Sky's picked up a new habit. Every time we pass the road-rage neighbor who followed me home and into my garage, grabbing at me and screaming that he was in a hurry and I should have driven faster (I inconsiderately slowed down to let cyclists safely down our hill) she does this at him. Where ever could she have learned that? From her dad. After the spitty, wrinkly old road-rager asked Ramsey if he was going to DO SOMETHING ABOUT getting him to leave, Ramsey does this at him every time we pass. Watch out, nasty old guy, Sky is watching you.I ran for the first time in 8 days today, for about 45 minutes. On a positive note, my vision didn't get any worse for it, and it really wipes all head pain out, saving me another handful of pills. On a less positive side - my legs felt like crap. Super taper may not be working out so well after all. While running, I thought about how life will change if this continues. If I am a chronic migraineur for life. There are some that live like this. For me it means poor vision and likely the end of my driving days. And considering that I can train for one week every few weeks, it really does wipe out competitive athletics. The Drs. and drugs can't beat it. The fishy timing (first in 7 years on the day before my new job starts, the next one on a Sunday night a month later) make them all say it's stress. I feel busy, but I don't feel stressed. Life is always busy, and it always has been. Stress is wussytalk for busy.
On I ramble.. here's what this post is really about: the hobbies I am considering as replacements for training and racing:
Smoking. Just to try the opposite route. Double bonus here - it will make me too phlemy and wheezy to run, and will destress me. It's been 9 yrs and I still want one! Good thing I didn't dabble in crack in college.
Knitting. Maybe competitive knitting. My little sister knits. I bet I could pearl faster, or knit knittier or something.
Portuguese Horseshoes. It's big here. And involves throwing painted washers into a small hole in a piece of plywood, while drinking beer.
Helicopter-momming. I think that means hovering over your children everywhere they go, but I need to look it up on The Wiki. I think having no life of one's own is a requirement. I could get into that. The best part is when you tell the kid's teachers how to teach. They love that.
Egyptology. Just because.
Feel free to make other suggestions. I need something to look forward to.
I need to make a HUGE shoutout to Beth. 3:03 and third overall - in her first ever marathon. And she looked gorgeous doing it. You rock, Beth. If I wear my lulu shorts and my zoot compression socks on Sunday, can I run 3:03?
Rach you could run in a bikini or wesuit and get a 3:03!
ReplyDeleteOkay, here are some fun ones...
nevermind, don't know anything. I am too tired waiting for this 10:25pm flight! BUT alllllll the best thinking of new hobbies, please don't get back on the cancer sticks (cigs).
ha ha, sky is funny! i love to do that on out-and-back running courses to guys i know to freak them out. it is really a good move to know!
ReplyDeleteinstead of smoking or crack or doing any other of the things i could get up to but don't(unless of course you have seen some strange fb pictures...), i knit! it is really relaxing, plus, what child can ever have too many wool pants or ponchos? seriously, i do...
as for beth, she looked hot, i agree - that was totally a good 'marathon' look. you may hve to try a bikini for your marathon if you want to out do that ;)
Knitting is good. I used to do it. Two years ago everyone got knitted sweaters from me. Some people even wear them. Horseshoes is fun too. Or Croquet? Hope you feel better.
ReplyDeleteI would take Bree's suggestion and skip the Cancer Sticks.
ReplyDeleteHow about BeeKeeping? It might have some added bonuses? There is always the honey and maybe Sky could train them to make the neighbor's life not so pleasant?
Sky is hilarious! You can get under 3:00 in your marathon!
ReplyDeleteSky is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI also like the beekeeping idea-keep the cranky neighbor at bay.
:)
I hear that if you wear a tutu with compression socks and the number F10 you will break 2:50. If you do all that while continuign to stalk LOST characters for your internet friend in New York.... I hear you will break 2:50.
ReplyDeleteJust what I heard!
:-) mary
Please don't helicopter mom - one of them works for me. I like the horseshoes with LaCroix water...
ReplyDeletePress charges and get a restraining order against wrikle, angry guy. Don't mess with crazy people - get serious right away. You were being a careful driver and that guy needs some community service.
2:49
ReplyDeleteI need your daughter to come live with me to deal with all the bozos around my neighborhood. Our main highway in the city is shut down and all the traffic detours through my neighborhood. I am tired of giving the finger to cars at 6 a.m., maybe this would translate? I LOVE the idea of helicopter momming - HA! Nice one, I don't think you need to resort to that, you will do great this weekend.
ReplyDeleteYour daughter is so cute, I love that she does that to that grouchy neighbor, lol, he deserves a different had signal!
ReplyDeleteHey that's great news that running for 45 min helps get rid of the head pain! It's also very good that you've been to the doctors, optometrist, and had an MRI, so anything like blood clots, tumors and eye disease are ruled out, that is fantastic. It's really quite amazing the toll that stress takes on the body.
I think you're doing great, you're starting to listen to your body, and let your body tell your brain what to do, not vise versa. With serious competitive athletics it's all about pushing your body, and ignoring all the warning signals that you're hurting yourself, they call it "negative thinking", but that's bs. It's very unhealthy!
I got a book by Dr. Gillian, the gal who does the show "You Are What You Eat", and she writes in there that she had a migraine for 2 years! She claims after she started taking blue algae supplements and eating more nutritious food it finally went away.
Hobbie suggestions: Yoga, meditation, and sports that feels really fun and not tortuous, ie. diving, snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, surfing, horseback riding.
Cross-stitching. I swear that is a good one and enough to drive you insane in the process! You would have tons of cute little gifts to give to friends for the holidays though!
ReplyDeleteThat's it Rachel, you are officially on my prayer list. I haven't actually written the list down yet, but I mentally go through it and you are mentally on it. Well not mentally but physically you know like for your eye, okay maybe mentally too for your sanity!
ReplyDeleteDon't feel bad about the run. It is officially 'off season' anyway. You don't need a replacement hobby cuz you are going to be A-okay!
M
take up reality tv. its the best hobby around.
ReplyDeleteHey Rach, I think what you have is contagious as my sister caught a case of it. She has had splitting migraines for two weeks and she said it feels like someone is poking her in one eye. When she described this, I immediately thought of you. Her doctor thinks it has to do with tension. She too is a mother, do you think this is a mommy thing? Any tips I can give her?
ReplyDeleteyoga!
ReplyDeleteyou don't have to be able to see too well and I bet you're already super bendy.
you crack me up!
ReplyDeletegosh, nice neighbour.. good that Sky's on his case.
ReplyDeleterunning fixes lots of different problems. I had unexplained chest pains for a year, except for a couple of hours after running. To me this suggests the cure for what ails you is more running, not less ;-)
try walking, by the ocean for preference. Go back to the outrigger canoeing - I find paddling very soothing, a fine kind of low-impact meditative workout, recommended. The demon tobacco, not so much..
Screw the marathon. Come here for a while... pot brownies! You and I both know that migraine will step aside for a while ;)
ReplyDeleteIn the mid-90s I was seriously ill and one of the worst things I faced was not being able to do sports/exercise which was so much part of my identity. For a while I just had to accept that I couldn't do them, and tried to learn to be content being a weak and fragile person. However, things unexpectedly got better slowly and my bouts of dizziness and sickness got fewer. I took up swimming again. While to this day, I cannot turn a couple of circles while standing without feeling dizzy (so no Scottish country dancing, etc.), I can do flip turns in the pool including pushing off on my back. You will get better since you have not always been like this (remember I suggested you turn pro after the Ironman so you could not have been too bad then), and it is just a matter of taking things easy in certain areas while you get better. I don't think smoking will help. I find a good swim a lot better (and cheaper, too). And don't worry about belligerent drivers/ neighbors. When my wife has encountered such people in the past, she has sent me to sort things out. It is surprising how polite people become when they see a man (like Ramsey or myself) who towers over them.
ReplyDeleteOMG those pictures of Sky had me CRACKING up...I need her to do that for me at my next meeting with my boss...!!!
ReplyDeleteHmmm, still wondering if a few needles via acupuncture could help out the migraines...but then again quitting your job and spending a few weeks on a remote tropical island might help...whoops, you already live on a tropical island...hmmmm I'll have to get back to you...
Hey Rach,
ReplyDeleteMy boyfriend is a doc who deals with a lot of people with chronic headaches and/or migranes. I know you've seen neurologists and specialists and he is neither of those, but if you're looking for more opinions he might have some ideas. Feel free to pop me an e-mail (P has my e-mail address). Good luck!
Awww Rachel...dang.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that look from Sky! She is so precious.
And I get so angry when I hear about cranky people like your crazy neighbor. Oooooh I get steamed!
I like Kelly's idea of taking up reality tv...
1) Soy Candle maker
ReplyDelete2) Restore antique string instruments
3) Roman Coin Collector
4) Painter (as in water colors, not walls)
5) Coffee Grower
Very random, I know - but sometimes you need that! Yeah about the run, things WILL work out. Super Taper or not, you are speedy, smart, and funny. A lethal combination :) Good vibes your way!
she's a riot. I seriously think you need to do a reality show. I'm totally serious. People like to get stressed out watching cops and other junk on T.V. They'd totally dig watching hot you taking on work, being a mom and wife, training, blind...and still hot. Honestly, they'd just want to see hot you.
ReplyDeleteThere's a paycheck and you wouldn't even have to leave the house!
food for thought. over and out-
P.