all this traveling and we decided to try and make things work when I was home in October. I'm happy (except these last weeks) and have to deal with the situation.

So yeah! I have had a very interesting year. I've been to 11 states of which most my car has driven through. Injuries suck and I'm miserable when I can't run. My hearts been broken twice. You can judge me for whatever you want but that's my life and it's ups/downs. Here's to a happier, smarter, less costly 2011.

Happy New Years y'all!!!!!!!!!!!
-T

Last 6 months

These last 6 months have been challenging to say the least. My job, if you don't know, requires to travel about every 3 months as a nurse-my specialty is cardiac. Love the heart, even when its going bad and giving me grief at work. Since June, I've been in Santa Barbara, Cedar Rapids (IA), Hartland(WI), and Tucson (AZ). Yes, I travel alot. I finally figured out why I had been sick since June-simple sinus infection. I'm involved in a long distance relationship with a Firefighter; thanks to the support of @jessywuv and her story, I keep praying that everything works out. @jessywuv, you and Matt- you guys have an inspirational story of trial through a long distance relationship, making it work, fighting and working through it. Jessy, you have helped me in more ways then I can explain.

So then I go to my whole traveling bit. I have been talking with @rshill37 about traveling, moving, airports, unemployment. Yes, it's hard. Being a traveling nurse, there are times when I will not have income for up to 3 weeks. I've gone for 2 months without having anything, not knowing anything. I know that I am lucky to have a job in this economy and a place that I can always go "home" to. But it sucks to have to always pick up and leave after 3 months. I have friends from RI to CA just through work, which is great!! Lots of places to travel for vacation, not that I don't do enough of that already. @rshill37 is coming back to her "home" for now and I maybe too. I am somewhat excited; there are 2 opportunities for me as permanent positions and 3 positions as a traveling nurse. But I am not excited. My boyfriend would be devastated to hear this (he doesn't read this) if he knew this. I don't want a job in "the tundra." Basically, I am only considering the permanent positions cause they are at the only hospital in the state that I want to work at.

@rshill37, I totally understand how you are feeling and this time of year really doesn't help. @jessywuv I enjoy hearing your stories/adventures with Matt. I only hope to find that soon. To both of you, I hope that you both get your "run" on in 2011 and look forward to following and tweeting with you more.
-T