Short on time

My computer took a crap last week after a big storm, great timing I started A&P this week which has a lot of info study guides and the like that require a computer to use. Oh well, I'm psyched about the class(I get to play with dead people), now I will be able to name all the parts of my body that ache as I train for Houston. So far so good I'm up to four miles and feel good. After two months off I started back real slow, but I have to say that was just the miles. Well times were slow in the beginning as well, but I have to give my self a pat on the back I think I can now run with the likes of my fellow drunk runners and not make them carry a cooler so the beer doesn't get warm. The young lady I have been running with is a big part of the boost in speed. Once I helped Wendy a little with her form and got her to start out slow and finish strong she was kicking my ass. This caused me to pick up my speed so her times weren't making mine look so bad. We both started back running about the same time but she snapped back a lot quicker than I did, but I've been told that it comes back easier for younger people. I still couldn't let her beat my times run after run, Who new I was so competitive, certainly not me. In the beginning I was running my usual 10:30 pace but the last five runs have all been under 9:00, with one 3 miler at 8:17 and Sundays 4 miler at 8:45. I skipped last nights work out to go out for dinner but will make it up tonight after class. Between the run and the weights and a beer to relax I should make it to bed by eleven or so. I'm not sure if I can qualify for Boston in Houston but I will in Madison for sure.

A.B.D. And all that Jazz!

Well, Y'all, it's true. I have passed the test. It was an ordeal of the highest order, and have giving myself a few days off to celebrate. Today: Coffee, Massage, Coffee, Manicure-Pedicure, Beer, Dinner, Beer. How's that for a day? I'm loving it!!!!!

On to running. My back is slowly promising to improve. I'm having less and less pain every day, which is encouraging. With the recent success, I'm ready to go out and see what's going to happen.
I've had Runners World design a program for me that basically starts back at square one. The first week is 3 2-mile runs. That should just about kill me, but I'll do them in the park or at the track so they aren't too bad.
Next, I've registered (in my A.B.D. status) for weight lifting at the gym. I'm looking forward to having the structure again. I took the class once before and then went right back to my old ways. The class, however, will coincide with the training for the marathon, keeping me in shape in the weeks leading up to the race, and hopefully helping me improve my times.

That's all I have for now. Just the eternal optimism that comes with having passed through such an ordeal as that f*&^%g exam, and the hope that a few days off will put me back in shape for the training that needs to be done in the next 16 weeks.

Peace.

Congratulations!

This is not real post, but I just wanted to let everyone know that sixpack took his qualifying exams yesterday, and by now should be sleeping soundly knowing he has entered the crazy Zwischenwelt that is life as an ABD (All But Dissertated).  For those of you lucky enough to not be anywhere near our "industry", just know that this is a very big step towards the PhD, and for that, the boy should be heartily congratulated.  From one Drunkrunner to another, I say congrats (and welcome to the club), Donno!

PS:  We have been frantically working/exchanging suggestions behind the scenes, and when not cramming, Sixpack somehow found time to stretch the banner.  Assuming that's the end of the birthday facelift, I would like to say I think our blog looks pretty damn good now.  Another congrats to the man!

On the HTML Ghost and the state of Non-Socialized Medicine

That was me. The changes to the layout? They were mine. I was getting frustrated with scrolling, while my monitor had a patch of green on either side of posts large enough to start a small ranch. Congrats on getting the feet to match up, although, I for one always thought you had done it on purpose. It was kind of artsy.
The new city sounds great. Here I provide a list of other potentially exciting aspects of running in England (based on my own experiences):

1. STINGING NETTLES. Nothing beats them, and it appears that one need only leave that well-manicured path of yours to find them. Seriously, they are the running gift that keeps on giving. For 12 hours, nows that's a lasting memory.

2. TRAFFIC CIRCLES. If you get bored of that path of yours just try tackling a traffic circle above ground. That'll get your heart rate going. Yes, you'll be taking your life into your own hands, but isn't that why they have Socialized medicine?

3. BUCKINGHAM PALACE. Not many folks can wave at the Queen everytime they go on a weekly long run. And dodging the tourists is good for balance training, abdominals, and screaming "Get the f*!& outta my way!" in as many languages as one can think of. My jealousy is building.

4. THE UNDERGROUND. With its thorough coverage of the city, you can just plug in that iPod and head out. No matter where you collapse you are bound to be near an underground station. And then it's just a matter of time until you find your way home. All the while enjoying a 40 you bought at the train station, and commiserating with the locals.

OK, enough about you. I'm still not running, although I ran across the street yesterday and it didn't hurt too bad. The symptoms have mostly subsided at this point. Just a constant pain in the ass, literally. My right glute is in constant pain, except when I take the little blue pills. The pink ones don't help much, but the blue are amazing.
I was referred to a specialist, and last week was given an appointment for the 13th of September. My plea of, "I've already been in pain for two months!" was met with a profound sense of apathetic empathy. Along the lines of, "I'm sorry, sir. I think?!? I mean they tell me to say I'm sorry, but really I'm just trying to get you off the phone so I can answer the next whiner on line 3." So, on September 13, I've got an appointment with a back specialist. I'll bring my duck call, since Forest thinks they are all quacks. If you hear something reminiscent of Norman Rockwell painting of a duck blind, you'll know I've disagreed with the quack and squawking bloody murder while dressed in a hospital gown.
I'll be taking a Phy. Ed. class at school this semester in an attempt to get something in shape. Not sure yet whether I want to do weightlifting or something cardio like swimming, but if I'm going to take one class I'm going to make it worth it. I register on Monday so I'll keep you posted.
In the meantime, I'm doing my best to show PP how we roll in the Bay Area. Dinner tonight at Suppenküche will celebrate her finishing her doctorate yesterday. Everyone offer her a huge congratulations for running that 6 year marathon without ever faltering, and while managing to keep the rum, tequila and bourbon industries in the black.

10 Things

I was thisclose to posting another blog about running in Cologne. It was going to be "Ten Things I'll Miss About Cologne", but quite frankly I'm tired of moaning about leaving. Instead of dwelling on the past, I've decided to look towards the future. So get ready for me to textually dry hump this brand new city:

5 Reasons I'm Excited About Running in London


5: The London Marathon
This is an obvious one, but I need to place it here anyway. It's one of the four newly designated "Major" Marathons and opportunities to run in it are pretty slim. The lottery system begins in August and closes in October. Lucky applicants are notified in December, but if you aren't picked then you can usually run through a charity. I believe I saw a "George Best Liver Cancer Fund" or something similar...that sounds pretty nice.

4: The East End Safari
Really, not enough can be said about running through the entire East End of London. I tried once. Tourists never come here, but Jarvis Cocker will sing songs about it...so you know there's a decent chance you'll get stabbed. Besides, as I said before, there are EEL AND PIE SHOPS. Eel and Pie. Why not?

3: Parks
I currently run through either Valentines Park or Wanstead Park, but pretty much everywhere you turn has a path leading to another path that invariably sometimes might lead to a park. I tell you, they're everywhere. Hyde Park? Done and Done. Regents Park? Around the corner! For a town called the Big Smoke, London has a surprising amount of green in it and if you look closely, you may even spot a tree without fifty seven shopping bags in the branches. If you're lucky.

2: NHS
Three cheers to Nationalized Health! Basically, if I fall over tomorrow on a run and pierce my spleen with my iPod, then I can go to the hospital and have them not only repair it, but re-ligament my knee and give me a double shot of espresso for a grand total of fifty cents. Or so I think. Regardless, it beats the hell out of running uninsured or dealing with the witch-doctor-remedies you find in Germany (You got a bulging disc? Try some Peat Moss!).

1: Running Groups
I'm joining a running group next week. I found one that's pretty central and that does weekend long runs, Wednesday night runs, and track work on Tuesdays. They may even have spaghetti parties and watch Dirty Dancing during sleepovers. I have no idea, but we can all hope. Mostly, the prospect of running with people again sounds fantastic right now. I need something tangible to motivate me, and this sounds just about ideal. Plus, I get a free sixty dollar shirt when I join...which is a bargain.


So there you have it. Five reasons I'm excited about running in London (It started as ten, but I ran out of ideas at seven).

On to other things. You may have noticed that the blog received a birthday makeover. I updated the template, worked on font size and spacing between the posts, and modernized a few things behind the scenes, so changes should be easier for us to make in the future. Of course, right after I made the initial (mostly color) switch, the entire format changed, which proves the theory that strange things happen when multiple people have admin capabilities ;). I think the new format looks pretty good , and I like that we have more space for the posts themselves. I'm mostly proud that after playing with the HTML tonight, the feet and ankles in our banner actually connect for the first time ever. Small victories.

Last week's alarmist post about running and the effects of steak tartare was apparently a false alarm. I was just sick, and it kept me off my feet until yesterday. Well, illness combined with the VERY MANY trips up and down six flights of stairs required to move our things into the cellar. Apparently, the hundreds of miles I've run this year have been nothing more than training for the chance to, um, move out of my apartment without having my calves rip off the back of my leg.

I went on two short runs today and yesterday, but they're not really bloggable, unless you want to hear how pleased I am that NPR programming has finally switched from Audible.com to regular iTunes podcasts, and I can now let the soothing banter of Fresh Air carry me as I sprint from eel shop to eel shop.

I didn't think so.

Nuerosurgeons are QUACKS!

Well atleast the one I had is. He informed me I have degenerative discs and Sixpack I hate to inform you but it's hereditary. Your Father, older sister and brother have the problem. Thats why Dad had the back surgery so young, I'm a candidate in the future, but for now the nuerosurgeon said quit running and that I was clear to go back to work. Well I went back to work and moped around at home about not being able to run. I drank a few beers and then a lot more, I tried to figure out how I could get rid of this desire to run. Would it be like when I quit smoking or when I stopped chewing, do they make a patch for that. the endorphin patch, I wonder if you used that while taking diet pills would you lose weight faster or would you just be hyper from the pills and feel really good about being fat because of the endorphin patch?
Excuse me while I ponder.
Well after two days of mass depression and wondering how I can stop running and what can I do to replace it. Well I did what I've done for over a year now when something is bothering....... that's right boys and girls, I laced up my brand new Glycerin's sitting in the closet waiting for me to run again and set out on a run to work through the problem. I've gotta say it always works for me. I come back with a new perspective every time. What I came back with after this run was the decision that if the Doc thought I was good enough to go back to my job ( but I am supposed to check back in in 6 months if the pain doesn't go away)then I'm damn well good enough to go back to running. I'm proud to say that since that day, which was 12 days ago I have ran 15 miles.(I just finished a three mile run) I'm going to make a slow come back, but the way I see it 15 down and a minimum of 485 to go before Houston. Sixpack go to a chiropractor get that nerve unpinched get a massage, work that lower back, hips and abs and find some flat ground to get you back up to pace ( I know the flat terrain is hard to find) I want you and PP to either beat me to the finish or we cross it together. I'm pumped and I want nothing more than to run a marathon with my bro and a fellow drunk runner running her first. I joined the ranks of the drunk runners around December and I could think of no better way to celebrate my first year than running a marathon with the people that helped me make my first one possible. Dee what's the possibilities of making it a foursome or 11 or 12. Hell I don't know who Amy is but lets tackle it together. Lets celebrate the birthday of the drunk runners by planning to all unite and run together. Until this happens I raise my glass of New glarus brew Stone Soup and say Happy Birthday drunk runners, Happy Birthday.

Miles: 15

Time: not sure I'll have to add it up.

Pace: around 10:18

Overall impression: I'm pumped to be back out running, I just got back from Madison where I was running with a young lady who wants to start running. Wish me luck! (IPTBBOR,IJGBFMWIWRWAYLWWTSR.WML!)

Sixpack's Birthday Blog Post

I don't keep very good records of my runs, so when called to do so, I was forced to go through last years posts to come up with totals for the past year of running. Here's what I have come up with:

Total Miles: 527.1

Total time: I don't exactly know, give me an average of 9:30/mile and you're pretty close.

Total cases of Poison Oak: 2
** I'm terribly allergic and was once diagnosed after having run in full running tights, a long sleeve shirt, and gloves. How it got on my thigh, I'll never know. There is the possibility that the nurse just diagnosed it wrong, but the first time, was clearly poison Oak.

Marathons Run: 2
San Francisco was 3 days before the founding of DrunkRunners, so I'm counting that one.

Total Months in Physical Therapy: 11
Since I finished San Francisco I managed to not be in Physical Therapy for one month, and I have to agree with Forest. I would rather be going to PT than to give up running. Of course, there is swimming, but I need to do more PT and get those abs in shape if I'm going to be posting pics of me in a Speedo. :-)

Number of times I wanted to give up: 1
Location: Carlsbad, CA, Mile 12
In beating down sun, after having started the race with a pace group, I was dehydrated and already feeling the extreme weakness. I was ready to throw in the towel when the infamous Lauren came by and gave me the psychological boost I needed.

OK, OK, no more totals. But my goals for the next 12 months are:
1) Fix this leg pain
2) Find a six-pack (of abs, preferably my own)
3) Run the Houston Marathon
4) Run the Bay to Breakers
5) Learn Chinese
** Random I know, but this is just as good a time as any to invite you all to Beijing, China. I will be working at the 2008 Olympics, and I a Psyched, Psyched, Psyched. I can't wait to play dodge the chinamen at the park while trying to complete a 20 mile run.

That's all from me for now. Y'all got my big introspective post last week.

Well, when you put it like that...

Inspired by Deetschei's calculations and retrospection, I decided to tally up my miles for the last year since my first post 8/04. In my not-so-subtle competative way, I had hoped to rival him in terms of distance (clearly I am dillusional, but I stress the words had hoped). Nevertheless, given the numerous work-related interruptions of the last year (not taking into account laying by the pool sippin' vodka tonics), I take pride in my 485.65 miles/70:12:11 (that is almost three days of running). While there have been no marathons, I have also managed to drink all the margaritas in Texas approximately 3 times. (By the way, congrats to Deetschei on clearing up that nasty little STD... - wink wink, nudge nudge).

Additionally, I also trained in solidarity for the 2007 Bay to Breakers while simultaneously recruiting my sister to become a DrunkRunner. While I know this is all about reflecting on the past year, I like to look forward to what lays ahead: the 2008 Houston Marathon. I am thirty, which really means nothing these days, since apparently 30 is the new 12, so they say... Anywho, I'd really like to complete a marathon this year. Not that thirty is old and not that I can't complete a marathon at 31 or 51... It is just a personal goal of mine. As I believe I have remarked in past postings, my biggest accomplishment has been my ability to stick with running on a regular basis (with a few exceptions - hey, we've all had them). I, too, feel that longing when I can't run but see others out on the street. Hell, there have been days when I've gone running and later in the day see people running and think to myself, "hey self, I'd really like to go running again..." I attribute quite a bit of my continued running success to the blog and to all of you who have contributed and who continue to contribute. Remember that "not-so-subtle" competative nature I referred to earlier, well that certainly plays a big part, when I hear your successes. I am inspired!

Alright, before Sixpax breaks out another box of tissue to wipe his weepy eyes, I will conclude by saying that I am looking forward to our second birthday!

Briefly, I have started taking our dog on runs. While he might beat me on the first two miles, I've totally got him on the last two. I hereby declare Manni an honorary Drunk Runner. He and I recently completed a 3.5 mi run with an 8:15 pace! Granted, his four legs are definitely faster than my two.


I am gradually managing to bring down my times again. Yesterday I ran 3.5 mi at a pace of 7:54!!! SWEET NIBLETS! Now I just need to start lengthening those runs.

Keep running and keep posting! And everybody give a warm welcome to my sis, Ginifer!

"I told you. We're an anarcho-syndicalist commune. We take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week."

Before I begin with my apology for not posting last week and a super shallow exploration as to why today's run was one of the hardest in the history of Dayton-kind, I would like to take a second and point out that our blog celebrated its birthday on the second of August...and 11 Drunk Runners is now one year old (awwwww, lil' bloggie is all growed up!). In the past year, we have posted well over 200-something times, to the tune of a post once every 1.6 days. Since my first "blogged" run in August, I've run just over 800 miles, which is roughly the distance between Napa and Phoenix. I finished one marathon, and I estimate that I drank every single beer in Cologne on fifteen occasions. In fact, the reason I missed the "birthday" itself was because I was in a library frantically reading so I could spend the weekend near Geneva drinking cases of wine while watching some very good friends get married and dance to Jamiroquai until 4:15 in the morning. My wife warned me about weddings on the continent, but I never thought the Swiss were capable of that.

Besides, I think forgetting this birthday while on a drunken binge is a perfect opportunity to emulate my future take on fatherhood.

Needless to say, I would love to hear about everyone else's achievements since they joined the blog. I know a couple of you simply, physically, can't run right now. And I know some of you haven't had the time to run because of insane workloads, and that you might feel depressed because you aren't getting that consistent endorphin rush that helped you finally kick your unseemly methodone habit (cough cough, P.P.)...So now is the perfect time to celebrate what you HAVE done and be optimistic about the future (i.e. what you can do again). Tell us something that you're really proud of, and don't be afraid to boast. I mean, it's a celebration, bitches!

Seriously-- Just off the top of my head, I know of at least three marathons, five liters of frozen snot, five hundred giant mosquitoes, and bucketloads of money raised for leukemia research...That's more awesome than a million hot dogs. Help me out and tell me a story about the good stuff that makes you want to get back out there.

So, on to the more mundane. Because of a job interview two weeks ago, my running schedule got thrown completely out of whack...and by job interview I of course mean "release of new Harry Potter". I only managed seven miles for the week after five straight weeks of twenty-plus a week (Did that make sense? Did I just invent a tongue twister?). I was pretty proud of the consistency, but I didn't let it get me down when the string was broken. Although I haven't run a "long run" since my East End Safari,I managed 20 miles last week by running four miles on Monday and six miles on Tuesday, followed by the reverse on Thursday and Friday (six, four). It worked pretty well, and I was pleased to get to the twenty-mile-threshold without needing any more than four runs or a two-digit distance along the way. I figured that this fact, combined with two days off over the weekend, would make for an extra easy run today...but I was way wrong. I have no idea what happened, but my six miles today felt like twelve. I came in at exactly 9:00 miles, which is my slowest day since June 15th, allowing for Tessa runs. My legs simply would not move, and when I got home, I had a slight catch in my throat that seemed to signal "imminent problems with gag reflex, i.e. imminent christening of apartment building with puke". Luckily, I didn't vomit, although it wouldn't be the first time.
Generally, I've been fatigued all day, and I'm wondering if I didn't catch a cold or a slight case of food poisoning in Switzerland. If its the latter (and I think it is, but I'm being nice on the details), than this would be twice in a row that steak tartar has done me wrong, and I might have to unhappily remove it from my list of edible objects. Either way, I hope to be able to run again tomorrow.
I know I often say that I rarely regret a run after I've run it, although I often dread them in advance. However, I really think I could have done without running today. I felt slightly "off" beforehand and completely disgusting afterwards...Oh, and it rained on me for the last mile. Which means I've run a total of nine miles in the rain over the past three weeks. Which won't be reflected in the following plots:




Happy Birthday Everybody! You have all had an amazing year, and I've been so thrilled to be able to share in your experiences. We are all runners here, even if we can't run right now :)

From your Fearless Leader (!?!)

It's been a long hard summer. The kind I never want to relive. During the past 3 weeks I have not been running, but I've been running myself ragged. I've been in this office chair so long I think my ass is turning into foam rubber. The good news: the writing is finished. What this means for Drunkrunners is that I can read while lying down, which will help me recover a little faster.
True to Forest's predicament, I am being sent back to the Dr. for treatment of a pinched nerve. The PT was able to alleviate the symptoms, but never get rid of them. So, maybe some cortisone, maybe some yummy pain meds. We'll see what he decides to do. In any event, I will be getting back in the pool, I promise.
Not being able to run, I have put myself on the Jared Diet, and it's working. I've lost about 5 pounds and have helped keep a positive attitude in the absence of running. I still look longingly as a jogger goes past, and when I saw the woman in the Nike Women's Marathon shirt yesterday it was all I could do not to tell her how proud I was that she was still running. A perfect stranger! This is what it has come to for me. Yes, I've run two marathons, and hope to run many more, but I'm not in competition with others. For those of you that know me well, know that that is a big step for me. This running thing has really brought me the perspective that we are all in this race together, and we should be more supportive of each other. Yes, it's a blast to sit around a talk smack, and be all catty, but in the end I wish nothing but the best for my fellow runners, and even more than the best for my fellow DrunkRunners! (How's that for some bad grammar, Tequila?)
In other news, I'd like to bring your attention to a comment by "Amy" to PP's post on July 24. I submit this as proof that people know we are out there. The Drunk Runner craze is cathing on. Right now it seems more like lighting a cigarette in a tornado, but I'll take what we can get!
This weekend I will be sititng by the pool and thinking of you all as I relax in the California sun and recover from some of the damage my body has suffered over the past weeks.

May the force be with you!