June: What A Bust!

It's the last day of June and this month just flew by.  After having a great month in May, June has come off rather crappy running-wise.  I plan a 3 miler tonight, but wanted to get the review done and put June behind me.

Looking at my calendar for June, there really isn't much to say about the running other than there was considerably less than last month, and most of those were either pain ridden or just lackluster runs.  On the plus side, I did do a lot of walking this month.

It was a very busy month.  I had vacation, a field pest survey, and emergency trip to Oklahoma for my Grandma's funeral.  Sometimes it's easy for life to get in the way of things and June just happened to be chock full of it.

June stats (minus tonight):
Number of runs: 9
Longest run: 8 miles
Total miles: 30.2
Number of blogs: 10

Travel catchup:
Last week I was supposed to have spent the week collecting ticks, larviciding mosquitoes, and killing wasps in preparation for the Boy Scout National Jamboree at the end of June.  With the news of my Grandma, it was cut short.  The 3 days I was there went well.  We did a ton of treatments, and feel pretty confident that things will go smooth, pest-wise, for the Jamobree.  On thursday Jen, Connor, and I flew into Oklahoma City and stayed with my parents and sister (she's still on vacation from the FL trip).  It was a great trip, other than the fact we were there for a funeral.  My sister and I had a nice run together, and I got a second run in on Monday morning.  We got the chance to see family I haven't seen in years, and Connor got to play with his cousins (Lily and Miles).  Unfortunately Paige wasn't with us.  It was her father's week, and frankly, we couldn't afford another impromptu plane ticket for her.  We made it home LATE Monday night, and I had an EARLY pest survey in DC yesterday morning.  Today I'm finally feeling like things are back to normal, and now it's time to plan out July, catch up on everyone's blogs, and get my run on!  Here's hoping for a great month!

Travel Update

I had to cut my work trip short due to a death in the family.  My grandmother who has been in the hospital for awhile passed away on Tuesday.  We're heading to Oklahoma for the funeral tomorrow morning and will be there until Monday.  She had a long life and towards the end things started going down hill.  It's better for her to have gone now than to have become an invalid stuck in a nursing home withering away.  She was ready to go.

As for this week's trip, it was hot and humid.  I got one run in last night, around 3 miles, I haven't mapmyrun it yet.  The run was nice and relaxing until the last stretch running along a small lake.  It wasn't my feet this time!  It was those damn deer flies!!  I had about 15 hovering around me trying to snipe my skin and drink my blood.  Maybe my next work focus will be on controlling them!!

I'll be back Tuesday.

James 

The Return of an Unwanted Friend

This morning I got up and readied myself for a long run.  It’s been three weeks since I’ve done a long run (8 miles), and I was anxious to get back to it.  I headed out to my favorite running spot (NCR Trail), did some stretches and took off.  The first couple of miles went great.  Smooth running, a nice day, and was feeling great.  I had told myself that depending on how I felt at mile 3 I would either turn back (6 miles) or keep going (8 miles).  Around mile three I noticed some inner thigh chaffing.  Ooops!  I forgot to apply body glide.  Too late now!  My legs were feeling great so I pushed on. I hit the turn around, had an energy gel and walked a bit.  I could feel some tightness in my left big toe.  It was here I realized 8 miles was too far today.  I decided to do my best and run/walk the return trip.
So, with thigh chaffing and a increasingly sore toe, I pushed forward, walking when I needed to.  Around mile 6 I gave in and just walked the rest of the way.  No point in pushing my foot and the chaffing was starting to burn.  It was a nice walk back, other than having to hobble along.  I returned home, took an indomethicin, and a nap.


The reason for it all, gout.  The first of my foot ailments. I typically keep it under control by taking tart cherry extract and celery seed extract, but occasionally I slip.  As is the case this time.  Since returning from vacation, I think I’ve only taken them twice.  Bad James, Bad Bad Bad!  So now I’m waiting for the inflammation to go down.  It usually goes away by the end of the day.  I hope so.  I guess I need to quit thinking the problem is going away and just accept I’ll probably deal with it indefinitely. 
I will be gone this week for a field survey.  As I’ve mentioned before, we are assisting with the Boy Scout National Jamboree and will be conducting some pre jamboree work this week.  Basically it will involved mosquito larval reduction, tick surveillance, and wasp nest removal.  Should be a fun week.  Work isn’t too hard and we get to stay in cabins.  I’m planning to run a few times there,  probably tues and thurs evenings.  If I get a chance I’ll post if not, see you next weekend!

EDIT:  This stuff works great but puts you in a medicine haze and leaves you wiped out the rest of the day.   I am thankful that my gout isn't near as bad as the majority of people.  When I get it, I can still function, most people can't even get out of bed with it. Cherry/celery seed really does work.  I'm just horrible about remembering to take pills.

Back in the Game!

Yesterday I was determined to get back in the game.  It was time to call it quits on my laziness and since Thursday's are typically when I run with Fleet Feet, I made it my mission to get there in time.  For a back story. I work 30 miles from my house.  It generally takes me over an hour to get home due to the horrendous Baltimore/DC traffic.  I get off at 4:30 and this leaves little time to get home, change, and to the store before the group starts at 6.   When things go well, I make it there with 5-10 minutes to spare.   SO... last night I left work, and wouldn't you know it, heavy traffic right off the bat.  It eased up and I  made it home and to the store in time.

After my Monday Disaster of a run, I was hesitant that my feet wouldn't work with me.  Boy was I wrong.  I ran with a few people doing 2/1 run walks.  Not only were my feet and legs feeling great, but I was feeling awesome the entire run.  We ended up running 4.5 miles to boot!   As some would put it.  I found my mojo.  I plan to run 3 miles tonight, then on Sunday return to my long run with an 8 miler on the NCR Trail. 

On another topic, since I started running again, I really haven't lost much weight.  Looking back, I started out around 217 lbs.  Mostly I've fluctuated between 210 and 215 over the last several months.  This week I started tracking my food intake and have noticed that while I thought I've been eating healthy compared to my old lifestyle, there's still room for improvement.  I realized how easy it is to eat too many calories and/or sodium.  I'm on blood pressure medicine and one of the things I've noticed is just how easy it is to eat way too much sodium.  I'm hoping that if I lower sodium intake, bring my weight below 200, and continue to increase my exercise (both running and non-running), that I'll be able to quit the meds.  So my current goal, adjust my diet to loose around 10-15 lbs and lower sodium intake.  I hope everyone has a great week.  For those with races, good luck!

Playing Hookie

I've not been a good runner this week.  Since returning from vacation, I've only run once, and that was a pretty crappy 3 miler.  Tonight will not be different.  On the way into work this morning, I was almost there when I started noticing a thumping sound and could feel my truck being pulled towards the right.  I pulled over, and sure enough, my front right tire was flat.  A quick change of the spare and I made it to work (only slightly late). Being that my truck is... shall we say difficult, very few tire shops have the size I need.  I found one place and will be hitting it up after work.  I don't think I'll make it home in time for a run, and it's also supposed to be storming tonight.  Tomorrow I MUST get out of this non-running rut and get back into it! 

Not much else to write about now.  Something good needs to happen so I can liven up these posts!