That's It, I Quit, I'm Moving On

...moving on from injury and illness.

This week I'm starting over. For the past 6 months I feel as if I've gone from illness to injury over and over again. I need a fresh start without acting like I'm making up for lost time. I need to approach running and the whole fitness thing as if it's new. I feel like I get started again then I get sick, or injured, or both. I don't know the body I have right now and how it will react to what ever I'm doing. I started swimming two weeks ago then I got sick, which wiped me out last week. All I want is to be healthy. Last year was so promising and I was beginning to make progress again. This year is half way through and I feel as if it's been full of setbacks. It's time for some good karma and maybe a more conservative approach to my training. I don't think the  "full speed ahead" approach is working for me. I know I can't dwell over how the past 6 months have been,  PRs in sight (again) only to vanish between illness and injury.

FROM HERE ON OUT THERE WILL BE NO MORE INJURIES OR ILLNESSES THAT IMPEDES MY PROGRESS!

• I will rebuild.
• I will meet my goals.
• I will see some PRs. 
• I will persevere.

Unfinished business / randomness...

About a month ago The Black Knight had a random drawing for a Race for the Cure t-shirt from Italy.  Lo and behold, I won!

Front

Back

This T shirt is incredibly soft and I've been wearing it as a night shirt. I kept meaning to get a photo* of it ever since it arrived. Grazie molto, Cavaliere Nero!!

We received my daughter's graduation photos, finally!

Renee Alexandra Morton - June 3, 2010 - Associates of Arts - Dance, Certificates in Dance and Education **

Our senior citizen kitty, Cruiser, has to be about 18 years old, which makes him something like a hundred years old by cat standards.  He's slow.  He can't jump fences or stalk birds outside, but his head is all there, still seeks attention, and can meow louder than any other cat I've known.  He's a little scruffy looking due to his advanced age, but I captured a photo this morning that makes him look like the kitten he once was:

"Meeeeeoooooow! " translates to "Let me in!"

In World Cup Soccer today, Brazil shut out Chile, 3 to 0. Since the USA is out, I'm now completely behind Brazil, but I am out-numbered since 4 of the 5 people living in my house are part Brazilian.  Do I have a choice?  Yes, I suppose I could be a rebel and root for Germany or Spain since I have descendants from both of those countries, but it wouldn't be pretty. I'll root for Brazil and keep the peace.

Photo - Soccerfanhouse.com /Associated Press

Thursday's Song:
That's Not Me - The Beach Boys

PEACE

*Photo credit to my almost 7 year old grandson, Evan.
** How often do you use your kid's full name?

I Should Have Known Better

With some underlying paranoia about my foot, I sent an e-mail to Justin at RU (Bryan was out of town) with my concerns and if there were anything else I should be doing. I really shouldn't be surprised, but he said I should be keeping up my cardio (recumbent bike and/or swimming) plus lunge and squat matrices. I should have known. It seems like that's the fix it for everything. I'm not kidding. If I said my eye hurt I'm sure I'd be told to do some sort of lunge or squat matrix. I'm beginning to think the lunge and squat matrix is sort of like the Windex in the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. It fixes/cures everything.

Gus and his Windex

Last night Michael and I attended the San Diego Track Club's award dinner at the Hall of Champions - Balboa Park. I've never been to the Hall of Champions before. It's the home of many local athlete's awards, uniforms, gear and Sports History in San Diego. It was quite impressive and still had that"new" feeling to it, even though it has been there for a while. Monique Henderson, an Olympic gold medalist and local athlete, was the keynote speaker. She was kind enough to stand for photos with her gold medals and let us hold them. Wow. The medals are beautiful. I suppose it will be the only time I'll ever get to hold an Olympic medal. Monique was so gracious. An event photographer was present, and I'll see if I can post the photo with Monique once it's available.

Keynote speaker - Olympic Gold Medalist, Monique Henderson

There was also a large floor area set up with round banquet tables decorated in blue and white linens with the SDTC logos and flower arrangements. The set-up was quite lovely. Track club members slowly trickled in, and we began to see many of our friends. I felt very fortunate to share a table with the wonderful people pictured here:

Anne and Gilbert

Jesu and Patricia

Dan and Jody

Us

Just like other SDTC dinners we've been to, some people are difficult to recognize without donning their running gear. Someone came up to me and said that she almost didn't recognize me without my hat and sunglasses.

Unlike other SDTC dinners we've been to, they served alcohol, and not just wine and beer. I'm not a big beer drinker and I'm allergic to many wines, so whoopie for me. I could have a vodka-cranberry.

Awards were given out and many were no surprise, but there were a couple of awards that were a surprise to the recipients. Our coach Paul Greer received a Presidential award for promoting fitness. He was overwhelmed and emotional. I can't think of a better recipient. I understand that there were only 6 of these awards given out, nation wide. Another award, the Spirit of SDTC, went to a track club member who we often run with, Marison. I was quite thrilled for her and it felt like a family member had won. This past year she has been more involved and has really come through for the club in a pinch. She's also one of the nicest people you would ever meet.

The foot is feeling better, *whew* but still a tiny bit sensitive. I'll attempt an easy, slow run on Tuesday morning.

Is everyone ready for Thanksgiving? Me either.

Yesterday's song:
Get Over It - The Eagles

PEACE

Some Like It Hot

I don't know what it is about the Olympics that makes me stop doing what ever it is I'm doing and watch a sport I know next to nothing about. I find myself cheering for the the athletes, all of them, not just the ones from my country. I love it!

Yesterday's song:
Loose Balloon - Presidents of the United States


PEACE