Monthly Archive for September, 2008

It’s official: I choose not to run!; weird 70s leg-fixing machine, My Bloody Valentine

Not that it was much of a choice. I’ve had to come to terms, over the last 4 weeks, with the fact that I am not able to run the NYC marathon this year. My strained leg is taking too long to heal, and there’s no need to push it. That’s the lesson I learned in Charlotte last year. Better to take the time off now than to risk worse injury just out of pride.

Luckily, I’ll just defer my admission to the marathon until next year. I’ll have to pay again, but I have little choice now. Oh well. I’m not beating myself up about it, just working hard to get back on my feet. Been to a few cycling classes, and have continued consistently stretching and practicing yoga. Sadly, my two favorite yoga classes at the gym got discontinued, probably because I was one of only 2 or 3 who ever showed up. Hopefully those teachers will be back at other times, they were my 2 favorites.

Relatedly, I finally got in to the physical therapist this week. It has been a nightmare to schedule these appointments, since I have to take off from work early to get to the office before they close. Visiting this place is like stepping back to the 70s. It’s basically a railroad apartment, mauve walls and brown trim, divvied up by orange, brown, and green striped curtains. Behind each curtain is a cot and an aged brown-plastic machine covered in dials. It definitely seems like more of a rehab-after-workplace-accident type place than a sports medicine practice. Thanks HIP! If it weren’t so close to my house, I might seek another place.

Anyway, they hooked me up to this shocking machine for 15 minutes, then gave me an ultrasound massage on my hamstring, and then I rode an archaic stationary bike that looked like a discarded The Price Is Right prop for about 6 minutes. Two feet from the bike was the receptionist’s desk… she was filing as I peddled. A strange place indeed. Perhaps I’ll get some pictures next time– have a few weeks of this ahead.

Oh, and I went to see My Bloody Valentine last night. They were terrific, and the fact that I brushed past J Mascis in the crowd would have made my 15 year old self ecstatic. Haven’t done much that would impress 15 year old me lately, so that felt good. (I can feel him shudder each time I put on my running tights!) The highlight for me was actually the extended noise break they closed with– it was overpoweringly, sensory-overload loud. Like thunder on pause forever. I was fine with earplugs, but people seemed to be losing their minds a bit. I can only imagine that this event had some negative impact on the Jersey Boys performance in the theatre next door. The highlight for Kelly is that she didn’t go to the show and therefore missed it.

Apart from not playing “Cupid Come,” they covered everything I wanted to hear. Alphabetcityblog documented the show way more carefully than I ever could have, I’m just glad I got their in time for the whole set, had a decent view (though this person had a better spot!this was more like where we were), and was able to meet up with Jon and Melissa beforehand. Well worth the price.

Incidental interaction with the news

I had an appointment in Manhattan on Tuesday (for a wisdom-teeth extraction consult– more on that soon), and ended up taking the 11:30 ferry to Staten Island for work. About 80% of the way across the harbour, something strange happened. The boat stopped, and the ferry workers and guards started running around like crazy. Some people started to freak a little, but most just froze. Tourist captured it all on video. I was sure that we’d hit something (though the only jerk I felt was the engine being cut), and I figured we were taking on water.

No one seemed to know what was happening, then the ferry started turning around,  headed back to Manhattan. A rumor spread that there was something wrong with the SI slip, and we had to go back. Before that rumour got to everyone, though, the boat started listing heavily to the starboard side. That freaked me out.

For some reason, I went starboard, and noticed that the boat was tilting because everyone else was headed that way as well. Because there was a big Coast Guard boat heading toward us. I figured they were going to try to evacuate us. Then I noticed a smaller boat, with two Coast Guard folks pulling a limp, fleshy person aboard.

Instantly people said someone jumped. Sounded good to me. The loudspeaker came on, told us the rescue operation was successful, and we started on our way again. I wondered how someone could have gotten out of the boat without anyone seeing them (of course, people have been known to). Told a bunch of folks at work about it, and even read about the jumper on the SI Advance website.

Then, a couple hours later, Kelly lets me know it was Hannah Upp, the missing teacher from Harlem. Apparently, she’d jumped off the pier and swam into the harbour. The Ferry captain stopped the boat to save her when someone on the boat noticed her floating there. Strange.

For now, this is true; unreleased jams to ease you into fall

My legs feel better today than they have in weeks. My left knee is still a little tweaky, but I when to a cycling class today and felt good as new. My leg actually felt better after the hour ended. It was nice to sweat without grimacing in pain, been a while since I did that. Stretched more and iced afterwards, and, as of 10pm, still feeling great. We’ll see how I’m feeling in the morning.

Planning to hit up a couple of more cycling and yoga classes this week, and then I’ll have some recovery stories to tell (I hope) when I finally get in to the physical therapist next Monday.

Sound wise, I just realized that my current (and several-months-standing) favorite band, Black Moth Super Rainbow, has a free EP available on their site to get us excited for the “Drippers” EP, which drops scratch-n-sniff CDs & 10″ vinyl soon. A few other mp3s on there site as well. Enjoy.

BMSR - Drippy Eye

BMSR - Sun Lips

History was made today

The Bills and the Panthers have never gone 2-0 for the first two games of the same season.

The last time the Panthers went 2-0 in their opening games was 2003. That’s right… we all know what happened then. Only undefeated team in the NFC South!

The Bills have the strongest offense I’ve seen in a while.

Sundays promise to be nice despite the lack of long runs, at least for a while. I got my Physical Therapy referral this week, and should have some idea when I’ll be back on the streets this week.

If you’re not up on SBNation yet, check out Buffalo Rumblings and Cat Scratch Reader.

Some music for a rainy weekend…

Libby posted my new mix this week. Have a listen.

Another slow two, now with more pain

I was feeling so good after Sunday’s 2 miles, I decided to go to an easy yoga class Monday evening, then try for another 2 on the treadmill. I was nice and stretched out, but about 3/4 of the way through my run, I got stiff in my left knee, this morning it was very sore and weak again. I guess I’m not ready for two-days-in-a-row again yet, no matter how loose I am.

I had visited my doctor just before the yoga class, and we spoke about where I should strengthen. He know’s I planning to run the marathon, but he didn’t seem worried. Interested, though. I think he’s just glad he doesn’t have to break any bad news to me. He told me to beef up the ibu dose, ice more, and gave me a referral to physical therapy that he seemed to think wasn’t so important. I am, however getting worried that the next 7 weeks will breeze by with out a chance to recover fully. I’m making the promise to myself that I won’t run if I’m not up to it. Even kinda not up to it… the aftermath of no running for weeks is not worth it. I can always just run across the bridge to Brooklyn and straight into an ice bath. No shame in that.

It is amazing, though, how much a little strecthing can make unbearable pain disappear immediately, I’ve been good about getting at least 2 20-30 minute stretching sessions in daily, even despite the working late so much. I found my knee brace today, and hope that’ll give me the support and compression to get me though the day between stretches.

I was meeting with a good friend and music professor on campus today, and when I told him about my sorta injury, he asked to make sure I was using the RICEV method.

me: of course! Wait, what’s the V?
him: Vodka. It goes with the ice.

Made it through 2 slow miles; somehow on top of the Runlog this week; Go Panthers/Bills!

So I actually made it through 2 miles on the treadmill today, feeling rather well all along. The back of my knee was still a little bit sore and weak, but I think I’m getting better. From the looks of RunLog, other people may be in the same shape as me– no one’s posting miles this week.

I’m going to keep up the 2-miles-at-a-time on the treadmill for most of this week, I think, then I’ll head back to the park.

But, now that it’s Sunday, running is irrelevant: Football is on. Kelly and I are scouting new places to watch the Edwards-led Bills and the Smithless Panthers. I love the fall.

Rain, stretching, an actual weekend; some mixes of note

1980s Pioneer SE 20A BR

1980s Pioneer SE 20A BR

First post-paper weekend is such a relaxing thing. Had a late week at work, teaching a few library instruction classes. Last night, my class ended at 8:30, but the library closed at 8, so I sent my class out to realize that they were trapped in an empty, darkish library. Nice. A long week indeed.

Despite the weird schedule this week, I managed to get 3 yoga classes in and have doubled up my stretching routine– once in the morning, and once at night. Now that i’m ready to run, though, we’ve got all this Hannah rain, so I may start out the treadmill for a few miles in the morning.

Headphones-wise, a few mixes & tracks of note:

I’ve also got a new mix in to Libby, that maybe we’ll see soon. In the meantime, check these oldies of mine:

Done! Paper’s in the mail. But my knee still hurts.

My convienient semi-injury freed up some time this weekend for me to actually finish my qualifying paper. Two years in the making! I feel like a new man– and as I just told a colleague– like maybe I’m doing what I should be doing for the first time in a while. Just waiting for some feedback to make it official, then down to Austin for my exams.

Running-wise, though, my cookie has crumbled a bit. The fatigue hast totally left my legs, but my knee is sore in places it hasn’t been sore before (partially because of a bruise from yoga), but once I stretch it out it usually feels mostly better. Sitting is what kills it.

I’m heading back to the gym tomorrow to try some sorta cardio and to do some strengthening on my calves and shins. Two weeks off of real running has been a bummer, but at least I’m still getting things done.