Today is actually a scheduled rest day, which is good, because my back is still sore. Better, but sore.
I'm still waiting for a new date and time for the PRP treatment. I really can't expect my running to return to anywhere close to normal until after that procedure.
While I'm temporarily sidelined this week, I'm just planning to put in a lot of hours at work.
Once again, I'm bored by my own life. I want to be doing athletic-type stuff, not sitting around and waiting, and talking about athletic stuff.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
PRP and MRI update
I just talked to the doctor about my MRI and the PRP. It looks like we are going to re-schedule the PRP because he wants to do it in the hospital rather than in the clinic. He said that because the injection will be so deep, he needs the better ultrasound machines at the hospital to guide the needle. It hurts just thinking about that.
The tendon is partially torn from the bone, but no bone fragments went with the tendon. And the tear is significant, but not so bad that he thinks I should go straight to a surgeon.
So now, I just have to wait until they can find a time where the facilities and people are all available at the same time. The doctor said they'd try to do it as soon as possible.
In the interim, I'm going to rest for a few days until my back feels better.
Between my back and my hamstring, I feel like I'm in a downward spiral. Perhaps I've reached my athletic expiration date. I believe that in The Lore of Running, Noakes talks about most runners having 20 good years in them. If so, I've been on borrowed time for a few years now.
The tendon is partially torn from the bone, but no bone fragments went with the tendon. And the tear is significant, but not so bad that he thinks I should go straight to a surgeon.
So now, I just have to wait until they can find a time where the facilities and people are all available at the same time. The doctor said they'd try to do it as soon as possible.
In the interim, I'm going to rest for a few days until my back feels better.
Between my back and my hamstring, I feel like I'm in a downward spiral. Perhaps I've reached my athletic expiration date. I believe that in The Lore of Running, Noakes talks about most runners having 20 good years in them. If so, I've been on borrowed time for a few years now.
Monday, August 24, 2009
My aching back
I'm currently under the influence of Flexeril and Vicodin. Because I've tweaked my back like this before, my doctor resorted to what we've done in the past. Some muscle relaxers, some pain meds, and then ice for 48 hours and then start to apply heat. Neither the doc nor I thought there was any reason to take X-rays or do anything more interventional right now.
I haven't done this in 7 years and I forgot how uncomfortable it can be. But, the doctor doesn't think I did anything other than a basic muscle strain that will resolve itself in a few days. It's really nice to have a doctor where there's a mutual trust and understanding about an issue like this. My doctor treats a lot of pain medicine addicts and he's slow to prescribe pain medications, but he said that this kind of problem is exactly what pain meds exist for.
Last week, he came to me in a coffee shop and asked for my advice about some issues he'd been having while running recently. I didn't even charge him for my advice and I suggested that he should see his own doctor as a follow-up. We both laughed at that one.
So, I'm guessing I'll have a few rest days right now, which I can really use, to be honest.
Last week, in an e-mail to some running friends, I complained about insurance companies and my upcoming PRP treatment. I understand why it's not a covered treatment, even though the mathematician in me thinks it would be in the insurance company's best interest to cover the treatment. So, after that complaint, my next medical treatment turned out to be easy, effective, and very pleasant.
I haven't done this in 7 years and I forgot how uncomfortable it can be. But, the doctor doesn't think I did anything other than a basic muscle strain that will resolve itself in a few days. It's really nice to have a doctor where there's a mutual trust and understanding about an issue like this. My doctor treats a lot of pain medicine addicts and he's slow to prescribe pain medications, but he said that this kind of problem is exactly what pain meds exist for.
Last week, he came to me in a coffee shop and asked for my advice about some issues he'd been having while running recently. I didn't even charge him for my advice and I suggested that he should see his own doctor as a follow-up. We both laughed at that one.
So, I'm guessing I'll have a few rest days right now, which I can really use, to be honest.
Last week, in an e-mail to some running friends, I complained about insurance companies and my upcoming PRP treatment. I understand why it's not a covered treatment, even though the mathematician in me thinks it would be in the insurance company's best interest to cover the treatment. So, after that complaint, my next medical treatment turned out to be easy, effective, and very pleasant.
Sunday and Monday workouts
Sunday, I was hoping to go for a bike ride, but the weather just didn't cooperate. It rained lightly all morning and the roads stayed wet all day. I might just be a coward, but if it's not a race, I see no reason to ride on wet, slick roads. So, I did an easy 5 mile run instead. I thought I'd run with my wife, but after she did 12 on Saturday, she opted for a long walk with my son and the dogs instead.
After my run, I think I read for most of the day, taking a break just to cook and eat dinner. I fell asleep early, listening to the radio as Josh Beckett was giving up too many home runs to the Yankees.
This morning, I started a new lifting routine. Yet somehow, I managed to tweak something in my back during my warm-up. The warm-up didn't change, just the workout, so I don't know how I managed to hurt my back just getting ready to work out. Right now, I'm not comfortable sitting or laying down or in any other position. I've done this periodically before and it usually passes in a couple of days. Maybe my body was telling me that it needs a break. I've been continuing to push reasonably hard, assuming I'll get an easy week next week after my PRP treatment. Maybe I'll get an easy week this week as well.
Last week, I ran 4 times and lifted 4 times. My back to back runs on Saturday and Sunday were my first back to back runs, of any distance, in quite a while.
On another note, I'm thinking of finally doing something I've wanted to do for 30+ years. Recently, my son expressed an interest in learning to play the keyboards, and we bought him an electric keyboard and scheduled him for lessons. On Saturday, we were in the music store looking at sheet music for him, and a used 1964 Fender Stratocaster Mustang caught my eye. From what I've read, the Mustang was a 3/4 size guitar, designed for students just learning to play. I talked to a friend this morning who teaches guitar lessons and plays in the band The Kind Buds, a local jam band that plays lots of Grateful Dead covers. He said the guitar was a great guitar for learning and agreed to teach me on that guitar. So, assuming no one bought the guitar Saturday after I left the store, I will likely buy it this week and start lessons shortly.
Many, many years ago, I spent two years learning the French Horn. My instructor eventually suggested that I didn't have the ear for the instrument and that I should give it up. I'm hoping that I'm not too old right now to re-learn how to read music or to learn a new skill. Besides, if my hamstring doesn't heal properly, I'm going to have a lot of time to practice.
After my run, I think I read for most of the day, taking a break just to cook and eat dinner. I fell asleep early, listening to the radio as Josh Beckett was giving up too many home runs to the Yankees.
This morning, I started a new lifting routine. Yet somehow, I managed to tweak something in my back during my warm-up. The warm-up didn't change, just the workout, so I don't know how I managed to hurt my back just getting ready to work out. Right now, I'm not comfortable sitting or laying down or in any other position. I've done this periodically before and it usually passes in a couple of days. Maybe my body was telling me that it needs a break. I've been continuing to push reasonably hard, assuming I'll get an easy week next week after my PRP treatment. Maybe I'll get an easy week this week as well.
Last week, I ran 4 times and lifted 4 times. My back to back runs on Saturday and Sunday were my first back to back runs, of any distance, in quite a while.
On another note, I'm thinking of finally doing something I've wanted to do for 30+ years. Recently, my son expressed an interest in learning to play the keyboards, and we bought him an electric keyboard and scheduled him for lessons. On Saturday, we were in the music store looking at sheet music for him, and a used 1964 Fender Stratocaster Mustang caught my eye. From what I've read, the Mustang was a 3/4 size guitar, designed for students just learning to play. I talked to a friend this morning who teaches guitar lessons and plays in the band The Kind Buds, a local jam band that plays lots of Grateful Dead covers. He said the guitar was a great guitar for learning and agreed to teach me on that guitar. So, assuming no one bought the guitar Saturday after I left the store, I will likely buy it this week and start lessons shortly.
Many, many years ago, I spent two years learning the French Horn. My instructor eventually suggested that I didn't have the ear for the instrument and that I should give it up. I'm hoping that I'm not too old right now to re-learn how to read music or to learn a new skill. Besides, if my hamstring doesn't heal properly, I'm going to have a lot of time to practice.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Lazy start to the weekend - sort of
I slept in this morning. My wife ran an easy 4 miles before we headed to the farmers market. Then, after the farmers market, we went to the dump, took care of recycling, got some coffee and came back home.
Then, we ran 8 miles together in a light rainfall - the fastest we've gone together on this course in quite a while, but still slow.
Right now, my wife is napping, my son is sleeping, the dogs are sleeping, my daughter is gone, and I'm thinking that a nap sounds like a good idea. If the weather cooperates, I'll do a bike ride tomorrow. Or maybe I'll run again. Or, maybe I'll do nothing at all.
Then, we ran 8 miles together in a light rainfall - the fastest we've gone together on this course in quite a while, but still slow.
Right now, my wife is napping, my son is sleeping, the dogs are sleeping, my daughter is gone, and I'm thinking that a nap sounds like a good idea. If the weather cooperates, I'll do a bike ride tomorrow. Or maybe I'll run again. Or, maybe I'll do nothing at all.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Lifting
I did my leg workout last night and felt tired, but still got through the workout OK.
After the warm-up, I did kettlebell swings, BB Bulgarian Split Squats (8x3 with high weight and short rest), snatch-grip Romanian deadlifts, and then Swiss ball hip bridges/curls.
As I've been doing recently, I added some straight deadlifts to the end of this workout:
5x225
4x235
1x245
1x255
1x265
1x275
1x285
The last lift was my heaviest deadlift since a 325 in December.
This morning was an upper body workout. I felt tired when I got up, and almost deferred the workout to the evening, but I got myself to the gym OK. The workout went great and that wraps up a four week lifting cycle. I was especially happy with my pull-ups - 3x6, compared to 8 weeks ago when I could only do one pull-up at a time. Sometime this weekend, I'll get my workout schedule for the next four weeks.
For the weekend, I'm planning a run tomorrow and a bike ride on Sunday. The distances will be determined by how my hamstring feels.
Later today, I need to get a blood test (CBC) done, to make sure I have enough platelets for the PRP procedure in 10 days.
After the warm-up, I did kettlebell swings, BB Bulgarian Split Squats (8x3 with high weight and short rest), snatch-grip Romanian deadlifts, and then Swiss ball hip bridges/curls.
As I've been doing recently, I added some straight deadlifts to the end of this workout:
5x225
4x235
1x245
1x255
1x265
1x275
1x285
The last lift was my heaviest deadlift since a 325 in December.
This morning was an upper body workout. I felt tired when I got up, and almost deferred the workout to the evening, but I got myself to the gym OK. The workout went great and that wraps up a four week lifting cycle. I was especially happy with my pull-ups - 3x6, compared to 8 weeks ago when I could only do one pull-up at a time. Sometime this weekend, I'll get my workout schedule for the next four weeks.
For the weekend, I'm planning a run tomorrow and a bike ride on Sunday. The distances will be determined by how my hamstring feels.
Later today, I need to get a blood test (CBC) done, to make sure I have enough platelets for the PRP procedure in 10 days.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Easy run and nutrition update
My wife and I did a slow, easy 4 miler last night after work. It was warm, by Vermont standards anyway, and we took it easy. The dogs wanted to come along, but it was too hot for them. They just don't handle heat well at all these days. Then, on the way home, they'll suddenly spy some mud and start rolling in it to cool themselves off. Considering that they sleep in our bed, that behavior is not acceptable.
After the run, my wife had a meeting and my son was at a friend's house. So, my daughter and I went for a short swim and then went out for dinner. The restaurant had some nice beers on tap and I really wanted one, but I abstained. It's now been 3 months since I've had any alcohol, and I'm going to continue to abstain for at least 3 more months. Perhaps a lot longer.
Tonight is a lower body lifting night. Tomorrow morning, I have an upper body lifting workout. At that point in time, my current lifting cycle is complete and I won't see the next schedule until Monday. I'm getting a new workout schedule from the people at Precision Nutrition every four weeks right now.
We are about halfway through the current six-month coached program at Precision Nutrition, and unlike the last time I tried this, things are going really well. Last time I tried the program, in my opinion, I failed badly. I tried to do my workouts instead of their workouts. I justified eating differently than prescribed because of my endurance work. And, I was drinking alcohol through the program. Essentially, I paid for a program that I didn't follow. Because of that poor effort, I decided to try the actual program, instead of my own pseudo-program.
This time around, I'm following the food and exercise prescriptions. Well, to be honest, the first month was June, and I used WS as an excuse to do things a bit differently than I should have. But, since I got home from the trip to CA, I've been doing everything right. I'm slowly incorporating new habits into my eating and adding a new habit every couple of weeks. So far, I've managed to stick with all of those habits and the results are starting to show.
I have gotten permission from my coach to add easy runs or bike rides into some of our scheduled rest days, but I make sure that I do every prescribed workout just as it's laid out.
Yesterday, someone told me that I was clearly losing weight. I can see changes in the mirror. In reality, my weight has come down very little, but I have clearly added muscle mass and lost fat mass. My clothes are fitting me better. And, I'm getting stronger.
The program ends at the end of November and I expect to see a lot more changes between now and then.
After the run, my wife had a meeting and my son was at a friend's house. So, my daughter and I went for a short swim and then went out for dinner. The restaurant had some nice beers on tap and I really wanted one, but I abstained. It's now been 3 months since I've had any alcohol, and I'm going to continue to abstain for at least 3 more months. Perhaps a lot longer.
Tonight is a lower body lifting night. Tomorrow morning, I have an upper body lifting workout. At that point in time, my current lifting cycle is complete and I won't see the next schedule until Monday. I'm getting a new workout schedule from the people at Precision Nutrition every four weeks right now.
We are about halfway through the current six-month coached program at Precision Nutrition, and unlike the last time I tried this, things are going really well. Last time I tried the program, in my opinion, I failed badly. I tried to do my workouts instead of their workouts. I justified eating differently than prescribed because of my endurance work. And, I was drinking alcohol through the program. Essentially, I paid for a program that I didn't follow. Because of that poor effort, I decided to try the actual program, instead of my own pseudo-program.
This time around, I'm following the food and exercise prescriptions. Well, to be honest, the first month was June, and I used WS as an excuse to do things a bit differently than I should have. But, since I got home from the trip to CA, I've been doing everything right. I'm slowly incorporating new habits into my eating and adding a new habit every couple of weeks. So far, I've managed to stick with all of those habits and the results are starting to show.
I have gotten permission from my coach to add easy runs or bike rides into some of our scheduled rest days, but I make sure that I do every prescribed workout just as it's laid out.
Yesterday, someone told me that I was clearly losing weight. I can see changes in the mirror. In reality, my weight has come down very little, but I have clearly added muscle mass and lost fat mass. My clothes are fitting me better. And, I'm getting stronger.
The program ends at the end of November and I expect to see a lot more changes between now and then.
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