Health Benefits in stark reality

In 2014, I had been the dean of a college of business for 6 years.  I had loved many aspects of the job.  It is quite satisfying to see students excel and succeed in their careers.  It gave me a great deal of pleasure and self-actualization to experience their joys and pride upon graduation and being hired.

However, as this article indicates, being in the middle is quite stressful.  Middle Manager Stress is Highest  I was feeling this stress in many ways.  Despite having begun doing triathlons in 2010 and training pretty regularly and hard during that time period, I was feeling the effects of stress.  I was quite unhappy by 2014 and my blood pressure was elevated.  I had gained weight and was not sleeping well at all.  In general, I felt as though I was not doing much good for anyone and that my future was pretty grim.  By the time I stepped down from my position in the summer of 2014, my blood pressure was at 135/93.  This was the highest of my life.  Even pregnant my blood pressure was never more that 120/72.  I'd enjoyed low blood pressure for my whole life but now I was in trouble and I felt it. My stamina was affected and my power readings on the bike fluctuated with the level of stress I felt.  In general, I was not doing well.


Since I knew I would be in transition for awhile after stepping down, I decided to bump up my training.  I felt more like crawling into bed with the covers over me for a decade but instead went to do more training.  Eventually I made the significant decision to attempt Ironman Louisville Oct 11, 2015.

That decision meant a lot more training over the coming year, but I was pretty sure a new job would not be available until summer 2015 so I dove in.

I won't go through my training plan in detail, that's not the point.  Overall I did a periodized plan, that I developed and checked with my coach that ended with several weeks of 20 hours per week of training.  During this time I was doing professional consulting part-time, so my time was flexible and allowed me to do this training.

I did do many other training races along the way including ITU, Muncie, Haines City, Chicago Triple, Titanium, as well as some running races for training.

I recently took a health exam to purchase long term disability coverage.  The nurse came and weighed me, took my pulse and blood pressure and did a questionnaire.

Here are the results:

2014
BP  135/93
HR 72
Weight 182

2015
BP 108/66
HR 66
Weight 164

I did not try to lose weight or worry excessively about these health problems, I focused on my training results and getting myself ready for the race.  The weight began to come off spontaneously.  Frankly I was astounded about these results when she took them.  I had no idea my weight was that low or that my BP had dropped so much.  I did know I felt better...I felt 30 years younger.  I did know I was happier, had a much more positive outlook despite looming issues that could stress anyone: moving, change in income, sale of a house, Ironman race, book deadline, lots of demands on my time for various issues.  Apparently the training is a great buffer to the physical effects of stress.

Yes I know it's been written about and proven, but when you experience it personally it is a tremendous gift.  I hope that as a USAT coach, I can give that same gift to other women who are interested in reversing the sign of aging.

Join me by leaving a comment about your experience or ask me to help you with a training plan.  Beginners are encouraged!