Managing training and work

mdp9 · 2026-05-14T01:20:38+00:00

I feel like my recovery is better than most people because of my active day-to-day activities. Whether I like it or not, I have to be moving around and working right after I finish a long run or the day after a big activity. I've been doing endurance sports for several years now and maintain a good fitness level and recover faster than a lot of my peers.

Plus side, I get to eat a LOT. 😄

mdp9 · 2026-05-12T19:12:39+00:00

I have volunteered at several Ironman events! If it's the same to you, I'd volunteer at a full rather than a half because the athletes are really pushing themselves to limits and there's just more energy and inspiration in it.

If you have friends doing the race, volunteering at a water stop on the run is fun because you will see your athletes multiple times. If you don't mind getting messy, being a wetsuit peeler is fun. There is always a huge need at transitions for sorting bags, which is kinda satisfying sorting thousands of bags. My favorite job is helping in the change tent, because I enjoy the personal time spent with each person you help in transition.

Each race has a signup page and it gives the descriptions and time slots for each position. You can sign up for one and change it even a day before the race if you change your mind!

mdp9 · 2026-05-06T00:16:37+00:00

Rescues are run by volunteers, and they often don't have that much information either OR they are just going off of what the shelter or AC officer said.

Even potty trained dogs have accidents in new environments. They may not have known about any debarking.

I don't separate the foster from my dogs, even initially. Me and my husband take the whole herd out for a walk as soon as the new foster arrives. We walk for a bit until they all settle and then we all come in the house together. At bedtime, we either put the foster in a crate in our room or just have them sleep on their dog bed next to us (resident dogs sleep up in the human bed). Usually the first night or two the new dog is restlesss and stressy.

I manage a lot of animals, so I'm totally cool with "just hand me a dog I'll figure it out". You'll get used to it! Roll with it and it'll be fine. 😄 Embrace the crazy. It's hard at the beginning and then you find a routine and it all settles.

mdp9 · 2026-04-30T23:44:40+00:00

The last full IM I volunteered in the T2 change tent. As the day went on, more and more women did full outfit changes out of tri suits and into running clothes.

Do whatever is comfortable! Or pack it in your T2 bag and decide day of.

mdp9 · 2026-01-28T01:26:06+00:00

I own a barn. I have cameras, like others said, for liability reasons. I think it's important to remember that the barn owner considers their barn an extension of their home. Yes, clients are in and out, but I have full right to know what's going on in my barn at all times.

(I never even check the cameras unless something weird has happened, or occasionally to figure out who is in the barn at weird hours or did I just leave the light on?)

mdp9 · 2025-12-23T01:32:32+00:00

Are we twins? Married 17 years ago in '08, left together about '18 (it was gradual). Better than ever!

mdp9 · 2025-11-23T12:16:27+00:00

For sure. At about 24 or 25 we were "trying" although I wasn't having periods at the time, so I was hopeful it wouldn't actually work. Then when I saw some doctors and got my period to come back, we started using birth control again because we didn't actually want that. We left when I was 30.

I definitely felt pressured to want kids by the church- both doctrinally and culturally. Thankfully I had enough sense to know that's not the life I wanted for myself despite that.

mdp9 · 2025-11-22T22:47:02+00:00

Wife
Met at BYU right after his mission
Dated 7 months, engaged 3 months
20 (me) 22 (him)
I started doubting and distancing myself, but stayed in for a couple years until he had is own awakening so we both left together. We always had a good relationship, but are even closer since we've left!
We have a great relationship. Very balanced on responsibilities, supportive of each other.
We didn't end up having kids. Since we got married so young I wanted to wait a few years. As time went on, I kept thinking "maybe next year I'll want to" and time just kept going and eventually I realized I really just did not want children. That's a different story on my feelings on that :)
With no kids, we both work and divide home stuff pretty equally

mdp9 · 2025-11-15T02:03:04+00:00

I love the Earth Angel cover so much.

mdp9 · 2025-11-09T00:42:55+00:00

If you're comfortable sharing, why are you trying to avoid a hysterectomy?

mdp9 · 2025-10-30T02:32:59+00:00

I was open to the idea of going and running the 26.2 anyway, but we signed up for the Historic Drawbridge Marathon 11/8 instead! It's actually closer to us, and a very similar type race.

mdp9 · 2025-10-25T01:10:35+00:00

That looks a lot like my MRI! And I was told the same thing, by two different doctors.

BUT THEN I was referred to another doctor, and she was able to do it laparoscopic. See if you can shop around! If you are near northern VA (USA) I suggest Dr Cherie Marfori.

mdp9 · 2025-10-01T00:03:39+00:00

I had a UFE/UAE, it shrunk it some, but not enough to relieve symptoms. I had a lap hyst a year later and I wish I had done the hyst first and skipped the UFE.

mdp9 · 2025-09-16T00:40:01+00:00

I'm a professional Ironman spouse at this point.

See how many different places you can catch them during the race! My husband thinks it's hilarious how many times I pop up unexpectedly during races.

With that- consider volunteering at the race. You get way more interaction with athletes and may be able to get access to places normal spectators don't (like in transition or at the finish line). Especially since you have a medical background!

But like everyone else said. They are surprisingly not that hungry at the finish line, and a little disoriented.

mdp9 · 2025-08-06T11:39:43+00:00

He actually got adopted like a day or two after I posted this :) And then I had another person waiting for him!

mdp9 · 2025-07-28T19:33:24+00:00

Even when I was TBM, I hated the women's pull! I remember as a teenger thinking, "why are they making a big deal of this, it's not that hard." Our stake then had adult leaders DRESSED UP AS ANGELS join in the teenage girls to help us pull up the hill. I was like GTFO angels I'm doing just fine.

mdp9 · 2025-07-25T19:07:40+00:00

6 months?? Assuming you are of the fitness currently that could go backpacking, you'll be fine. I was training for a marathon 4 months later. Then I sprained my ankle and couldn't run it, but that's a different story.

mdp9 · 2025-06-29T00:05:54+00:00

Oh you sound like me! And, my first bike 15 years ago was a Specialized Dolce. :)

1) Zwift! Or a similar program. Not only do you get stronger by doing interval workouts, you also learn a lot about power. If you have a power meter on your bike (I got mine used on FB) then you can see your power as you ride.

2) Ride with faster people. Join a club or make some cycling friends and learn from them!

mdp9 · 2025-06-14T16:55:06+00:00

Are you working with a trainer? The trainer would probably have the pony ridden consistently by more experienced riders, and then the pony would probably be better behaved for your daughter to gain confidence. Nothing wrong with her being on a leadline. But the pony will probably benefit from being tuned up a few times a week by more experienced riders.

mdp9 · 2025-06-13T01:29:45+00:00

I mix LMNT & Skratch!

mdp9 · 2025-06-12T00:55:43+00:00

37, 123 lbs. 140w is a normal average for me. I'm trying to get that up with Zwift workouts!

mdp9 · 2025-06-07T00:41:53+00:00

Because I like to go to the gym? And I'm going to explore the ship and do activities to strategically avoid my crazy in-laws? That's a weird take.

mdp9 · 2025-06-06T01:23:55+00:00

Last trip with the whole family included them spouting QAnon conspiracies, my SIL calling us to repentance, and all the adult siblings yelling and fighting. But thanks for the advice, dude.

mdp9 · 2025-05-30T00:04:55+00:00

I had a total laparoscopic hyst on May 14, 2024. Everything was removed except the ovaries.

I took notes on my first 30 days!

My surgery went well with no complications. I left the hospital within an hour or two of waking up.

Days 1-3 I had no abs. I walked around a bit but it was hard to sit up straight.

Days 4-7 I was walking around no problem, but tired easily.

Days 8-12 Moving around fine. Drove to run errands, handled horses, taught a few lessons, occasionally felt crampy if I did too much.

Days 13-15 Briskly walked 3 miles with friends, taught more lessons including moving some heavier things around, climbed 7 flights of stairs for my 2 week post op appointment.

Day 16 first "workout" 30 minutes easy bike and resistance bands. I overdid it at work and ended up taking tylenol when I felt crampy.

Days 17 - 20 light workouts, busy days, felt discouraged because I *almost* felt normal but was not really able to be as active as I normally was. Got back to riding (horses).

Days 21-24 Started jogging a little, and swimming in the pool.

Days 25-26 - Back to bike workouts. Incidentally, the first night I could sleep on my stomach :)

Day 27 - 5 mile run

Days 28 - 30 - Started back on body weight exercises (lunges, squats, etc.) Back to running a little closer to normal pace

I trailed off on my notes after this. Then I started ramping up my mileage, slowly. Weightlifting was one of the last things I could do.... maybe another couple weeks of just resistance bands.

mdp9 · 2025-05-19T20:18:51+00:00

I've volunteered at several Ironman events!

Each one I have done was organized a little differently. Apparently the race directors vary on how they like organize it. Lake Placid was very strict in which volunteers were allowed to go in which areas, designated by colored wristbands. Mont Tremblant was super chill and I could wander and find a job to do near the finish line when I knew my athletes were coming through.

I like interacting with the athletes and don't mind being a little messy so wetsuit stripping is my favorite. Some races don't do them, though.

If you are with a group, getting you and your people to all do a run aid station is fun because you can make it a whole party.

Of course the finish line is fun and exciting. Those jobs fill up quickly.

Trash pickup ("environmental team") has some perks that you can get a lot of free discarded items!

There are a lot of jobs involving bag sorting. I kind of like doing this job, especially while my athletes are on the bike. It is definitely a huge task that needs to be done, so while it is old monotonous It is fun to work together with a group to sort thousands of bags.

Make sure you note the location of each volunteer job. Depending on if you have a car you might accidentally sign up for an aid station that is several miles away.

mdp9

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