TNT Half-Marathon

They serve who also sit on their ass and hand out Gatorade. San Gabriel Valley Team in Training hosted an invitational half-marathon. Teams from LA locales such as the Westside, Riverside County, San Fernando Valley arrived to run 13.1 miles on our trails around and above the Rose Bowl. A perfect day to stop back and visit the team.

With a bum leg, I manned a water station at the top of a steep, rocky hill just past Jet Propulsion Laboratories. Most runners huffed and puffed their way to the top where I served them Gatorade, water, orange slices, pretzels, salt packets, and banana slices. A number of folk noticed my cast and asked nervously whether I'd broken a bone on the rocky hill they'd just ascended. They were relieved to learn I'd been running on a flat course during a 5K.

Several runners shared stories about bad breaks and sprains suffered on level terrain. Breaking a bone like that should be listed under running natural disasters: like California earthquakes, they go with the terrain.

In any case, it was good to see my Teammates again. I got a little sun and a bit of exercise. Someone asked if I'd travel to San Diego and cheer on the Team. I said I needed to put this marathon behind me and focus ahead on the next one. (Though I'll be following everyone's time online.)

Hopefully, one more week in the cast.

Getting Around with a Leg Cast

Brother, can you spare a ride? Still can't drive. There are only a few friends who live close enough to pick me up and don't work during the day. I must ask for rides with care so as not to burn anyone out. The Dutchman, an old roommate, is a TV camera operator with a late afternoon call time. He's gotten me to the doctor twice and the bank once.

I'd really like a haircut. But I don't want to burn a car trip for one.

This feels similar to house arrest.

Broken Bone Update

Those are the breaks. A minimum two more weeks in a cast. The doctor says it could be more. Old bone must be replaced by new bone and that takes time. However the break continues repairing nicely, no fragmentation.

I'm eating a lot. Or else just as much as before minus cardio activity. In any case, I'm putting on weight.

Pretty soon I'll be using the freeway truck scales.

Two more weeks.

TNT vs T'ai Chi

For five years I studied Yang family t'ai chi at a little studio in Burbank. Recently I was thinking about the differences between my martial arts classmates and the Team in Training runners.

First off, t'ai chi movements stimulate internal energy. Often called "meditation in motion," t'ai chi form practice leaves you awash in soothing endorphins. No belts or sashes are awarded for advancement. You progress like the tao: a motionless movement.

With Team in Training you're facing nothing but deadlines. For example, weekly mileage increases in order to complete a marathon. (Most people run 3 to 5 times a week, plus cross-training.) In addition, you're on the hook to raise several thousand dollars. For Hawaii last year, the minimum was $4,200.

Yet in general Team in Training runners exhibit more serenity, laughter, and optimism than my martial arts chums. For instance, among t'ai chi peers, there were several New Age passive-aggressives, a political rage-a-holic, and a wisecracking, retired radio comic who dressed like Chester Cheeto. There were also decent, down-to-earth folk, but the malcontents and exotics dominated. Why do runners seem more at peace than Chinese martial artists? Better endorphins? Can't say.

United 93 Film

A very tense film. Even though I knew the ending, I hoped the passengers would pull it off somehow. The director used cell phone conversations and cockpit tapes to recreate much of the action. Hand-held cameras and an unknown cast gave the film a riviting documentary feel.

I didn't leave humming the music, but I did gain an added appreciation for ordinary people who rose to perform extraordinary deeds aboard United Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001.

A 20 Mile Run, But Not My 20 Mile Run

All the best to my Team in Training chums as the prepare to log 20 miles this Saturday. From there, they'll taper down in distance as the San Diego Marathon approaches on June 4.

Six months ago I ran 20 miles in preparation for the Honolulu Marathon. Six months from now I should be running 20 again as I gear up for the Phoenix Rock 'N Roll Marathon.

And now, back to my deadlines.

TNT '06 Photos

A long Saturday run back in March with teammate PJ.







Thanks to assistant coach Mark for the digital memories.

Broken Bone News

X-rays show my 5th metatarsal knitting nicely. As a reward, I got a walking cast. If I hadn't spent three weeks on crutches, I'd say this was a lousy way to get around.

The bitter doctor found a more chipper side today. Looks like three months of no running. But once I lose the cast, I'm cleared for aqua jogging or ellipticals — non-impact things.

Still working on my young adult horror novel. I've set a target date to finish the outline by June 4. That's also San Diego Marathon day.

So I've still got a goal, just not the one I'd planned.

Feels great to limp!

Web Brawlers

Having a broken foot means I spend more time on the Internet. Recently, I've discovered fight sites. These websites feature videos of people fighting. Some contests are staged but most show fistfights in parks, alleys and streets.

As you might guess, combatants are usually young males. There are one-punch knockouts, sucker punches, painful beatdowns, group battles and a few really good fights where both parties go at it hard with some know-how. An archive of blog CityRag featured a fight linkfest.

Lots of headlocks along with the perennial favorite of climbing atop your opponent and punching him in the face until he quits.
A surprising number of girl fights. Girls go for the hair, gripping it like C-clamps. They will sometimes pause in the middle of a punch-up to taunt or insult one another.

There was a muscular black guy named Kimbo who came across as a semi-pro, bareknuckle fighter. I saw him in a few videos. He traveled with a crew, changed shoes before a fight, and wore a mouthguard. Kimbo kept his arms up and his feet moving. He hit hard, klonking one opponent with an uppercut that laid the guy out in a parking lot. But Kimbo was nothing if not a good sport, wishing his foe well and checking to see he was Okay.

My fighting years are long past. Nowadays, when trouble threatens, I drop a twenty-dollar bill and run.

Or hobble briskly.

18 Miles and a BBQ

This weekend the team will hoof 18 miles on trails around the Rose Bow. The run is proceeded by a raffle and bookended by a finish line barbeque. I will miss said events as I'm up to my crutches in paying work — thankfully. However, the TNT energy continues into the afternoon with the opportunity to:

BUY NICE THINGS!
Ready to lose the Queen poster and stop drinking out of Flintstone jelly jars? TNT member Wendy opens her home to representatives from Private Quarter and Southern Living at Home. See their spring collection and upgrade your space with fine items ranging from glassware to accents. Drinks, lite snacks and a few bonus drawings (including a little something from The Simpsons) round out a fun evening starting at 6:30 PM on Saturday, April 29. Click here for Wendy's Glendale locale. Check out an "Early Bird" showing from 4:30 to 5:30 PM.

Meanwhile, I count the hours until my orthopedic appointment Monday. A walking cast may be in my future. Non-crutch locomotion would feel fine about now.

Hit Me

Hit number 2,000 today.

Thanks to all who frequent this blog.

That includes web crawlers and the "Anonymous" people trying to sell me something.