What is next

I am not sure. There are many marathons out there, all of which require travel. I received confirmation for June in England. I really want another firm date. Something about knowing when that is motivating.

Curtai

We'll see.

Doctors and Mechanics

Here is a funny link to support the below analogy.
http://www.zianet.com/Markle/1MDnAutoMech.htm

Doctors and Mechanics

The doctor says, "Your shoulder is broken blab blah blah blab, I would like to see you in 3 weeks, in the mean time, wear this sling to blah blah blab lah. See you then. I get a good impression of this Doc, She seems to be the no nonsense type that is about getting whats broke, fixed. Here is her Bio page from the hospital's web page.
http://www.white-wilson.com/bio.asp?BioId=34
I wish I could have heard beyond "broken shoulder" She did say a lot of words, but unfortunately, I did not hear them.

It is amazing to me that Auto mechanics and doctors are such a similar professions. I mean the human body is a bio-mechanical machine, it has a frame (skeleton) , attachments (weld joints) Articulating Joints (steering System), Modern cars have a multitude of sensors (nerves) which create electrical feedback, which is interpreted and necessary adjustments are made. In my mind the is a great similarity between Doctors and Mechanics. Notice how the both can get to the Blah Blah Blah mentioned above in about a nano-second. This is by no means any disrespect to either profession. In fact I have a great amount of respect for the professional in either instance. I mean hey Mac, the car has a cluck or a screeeeech, or a kathudder, or it only starts on the first try every other tuesday if the temperature is cold. Similarly, hey Doc, I got a general feeling of being run down, I dont seem to start well unless it is the first day of the month and the magnetic polarity of the stars are in attunement. The point is diagnosis and treatment are skills that are truly amazing, and to be correct more often than the weather forecasters is even better. Science, skill, instinct, knowledge, experience, care are all qualities that make for good Docs and Macs. So I am not sure if the bushings (soft tissue) are messed up in my shoulder, we can't know until the upper control arm is rewelded in place. So I wait, and try not to worry.

Anyhow, I wish I would have gotten copies of the x-ray and a full written report on what was broken, the diagnosis, how long to expect to be out the prognosis and How long I will be out.. A better definition of what I can and can not do to avoid aggravating the injury. (for example, can i pick up my kid with my left arm? If I keep my arm to my side can I hold and curl things even with my bad arm? note: that does not hurt. Sleeping, I have not slept a day in my life on my back, so Am I messing up by taking off the sling and sleeping with the arm tucked in normal sleep position?)

Sheesh, I am a technical geek, and I suppose that I could answer many of these question if I had listened. My wife works in the Medical World and has a way to have all of this information copied and sent to her office, perhaps what is called for is patience, a word I loathe.

This is a link to the Docs Bio. I would say if I were looking for a random Doc in the phone book for my broken shoulder, I would be looking for a doc has these credentials . Amazing how things seem to unfold. Stay tuned for more random musings.

Vaya Con Dios
Curtai

Learning Anything Yet, Curtai?

The picture here sort of shows what happened. I am like the guy in black, forward time 1/2 second, full speed contact with the ground, hyper extension of the shoulder joint, Bang broken shoulder...Bummer....Bring me another bowl of self pity Ice Cream.

Ok so here is the rub. Being injured really bites. I am doing what I can to learn from this. So here it are the top ten things that I have learned so far
1) The act of writing actuates muscles in the shoulder, who knew?
2) When I move my mouse to the other side of the keyboard and use my left hand, I often click the wrong button.
3) Typing with one hand, left handed makes me dizzy, I usually touch type!
4) Socks are a significant challenge, as is tying shoes.
5) 2 year old Sons don’t understand when you will not pick them up. “Daddy is broken does not register.
6) Other people who have chronic long term pain, that do not go crazy, commit homicide or suicide are tough as nails, hats off.
7) Being sidelined puts winning and losing into another perspective.
8) Depressive symptoms are a legitimate or real threat while injured.
9) Time is not linear, it is directly proportional to level of discomfort (too deep)
10) Continual reinforcement of the fact that life as I know it is NOT over, is a daily hurdle.
So there are my musings for the current day. I have not written lately out of self-pity. I walked briskly for a mile yesterday. I am trying to organize a trip to England for work, where I will also run the Blackpool Marathon, June 4th. (God willing)

The Surf and Turf Ultimate Tourney will be here on May 6-7th. So there are reasons to heal. The doctor, said 3 weeks for a check-up. I am going to follow the advice, Ice, rest etc. Oh one other good thing. I did not take any pain meds yesterday. This is encouraging. Stan if you are reading this, You are Awesome!, as are the rest of the Bait Shop Boyz.

Be well and blessed!
Curtai

Diagnosis - GUH!

Well folks it is official, I got a broke wing trying to catch a Frisbee. How much of a bummer this will be is still up for discussion. I am sort of numb to the feelings. But I think I am gonna be angry some and hurt and sad and depressed and bummed. I am gonna have to face the fact that I am not 20 (Shit) I want to be, but I am not. I will give a recap when I can type a little better but sufficed to say the doctor says it is broke and I have to lay u until it is better.

I am not good at being injured! By the way, it was nothing nearly this traumatic... just a spalled chip, a flesh wound really.

WAMULANCE PLEASE.
it could always be worse.

Curtai has a broken shoulder.

Mudbowl

Well this is the next thing that is going on for me. Ultimate Frisbee, I love this game. Have for a long while. I will let the world know how it goes after I get back, but I can tell you this, Ultimate hurts worse the next day than Marathoning. That is a strong statement, but true.

I am team mom, so I am going nuts wanting to make sure everyone is where they are supposed to be....

If you are interested in the game and how it is played etc, go to :

www.upa.org

www.emeraldcoastultimate.com

for our local site. This is the definition of cross training!

Vaya Con Dios

Curtai

I am Tired

Ultimate last night. I am not sure how much a Marathon takes out of you, but I know that I will be playing an Ultimate Tourney This weekend. I should be OK, but I gotta tell ya, my gas tank is running low, next week will be fumes. I am not scheduling anything more for a while. I need to refresh mentaly and physically.

Vaya Con Dios

I have that feeling that I want to just quit everything. (post marathon Blues, + Tired?) Could be, I will not make any choices until I am a little bit rested.

Curtai

Birmingham Marathon Report

Well What do you know, perhaps the Disney Marathon Experience was NOT a fluke. Maybe, just maybe, I am a true distance athlete. I am a marathon runner. As you may recall I finished Disney in 4:23:21. Well I finished Birmingham in 4:23:18 according to my watch! How is that for CLOSE! Amazing. In Disney I was goofing off somewhat. In Birmingham however it was Montezuma's Revenge which added some time.

What I learned is that pre race organization is key. Planning what I am going to wear the night before is key. Having a checklist is key. Knowing roughly where the start is and where I am going to park is key.

I do not like a stressful begin to a race. I forgot my phone, I did not have time to visit the portalets. I spent the first half hour of the race pretty uncomfortable.

Enough of the whining, The hills did not kill me! Hurray. The hill at 23 was the one I was worried about. I feel like I mentally prepared for it in the few miles before it. I chatted with other runners about it. Then on the way up, I used several techniques. I helped other runners, I hooked onto a faster runner and I kept looking for the top knowing it was not too far away
Here are the times:
mile 1+2-18:18 (9:09 Pace)
Mile 3-27:36 (9:18 Pace)
Mile 4-41:04 (13:27 Pace (dropped off my running suit and portalet visit)),
Mile 5-51:02 (9:57 Pace),
Mile 6-1:01:35 (10:32 Pace),
Mile 7 1:11:18 (9:43 Pace),
Mile 8+9-1:30:35 (9:38 Pace),
Mile 10-1:38:47(8:12 Pace),
Mile 11+12-1:57:19 (9:16),
Mile 13-2:07:37,(10:17)
Montezum's Revenge -2:11:54 (Lost 4 min17 seconds),
Mile 14-2:20:14 (8:20 Pace),
Mile 15-2:30:02, (9:48 Pace)
Mile 16- 2:40:15, (10:12 Pace)
Mile 17-2:50:29, (10:13 Pace)
Mile 18- 3:01:02,(10:32 Pace)
Mile 19+20+21 3:32:11 (10:22 Pace),
Mile 22-3:42:34, (10:23 Pace)
Mile 23-3:53:39 (11:04 Pace),
Mile 24-4:02:43 (9:03 Pace),
Mile 25-4:12:13 (9:30 Pace),
Mile 26 - 4:21:19 (9:05 Pace),
Mile 26.2 - Finish - 4:23:18
More about the Race Later.

Right now I am tired and people want me to work!
Curtai

BirminghaMALAMadingdong

Ok so there it is, the goal 26.2 miles through Birmingham. It appears that there are Two Serious Hills. The first is going over Green Springs, around Mile 6. I should be fresh and I know the hill. It may not be horrible. I plan to just take whatever speed my normal pace perceived effort will put me up the hill with. The other hill at 23 miles is the scary monster. Just pace a step at a time. There are two pace groups that I am considering 4:15 and 4:30. Funny thing is that 4:15 makes me nervous and 4:30 disappoints me. I am going to decide on race day, perhaps after the first few miles. I will print the pace bands for each and go from there. I can tell it is close, I am getting the prerace feelings in my mind and body..... I can do this thing, It will not be a train wreck, I will be ok, I am strong, I am a real athlete. I AM a real distance athlete. I respect my opponent, the course. I expect the course and the day to give me its best, and I in turn will give it MY best.

If you want to, I will be running from 7:03 on, Feel free to call me during the race, 850-428-0805. I may not be able to talk very well, but I will enjoy listening!

Take care and I will report when I return with a Mercedes Benz Hood Ornament.

Vaya Con Dios
Curtai

No Train Wreck Please

At this point all there is to do is rest. I can not train any more or improve before Birmingham. I do not think I have put in the needed training. I will not tell this to the race. I could be alright, I could wind up in a train wreck.

I need to prepare mentally by positive imagery. I CAN go the distance, the question is how fast. Perhaps that should not matter. I almost define average in the marathon for my age. I mean I am 1 minute from the national average for all men my age who ran marathons last year. For a first one at Disney, that is not bad! I have heard it said that we should be careful not to Peak for each race. I feel like I peaked for Disney, so perhaps this should simply be a long training run.

We'll see. I am just happy today that I can run. So many can't.

Vaya Con DIos

When we left Curt last he was in the throes of yelling at evil little neighborhood dogs and various other lesser creatures. I am going to go ahead and blame it on the Nason-ex. It contains steroids, which I have always thought were used by weightlifter body builder football player types and caused aggressive behavior. We I did not physically hurt anyone, but I sure was aggressive personality-wise. I did not like it, I think I will sniffle this time next year when the icky pollen presents itself.

As for fido, it turns out the animal's name is annabel and she is actually a sweet little pooch, who has now lost front yard priveleges from her mom and dad.... perfect vaccination record and dare I say it, actually a sweet dog. Perhaps I was the Dr. Jeckyl/ Mr. Hyde. What is a guy to do.
Not take the freakin Nason Ex.

Anyhow, I have been kinda lost in terms of what and how much and what kind of run to do so I went for a easy 15 on Sunday, one week from Birmingham Marathon. My training since Disney has been haphazard at best so we'll see what comes of it. Top that with a significant twinge in my right calf on Sunday around mile 13...... I am a little nervous, hills, leg, training, hmmmm recipie for something.

I think at this point that thinking about bettering the Disney time is foolish. I need to simply run a conservative race and don't get hurt between now and then. (Read take it easy on Tuesday Ultimate.) Stretch. Soak.

Finally do Epsom Salts REALLY work? I find it hard to believe that a bathtub soak can help. Will someone please tell me this is not snake oil?

Anyhow, I am feeling back to normal, without the steroids. I wonder if I am disqualified form winning the Mercedes Marathon... Oh wait I woudl not win in a car!

Curtai


Making Anhydrous Magnesium Sulfate from Magnesium Sulfate Heptahydrate (Epsom Salts)
MgSO4 • 7H2O = Magnesium Sulfate Heptahydrate (Epsom Salts)MgSO4 = Anhydrous Magesium Sulfate
Anhydrous Magnesium Sulfate will absorb water from the atmosphere, acting as a very effective desiccant or drying agent.The drying power of Anydrous Magnesium Sulfate is superior to that of Anhydrous Calcium Sulfate (Drie-Rite).Epsom Salts can be easily converted to Anhydrous Magnesium Sulfate by baking in an oven at temperatures between 400°F and 482°F
150°C = 302°F At this temperature Magnesium Sulfate Heptahydrate is converted to Magnesium Sulfate Monohydrate200°C = 392°F At this temperature Magnesium Sulfate Monohydrate is converted to Anhydrous Magnesium Sulfate250°C = 482°F Loses all waters of hydration. yielding Anhydrous Magnesium Sulfate1124°C = 2055°F Decomposes to MgO, SO2, SO3 before or as it reaches melting point.
Melting Point: 1124C (2055F) Decomposes, Loses all waters of hydration @ 250C (482F)
-->
MgSO4 7H2O = 246.4564 molecular weightMgSO4 anhydrous = 120.36 molecular weight
120..36 / 246.45 = 48.83%246.45 / 120.36 = 204.76%
Anhydrous MgSO4 can absorb 204.7% it's weight in water

Making a wish is the Beginning

WELL, Well, well,
Deep Subject. After yesterday's horrific events I was informed that I have to go get evidence of this dog's rabies vaccinations. GRRRR as if life is not busy enough. Sigh, I will, but I do not think that the bite actually penetrated the skin. It did leave a blister which did not pop and not blood flow out of me. (It still hurt).

Today is a better day so far. Work is kinda calm, but this will be a stormy month. Lots to do and a short time to do it.

I do not feel as good about Birmingham's Marathon as I did for Disney. I don't think I have prepared as well. Not that I have been resting on my laurels, but I have only done one Long (18) run since Disney. I will do a (15) this weekend but that'll be it. I printed out a 4:15 pace band. That is what I would like to shoot for, but that may not be realistic. What I SHOULD do is 4:20 pace and try to better it. That sounds smarter.

I will eclipse my 1990 mark of 3:56, but it will not be here in B'ham. I want to qualify for Boston. That is my next goal. How to do this is to make some changes to my running, that my be during 2006. We'll see. 3:20 is one hour faster than Disney........That sounds like an insurmountable difference. Almost 2 minutes per mile faster. One step at a time.

I wish I could qualify and run the Boston Marathon, the Superbowl of Marathons. April 2007, see you there?

Curtai.

I have been Wounded

OK so I must be a raving lunatic today. Lunch time run, I was assaulted by a little dog. Not just run up and yap yap yap, I am talking that I lost flesh! It still hurts, yep I have officially been rodent bit. Boy, I tell you what I had a field day with the guy who owned the little rat. I can say that I used quite a bit of profanity in a tone that was borderline insane.

OUCH!

Anyhow I get done and the path I have to take takes me by the house again and the guy was outside. (The dog was gone and I had cooled off a lot) I walked up to the guy, not sure if he was going to hit me with his yard shovel and told him that I had overreacted a little and that I am sure the little rat dog was just protecting or scared. I was wearing a bright yellow running shirt. I could see that he was very apologetic and that this was something of an embarrassment to him. He told me that he was a runner too and that he has had the same thing happen to him. I guess the old man can live for today, but that little dog needs to be horsefood. Anyhow later in my run, I was not actually bleeding, but I think the terror of my youth was brought to the surface and I lost my composure. Chico and Twinkie those were the demon dogs of my youth. I don't know if anyone else was terrorized by dogs but these little guys would keep me from going places I wanted to go. Sure they would be your friend if you had a dog treat, but just as soon as you go to pet them, (CHOMP). I still shudder when I see the Taco Bell Chihuahua (Chico) or a Black Toy Poodle (Twinkie). I have considered Mace in the past, but if today is any indication, I would have been bit and the situation would be well over by the time I dig the papper spray out of my pocket. The day presses on.

Vaya con Dios

Curtai

February

GRRRRR.
That is about all I have to say so far today. Florida Rain, Love it. Ankle deep water now my shoes and socks are soaked. I have entirely too much to do and not enough time to do it all. I realize it is all a gift. But right now I am lacking perspective.

GRRRR, More when I am not ill. 10 Lousy minutes makes or breaks my morning. 10 Minutes and I am late for work, I walk into the morning production meeting late, I am snapping at kids my wife and the morning is ruined.

My part is that I can get up earlier myself and not count on anyone else to do anything. If I am ready, then those 10 minutes will not matter. Personal responsibility is a bear.

There is a prayer that goes like this. "God grant me the serinity to accept the things I can not change, courage to change the things I can and wisdon to know the difference." Even as I write I am settling down. Good, now on with life.

Ridiculous, absolutely rediculous to spend energy on conflict. Emotional hangover and physical exhaustion are the only results. GRRRRRRRR.

More later!