Update

It's funny that my last post is that I ran 4 miles...especially when you read this post.

After my personal best I followed up the next day with 2 miles and then a 5K the following day. I was on track of having my highest mileage week ever...

I have been having heart palpitations. Started back in Colorado when we were starting to make the move. I only had them a couple of times there. In September and October of this past year I had them for about 2 weeks. I was also under a ton of stress and going through a major low point in my life...so I naturally attributed them to that. Then they came back about 3 weeks ago. And I am doing better than I have in a long time so it was time to see the DR.

Went to a new GP since I don't have one. He does an EKG and says this is not right and you need to go see a cardiologist, today, now! He makes the appt for me and an hour later I'm in the cardiologist's office. I've texted a friend and asked her to start a prayer chain and I'm about to puke from the stress. Cardiologist sees my EKG and says you have 2nd Degree AV Block (meaning there is an interruption in the electronic signal in my heart). He does a stress test and an echo cardiogram. He says my heart looks good and responds well under stress and to continue my regular schedule and I can keep running. But if the palpitations persist or I start having pain then I will need a pacemaker in the future..even gives me a pamphlet on the pacemaker.

Stress much? The next two weeks I completely stop running, feel nothing but pain in my chest and have a ton of palpitations. I finally make a second opinion appt with another cardiologist who works for St. Lukes. He says that I am dealing with anxiety. I start to cry and he tells me, very kindly, that I need not to be emotional but objective, that there is really nothing wrong with me. He says plenty of people have this AV Block and go on their whole lives without even knowing it. It's benign. I mention the pacemaker and he dismissed it. He put me on some antidepressants and told me to really go back to running and move on.

Two days later..feeling much better!

Not happy with the first 2 doctors who scared the crap out of me...but much better!

I have, however, revised my New Years Resolution. I will NOT run everyday. I will work out at least 5 days per week. I will give myself 1 or 2 days to rest and recover. I will still run most of the time but will sprinkle in some swimming and weight training to even things out.

It's been a crazy last couple of weeks...and trust me, you do look at everything differently when you are confronted with a diagnosis that you may need heart surgery in the near future. I don't want to ever go through that again. I will do my best to stay stress-free and healthy so I won't ever have to worry about my kids growing up without me.

So, that's it. Just another dramatic tale in my life that ended up being nothing! Next!

Personal Best

Today I ran 4 miles on the treadmill. Up until now my best has been a 5K which is 3.1 miles. Super excited!

A Benchmark Set

Today was the first time this week, since I started this crazy running resolution, that I woke up and wanted to start my day with a run. It was nice to have that feeling back! And then just as I was throwing on my runners, one of my besties, Hilde, texted me that she just got in from doing 2 miles. And so...the benchmark was set. Today was officially going to be a 2 mile day. And it was! And now it's time to get on with my Saturday!

Oh, and BTW, I can't believe that I didn't announce on my blog yet that we are officially DEBT FREE!! I know I have given random Dave Ramsey updates in the past 2 years and finally the biggest hurdle yet completed...and I didn't even write about it. FAIL! Anyways, on to step 3 now...getting 3 to 6 months worth of living expenses into our savings account. It took us 22 months to accomplish step 2...I'm hoping step 3 is much quicker!!

Happy Saturday!

Resolution

So far I only have 1 resolution. But it's a BIGGIE! I am going to run everyday this year. I am allowing myself 5 days off which I will save in case I get sick..and if I don't get sick then I'll have a great 5 day break at the end of the year!!

My biggest reason for doing this is to see if I can. I have been running now for 2 years and the longest break that I've ever taken is 2 weeks. However, I always seem to take the breaks when I get to my best. I will start feeling comfortable running and pushing myself really hard and then I stop. And it sucks to start back up again. It seriously takes me weeks to get back to my old running self when I take a week off.

So, I want to know what my running would look like if I never took a day off.

The rules are simple. Run everyday. Minimum is 1 mile. Max is as far as I can go that particular day.

So far we are six days in and six runs complete. A good start, no?

I'm getting a little tired of Facebook again (I go through stages with that site!) so I will update mostly on the blog.

And I'm a really slow runner and always looking for a partner so if anyone ever wants to tag along...let me know!!