Three Things Thursday

#1: Kill me at the Dr's Office, Please
 Yesterday was my follow up exam with my Orthopedist.

.....or rather my 2 hour wait in the waiting room followed by the two minute actual Dr visit. Yeah....$20 copay WELL spent.

Oh and it gets better! The Asshole family stumbled in behind me, sat next to me with the hyperactive child who for 45 minutes bashed his noise toy against his chair which caused his toy to repeat the same song over......and over......and over......and over......again......

Then the little shit RAN INTO MY LEFT KNEE (the bad knee).....COME ON!!!! Meanwhile Mom and Grandma are each on their cell phones completely oblivious to what their little terror is doing.

If that isn't visual birth control, I don't know what is.

Now back to the Orthopedist. For two minutes I basically explained what I was doing and how things weren't improving, so he asks, "Have you had an MRI yet?".........*face palm*

Why can't my Orthopedist at least be a hot one?

#2: The Muppets Are Back!!!
I love the Muppets, and am looking forward to seeing the new movie this Thanksgiving. The trailers for it so far are flipping AWESOME.

"Hey look, Fart Shoes!".........and they even snuck in Manahmana!

This is the best one:

#3: Wardrobe Malfunction
I got lucky.....VERY lucky the other night. Was changing and about to hop into the pool when I noticed something wrong my swim jammers. Yep, there was a gigantic rip in the seam. Glad I caught it then before I put em on! I got 3 solid seasons out of them, so it was no big deal to retire them.

So my PSA is: Check your gear for holes, tears, and rips every now and then.

Q: Have you ever had a wardrobe malfunction in a public setting? Or know someone who has?

This Commercial Makes Me ANGRY!!!!!

First, just watch:

Maybe I am being waaaaaaaaay over sensitive or just looking to pick a fight, but there is something about this commerical that makes me bang my head into my desk, do many face palms, and get that stomach twisting effect of awkwardness only Michael Scott can provide.

I have nothing against her. Its just something about him. I guess its when he asks, "What is a marathon? 26 point.....?"

and then blah blah blah blah, "Anyone can run 26, its that last......."

Now, you all know I have given up on society knowing what a marathon is, afterall, I just ran a marathon this morning by running that 100 yards to my car.

But if you were a marathon runner, and you were on a first date with a non runner (obviously he is NOT a runner!), and the person opposite you asked, "What is a marathon? (insert guessed distance here)" What would you do?

And yes, I am prolly just trying to pick a fight because I am grasping at straws. But hey! Its a Tuesday, so why not!

Pictures Only To Sum Up My Weekend

Injury Update: There is Hope

I had a MAJOR setback this week regarding my knee. Bummer....

Last week was a HUGE turnaround. I ran 4 times and each run got better and more pain free. Last Saturday's run was a nice and easy 40 mins of bliss. I felt like this was it: The Turnaround.

Que Sunday: With my tri bike all refitted and my cycling strength returning I went out for a 60 min cruise. The only thing that hurt were my arms, due to the lack of riding in that position. Unfortunately by the end of the ride I felt "that" pain in the medial area of the knee cap. Crap. Its not the aero position that is causing the pain, its standing up and climbing on that bike that is causing the pain. Must be the cramped position that is causing me to wrench my knee in a bad way. So no more TT bike this Fall :(

I iced and took my anti-inflammatory meds, hoping to nip the pain.

Que Monday: Another easy 40 min run. Although I felt some pain, it wasn't horrible. Later that day at work it got worse, and worse, and worse. The "movie goers" knee returned. Shit. That night I am at PT and they have me warm up for 10 minutes on the stationary bike. I lasted 2 minutes and 30 seconds. WHAT THE HELL!!!!

Que Tuesday: I lasted 20 minutes on the trainer before I could pedal no longer. Fuck.

Que Wednesday: Day off from biking or running. I had finally HAD IT! I did last the full 10 minutes on the stationary bike at PT, but I told me PT I am done for now.

Sooooo after talking to my coach I did nothing today, and nothing tomorrow, and will try a short and easy run on Saturday. If I feel this thing act up ONCE, I am stopping, and walking home, but with my head high and calling it a month with both biking and running.

Before I go COMPLETELY all negative Nancy on you, THERE IS HOPE!!!

After looking at my logs (this is why you keep logs!) the past two years, I have taken a break from running every September. Last year, I ran a total of 20 miles during the entire month of September. That was partly due to a 10 day vacation down in Florida, but mostly due to tendinitis in my left foot. I was still able to rally, and come back stronger than ever in October and ultimately PR a 10K race in early December, before settling into Ironman training in January.

THERE IS HOPE!!!!

Its getting colder out. Have you calculated your Jen's Factor yet?

The fine folks at Cyclocosm have provided us with a guide to winter wear on the bike, compared to Jens Voigt. I guess it could apply to running as well? For those of you who don't know who Jens Voigt is, he is the BAMF of the peleton. Chuck Norris has got nothing on this guy, just check out the Jens Voigt facts.

Some examples: "The term "sufferfest" was originally coined to describe Jens' rest days" or "Jens Voigt has four heart rate training zones: anger, rage, fury and breakaway."

Back to clothing choices, my favorite "overview" is Jens Factor4:
Overview: ran your mouth and/or lost a bet
Apparel: balacalava, Hampsten Oaklies
Conditions: marginal, rugged, "epic"

But of course Jens Factor 6 takes the cake:
Overview: suicidal herosim
Apparel: spacesuit
Conditions: apocalyptic, biblical, hardcore

(source)

Today's Advice

That is all....

I'm A Mess, But I am Going to Keep this Positive!

I am a believer in Karma. Really.

You do something negative, nature is gonna find a way to get even. You do something positive, expect your good deed to be rewarded.

Sooooooo, for every "my life sucks" thing I write, I am gonna counter it with a "my life is awesome" thing. Cool?

Bad News: I met with my coach yesterday for an adjustment to my bike fit and we discovered that my left leg might be longer than my right leg. At PT this morning, we confirmed this. My left leg is 1/2 longer than my right! Son of A....! Its not that my bones are longer, but because my hips are so unaligned. One of my hip muscles is super tight, causing this. More stretches have been added....


Good News: I met with my coach  yesterday for an adjustment to my bike fit. He moved the position of my cleats and we adjusted my saddle height, moved it forward, and adjusted the bar height. Unfortunately I need a new saddle and longer 80mm stem. Fortunately! I found a BRAND NEW Selle Italia saddle and 80mm stem in my box of spare parts. Score!

Bad News: Getting anything done at work has been a major pain in the ass. We have had more power outages and network issues this past month than I can ever imagine.


Good News: I am getting a promotion! I am going from a "Fur Technical Director", jumping over the Senior level and straight to a "Lead Fur Technical Director" position. Basically doing all of the feather work on these two birds:

(source)

And the movie making nearly $500,000,000 worldwide helped things out!

Bad News: Tomorrow is supposed to be my first race since Placid, a 4 miler in Central Park. I can't do the race due to my lingering knee issue. Also, I am supposed to do a half marathon in Central Park in 2 weeks, but that race is out as well. I was hoping to PR the distance at that race....it will have to wait until January or March instead.


Good News: Yesterday I had a pain free ~38 minute run! My longest run yet without any pain. Now, I ran at a 9:30 pace the entire time, but I am taking this as a small victory! Seems that running slow is allowing me to run pain free AND keep my mental sanity in check.

Hope you have a great weekend!