Wrestling with Pigs

3/4/2019 - 3/10/2019

Monday (3 + 2) - 20 steps into my run and I said fuck it.  I wasn't in the mood.  About 3/4 of a mile in I spy Pammy and ask if we could walk together, her usual walking buddy wasn't with her.  She said, "I'm walking, NOT running."  I said, "Yep, I threw in the towel before I even got 1/4 a mile from the gate."   We enjoyed crabbing about this and that and getting some fresh air and sunshine.

Sunset on East Beach in Charlestown, RI

I got a cyst drained from my eyelid and was home a little early from work.  (happy to have that thing gone, it was annoying, now I can post more selfies, not) The snow is mashed potato consistency so a hike wouldn't have been all that great.  We took Jax to East Beach, no snow between the water and the high tide mark.  I was stunned at how horrible the wooded area between the pond and the ocean looked.  Hurricane Irene (2011) and Super Storm Sandy (2012) are the likely culprits.  The trees used to block the wind, now you can see the pond.  Crazy.   Jax was a good dog, again, amazing.  Even with the temptation of a Jeep to chase on the beach.  We could see the gears spinning in his head, do I risk it to have some fun or not.

Tuesday (2) - Quick on the elliptical and most of BC#20 (Bridge, clamshell, back kicks - all with the band) and 15 minutes with Amy breaking apart scar tissue on the right hip.  Funny, that was the one I injured a few years ago, and it is doing well.  Probably all the focus on that on the left got left behind (ha ha) and now I'm paying for that.

Once upon a time, there were lots of trees back there.  Now you can see Ninigret Pond
East Beach, Charlestown, RI

I didn't get home till after 7, Jax was going bananas.  One day dude, one day, you can't take a break?  No.  The face he gave me was clear, No. Navigating the patchwork of un-shoveled sidewalks seemed like a dangerous option.  Clearly sneaking into the woods less than a week after getting busted was probably a bad idea.  Jax, being the problem solver he is, brought over a tug o'war toy and shoved it at me.  Ok, sure.  We did that for a solid 20 minutes.  I was amazed, usually, that game lasts for 5 minutes.  Boxers have pretty strong jaws and some serious strength shaking their head.  He definitely can pull me around if he wanted to.  Mostly he wanted to shake the crap out of my arms at the other end of the toy.  Knock yourself out there, rockstar.

Wednesday (5) - Hill day with Ro, but Ro is in Colorado... the wind is icy cold from the NW, 9 mph steady state.  The Hill Loop would be the appropriate direction, it starts out going North, I went out that way, and again, un-shoveled sidewalks forced me into traffic. I thought I could run down to the park and then back along the river.  I wound my way on to a side street and to the Hill Loop and did most of it, and cut through the middle, to get out of the wind.  Even with it at my back coming off the river, it was going to be too icy.  South down the middle on Monument was perfect, the houses blocked the West wind and the sun was shining so strong it was almost like a nice fall run.  The cold and the wind are exhausting to run in, for sure.  It was nice to get some Vitamin D!

As I was running down Monument I thought, about a friend working on running all the streets where he lives.  Much like what Muddy did a few years ago. Seems like that might be a fun goal for my meandering runs, I run 1) because I can 2) so I don't end up in HR 3) beer.  I'm lacking in meaningless metrics this year.

Then I remembered someone posted something about City Strides keeping track of where you ran.  So I dredged up this:

Good grief in the however long I've been keeping track of this crap on Strava, I have managed some variety.  I have a few streets left to set foot on.  I couldn't figure out how to just see a certain time period, like where I've run in 2019 or 2018.

Then I scanned over and found my "favorite" run, the one where I missed a turn on the Nooseneck 18K course, got really lost and disorientated the first day of fishing season and a DEM officer drove me back to my car.

See where the purple line ends up at the top?  That's where I flagged down the DEM officer and they drove me the few miles back to my car on that same road.
It was maybe 3 miles I was done done done with that run and so happy to not have to get back to my car under my own power.
Big River is the squiggly mess on the right.

Thursday (3) - Have to say I was cold for a long time after yesterdays run.  Today was colder and I was happy it was an inside day.    The elliptical has programs you can do for different courses or workouts.  That helps keep some variety.  Crimetown is on the Coleman Young days in Detroit and the after-hours bars.  Interesting enough to keep my mind occupied to not notice 30 minutes on a machine.

Showing off his surgery scars.  Right leg (reassembled after he was run over) & Belly (righting a flipped stomach) & Left leg some odd growth.
He was enjoying himself rolling around and being goofy.

We ended up with him as an owner surrender (their option to running over him as an 8-month-old puppy was to put him down)

Booty Core day #20, it is a good one.  I am certain this is helping with my stability and strength in my hips.  That and Amy going after the bound up scar tissue with her pointy elbows.  Sometimes I feel like I owe her dinner after she finishes.  ha ha ha

Friday (5 + 2) - Nice sunny run.  I ran 4.5 miles before I took a break.  Maybe I can manage to finish Dirty Girl in May?  My confidence is shot.

Part of my job requires me to take shit from the general public.  Well not really but that is what it amounts to.  Today was particularly a tough day in that regard.  It is hard to not react, viscerally lash out.  How a person treats someone they don't know really shows a lot about their character or their level of maturity?  I'm not really sure, maybe a bit of both?  Yes, you can be mad at a situation, but is it really that person at the other end's fault?  Do they truly deserve to be treated in such a manner?  I doubt it.

SO very windy.  Gums and ears a flapping!

I take a deep breath and pretend I am reading the comments section in the newspaper or Facebook. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't.  It isn't personally directed at me, but damn it sure feels like it.  Maybe I am "going to rot in hell" or "a stupid twat who couldn't find her ass with both hands." Could go either way.  I have so many replies zooming around in my head.  None are allowed out to play.

I thought about that on my run and about a person from the past who contacted me via the Facebook machine who was just as vile as the Emails.  For fucks sake.

Maybe I'm being uber sensitive as yesterday was the anniversary of Gus' death.

This was my first trip to the beach with him. 
The trip I discovered the name he came to us with "Gustoff" was not what he responded to. 
We weren't sure if he was deaf or defiant.
I uttered a simple "Gus" and he followed me, paid attention, and we bonded.
Dave had to take him out for french fries before they bonded.  I still remember pulling up next to them watching Dave feed Gus a fry and then eat one.  They were pretty tight after that.

I left work early and crawled on the couch for a nap.  They seem to cure most of the ails of the world.  Dave and I took Jax to East Beach, the trails are a frozen mess, thankfully we have the beach as an option.  The wind was strong from the south, really strong, and it pushed us out a mile and we fought the mile back.  It would have been a good day to go to Napatree and fight the mile and a half out to the point and let the wind carry us back to the car.  But probably lots of other people had the same idea.  It is nice to just let the crazy boy run and be the crazy boy.

Saturday (2) - Beautiful sunny day, We got a lot done in the house and took the crazy dog to Burlingame to slog on the half-melted trails.  The trails were frozen solid all week and now a mushy mess.  It was good to have the sun.

He is a riot, even sacked out.

Sunday (1) - Horrible snow/sleet/rain day.  I got a lot of knitting done and we took Jax out to the beach just before sunset, it was a foggy disgusting mess.

His odd gait cracks me up.
That and getting his attention makes him look around to find out why I'm trying to get his attention. 
He is sure there is trouble afoot!

Reading:

"Grant"
by Ron Chernow

I was sad when this ended, maybe because it was so well written or it meant Grant was dead.  An unsung hero of American history. 


"Coal: A Human History"
by Barbara Freese

The rock that fueled the industrial revolution, abhorred by King Edward the 1st for its smell, brought power to China; the history of a 'simple' rock fueling world progress.

Knitting:

I totally jinxed myself and had to rip out about 6 inches of knitting!  Saturday - Tuesdays work, possibly 8 hours of work.  I don't really keep track.  By the end of the day on Saturday I was at the point I started frogging the cardigan.  Possibly before bed on Sunday I will be done with knitting and on to assembly, but I'm not sure and don't want to assume.  As my mother taught me, as you knit you shall rip.  Let's hope there will be no more ripping!

I love the pattern,
It drops a little in the back and has subtle A-line shaping

This has been a fun sweater to knit.
It isn't over, the left collar and lots of finish work await me.

Not a spectacular week, it really ended on a sour note I am trying to process through.  Confronting the jackwagon with "why do you think you can pop up after 30 years and treat me like that?" truly is pointless.  Opening up a dialogue when really I don't want a door opened is pointless.  George Bernard Shaw said it best "I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it."  Apropos in so many ways. 

Sincerely,
Beth, not going to wrestle with pigs.

Sorry folks, the woods are closed

2/25/2019 - 3/3/2019

Monday (0) - I haven't had a 0 day since Feb 1st, so it's ok right?  Between a crazy schedule, my utter lack of motivation, oh yeah I left my computer at home and had to go back home, I didn't run, in fact, I did nothing, only the long walk to the cafe for lunch.  All in all a very uninspired day.

Jax (like Diesel) is ball obsessed.  He has a variety of them, all different, all the plastic "Chuckit" balls (Diesel wore down his teeth chewing on tennis balls, probably more due to all the sand they accumulated).  I have often wondered if there is a ball off the day or a ball of the event.  It has to be a specific ball.  Dave says "It's the one that calls to him."  I wondered if there was a Monday Ball a Tuesday Ball etc...
I decided to take a picture of each ball each day, so I'd remember which one.  This was the ball he used every day for breakfast ball and dinner ball and dumb game ball.  Huh...  

Tuesday (5) - Feeling rather grouchy from the constant dull headache from the prednisone I went out for a run.  It was windy I stuck to the neighborhood behind the golf course, at least with the various turns I was in and out of the wind.  I sucked it up and ran back up Shennie, taking a cut off through Branford Manor, same distance, only hoping to maybe cut some of the wind, not so much.

Polar does this thing where it rates your run, generally, my 5-mile runs are demanding or very demanding.  I should look up how they categorize these things.  Anyhoodles, this run was Extreme.  Wow!  Thinking maybe the max heart rate of 180 was part of that.  While Polar is supposed to be best in class on HR monitoring, I still am skeptical of the wrist HR for anything other than directionally correct.  The rating seems in line with how I felt, the wind really beat me up!

I'm willing to put up with the prednisone headache because of the benefits.

Wednesday (5 + 2) -  Today marks the day The Smith's ruined it for everyone...

It is hill day and I did most of the hills and added in a different one to take a more downhill route back to campus, plus avoid the smokers in-front of EB.

I contemplated doing School St and Fort St hills, but I felt good running I kept on running.  This run was Very Demanding versus extreme on the Polar scale.  I really should look up how they grade these things.  For now, I'll feel all badass about my runs, why ruin it with reality? right?

My hip let me know it was not happy about running two days in a row.  It was very ouchy, and probably will be for a few days.  I still can't figure out exactly what is wrong.  I think it is muscle related and hurts the worst when I roll over in bed. 

On my way home Dave texted to take Jax on a hike, he does this when he knows he needs to get the little black dog out but has less than an ounce of desire to go alone.  I'm happy to go along.  It's nice to be in the woods no matter what time of day.

Well, it seems this isn't the same feeling one of the DEM agents has about people in the woods at night.  Technically we aren't supposed to be there from 1/2 hour past sunset to 1/2 hour before sunrise, we are breaking the rules, but it was light when we started on our hike.

We neared the car to the sound of someone shouting "hello".  Earlier we saw a mountain biker going over the bog bridges, the 20 bog bridges, we wondered if maybe s/he was having some problems and saw our headlamps?  Nope, a DEM agent or are they DEP out here?  Concerned about our welfare. She felt the hood of our car and it was cold so we had been gone a long time (um, it's 22F, that may have something to do with the engine cooling down?)  She was worried we were hurt and lost in the woods and after a police wellness check calling our residence turned up a disconnected number she was more concerned and was going to call in a search party.  I wonder now if this is what Jonny saw in December?  Sorry for ruining it for everyone else who roams the woods at night, even when we aren't supposed to, on their feet or their bikes.  We didn't mean to get caught.  Fortunately, the time change is 10 days away and we will have an extra hour of daylight!

I probably should update my phone number with the DMV?

Thursday (1 + 3) -  We had a little snow overnight, 10 maybe 20 flakes.  I wondered where Jackass was and then I got the IM.  I'm still giggling.  I'm a horrible person, between ruining the woods and laughing at a friend, something bad will befall me.  I wonder what could be next, and I probably shouldn't tempt fate like that.

Today is the day Amy worked on my bound up hip.  She congratulated me for finally mentioning my hip still hurts and proceeded to jam her elbow in to find the tenderest and ouchiest spot and manipulate my leg to see how much the bound up area would give.  I could feel the tension radiate down my quad to the top of my foot. Brilliant.  To make sure I had time for that fun I shortened my elliptical and booty core (day #19) to 30 minutes total.  I know that while it was a bit uncomfortable during and will be for a day or so after by Sunday or Monday I won't be wincing turning over in bed.

Tasty.  I need to pick some more up and stash it.

Dave surprised me by wanting to take Jax on another night hike.  This time we went across state lines to Connecticut to the 'back' entrance of Barn Island. The double track loop is 3-miles.  Not as many owls hooting, but Dave was sure he heard coyotes and thought I should also be concerned.  I probably should, but since he is, I can enjoy the hike and listen to the owls, and look at all the pretty stars in the sky (and they were very pretty on Thursday night).  He announced that was the last night hike if Earl was leery of coyotes he was going to be too.  Well ok then, I guess unless I want to take on the worry job that is that.  Frankly, I enjoy enjoying being out in the woods at night and being the worrier would ruin that, clearly, as it has done for Dave.  

Friday (5) - The usual work route.  Probably not the best call, my hip is tender, I wanted to run.  The first mile lied and said the run would be awful and painful.  By mile 2 everything felt fine, looking at my splits on Strava I was moving slower, however, I didn't feel like I was dragging.  After the run I used the trigger point massage ball on the ouchy parts, keep that fascia and scar tissue broken up, they don't need to reunite.  While running I thought about the time Gizmo and I were on a walk and found part of a broken sled in Wilcox Park.  There is a wee hill and I loaded us on that broken piece of a sled and whizzed down the hill.  Gizzy gave me a "What the actual fuck was that Beth" look and then we did it again.  The next time he seemed to think it was pretty ok based on how much he did his crazy run and bark once we got to the bottom.  Ah, the old Gizzy.  A memory of him helping himself to my beer popped up in FB.  Crazy old coot he was.

This was Feb 2016.  He demanded a lick of my beer, every time after that.
He passed May 2016, I knew it was coming, might as well indulge the old chap.

I got home and was greeted with the usual shenanigans from the Little Black Dog and a question from Dave "Hike?"  "Sure, but it is 4:30 we could be out after dark."  We went up to Arcadia hiked slowly and goofed around a lot with the LBD and were on the hardtop road out of the park by 6:06.  Sunset was 5:37, we had a minute to spare!  No police welfare check for this 'family'.  It was a nice hike.  I do like Arcadia, a bit further of a drive than Burlingame, but considering Wednesday...  

Snowball!!!!
And Dave way off in the distance.  We were out for a short hike to have fun, Jax and I did!

Saturday (2) - I chased an Alleve with a 7% pint of porter on Friday night.    My hip was so unhappy.  At least this gave me a chance to relax around the pain, you know how pain makes you tense and that makes more pain.  My theory, but seems to help.  Saturday morning I was able to roll over easily to grab Jax and have him snuggle with me.  He HATES snuggling.  That lasted all of 5 minutes, he had breakfast at 6:30 a.m. and I was wide awake.  I thought I'd play housewife and made coffee and baked blueberry muffins. That was fun.  Dave eventually turned up.  Jax fell asleep in front of the fire.  I enjoyed far too many of the muffins and Jax had bits and pieces.

It looks like he melted.

Decided I'd do some "Yoga for Mobility"  Gak I am so not flexible anymore, probably part of my hip issues and that whole advancing age thing does a lot to zap flexibility.

We took Jax to Woody Hill late in the day, figuring the herd of mountain bikers would be done on their fat bikes.  We got a good amount of snow, and then some rain.  Early would have been good fat biking conditions.  There was a set of tracks in and out of the entrance and not a footprint or fat bike track in site.  So much for all the chatter on the NEMA Mountain Biking FB page about going to Woody Hill.  Sir George and his crew went to Arcadia so at least someone holds their word!

First tracks.

We enjoyed the place all to ourselves for another short hike.  

He likes to play "Stick".  Break a long stick  (while one of us holds it) till it is a short stick and run with it. 

Sunday (3) - Note to self, 1/2 a blueberry muffin over the course of a day upsets Jax's stomach.  He woke me up at 5 so I could hear his grumbly tummy and let me know he needed to go out.  Of course, it's 5 a.m. and I thought I could persuade him otherwise.  He got up and barfed, I let him out while I cleaned up the mess and then went back to bed.  Not for long, he was serious about now being fed as his stomach was empty.  Popped a couple tums in his food and he devoured it and came back to bed.  Fortunately, everyone let me sleep for a few more hours.  Ugh... 

The edge of the habitat restoration field.  This trail went into the Candlewood Ridge area.

At a reasonable hour I got Jax and me out to Avery Farm Nature Preserve & Candlewood Ridge.  The maps didn't have any indication on how long the trails were,  the preserve is just shy of 400 acres, 3 miles of trail wasn't going to be difficult.  What I wasn't sure about was is this really an undiscovered gem or will the place be riddled with people on this lovely sunny 40F day?   It was the former.  We found 3 miles of trails easily, another big loop would add on another mileish.  The trails are well marked and on one trail we were the only tracks. Other than deer and another pawed four-footed animal.  We ran across a father and his two kids, and a mountain biker.  Jax was the best behaved he has been in a long time.  Pshew.  Part of the preserve was being restored for wildlife habitat, this part is very open and exposed.

The main trail, a few footprints, and a mountain bike wheel print.

Knitting:

The designer of Rusty Nail made this pattern with a lot of stockinette stitch to calm her mind.  I was a little concerned this was going to make me go batty.  I am really enjoying the miles of not having to think knitting (constantly checking the pattern).  

I was surprised how easy this pattern was to memorize.

This is the only part where there is a pattern, the right and left side of the cardigan.  It is sooooo soothing.

I joined the sleeves, while it looks a little short the sleeves are raglan and the sweater is sized for a woman about 5 inches shorter than me.  

From the needles to the base of the sweater is 8" if you are trying to gauge size.

Saturday's progress.  Needle to base approximately 11"

Reading:

"Grant"

by Ron Chernow

Julia is not giving up on Grant running for a 3rd term and they have completed the around the world tour.  

A pretty good week, three runs!  Hip feels much better and that odd stabbing pain in my foot (last week) hasn't reappeared.  I haven't had to frog any massive sections of the sweater.  My ancient iPod continues to chug along. 

Sincerely,

Beth the entertainer of Jax

Week 14: 7/11/16 - 7/17/16

Clearly I live in a world of rose colored glasses and where hope flows over.  This week it started becoming reality I do have an injury that needs time and patience to heal.   Looking forward to the long term picture is more sensible than the short term is very hard for me to come to grips with.

Reflecting on this hip, I've been having discomfort and issues all year. Pin pointing when it first cropped up is difficult, I'm vaguely remembering the winter.  Pin pointing the root cause, nearly impossible, although I'm suspecting the spin bike (it couldn't possibly be running, it just couldn't).  The remedy is time, time to allow the insanity in a very complex point in the body get sorted through physical therapy, non impact exercises, ice, the miracle of KT, and yes, Vitamin I.

My activity this week was very limited and that makes me depressed and a little grouchy, ok grouchy and a little depressed.  

I need to take this to heart.

Monday (1/4.2/0) - I did some intervals, 5 minutes walking 1 mile running, I think I can accept 1 12 minute  mile for running, it may have been a little more, at this moment I haven't studied my Strava download.  The pain was constant and consistent, probably a 4 or a 5.  Not enough to make me want to cry, but enough to make me think I should stop.  Which I didn't.  I wanted to see if it would get worse, it didn't.  I iced and took some Vitamin I when I got back to the office.  It felt fine the rest of the day.  Dave took the pups out to the field to run so no evening walk.  This turned out to be a good thing because it finally dawned on me I needed to reserve a room in Sturbridge the night before the PMC start.  Well shit.  I got that all sussed out now I really need to get my crap together with my fund raising.

Tuesday (0/2.8/38.3) - Biked into work, I do enjoy that.  Although the walk of shame to the gym to shower and change is a little odd. It's early enough no one is awake enough to notice.  Biked out to the Tuesday night fun run at The Dog Watch, caught up with a couple people and biked home.  I didn't need to get obliterated like I did last Tuesday.  Wednesday was a little tough, I shouldn't of had the beer or the Fisher's Island Lemonade when I got home.  Perhaps some actual food would have been appropriate.  The ride home was uneventful, I was ready to be home so I cut off a few miles I had planned to get to 40.  Plus I'm not supposed to be riding lots of hills with my hip.  Nor am I supposed to be 'running'....

All in all the hip feels better, I iced when I got home, and then took Gus for a walk and it never got stiff or sore, I'm hopeful I am on the mend.  It itches, which is weird.

As I peeled off the KT tape I was remembering how in awe my Nephew Jin was with my HUGE band-aid.  He only had two small boring ones on his knees from a bike crash earlier in the day.  Oh to be 5 going on 6 again.  Hopefully he won't try and figure out how to get injured enough to have a band-aid from his knee up to his hip!

Wednesday (5.8/0/0) -  I was thinking I should update my cover photo, it is from January, but I love the cold...  besides I still haven't managed to find a way to superimpose a zombie or other creature in this delightful image from the Blessing 2014.  Because, really it needs to be done...

Ro and I did our hill loop.  I stopped stopping my watch when I meet up with her or we stop at the top of Ft. Trumbull for a drink of water.  It messes with the pace, right?  At this point, I'm happy to be power walking with no pain.  Running, I'll try that again next week.  My Physical Therapist said it was good the pain didn't get worse and the fact my hip itches like a mofo means it's healing.  Here I thought I had some irritation from a tag in my pants, nope...  Now to just not scratch the skin off, because well that's something I would do.

Kept track of times at the Westerly Fun Run tonight.  Wowzers that is a chaotic job and definitely all those kids puts me out of my comfort zone.  As my boss would say "This is a good development opportunity for you Beth."

Thursday (0/0/0) -  There was PT in the a.m. so not an inactive day.  I was given a dressing down for my run/walk.  OK fine, I'll not try that again.  I miss the euphoria of running, however I don't miss the misery of running in this heat.  Maybe this is all a blessing in disguise.

The PT really kills my opportunities to bike into work, so I should ride more after work...

Joe gave me a dressing down for my 'running' which frankly isn't really running, even at my conservative pace!  Fine.  In the spirit of letting things work, I won't force myself back on the running road.  I say this with a bit of trepidation, what if I lose the love of the run? what if I can't even get back to my conservative pace?  what if what if what if... mostly how the hell am I going to not get fat?

Gus's walk and any possibility of a ride was sacrificed so I could do some genealogy research.  I received a very interesting DNA match making my tree wider, not taller.  It did and it didn't surprise me to find I have a great-grandfather in common with someone else trying to figure out where the hell they came from.  Definitely a lot for her to chew on, I'm sure.  It's a tough thing to dig into the past.  As one of my mother's aunts told us, "Sometimes people want the past left in the past and we should respect that."  My father used to ask questions to his grandfather only to be told "We have a new life here.  That is the past."    Now we have people like me, curious to know where they came from and ever expanding resources to enable this curiosity.

Friday (0/0/0) - this is not a good trend of triple zeros.  I'm surprisingly exhausted and that is probably a result of not a lot of activity.  My day was mostly made up of work and driving.  I met up with my LUNGStrong Team, and received my jersey and a pair of bike shorts.  Those things are freaking expensive.

Saturday (0/0/35.4) -  Postponed my 80 mile ride till Sunday when I could actually devise a route because I did't get back from Amesbury till nearly midnight last night.  Decided I'd do a 30ish mile route from a few weeks ago and add in some different sights.  The ride went well, the shorts, well they are OK.  I like my PI's much better than these...  They will be fine for the 86 miles into PTown on the second day of the Pan Mass Challenge.



Sunday (0/0.5/41.3) - 80 didn't happen, with the sun it is like riding in a steam room.  In hindsight I'm still glad I cut the ride short.  I didn't feel right once I got home and some food and a couple Gatorade's and water and a nap and I'm still not feeling quite right.  I dumped water on myself during the ride and that barely dried.  I rarely arrive home from a ride soaked, I did today.  The temp was even cooler.  Next weekend a double may be tough but it needs to be done again.    I hit a little more elevation gain than I'm supposed to per my PT too...  ruler breaker?  Although I don't think we ever defined 'hills' a hill to him may not be a hill to me.  I'm thinking Mt. Washington Century hills, I think he's thinking something less...

84ish would have taken me out to South Kingstown on the map below and then joining back in where I clearly cut South from Hopkinton.  Another day, definitely another day!  

It's a mile from home and they had a nice shady breezy place to hang out and enjoy this American Stout!

Mileage:  

Weekly  Foot: 14.3  Saddle:  115
Yearly  Foot:  1067.2  Saddle: 709.7  Against a straight line target of 1096.5  

Sincerely,
Beth, taking some time to regroup.

Week 17: 6/20/16 - 6/26/16

Well things are not going to plan.  I've had a niggling hip pain off and on for a while.  Amy elbowed it out around Christmas time.  It came back during the Rutgers 1/2 in April and seemed to disappear and I continued on with my BARRE classes to strengthen my hips and core to prevent injuries.

Then we had two weeks ago BARRE class with the serious girl and those band things and around the calves they go and we side step across the room and then back.  I think that's what finally hit the nail on the head and nothing's been right since then.  

It's good to have my blathery blog and hieroglyphics of notes, I wish I was better about labels... it would make searching easier, but then I don't know what I'm going to search for till I search for it.

I had a major step back week last week, and it continued on to this week.  

After an appointment with an ortohopedist, Dr. Carlow, he poked and prodded with various things on my legs wiggled my hip joint, declared the joint fine, then he pressed on this spot on the side of my hip and I flinched.   Ordered some x-rays, it was clear my hip joins are in great condition, nice and smooth, there were no fractures.  Bursitis is the most likely issue, 2x week PT.  I start that next week. 

Monday (0/3) - This was hard, I did take Gus for a walk after work so I got in some movement.  It helps to move, just not a lot.

Tuesday (0/6.7) - Walked at lunch then again at the Dog Watch fun runs.  It isn't fun watching people run when you can't.

Wednesday (5.8/1.5) - Hills with Ro, these still count as running training.  Met up with Jennifer for a walk on the beach then I took Gus for a short walk when I got home.  Appt with Dr. Carlow started the day.

Thursday (4.3/1.7) - I felt fine, my hip felt good, no pain all morning!  I ran.  Not smart.  It hurt and hurt worse and I wasn't going to stop.  I wanted to run.    Walk with Gus after dinner out.

Friday (0) - Jax and Gus got out for walks, they needed to get out.   

Saturday (0) - Took a nice slow bike ride, it nearly killed me to not try and meet some of my goals on starred segments, and it hurt even worse when my "virtual partner" popped up as Jeff W or Jeff H, really Garmin? really?  how do I make a more realistic target... sheesh.  All in all I enjoyed the ride and my hip didn't complain.  Well it did after I got off the bike and walked.  But seemed to simmer down with some Vitamin I.  



Sunday (0/2.9) - Took a long bike ride, time wise not so much mileage.  better get my ass used to the seat for extended periods of time. Since I can't run I'll get my PMC miles in!

I collected a few more PRs putting in little effort. That was kind of a nice gift.





And in case you wanted to support me in my fundraising efforts to have the honor to ride in the Pan Mass Challenge - 192 miles from Sturbridge to Provincetown! 

http://profile.pmc.org/BL0174

The couple hours out on the bike was nice time to think.  Coming up on 9 years since my mothers diagnosis with Lung Cancer.  She is the exception to the rule, and is living with this horrid disease.  The treatment took a lot out of her and aged her past her 71 years, my father too for that matter!   

The doctors were not able to take out her tumor as it was attached to her spine and ribs.  

The thing I remember the most was my father telling me "Beth your mother is not going to die from Lung Cancer she is going to die with it. This can  be managed like a chronic condition, like diabetes."  

The research done at Dana Farber in the Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology can make this a reality for more people, if they can't rid the patient of the disease they can at least live with it.  My mother lives with the disease.  Team LUNGStrong's founder Diane Legg lives with the disease (11 years now - she is 53), not only does she lives, she runs and bikes!  

The best possible outcome is complete eradication of the disease, however, barring that, being able to live as close to normal as possible is a pretty good alternative to death!

Feet:
Weekly Mileage:    27.2  Run:  10.1  Walk 17.1
Yearly Mileage:  1015.2 against a straight line target of 980.8

Saddle: 
Weekly Mileage:  52
Yearly Mileage:  427.1 against a straight line target of 980.1

Sincerely,
Beth, remain calm and pedal on

Week 18: 6/13/16 - 6/19/16

Monday (7) - I was in NYC for work.  Running in NY isn't easy, you have to dodge people, vehicles, pigeons, bikes, a variety of things, even at 6 a.m.  It was clear from Sunday's shuffle running wasn't going to be happening, but I brought my stuff anyhow because I needed the upper body work out?

After a jam packed and successful day - remember that time in April I thought I might get fired for letting a participant in my company's annual shareholder's meeting know she should not be recording?  Well, when I got into the studio for the globally broadcast meeting for Monday, I got cheers.  The guys were all "You ROCK Beth!"  "You totally shut her down."  "That was unbelievably awesome." 

All I could say was, "Please tell me the whole thing was only audio recorded not video recorded."  Uber cool tech guy "Yeah, why?"
Me: "Because I'm pretty sure I was making inappropriate facial expressions."

After I was confirmed my face, that shows every feeling or expression I have, was only seen by the CEO (my bosses, bosses, bosses, boss), my bosses boss, and my bosses bosses boss.  Hey if you are going to do something, don't half ass it right?? I was very much relieved and enjoyed the praise for doing what I was told to do.  Stop any recording (audio or visual) at the meeting. 

It was pretty clear in the Order of Business:

     No cameras, recording equipment, electronic devices, large bags, briefcases, or packages will be permitted in the Annual Meeting. The use of mobile devices, photography or recording of the event is strictly prohibited.

I had a lovely chat with one of the folks from catering who has been at the company 40 years, and will be retiring in January when he turns 67.  I couldn't believe he was any older than 50.  Remarkable guy, happy, always smiling and saying hello.  There simply isn't enough people saying hello and smiling.  I do this when I walk down the long hallways at work.  Usually my smile and "good morning " is greeted with a glance to the floor.  Huh, do I have booger hanging out of my nose?  No wait, if I did they'd totally stare and totally NOT tell me, so hmmm, oh well on to the next victim...

Oh, sorry rambling, guess I am feeling a little less concerned about this hip issue, or maybe I'm emptying the beer shelf in the fridge... 

So the day was good, successful even.  I caught up with colleagues I don't get to see much and shake and howdy with new folks.

After work I ventured onto the East River Greenway.  I think this is a bit miss named as it isn't really green it's frigging NYC!!  There were some areas which were green and park like, there were also narrow pathways with nothing more than a Jersey Barrier separating the two lanes of cars zipping up town on the FDR and an asphalt path wide enough for two people to comfortably pass. 

The walk was enjoyable, the pathway curves a lot so I was always curious to see what I was going to see around the next bend.  After I'd been walking a while I checked my watch, oh wow, I've been walking an hour, how did THAT happen.  SO I made it around one more bend and turned around and headed back to MidTown after 7 miles of walking, to scare up some beer and dinner at a favorite bar.

The Greenway starts at Battery Park and you have to use 2nd Ave from 38th - 63rd street and it continues up to 125th street where it dead ends.  It is all part of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, I think these things have a bajillion names..

In any event next time I get a few days in the city I will make it a point to walk all the way down to Battery Park and then cab or subway back to MidTown.  I'm kinda sad I didn't do that on Monday.

Tuesday (0) - Work Work Work didn't get home until after 10 p.m.  all I wanted was food and a beer, it was a long day.

Wednesday (5.6) - Hills with Ro, and then the Westerly Fun Runs where I volunteered to assist.  My quad/hip is throbbing.  Tommy was helpful when he said I spend a lot of time on my feet, speed doesn't have much to do with the constant impact.  He has a point, a point I've been trying to ignore. He did suggest swimming, no impact (except when I bash my head on a back stroke) and good cardio.  Smart man, that one.

Orthopedic appt in a week.  I was hoping the act of making the appointment would magically make the pain and throbbing go away. No.

Thursday (3) - Mikey talked me off the ledge.  I think his opening comment of "You look terrible" pretty much clued me in to this not running thing was a problem.  Ya think?  He recommended KT tape.  I did a little research and stopped at the easiest to get to drug store and picked some up, after the sticker shock. I thought, these things better work.  I've had KT tape before but it was years ago during one of those 60 mile walks for Breast Cancer and at that point on day 3 I was pretty much spent and nothing but a big bottle of Jack was going to save me in those days.  Anyhoodles...  I watched the application video and stuck this stuff on my quad.  My immediate test was could I stand on my right leg with out it buckling.  Holy Crap I could!

Took Gus on a 3 mile walk, he was a bit over heated and not loving it after the first mile but we had to get home and we had to go spy on Jeff V and see if his lawn was mowed, he usually does this on Thursday.  It was not, so Gus ate some grass and maybe tinkled on the curb...

The quad felt ok, better than it had been feeling.  I still feel a constant dull ache...  But it hurts less to move it or pick up my leg, so there's that, right?

Friday (0) - This was torture, I got it done though.

Saturday (6) - Took a short run in the a.m. hip/quad hurt the whole time, medium pain, not searing, definitely uncomfortable and I don't want to admit I felt it in the joint a bit.

I stopped mid run to pet Mugsy, a very calm Bulldog who seemed to enjoy someone paying attention to him.  It was nice little break to sit on the ground with him.  He definitely could smell my dogs on me, it's always cute when they do it's like they know who's a dog person and who isn't, so he took in some long sniffs and categorized them where ever it is dogs categorize these things and I moved on and he moved on.

Walked Gus... he enjoyed it mostly, I was too slow for him.  Poor guy.

Sunday -  Dave and I took our yearly road ride.


I got a little lost, no surprise there right?  Not that I haven't ridden it a few times and not that I don't have it programmed in the Garmin.  Oh well, it was a couple extra miles and hill climbs and descents.  It is an awesome ride.  Wonder if he'll ride a second time with me over the summer?

My hip wasn't in pain, even on the hill climbs, constant nagging ache, so if all else fails I get to bike.  As I sit here typing this with ice on my hip.  How is this even possible?

I'm a little frustrated, and I put on 4 pounds in two weeks, which doesn't really help matters.

Weekly Mileage:  21.6  (run:8.7 walk: 12.9)
Yearly Mileage:  988.1 against a straight line target of 942.2

Sincerely,
Beth frustrated she let this happen to herself.