Well, it ain't looking so good.......

So, I don't get my MRI till sometime next week, but it's looking like a knee scope is in order.Jeromy and Dr.Seip seem to think that it's a tear of the posterior-medial meniscus and that a simple debridement is in order.. If so, I'll probably have it done by the end of December, and be back running by mid January? At this point I'm icing it down 3 times a day still. The action of just walking aggravates my knee. So, I guess that means push ups, sit ups and other exercise instead of running....for now. I'm still planning on St.George Half on Jan 19th, even if I gotta crawl it!! Looking at doing the Spartan next June with Dr.Empey and Shelby, and of course the Tough Mudder in San Diego next November. Anyone want to do those events, let me know. Have a great weekend and run safe friends!

No Pain, No Gain.....

Well, haven't really been able to run this week as I have planned. I've been having some left knee pain, which I expected, after the Mesquite Half. I've been eating NSAID's like candy and icing at least twice a day. It's now Wednesday  morning, and it's just now starting to feel better. I run with a small tear in my posterior meniscus anyway, so to just see what's up for sure, I'll be getting a MRI of my knee, just to get an idea of where I stand with that. At this point Friday or Saturday is when I'll start back up running, since I have the St.George Half coming up Jan 19th. Should be enough time to sort it all out. I hope all have a happy Thanksgiving and as usual, I have some links for ya!

http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/sportsmedicine/a/runninginjury.htm
http://www.runnersworld.com/health/big-7-body-breakdowns?page=single
http://www.active.com/running/Articles/How_to_Run_Injury-Free
http://www.sgcity.org/recreation/adultsports/stgeorge_half.php

Well, I made it!!

I completed my 2nd half marathon.....Mesquite Half Marathon, and of course, I'm sore as hell!! This race was listed as a " Downhill " race, but for the life of me, seemed like it was all up hill, or at least a lot of hills to climb. My time was a little long at 2:47:00 but I'm doing it more for the experience than speed. Next year, might be different. It was a nice cool day on the AZ strip, with clouds and the occasional sprinkle.Sean Covey did well. He has been getting chest pain when running.....so I'm happy to report that he didn't CODE. As a matter of fact, he won 2nd place for his age group. Nice job Sean!! I was happily surprised to find a cheering crowd of friends for me coming down the home stretch. Shelby, Shani, Jody and Tiffany along with little Bowen rooting for Uncle Gio....was all way touching. My left MCL is sore, along with my right ankle but all in all, it was a great day!!
Heres some links http://running.about.com/od/racetraining/a/basichalf.htm

Night before the Mesquite Half Marathon....

So, when you decide you're finally going to do an event, be it a 5k,Tough Mudder, Marathon or the like, there is a monetary cost to it, a "Registration fee", which is used to cover organization costs. When you go and pick up your " Packet ", it usually has pertinent info in it, your race bib, a micro chip of some sort, a shirt and goodies, usually carb foods like " Goo" gel or power bars and the like. I went to pick up my packet for the Mesquite Half, which cost $65 to enter, and what I recieved is the following: 2 trial size deodorant bars and 2 packs of bandaids, and since they didn't have xxl shirts, I didn't get one. The Snow Canyon cost $45 and I got an array of carb food items, shirt ( which I lost ) and other stuff. The trial deodorant bars are as small as my thumb. I suppose as I'm running down the course, I could strip off my shirt and rub 1 deodorant bar on each of my sweaty arm pits. Thank heavens for those goodies!!

2 more days till the Mesquite Half

Hey, how's it going folks? Not too much to talk about this week. I went on a few short runs, which is always nice here in the Fall. The desert southwest, is really a perfect place to be for any outdoor activity during the Fall months. Clear, cool and sunny skies, gives you the ability to run for a long time without the stress of over heating......which is an issue when you're a large man! lol.

I am looking forward to this weekend when

I do the Mesquite Half Marathon. It should be

a gorgoeus day. I have a couple of links for everyone.http://www.runnersworld.com/running-tips/10-tips-running-cold

http://www.shape.com/fitness/cardio/5-reasons-running-cold-weather-good-you

http://www.livestrong.com/article/67040-running-shoes-heavy-men/

My first run post SC Half...( Tripped on a fork landed in food )

Wow....Finally made it back! So, I was just gonna take 2 days off after last Satuday's S.C. half marathon, but between the early darkness ( 1st excuse ) then stress eating ( 2nd excuse ) and a bad influence from my part-time roomy Sean and Jeromy, who never runs ( 3rd excuse and pushing of blame to others ), I didn't get out to run 'til this AM. A pretty, yet chilly day here in Mesquite. I am planning on making up for my laziness and food binging by running Sun/Mon/Tues/Weds....then Saturday the 17th is the Mesquite half marathon, and all will be made right to the running gods on that day!!
Here's a couple of handy links ya'll can use and have a great weekend.....Don't forget to pound the pavement!!
http://www.shape.com/weight-loss/weight-maintenance/secrets-stop-binge-eating
http://running.about.com/od/nutritionforrunners/tp/bestfoodsforrunners.htm

http://www.runnersworld.com/topic/0,7122,s6-242-304-0-0,00.html

Snow Canyon Half Marathon 2012....Yes, I ran it!!

 Well, today was the Snow Canyon Half Marathon, in beautiful southern Utah. This is the first half marathon I have ever entered. I met up with rand Bracken, for those who might remember him, he was at DRMC back in the late 90's as an Orderly, and training as a Scrub....but mostly pursuing his RN. I work with Rand, CRNA at MVRH. Anyways, he was with his Sister in law, Brook. We took the bus up to the start together and hung out in the bone, chilling cold of the early morning.I went with the idea of just to "do it", not really race, but I did a lot better than I thought I would. I finished with a 2:32:00 time. Not bad for a fat runner doing his first half!! Heck, I actually passed up quite a few folks. Rand and Brook both did great too.I wore my "Team Ethan" shirt, which has the Childhood Cancer Awareness sayings on it, and I got a lot of positive gestures from other runners. I plan to have more made up...I was actually going to try to see about sponsorship through Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation ( http://www.nvccf.org/ ), for shirts and entry fees. I like running, and maybe I can raise funds or even just awareness. It's a win-win! I get in shape, lose more weight, and also do something good for Ethan or the NVCCF, even if it's just awareness, which might help more in the long run through research.
So, what's it gonna take for you to run? If you have a weight issue, or need to be fit, or just want to feel good, and you haven't run since childhood, I have a link for you that will show you how to go from the couch to a 5k.... http://www.coolrunning.com/ can give you all the info you need to help get you started. Don't fight it...just do it. You'll feel better both physically and mentally...I promise!! I have to say, that I feel better than I have in years and the weight loss is a bonus! Losing weight makes so many tasks easier....tying my shoes...walking up stairs...anything that has to do with bending over is improved 10 fold!! Heck, I don't have to put my belt on my pants, prior to putting them on. If you're big, you know what I mean! You don't have to be a fanatic, you just have to start. If all you have to do is something like this, and it puts years on your life....well, if you're a kid with cancer, you'd do it!...for a guaranteed extension of life...you know they would. You should too! Let's go!!