Miles And Miles

Back on my feet

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 21:56:00 +0000

Mon - 6.09, cross-trainer, resistance 13

Wed - 1 mile jog walk in 13 min!
6.06, cross-trainer, resistance 13

Fri - 1.1 mile jog walk in 13 min!

Sun - 3.51 in 33:38 - Cold, rainy, windy but god it felt good to be out there. They've put a wood chip trail along the Elliott Bay which is pretty neat.

The progress continues

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 20:42:00 +0000

Mon - 5.85, cross-trainer, resistance 13: Felt much easier than yesterday! Starting at 11:30pm after classes.

Tue - 6.01, cross-trainer, resistance 13: Got my grade from my QMETH finals - 98% :) Two more finals left for the quarter.

Sat - 5.88, cross-trainer, resistance 13

Sun - 5.89, cross-trainer, resistance 13

+9

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:39:00 +0000

Fri - I've been avoiding looking at the weighing scale since my last run 9 weeks back. I finally did today after seeing the first pics of myself in quite a bit :p Yup, 9 pounds over goal weight. Not a disaster but time to get into some sort of fitness routine and nip things in the bud... Tomorrow will be the day to start! I am thinking cross-trainer and weights. Swimming once I get my Pro-Club membership going from the start of the new year.

Sat - 60 minutes elliptical (approx 300 calories): Felt good :) Not as good as running but I did get some reading done for class and watched some news so multi-tasking/productive...

Sun - 60 minutes, cross-trainer, resistance 13, 5.72 miles: This was quite a workout. I probably worked as hard as I would have in any run :) I was pretty beaten up and my HR was right up there!

Hilarious runner videos

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 06:55:00 +0000

I am a runner

How to Talk to Non-Runners

Marathoner vs Non-Runner

Marathons Runner's Monday Morning at Work

Top 5 cities for young adults

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 07:25:00 +0000

I rest my case :)

http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/5-great-cities-for-young-adults.html

#1 Seattle, WA!
Seattle, Wash.
Metro population: 3,349,809
Residents ages 20-29: 14.5%
Cost-of-living score: 116.1
Monthly rent: $942
Starting salary: $46,700

San Francisco and Silicon Valley can claim many of the biggest names in tech, but travel 14 hours north to find high-paying IT, aerospace and green energy jobs at a fraction of the Bay area living cost. Amazon, which has its headquarters in Seattle, began a hiring spree in March. Boeing, Microsoft and the University of Washington also employ thousands in the region. In the off-hours, Seattleites have their pick of theaters, coffee shops and concert halls. For all that, the rent and groceries remain reasonable: Seattle’s cost of living is 30% lower than San Francisco’s and 23% less than San Jose’s.

Top selling point: Like Silicon Valley, but with better coffee.
Biggest drawback: Cloudy 226 days a year.

All the Single Ladies by Kate Bolick

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 06:46:00 +0000

Thought-provoking article:

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/11/all-the-single-ladies/8654/5/?single_page=true

Recent years have seen an explosion of male joblessness and a steep decline in men’s life prospects that have disrupted the “romantic market” in ways that narrow a marriage-minded woman’s options: increasingly, her choice is between deadbeats (whose numbers are rising) and playboys (whose power is growing). But this strange state of affairs also presents an opportunity: as the economy evolves, it’s time to embrace new ideas about romance and family—and to acknowledge the end of “traditional” marriage as society’s highest ideal

But what transpired next lay well beyond the powers of everybody’s imagination: as women have climbed ever higher, men have been falling behind. We’ve arrived at the top of the staircase, finally ready to start our lives, only to discover a cavernous room at the tail end of a party, most of the men gone already, some having never shown up—and those who remain are leering by the cheese table, or are, you know, the ones you don’t want to go out with.

Tibia / Tibial Stress Fracture

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 07:57:00 +0000

A person with a tibial stress fracture has a thin crack in the shinbone, caused by overuse of the lower leg. Tibial stress fractures are most common in competitive runners and results from too much microscopic stress on a portion of a bone without enough time to heal. Tibial stress fractures are particularly dangerous due to the amount of weight this bone bears with each step.

Symptoms of a tibial stress fracture include leg pain, swelling and tenderness, located over the front of the tibia. The pain is worse while running, jumping, or climbing.

Symptoms to look out for when a tibial fracture is suspected:

Localized pain – the onset of the pain may be gradual and is commonly felt on the lower third part of the affected leg or on the shin. Pain is often sharp in nature and it typically increases with activity that involves impact. Instead of shin pain, patients may also complain of calf pain.
Tenderness – Patients may complain of pain when the affected area is palpated or pressed
Swelling – The area just above the fracture may swell and redden
Altered Gait – The patient may have a difficult time walking and they may have a difficult time putting weight on the affected leg.

Treatment for a tibial stress fracture may include rest, elevation, cold compresses, a cane or crutches, and a leg cast or splint. Additional treatment for a tibial stress fracture may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications for pain and physical therapy. Most people with tibial stress fractures recover completely with treatment.

Three years back I had a similar post for "Cuboid Stress Fracture". Much to my amazement, that has become the top google query for these words and gets about 20 odd hits a day. A "Tibial Stress Fracture" is more common so I don't expect this post to get that kind of attention :p But yeah I have broken my Tibia.

The funny thing is that I have gotten so used to bad things happening these days that I smile when horrible things happen to me. I smiled when my doc told me that the MRI showed a break.

I was walking back from class with someone today. She asked me - "Are you limping?" Me - "Oh yeah. I broke my leg... Got hit by a car while running and stuff." She was like "What?". Me - "It's no big deal in the grand scheme of things. Kind of sucks that I can't run but whatever."

My manager was asking me about my running last week because he said that he knows how important to me. I was telling him about what a horrible period I'm going through now.

The interesting thing is that in the run where I broke this, I had a feeling of certainty that that felt like a break. I tried to run but could not run another step. Just could not.

I have not run for the last six weeks. Here's how they've progressed.

Week 1-2: Ibuprofen & PT making matters worse. Trying to see if I can get back to running. Sort of in denial since I knew something bad would show up if I went to a doc.

Week 3-4: In India. Amazing that I got through my dad's funeral with a broken leg. Not surprising that I could not walk a single step the next day. As a part of the mourning you're not allowed to wear shoes. So I made the break worse and suffered in pain for the next few days in slippers.

Week 5-6: Tried to take more care of the leg. X-rays showed nothing before the MRI caught this today.

I'm in a boot now for a month. Kind or relieved that I'm on the mend now :) Got to love life :)

-------------------
"There is a new grade 4 stress fracture of the distal tibal shaft, positioned 6.2 cm proximal to the tibial plafond. The fracture consists of an obliquely oriented linear low signal fracture line, extensive marrow edema."

"Impression

1. New grade 4 stress fracture of the distal tibial shaft, involving the posterior cortical surface, with overlying focal periosteal new bone formation and extensive periosteal thickening and edema.
2. Previous grade 3 stress fracture of the distal fibula has since resolved.
3. Severe synovitis of the tarsal sinus and canal, obscuring the subtalar ligaments. Bone marrow edema within the adjacent anterior talus and calcaneus may represent reactive osteitos in response to the subtalar synovitis, versus low-grade stress reaction without focal fracture"

Happy birthday dad!

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 10:15:00 +0000

Last year when I called he told me "I was waiting for your call." Not waiting anymore this year. Must be quite a celebration up there... Happy Birthday!

Now we are free!

Who, What, Why: How can a 100-year-old run a marathon?

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:35:00 +0000

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15344238

Mr Fauja Singh puts his success down to not smoking or drinking alcohol, staying positive - and eating ginger curry.

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/3876676/Brit-100-is-worlds-oldest-marathon-runner.html

Mr Singh, who took up running 11 years ago after his wife and son died, trains every day by running 10 miles.

Launching the opening of entries for the Edinburgh Marathon Festival 2012, he said: "I am not a learned person in any shape or form. To me, the secret is being happy, doing charity work, staying healthy and being positive.

"If someone says I must stop running I ignore them - invariably they're younger than me. The secret to a long and healthy life is to be stress-free. If there's something you can't change then why worry about it?

"Be grateful for everything you have, stay away from people who are negative, stay smiling and keep running."

Wake me up when September ends...

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 05:09:00 +0000

I was reflecting and just realized that going back to at least the last ten years the most horrendous of things have happened to me in September. Going forward I think I really need to lie low in September...

-------------
Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
wake me up when September ends

like my father's come to pass
seven years has gone so fast
wake me up when September ends

here comes the rain again
falling from the stars
drenched in my pain again
becoming who we are

as my memory rests
but never forgets what I lost
wake me up when September ends

summer has come and passed
the innocent can never last
wake me up when September ends

ring out the bells again
like we did when spring began
wake me up when September ends

here comes the rain again
falling from the stars
drenched in my pain again
becoming who we are

as my memory rests
but never forgets what I lost
wake me up when September ends

Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
wake me up when September ends

like my father's come to pass
twenty years has gone so fast
wake me up when September ends
wake me up when September ends
wake me up when September ends

The 2012 Virgin London Marathon Ballot

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:14:00 +0000

Why am I not surprised... Just as well. I can stay local and don't need to commit till the last moment. I think I will keep entering the ballot for London for a bit. I don't think I want to dish out the money to marathontours just as yet... The Paris marathon was special and will stay that way.
----------
FROM:results@virginlondonmarathonballot.com
TO:sub_9_b@yahoo.com
Monday, October 3, 2011 7:59 AM

Dear Entrant,

We regret that we have to advise you that your application to run in the 2012 Virgin London Marathon has not been successful due to massive over-subscription.

However, if you still wish to run please click on the link below where there is a list of tour operators in your country who may be able to help you enter the 2012 Virgin London Marathon.
http://static.realbuzz.com/vlm/downloads/pdf/2012_tour_operators.pdf

Yours Sincerely

David Bedford
Race Director

Give me some sunshine...

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 06:11:00 +0000

How much more? Getting tough to remain optimistic...

Saari umar hum
Mar mar ke jee liye
Ek pal to ab humein jeene do
Jeene do

Give me some sunshine
Give me some rain
Give me another chance
I wanna grow up once again

Bachpan to gaya
Jawani bhi gayi
Ek pal to ab humein
Jeene do jeene do

Haemoglobin

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 17:31:00 +0000

Haemoglobin is the iron-containing protein attached to red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Haemoglobin bonds with oxygen in the lungs, exchanges it for carbon dioxide at cellular level, and then transports the carbon dioxide back to the lungs to be exhaled.

Low hemoglobin means less oxygen in blood and the lowered oxygen may result in shortness of breath. In order to compensate the deficiency of oxygen in the blood, the body tries to enhance the output of the heart. Due to this, symptoms like palpitations, chest pain and aggravation of heart problems can be observed. In case hemoglobin becomes extremely low, it can cause enlargement of heart and also show the signs of heart failure. Physically, the symptoms of low hemoglobin that can be visible are pale skin, nail beds and gums.

There are other symptoms that are comparatively less common and can be seen in certain cases only. These are: swelling of limbs (both arms and legs), continuous sense of heartburn, bruises, excessive sweating, vomiting and discharge of blood with stool.

After your final exams grades are out, you still feel compelled to pick-up your graded exam paper. You want to know WHY? Similarly, today I felt compelled to pick-up the blood test results for my dad from yesterday. It would make no difference. Perhaps even if we detected this earlier something else would come-up. Or for that matter getting his haemoglobin levels to normal would mean blood tranfusions which would lead to more complications and prolong his suffering... He is in a good place and in peace!!

My dad finally has peace

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:29:00 +0000

2pm, 28th September 2011... It's the most peaceful I've seen my dad in a long time. His long painful struggle finally came to an end.

When we realized that we could not get a pulse, I tried desperately to get an ambulance from the emergency of a hospital rushed. There is no 911 in India so it did take a bit to get through. Would not have made a difference but still... I still felt the warmth on his forehead and hands. Gradually, it was getting colder. Finally, the ambulance came down after 20 minutes. They hooked him to the EKG. All that came out were straight lines. After three readings of straight lines the technician said - "He has gone". How can someone just say that just like that. I was like - "Can't you do something? Please?".

Per Hindu rituals, the body is to be cremated ASAP. The son has to perform the last rites. It's almost surreal that here you have just lost your dad but then you have to be strong and logical. You have to dress your dad. You have to collect the death certificate. You have to answer the phone. You have to arrange for the transport to carry the body to the funeral site.

I helped carry the body to the funeral vehicle and then accompanied the body to the Neemtala funeral site. This is considered one of the holiest sites on the banks of the Ganges. I have never had to deal with mortality so up-close before. As we moved the body to the funeral pyre blood dripped from his head. I sprinkled sand, and holy Ganges water on the body. I repeated the last rites after the priest in Sanskrit and circled the body three times with the flame. When the priest told me to touch the flame on my dad's face three times I was like - "That will hurt him." Slowly I touched the flame on his face carefully.

Then it was time for them to put the body into the cremation ovens. Just so surreal. Just like that in a moment all 77 years of his life would be wiped out.

After about an hour in the oven, I sprinkled Ganges water on the ashes. I set afloat the last piece of his body on the Ganges. I bathed in the Ganges and left what I was wearing in the water and donned separate clothes. The atmosphere, in the dark of the night, all around the river was very peaceful... The Hoogly bridge lights illuminating the darkness. People completing their last rites for the departed.

When I look at this picture, which I have on my desk, I think of the days when he was in his prime. He was a self-made man. Worked hard to get through school. Worked hard at work. Travelled the world. Had a great sense of humor. Tried to give the best he could to his kids. Finally, Parkinsons' kept wearing him down and making him suffer. He loved to eat. In his final days he had to be fed through a feeding tube and only could have a few spoons of water at a time. Life really would not have gotten him much joy...

Today is the start of Devipaksha which I've been told is a very auspicious day to depart.

I am thankful that I got to see him for a last time. I am thankful that I was there when he departed. I am thankful that I got to perform his last rites. Looking at the process for the last rites, I can't think about what would have happened if I were not present. I am thankful for his life. Rest In Peace Dad :-(((

Boston ...

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:58:00 +0000

Whatever !! I didn't want to run your race anyway :p !!!

Spectating at Berlin

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:53:00 +0000

I had tried in vain to recover from whatever cut-short my last long-run on 9/10. It had seemed like something bad when I could not run another step that day. Inspite of oding on ibuprofen, icing, PT sessions it was not to be enough.

I held out till the last minute. I did not want to believe that I would not be running. I went through everything I would do for a marathon. I got to the start and tried to run a bit. I knew there was no way I would get through 26 miles in a manner that would be pleasant. It would be better to enjoy the city, the race and come back to Berlin (2013?) to run it again in better shape. I removed my chip and bib and from that moment on I was in peace. I did feel a bit jealous looking at everyone with their medals but I was like whatever - "I have 22 of these things :p". I did get to enjoy the city which I would not have if I did run the marathon.

I think I just have one quality marathon a year in me. I can't just get through summer when the weather ironically is just perfect in Seattle...

Forty

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 18:20:00 +0000

Tue - 6
Splits - 7:12, 6:52, 6:54, 6:50, 6:45, 6:50

Sight of the day: Another beautiful Seattle sunset. Pinkish sky and the Cascades.

Wed - 6
Splits - 8:02, 7:31, 7:25, 7:11, 7:00, 6:45

Morning run in the cool air.

There is a scrawny old lady I often see running along the waterfront. Got to admire her dedication...

I saw a guy running with his dog's poop in a bag. If aliens would have mistaken dogs to be the supreme creatures in this planet if they saw humans picking up after their pets :p

Thur - 8 w/12*400m
For the first time since the car hit I felt able to run the longer route around Green Lake after track.

Fri - 6
Easy effort run. After Indian food for lunch (free is good right?) and oven baked pizza for a morale event (free again), my stomach might have burst if I tried to push the pace :p

Moment of the day: A posse of a bachelorette party passed me as I was heading out for a run. The bride all dressed up (me in my running shorts) goes to me - "High five, I'm getting married!" I was lost in my own thoughts and almost ignored her. She goes "No?". I turn back and high five her. Her posse cheers :)

Scare of the night: I am running in the dark and an owl tried to attack me. It scares the daylight out of me! Then when I am returning it comes from the back and pecks my head. This time since I did not see it I was more shocked then scared. I think it was nesting it's young and considered me a threat... I've heard of this happening to runners before :)

Sat - 13.5 w/9 @ pace
pace splits: 7:07, 7:04, 7:11, 7:06, 7:08, 7:09, 7:10, 7:07, 7:03
I had intended to run 17 but when I was running the 10th pace mile I felt intense pain in my ankle/skin. I decided it was time to call it a day...

The inner loop along Green Lake has a very interesting dynamic. There are folks running sub-6 min miles, folks with oxygen tubes, folks who are totally out of shape, hot females,... All co-existing and enjoying the beautiful trail along the Lake :)

Sun - REST
Ankle isn't up for a run yet...

Time

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:03:00 +0000

I had marvelled at how quickly this year had blown by... Now each day takes excruciatingly long. I am normally such a good sleeper until I worry about something. Then sleep becomes elusive...

I look at this calendar several times a day now... Being thankful when a day passes...

Timeout

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:50:00 +0000

Training for a marathon (especially with a nagging injury) takes a lot mentally. I'm pretty spent thinking about my dad. So it's time for a break from training and from this blog (this after all is a running blog). The Houston marathon (which hosts the men's and women's Olympic trials) is in January. So perhaps back in a couple months?

Timeout...

8/22 was Janamasthimi...

Accepting my limitations

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:56:00 +0000

On Monday I said, "I accept that my body has limitations. That's what I'm trying to work with...". After that I ended the week with 75 miles :p

My dad seems to be getting stronger. Fingers crossed...

Mon - 6

Early morn run on Independence day...

Tue - 7 w/10*800m

Thankful that the knee held up and I was able to go all out.

Wed - 10

Thur - 8 w/9*hill repeats

An Indian lady with her mom was thinking of turning as I was on the crosswalk. I gave her such a cold and angry stare accompanied by a shrug of my hands and shoulders that she immediately apologized :p

Fri - 10

On the Lake Sammamish trail.

Sat - 23

Loops around Green Lake...

2:30am in the morning as all of us are huddled together in the snow. The moonlight illuminates the reflection of Mt. Rainier on Tipsoo Lake. We watch shooting starts amongst the star-filled sky. Climbers with their headlamps are visible making their final ascent to the peak... Some moments in life stick around for a bit...

Sun - 11

Hempfest aka. "Pot" fest is going on around Elliott bay. The whole place as I had discovered last year is covered in the stench of Marijuana. So this year I avoided the place altogether. I ran around Lake Union instead. It was a nice change of scenery. It was nice seeing the sea planes takeoff and land. I ended up running through the hottest temps of the year - 87F.

On a knife-edge...

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 02:40:00 +0000

My dad's been very sick the past few days :(( My sister reached India today. I will head down after she returns. It is not optimal for both of us to be there at the same time. My dad has lead an honorable and hard-working life so it's so unfair that he has to suffer so much with Parkinson's ...

Funny how when bad things happen they always happen in a cluster ...

30 miles.

Mon - 6

On the Lake Sammamish trail where I used to get in all my runs when I lived in Redmond. It's been a while since I've run there.

Tue - 0

Wed - 7 w/10*800s
Hit the paces at the Kirkland track but for the last few 800s my knee started hurting. It's still not there yet :(

Thurs - 10

Definately felt my knee but it was a run none-the-less. Saw Nikki running along the waterfront too...

Fri - 0

Sat - 0

Sun - 7

In San Juan...

Cutback

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 04:16:00 +0000

This ended up being a cutback week. I was so disappointed with Tuesday's run that I didn't run for three days after. My rationale was that I was allowing my knee to get back to 100% but really I think shorter runs would have helped more than not running at all. Oh well :( 23 miles for the week...

Mon - 10

A dark moonless night.

Twice today I waited at the cross-walk until the driver of the car waved at me to cross. I've also become very careful while driving. Maybe I'm developing a phobia of crosswalks.

Joke:

Q. What is a phobia of crosswalks called?

A. Cross-to-phobia :p :p

I guess last week was a really close call. I could have ended up never being able to run again. My uncle has issues with his knee even 40 years after his rickshaw was hit by a car.

I saw a lady taking her cat for a walk at 11pm :-| It was the most obedient cat I've seen in my life :p

My PT told me today that he had never seen a recovery like this and his only explanation was the stimulation caused by the "abnormal" level of activity :p lol.

The grey T

Today I wore a gray T I wore almost a year to the day. It's a tight fitting T so last year I had a pic with flabs showing. No flabs today - felt good :)

Ben and Jerry's

So I had a tub of Ben and Jerry's ice cream on both Saturday and Sunday. I seem to have lost a couple of pounds since I last checked my weight. Can I become a spokesman for weight-loss using the Ben and Jerry's diet? Kind of like Jarad and Subway??? :p

Thought of the day:

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Mark Twain

Tue - 3

Kind of disappointing run... We had the 2 mile time trial today... Compared to last Tuesday I hardly had any speed... My knee still does not have the power for a speed workout :( I just did not feel like running after that so I stopped. Maybe I need to give it some rest to get it to 100%?

Sad news: The bald eagle I'd seen multiple times on the 520 bridge was struck and killed today by a bus :(( I just saw him on Sunday. So regal :( His nickname apparently was Eddie...

Wed, Thur, Fri - REST
Moments -
My PT killing me on Thursday (jumps, swats, skipps, runs, and everything). He made sure I never wanted to get back. My butt muscles was sore for days after :p
Blue angels cruise - morale event from work.
The Mural amphitheatre outdoor concert on Fri :)

Sat - 10
Finally running again. Saw Prasanna at the waterfront towards the end of my run...

Sight of the day: Hula dancers at the wedding reception at the Eliott marina :)

Sun - REST
Didn't run since I didn't have time :( When you start missing running days such things happen :(

Hit by a careless driver

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 19:11:00 +0000

On Tue:
For the first time in all these years I've been running, I got hit by a car. She did not stop at the crosswalk and turned without looking. As I was getting hit and falling to the ground, I was thinking in my head - "What is wrong with you? Why are you not stopping? How can you do this"... Felt like slow-motion. Talk about training for the Berlin marathon being jinxed... One obstacle after the other. Really, don't know when I will be running next...

People asked me if I took down her information. As far as I am concerned that will do me no good. It would have been nice if she did not hit me but now I just need to get on with it...

Could have been much worse if the hit had been at a faster speed. Got to be thankful. When I was going to Costco over the weekend, one of the exits were cordoned off. Later I read that a Google engineer was hit by a reckless driver in an incident of road rage. The engineer had a 5 and 7 year old kid and had just celebrated his 10th wedding anniversary. He had nothing to do with the incident that provoked the road rage.

On Sun:

Yet another week where I did not get in the training I wanted to. Yet again I am thankful for what I could salvage this week: 65 miles. Reminds me of my high school motto - "Never give in!"

I wonder what lies ahead - an earthquake?? *Note to god: This comment is in jest :p

Mon - 10

It's hard to believe that the Berlin marathon is in exactly 2 months. I've just not been able to run consistently :((

Happening of the day: Day 1 of TechReady. I ended up getting interviewed on camera :-| I don't know where my footage will end up. I think I spoke coherently :p

Tue - 12 w/10*800m
5:30am in the rain. Wanted to make it to a party in the evening so this was the only option to get it in. 10 800s is a tough workout even without having to run it alone on a muddy track...

A lot of people came to the track and went but I stayed through it all...

"Till last by Philip's farm I flow
To join the brimming river,
For men may come and men may go,
But I go on for ever.

I chatter over stony ways,
In little sharps and trebles,
I bubble into eddying bays,
I babble on the pebbles."
The Brook by Alfred Lord Tennyson
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-brook-2/

In all the years I've been running this was the first time I've ever been hit by a car. Is it too difficult to come to a complete stop at the crosswalk and then look to the right before turning??? To her credit at least she stopped on the side after she saw that she had knocked me to the ground. However, like any self-respecting roadkill I got up and continued running :p My leg has cuts but hopefully nothing is broken.

*Note to god: During the last 800 when I said I'd rather be hit by a train... I was talking figuratively... lol...

----*----*----

Update: After an hour or so the pain reached excruciating levels. I have a huge pain threshold but it was pretty bad. Walking was painful. Even sitting still was painful. After trying to sleep for a couple of hours, I took a cab to the Swedish ER. 5 hours hence... X-rays showed no break. On crutches and an ace-bandage. Got a tetanus shot for the open wound...

Wed - REST

I'm amazed by the human body's ability to recover. I feel better by the hour! I am thankful for the peace of mind provided by Microsoft's health insurance plan. Not a single $ charged to me. No co-pay, no-premiums, no limits...

Thurs - REST

The good thing about this being a muscle injury vs a bone injury is that it's in my control. For a bone injury you have to layoff it - crutches et. al. For a muscle injury the more activity you get in the better - ice, ibuprofen, strengthening... It's up to you - if you really really want to recover fast you will!!

I got in a PT apt in the evening and he concurred with my views on what I needed to do to recover. He said that my knee was very swollen and inflamed. Some e-stem and ultrasound. Strengthening exercises...

So what does one do when they can't run? They go to a drag show :)

Fri - 10 !!!

Moment of the day: The mundane ability to run after having to use crutches to walk less than 48 hours back. In the words of Frank Costanza - "I'm back baby!!" :) http://www.seinfeldscripts.com/TheFatigues.html

It was a beautiful Seattle summer evening... When I was finishing up I heard someone shout out - "Subhasish". It was Bonny and Ronny :) I had not seen them since they had a kid. Nice end to the run :)

Sat - 22.2

Considering I ran 10 yesterday evening and everything else this week :p I wanted to be reasonably conservative. Of course when you are running in a group plans are just plans... So there were hills run and fast miles thrown in. On Tue if someone had told me I'd be running 22 miles on Sat I'd have told them they'd lost it.

I told our coach, Chuck about Tuesday and how I'd never though I'd be running today. His terse remark - "You're superman." :-|

Torchlight parade in the evening. I've always wanted to run the 8k before the parade starts but never got around to it. Probably never will now.

Sun - 11

Overcast and raining.

I've become super-sensitive of cars on near the crosswalk. I find myself giving the drivers cold stares. If looks could kill they'd all be dead by now :p I don't know what's up with drivers these days but I've been hearing of a spate of reckless driving incidents. I just saw one in front on my eyes last night. At the end of the torchlight parade a bus jumped a red light and almost took out a pedestrian but someone pulled her back!!

Sight of the day: The numerous colorful wildflowers by the waterfront. I've got to take a camera during a run to photograph them!

Jumping over hurdles...

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 15:45:00 +0000

The week hardly went as planned and I did not get in the workouts I wanted to get in. However, considering the twisted leg, trip to Vancouver, and non-packed running clothes, I'll take what I managed to salvage - 57 miles for the week.

Mon - REST

I got some awesome running clothes from Niketown. Really splurged on them and running stuff is really expensive in Canada. However, I did need some stuff to wear for Berlin so this will be it :)

Didn't get to run in the evening. More important to spend time with sis :)

Sight of the day: The sunset across the Vancouver waterfront.

Tue - 16
I felt so guilty about not running the previous 2 days that I got up at 5:30am to get in some miles. It was a beautiful route along the Vancouver seawall.

Sight of the day: I saw 2 raccoons playing :)

Wed - 8

It was an awesome night for a run and I was really enjoying my run till I rolled my leg. It was dark and I stepped on an uneven surface. It hurt! I hobbled 2 miles before walking the rest :(( My most painful run in a long time. I think training for Berlin is just jinxed :(

Sight of the day: A bald eagle sitting on a light post on the 520 bridge watching the cars go by.

Event of the Day: Getting to watch Manchester United.

Thu and Fri - REST
After how painful Wed's run ended up being I decided against running for a couple of days. However, work and the hours after that on both days were amazing!! So my bad running karma got balanced with good work and life karma :)

Event of the Day Thu: A late night sojourn in Renton :)
Events of the Day Fri:
Taize service at St. James Cathedral.
Watching Taal on a huge outdoors screen, beneath a star-filled sky while mocking Akshaye Khanna's antics :)

Sat - 10
I am relieved, thankful and grateful that I could run today without any issues. I ran on the same route that I had to struggle through on Wed. Symbolism!

Sights of the day:
Witnessing wedding photos being taken by the Elliott Marina on a gorgeous Seattle day

A dog swimming playfully in the water to retrieve a ball being thrown for him.

Sun - 23

Ran loops around Green Lake starting at 11am. It was pretty warm - got up to 79F by the time I was done... The good thing about running around Green Lake is that a) There is a lot of shade b) There are water fountains c) You can forget about where you are running and get lost in your thoughts d) It's lively especially on a day like today.

I have absolutely no complains about the hot females in bikinis sun bathing around Green Lake. In fact I encourage them to frequent the location when I am running. However, women above a certain age should be banned from wearing bikinis in public. Yes, 70 year old lady. I'm sure you were a knockout in your times. But you really should not subject us to the agony of having to look at you in a bikini now ... end rant :p

Wielding the sledge hammer...

noreply@blogger.com (Sub) — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 23:18:00 +0000

I've maintained my goal weight for a few months now so I decided it was time... I've cleansed my wardrobe of/donated all my old, ill-fitting, ugly clothes... If they don't look good hanging they won't look good when worn. If they aren't there they can't be worn :p Now I better not get out of shape else I will have nothing to wear :p

Almost a perfect running week. If I had just managed to get in my run on Sunday. 60 miles for the week.

Mon - 6
Nice feel good run.

Tue - 10 w/8*800
This was my first track workout in a while. It was very encouraging... As Kassy put it - "Just think about what your times were when you started training with us last winter and what they are today" :)
Splits: 2:58, 2:58, 2:58, 2:59, 2:59, 3:00, 2:59, 3:03

Wed - 10
I hardly got any sleep last night but once I started running it was all good :) It was a sunny evening when I started... Suddenly out of nowhere it started pouring. A couple of biker passing summed it up best - "Welcome back to Seattle!". It was nice and warm rain so felt nice!

Thu - 6
I was scheduled to do hill repeats but I figured I'd rather do them in light and I was still kind of sore from Tuesday's track workout...

Sight of the day: An amazing sky at 9:30pm...

Fri - 8
I had stuff to do in the evening to it gave me extra motivation to get in my workout in the morning. I got up at 5:30am and headed to work. I got in my hill repeats on a hill I used to run on 2-3 years back. I could sweat that hill seems to have grown since I last ran on it :p However as the old saying goes - "All is fair in love and hill repeats" :)

The building 34 receptionist's reaction when she saw my running T - "Holy batman that is bright". My response - "I just want to make sure I don't get hit by anything :p"

Got to use our dear building 34 locker room and towel service. That towel service that everyone fought to get reinstated :)

Sight of the day: As I ran down from the crest of the hill, I could see the Cascades peaking amidst the evergreen trees. I wish I could take a pic. No camera so mental snap :)

Event of the day: Owl City. Something about this band that makes me feel nostalgic. I wonder if years down the road this concert will stand out in a memory of firsts. Time will tell...

Sat - 20
In the rain. Wet, muddy and a mess at the end but with a 20 miler in the books.

Dan came in for a run after a long time so got to catchup on his adventures. We had a nice running group going.

Moment of the day: Getting to have lychees after the long run. Thanks to the giver of the lychees :)

Sun - REST
I am in Vancouver to meet up with my sis and fam. Of course I had intended to run but left my running clothes at home :((( I guess it might be a blessing in disguise. Maybe I could have done with a rest day this week and now I'll get to buy some new running clothes tomorrow from Niketown :)

Moment of the day: Green green evergreens...