Quick race-recap...

Still coming off the 'high' of racing this past weekend...it wasn't fast, but what a hoot!
Drove up Friday afternoon, picking up a high school buddy along the way to Marquette, MI, my hometown, and where the Big Bay Relay starts, making it's way from MQT to Big Bay, MI. The BBR is a (roughly) marathon distance relay, with 5 runners on a team, each running 5 legs, legs ranging in distance from .6 to 1.7 miles, though most of the legs were right at 1 mile each. I have run this race 17 or 18 times in the past, running on the winning team maybe 14 or 15 times, running roughly 2:00 -2:08 for the distance. I remember somewhere around 1988 where I ran my 5 one mile legs in a 4:37 average...well that didn't happen this year, nor should it have...but, still happy with the results.
My first leg was 1.65 miles long, with a cranky hill in the middle...I fought through and ran a 7:09 avg.; leg 2 was 1.01 which I ran in 6:37; leg 3 was a .98 mile UP-hill mile which I ran in 7:29...this mile was hard on me. The running 'fast' on a flat surface, easy enough, but I don't have the capacity to power through the hills, obviously. My 4th leg was .97 mile which I ran in 6:44...with my 5th leg, only .67 of a mile, being a downhill leg, which I ran at 6:08 pace...then I was done.
As good as to be expected given my health 'challenges', but super frustrated in that when I wanted to 'go', I had no answers, almost as if I had a governor on my pacer/heart...does that make sense?
When I finished I looked up my paces and such on the Garmin, and while everything looked right, my heart-rate never got much over 130...?? Super confused. Here is my average HR for each leg: 1 - 135; 2 - 130; 3 - 128; 4 - 134; 5 - 128...128? That's just dumb...and confusing...more about that later. Remember, these were at 'race' pace, as hard as I could go...128?
We had a great time as a team, finishing 7th overall, making some real nice friends along the way!

...fast forward to Monday May 20th, 2 days post-race, and I head out for an easy 13 mile trail run with Lisa and Maria...minimal elevation and keeping the pace as close to 10:30 as possible, which seems to be really comfortable for me...a pace I can talk, sing and whistle at without issues...FYI, I'm a great whistler :)

So, 'race' HR on Saturday was roughly 130...easy trail run HR average, 160, with a max of 180? WTH is that all about...only 3 of my miles had me under 160, and barely...??? I just don't understand... It jumped to 160 by mile 1, and stayed there...racing, creeped up to 130 quick, and stayed there. Is my body just more efficient at 'race' pace because I spent so much time there over the past 35+ years? ...or am I deteriorating faster than I think? ...but the running and biking feel so good still, I'd be surprised. ...if that's the case, it's gonna suck a** at the Leadville Trail Marathon if my HR gets to and stays at 160+ for 7 hours... 

Monday night after my run, FREEZING...I could not get warm! Sweatshirt and pants, in bed! ...maybe I was a bit dehydrated, but I thought I did a nice job of hydrating on the run...though I know I need to do a better job of drinking. Back in the day, 15 miles of running, minimal hydration, if at all...I guess now that I'm 'old' and in #heartfailure, I need to eat/drink more when I'm running/riding. Hard to teach an old dog (ruf ruf) new tricks...

I don't have an appointment with my cardiologist until late July, maybe it's time to get in a bit sooner, possibly before the the marathon...duh. Only 24 days until the #LeadvilleTrailMarathon...

The rest of the weekend was beyond amazing...a trip I NEEDED. My 4 teammates are high school buddies, guys I've known since the early 80's...good friends, hoping to run as a team again next year, but as we know, tomorrow is not a guarantee. 

All 4 of my teammates ran amazing... Our first runner, Jon, an amazing athlete (2 mile MSHS record holder for like 20 years), opened up with a 6:20 mile, on a tough leg! How does he do that? Steve ran rock-solid, as usual, as our #2 runner...John, who is in 3:20 marathon shape (1 mile MSHS record holder for like 15 years), had no problems at all with 5 measly 1 mile legs...I ran as the 4th leg, and Bob had the luxury of the 5 toughest legs, most being crazy UP! 

...as life keeps throwing me curve balls, it's nice to spend weekends with good friends...run hard, laugh, talk deep...and consume a beverage or 3. ...already looking forward to 2020!! Love your family, Jon...

Please, stop and take in the view...life is SO short!

Race Update - Leadville/Big Bay Relay

Finally, an updated blog...it's been a crazy few months, but life is beginning to settle down.
Yes, Leadman is still happening. Not sure what I'm thinking, racing 5 times at altitude while in heart failure...but what's the worst that can happen, right?
Here is the summer Leadman schedule:
June 15th - Leadville Trail Marathon
July 7th - Silver Rush 5O MTB
August 10th - Leadville 1OO MTB
August 11th - Leadville 1OK Trail Run
August 17th/18th - Leadville 1OO Trail Run
I know, what in the hell am I thinking? Here is my logic...I am still rolling in heart failure, though it seems like I've stabilized a bit...my ejection fraction is still sitting around 17% and my VO2 Max hasn't moved much. Last summer during 2 treadmill stress tests, I recorded a 46 and a 44...well as of today, I'm still sitting at 42 (According to my Garmin)...so why not roll the dice, while I still can, and put that book-end to my running career? ...after a heart transplant, from what I understand, it will take a while to get back to exercising, and even then, it's going to be slow, and a 'Leadman' type race, where I have to hit performance/time cut-offs, will more than likely not happen again. Sure, maybe someday I'll be able to jog a marathon again, or do a triathlon (If the sport is still around...) but the days of qualifying for Kona, or Boston...or Leadman, will be done. So lace up the shoes this summer, toe the fucking line, race hard/race smart...roll the dice and see what happens!

Not all that worried about the marathon on June 15th...Lisa is running this one with me...or the 50 MTB in July...just looking for a comfortable finish. The 100 MTB on the other hand, could be a battle. Now granted, I haven't been biking all that much, maybe 3 times/about 80 miles per week, but I seem to have minimal power...whether on the trainer at LifeTime or on the roads. I definitely don't have much climbing power, or power riding into the wind...but I've been doing my best getting my workouts in. Some days they click, others suck ass... The 1OK, the day after the 1OO MTB, no worries...but then 6 days later, it's time for the big-dance. 1OO miles of UG LY trail running. Honestly, not sure how I'm gonna pull this race out of my ass, but what I always fall back on...I'm Derek Lindstrom, and this is NOT my first rodeo. It will NOT be easy, but life hasn't been easy...100+ of my 110 marathons have not been easy...this is just one more race, likely one of my/if not my last race...I'm going to enjoy the shit out of it, as much as I can, I guess :) 
I'm still in talks with a group about doing a short film on my training/racing journey. This Friday I have an interview with my local newspaper, and I've also picked up a few really nice sponsors that will help a lot over the summer. 
KT Tape jumped on board with merchandise to help, and wow...seems like I'm held together with KT Tape...working wonders on this old body!
...I also got in as a Hive ambassador with Honey Stinger Nutrition...hands down the best tasting gel/chew/waffle brand. The chews and gels are staples for my training nutrition and will be in Leadville this summer. The waffles I need to be careful with...so yummy, though if there are 8 of them in the house, I'll eat 7 and save Lisa 1...waffle/gel/waffle sandwich, oh my! 
The support is amazing! Hoping for a movie party this fall, proceeds and awareness to organ donation...
Pacers and crew all set for Leadville...we have lodging and dog sitters for all the races. I feel like the race series has taken over parts of my life, but I know if I don't put in the work, it could get ugly(er).
Speaking of ugly, I took a nasty spill running downhill at Afton State Park about 4 weeks ago...not sure if I cracked some ribs and/or sternum, but it still hurts to breathe deep...makes for some interesting workouts. I know, I should probably go and see someone, but frankly, I've seen my share of doctors over the past 14 months...ugh.
Also, about 6 weeks ago I had another scare...this time it was a pesky clot that broke free from my heart and got stuck in my left arm...so, another 3 days in the hospital...joy joy. Then 2 weeks ago, another stay to work on a sleep study...another long story. I get those results tomorrow morning. Hoping for a CPAP machine to help me sleep deep...but we'll see. It's always something.
Speaking of racing, this upcoming Saturday I will be racing the Big Bay Relay in Marquette, MI with 4 high school buddies. I have run this race 17 times, the first time was in 1980. I think I was on the winning team 14 times, including in 1988 when I averaged 4:37 for my five 1 mile legs. This year there will be NO 4:37 miles...if I can run 6:37 I'll be elated. For BBR training, I've done a couple of quick speed-work sessions on the treadmill over the last couple of weeks, and those went well...12 x :45 at 9.5 with .5 elevation with 1:15 jog recoveries. Not crazy fast, but it got the legs moving again... Saturday, five 1 mile legs with @25 minute breaks...SO looking forward to it!
I was really confused after my first speed session last week...I'm in heart failure...hell, there are a lot of people with an EF of 17% who can't walk, let alone run and need an LVAD or heart asap. Me? I get on the tread and pound out 12 x :45...how? It's confusing for me...can I do more? Should I be doing more? Am I going to collapse and die during a session? I just don't understand. Some of my easy trail runs just don't go well, and I feel as if I am deteriorating, yet I get on the tread and rock out some speed... WTH!
Today for speed, I rode my bike to the club (about 23 minutes each way) did my speed then rode home. What the hell am I doing...yet the speed makes me feel ALIVE, and I love that feeling!

I think I've done a pretty good job dealing with life and keeping things light, knowing that there is not much I can do besides smile, continue to work hard...and when it's time for a heart, then it's time. 3 months? 6 Months? 18 months? Who knows...but I am NOT going to sit back and just wait, I am going to continue to enjoy life, enjoy loved ones and family...but some days it's not easy. Some days I still sit back and think 'why me'? ...but, why NOT me? 

I'll be sure to post race results this weekend :)