Every year on my birthday, I try to target a race or running event to participate in and celebrate another year here on earth. Yeah, some of my friends think I’m weird, but I like it because it makes me feel good and I think it’s a healthy, positive way for me to celebrate.
Last year, I did the Ross Bridge 8k, you know, where the ultimate high-end spa services are located too?! The 8k is roughly a little over 5 miles, so it was a great way for me to get in a good run that day AND feel good about doing something healthy for my body. Turning 44 that day didn’t feel so bad after all!
Something else that I liked after the run were the booths that the organizers had set up for runners. They had places set up where we could get health information and access to things like blood pressure and cholesterol checks, samples of newly-released energy drinks and samples of that new Body by Vi whey protein shake (my friend sells these too). It was all really good stuff!
Another thing that was peculiar, but not really, was that my blood pressure was a bit elevated that day. Yes, it was after the run, and yes, I ran it in under an hour, so that’s why I’m not tooo surprised. The top number was something like 143-44, and the RN helping me wasn’t worried or concerned and did explain that it was due to the obvious circumstances. She also told me that the medical records software that they use for events like the 8k run is not as sophisticated and/or detailed like the electronic medical records software that your doctor’s office would use. So, no worries there. It was just a simple, generic test.
I filled out the appropriate paperwork for consent and release of liability, but they also offered to have my information digitally sent to me or my doctor in case I wanted to pursue any aspect of the test. I thought that was a great idea, especially since the circumstances were under extreme conditions (endurance running). At first I was a little hesitant about doing this “medical” test in such an atmosphere: outside, under a tent, with medical professionals who I didn’t know and who didn’t know me. All of this kind of had me a little leery, but I pretty much determined there wouldn’t be any harm in getting a simple test done like a blood pressure check. After all, you can walk into any local pharmacy and do that too, right?
There wasn’t any harm in having the test done, and I’m glad I did. Since convenience and flexibility is so important to many individuals, physician offices use electronic health records to expedite assessments and diagnoses for their patients. And also, since my husband’s employer has changed health insurance carriers, we have to now sign and consent to a lot of medical procedures on both us and the kids before anything is done, and the insurance carrier has put our information online for us to view. That means that I can quickly access those electronic medical records for myself or the kids whenever I want.
This year for my big birthday, the big “4-5,” I’m doing the Virginia Beach Half Marathon. Another year, one year older, and I plan to take my health assessments just as seriously then as I did for a shorter race. It’s very, VERY important to take care of your health, right?
Comments