Running down the trail, sulphur fumes permeate my nostrils. Steaming gases rise in the distance. Blackened craters spew acidic steam. Just down the road, a traditional Maori village welcomes foreigners to watch–and learn, for men–the Haka war ritual. Sacred Maori lands are home to Middle Earth, where I ran as close to Mount Doom as…
Tag: exercise
New Zealand Adventure!
I have to use the ! when writing about this place. There’s a reason it’s become the place to be. Here are annotated photos from my first full day in Auckland and running on Waiheke Island. ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜Her visa application was rejected. So, my beautiful girlfriend is in the Philippines right now. 我是一个人。 This tree is…
A Year in China, III
9/15: That was eerily rational. Chinese folks, at least 4 at once, stood fast as several of us exited the train at South Shaanxi. Wow. 9/16: Tired but less humidity, breezy, good air. I’m heading to InterSport. 4 classes today but felt like 2. 3 were 80 minute periods. But these sixth graders are great….
A Year In China, Dammit!
9/10: Well, thought computer saved my last week’s worth of entries. Maybe not. No time to check now. If not, I’ll have to recap later. “You’re face looks weird,” sixth grade Brian just told me bluntly. I think he meant well, maybe. I think he meant younger now than I shaved (??). Middle schoolers. Tonight’s…
I’ve (almost) Made It
XXXXVII days in the gym post-injury, pre-run. That first run did not go quite as I’d hoped. Naively, perhaps, I believed with all my might that I’d fly directly from air cast into running. “I’ll average about 5 miles a day by the time I come back into new year,” I told several folks. Hahahaha…
Healed, but…
Left—October 29th, nearly 4 days after fracturing left foot, fifth metatarsal: Right—December 11th, 6 weeks 5 days post-injury. New, thicker bone filling in the fracture line. I AM HEALED! Shouting from the rooftops!!!!! Alas, keeping boot on till next Thursday to help new bone transition through infancy. Then… Christmas run forthcoming!! My new life will…
Hanging On
5 more days in the gym since Monday. XXXVII days now in the gym with air cast. 6 weeks, 3 days since fracture. I hiked around yesterday for about 23,000 steps. It was a cool winter’s day. And it felt great. Eagerly, I await my final x Ray on Tuesday. I hope it shows complete…
Counting Down, I Hope
Thursday, 11/29-Monday, 12/04: 4 of 5 days in the gym. Basically, same routines–alternating arm-back days with legs days. 2 days with more abbreviated workouts. That’s now XXXII days in the gym since my air cast was put on 5 weeks ago. Lifetime record number of days in a gym within such a time frame. It…
Why Me?
I still can’t help but wonder: why me? Fractured foot———is this real, or a nightmare?! Just when I’ve been getting back into racing shape. No PRs on the immediate horizon, but I’ve been chipping away. And lately my racing instinct has been on the rise as I effectively put away two competitors in the final…
Gym Days XII-XIII
Rehab workouts… Sunday, 11/11: Legs Ab Machine: x 2 sets, 40 reps, 140 lbs (:45 recovery between each) Heart racing Air Crunches: x 2 sets, 20 forward, 20 right side, 20 left side, several more frontside Heart racing Ab Machine: x 2 sets…same Air Crunches: x 2 sets…same Resistance Band: x 3, 1 minute each…
Fractured Foot/Gym Days IX-XI
Friday, 11/09: Legs Air cycling: x 8 (with duration of time) 1:20, 1:30, 1:40, 2:00 1 minute x 4 (faster) Resistance Band: 1 minute x 3 times per hip Hammy weights: x 4 sets (at 27 kilos, except first at 23) 15 reps per set Adductor: x4–15 reps at 60lbs Abductor: x 4 –15 reps…
11/06 Gym Day VIII
Legs Day: Air Running x 4—2 minutes each, 1 min. recovery x 2–:70 sec. each with air crunches Resistance Band x 3 each hip, 1 minute each rep Donkey Kicks x 3, 15 reps each Hammy curl x 4–first set at 23 kilos, next three at 27 kilos Abductors x 4–60 lbs, 15 reps each…
Don't Let My Parents Read This 