Dr. Ed

Good Morning Loop! Last Monday (10/16/17) marked 6 months till Boston. As I wrote in my Injury update, I am a bit broken. Physically....Yes....Mentally...Never!!!! I was told on September 17th that I cannot run for at least 6 weeks because of a broken elbow. Well, I haven't really followed that advice. How could I? Running is not just something I do. Running is part of my lifestyle. I can't just bike (that is what led to this problem in the first place). I can't just get on a stationary bike (it is okay for a once a week adventure). I can work on my core and lower body; however, nothing beats a run! Nothing!!!!! I MUST RUN! So...I started running. I did take some time off from running...I biked, I walked, I speed walked, I biked...I jogged down hills on my walks, but I did not run. Last Saturday, about 3 1/2 weeks post injury, I went out for a walk and said screw it...I running. And I Did! Guess what? My arm did not fall off....my bone did not jump out of my elbow socket...I didn't fall over (but that would have sucked). Everything went fine. I ran 4 miles on Saturday....5 more on Sunday...8 on Monday...(Biked on Tuesday) and then ran 5 and 5 on Wednesday and Thursday. Yup...I am running again. Boston is only 6 months away and I am not going to take another 3 to 4 weeks off. I figure I can slowly build back up my miles while my elbow is still recovering, because it is not like I have a broken leg or ankle...it is a broken elbow on my arm. Therefore, I am upgrade myself (against Doctor's orders) from Injury to Training. Actually, I am a Doctor...not an MD, but a PhD and therefore, I am not going against Doctor's orders...as a Doctor, I am giving myself new orders...a new journey...that started on Monday and will take me to Boston on 16 Apr 17!!!!! Happy Running Loopsters! Dr. Ed

I couldn't imagine the time spent training for 100 miler..Proud of you Brother!!!!! You are going to accomplish this outstanding goal with smart training an an awesome attitude!

Thank you for sharing....You never know who is going to catch the running bug and how it will change their lives!

Your comment about joining the military made me laugh....I understand the feeling. My littlest one (Natalee) is 5 years old and has lived in 5 different houses in three different States in her life. We should only be hear for about another 18 months and it will be time to move again. I think this is it for us and I am going to retire so I can give my kids some type of normal household living.

Love seeing the dancing Banana! I understand the feeling of leaving the kids to go run; however, I have discovered they do appreciate the dedication I have to running and actually want to join in every once in a while.

Chicago is my home town....I was born in that city and I go back at least once a year. Chicago has been one of my bucket list marathons for some time now; however, it turns out it is just not meant to be for me. At least not for me this year. This all started about the first week of August when I was innocently changing weights on a barbell to do a little Les Mills Body Pump. I was bent over moving a weight bench and stayed in that position to put on the 10 lbs weights on each side of the bar. I went to stand up and nope...couldn't do it. I just couldn't stand up. I have never felt that way before....I ended up having to go to the emergency room, getting a shot and had to say off my feet for two weeks. Okay, two weeks suck, but all it does was take me out of the running to trying to get a PR at Chicago. Two weeks later I was back on the road. I was running for about two weeks and then Hurricane Harvey hit Southern Texas. For those of you that don't know, I am a Chief Master Sergeant in the Air Force, stationed in Fort Worth, TX. As the Command Chief of the 136 Airlift Wing, we are Air National Guardsmen that are responsible to help take care of Texans when the Governor needs us. I spent 21 straight days working 14-16 hour days helping coordinate rescue and relief efforts. While this was happening I was getting up at 0400 to ensure I at least got in 5-7 miles before I went into work. It was tired, but I wanted to at least have miles on my legs to run Chicago. I actually had a 1/2 marathon in Dayton, OH (Air Force Marathon/Half Marathon) on September 16 as part of a team event. I was a last minute add on because one of the team had to drop. I ran a respectable 1:42 and we did well as a team. I flew home on the 17th, went to church with the family, watched a little football and then decided to go for a bike ride....HUGE MISTAKE. I have decided to start training for triathlons, something different to do as I enter into my 50s. I borrowed a road bike, shoes, helmet, the whole package. This is the first time I even was on a bike that had clip in pedals. For those of you who have been on these you probably know what happened next. I didn't even get one evolution around on the bike, lost my balance and fell to my left. I couldn't get out of the clips in time. I tried to brace my fall by putting my arms out...Doing so lead to a large amount of pain. Pain like I have never felt before in my life. Long story long....I ended up going to the emergency room (second time in about 6 weeks) and was told I had a compressed radial head that actually led to a brake. I broke my elbow on my right arm. I also sprained my left wrist. I went for a follow up appointment two days later and I did ask my doctor if I could still run the Chicago Marathon. This is what he stated "I would like you to consider taking up smoking"!!!! Huh?...What? Why would you suggest that, I asked. His response was priceless...Because taking up smoking is just about as stupid as running a marathon in your condition. Point taken (even though I think I could still have ran). I was lucky enough to be able to defer my entry to 2018 (The cut off was the 19th) and am looking forward to running in my home town next year. The good news is that I did not need surgery and I am still able to spin a little on an indoor bike. I also get to do some brisk walking and lower body exercises. So for those of you who do give me "Kudos" on Starva, you see that I am not running much. It is not because I do not want to run, but rather just can't do it. I don't want to jeopardize anything getting in the way of me running Boston next April! Dr. Ed

Mine are hanging in our fitness room. I still have the homemade medal hanger give to be as a secret santa loop gift...it is my favorite!!!