I'm Back.

Don't look now but guess whose back in town?

I got nine lives cat's eyes
Using every one of them and runnin' wild
Cause I'm back
Yes I'm back well I'm back
Yes I'm back
Well I'm back back
Well I'm back in black

Well, I really wasn't "gone" per se. It was more of an extended hiatus of sorts. Time to get some well needed things taken care of like my surgery to correct my voice and getting caught-up on all the everyday life things that I couldn't get to during training that were piled up higher than that nasty snow farm they created in the Seaport District this past winter.  By the way, I ran over there yesterday and there is still a pile!  It's the end of June for Sally's sake (I was going to say "Pete's sake" but he is always getting s bum rap). 

I learned some things during my time away. Oh, that makes it sound like I was in jail or in a rehab clinic for some addiction.  I can unequivocally say that it was neither of them. I did learn though that I was letting running be all consuming. 24 X 7. Running, run, run, run. Run this. Run that. I was missing out on the important things in front of me like spending time with my family.  Rearranging my schedule so that I could have every opportunity to run.  Every free moment.  When exactly was the moment that I made the realization though?  When did the light bulb (LED of course) flick on?  When I was in the pre-op area just after the nurse went through everything that was going to happen during my voice correction surgery.  She asked if I had any questions and I stupidly blurted out "So, when can I run again?"  Seriously?  Did I just ask that?  I sit here now thinking of the scene from "A Christmas Story" when Santa asks Ralphie what he wants for Christmas:  "I want an official Red Ryder Carbine-Action two-hundred-shot range model air rifle!".  "You'll shoot your eye out kid", Santa retorted.  In my case though, the nurse was probably saying something like "What a jerk.  That's his question?  Nothing about what is going to happen in a couple of minutes.  Geez, what a real a-hole?" (I cleaned it up a bit from what she was probably really saying).   How would the nurse know when I could run again?  She wouldn't.  More importantly, why would she even care when her priority was to make sure that everything was ready?  She didn't and at that moment I realized that my priorities were a bit out of whack. 

I found myself back in the hospital 2 weeks later due to some complications.  An opportunity to reinforce the priorities in my life.  Reinforce that running should not be consuming every aspect of my life outside of work. It was hard though as the family area on the floor of the hospital overlooked the Charles River.  All the runners basking in the sun, wind in their hair as they pounded out the miles. Jealous?  Absolutely.  But I was OK with it as I needed to focus on getting better and being with my family. There would be time to run again later on.  Balanced with life though.

I'm on the mend and have been getting back to running.  Training for a race at the end of this month and another in the middle of next month. It has been a lot more difficult and challenging than I thought it would have been after only taking a little more than a month off.  Maybe frustrating is more the feeling. I was in such top condition from training for the marathon.  Surely I should be able to get right back into it.  Pick back up right where I left off.  Not so much. Slow and easy is the course I've had to take.  That is OK with me though.  I'm taking what I learned from my coaches during marathon training to safely get back into the swing of things.

It's definitely good to be back.  Juggling running and life in a positive way.  Thankful for being able to talk and have people hear me again. 

Until next time, keep on runnin'!
 

Back In Black.

I been too long I'm glad to be back

Yes I am

Cause I'm back

Yes I'm back

Well I'm back

Yes I'm back

Well I'm back back

Well I'm back in black

Yes I'm back in black

Thank you so much AC/DC for the intro (albeit a long one)!  That song reminds me of sitting up in the nose bleed section of TD Garden with my son watching Boo-ins/Buffalo Sabres games (as-in boo they're bad- sorry I'm a true blue Sabres fan bleeding the blue & gold).  Love when they crank a little Back In Black while waiting for the puck to drop and game play to resume. It's a hockey staple!  

Wow, I cannot believe that it is October and the race season is coming to an end.  I've run a few races and have continued training since my last post back in May.

• Ran a 5K race in May to help fund Celiac Disease research in Merrimack, NH- First time ever placing in a race. I took third in the men's division. 
• Ran the Lawyers Have Heart 5K in May in Boston, MA.
• Ran the BAA 10K in June in Boston, MA (2nd race in the BAA medley- you know, the "Rice Medley"-  I love that one!)
• Strolled, no, of course I ran the Finish At The Fifty 10K in July in Foxboro, MA.
• Ran the Old Port Half Marathon in July in Portland, ME. This was hands down the best course I've run. Such an experience that I'll never forget. 

Cause I'm back

Yes I'm back

Well I'm back

Yes I'm back

Sorry, that's right, we've already established that I'm back.  "Back in black" to be more specific. 

• Ran in the Thompson Island 4K Trail Run in September on Thompson Island in Boston Harbor in Boston,MA.

It is all culminating in my last race of the season coming up this weekend.  It also happens to be the last race of the BAA "Rice Medley". There I go again.  I meant to say "Rice Pilaf". No, that's not right either.  "Race Medley". There we go. A half marathon winding through the Franklin Park area of Boston on a fall morning.  

I have to go and make sure that I've got all my 80's hair bands in the right order on my running playlist. Heaven forbid if Journey comes up before Loverboy!  

Until next time, keep on runnin'!