20 mile week, bad Doc visit..

Well, I ran through pain, got over a 20-mile week, and was planning another 15 over the weekend. However...

I broke down and made another appointment to see the specialist about my right knee. It was May 20, 2008, when I broke down and went in. I got an HGH shot, and all was well. Training was good, starting at a 15-mile week in February and slowly building to a 30-mile week after 10 weeks. Then, one night, I was hanging out at a friend's place, and BANG, my knee was in pain. I went to see the regular Doctor who has that wait-and-see attitude. I did wait and see, and I have nursed that for weeks now, and enough was enough.

This time, I made an appointment with the specialist I saw last year. A 5 PM appointment on a Friday night, nonetheless. I was meeting with him and discussing the issues when I recalled I woke up with a strange bruise a year ago? The picture of my leg on the left is the mysterious bruise I woke with one day... for no apparent reason. This was last fall, if I recall correctly.

I never had it checked, but I also did not run at all for months after that pain. It was so strange as I thought hard and had no idea where it came from? I only knew that after 10 weeks of regular training, starting at 15 miles and working up to 30 miles a week, I should not have the pain I am having.

The Doc took several ex-rays and then felt pressure points all over the knee. Then he hit one that sent me to the moon! He quickly said he had no doubt I had torn cartilage. I am going to schedule an MRI next week. This will tell me the extent of the issue. We both agree this was most likely the result of my fall on the ice in March of 2008 and then the "bang" my knee took at my friend's house was a double whammy to make it bad enough for the MRI to determine the level of treatment and repair.

So he gave me another dose of cortisone and told me if the pain was terrible the week before Grandma's, I would come in for another so I could make my 25-year goal. Then Afton and Superior are most likely out of the question, as I get this taken care of as time allows. It has hampered my training for 16 months already...

After the Doctor's visit and the shot, I went home and turned on the TV, and there was MASH. I love the show. It is an episode in which Trapper promises a young soldier with a young daughter that he will save his leg. Turned out gang green required amputation. Trapper was saddened and sickened at his failure to keep his promise. When the soldier woke and Trapper had to tell him the news, he was not saddened. He asked Trapper not to tell his wife? Trapper asked why? He said on Saturday night, he loves to go out dancing, and his wife likes to stay in and snuggle, and he does not want his wife to hide his wooden leg to stop him from going out. I almost cried. Amazing how we look at things and think so negatively that we often forget the positives.

I have been more negative than positive the past month. I just got into a funk. It is hard when I have a hard time even walking without heavy pain. But I am walking. So many people wish they had such an opportunity. I am surely blessed, as we all are, and I need to remember that.

I also learned this week a good friend and co-worker has stage 4 melanoma which has attacked other organs. They say 6 months is all that he may have. Sad... He is 42. I also read the post on Cynthia Brochman on Chad's blog. She is so brave! How these people keep the spirit is beyond my comprehension, yet they do. I pray for them both as they have been given the worst news... May god be with them.

Life Is Too Short, so Break The Rules,
Forgive Quickly,
Kiss Slowly,
Love Truly,
Laugh Uncontrollably,
And Never Regret Anything That Made You Smile.
Life May Not Be The Party we Hoped For,
But While We're Here,
We Should Dance...

Carry on!

I ran, felt great, until the next day... I learned

First, for those who ran the Fargo Marathon... I envy you! Beth had a great race! She is preparing now for a triathlon. Congrats to her continued success.

Fargo is my hometown. Graduated from West Fargo High School. Also where my son had an accident that resulted in the amputation of his right hand. Memories good are erased about the memories of bad. I really want to run that race, but have to many memories. The good are not a strong as the bad, so I shy away. But it is a great race, so I hear.

I was so happy Mike took me up on the offer to run Monday Morning. It was a great run for me. PF hurt a little in the right foot and the knee was great the entire run. We did about an 11 minute mile from the Sibly House to Highway 77 and about a 12 minute mile going back. Just over 12 miles, but was not that difficult. This gives me confidence about Grandma's...

I ran in my new Experia Thorlopad sock. For $14 for the pair, I thought, give it a try... I got a blister about the size of a quarter on the ball of my foot... So I can say do not bother with them. This was even after coating my foot with good foot lotion...

Then this morning I woke up and it took me all of 20 minutes to walk. The PF in the left foot was OK, not worse or better than the week before. But I have this huge lump on the inside back of the knee. Four Advil and I was ready for the day once they kicked in.

So I learned I can do Grandma's, I may just regret Sunday after? And in this time in my life, I have learned so many more things...

On a positive note I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life."

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch...holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

And most importantly, I've learned that I still have a lot to learn. A WHOLE LOT TO LEARN!

Carry on...

No I am not dead, but...

This is not a joyous post, so I will start lightly. Take a look at some artwork I stumbled upon… See http://www.dirtycarart.com/, where a portion of his art is above. SO COOL!

Now, life sure can suck... But then again, I have to remember that I have a life.

Oh, ON A SIDE NOTE: The Eli Young Band is going to be at the Cabooze next month. Check out the website if you do not know them. I saw the Zac Brown Band there three weeks before they released their top-selling recording. I will never see them for $12 again. This may not be metalhead music, but it is my kind of music!

It has been a while since my last post. My previous post asked about ice baths, as I have been trying to help with my plantar fasciitis, some tendinitis, and a possible meniscus tear in my right knee.

Kel's suggestion was a well-thought-out reply that was really nice to have. She stated an idea was a protocol to immerse the lower body to the top of the hip bone for 1 minute in cold water (temp 45-50 degrees F) followed immediately by immersion for 2 minutes in hot water (temp 104-108 degrees F). Alternate between cold & hot 5 times for a total of 15 minutes. She stated the study's findings indicated strength, power, and muscle soreness improved with contrast baths compared to the control group, which did nothing but rest. She also mentioned the baths were done immediately after a high-intensity weight lifting session rather than endurance exercise lasting several hours.

I tried this, and it makes the body feel better than just the ice bath. I had been icing the sore area and immediately applying the heat pad in intervals as an option. I will try this later this spring when I get a hot tub close to a bathtub… I will post the results if I get a chance.

With all of that, I am suffering—bad. My plantar fasciitis in my left foot is getting worse, not better. My right knee is worse. It wakes me at night. After waking in the morning or after sitting for more than an hour, I get up in more pain than the day after my successful 77-mile run in 2007.

Bummer, so I have not written much lately, as it is all not positive. I have continued to run, but not more than 20 miles a week, as I want to stay in shape to complete 25 consecutive grandmas. After Grandma's, I will be out as both legs have major issues. I may call the physician and see if he can treat me like Roger Clemons and give me a couple of injections, which might help.

Other things have also occupied me. One is that my work life has not been enjoyable. In this economy, everyone is struggling and reaching everywhere for help, and I have no way to help them. This is sad in itself. I had another friend who is 57 years old just be laid off after 19 years of dedicated service. I thought it was due to the economy, but they also hired new college graduates for those positions at half the pay. That is a reality…

Another is my Grandmother passed away. Although for me, this was not as hard on me directly, it was hard on my Dad. But the death made me relive Dana's death. Death is a funny thing.

I recall as a child, sex was a taboo subject, and death was not. Now, America seems to speak freely about sex, but death has become a subject we'd rather not talk about. I often thought about why I do not talk about death? In general, human beings are afraid of death. It is related to the fear of the unknown. The question is: Is there life after death?

I used to be firmly convinced that there is nothing after death. This made me very afraid and desperate. I remember that as a child, sometimes, while lying in my bed, I suddenly realized there would come a day that I wouldn't exist anymore. It was such a big and horrible thing to think about. I called my mother for comfort, but what else could she do than say that I was still young and it was not my time to go. I pushed my fear away, but it could pop up anytime.

As a young adult, my three-year-old nephew died. I still recall the words from the pastor who stated, "Death is not to be feared or saddened as God has a life for us all." He said, "Aaron lived a full life that God gave him, even if only three years." He challenged us to live the life we have and cherish every moment, as that is what Aaron did?

When Dana died, my fear of death came back in huge proportions. I have always been taught that I should not ignore my concerns but face them. I am not sure I ever faced that loss. I recall wondering if I would never enjoy life again. I haven't talked much about death with my surroundings, although I sometimes have felt the need to. I keep my mouth shut because people don't want to hear about that unpleasant subject. People don't want to be reminded of their finiteness.

Anyway, I am still doing what I can to ensure I will make Grandma's a success, but I am pretty sure I will need weeks, if not months, after that to heal. Plantar fasciitis alone can take a great deal of time, but I have battled it before, and after two years (1987-1989), I had no issues. So once again, I will do what I need to do, and I will get out there again feeling healthy and enjoying the runs.

Until then, I will continue to live the best I can and be grateful that God has given me another day…

Carry on...

Ice bath question, other stuff...

OK, here is a simple question. Maybe... If you ice bath, how do you do it? I have done it a few times and experimented with a few ways to reduce the issue of getting into the tub. The first time, I put 5 pounds of ice in the tub of cold water and got in from the waist down. The police should have been called if the neighbors were home. Also, I used some words I thought I also used on my first 100-mile attempt.

Did not last long. Then I tried putting the cold water in the tub, getting in, then adding ice. Still was a little painful experience. So, the past two times, I sat in the tub, turned on the cold water, and let it fill with me.  Then, after about two minutes, pour in the ice. Manageable process. I would stay in for about 15-20 minutes, then get out and wait about 30 minutes before taking a hot shower. Does anyone out there care to share your secret of success in the Ice Bath practice? Could I just need to admit I am a wimp?

Saturday, I went to the Cinco-de-mayo festival in St Paul. I was out of my element, but it was fun. Saw some interesting people. It took me until today to understand what a Jethro belt was. Even more to figure out the sign. But it appears it was a piece of rope for sale for $1. Jethro Bodine (Beverly Hillbillies) used it for a belt... Nice concept for income? I also had a few interesting photos taken by people-watching. Sometimes people think watching is the best part of these things? Other photos are below. Gotta love a high-power zoom lens?

I went to run a 15K in Rochester on Saturday AM. Shelley did not think she could, but I knew she could. I had an OK run, and she finished at 1:44:24. I finished 1 second later. The cool thing is she accomplished something I have never accomplished. She passed a few runners but never was passed. My left Plantar Fascia was still sore, and my right knee was stiff but better.

I will start regular weight training as my lower body is better, but I still need a little break. I have lifted weights once or twice a week in the past, but I am going to add more structure.

Carry on...