Bang!

My build phase started out with a bang. A bang in the head that is. I posted about my poor after race care in my last entry. Since the Waterfalls 50K was "C" level race I wasn't supposed to need much recovery so the following week I had some significant workouts. My fluids were really off all week. My legs were swollen, my energy was low and my face looked a bit puffy too. I tried to catch up and did really well with water intake but left the electrolytes in the container. Not smart. The Friday following the race I had a 4 hour ride which I chose to do indoors. I just couldn't bare another frozen ride. I did a solid workout and was sweating a lot. I generally don't generate a lot of perspiration but I have never rode that long and that hard indoors. Saturday morning I got on plane headed to Park City. I felt pretty miserable. I had low energy, sluggish and just tired. By Saturday night I was really feeling sick. I thought I might be getting Alex's flu. At 2:30 a.m. I got up thinking I was going to be sick but instead I fainted and bashed my head on the granite tub. It was a pretty ugly scene from what I've been told. Blood coming out my ear, nose, mouth and my head on my left side. I went down pretty hard. That created a firestorm of drama but in the end it was a due mostly to my non-existent potassium levels. I was basically dehydrated. The crash got me a concussion, 3 liters of fluids, more tests that anyone would need and pretty decent lecture which I deserved. My BP wouldn't go above 62/32 for 2 hours so I was pretty out of it. I had been drinking plenty of water since I measure it like a weirdo. However I wasn't supplementing for electrolyte loss from the race and then the long ride. I felt so bad for my family and was incredibly embarrassed. Bill was freaked and Alex had to witness this too. I felt horrible all week. Like my brain and my synapses were not functioning plus I had one hell of headache. I guess a concussion can make you feel weird. What a way to start a vacation. No skiing for me! No running or anything for 2 days. They barely wanted me to drive. Being at 8,000 feet didn't help matters either. The gash on my head is a little over a week old here and it looks pretty good.

Matt gave me some doable workouts but it wasn't until the weekend where I got really see how I felt. I had my first big back to back run weekend. We did a Forest Park run then a good Gorge run. I felt better on Sunday than I did on Saturday.

All in all I am lucky this is all I got for my mistake. I don't like to admit when I feel terrible. The race took more out me than I gave it credit for and I certainly took my body for granted. Bill said this, "Your stubborn and tough as nails but your fragile too". I wasn't sure how I feel about that statement. :) Peterson Ridge 40M is in 2 weeks. I am MTBing the course the day before. I will certainly be much more diligent in my post session care. I have a feeling it will be a tough weekend but fun too.