Thursday, September 1, 2011

August ends with a whimper

It's been no secret that I hate August. I totally get Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) during the hottest month of the year here in the deep south. Satan can have his climate back. I just hold my breath, stay inside as much as possible, and pray for the month to be over quickly.

This year August did not disappoint. We had a wonderful time going to Tybee Island with the rest of my family, I completed my second century ride, and set a nice PR in the olympic distance triathlon on a wonderful weekend out of the heat in the NC mountains. Then a hurricane blew through very close to us, but Raleigh came out ok. My training was intense early in the month, held pretty strong through the hurricane, but then died out completely at the end.

Yep, I went to the doctor today and I do indeed have strep throat. Monday Kelley had some funk, and was down for most of the day. She hit the listerine hard, and after 24 hours felt ok. Monday night my throat got a bit scratchy, and tuesday and wednesday I was completely down. Started feeling better yesterday (Wednesday), then got really worse again so I needed to go see the doc. A quick swab later and it's confirmed as strep throat. So I go on the anti-biotics and wait for them to clear this crap out of me before I can train again. That means for the 28 days I could train in the longest month of the year:

Swim: 18,700 meters in 7 swims including one oly
Bike: 340 miles, 13 rides, one century ride, one oly
Run: 103.7 miles, 14 runs, one oly
Strength: 4 sessions
Yoga: 2 sessions

It sounds funny to mention it now, but 340 miles on the bike is actually a little light for an Ironman build phase. That number should be over 400, really closer to 500. Last month I biked 483 miles. I really love the swim and run numbers - that is Ironman strong.

September holds the promise of the Labor Day weekend! Yippee! I love labor day bike rides for some reason. It's just a great time to get out there and roll. The next weekend I'm taking friday off so we can go to the outer banks and I can hit my only half iron this year. That's going to be a blast. The course and race is still on after the hurricane, but I can't get anyone to answer the phone at the hotel we're supposed to stay at, so it might not exist anymore. Could throw a small monkey wrench into the plans.

And hopefully I'll be able to swallow real food again before then. I'm sick of eating nothing but soup.

10 comments:

Theresa @ActiveEggplant said...

My husband has the same SAD issue with the Aug & Sept! I can't tell you how great it is to know that someone else hates the hottest months just as much as he does.

And I must say - that's some serious training time! It's amazing to see just how much everything adds up.

raulgonemobile said...

Studly totals, man. You may be disappointed with the bike numbers, but they are still nothing to sneeze at.

Hope you feel better soon!

Unknown said...

i hate august too. bring on september!! or better yet, october!

get well. strep sucks.

Amber said...

Strep throat is the worst! Hope you feel better!

I am constantly in awe at the mileage numbers you hit while working full time and having a family. Do you sleep??!

I think you're going to rock your Ironman!

Lisa from Lisa's Yarns said...

I am with Amber - I am super impressed by all you do. no idea how you fit it all in, buddy. Do you sleep? Are you on speed? Is that your secret? ;)

Your August is probablhy like our February. Except February is hell frozen over.

Jess said...

Strep is so miserable! I hope you feel better soon!

Katie said...

I agree with you I HATE HATE HATE august! heat, humidity, all bad! so glad it's over!

Wes said...

body is probably telling to slow down a bit so it can absorb more of that training awesomeness. You'll be back at it in no time...

Sophie @ threetimesf said...

I hope the antibiotics have started to kick in by now and you're feeling a bit better :)
That's so strange to hear about SAD hitting you in Ausust - in UK it's totally the other way around - we love July/August (at leats we do when it's actually sunny) but as soon as the dark evening start in Sept - hello depression!

Al's CL Reviews said...

You and me, SAD and August.
Glad it is over!

Sorry about the strep!