October 29, 2013

Well, some things have changed for me in the last few weeks since I last wrote.  I got married to an awesome guy, John, and my son also got married to a wonderful woman, Shannon.  Both of these weddings happened within a week of each other.  Can you say busy????  I also started computrainer classes at Kelley Acres Speed Shop - the sweat shop and pain cave all combined into one.  Things have moved indoors for training faster than I would like.  This weekend clocks will change bringing more darker days.  I will miss the long sunny days. 

This time of year is always busy for me as I prepare and put together the Way Station Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot which raises awareness and funds for adults and children of mental illness.  It is a great family fun 5k and 1k event held thanksgiving day morning.  Last year we raised about $75,000 and had about 3,800 runners/walkers attend both events.  I am hoping to achieve this and more this year.  It is such a great way for people and families to start their thanksgiving day off for a wonderful cause.  I personally enjoy seeing all the young kids doing either the 1k or 5k.  Such an inspiration.

This time of year I also re-evaluate my nutritional needs both in non training mode and in training mode.  There are so many variables for me to consider and there are so many options or shall I say viewpoints on nutrition.  With my conditions, the one thing I know for sure is that I do not absorb nutrients as most people do and compound that with the endurance activities in which I enjoy doing.  There is paleo, high protein, low protein, low carb, vegetarian, vegan, organic, a prescribed eating plan where you purchase diet meals, fasting, detoxing (not sure what that really means), etc.  I also hear that gluten free eating is now being called the new "fad" diet.  This amazes me because when one suffers from Celiacs or gluten sensitivity it is not an option and has severe health implications.   Below is an interesting article on this topic.  I have also been reading a lot of controversy on whether to supplement with vitamins and how much.  Or should we be trying to meet our nutritional needs from the foods we eat?  So much information out there, what is fact or fiction.  Would love to have a discussion on this topic.  I am believing that every individual is different and should listen to what their own body is saying to them.  What may work for me will not work for everyone.  Thoughts?

Here is a great article on gluten sensitivities and issues including Celiac:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-mark-hyman/gluten-what-you-dont-know_b_379089.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

Now for an inspiring story about a young energetic child, Hayden: 

An Honored Hero Takes Steps

Hayden was your typical healthy, active 4 year-old-boy - he loved sports, playing with friends, and riding his scooter. In the summer of 2008, Hayden started having frequent bowel movements and loose stool. After a few weeks and multiple negative parasite tests, he could not make it more than 20 minutes without having to use the bathroom. We tried to go to the beach one Saturday afternoon and could not make it out of the neighborhood. That afternoon Hayden was admitted to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). A few days later, after many IVs, endoscopies and colonoscopies, Hayden was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Our world was changed forever.

We started with typical treatments but unlike a sinus infection and other illnesses we had encountered, nothing seemed to work. The despair as a parent of a sick child and not being able to cure it is indescribable. You feel your sole purpose in life is to protect your child, yet you are not able to. We finally hit rock bottom over the holiday season of 2011 when his diagnosis was changed to Crohn’s disease. Hayden was having a flare up and nothing was working. He was admitted to the hospital again over the holiday break. There is nothing more depressing than being hospitalized for Christmas. The emotional toll of watching your son wither away in front of you, fearing it was the last time you would hug him was almost too much.

However, Hayden is strong, possibly stronger than both of his parents. He continued to fight and he never lost his will. He pulled through and has been responding better to the recent combination of medicines. Still weighing in the 20th percentile and measuring in the 15th percentile in his age group, this hero continues to play lacrosse and basketball, in between trying daring skateboard maneuvers. He wakes up every day with a smile, eager to see what life brings. (As told by his mother Heather)

So please help the many children like Hayden by clicking on this link and showing your support:

http://www.active.com/donate/IMchattanoogaCCFA14/IRONMANVBate

Thank you to one of my supporters and sponsor of this new journey of mine.  Debbie has been a great support and help to me over the years both in my personal achievements but also in my work achievements.  Debbie has been a huge help in organizing and supporting the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot.  Debbie is avid outdoors person enjoying skiing, hiking, kayaking, fishing, hunting, camping, going to the gym, bowling etc.  Debbie has challenged herself and has learned to swim as well.  Debbie is a jack of all trades and very impressive!!! 

http://www.active.com/donate/IMchattanoogaCCFA14/IRONMANVBate

IM TN Journey, October 8, 2013

Wow, we are losing daylight faster and faster each and every day now.  My biking days after work will be gone for the season after this week.  I will miss my outdoor riding friends during the week.  Hopefully, we will be able to continue riding on the weekends, outdoors, for a few more months now.  What a great bunch of people to ride with.  Riding with great people is a great way to relieve the stress from a hectic and stressful day at work.  Fall is such a great time to ride around here. Such awesome roads and views.

A big shout out goes to my friend Judy for completing her century ride at the Seagull this year.  Amazing. 

During the week I will now turn my attention back indoors to the "pain cave", Kelley Acres Speed Shop.  This "pain cave" is a wonderful way to stay in bike shape through the winter and fine tune any bike weaknesses you may have or just to dig very deep and push hard.  Kelley Acres Speed Shop is an multi-rider computrainer class where you can't hide and you can sweat buckets.  Chris Kelley has done an excellent job in setting up each and every session where we can maintain and build upon what we learn on the roads.  We fine tune our pedal strokes and learn to work at our own threshold levels.  All this without any vehicle distractions.  Just a lot of moans and groans from fellow riders.  Yes, some laughter and fun along the way as well.

So my training will continue indoors during the week to stay in shape as I focus on my Ironman (IM) journey.  Speaking of which, did you know with the $$$ we raise on my journey, the Crohns and Colitis Foundation can move forward to help thousands of children with these diseases to have a chance at a normal life.  The CCFA Pediatric Network is developing the largest nationwide program dedicated to improving the standard of care for children and adolescents with Crohn's and Colitis.  With scientific breakthroughs, physicians from around the country are registering kids in innovative programs.  Children with severe IBD often suffer irreversible growth retardation.  Researchers hope to identify more effective ways of managing childhood diseases to avoid the sometimes dire consequences of Crohn's disease in children.  So if you haven't done so yet, please click on this link to make your much needed donation:

http://www.active.com/donate/IMchattanoogaCCFA14/IRONMANVBate


People with Crohns suffer in silence as it can be difficult to explain and very embarrassing at times.  It can make daily living a struggle at times.  An example of this silence, was riding several years with an awesome cyclist, Simon (one of our supporters of this journey and cause), and not knowing that he also suffers from Crohns.  On one morning ride I was complaining about my upcoming annual colonoscopy.  A procedure that makes me very ill both mentally and physically.  Simon chimed in and agreed with me and also agreed that the procedure was a horrible experience.  With Crohns and IBD, this is a regular procedure for us. It was then that I discovered that Simon has suffered from Crohns since his college days.  One would never have known it as Simon tries to stay very healthy by biking to work most days and biking with us during the week and on the weekend.  He is a killer on the hills!  For me to know this was like, yes, someone can relate. 

A big Thank You to my fellow biking supporters and hope they are preparing also for upcoming fall and winter sessions in the "pain cave" with Kelley Acres Speed Shop!

Martha

Bob

 

Roslain

Barry

 

  

September 23, 2013 - First Goal Met

 

I am very excited that I have met my first goal of having @ 1,000 people view my donation page, my blog, my story and my journey via email and facebook.  This is so awesome.  I am very grateful to all the supporters I have already.   I am still looking to meet my financial goal, click here to help me make this happen:
http://www.active.com/donate/IMchattanoogaCCFA14/IRONMANVBate

This weekend I participated in the SkipJack International Distance event in Cambridge, MD.  I am still nursing my shoulder injury and I so have a love/hate realtionship with the Choptank River.  With a lot of nervous anxiety I did manage to slowly swim the 1.2 miles and survived with jelly fish stings and all.  But the most important is that I got in the water and I got out! Yeah.   I was lucky to have the support of my friend Tamara to help get my wetsuit on and off my injured shoulder.  I was so excited to finish a race in a fairly healthy state in 2013.  I even placed first in my age group. That was a bonus.

I completed this event with my friend and great supporter, Judy, who completed the 2.4 mile open water swim.  Judy is an awesome swimmer.  Judy has set a challenge for herself to complete her first century ride (100 miles) in October raising funds and awareness for Pancreatic Cancer.  Judy not only swims with me but also runs with me and knows first hand some of the struggles I experience while training.  It always makes things easier when you have understanding friends that can assist you along the way.   

 



Check out this link on other's stories about their crohn's:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLLatxj612o

 

The beginning of IM TN Journey - Sept. 10, 2013

http://www.active.com/donate/IMchattanoogaCCFA14/IRONMANVBate

SEPTEMBER 10, 2013

Well, here I am again embarking on another Ironman Journey.  Ironman Tennessee, Chattanooga, Choo, Choo, which is holding this event to support and raise awareness for people with Crohn's and Colitis.  Doing another ironman was a difficult decision for me as 2013 was a year in which I struggled with my health in many ways and had a difficult time completing many of the races and events I had hoped to do.  This happens, however, I did stay active and train throughout the year as this always helps me feel sane.  I apparently have what "they" refer to as serious auto immune diseases which consists of Crohn's and Celiacs which impacts many of our internal bodily systems and controls.  I don't absorb nutrition like "normal" bodies do in addition to the other issues associated with Crohn's and Celiacs.  This is in addition to having a bike accident on July 4th in which I fractured my shoulder with 3 tears.  My decision to go forward with this Ironman was the connection and awareness this will have for people with Crohns, Colitis and many "gut" issues.  Providing awareness for these debilitating and chronic diseases is important to me as well as encouraging those with any chronic conditions to stay active and healthy!

My goal is to raise at least $5,000 for research and patient services as there is currently no cure for these diseases and to have at least 1,000 people learn something more about Crohns, Colitis and Celiac diseases.  My goal is to help others at least maintain a healthy quality of life no matter what condition they may suffer from.  Many of these conditions lead into Colon cancer which is scary as I have a few family members who have passed on in this life from colon cancer. 

I will blog about my journey here, the good and the not so good.  My next and final attempt at racing in 2013 will be on September 21st at the Bugeye event on the eastern shore.  This is an international distance event. 

Click on the link above to help me achieve this