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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Cause & Effect

Hey there blogosphere, what's new?  So to pick up where we left off last time, I was back to running after ending the running streak at 43 days and I had what I thought to be a really bad case of shin splints.  Fast forward to Wednesday, January 25, a day that will live in infamy for the following reasons.


1.In 1915, the inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, inaugurated U.S. transcontinental telephone service and we've been charged outrageous long-distance rates ever since...




2. In 1980, Paul McCartney is released from a Tokyo jail & deported.  They should have left him there....have you listened to any "Wings" album?


Really?


3. In 2012, Justin Rummel was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right tibia.  Stupid, stupid man.




A stress fracture is described as a small break in a bone caused by repetitive action.  An example would be running every day.  Yes, I know what you're thinking, in fact, I am an idiot for taking on this ridiculous challenge.   


According to Newton's third law "for every action there is an opposite and equal reaction".  So the body can take a great deal of stress from continual action due to the slight elasticity of our skeletal structure.  Add in the absorption power of the muscles and most of the shock forces can be dissipated throughout the leg.  However, due to the muscle fatigue from all the miles logged during the previous month, my muscles stopped absorbing the shock and the bones' shock force intake increased; thereby creating the perfect environment for a stress fracture. 


So you could say, I am a broken man.  The doctor's prescription....rest, no running for one month and then he'll take another x-ray to determine if the fracture has adequately healed.  When I asked him about the marathon in March, he said, no marathons until April or May depending on how it goes from here.  Not exactly what I wanted to hear, but there is a bright side, if you look closely enough and sift through all of my stupidity.


Dr. Cohen said that I can still bike, swim and that's about it.  So I've been biking while awaiting my doctor's appointment, not my favorite thing in the world but my Christmas gift (a bike trainer) to Addy will sure come in handy over the next month.  Additionally, we have the sweetest pool in DC right across the street at Wilson High School so it looks like I'll have to break out my speedo!



So what have we learned from this little adventure?  Running on average 5 miles everyday for over a month, not recommended.  Listen to your body and your wife when they both implore you to cease and desist.  Finally, being a stubborn, stubborn man really sucks at times.


So while this blog is entitled "Man Running", this man won't be running for awhile.  Stay tuned for Man Swimming & Biking and perhaps Rope Climbing soon.


Until next time,


Justin

Sunday, January 15, 2012

The End - 43 days

The streak has ended.  Yes, my body finally gave out after 43 days of running every day.  Honestly, it was bound to happen at some point.  On what would have been day 44, I got home around 7:30 and barely had the energy to walk across the garage.  After much consternation about letting go of the streak, I decided to listen to my body and that was all she wrote.  As a result of those 43 days, I have come down with a terrible case of shin splints.  This led to a new streak of not running which lasted for four days finishing the first week in January with a measly 11 miles.

Ouch!!!
However, if you know me, then you could probably guess that I'm not about to allow a little pain to get in my way.  It actually hurts a lot more when I walk then when I run.  Anyways, long story short, I'm back at it this week logging 33 miles for the week.

Whether you care or not, I am going to note that I've trimmed my beard.  In my humble opinion, the beard was awesome.  But, I felt like it was getting a little too crazy for the finance world and therefore, I took it down a notch.  Since that time, my streak has ended and the shin splints have started; could it be that much like Samson, my strength rested within the beard or is it pure coincidence?  Needless to say, I'm bringing the beard back; damn the office mores.

Moving on, so I've heard from a couple readers (literally 2) about getting back to the blogging.  I've taken an extended break from writing (I use the term loosely) for a number of reasons.

1) I kind of hate the fact that the streak ended and have been slightly pissed off about it.  Therefore, I've boycotted the writing because I'm not sure if it makes physical sense to try and start another streak.  I'm running my next marathon in March and I don't want to jeopardize my participation with this odd streak.

2) Between work responsibilities and just life in general, I didn't have it in me to continue writing the blog.  Thank the Great Spirit for long weekends or else this post may have never came to be.

3) I'm taking a class this quarter.  So combine a lot of office hours with a lot of study hours and that's what I like to call a "blog killer".

I surrender!!!!
So for all of my dedicated readers (all 2 or 3 of you), I will continue to post; however they will be posted on a completely haphazard schedule.  If you can't handle that, you have way to much time on your hands and should probably start a blog about it.

All in all I've had a great start to 2012.  I love my wife, my family, my job and my life, so I don't really have anything to complain about other than the wicked, nasty shin splints.  On a side note, my wife is training for her first half-marathon and crushing it right now, so many props to her as she continues to train for her big race.

Hands off; she's all mine boys.
Hope everyone is having a great start to 2012, Mayans be damned.  Stats below:

Monday (1/9/12) - Miles - 5.03 in 42:01 at 8:21 pace burning 776 calories
Mile 1 - 7:47 / Mile 2 - 8:25 / Mile 3 - 8:22 / Mile 4 - 8:47 / Mile 5 - 8:24

Tuesday (1/10/12) - Miles - 3 in 24:42 at 8:14 pace burning 464 calories
Mile 1 - 8:05 / Mile 2 - 8:23 / Mile 3 - 8:14

Wednesday & Thursday - Off days

Friday (1/13/12) - Miles - 6 in 52:29 at 8:49 pace burning 933 calories
Mile 1 - 8:01 / Mile 2 - 8:23 / Mile 3 - 8:44 / Mile 4 - 9:24 / Mile 5 - 8:36 / Mile 6 - 9:21

Saturday (1/14/12) - Miles - 6 in 49:51 at 8:18 pace burning 926 calories
Mile 1 - 7:57 / Mile 2 - 8:17 / Mile 3 - 8:22 / Mile 4 - 8:38 / Mile 5 - 8:18 / Mile 6 - 8:14

Sunday (1/15/12) - *Note to the reader, very sick on this run but a man's gotta do, what a man's gotta do.
Miles - 13 in 1:54.44 at 8:49 pace burning 2007 calories (wish I felt good enough to replace them....)
Mile 1 - 8:02 / Mile 2 - 8:44 / Mile 3 - 8:34 / Mile 4 - 8:40 / Mile 5 - 8:23 / Mile 6 - 8:36 / Mile 7 - 8:55 / Mile 8 - 8:36 / Mile 9 - 9:04 / Mile 10 - 9:08 / Mile 11 - 9:33 / Mile 12 - 8:57 / Mile 13 - 9:36



Until next time...

Justin

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Days 36 - 40 A New Year

Happy New Year!!!  2011 was a great year and I'm looking to keep the positive vibes rolling right into 2012.  All apologies to the Mayans, but I don't buy what you're selling regarding the end of world in December.

So as you've probably noticed (all 2 or 3 of you who actually read this drivel) I've moved away from posting on a daily basis.  A couple of reasons for the change:

1) It's tough enough running everyday, let alone writing everyday;
2) In all honesty, I'm boring and there just isn't that much fodder for a daily post;
3) I like to build the suspense of "did he or didn't he". (A by-product of reality TV, thanks Addy)

As I reminisce over 2011, I tend to focus on the most recent month, December.  It was a great month for "Man Running".  Honeymoon success, quality time with family & friends and last but not least my truly first entire month of running every day.  Over the 31 days in December, I ran a total 124.19 miles over 18 hours averaging 8:42 per mile and burning a total of 19,144 calories. (I wonder how that stacks up to the calories I consumed this month....?)  2011 running ended yesterday with a 12 mile run up and back the Capital Crescent Trail in 1 hour and 44 minutes.  Beautiful day for a run; however I'm starting to wonder if "Ol' Man Winter" is ever going to show up.

Where's all the snow?
However, that's not to minimize any other month in 2011.  From my first marathon in March 2011 to our  wedding in April; 2011 was a lot of fun.  I'll always look back on it as a monumental year in every aspect.  I learned a lot this year about myself and about life in general. In my best estimation, learning really is the key to growth as an employee, as a husband and just generally as a resident of this blue pearl we call Earth.

Here's a quick list of 2011's "Top 5" lessons learned or reinforced during the past year:

1) Per the Beatles, "All you need is love".  Whether it be the love of your family, friends or an act of random kindness, love goes a long way in ensuring happiness in the day-to-day.
2) Patience is a virtue.  A tough lesson, especially when you're stuck in traffic for countless hours or awaiting a special occasion; patience is a must and serves us well in keeping that blood pressure down.
3) Babies.....
a. You really can hold them without breaking them;
b. Family will always ask when you're going to start making them after you get married (and that's okay);
c. They're everywhere!
Everett and I chillin' over the holidays.

4) Hard work pays off.  Maybe not right away, but in life, at work, or at play, if you give it your all; you will reap the benefits.
5) Take vacations.  I went through my twenties not really taking them; however as an older and wiser gentleman of 34 years of age, I can say that everyone needs time to recharge their batteries on a yearly basis.

Life's a beach.
I hope each and everyone of you have a happy and successful 2012.

Stats below:

Day 36 (12/28/11) - 5 miles in 42:15 with an average pace of 8:26
(Mile 1 - 8:05 / Mile 2 - 8:29 / Mile 3 - 8:25 / Mile 4 - 8:38 / Mile 5 - 8:35)

Day 37 (12/29/11) - 5 miles in 42:05 with an average pace of 8:24
(Mile 1 - 8:08 / Mile 2 - 8:26 / Mile 3 - 8:21 / Mile 4 - 8:40 / Mile 5 - 8:21)

Day 38 (12/30/11) 4 miles in 32:42 with an average pace of 8:10
(Mile 1 - 8:03 / Mile 2 - 8:05 / Mile 3 - 8:30 / Mile 4 - 8:00)  Totally racing a stranger that last mile.  Love it!

Day 39 (12/31/11) 12 miles in 1:44:26 with an average pace of 8:41
(Mile 1 - 8:05 / Mile 2 - 8:27 / Mile 3 - 8:44 / Mile 4 - 8:42 / Mile 5 - 8:36 / Mile 6 - 8:36 / Mile 7 - 8:50 / Mile 8 - 8:36 / Mile 9 - 8:57 / Mile 10 - 8:55 / Mile 11 - 8:33 / Mile 12 - 9:13)

Day 40 (1/01/11) 2 miles in 16:57 (Mile 1 - 8:29 / Mile 2 - 8:28)
*Note to self; running on a belly full of tasty pork shoulder, sauerkraut, and Addy's famous mashed potatoes is not as fun as filling said belly with this delicious New Year's day meal.



Until next time,

Justin