Body-Till-Death

I do believe after today's run that the program we are on should be renamed the Body-Till-Death, as it is more appropriate to it's clear goal of driving me to my deathbed as soon as possible. Steve and I have been on the Body-for-Life program for 4 days now. I've done all of the workouts and they are tough. Let me tell you. The upper body workout left my arms tired for the rest of the day. And the lower body workout yesterday? I'm sore, sore, sore. I'm talking yesterday was a marathon sore. In fact, the 3-mile run I went on this morning was the hardest run I've had since the last three miles of the San Francisco Marathon over a year ago. It was hell!
I knew it was going to be tough, so I went to Kezar stadium where I could measure the run precisely, and most importantly it's flat. Having a level playing field, I knew, was the only way I was going to make it through. And boy was I right. In a three mile run, the fastest, I repeat the FASTEST mile, was 11:30. That's pretty slow. And it just got worse. I was so sore, it was all I could do to just keep running. I was ready to quit at 6 laps, then Sybil, damn her! said I could do 2 miles. Then the bitch said that if I finished two miles I should at least do 2 more laps to make this run a little longer, which was the purpose of the run. Of course, at 2.5 miles I might as well finish. On the last lap, I chanted "Running Without my Body" and it worked. I finished the lap in a record 3:11. I felt great!!!!
Well, I felt great to have finished and to have pushed myself to do a run that I wouldn't normally have taken on. I am still sore, and will be sore even tomorrow.

The good news is that I'm feeling great. We are sticking very strictly to the diet and enjoying more energy already. You'll soon be be hearing more about how the weight is coming off and how the running is going, but for now, I'm thrilled.

Cheers,
Sixpack Chopra
Your Leader

P.S. Thanks Amy for the last comment. It was very encouraging to hear that your husband had been so successful.

12-Steps and my Body-For-Life

It's strange to say, but I/we are getting very excited for the beginning the Body-For-Life program. This is going to seem a little bit like a 12 step program, but I want you all to know about it, so that there is plenty of accountability. You know that part during AA where you have to apologize to all your friends, etc. Well, this is kind of like that.

I'm not exactly sure what I expect from the program, but here are my goals:
1) As of this writing I weight 200 lbs. (I just weighed myself) and have 22% bodyfat. Clearly, I would like that to be a little lower. I'm not wanting to look like Arnold, but would be happy to drop my bodyfat by about 10 points, and lower my weight to something under 190.
2) Feel better on a daily basis. Don't get me wrong, I don't feel bad most days, but there are some when I just feel sluggish and worn out. I don't think that will happen after a few weeks on the program.
3) Get stronger. I'm in the weightlifting class, and will incorporate BFL into that class.
4) Get ready for the marathon. I'm pretty sure the plan will accomodate my training, but I will be monitoring it closely as the miles are added on. I may need to up some calories later on, but I'll see how that goes.
5) Enjoy life!

As a further point, I'm giving you the opportunity to see my before pictures, before there is an after. it also fulfills my promise to submit speedo pictures, although at this point in the game they aren't great. If it weren't the most humiliating thing I think I've done, and therefore the most motivating, I wouldn't even be posting them here. But a promise is a promise. WARNING: If you have never seen a German in a Speedo, you might consider skipping the next section.



So there you have it. That is the body that I hope to get rid of over the next 12 weeks. I know I can count on your support, and my BFL updates will become part of my running posts for the next 12 weeks or more.

Now on to running:

I ran the full 6 miles my program calls for this week. I didn't run the two miles yesterday that I was supposed to, but I did put them on today, which was great. I had a nice run right here by the house. It's a little hilly for week one, but it was good. I'm feeling good, leg/back pain is not bad. Very minor, and I assume this will work itself out as I lose a little weight. We'll see.
Stats:

Distance: 4 miles

Time: 43:06

Average Mile: 10:45 / mile

Overall Impression: Hey, Who's That Riding On My Back? (HWTROMB?)

Quack Quack Quack

Well, after 6 weeks I finally went to see the PM&R doctor. I'll spare you the lecture he gave me about my IT Band, which took way too long, I knew was not the answer, and which he himself admitted was about 30% likely to have been the source of my problem.
The other 70% is what the PT told me months ago: I more than likely have a bulging disk in the L4, L5 area and that is putting pressure on the Sciatic nerve. Glad I waited 6 weeks for a Dr. to tell me that. He also said there is not much that can be done to treat it. Things like ice, pain killers, and accupuncture can help with the symptoms, but recovery has to happen on its own. So, I'm going to try accupuncture and see what that does. He gave me a referral. At the very least I would like to have some time without pain. Oh, and my favorite line: If you are still in pain in 6 weeks, come back to see me. Which means I'll be seen 6 weeks from then. Ugh. I hope this just works itself out on its own.
Running/training news. Many of you know that my partner Steve could use to lose a little weight. He's been telling me for five years that his diet will start next week. Well, next week is Monday. We've taken a look at the Body-for-Life program and it works for us [I'm too lazy to figure out the hyperlink right now, but check it out at www.bodyforlife.com]. It's a lot of exercise, which he and I both need, and the meals are doable. I'll be eating some crow as part of my Body-For-Life, as I have spent the past 3 years making fun of Rob and the fact that we all have our Body For Life, I mean isn't that the definition of Life? I'm even using Rob's extra copy of the book. I won't even get into the fact that Rob had two copies.
But, we need to do something pretty drastic, really strict, and with good guidelines so we can get Steve on track. The hardest thing is going to be scheduling meals around Steve's burger tasting, but I'll be working on that. I'm really looking forward to the program, especially the exercise. The major change I will be making is that instead of following his Cardio workout, I'll be training for the race. Otherwise, you'll be finding me lifting weights 3 days a week, and running 3 days a week. I'm psyched.
I haven't run yet today, but will be putting in two miles. I'm headed to the RSF after a few meetings. I'll update later this week with results.

I'm Back, Man!

It's the second week of weightlifting and now is the time to continue my progress from last week. I went online and ran some numbers for my training over the next 17 weeks or so, and got some good encouragement. I only have to run 6 miles in the first week of training. Not bad. I'm going to start slow, even though all I want to do is to be out there running, running, running. I think the hardest part will be keeping the distance down so that my knees can recover, but that is essential.
I did pretty well. I was psyched really. There were no moments of pain and never a moment when I thought I wouldn't be able to maintain the pace. It was awesome!!!! So, I have run 2 miles this week and couldn't be happier.
I wish I had a cute little story about the drama I encountered on my run, but there's no drama to be had when you are running on a treadmill at the RSF. None, zip, zilch, Nada!
Runs scheduled on Wednesday and Saturday of this week. My weight lifting class is Monday and Wednesday, so I may need to move runs to Tuesday and Thursday, but for now, I'm going to leave them on Monday and Wednesday.

Stats:

Distance: 2 miles
Time: 23:38
Pace: 11:49 / mile
Overall Impression: Oh How I Love That I Am Sweating Again! (OHILTIASA!)

Dr. PP's Failed Experiment

My recent theory that doctors don't need to run is, sadly, completely unfounded. I wanted to test the theory that my brains and new degree would keep me skinny and fit without having to hit the pavement. I was wrong. Just goes to show that a doctoral degree in the humanities does not equal common sense. Ha ha!

Sooo, having enjoyed the fruits of my labor - i.e., slacking off for the last month and a half as a way of celebrating my temporary liberation from the yoke of academia, it is time to get back to running. There is a marathon in my future...

I am starting back slow and trying to focus more on distance and less on pace. I'll keep you posted on how things are going. The temperatures have begun to drop (we are only in the low 90s now!) which means running should be significantly easier. We'll see.

Hey, Ginifer. Where the hell are you?

Wine Drinking Endeavors

Sixpack would like to apologize for not returning Forest's phone call, mainly because he was in Lake Tahoe drunk off his own ass, and in the process of losing tons of money at the blackjack table.

To answer your question:

Merlot - not a bad choice, but it would take a strong merlot to stand up fully to a S'more. That's a lot of sugar to be balanced out, but Merlot does goe very well with chocolate.

Zinfandel - Not the WHITE variety, would also go very well with a S'more. It's strong fruit flavors, high alcohol content and usually balanced tannins would make it a nice pairing with a S'more. It should go down like raspberries dipped in chocolate.

Champagne - the drier the better. S'mores would go well with a nice Brut champagne. try a nice Korbel Brut - usually between $10-15 a bottle. It's excellent for the price.

Now thirsty, and feeling quite chastised, I shall leave you now, with one of my favorite Drunk Runner's stories that Dr. PP reminded me of yesterday.

After a 12 mile run following the path of the Napa to Sonoma Half Marathon we, Dr. PP, Deetschei, two other runners and I, all went to Nicholson Ranch for a little wine tasting. We had a few samples, then all took a glass out onto the patio to enjoy a glass of wine while overlooking the Sonoma valley. It was incredible. Sitting with friends, having just finished a run and enjoying the beauty that is Northern California was all just too much. So, I jokingly asked, "Doesn't everyone live like this?"
And I have never lived it down. It's a wonderful life, and moments like that make me appreciate all of it. The running, the wine, the friends, all are elements in a complex puzzle that make for good living.

Wine?

This is strictly an alcohol question, I left Sixpack a message on it but no reply. He probably thought I was drunk. Wendy was wondering what kind of wine goes with Smore's, She was drinking a Merlot and thought it went pretty good together. She now has me drinking wine, but I'm still on white. I know this is sort of a redneck question, but we are what we are. I still like my beer but I'm branching out a little, please send me some good choices to try as well. I thank all my wine drinking Drunk runners in advance for the advice on my new drinking endeavor.

A Breakthrough!

I'm proud to announce that I ran One Mile today! Yes, one whole mile.

I've been struggling with back/leg pain since June, and unlike my brother, I have decided to wait until things feel good before I run. The leg pain, experienced mostly as a throbbing sensation in the right glut, or an occassional shooting pain in the knee/shin area of the right leg, has mostly subsided and I spend most of my day out of pain. However, it is still there. Despite the occasional pain, I decided to try a run today. I made the rule that if it hurt I would stop. Turning on the treadmill, I walked for a minute, then slowly increased my speed to a 9 minute mile, and ultimately an 8 minute mile. There were a few moments of leg pain, but if I clenched my abs it would immediately go away. Since it did go away, I decided it was ok. I finished the mile and was not in pain. This means a few things.
1) I might actually be able to start running again.
2) My body is slowly fixing itself
3) I need to do more ab work.

All very good things. I couldn't be happier to be back on the mill again. I'll take it very easy getting back into things here, as I'm still not completely in the clear. However, there's always a first step.

In other news, I've begun taking a weightlifting class and I'm really enjoying it. I've taken the class a few times before. Once in 1992, and once in 2005. So, it's been awhile since I've lifted regularly, and today's military press with 10 pound weights tells me that I have a lot of work to do. Holy Shit! Isn't picking up my laptop and the occasional 12 ounce curl enough to keep one in shape? But I'm now forced to do some cross-training. Something I've always been reluctant to do, as I'm very busy and I was already spending enough time with running, to make weightlifting out of the question.

Distance: 1 mile

Time: 10 minutes

Overall impression: Free at Last! Free at Last! Thank God Almighty, I'm Free at Last! (FAL! FAL! TGA, IFAL!)

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!

Where Sixpack lies

The doctor's have still not finished their work here. After 5 visits to PT I'm not much ahead of where I started. Still in pain, and still not running. Hell, with teaching and work I haven't even been swimming, but that's alright. I'll get back to that next week when my prospectus is done.
I'm not running, I'm not drinking, I'm not even talking most days, but my Berkeley Exile has been amazingly productive. I'm feeling much like the Dalai Lama who was ripped from his people and his homeland and sent wandering in the desert. (Yes, I know it's not a desert, but the image was too powerful to pass up.)
I'm jealous of those of you that still have your mobility, and can't wait to get back out there. I miss running like I miss Max Headroom. It's this nagging feeling that life could be so much better, if only.... I'm not really on here to complain, but to let you all know that I am still working toward getting better, and as soon as September hits you better look out! Cuz I'm gonna try running again, and if i works there will be no stopping me.

Post Schmost

So, I have been running. But it hasn't been anything I am overly proud to write about. Right now it is just survival running. You know you are totally crap when the rednecks no longer honk their horns or stick their toothless heads out of their pickup trucks and hoot at you. Ahhh, the good old days.

I suppose today was something of a milestone. I waited until 7:45 p.m. to hit the pavement. It wasn't much cooler, but I'll take anything right now. Trying to outrun mosquitos is also a nice motivator. I ran 5.25 miles today. This is the first time I have broken that damn 4 mile curse since June 4th.

Besides the heat, I think the biggest thing holding me back has been my left calf. I am not quite sure what is wrong, but it bothered me when I tried running even short 1.5 mi. distances during the "lockdown." I think I must be overpronating, because I cannot find any other cause. I bought an adjustable ankle brace, but I think I am just going to have to break down and spend the money to go to the specialist. Argh! You know it sucks when you have health insurance but you can't afford to use it :) Anywho, once I get my calf/ankle straightened out, I should be able to increase both distance and speed. Right now I am still hovering around the 8:30-8:40 pace.

I just wanted to chime in so that DJ wasn't carrying the drunken burden all on his own! Speaking of which, where is my dearest sister Ginifer???? I know she has been running, now she just needs to start posting.

Take care of your backs! Don't do anything that you are gonna regret when you are 50 or 60 (like three knee surgeries....)

New shoes STILL WAITING!!

Well folks like my brother sixpack I'm still sidelined. I went out for an all out walk last week (quick tempo using the arms like when ya run) and had to stop at a mile because I was having back pain. Not a lot just a little tickle of it but I've learned when I start to feel it, stop immediately and tell Sibel to f!*k off. I can't stand this, when I was speed walking all I wanted to do was run, I wanted to take off and just go until like PP I let my last meal come up to say hello to the world again!Tomorrow the 24TH in the morning I go to see the Neurosurgeon, I plan to tell him if the knife is what it takes to run again then start cutting. Dee you and PP have to keep up the great work, I promise as soon as I can run I'm pulling the brand new Brooks out of the closet plugging in the Nike+ and running until I just can't take another step or I can't spit on myself which ever comes first. Keep up the great work you keep Sixpack and I motivated to get back out. I believe it's true for both of us, but I know for me that I have been bouncing off the walls. who new that the man I was last year would turn into a man that wanted to run just for pure enjoyment of it and that's all. I'll post the results from my appointment tomorrow.

Hating Life!!!

Hello all, I'm writing to say that I have nothing to write about. I'm not running. In fact, I'm having difficulty walking. Early progress in back recovery has been lost. I'm still going to PT, but am in pain most of the day. Therefore no running, no swimming, no nothing.
I'm going to try to get a grip and do some swimming next week, but with exams coming up I've been working hard on teaching and studying, so I'm a pretty sedentary beast these days.
Keep the posts coming, as they are motivating regardless of my inabilities.
DJ you are the best!!! Keep carrying the torch and we will follow!!!!!

Run Lun Dun

My big secret plan for last week was to only run three times but run ten miles each time. By using my advanced humanities degree, I calculated that would give me 46 miles for the seven day period. I changed my mind somewhere during the first run though, and settled for 22 miles on four runs, which went something like ten miles, five miles, four miles, three miles. Only slightly off plan.

But then, if I really thought I was going to do it, I would have told you about it beforehand.

SO, Monday brought a new week, and with it a new challenge. Since I'm in London temporarily for Tessa's birthday and a job interview, I decided to integrate "The Big Smoke" into my madness: And I ran from Tessa's parent's house to St. Pauls. The Nike (Plus) gave me 10.5 miles for the run, but I think it was closer to 11...but that's not important. What is important is that I experienced an East End safari like no other, starting in the humble burough of Redbridge before running to Wanstead, and then following the Leytonstone High Street until it turned into Mile End and curved into the city near Aldgate. I hung a left and shot down to the river, leaving the commercial turmoil only to emerge directly where the tourist turmoil begins. I then followed the river (more or less directly) to the Millennium Bridge, where I hit the stairs to St. Pauls and,um, stopped. I vaguely wanted to keep going to Parliament, but I was exhausted from counting eel and pie shops (of which there are millions) and meditating on the fact that no matter how I say the word "Eastenders", Tessa still corrects my intonation. (See, you have to stress this syllable, not that one.) If you know anything about London, then you can probably appreciate the feeling of running through so many buroughs, running from the fourth zone to the first, and running past all of the traffic lining up at the points where the congestion charges begin. Even though I only ran ten miles on paper, the run had a vaguely bigger "feel" to it, knowing that I covered a distance between two points that most sane people would only attempt with the subway or train.

One more thing: Two days ago I passed a milestone with Nike (+)! Since I ran 13 miles between getting this fun little device and New Years, this means I still have another 8 miles until I hit 500 in this calendar year. So join me as we count it down and celebrate yourselves while motivating yourselves to get back out there. Remember, I only ran 600 miles all last year, and these 500 miles have come after a two month injury layoff when I seriously questioned whether I would ever run again. You guys are doing great with your rehab, and there is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel. Run to it.

Lemonade for sale

You know what they say when life hands you lemons make lemon aide. Wouldn't it be easier if life just didn't hand you lemons. I've had to give Sibel a kick in the crotch with a round house to spin her, so I could kick her ass in to the pool of lemon aide. This winter she was try to get me to push myself further than I should, guess what, SHE'S BAAAAAAAAAACK trying the same shit. I was basically grounded, been off work for the last month, I thought I would be board but with classes 4 nights a week I've been loving it.
I went back to the Dr. yesterday, because I've been having more back issues. Still with the almost constant lower back pain and now I'm getting muscle spasm's in the mid back with numbness in my right tricep, my right side and three fingers on my right hand. They (and the they are the doctors and the PT's) don't even want me to run at all zilch or swim, so I will have to calibrate the walking part on the I-pod, I can't wait. I go in for another MRI on the 18Th and then to a nuero surgeon on the twenty fourth to see if he or she can give me relief and get me back to running.
So there you have it, no more miles or laps.... nothing I can feel proud about reporting until I don't know when. OH HELL I'll post my walking and be proud and you'll all like it or at least pretend like you do and tell me hell yeah grandpa kick that walkers ass. On the plus side I've been fine tuning my drinking skills, I can't let all the training go to waste, if one drops off make up for it by doing the other twice as much..... hell three times as much.
Until I calibrate the I-pod for my walks I bid you farewell.

Miles: NOTTA

Time: NOTHING

Pace: about four beers an hour for an extended period of time. I'm gonna follow the running traing schedule and try to in crease that by 10% a week. If I feel good I'll go to 30 % a week.

Overall impression: I'm glad it's beer tent season the beer may be light and flat...but hey at least the scenery is good! (IGIBTSTBMBLAF...BHATSIG!)

10 miles, a parade, and a lot of bad wine

I wanted to bring my camera with me on my run today and take snippets of the route I've been running for the past year and post them here. This would have been both a tribute to the path itself and a way of bidding it adieu before the move. I think I've written this before, but the courses I continually run along develop a sort of talismanic power for me. I run faster and easier when I know the distances between landmarks. The landmarks themselves become friends I look forward to seeing. I usually need to know when the next hill is coming, and I always need to know how far I am from the end otherwise I exhaust myself wondering how close I am, usually by counting songs that have played on the iPod and multiplying the number by 3:30, and using that to guess how long I've been running.

Anyway, the camera isn't working, and there are no pics...

I'm going to miss running in Cologne. I will miss seeing all of the other runners who, like me, exploit the quick escape out of the city that the canals provide, leading to the Stadtwald and the stadium and the peaceful tree-lined streets where the RAF used to kidnap people. These running paths have treated me well over the past year, and I have no idea what to expect in London. Maybe I'll have to take the subway to a park? Maybe I can run along the Thames? Maybe I'll just run around the house, like when I was a kid and we played 'Dukes of Hazzard' by converting the sofa into the General Lee and followed that with two hour arguments over who got to be Bo. Maybe I'll have to run on the left hand of the path, and before I properly adjust to that, will slam into someone running in a bowler hat...

I had to wake up early to run today because I wanted to get it out of the way before the Christopher Street Day Parade, which is specifically a great expression for gay pride (and this here is a big gay town) while generally another excuse for the good people of Cologne to go absolutely insane. Everyone delivered on all counts. At the time, I didn't realize that I started at 8 in order to ensure I wouldn't miss the gimp-cage-on-wheels...but I gotta say, it was worth it. The only problem with waking up early was that my neighbor invited me over to his place last night to attack every bottle of bad wine he had in his pantry. It was either that or watch "An Inconvenient Truth'" alone, and I opted to try the German equivalent of Trader Joe's Syrah while drunkenly defending, yet again, why so few Americans have passports. Anyway,when I woke up, the tannins were killing me so I chugged some water and ate some Wheatabix and headed out for a ten mile run. All in all, it went well. I've run ten miles for the past three Sundays in order to set the tone for my "at-least-twenty-a-week" plan, which is just a vague way to keep a base until I figure out what I want to train for.

It had all the makings of a run that PP and Sixpack would be proud of: I had salt crystals around both my eyes, and I managed to spit on my own face just before the sixth mile. I found some old Gu in a kitchen cabinet the other day and brought that along because my breakfast seemed pretty meager, so I spent the entire way home burping while my stomach tried to process it on no water...The weather was stunning, but it started to get too warm towards the end, which might have slowed me down. I'm still content to hover around 8:45 for now, and I keep telling myself I'll add in speed work next week...

Last week I only ran three days (10, 6, 4 miles), but have been pretty comfortable with four runs per week recently. Here are my last five or so, as plotted by the good people at nike:



I've had a hard time balancing my usual running routine with work, since I've been trying to stay on top of the writing and hitting different archives over the past few weeks. This means that I'm sometimes running a lot later than I would like, or even early mornings (much more rare). The obvious great thing about combining running and work is the endorphine rush that helps me "unwind" after a stressful day of frantic writing. Anticipating this usually leads to me say funny things along the lines of "I need a run" around 5 PM, in which the paradigm "run" has somehow taken the place that "cigarette" or "beer" used to hold. This seems to be more evidence that running is an illicit substance in its own right, while also showing how punk rock I am not.

So, it sounds like encouraging progress is being made in the PP camp! I think running until you dry heave is a sign that you are on the quick road to regaining your speed. don't fuck around! And I want to see those speedo pics, Sixpack. You can't just promise that without delivering! The swimming should enable you to maintain your muscle tone without forcing your joints to break down any more, and the PT will hopefully eliminate the cause of the problems. You're almost there, I can sense it! Let me know as soon as you are ready to set up a new challenge. You started out fantastic on the last one, and if camp hadn't happened, I think it would have gone down to the wire. And Forest, you're just a stud. You'll be running in no time.

I have big plans for next week's runs. I can't tell about them now, because I'll need something to post about when/if I survive. But it should shake things up...shake things up, indeed. It might even involve...speed work.

Pavement Pounder who?

Hello there my long lost running friends. I have seen the light and am returning to the flock after having been the wayward runner. No more Paris Hilton lockdown for me, although Larry King doesn't seem to have noticed.

I owe you a post. I owe you a post that has nothing to do with my dissertation. It'll be hard, but here I go.

I ran. I really did it! I ran. I ran a whole whopping 4 miles yesterday. While it was a real struggle after mile 1, I pushed through and at least completed it. I told myself starting out that I couldn't expect the times that I had run over a month ago, which I was fine with. I told myself, the big goal was actually just to finish four miles - I don't know why, but four miles has now become my standard minimum distance, anything below that feels like something other than a run.

It is utterly amazing how a month of minimal running - I had run a total of 15.5 miles in the last month, a distance that before I would have easily run in a week- can make you feel like you are starting over at square one. Furthermore, who knew how quickly all that muscletone disappears and is replaced by fat. Booooo!!!!

I have a sneeking suspicion, however, that had it not been in the 80s with 85% humidity at 7:30 at night, I wouldn't have felt so totally annihilated. But there is just no getting away from this weather. According to weather.com, I could run at 1 am and it would still feel like 88 degrees and be 90% humidity. So I just have to become a reptile and develop gills until September comes around.

Back to running/not running. Over the last month I had run a few 4 milers but mostly just short 1.5-2milers with Ben. While they weren't satisfying, they at least kept me in the mindset of running, which is important. And while I hated almost every minute of last night's run - like Deetschei, when I run, I normally use the time to think about other things, but this time I couldn't think about anything other than breathing and not passing out from heat exhaustion - it felt really great! I put on a new pair of running shoes. I had been having horrible half pains despite the infrequent running, so I thought a change of shoes might help, which it did. Tonight I will not, however, wear a baseball cap. With all that hair on my head, the last thing I need is yet another layer of insulation to keep the heat from escaping. So, kids. I am slowly making a comeback and hopefully I haven't put myself too far behind for my marathon training plan. As it stands now, I should be back at my previous pace before I need to start the actually training in August/Sept.

Running Stats for yesterday:
Distance: 4 miles
Time: 35.06 (okay, so I know that doesn't sound like a bad time, but that doesn't include the stops every mile in order to catch my breath and bend over to get the blood back into my head)
Pace: 8:46

Overall Impression: Remember pickled red beet eggs? Well, my face was that kind of red and it wasn't a sunburn! I liked it so much, I'm gonna do it agian. (RPRBE?WMFWTKORAIWAS!ILISMIGDIA)

More posts to come!

The Neo-Nazi Swimmer

So, I'm standing on BART this morning on my way to Berkeley and a PT appoitment. I'm diligently reading for my Qualifying Exams, while on the train, thus killing two birds with one stone. When suddenly the image I am projecting hits me. I'm a man with a shaved head, wearing a Black, Red and Yellow bag, reading Mein Kampf, and to make matters worse, I'M TAKING NOTES!!!!! It's no wonder no one wanted to sit by me. The fact that I was listening to RuPaul on my iPod went unfortunately unnoticed by my fellow travelers.
Which brings me to my physical therapy appointment. My back is feeling better, but I'm still to take it easy. In fact, I was told to do zero impact exercises. This means more time in the pool and some time on the bike for at least a week, he said, maybe longer.
This is providing the opportunity to learn how to swim properly at my late age, but is frustrating me to no end as that January 9 deadline stares me down.

Please people, post to the blog!!! We, the injured, need your support more than ever!!!!!

A Swimmer's Life for Me!!!!

Well folks, it's been forever since I've logged in here and offered up the story of my existence. And let's just say it's been a rough few weeks. I'll detail it all as follows:

1) I ran a wonderful 9 mile run the day before summer camp, and was very excited to get the chance to run at camp. My run took me from Jacki's house in Milwaukee all the way to New Berlin and back. That's New Burrlin - emphasis on the Burr-, not to be confused with the same city formerly called Neu Berlin. We must distance ourselves from the Nazis, but I digress. It was a sunny day, if a bit warm, and afforded me the chance to do some heat running. halfway through the run I was out of water and feeling pretty parched so I stopped at a gas station to get more water. I, of course, didn't have any money so I asked the guy if he would fill my water bottle. He said, "Out of the faucet? I don't drink tap water in New Burrlin, but I do drink it at home in Mukwonago." (Ever notice how Wisconsin city names sound like those of African-American High Schoolers) Anyway, with a little effort, explaining to him that I was on mile 5 and had more to go, he filled my water bottle and I headed back. I spent the rest of the day a little dehydrated. Definitely an argument for hydration in the heat. I got a little bit of the feeling that Haterella must get running in the L.J.

2) On Sunday of Camp I got the strangest pain in my upper buttocks - right at the top of the crack/bottom of my tattoo - with shooting pains going down the back of my right leg, and wrapping around to the shin. I never felt a thing in my left leg. I went to the nurse - the same Jacki mentioned above - and she prescribed anti-inflammatories in pathetically low doses, but I followed her advice and it did help me stay out of pain for most of the week. Of course, this put me in the wierdest position I've ever been in at camp. I was the cabin leader, already a tough job, and had a camper that I was incapable of lifting. So here I am in a leadership role having to say to Joe, "Joe, it's time for my camper to go to bed, can you do that for me?" I wasn't sure yet what was happening with the leg/back and didn't want to take any risks. So, Joe lifted my camper all week, and I did everything else. With "Don for Scale" here is a picture of my camper, Ramon. You can maybe see how I shouldn't have been lifting him all week. He is a great kid and we had a great time. Someday I'll tell you about the racist fish that was not hanging at the end of that fishing line.

3) After a week at camp I was still in pain, which meant cancelling the run Forrest and I had planned. Of course, he cancelled it as well, so it was really more like we shouldn't have scheduled it in the first place. In a kismet sort of way, we are both having similar back problems. Upon returning to SF I went to the clinic and had an appointment with a doctor about my back. Having had scoliosis for 25 years, I don't usually see a doctor for back pain, but this was one of those times when I didn't know what to do and thought a doctor might be able to help. Well, I still don't think she knew much, but that's just me. She very perfunctorily said I did not have Sciatica because I could still feel my toes. Why thanks, Doc, but I would surely be here to see you long before I lost feeling in my toes, dontcha think? Anyway, guess what I got? A referral to physical therapy!!!!!

4) Yes, I was released from my last round of physical therapy right before camp, and said a near teary good-bye to my therapist who was retiring. Then I was back before he actually left, with yet another problem. He was confused to see me and even asked if he was seeing me as a patient that day. :-) He was a good guy and it was with hesitation that I returned there without him. But the new therapist is great. After 3,000 questions he ascertained that I had a pinched nerve originating at the L5. Labelled "5" in this X-Ray. So he prescribed some exercises and things are already feeling better. One of the biggest things I'm to do is lie down. Can you imagine that? I'm supposed to just lie there. Who does he think he is talking to? I mean, if I'm not running I'd rather be lying down. So, I'm pretty much loving the recovery. Lots of naps. I'll say that.

5) Instead of running for the past week, I have been swimming, again at the Hearst pool, and although I'm still working on my form, I'm getting better and really enjoying it. My last workout was for 24 minutes, and I intend to increase it by 2 minutes everytime I go, until I reach 35 minutes. At 35 minutes I'll work on intensity. In the meantime I continue to work on my form and to try to figure out how to breathe. As a runner it's tough for me to get used to the idea that I can't just gasp anytime I need to. This has been the biggest hurdle. Add to that the fact that Forrest and I learned how to swim in the neighbor's indoor swimming pool, and you have two people that have no idea how to swim competitively, or even gracefully. The widest point in the pool was probably 30 feet long. So, it's going to be a struggle.

Now, I wait for the release of the Speedo+ iPod!!!!!!! Wouldn't that be awesome? It could measure my laps, my pace, my calories, how many times I swallowed someone else's pee, everything!!!!!

THE RECOVERY PLAN:

Tomorrow begins the full-on recovery plan. It will involve continuing my physical therapy, but will be supplemented by some better exercises.

Over the past year we have worked in PT on upper body strength, so that is the new emphasis to cross-training.

1) Swimming: I'll continue to swim 2 days a week at the Hearst Pool.
2) Running: As my back allows I will begin running on Tuesday and increase mileage the best I can.
3) Gymnastics: Starting next week I'll begin taking classes again at Acrosports. I was doing this when I was at SFSU and I loved it. It works the upper body to death and it's something I really enjoy. So, look out. As soon as that first paycheck from Summer Teaching comes in, I am there!!!!!

With all of these combined exercises, I hope to improve my stamina, my running and my injury prevention, while having a good time and enjoying my exercise again. I'll post again next week to update you all to the progress.

In the meantime, get off your asses and at least post to let us know you are still alive!!!!!!

A Jog by the Infirmary

My boys are down. My girls are out.
Man, talk about the grind of running. To paraphrase George Burns (I know,I know...again):

Running is a hideous bitch goddess.

Here are my runs from the past week:


I pulled off nine miles on Sunday after about five beers on Sunday night. I was pretty proud, because I really wasn't feeling it and the sun was absolutely murder. I had a six miler and then two four milers after that. I'm trying to hover around 20 miles a week, but I don't want to run more than four times a week. So I...holy christ this is boring...okay...time to get sensationalist...

I ran by my Doppelgänger two weeks ago.

No, seriously. I was running by the canal that leads to the stadium, when I happened to chance a look up. This in itself is odd because my running posture usually dictates that my head is pointed straight down to the point I'm actually looking slightly behind me through my legs. I always have a great idea of where I just was.
Anyway, I saw this guy, and I swear to christ, He looked just like I look in pictures of me running. Same form, same gait...the guy was even wearing a tight bright yellow top and blue shorts...I mean come on, I'm the only straight guy on the continent that dresses like a swedish figure skater. Something was up.
Anyway, I sped up and I caught him, and even his face looked like mine. Well, it was perched on one hell of an adams apple and it had a nose...and I have a nose...it was uncanny, really...and it literally freaked me out a little. What does it mean? Is it a harbinger of my running doom? Is it a harbinger of your running doom?

Christ. I wish I didn't see me.

Anyway, two things of consequence:

First, I hope all of you who are injured and overwhelmed with real life get a breather soon and get a chance to lace up and get out there. I'm pulling for all of you.

Second, Tessa and I are moving to London soon. That means I'm going to be updating more frequently as I figure out where to run there, how to run there, and when to run there. It'll be a new adventure, and although it won't be as great as the "Wedding-Day-Something-Km.", it should make for an interesting Autumn.

Woe is Us!

Well, the Backman boys are on the sidelines at least for the short term. I'm pissed, but I too am having back pain. Can anyone say genetics? It started at the beginning of summer camp. Yes, I was a cabin leader, i.e. role model, and was the only guy in the cabin that had to have someone else lift his camper. With shooting pains down the back of my right leg, and constant pain in the right hip, I couldn't take the chance that I might injure something further. Add the pain to an insane schedule. In the span of 6 days I was able to take two 20-minute naps, and aside from a few moments snatched between 11:30 p.m. and lights out at 12 a.m. this amounted to my free-time for the week. needless to say there was no running. I wasn't sure how far or well I would run on 5 hours sleep anyway, so it's probably just as well.
Keep adding. I also manage to run my left leg into a wheel chair while playing Baseball on Thursday, leaving me with a cut on my ankle that I have to at least treat kindly, if not gingerly. This means I'm out through at least the weekend. I'll try to get back running on Monday, after the anti-inflammatories kick in and the ankle heals.
It did earn me another referral to physical therapy. Jesus, I just finished the last round. Is someone/something trying to tell me something? I mean, I have I brought down upon me the wrath of some deity? I mean, really! WTF?

My P.T. put the smack down on me

You read it right. I went back for my first doctor prescribed P.T. appointment and after the new examination and some question and answer I got the news that made my heart sink. Mind you Wendy is some one I have the utmost respect for. Well the news was I have a choice to make. I can either keep my current job or keep running but I can't do both, My back won't take it. I put some serious thought to what she said, I am already back in school part time and as soon as I get admitted in Physical Therapy Assistant school I will be quiting my current job and finding a part time job. I absolutely can't stop running it does so much for me that the benefits from it out weigh the benefits of my job. It's time for me to keep my eyes peeled for a new one. I am off work for two weeks trying to give my back some rest, I will not run during this time adding to the fact that I was just back to running this last week and only got in two runs before the news. Well I am going absolutely insane, I want to run so bad I can't stand it. I bought a bike a week and a half ago but that doesn't quite cut it, I'm going to try swimming and see how that does until I can get back in the saddle. So I guess I'm on the sidelines with PP. Wish me luck in finding a job that's at least close to my income level and less lifting and twisting and turning. I raise a tear filled glass to those of you still running, I hope to join you all again soon.

Alive and Kicking but not Running

Hi. I suck. I suckity suck suck suck. If there was an award for the biggest and best sucker, I would win it hands down.

In an attempt to

a) finish my dissertation by the summer deadline
b) finish it by the deadline so I don't have to pay between $4-10,000 that I don't have
c) avoid being disowned by everyone in my family, who spent their hard earned money to travel to CA to watch me walk across the stage at graduation

I have had to hunker down and have placed myself in a self-imposed, Paris-Hilton-style lockdown (minus the orange jumpsuit and having to take out my weave) until July 1st. That means there has been no all-night partying on the Vegas strip, no getting paid thousands of dollars to show up at parties and clubs, no catfights with other celebrity rehab sluts, and the greatest tragedy: no running.

I know what you are all going to say, and I know that you believe what you are saying. But it ain't happening. I simply can't justify taking an hour or even half-hour out of my day right now to run (because as we all know, it isn't really just the actual time it takes to run. You have the warm up, the run, the cool down, the lie around until your brain starts functioning again, and then the shower). Big production.

I am in super overdrive mode right now, which consists of 4 hrs of sleep and pots (plural!!!!) of coffee. Shiiiiiit, I can't even drink my regular pint-sized vodka tonic right now because if I do, I go sleepy sleep! That is to give you an idea of just how bad the situation is.

Okay, enough sob story. The point is that I haven't been posting because there is nothing to post. I have run a few short (3 mi, and 1.5 mi) runs, and I would totally post about them, but it would sound something like this: "I HATE TEXAS IN THE SUMMER!!!! If I wanted to feel like I was running through warm, sticky mollases at 8pm at night, then I would f*cking fill my bathtub with warm, sticky mollases, etc." But since I do not want to be a big complainer, I haven't posted.

Starting in July, I will be back on the road, starting from the beginning and trying to get back to where I was a month ago. (I hate that). But, it is a challenge and it is a challenge that I welcome right now. I miss running. I do. Who knew? But I really do! Stupid advanced degrees and stupid swimming pools. I am pretty sure that I can attribute this month of hell to the fact that I spent all last summer lying by the pool getting a gorgeous tan and "reading" for my dissertation.

Anyway. That is it for now. Keep your eyes peeled for my posts next month. In the meantime, KEEP TRUCKIN' people!!!! If anything, reading about your successes only makes me want to get out on the road even more. I need that! So keep posting.

Playing with Nike + (again)

So it looks like Nike+ has developed widgets you can embed into your blog in order to show people your running progress. Shall we test? I concur:



Look at that! Now you all can see the little-green-line-that-is-my-run! For my last five runs! And by restricting the swoosh to the top right corner, we're only providing Nike with moderate free advertising. Except for the fact that I'm dedicating the title of this post to them. Again.


(But seriously kids, that Nike+ sure is something.)


The week has been pretty chill, as you can see by my times. I'm in no hurry to get anywhere, just happy to log me some miles without the effort of going fast. I figure I'll work on speed again soon enough, but I'm not interested in burning out right now. I realized in my quest to reach those sub-7 minute miles that I wasn't enjoying my runs as much as I used to. I didn't have the time to reflect on my day, or organize my thoughts about work. I also couldn't rehearse catty comments I might have used in certain past situations, just in case similar opportunities to be passive aggressive arrive in the future...and I love doing that, it's why my delivery is so good. In short, all focus on breathing and footwork, but no zen.

I've basically been running about four times a week, trying to hover around 20 per week, and trying to just stay ahead of wherever Don might be while he's running circles around his camp. ("This one time, at band camp, I went so fast that I ran into my own spit!") BUT, as I have no idea where he is, this race to 100 might already be decided and I'll be polishing my silver medal with my tears.

The real running story in Cologne this week is Tessa. She finished three miles today in spite of a medley of maladies (ha ha, see what I did there?). I have to be honest. I thought she was going to puke by the first mile marker. But she always kept on going, puke free, while utilizing this cute little right-leg-swing running style that makes it look like she's running with an invisible Skip-It.
Basically, every time I would have fallen down, rolled over, and started sucking on mud for water and valuable earthwormy sustenance, she not only didn't fall down, but, um...kept going...

She's unstoppable when she decides she'll finish a certain distance. It's simply "how she rolls". So I'm saluting her for her dedication and also to remind her that when she started running earlier this year her goal was to be able to finish a 5K. Now she regularly runs four miles at a go and is looking squarely down the barrel at running not only five lousy kilometers, but 5 miles. How cool is that?

Two weeks off.....Time to RUN!!!!!!

Well folks it has been two weeks since the marathon, I had a few lingering effects but not bad. On the Monday after I could hardly walk, but by Tuesday I was 75% better ,Wednesday 95% and I stayed there for a while as I ended up with tendinitis in my left ankle. Kind of weird, when I would move my ankle it sounded like I was pooring milk into a bowl of Rice Krispies. PP I met your Dr on That Thursday. I went to the same clinic I always go but the docs I normally see were booked up so I said it was fine to put me with someone I'd never ever seen before. Well that was a waste of time; I went in he looked it over and told me I just needed to rest and that I should stop running, that it's bad for the human body and that if I continue I will have lasting effects for the rest of my life.
Well I said to him, "would those lasting effects be feeling better about yourself, Like being more confident than ever before.....a natural way to cope with depression.....more energy..... a longer life and better sexual stamina, cause that's what I've found so far!" The funny part, he got pissed and said I was one of those people that was hooked on running like some people are on drugs and that I was impossible. I told him thanks for nothing, told the people at the front desk that he was a QUACK and left. I went right from the Dr. clinic to the Physical therapy clinic. I walked into the office told the lady's my story, Wendy grabbed my foot took my shoe and sock off, examined it and told me it was tendinitis. She told me what to do for it, a few stretches and do some brisk walks or real short (1 mile) runs at a slow pace to get the circulation going good in the ankle. Within a week I was better. In the past year my most serious medical problems, a torn stomach muscle, a sciatic nerve problem and this tendinitis were diagnosed by PT's not Doctors! So what the hell? I think if you have the sniffles they should make an appt. with a doctor, if you have a muscle or joint problem make an appointment with a PT. But you have to waste your money with a doctor first so they can refer you to a PT. OK done whining, I just wanted PP to know the big quacks weren't just in Texas, Wisconsin has them as well.
Well back to good things, I have finished my last epidural in my back it was a series of three. Which are supposed to reduce the inflammation in my lower back. It has helped some, I can at least do my exercises for my back now without pain or as much pain, which will help to reduce the pain even more. Hopefully it will be gone for good.
I am going to take the summer and work on my speed. I have joined a miler training group which should help drop my times and help me with my form. In the mean time I will be training for a half in Milwaukee in the end of September. It's going to be tough to fit it all in with working a full time job and going to school in the evenings, but I'll make it work. I bought a bike on Friday for cross training and Wendy is going to teach me how to swim properly so I can use that as well. I never had swimming lessons as a kid, never thought I would need them as an adult, but I want the the cardio and upper body work that it gives. Plus I'm thinking about trying a few Tri's next summer if I can master the swimming .
Well today was the first day back in the sneakers since the 27Th of May. I went out for a short three mile run at a leisurely pace and it felt good to be running again. I got to the half way point and felt like I should just keep going further but I thought if I do that I'll go to the next road, then the next county, then the state line. Well we've all seen it before, the next thing you know I'd be drawing a crowd and running down a peer at the ocean, so I turned around at a mile and a half and headed home.

Miles: 3

Time: 30 min 30 sec

Pace: 10:07

Overall impression: Some doctors need a running shoe in the ASS and an open hand in the back of the head. Oh and being back in my shoes felt good! (SDNARSITAAAOHITBOTH.AOBBIMSFG!)

Lost Luggage. Be Told!!!

Yes, it's happened again. First Amie, now me. I had a really tight connection in Denver. In fact, I took my time getting off the plane and didn't dawdle, but was in no hurry to get to my gate. When I got to the gate, I realized I had forgotten to account for a one hour time change, which meant that my boarding started as soon as I got to the gate. Whereas I can cross the airport in 10 minutes, it seems that my bags couldn't. The last report I received was that my bags were in Chicago and that they are looking for them.

This means no shoes, no undies - Can you say Commando Vacation? - no running gear and no toiletries. Should be an interesting day or two hear. I dread the thought that camp would start without my bags.

I hope this doesn't happen to you!

Summer Hiatus

Alas, my dear friends, I wanted to post quickly to apologize in advance for my upcoming absence from the blog. I leave in a few minutes for the airport, and will have limited access to our blog until Saturday, at which point my access becomes non-existent for 6 days. Yes, there are places on earth where there is no internet!!!!

In my absence I hope you all have great runs, few run ins with the FTAS, and live happy and healthy lives. I'll be talking plenty of smack with people at Camp, so you needn't fear your leader will lose his edge while he is away.

Peace.

The Race

No, I'm not counting this as one of my weekly posts. But, I wanted to let everyone in on a fantastic race Moose and I are waging right now in the cyber-crazy world of Nike+.

Basically, we are are running a 100 mile race against each other.

And, after about two weeks of Trans-Atlantic smack talk (actually, we're quite nurturing in our competitive ways...for now), a mere .5 miles separate the two of us! How intense is that?

Food Terror Alert System

Where does this fall on the FTAS? I was having dinner this evening in Berkeley, and look what I found on the menu. What does that mean exactly? Do we even serve free-range organic humans to our cannibals in Berkeley?

Just a thought!

Training: Week 1

Well the family left and left me an absolute wreck. After 10 days of constant alcohol I needed several days just to dry out. I'm not kidding when I say my body was retaining at least 40 pounds of excess water due to my alcohol consumption. Another reason I think the Kenyans are on to something. I mean think about it. Drink like a fish and eventually you become a camel and have all that extra water that can be used during the race. It's the best plan ever!
So after a week off, training began last Tuesday. The first training session was speed work. 12 x 400 with a 20 minute warm-up and a 10 minute cool-down. If you're counting that ends up at about 7 miles! So much for those short mid-week runs. They evidently won't be happening this time around. The workout went great. I had a goal pace of 2:00 per lap, and stayed under it for all but one of the laps. Not bad, not bad. And the 20 minute warm-up run to the track overlooking campus is always a nice strenuous one. Think a 1.5 miles straight up the side of the Empire State Building and you'll start to get an idea of how it feels sometimes.
Thursday was atomic meltdown. I'm totally on board with the Food Terror Alert System. Food Item: 6" Subway Turkey Sub with extra Turkey and with Pepperoncini. FTAS Rating: Red. I was to run a 6 mile run and I was in Berkeley. I headed out from the RSF to the Ohlone Greenway planning to run 3 out and 3 back. I was uncomfortable the entire time. I was so full of gas and rumble and burping that I could barely run. I was starting to feel light headed, sweaty (I know you're thinking, "Duh, you're running!" but it wasn't like that.) and overall crappy. I, in my Sixpack wisdom, decide to complete the 3 miles and see what it feels like. By mile 3 I'm seriously considering a visit to the land of bulimia and seeing what that finger down the throat really feels like. Instead I decided to just walk. So here I am, 3 miles from campus and I have to walk back. If you know the geography this puts me somewhere across the Albany border, but still shy of Sabrina's house. The walk back was a bit more enjoyable - less rumble, less gas, less cramps, but still chilly, sweaty, dizzy, and weak feeling.
AFter that failure it took me some time to get the gumption to go back out, which I finally did this morning. The distance today was 8 miles. It was an intense one. The goal pace was 9:35, which I didn't quite hit. I'll blame it on the hills. The first two miles were ahead of pace, on account of the fact that they were entirely downhill. The uphill of miles 3,4,5,6 and 7 kind of blasted the pace. The whole run just felt bad, I have to say. My legs felt like bags of jello, kind of like my carnival fish somehow ended up in a bag of cherry jello and inexplicably attached to my hips to be used for conveyance. They were not cooperative. I didn't feel like I was even "enjoying" the run until I hit mile 6. Awful late in the game to be hitting my first wind. The good news is that I finished the whole thing. No knee pain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FTAS Level: Green Food: 1/3 cup All-Bran, 2/3 cup Fruity Cheerios, 1 cup 2% milk. Went down easy, and ran 8 miles right afterward.

I'll be resting and bracing myself for a bike ride tomorrow and for more speed work on Tuesday. Wish me luck.

Stats:

Miles: 18 run 3 walked

Overall time: 2:52:38

Average Pace: 9:28

Overall Impression: I'll Be Running Up That Road, Be Running Up That Hill, Be Running Up That Building, With No Problem. (IBRUTRBRUTHBRUTBWNP)

And I'll issue another call for everyone to check in here! Let us all know where you are at! Especially you Stroller. We're dying to hear how your training for the Marathon is coming along! You too P.P. Where you at?

Checking In

You know what I love about starting running again? The optimism. The blind faith that you can pick up exactly where you left off months before. It's especially acute when you read about the amazing accomplishments of other people (Hi, Forest!). Not only do you think you can run as fast as you could before, you somehow ball them into your dreams and assume you'll just run as fast as they do, too.

Needless to say, I'm slower.

It's not my fault though. When we got married, Tessa took my name (kinda) and I took two behemoth legs made of concrete because we couldn't find anything blue. If I had my old, svelte yet muscular calves, then I'm sure I could keep kicking ass. As it stands, I'm happy just to be logging miles. Which, I'm sure, is how it should be in the grander scheme of things.

BUT, I'm not logging them as quickly as I thought.

If you dial back to last week's post, you will note the aforementioned enthusiasm with which I claimed I would run 25+ miles a week starting, oh say, now. I even set up a goal to run 80 miles in four weeks! I figured if I could do it before I drank all of Italy's wine and ate all of their gnocchi while doing nothing else but nap, then I should be able to do it twice as easy afterwards. Bad math, I guess.

Anyway, I'm somewhere in the gray area now. I'm not at square one, but I'm not on whatever square I used to be on, either. I might not even be "on" a "square". I do know that I felt comfortable enough running today that I experimented with my food. After reading entries from both Don and Forest about eating more while running, I decided to eat a giant bratwurst covered in mustard before I ran five miles today. It was singularly amazing how quickly it turned into a cinder block. I have never felt my stomach really do that sort of thing before, and there aren't really words for it. If I could describe it in colors, it would be an orange kind of pain. But after the first couple of miles, I do admit I felt fresher. In fact, I got a lot faster as the run went on. This means that either A) It got easier to run because I stopped cramping, or B) The much-needed bratwursty nutrients passed through the sausage casing and straight into my quads, giving me the energy I needed to be the best runner I could be.

We all know I like to play loose and silly with the scientific method, but this was obviously a case for the latter.

Next test: Spaetzle covered in cheese with some Leibniz cracckers.