Friday, October 23, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
City to the Sea
So there I was yesterday morning, standing in the middle of Higuera in downtown SLO with the number 149 pinned to my running shirt. Sunday was the 2009 City to the Sea half marathon from SLO to Pismo. Undertrained and still hobbled by tendinitis in my right ankle, I gave it the old college try (literally) and finished in 1:50. Not spectacular, but right in the middle of the two half marathons I've done since last November. All things considered, I'll take it. I had a great time.
What about the ankle?!? Here's the crazy thing...only two or three small "twinges" throughout the race. That's it. It's so strange because just a couple of weeks ago 3 miles on the grass in a park caused me all this discomfort. On Sunday, I managed 13 miles on pavement with no problems. And, it gets better. A day and a half later, still no pain in the ankle. So what gives? Was I miraculously healed? I did have Josh pray before the run. Was it the 3 Aleve I took 20 minutes before the gun? Adrenaline? Endorphins (whatever they are)? Good running buddies? Doing what I'm increasingly passionate about? What? I'm not sure, but I'm going to go with the power of Joshua's prayer life I think.
Here's a shot of part of the crew that shared the experience. It's always better with buddies!
What about the ankle?!? Here's the crazy thing...only two or three small "twinges" throughout the race. That's it. It's so strange because just a couple of weeks ago 3 miles on the grass in a park caused me all this discomfort. On Sunday, I managed 13 miles on pavement with no problems. And, it gets better. A day and a half later, still no pain in the ankle. So what gives? Was I miraculously healed? I did have Josh pray before the run. Was it the 3 Aleve I took 20 minutes before the gun? Adrenaline? Endorphins (whatever they are)? Good running buddies? Doing what I'm increasingly passionate about? What? I'm not sure, but I'm going to go with the power of Joshua's prayer life I think.
Here's a shot of part of the crew that shared the experience. It's always better with buddies!
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Overheard this morning in Target...
Grace, as we walked past the bra section: "My mommy likes these. They keep her tummy warm..."
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
The evil news always comes out eventually...
Story from CNN.com about stolen and later adopted children during the Guatemalan Civil War in the 70's and 80's here. Heart-breaking...
Monday, September 07, 2009
An Interview with Rob's right ankle
A Fly in the Soup sat down recently with Rob's right ankle to check in about how the recovery is going. Here are some excerpts from the interview:
AFITS: So can we start with you reminding us about exactly what happened?
RRA: Yeah, so we were about 1.5 miles into a run at the end of July when I just fell apart. Something wasn't right, so I pushed the pain button and Rob had to stop.
AFITS: Any diagnosis from the Dr.?
RRA: Look, I'm not bitter, but let's be honest. What does Rob's GP know about ankles anyway?!? He's an internal medicine guy for the love of God! We went in early in August, he sent us for an X-ray (it was negative) and then he referred us to the Physical Therapist.
AFITS: And have you gone to the PT?
RRA: We've been twice now. I get nervous each time. That dude pulls me, pushes me, twists me, bends me. It's like he's working out his personal angst on me! The PT thinks that I have some tendinitis.
AFITS: Getting better?
RRA: Not sure. We haven't had the sharp pain that we had initially in weeks now. But there's a dull ache that is persistant. The PT has us doing some exercises with a band and some stretching. We take Aleve. And we're resumed the elliptical and on Saturday we tried a mile on the track.
AFITS: And?
RRA: It's tough. Again, no sharp pains, but lots of soreness. I've heard Rob say that I don't "feel quite right." I just think we're both frustrated. Really frustrated.
AFITS: You and Rob are scheduled to run a half marathon next month in SLO and then a full marathon in Fresno in November. What are the chances of those races actually happening?
RRA: Honestly, it's probably dipping below 50/50 that we'll be able to race. Training time is running out! We're going to try 2 miles over at Clovis High today, so we'll see.
AFITS: Good luck for your continued recovery!
RRA: Thanks. And thanks for the time. Love your blog. I read it all the time.
AFITS: So can we start with you reminding us about exactly what happened?
RRA: Yeah, so we were about 1.5 miles into a run at the end of July when I just fell apart. Something wasn't right, so I pushed the pain button and Rob had to stop.
AFITS: Any diagnosis from the Dr.?
RRA: Look, I'm not bitter, but let's be honest. What does Rob's GP know about ankles anyway?!? He's an internal medicine guy for the love of God! We went in early in August, he sent us for an X-ray (it was negative) and then he referred us to the Physical Therapist.
AFITS: And have you gone to the PT?
RRA: We've been twice now. I get nervous each time. That dude pulls me, pushes me, twists me, bends me. It's like he's working out his personal angst on me! The PT thinks that I have some tendinitis.
AFITS: Getting better?
RRA: Not sure. We haven't had the sharp pain that we had initially in weeks now. But there's a dull ache that is persistant. The PT has us doing some exercises with a band and some stretching. We take Aleve. And we're resumed the elliptical and on Saturday we tried a mile on the track.
AFITS: And?
RRA: It's tough. Again, no sharp pains, but lots of soreness. I've heard Rob say that I don't "feel quite right." I just think we're both frustrated. Really frustrated.
AFITS: You and Rob are scheduled to run a half marathon next month in SLO and then a full marathon in Fresno in November. What are the chances of those races actually happening?
RRA: Honestly, it's probably dipping below 50/50 that we'll be able to race. Training time is running out! We're going to try 2 miles over at Clovis High today, so we'll see.
AFITS: Good luck for your continued recovery!
RRA: Thanks. And thanks for the time. Love your blog. I read it all the time.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Family Fun Day #4
Let's see...sorry to those of you waiting on proverbial pins and needles for our most recent Family Fun Day updates. Day #4 happened a couple of weeks back. We scoured the internet for things to do in Fresno and we came up with...drumroll...Simonian Farms. Yep. Simonian Farms.
Simonian Farms is this family owned and run farming operation on the southeast side of Fresno (SE corner of Clovis and Jensen for you locals). Website is here. From our experience, these four things are true:
1. They have a lot of old, hulking tractors at Simonian Farms. And, for some reason, many of them are displayed on stilts.
2. Littered amongst said old, hulking tractors are other old, hulking things, including scales, phone booths, ovens, sinks, etc.
3. The claim to fame for Simonian Farms seems to be the September 5, 1995 visit of then President Bill Clinton. Pictures everywhere. Site here.
4. They have a lot of stuff for sale in the store, and this would be the reason to grace Simonian Farms with your presence. Our family enjoyed the toffee peanuts and the candy fruit slices. We topped it off with some Mexican soda. It was a pleasant snack in the shade.
A couple of pictures:
Simonian Farms is this family owned and run farming operation on the southeast side of Fresno (SE corner of Clovis and Jensen for you locals). Website is here. From our experience, these four things are true:
1. They have a lot of old, hulking tractors at Simonian Farms. And, for some reason, many of them are displayed on stilts.
2. Littered amongst said old, hulking tractors are other old, hulking things, including scales, phone booths, ovens, sinks, etc.
3. The claim to fame for Simonian Farms seems to be the September 5, 1995 visit of then President Bill Clinton. Pictures everywhere. Site here.
4. They have a lot of stuff for sale in the store, and this would be the reason to grace Simonian Farms with your presence. Our family enjoyed the toffee peanuts and the candy fruit slices. We topped it off with some Mexican soda. It was a pleasant snack in the shade.
A couple of pictures:
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Injury report
If you read all the running books out there, or if you peruse Runner's World, you'll come across some version of the notion that "injuries are a part of running." Sad to say, I now get that. Here's my tale of woe:Two weeks ago, I was out on a run, like the second or third training run in preparation for some races this Fall. I was about 1.5 miles in and I all of a sudden felt a sharp pain in my right ankle. Specifically, it was just at the point where my lower leg meets my foot on the top. The sharp pain lasted for a few seconds and then subsided. I cut the run short and headed in.
Two weeks later, I'm still hurting off and on. I tried a three miler on the Clovis High track that next Tuesday and survived it, though I still had some nagging pain. So yesterday I hit the Dr. We did an x-ray, he messed around with my foot, and here's where we're at:
1. X-ray was negative, so no fracture. Evidently there is a bone in that location that sometimes breaks for runners, requiring surgery. Good that it was not this! There is a chance that we're talking about a stress fracture that is not showing on the x-ray, but if there is, the treatment is essentially the same.
2. With no break in a bone, the options are damaged cartilage, loose ligaments and inflamed tendons. He's thinking the it's the tendons. He said there is a tendon that goes from the shin to the top of the foot, and that it is likely that I've inflamed that badboy from overuse. His quote: "you likely did something to it initially at your marathon and it just needs to recover." Related (or not?), the Doc says that my ankles are pretty stiff and inflexible.
4. So, the treatment: rest, ice, physical therapy and Aleeve. My plan is to eliminate running and to cut way back on walking for the next month. I'll ride the bike and get into the pool instead. I'm penciling in a goal of running this race in late September, and from there we'll see about this one and then this one.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Overheard in the TV room...
Lucy, running up to me excitedly after watching a promo on Cartoon Network:
"Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, are you going to run the Scooby Doo Marathon?!?"
"Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, are you going to run the Scooby Doo Marathon?!?"
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