12 Miles

Tits. I have tits--and my knee aches.

Let's get the facts out of the way. I ran 12.2 miles in less than 2 hours. Since Rob and Katie couldn't run any way, I just stuck close to home and ran a slightly different course. From my house I ran to Olympic and headed west. I turned north on Fairfax and then headed back east on Sunset. Fairfax is all uphill. Rather than turn on La Brea, I continued on Sunset to Vine and took that back to Beverly, made a quick turn towards Larchmont and ran south to 3rd where I picked up my usual route on 4th Street back to my house.

It was a good run. Getting motivated to actually get up and put on my shoes was the toughest part, but the promise of food was enough to kick my ass into gear. When I woke up, though, I had a slight twinge above my right knee cap. It wasn't painful, but it was bothersome. I ran and it didn't bother me. When I got back, though, I noticed that the ache was back. Still, it didn't hurt badly. I went about my day and on Monday I didn't feel any thing.

Tuesday morning, though, I woke up and it was back. Aaargh! I ran on it tonight and again it didn't bother me, but afterwards I felt it more. It seemed to get worse after sitting around eating dinner in Thai Town. I walked trying not to put too much stress on the right leg. The ache lessened once I was moving, but it's still there. I just hope it's not the recurrence of my phantom knee pain--and I hope it doesn't affect my marathon, which is already next weekend!

As for my tits, I do have them. I've known for a while that I have them. When I run I check my reflection often to see how badly my chest and belly are heaving. I've noticed in some pictures the jelly-like consistency of my chest when the photographer catches me at just the right moment. I'd like to think that I just have overly developed pectoral muscles, but that isn't the case. Yes, there is muscle there but there is also fat, and the combination of the two makes for a chest that heaves like the sea during a hurricane.

I thought that I was the only one that really noticed how bouncy my tits are, but during my run I finally got confirmation. I can't quote exactly what he said, but as I passed a stoned-looking guy on the sidewalk, I distinctly heard him say "titties" and I vaguely heard him say, "It looks like he's got titties." Again, the only word I heard clearly was "titties," but I am sure that he was referring to me. I have tits and other people notice! I wondered why runners often stare at me when I run by. Now I know that it must be my man tits that are catching their attention.

After hearing the guy's comment I kept cupping my tits to see how badly they were undulating as I run. They don't feel as if they're bouncing too much, but seeing my reflection clearly shows strong heaving. I really ought to strap these things down.

In any event, there's not much I can do. I've had tits for most of my life, and I doubt they'll go away soon or easily. I would have to lose that last 10-15 pounds I've been trying to shed for 10 years now. Of course it doesn't help that after running as much as I do, I stuff my mouth silly with food. On Sunday, post 12 miler i joined the family for lunch at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles where I gorged myself on Scoe's #1 - 2 big waffles and a quarter chicken. I could have finished the whole thing, but shame caused me to leave a quarter of my waffles on my plate.

Oh, tits. I guess we'll be together until the end of time.

2 Days Until San Diego!

San Diego Rock N Roll Marathon Medal, originally uploaded by savemejebus.

I had hoped to get in two more runs this week before the marathon, but that didn't turn out so well. Going into Sunday's race, my last run was Monday. In the two weeks leading into the race, I've run twice for a total of 14 miles. Not the best way to head into a marathon. I suppose I needed to lay off my feet anyway with my IT band issues. We shall see how it holds up.

If that wasn't enough, I'm also not preparing for this race very well. Tonight, when I should be trying to get plenty of sleep, I'll be traipsing around Topanga State Park counting grasshoppers as part of National Geographic's BioBlitz. It sounded like fun, so I couldn't very well turn it down. Thankfully we'll be done by midnight. My bedtime tends to be 1 or 2am anyway. I plan on sleeping in until 10, and head off for the drive to San Diego.

I had planned to stay two nights in San Diego, but I changed that to one. I'll drive back after the race. I hope I don't regret that decision!

When I get back I'll probably be craving steak, lots of sleep and a good massage.

Goal time: 3:45

5 Days Until San Diego

I finally signed up for the marathon on Sunday. The prices went up yesterday, so I saved a grand total of $9.05. Woo hoo!

Over the weekend I ran twice but erased any benefits by eating and drinking a lot. On Saturday FJ, Rachel, Andy and I ran eight miles, and then yesterday I ran with FJ for another six. While the runs went well, I unfortunately continue to feel a little something that I think might be my IT band. It's not painful but it's irritating, and I wonder how it will hold up over 26.2 miles. Eight and six were fine and doable with it, but I think it will be an issue over a longer distance. I'll take it a little easy this week.

FJ asked me if I was excited, but I think I stopped being "excited" over marathons a couple of races ago. The adrenaline rush still comes when I start, but the days leading up to it aren't as nerve-wracking or anxiety-ridden as they used to be. I've become a little jaded now.

01.13.2008: 9 miles

Distance: 9 miles
Time: 1:25:01
Where: Rose Bowl/Arroyo Seco

A very good run today. It was just me and FJ, and I think FJ was holding back a little, but it felt good. I still had a little something when I finished. FJ went another five miles. I would have gone a little farther but five more miles is more than I think I should be doing at this moment. I'm on track for my half marathon training. I'll try to do 11 or 12 miles next weekend. I'm not sure what distance I'll do the weekend before Surf City--10 or 12--but I'm just hoping that I get in shape for it.

As for my knee, it still doesn't feel 100%. It might have something to do with not running for a while, but they feel a little weak. I might do more lower body workouts at the gym to strengthen my legs. Things are looking good, though.

These Calves of Mine

Although there were some rough spots during the half marathon on Sunday, my legs held up fine. I was barely sore in the end. By Monday's end my legs were back to normal. I haven't run since then making sure that my legs recovered. Tonight was the first run in four days, so it surprised me that barely a mile into our run my calves--both of them--stiffened up. They're still stiff now hours later.

I plowed ahead with the run and kept a very strong pace, but my calves were making it tough. By the end of the run it felt like I had baseballs for calves. Soon my hamstring too was acting up, along with my right quadricep. I doubt I can run for a couple of days now. My legs feel worse now than they did after the half marathon.

It's just one of those things you can't explain. It's probably residual stiffness from the race, or it could just be one of those nights. One thing for sure, I don't want it to lead to an injury.

My Knees, My Weakness

I tested out my knee at the gym today. The plan was to run for a mile, but I wound up running four. It wasn't that my knee felt great. Quite the opposite. It wasn't painful, just a nagging, dull sensation, but I was still running with a limp. It felt like my left leg was longer than my right, so that I was pounding down on the right leg. After a while I was able to run a little more normally. The tenderness never went away, but it didn't bother me enough that I felt like I needed to stop, but I do have a problem saying "when," so I may have pushed through it. Apart from the knee issues, the run went well. I was a little winded even with the 10 min/mile pace but that's to be expected after two and a half weeks of no running. So, as it stands, I can still sense some lingering weakness in my knee, especially when I bend it, but I'm not walking with a limp. I won't run tomorrow, but I do have a run date with FJ on Friday.

With my knee problems and other things weighing on my mind, I've began to feel old. It took a few months but gradually the fact that I'm 30 has sunk in. I've become more self-conscious about situations and places I find myself in and wonder whether I look ridiculous. It often happens when I walk into a teen-centric place like Hollister, which also has the added stigma of being the clothing store for a majority of gays. Not only do I have to fret over being a thirty year old picking out cargo shorts in a dimly lit, peculiar-smelling store manned by shaggy haired high schoolers born when I was in high school, but I also have to wrestle with the question of whether I want to be that kind of gay man. Inevitably I walk out empty-handed.

The question of career and settling down has been gnawing at me lately, too, adding to the queasiness as to age. 30 may be the new 20 but it is still 30. The numbers don't lie. Call me crazy but I look forward to the day when I take stock and say with pride, "I'm 35 and I feel 35."

My Left Knee...

...was killing me last night!

I barely slept last night the pain in my left knee was so bad. I felt like jabbing a knife under my kneecap and pulling it out if it would make the pain go away. Ice and two Advils helped me get moving this morning, but boy does it still bother me.

Again, I have no idea how I injured it. All I have is a theory that because of my phantom left foot pain, I favored my left leg too much and while I was sleeping I must have strained my knee trying not to move my foot too much. I would think I would feel a sharp pain when that happened but I slept through and then woke up yesterday morning with the pain in my knee. However, it got worse last night. Using the elliptical probably wasn't a good idea yesterday nor was the quad stretch that I thought would help.

I'm hoping the pain will go away very soon. You really don't miss your knees until you can't use them effectively. What's saddest about this whole ordeal is that I am incurring these injuries when I'm not even running. I was mostly injury free all season long. At least this all didn't happen the week of the marathon. I would have been beside myself.

I'm also hoping that my right knee doesn't give way too. I'm just falling apart here.

My Body is a Cage

My body it is a falling apart.

After the marathon last Sunday I didn't run or work out for three days. On Thursday I took a yoga class and rode the stationary bike for a half hour. Friday I ran for the first time thinking that I was mostly recovered, but within the first mile my right calf was stiffening up. I forged ahead for three miles and stretched the calf out after. It was stiff for the rest of the day.

On Friday night I started feeling a pain on the joint of my middle toe on the right foot. It would radiate to the smaller two toes when I walked, and when I woke up on Saturday morning it was a bit painful to walk. It got better as I walked on it more but not by much. This foot problem has been an intermittent issue I've had to deal with. The last time I can remember it was just before last year's L.A. Marathon. The day before that marathon I was sure I'd have to pull out of the race. Miraculously, the next morning, I woke up and the pain was gone. I'm glad this foot pain didn't come again just before this year's marathon.

I have a feeling I may have strained my foot as a result of compensating for the stiff calf on Friday. I went for a walk with the Team on Saturday morning, barely broke a sweat, but my foot was uncomfortable. All weekend long I had to deal with the pain.

This morning something else popped up. I woke up and my knee--the inner top corner of my knee cap--was hurting. I probably hurt it because I've been walking funny because of the foot and messed it up that way. Otherwise I have no idea how I hurt it. I'm hoping this will all go away soon and I can go back to running. It also may be my body's way of making sure I take it easy post-marathon.

In other news: I saw 300 on IMAX late Saturday. For all the blood spilled onscreen the film itself is drained of blood. It's hard to care about the Spartans when you can barely distinguish any of them and they all seem like inhuman killing machines. There are speeches that are meant to be rousing, but the film is no Henry V. It's just silly and surprisingly dull when there's no bloodletting going on. The bodies are nice to look at (apparently there are no fat Spartans and everyone has an AbCruncher at home), but the cutting is so frenetic that you can't linger on the buffed out abs. The IMAX added little to the experience. I can easily just sit closer to the screen of a regular theater and get the same experience for almost half the price.

But what do I know? The film grossed $70 million and those who have read the graphic novel love the film. I guess it's just not for me.