Running Commentary

What does an injured runner consume in the morning? This delicious smorgasbord of meds, of course. And coffee. I’m exaggerating, actually. I threw the codeine container into the picture for the effect, even though I only had to take codeine twice before deciding it made me feel even more fuzzy-minded than usual. Quick update on what condition my condition is in: I’m still in more pain than I’d like, but it diminishes slightly by the day. Tomorrow I go to physical therapy. My attitude is improving a bit, especially because Z is recovering apace from his surgical adventure, albeit in small increments. One reason I took the above photo was to provide myself with an entry into the subject of food, a topic I promised a few weeks (or months) back to talk about in this blog. When I got hurt, more than two weeks ago, I was worried that because I’ve become used to eating a lot to fuel my running, I would continue on that course and soon balloon to the size of a Chevrolet. What a relief—so far t...

This is the foliage outside the orthopedics dept. at Kaiser Oakland. My exercise for this day was hopping and slopping along on my crutches from the car to this office for a total of three-and-a-half blocks. I can't report my runs to you, since for the time being I have none, but I can tell you what things are like here in the waiting lane. Mainly, they are slo-o-o-w. My walk to this office took 15 minutes. What I find odd is that being on the DL is not as terrible as I thought it would be. Slowing down has given me (admittedly by force) the gift of paying more attention to where I am and what I'm doing. My short walk netted me two handsome, burly construction guys who left what they were doing to make sure I made my way safely across a busy street. It also paid off in sights (of people and things) and smells (of spring's burgeoning greenery) that I might not have heeded had I been moving faster. I'm not trying to say I like being hurt. Fact: I hate it. But as the wise ...

Adventures in medical matters update: Z is scheduled to come home tomorrow and Danny Mo and I are very happy about that. His home care at my hands may be less than perfect, however, since I fell on my already bruised hip Monday and smacked it so badly that I had to go the the ER. I fell right on my own front steps and would herein like to recognize my dear neighbor, Dr. Ben, veterinarian and outstanding human being, who came to my rescue. He and his wife, J., were so very kind--Ben drove me to the ER and simply wouldn't let me send him away. It was 2 a.m. when he finally went home. After prodding, poking, X-raying, and CAT-scanning me, the docs declared I have no broken bones. They gave my own set of nifty crutches, so I'm limping around like Chester. Insert kudos here to my caring friend R., who picked me up from Kaiser in the morning, brought me home, and even stayed for a bowl of Miniwheats while I adjusted to having four feet instead of two (see portrait of my new feet, bel...

As in, the road (the path?) that's this life. It seems at a glance to stretch out smooth, but can always surprise. Too much going on. The worst and the best recent happenings: Z had major surgery (worst) and is recovering nicely (best). He had the most impressive IV stand I've ever seen! While he's been in the hospital (since April 3) I've done a little working, a little running and a (very) little swimming. Last Saturday I ran tired and took a fall that has me limping around on a sore left hip. I'm having to give up my plans for racing in May, I'm afraid. But the realities of the past ten days have made the evaporation of those plans oddly moot. I know I'll run again after I've healed, and even if for some reason I don't run again soon, I know I'll be fine. Ps: The swim was so fine! Mr. Danny Mo has kept everything in perspective. He is working on perfecting his cat nap technique and appears to be close to succeeding. Danny Mo is a good role mod...