Starting with a walk

It's not much, but I was really pumped to be able to go out for an extended walk today - 4 miles at a careful pace.

My mental state had been on a bit of roller-coaster this week, because I had been experiencing moderately painful groin pain, the same pain I'd had before surgery. I was bummed out by the prospect that we'd fixed the hernia, but not the groin pain.

But on Thursday the doctor assured me the pain was normal and expected. He couldn't promise it, but seemed pretty confident the pain would gradually subside. Of course, he also wanted me grounded through the end of the month, so I won't be able to join Mike on our planned 50-miler on the 30th.

Still, the doc gave me the go-ahead to walk, so that's what I'm going to do. If I do it religiously, maybe I'll be ready to ramp up on Oct. 1. -- Rob

Welcome Fall Temperatures

Had a nice 4 mile run this morning, along with my poodle. Maurice only likes to run with me if the temperature is below 65 F. Today's weather was ideal. I may be over the trauma of Hospital Hill, especially if the temperature remains mild in the morning.
Looking forward to our group run and dinner next Tuesday! - Ken

Good and Bad of a Ride!

Started in Ferrelview and rode to Dearborn. Weather was great, but on the warm side. Got to Dearborn and was a half mile short of my 17.5 mile turnaround when I saw a lady half off and half on the road. She was picking up something in the ditch that I soon discovered was a little dog. It look like Sandy, Little Orphan Annie's dog, only smaller. The little guy was still breathing but in shock at that time. It was bleeding and badly damaged in the hind quarters. The lady told me that she saw something rolling under the car in front of her and then recognized it as her neighbor's dog. Evidently, the dog got out, or was let out, of his fenced in yard. It was running with another dog when it got hit. The driver that hit the dog kept on going. After all, we are a busy people and haven't got time to stop for trivial stuff!

I helped the lady lay the dog in her trunk on a little baby mattress. He was trying to get up and was pulling himself by his front legs. I'm pretty sure he had some serious back and internal injuries. I started petting him and talking softly to him to give him some comfort. I actually thought the dog was going expire at any time. He started moaning and then howling. I guess the shock wore off and the pain was setting in. It was all I could do to keep from crying myself. The lady, on the other hand, was almost in panic mode and I felt myself comforting her as well as the dog. I was holding the dog down to keep him from hurting himself any more and patting the lady on the shoulder at the same time. She was really shook up!

I took my water bottle and began pouring some water on the little dog's head and upper body to keep him cool. It was fairly hot in the ladies trunk and the dog was laying half in direct sunlight. I don't know if it helped or not, but it made me feel like I was, at least, trying to keep him comfortable.

I called 911 shortly after arriving on the scene and apologized to the operator for it possibly not being a qualifying emergency. She was great and said help was on the way. The help was in the form of an Animal Control officer who was totally inept! I wanted him to just take the dog to the animal clinic to either help him or euthinize him. All this idiot wanted to do was ask question of how, when, who, etc. I told him that minutes could make the difference in whether the little guy makes it or not and if he wanted to ask questions he could call me later. I was more than a little pissed!!!

At any rate it was a long ride back to Ferrelview. All I could picture, in my mind, was that little dog looking up at me with that forlorn, lost look in his little eyes asking me what happened to him....Mike

Tires On The Trail and Wind in My Ears!

Well, that's about all I could hear since there was practically no one on the Anita Gorman Trail in Smithville! I passed only one cyclist. There were no walkers and not even one boat on the lake. It seemed so quiet and serene that it presented a whole new atmosphere for the ride. My plan was to go out and back twice on the 9.25 trail, but coming back it started to sprinkle in the last half mile so I called it a day. I'll ride again on Sunday afternoon and put in a few more miles...Mike

Solid Run!

Decided to tackle an eight miler this morning. Wasn't so sure how I would feel after working my butt off riding in the wind yesterday, but it went just fine. Only problem was a right calf pain that I think is a slight muscle strain. I thought it was a cramp last week, but it's in the same place and I was pretty hydrated to begin the run. Averaged 10:36 on a hilly course and that's counting the walks I took here and there. I didn't walk a minute every mile, like I sometimes do, but I did do some walking in order to drink my Gatorade. My plan, at this point, is to rest totally tomorrow and hit that Prairie Spirit Trail on Thursday, weather and wind permitting....Mike

Cut Short!

Was going to ride 50 miles today but the wind, with extremely heavy gusts, forced me to call Chris to come and get me at 24 completed miles. Almost got blown off the road twice and I'm such a wienie when it comes to broken bones and lacerations. Got a heck of a work out in anyway, thanks to the wind. My Garmin stated that I rode mile 20 at 7.8 mph. Does that tell you anything about the wind?.... Mike

Just an easy four miler

Easy four miles today. Wanted to ride yesterday but the rain kind of killed that. Plan to ride 40 tomorrow by taking the Interurban to Amity and try going east on Amity until I hit 20 miles. I'll report my experience...Mike