When GPS maps go awry!

Since I got my Garmin 305 back in July, I have been using it for about as much as I possibly could.  I have taken it for walks IN my house, treadmill runs for HR, is now my new bike computer (due to an unfortunate incident), and acts as a wrist weight for my left arm (It's a gigantic watch...).  I am still learning new functions of the watch, and more importantly, the software that comes with it.  I have started using Garmin Connect, the online software that links to the watches and computers to save your workouts.  You can also analyze workouts in a basic sense with the free software.  I mainly look at my HR based on laps/elevation/pace, and make sure I'm not too out of whack (today was my first interval workout following my vacation, so EVERYTHING WAS OUT OF WHACK).

One of my favorite things, though, are the maps.  I think it's pretty cool to see where you went on a map, for some reason.  The Google Earth functions are pretty cool, too, although some are not always right.  These are the examples of those "not so right" maps:

I present to you two maps from Hilton Head, along the beach.  One is a run, one is a bike:  Guess which one is which:

Still can't tell?  Let's zoom a bit....

Got a little lost...

Although both apparently took place in the ocean (tides), the first was the run, and the second was the bike (yeah, not hard to figure out). Oddly enough, I had a similar pace for both, around 9:30 min/mile. The ride was with the family, and the run was tougher than I thought, due to sand. Actually, a 9:30min/mile pace through the ocean would be somewhat respectable, so I may stick with that!

Last, but not least, I wanted some sweet splits from one of my flights.  I got the idea from DCRainmaker's blog, one I frequent frequently (uh...). Although VERY tempting, this isn't part of my training totals, but still pretty interesting.  Plus it kept me occupied for the 1.5hr flight with a guy throwing up in front of me!

Not sure if the top speed is accurate....

Yeah.  Pretty nerdy.  I don't care. Deal with it.  

Thanks for reading!!!!!!  I hope you frequent frequently!!!

Jellyfish Stings SUCK!!!

Finally back in the good ol' midwest, and arrived to some pleasant weather!  Yesterday was absolutely beautiful outside, and spent the day in Topeka, picking up the dog from my parents' house (Thanks for watching him!).  I found out as soon as I left for Hilton Head the temperatures here plummeted, and the temperature there sky-rocketed!  You can thank me later for bringing the heat with me to SC. Apart from the wonderful day, there were 2 things that made the day a little negative: 1). I had to go back to my clinical today, and 2).  My Jellyfish stings are ITCHING LIKE CRAZY!!!

Let me back up.  I got stung by a jellyfish/man o' war on the second day (Sunday) I was on vacation. Here's the play-by-play:  Hit up the beach around 4:00pm to some Massive waves, and Rach, Family, and myself went bodyboarding on the waves.  It was a blast!  We started feeling weird little "tingles" on our legs, but thought nothing of it.  We had been riding the waves for a good 45 minutes, and then I got caught.  I was swimming towards the beach, getting pushed by a good sized wave, and got a VERY intense pain in my Right leg and Left arm.  It felt like I got hit with a bull whip, and then immediately felt like I got tasered.  Brutal.  I got out of the water as fast as I could, trying not to make too much of a scene, and then the pain set in.

I couldn't stop from shaking.  The pain was absolutely excruciating.  Once I got to our umbrella, I picked off a tentacle on my arm, and slipped out of my swimming suit.  Yeah, in front of half of my girlfriend's family.  Luckily I was somewhat shielded by a towel.  We got some vinegar spray from a lifeguard, who said to just spray the stings down.  Apparently, I was the 29th sting that day.  Eventually, we just went back to the beach house and took it easy the rest of the day.

Left arm right after the stings.  It is now a much darker, there were tentacles everywhere!

The painful spot, right on the back of the leg! PS I don't shave for tri's

Apart from the searing, intense pain I first felt, it subsided much quicker than I thought.  When I woke up the next morning, I felt pretty good.  A little sore, but not bad.  I even ran on the beach that morning.

Skip to yesterday.  I woke up, and noticed some more "bumps" from the stings, and noticed they were feeling a bit itchy.  The "little" itchiness has progressed to full blown, insanely constant itching that is making me crazy.  Today at my clinical was brutal, trying to focus when all I could do is think about how itchy my arm and leg felt. AHHH!!!  Unfortunately, I think I'm doing all I can to help the itchiness.  I'm taking some benadryl, and using some cortisone creme to no avail.  I'm going to wait it out a bit before going to the Doc, as I have eye surgery on Thursday and don't want to be in a Doc's office all week (yeah, eye surgery....). I also have gotten some wonderful advice via twitter (I'm not peeing on my arm, but drinking vodka would help in theory).

After researching the stings, I figured I'd post what I found, as far as prevention goes, for the stings.  Thankfully, all of my OWS are in lakes in Kansas, so I won't have to worry about these guys much!

Prevention Tips!!!

• If possible, try not to swim downstream of the current.  If the waves are big and the wind is blowing, there may be more jellyfish along the coast.
• Wear a wetsuit/dive suit!  Perfect for the triathlete!  Even though stings are still possible, this extra layer will prevent most of the incidental contact that occurs through most stings.  But be careful removing the suit!
• ALWAYS take some vinegar to the beach if you plan on swimming!  I was lucky the lifeguard had some because I didn't...  The vinegar neutralizes the venom located in the tentacles.  Although it may burn at first, it will prevent more toxin from being released.

If Stung....

• Don't pee on yourself... or have someone pee on you.  Although better than nothing, it still might not be an effective treatment.  Save yourself some embarrassment and go rinse yourself in SALT water, not fresh. 
• Avoid freshwater or showering immediately following a sting, as it could lead to more venom being released into your body.
• Rinse your sting in vinegar!  OR cover with YELLOW MUSTARD! Another use!!!! The acidity in these products neutralizes the neurotoxin in the tentacles.
• After rinsing with vinegar, shave the area with a razor.  This will take the remaining barbs off your skin.
• If you are experiencing shortness of breath, an increased heart rate, or had a tentacle touch your face or mouth, go to da hospital... don't wait.
• Be prepared from the itchiness!  I have had poison ivy on several different occasions, and this doesn't even compare. So much worse...

All in all, it sucked, but I was glad it happened to me and not Rach's little cousins.  Luckily it happened to the toughest guy on the beach... Pssh I didn't even cry.  No biggie. Triathlons have made me a man... And in retrospect, at least it wasn't a shark bite, after all Shark Week had just ended.... 

Thanks for reading, and careful out there... 

Video Friday 8-12-11

Hello from Hilton Head Island!  I'm having a blast, enjoying some HOT and HUMID weather, but the ocean helps quite a bit! I am here with Rach's whole family one more glorious day, then back to the Midwest!  Sorry for the lack of posts, I have had some limited access to the internet, as well as little time to write, with all the family activities going on.  BUT here is my Friday Video!  This is one of my favorite videos.  I originally saw this WAY long ago, before I started riding.  It's pretty incredible, bike messengers have crazy skills!

A trip re-cap is in the mix!  One quick tidbit:  Jellyfish stings are no fun!  And we found another use for mustard! YEAH!

Thanks for reading, have a great weekend!

Time for some Vacation!

I have a pretty short upcoming week at my clinical! I usually get Thursdays off because I work 4 10 hour days, but this week I get Friday off too!!! AND I don't 'actually' work that weekend, either (my paid position). Thankfully, I will have time to do some packing because I will be heading away for the next week!

Next Saturday, I will be boarding a plane VERY early and flying to South Carolina!  Our flight takes off around 5:30am, so no morning workout that day...  I am going to be meeting up with Rach's family for the week, and just "take it easy" in Hilton Head.  Rach and I went there last summer around this time, and had a blast!  Got some beach time in, played a little tennis, and tried to find the alligator at our resort!  Never saw him, but the "beware of alligator" signs were everywhere...

The Fam is renting one house for the week, and everyone is going to be staying under one roof. Luckily I know everyone in Rach's family already, or else it might be a little weird.  I am anticipating sleeping on a couch of some sort for the entire week, or maybe an inflatable mattress.  Not sure how my back will be feeling. The house has a great location, too.  It's right on the beach, but still has a pool.  I can't wait to be lounging in the pool, just staring at the ocean...

One thing I am excited about is the beach!  I am planning on running most of my runs along the shoreline in the morning.  I am hoping to get a slight breeze to cool me off, because it's going to be a little warm...

Which brings me to my second point:  Apparently it's impossible for me to escape the heat.  When Rach and I went last year, it was mid 80s the entire time.  The humidity is pretty brutal, even when compared to Kansas.  At a quick glance, it doesn't look too bad:

The 10 Day forecast for KC (Tuesday looks brutal)

That rain doesn't look good...

Anyway, the humidity in KC seems to add 6-8 degrees for the Heat Index, BUT the higher humidity in Hilton Head adds 12-16 degrees.  So yeah, going to be hot.  

Whatever, though. Its going to be a blast, I get 11 days off of my work/clinical, even though I'm sure I will be doing a good amount of reading for my fall classes already... 

One last thing:  If anyone in the KC area would like to volunteer for the Extreme Home Makeover project this week, you should definitely try.  Rach's dad was selected as a project manager, so we will be there throughout the week, helping when we can!  Please come help because you DO NOT want me helping with homebuilding projects... Seriously... If you are interested, or would like to make a donation, go HERE!!!

Have a great week, and thanks for reading!