I'M OUT

Had my appendix taken out Friday and I won't be running in a while. I have had intermittent stomach issues for some time. In fact I had removed milk from my diet 3 months ago, thinking I was lactose intolerant. Anyhow, these stomach issues became pretty steady from last Sunday on, so on Wednesday I went to the doctor-I had two other issues which were actually the priority at the time; a rash on my torso and an aching left nut. I tend to like to get the most for my doctors visits so I was waiting to go with a whole list of problems-I guess. so for my problems:
1. Rash on my torso: It's a fungus, apply jock itch ointment twice a day-Nice
2. Aching left nut: Not sure what that is, schedule an ultrasound for the next day-Sweet
3. Stomach problems: They weren't bothering me too much so I figured the jock itch cream and ball ultrasound were enough for now.

Wednesay night, developed a fever and an ache in my lower abdomen, went to work the next day, abdomen continued to bother me, so I called the doctor. He saw me around noon and scheduled a CT scan for my stomach just before the ball ultrasound that same day. So I rushed into Boston Beth Israel Hospital , drank 40 oz's of chalk water, crapped my brains out, then they had me lie down in a tubular thing and they injected me with something that made my groin get really warm and made a weird metallic taste in my mouth-very strange. On to the ball ultrasound. I thought they would have some cool machine that did this-specifically designed for that purpose-Nope. Just like looking for a baby, except it was my nuts. Not a great expreience.
Wrapped that up and was heading home, actually just about to pick up my jock itch cream when my doctor called and said, "good news your balls are normal but bad news you need to turn around and head to the hospital you have appendicitis." Sweet.
Hung out in the emergency room until around 2am and they wheeled me in to cut out the appendix.
Pretty straightforward, I woke up at around 6am and felt horrible. Slept on/off until around 1000 when they removed the catheter they put in (awesome), I ate a small lunch and was feeling pretty good. A nurse helped me to the bathroom around 1100. Started to take a leak which felt like pissing razor blades-not good, I walked out to let the nurse know and within about 30 seconds I felt this clenching pain in my abdomen which is beyond any pain I had felt before. Pretty much doubled me over and completely incapacitated me.  The doctor said this was a stomach spasm and is likely the result of a combination of dehydration and trauma. He also said this is as close to labor pains as a man can get-ouch.  This began about 24 hours of getting my bladder to relearn how to take a leak, which took two more catheters, a lot of apple juice, and a lot of walking around with a urinal in my hand-this process absolutely sucked.  I got released Saturday at around 7pm and I'm feeling pretty good as I write this Sunday afternoon. The doctor I talked with emphasized no vigorous activity for 2weeks minimum. I am going to have to take this recovery slow or else it can produce problems. On the plus side this explains many of the frustrating stomach issues I was having that kept reoccuring, also my back problems which rose up this past month was likely a result of this as well, oh yeah and the nut issue is probably solved too

Mt Washington Road Race

Splits:
1mile- 10:01
2mile-21:38/11:37
3mile-33:58/12:19
4mile-45:16/11:18
1/2 way-46:29
5mile-1:00/15:15
6mile-1:14/13:47
7mile-1:28/13:57
Finish: 1:37:14/12:48

Swampscott Dory 5K and Kids Race

Perfect memorial day. Watched my kids rock out in the kids race and then I ran the 5k race Results. All 2 miles from my house. The kids did a great job and I couldn't have been prouder, they both completed several 50 yard dashes and an entire lap of the track-Awesome. My splits:
1mile-6:12
2mile-6:12
3.1mile-6:45
Total: 19:10/6:10pace

Weak Week Ending 5/23

Really feeling the flow over the last two months. 2 months of consecutive 40+ mile weeks is the record since starting running a year and a half ago. Injury, illness, family, work, (not necessarily in that order) previously presented a road block at the 30+ mpw boundary and I feel I have taken a legitimate step up. Of course once I started hitting 40-45 mpw comfortably I starting working in some 45-50 and actually started convincing myself that 50 mpw was within my ability-last week I had to take a step back. My weeks had been quality w/ some track work each week, 1-2 days comfortably hard, a race or two thrown in; I know I don't look like a runner, but damn if I didn't feel like one. Anyhow, not too long after the last track workout (where I ran 200's for the first time) I got this sharp pain in my left calf, I ran through it for a few days but it lingered. With work and family obligations and Mt Washington looming I figured it might not be a bad time to take a few days off. I am back at it with some easy running and may avoid the track for a while. Lynn Woods XC starts tonight, but I think I'll pass. I know if I toe the line I would be unable to not run hard and the hammering down those small steep hills has done damage to me before.  But that is enough whining for now, this afternoon I'll sweat my ass off running down the Charles and enjoy every second of it.

Charlestown Track 10x400/5x200

Beautiful day, pretty good workout. Took 200m jog rest in between each interval about 1:10. Splits:
400's:
1-1:23.2
2-1:23.7
3-1:26.1
4-1:26.1
5-1:26.6
6-1:29.7
7-1:28.0
8-1:28.7
9-1:30.7
10-1:26.8
Avg: 1:26.9
200's:
1-42.78
2-40.67
3-40.47
4-39.48
5-36.49
Avg: 39.97

Charlestown Track 5 x 1 mile

Pretty good workout, my goal was sub 6:30 on all of them and I just missed it on #4.  These mile intervals are pretty grueling, really hard to stay motivated on that 3rd lap, 400 meter jog (about 2:30) Splits below:
1-6:22
2-6:29
3-6:26
4-6:32
5-6:21

Great Bay 1/2 Marathon

Headed to Newmarket, NH on a perfect Sunday. Family didn't make the trip as these longer races present logistical challenges w/ two small kids; I missed them at the finish. My goal was to run 7 min pace, I felt that if I had a great day sub 7 was within reach. I ended up running 1:31:45 which is on the nose 7 min pace results. The course and weather was perfect, definately hillier than I thought it was going to be. The scenery, fans and refreshing breeze made this race about as perfect as it could be. I am pleased w/ the result and my fitness to date and really looking forward to some more races in this distance range. Next marathon will be in the fall, I just can't gear up for it and I am too excited for 10k's, 10 milers, 5 milers and the like this summer.  Splits below:
1-6:43
2-13:42 (6:59)
3-20:29 (6:47)
4-27:32 (7:02)
5-34:33 (7:01)
6-41:35 (7:01)
7-48:32 (6:57)
8-55:43 (7:10)
9-1:02:50 (7:07)
10-1:10:05 (7:14)
11-1:17:05 (6:59)
12-1:24:15 (7:10)
13.1-1:31:45 (7:30)