This week was 45 miles of running, 19 "miles" of pool-running and 1000 yards of swimming -- training log is here.
This week was about race recovery. And...about following up on my Shamrock troubles.
As a result of my GI troubles earlier this year, I went in for a check-up with the GI doctor. Who told me I needed another colonoscopy to check stuff out. I wasn't thrilled, but it was what it was. And he allowed me to delay it to after Broad Street, which meant that it didn't interfere with my spring training.
Of course, this also meant that colonoscopy recovery overlapped with my 45th birthday (which was Thursday), but...priorities, y'know.
As for the colonoscopy itself, I'll now describe the process generally - with the understanding that it may be TMI to some, who are free to stop reading at anytime. I operate under the theory that there are also people reading who are reluctant or embarrassed to ask about stuff like this, but also really want to know. So...the next few paragraphs are for them.
Anyways, it's commonly said that the prep is worse than the procedure. I would agree with that, but I would also argue that a) the prep really wasn't bad, and b) the things that preceded the prep were worse.
The worst, by far, was spending an hour on the phone confirming that my HMO insurance plan would cover all the various charges for the procedure, including GI Doctor, anesthesia, facility charges, and any pathology work that needed to be done.
Second worst was the fasting that started Tuesday morning. I had to go on a clear liquids diet - only fluids with no pulp and no red/blue/purple dye. For purposes of a colonoscopy, lemon-lime jello, lemon Italian ice or sorbet, and sports nutrition gels and blocks of the appropriate color are also allowed.
Thing is...it's awfully hard to get enough calories on a clear liquids diet, and the calories you get are very sugary. And I really don't function well on a sugary diet. I ended up shutting down work around noon on Tuesday since it was apparent that I was too hangry and dizzy to be at all productive.
[When you have a meltdown about Jello that has failed to set, it's bad.]
Once I just stopped eating altogether, I felt a bit better.
And then the real good stuff started on Tuesday night, with the prep. This was two bottles of medication that each mixed to 16 ounces that tasted like cough syrup. I took the first dose at 6:30 pm, chased by 32 ounces of water. Then, at 3:30 am I took the second dose, with another 32 ounces of water. The prep didn't taste wonderful, but it wasn't awful. It was much better tasting than the last prep I did, and there was also a lot less to get down.
[the co-pay for this prep was $70 - that's probably why it tasted so non-bad. You get what you pay for, I guess.]
The evening, of course, was spent doing what the prep was supposed to do. All flowed smoothly, and by the morning I was clean and clear. Just in time to get a cab ride to the facility, where I lay down for a nice nap and woke up 45 minutes later to a nurse offering me really good corn chips and bottled water. And then Brian chauffeured me home, where I caught up on Game of Thrones.
As for what the colonoscopy found? No polyps, which is always good news. My understanding is that colon cancer nearly always starts as polyps (not that we suspected I had colon cancer anyway).
The examination did find some "non-bleeding mucosal ulceration," which I Googled just like anyone else would. The doctor took some biopsies, so I'll know when the pathology comes back what is causing this - possibilities include auto-immune disease, an allergic reaction, or a virus of some sort. Or maybe something else - that's what the doctor is for.
Because of the anesthesia, I wasn't allowed to do anything on Wednesday (I did DIY yoga to keep myself mobile, but I don't consider that to be activity - it's active stretching). Thursday I planned to run, but my gut felt tender - I'm guessing from the biopsies - so I stayed in the pool to avoid jostling stuff too much.
By Friday, I felt pretty much normal, though slightly drained from the electrolyte depletion and dehydration that is part of colonoscopy prep. Even though I felt OK, I skipped the track workout and ran easy anyway.
My reasoning was that I'm really fit right now, and I'm trying to stretch this fitness another 6-7 weeks to mid-June. That's exactly the place where runners get greedy, try to hammer too many workouts, and end up stale or fried by their goal races. So... pulling back some this week by skipping both track workouts was an investment in a fast June - I gained more from skipping the workout than I would have from doing it.
Dailies
Monday: 9 "miles" pool-running in the morning. Massage in afternoon
Tuesday: 3 miles very easy (8:46), yoga, and 5 miles very easy (8:27). Foam rolling in afternoon.
Wednesday: Colonoscopy in the morning; some DIY yoga and foam rolling at night
Thursday: Upper body weights/core and 10 "miles" pool-running. Foam rolling at night.
Friday: 7 miles easy (8:56), yoga, and 5 miles very easy (8:37) plus drills and four strides. Foam rolling at night.
Saturday: 10 miles very easy (8:48) plus drills and four strides, followed by upper body weights and core. Foam rolling in afternoon.
Sunday: 14.5 miles, split as first 8 averaging 8:29, next 6 averaging 6:54, and then a half-mile cooldown. Followed with light leg strengthwork and 1000 yards recovery swimming. Foam rolling in afternoon.
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