This Guy Had Better Be Right

On a cold and rainy November day, I'll take this as a piece of good news as we get closer and closer to training over the winter months ahead. I hope this guy knows his stuff.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2009/11/snowfall_predic.html

Getting Back Up to Speed

I did a 7+ mile run for the first time in almost a month on Saturday. The weather was great (mid-40's around 6:30), and I waited to go until the sun came up so that I could actually run when it was light out and see where I was going for a change. I'm hoping this is the week I start to get back into a regular running routine. I ended up with a decent time and pace, but I felt lousy the whole time.

http://bit.ly/71LR77

I stopped a few times due to the fact that I felt like I couldn't get enough air into my lungs. For the past few days, I felt like my cold/flu (or whatever I had) was making a curtain call to the point that I couldn't breathe each of the last few mornings, coupled by a sore throat. John and Audrey are still coughing at night after they go to bed and Katie has said she has a sore throat again as well. Enough is enough!!! Will we ever be healthy again?? I just want everyone to stay healthy and get back into a routine and rhythm.

I spent part of yesterday afternoon running around the yard with John and his buddy Will from up the street. I think that helped work through my sore legs a little bit. It's amazing how much energy these guys have at 5 yrs old, and each time they chase me, I find myself having to run faster so they don't catch me. I was a little sore today, but felt OK. I contemplated going out and doing a quick 3-4 miles this morning, but I saw no reason to push it at this point. Instead, I walked around for about 5 hours running errands and shopping. I'll head out for an easy one tomorrow morning instead.

I like the two pairs of shoes that I bought recently. I had Nikes for roughly a year (2 pairs of Air Moto 6), but I think mixing in a few new models have been good for me. Maybe it's in my head, but I feel a little faster and they seem to fit better. I also just received my new reflective belt/shoulder strap that I ordered. It makes me look like a damned crossing guard, but at least I'll be seen in the dark, plus Katie and I can share it without having to buy different sized vests.

The weather has been pretty great as of late (knock on wood) and I feel like we're all tempting fate talking about it again and again. But who cares, right? Let's just enjoy it while we can. I'm currently performing CBAs and reality checks between buying a treadmill or joining a gym for the winter. At this point, the treadmill has a decent lead.

Looking forward to Thanksgiving and everything that comes with it.

New Screening Guideline Controversy

Here's some news on the US Preventive Services Task Force's new recommendations related to Mammograms. I'm not a doctor or scientist, but I don't think I agree with this new viewpoint. If this type of annual screening saves one life, isn't it worth it, especially considering it's relative low cost in comparison to other procedures and tests currently performed within the medical field?

http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2009/11/17/us_panel_jolts_medical_community_by_recommending_fewer_mammograms/

Signed, Sealed (and Almost) Delivered

I mailed in my race application today. It seemed like such a small action to take for such a significant future milestone. Shouldn't there have been a press conference or something to commemorate the moment? Audrey was there to help mark the moment but, at 14 months old, she was more impressed with the silly face I made after I placed the envelope in the mailbox.

I had to laugh at the map included within the application that shows not only the route and some landmarks, but the elevation by mile. Are the cruel people at the BAA trying to mess with us by showing the race is essentially all downhill from Hopkinton to Boston (save a little bit of Wellesley and a good chunk of Newton)? What a sick joke. Anyway, as long as I used the right amount of postage, I should be an official entrant very soon.

On Saturday, I received the fall 2009 edition of the Impact newsletter which is published by Dana-Farber and The Jimmy Fund. The word "impressive" doesn't begin to describe the efforts and unselfish acts performed by the people recognized within the publication. It really made me proud to know that I'm associated with such a wonderful organization and doing what I can to help.

Back on the Street

After a 12 day hiatus, I finally made it back out today for a run. Being that it is the middle of November, partly sunny and 60 degrees, it was hard not to. I finally feel better after having the flu tearing me in half, and more like myself again. I went out and did an easy 5 miles. Considering I hadn't been out in almost 2 weeks, was sick most of last week and was out way to late last night at the neighbors' house, I felt pretty good. My run is linked below.

http://bit.ly/3uZQJF

I'm looking to get back into a routine this week now that it seems like everyone in our house is getting back on schedule. I can't believe Thanksgiving is a little more than a week away. Where did the fall go??

The Flu

So, the flu bug finally hit our house within the last week. Katie was sick for a few days (and still nursing an awful cough). John was really sick yesterday and at one point had a fever of 102. He had a very tough night until the Children's Motrin I gave him kicked in. Audrey was sick with a double ear infection last week as well.

I came down with it yesterday afternoon. It passed quickly, but man, that was a tough 10 hours or so. I think I'm going to hold off hitting the road again until this weekend in order to get a bit more rest, which is killing me because the weather has been so nice since last weekend.

I hope this is it for our house related to sicknesses this winter. It's November and I've already had enough.

The Fight Against Lung Cancer

Interesting article on the debate over CT scans their effectiveness related to early detection of lung cancer.

http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2009/11/09/debate_continues_over_diagnostic_scans_for_lung_cancer/?page=full