It's been a long winter in H'istan, New England's Rising Star. Just when the most recent Nor'Easter has melted down to its last icy dregs, we've gotten sucker-punched, again and again.
So there is only one way to face this Juggernaut of Vortex's. Fight? No - flee. Escape. Vamanos. Exit, stage right. CYA.
NBBW and I are hiding out in an enclave somewhere north of Medellín, west of the Canary's, east of Havana, and south of Miami (not telling).
Got into Manhattan early Saturday. Werther at the Met, and the duck at Batali's Babbo - divine. Real early flight from JFK (Terminal five TSA get your act together, Hnos).
Got in a nice run this afternoon when the sun was going down and the wind had settled down. Got to a century in Gravity's Rainbow (book is starting to get a little nasty - OK a lot).
Boneless-skinless chix thighs marinated in yoghurt/lemon juice/lemon rind/garlic/salt/pepper worked out just fine.
Stick to the treadmill, not the bed.
Here's a feel-good story: colorectal cancer death rates are way down, thanks to vastly improved screening rates.
Citizens: as you pass the mid-century mark, schedule your colonoscopy. The prep is not exactly fun, but the procedure itself is not that bad in the end. So to speak.
I had it done a few years ago, after putting it off a couple of years. Afterward, I felt foolish for having put it off. The prep is indeed not fun, but it wasn't that bad, either--more just a nuisance than anything. Don't let it scare you.
After doing exactly "0" minutes of training, I ran the Get Lucky 7k on Saturday. I am SORE today, but I managed just a bit over 10 min mile pace and stopped to walk once, when I passed the only hydration station. Something tells me I won't be able to pull the same thing come Grandma's.
Over the fall and winter I've slipped a bit and added about 12 or so pounds back to the 40 I lost in 2008 and had to this point kept off. So I'm back to counting calories. What I forgot, and probably why gained the weight, is how a few bad choices can really wreck your count. I'm pretty good at getting to dinner time only consuming 400-600 calories. But then 3 pieces of pizza and a beer can put you way over your goal. Also little sugar treats add up quickly. That's why counting calories is so important. If you are honest, you get to see the impact of decisions you make. Someone brings muffins to work? oops there goes 1/4 of your daily calorie goal.
Also due to my wife's health, I'm probably going to have less opportunities to take 4 hours on a Saturday and go on a 60 mile bike ride. So I bought some running shoes and plan to start running once the weather gets nicer (so like 2 months from now). Since I live by the lakes, I can easily get a 3 mile run in. Even at a 12 minute mile that's less than 45 minutes and 750 calories burned. Since I haven't run since my early 20's I'm a little nervouse about the pounding on my 50-something knees. We'll see how that goes.
free - start slowly and work your way up with the running. In my mind, sore muscles are good, sore joints are not. Between cutting some of that weight with the calories and easing into it, you'll probably be able to tell pretty quickly what your knees can handle.
Walking down the beach with NBBW to go to lunch. We walk past a guy wearing a T-shirt that says So Many Books So Little Time. NBBW says: Quick - Hand him Gravity's Rainbow!
Har!