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Being an Athlete is All in the Heart

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Being an Athlete is All in the Heart

Old 02-04-09, 02:24 PM
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Being an Athlete is All in the Heart

I went to my doctor today and when I needed encouragement most due to having difficulty with training due to chronic issues going down hill I got the nicest words from my doctor:

"You're heart beat is strong and slow. You have the heart of an athlete who trains hard."

Now this may not mean much to many of you to hear those words, but when you train through pain, drug to get through races, deal with chronic joint inflamation every day and do something many in your condition would never consider it feels good to hear that. I already know that the fact that I remain active keeps me more flexible and slows the progression, however to hear that I've reached a point where I'm not just exercising for pleasure but my body is a well oiled performance machine is nice. Its nice to be supported even though you're slower on many days than those that surround you. Its not the speed, or the watts that count, its whats in your heart that matters, and the beat of your heart doesnt lie. Beat by beat, pedal by pedal, step by step together you strive.

I just wanted to share this for anyone who struggles due to weight, physical ailment, disability etc. Your speed doesnt matter its your perserverance and love of the sport that does. Only you can win or defeat your obstacles to become the best athlete you can be.
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Old 02-04-09, 02:29 PM
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I like to ride, to simply go out and ride, sweat a little see a new site.. see an old site. Its never about speed or time.. just having fun. =) so Cudos to you
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Old 02-04-09, 02:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Dorsilfin
I like to ride, to simply go out and ride, sweat a little see a new site.. see an old site. Its never about speed or time.. just having fun. =) so Cudos to you
This is how I started out, and doing some 5ks. Then I decided I wanted to runa marathon which this dr told me HELL NO. So I switched to a 109 mile bike race that I completed last fall. Well then my friend starts calling me saying lets do a triathlon, I fell hook line and sinker so in september I'll do the triathlon or die tri-ing. I've got atleast 1 century this year, 1 sprinter tri, 2 5ks, 1 10k, and 2 indoor tris. Trying to find a clocked century in the area as well. Bottom line do not start training for endurance events you will get hooked it will eat your soul alive.
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Old 02-04-09, 03:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Pi}{ie

Now this may not mean much to many of you to hear those words, but when you train through pain, drug to get through races, deal with chronic joint inflamation every day and do something many in your condition would never consider it feels good to hear that. I already know that the fact that I remain active keeps me more flexible and slows the progression, however to hear that I've reached a point where I'm not just exercising for pleasure but my body is a well oiled performance machine is nice. Its nice to be supported even though you're slower on many days than those that surround you. Its not the speed, or the watts that count, its whats in your heart that matters, and the beat of your heart doesnt lie. Beat by beat, pedal by pedal, step by step together you strive.
Wait, what?
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Old 02-04-09, 03:26 PM
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Originally Posted by cedricbosch
Wait, what?
Dont worry its nothing illegal. My dr when I had many issues last fall getting through training and I came in quite upset(almost cried I was so upet) sat me down and talked to me. I was ready to quit the 109 and ride a metric century. He found out I wasnt medicating except in severe pain situations or in flare modes. He immediatly gave me a 6 month refill on Ibu 600's and upped the number I could take. Told me to hydrate out the wazoo for every ounce someone else drank I was to drink atleast 2. He then told me I was never to participate in an event or train again without NSAID drugs. He told me he could never complete 100 miles on a bike, but that I could. He told me I wasnt battling miles I was battling my disease at that point. He even told me that if the Ibu with a lactic acid blocker didnt work to immediatly call me because he'd change the medication and find me something that allowed me to do the race. He's a good doctor, many would have told me it was time to quit with the progression of my disease. Today he actually encouraged me to do the triathlon something I didnt expect.
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Old 02-04-09, 03:26 PM
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Originally Posted by cedricbosch
Wait, what?
Yeah, that got me wondering too!
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Old 02-04-09, 03:29 PM
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Pixie,

Thanks for sharing. That's an inspirational message to us all.

From what I remember about some previous posts you did, you face quite a challenge. Glad to see you are coming out on top.
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Old 02-04-09, 03:31 PM
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drugs are bad mmkay?
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Old 02-04-09, 03:35 PM
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Being an athlete is all in the genes.

Last edited by Busta Quad; 02-04-09 at 03:39 PM.
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Old 02-04-09, 03:38 PM
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well it's in the heart too, literaly, you need a big strong blood pumper.
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Old 02-04-09, 03:40 PM
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Originally Posted by woodduck
well it's in the heart too, literaly, you need a big strong blood pumper.
Yes - but that can be gotten by just about anyone with some work. Genes, on the other hand...
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Old 02-04-09, 03:42 PM
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Originally Posted by BustaQuad
Yes - but that can be gotten by just about anyone with some work. Genes, on the other hand...
I buy my jeans at express and aeropostale. My birthday is coming up so if you'd like to buy me a pair Aeropostale I like the 1/2R in the hailey cut, and at Express I like the premium jeans in size 25, or the flare pants in a size 0 .

Ok I'm a smart ass.
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Old 02-04-09, 03:53 PM
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very nice thread. an orthopedic surgeon told me if i didn't stop playing squash after the knee op or jogged I would definitely have arthritis when I'm old and crusty. he encouraged cycling and swimming. he didn't warn me I would get addicted to cycling.
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Old 02-04-09, 03:54 PM
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something else runs in the jeans you know
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Old 02-04-09, 04:14 PM
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I kind of have the same problem. I have had health issues over the past year that have made training frustrating at times. It's a great feeling when I finally reach a milestone.
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Old 02-04-09, 04:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Pi}{ie
Ok I'm a smart ass.
Sound advice my parents gave me;

"If yur gonna be and ass, better a smart ass than a dumb ass"

It has worked for me in life
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Old 02-04-09, 04:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Pi}{ie
I went to my doctor today and when I needed encouragement most due to having difficulty with training due to chronic issues going down hill I got the nicest words from my doctor:

"You're heart beat is strong and slow. You have the heart of an athlete who trains hard."
I thought about that last night while lying in bed sick with a cold, listening to my slow and steady heartbeat. I clocked it in the low 50's last night. Quite a change from 18 months ago when I began my determined effort to get in the best shape of my adult life. I'm now doing all the things I've ever wanted to do physically, but with much less effort. I can't even imagine turning back now.

Best of luck with your health concerns.
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Old 02-04-09, 05:06 PM
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Hear, hear! I love going in for my annual physical (well, except for the "bend over and put your elbows on the table" part). They're always happy with my slow pulse and low blood pressure.

And it doesn't hurt that their scale usually measures 1-2 pounds lower than my cheapo at home.
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Old 02-04-09, 05:22 PM
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Originally Posted by KiddSisko
I thought about that last night while lying in bed sick with a cold, listening to my slow and steady heartbeat. I clocked it in the low 50's last night.
Mine was down to 38 when I was in peak shape, but that was a long time ago. Steve Prefontaine's was in the high 20's as I recall.
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Old 02-04-09, 10:49 PM
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Keep pedalin' lass, I understand.
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Old 02-04-09, 10:55 PM
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Cycling is the best way to ride through troubles.
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Old 02-04-09, 11:05 PM
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Those meds help with pain ha? Does that include mashing up 30% grades? lol

Btw...I'm curious, how old are you pixie?
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Old 02-04-09, 11:58 PM
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Good to hear that your doctor is encouraging you to do a triathlon. It makes me feel like a big wuss when people with serious medical issues achieve more than I do. You go girl.
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Old 02-05-09, 06:03 AM
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Originally Posted by wcoastbikr
Those meds help with pain ha? Does that include mashing up 30% grades? lol

Btw...I'm curious, how old are you pixie?
I'll be 28 in 2 weeks. The arthritis is not osteo its a relative of rheumatoid hence the number of joints affected and the age thing.

There is normal pain associated with riding, the pain I got last fall was not normal. My hips/back were actually locking and grinding. Its very unpleasant. I'd compensate by trying to pull with my muscles rather than create a smooth motion of a circle, which gave me lactic acid build up. So basically I had a situation where I'd get off the bike and moving made the hips hurt more, not moving made the legs hurt more. That was not fun. I'll gladly accept normal rider pain that fine and dandy its perfectly normal. However getting off a bike at mile 45 and colapsing in tears is not normal, I felt like a train had hit me.

Last edited by Pi}{ie; 02-05-09 at 06:08 AM.
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Old 02-05-09, 06:03 AM
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Originally Posted by gnome
Good to hear that your doctor is encouraging you to do a triathlon. It makes me feel like a big wuss when people with serious medical issues achieve more than I do. You go girl.
You probably do more than I do and you probably do it faster too .
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