A Passion for Running

Well, it seems the entire blogosphere is abuzz over the new Nike iPod. Here are my thoughts:

-brilliant on Nike’s part to couple with Apple Computer. Now, one of my least favorite companies is paired with my favorite. I’m…torn.
-If the software has been coded by Apple, it will rock.
-It’s cool that at least half the hardware will be made by Apple. At least that half will be quality stuff. Personally, I’ve had several complaints about the quality around Nike’s stuff – including a Nike heart rate monitor I once owned.
-If the entire package turns out to be excellent, I just hope Nike and Apple make it possible for us to use the system with other kinds of shoes although, I’m not holding my breath.

And finally, I can’t see myself going for something like this simply due to the fact that I have never been someone who enjoys listening to music while running. No offense to if you are one of those people – it’s just not my cup of tea.

I’ve always been pretty happy with my Polar heart rate + speed and distance monitor so I’m going to stay with Polar – another company I am quite fond of.

It hurts!

My neck was so sore this morning and, after yesterday’s run, I knew getting out there would help so I headed out for another 40 minutes.

And it hurt like hell for the first 15 minutes – just like it did yesterday. Every step I took shot referred pain into my left arm that made it feel like it was being torn off.

But, I toughed it out past those 15 minutes (you can do anything once you’ve run a marathon) and was rewarded with a better afternoon.

Get out there and run people. It’s this century’s magic elixir.

Have I told you how much my a$$ hurts lately? No? Let me explain. A couple of months ago, during the renovation, I lifted a box of hardwood flooring kinda funny and blammo – something went goofy somewhere in my left but-cheek. And the dang thing has been off and on ever since. It’s this painful little thingy really deep in my butt muscle. Doesn’t bug me while running but most of the rest of the time. The good news is it seems to be getting better after some massage. No, I’m not gonna tell you how I am managing to massage my a$$.

This weekend, I racked the second batch of wine I’ve made with Aaron and my Dad. Before Aaron came over to help, I set out to remove the corks from the demi-johns (big bottles the juice ferments in). To make a long story short, one of those damn things exploded right into my eye. When it happened, I was sure I’d be making a trip to the hospital. My right eye hurt like a fargin’ bast’rd and got a bit bloody in the inside corner.

But that wasn’t it. A few hours later, I started to feel major stiffness in my neck and shoulders. By evening I realized I’d gotten some pretty severe whiplash from jerking my head back when the cork exploded at me.

Today, two days later, I went for a run and holy cow things hurt. I had pain radiating from my neck, down into my shoulder and further down into my arm like you wouldn’t believe. OW OW OW OW OW!

I decided to tough it out – each step more painful than the last all the while hoping things would loosen up a bit. Things did. It took fifteen minutes, but things loosened up enough to be at a 4/10 pain-wise.

The run was terrific other than my nigglies. Funny thing is, I seem to be getting all these injuries whilst not running so I’m thinking from now on, I should cut out all non-running related activity and carry on with life.

Think that will work?

Today, at around 2:00 p.m. by bestest bud became a dad. Congratulations Aaron! And nope, I’m not going to share details – you can bug him for those!
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In other news, there are superheroes among us and am blessed to know one of them. His name is Jeff but he’s increasingly becoming known as The Amazing Hip.

Look at this picture of my boy:

In addition to being pretty happy about being out of the hospital and walking again, he got a brand new teddy bear and ‘get well’ balloon from a certain superhero today.

More pictures of the happy boy right here.

Thank you Jeff. You really are amazing.