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Author: Kris

  • Back from the doctor.

    Back from the doctor. Dr. Rowan suspects whooping cough. I have to get a swab and a blood test tomorrow. Even if I have it, there’s not really anything they can do for me besides the antibiotics I’m already taking. (“You know they call it the ‘Hundred Day Cough,’” she said.) However, if I test positive and you’ve been around me in the past week and you’re feeling sick, get to your doctor. (Especially if you have kids.) And if the test comes back negative, well then I just have a particularly nasty post-viral cough… which they still can’t do anything for.

    Oh, and I brought up the race, which is three weeks from today. “You’re not doing it,” she said flatly. “You knew I was going to say that, right? Even if you did do it, you know you wouldn’t do very well.” (She was blunt but honest.) So I’m faxing in my withdrawal form tomorrow. That kinda sucks. But to be honest it’s also a little bit of a relief. Now I don’t have to worry about how I’m going to get healthy and somehow prepare to run 20km in twenty days. She also gave me a prescription for a big-ass bottle of codeine so at least I’ll be able to sleep this week.

    I’ll keep you all posted as to the diagnosis.

  • Shared today on Twitter

    Miserable. Coughed all day. Bailed on SSK because I felt like a leper. Running a fever now. Swine flu? Pneumonia? THIS SUCKS.

    Today I went from wondering whether this sickness would hurt my time in the half-marathon… to wondering if I’ll be running it at all.

    Hot toddy making *everything* better…

    @knitabulous Yeah, thinking that too. Will do.

  • Shared today on Facebook

    is wondering if I have pneumonia. I wish I was joking.

  • Cough. Cough.

    Cough. Cough.
    I’m not getting better. The cough that started eleven days ago is still here, and it’s even worse. I have to take codeine every night in order to sleep (and I wake up and start coughing the second it wears off). My neck and shoulders have been sore all week from the coughing, so I’ve had a persistent tension headache too. My voice quality has varied from almost normal to nearly gone. I’m currently running a slight fever. Oh, and I’m 2/3 of the way through the antiobiotics my doctor prescribed, and they’re clearly not helping. I’m miserable.

    I’ve got an appointment to see another doctor tomorrow. I could have walking pneumonia. I could have swine flu. Who the hell knows. Each day this goes on, I can feel the chances of me actually running the half-marathon in three weeks slipping away.

    Edited to add: I’ve also just been reminded that NSW is currently having a whooping cough epidemic. “Adults often just have an ongoing cough without the whoop.” Great.

  • Newton Shoe Design

    If you’re interested in running shoes and why the Newtons I bought are different from others, check out this video about their design technology and shoe philosophy.

  • Shared today on Twitter

    Wow. Plumber called to tell us the quote we thought was ex GST was actually inc GST, which saves us like $80. Lee Thomson Plumbers = honest.

    Candi (of candi.com.au) came in for a lesson on using her new site, and she brought me a SPARKLY! http://twitpic.com/fjj9d

    Oooh, new version of Facebook app for iPhone. Didn’t show as an update, but found it with search. Much, much better!

    Contemplating a trip to Bunnings in the rain. And I suggested it!

  • Paris Syndrome

    Paris Syndrome. That is FASCINATING. Apparently some tourists – mostly Japanese – get an actual psychological disorder from the culture shock of visiting France. (Link courtesy of Best of Wikipedia.)

  • Tote Tricks

    Oooh, I have loads of calico bags at home that I’m tempted to cover with pretty fabric!

  • Trying out the Newtons

    Trying out the Newtons
    I still feel like crap, but dammit, I wanted to try out my new shoes yesterday. So I headed out to the Domain for a very, very easy run. You’re meant to ease into forefoot running because it uses different muscles than a traditional heel strike. I did three intervals of 5 minutes running followed by 5 minutes walking, and I concentrated hard on my form. The “actuator lugs” are a little weird at first. (I was reminded of those special shoes people use to increase their vertical leap.) I tried to lean forward a bit, to increase my cadence, and to run lightly as if I was barefoot. The Newtons really do make you more aware of and connected to the ground surface. I don’t think I was using more effort than I usually do, but my speed graph shows I was going a fair bit faster than my usual plodding speed. Here’s the cheesy bit: I actually felt like I was RUNNING. Yeah, I’ve said for years that running isn’t about speed, but the truth of it is that when I’m on the road, I never feel as effortless and athletic as the people that pass me. But by avoiding heel striking, suddenly I felt like a fleet-footed Olympian… for a few seconds. I figured out pretty quickly why they said to start off easy. My lower legs got TIRED. The last of my intervals was a big drop-off from the first as I struggled to maintain proper form while my calves and ankles were aching. With every step, I could feel the force of impact being absorbed through the muscles in my bent legs rather than shooting up into my back. (My usual lower back pain? Didn’t bother me a bit.) Today I’ve got some soreness in my lower legs on up through the lower part of my thighs, but I expected that. I checked out the bottom of my Newtons and was gratified to see some wear on the actuator lugs. It looks like I was landing in the right spot! (There’s a tiny bit of wear on the outside of each heel, but I think that was probably from walking since I tend to do that in all my shoes.) I’ll probably alternate shoes/styles for the next few weeks. I wonder if I’ll be strong-enough to use forefoot running in the half-marathon? I’ve still got just over three weeks to go…

  • Shared today on Twitter

    I want to go try out my new shoes, but I feel awful. I might feel better after I run. Or I might not.

    Screw it. The sun is shining. I’m going to try out my Newtons even if cough up a lung afterwards.

    Just completed a 4.13 km run with @runkeeper, check it out http://bit.ly/HHhvu #RunKeeper

    Did 3 x 5min run/walk intervals to break in my Newtons. Headache & cough coming back now, but hour after run was best I’ve felt all week.

    @knitabulous I’ve been resting for a week! I’m sure headache is related to sudden sloth.

    Heading to BA workshop, so no knitting for me tonight…

    Voluntarily gave up hour of my night to listen to talk about Business Requirement Analysis. I am a sick individual.

    Over 60% of IT projects fail (over budget, over schedule).

    “Companies with poor business analysis capabilities will have 3x as many project failures as successes.” IAG Consulting (2008)

    All done! Going to have a drink with the Knitters. 🙂

    @dwwright99 Thanks for the RT. Just an interesting quote from a Req Workshop I went to tonight. Didn’t learn much new, but a good quote. 🙂

    @ironbrandon Did my 1st trial of forefoot & Newtons today! Just 15 minutes but calves & ankles tired quickly. I felt fast & happy though.

    Up bright and early waiting for the plumber to arrive. I’m looking forward to the hot water not being orange anymore.

    Plumbers are here! Only 20 minutes late. Let’s see how quick they work.

    I have been informed that when workmen are around, the lady of the house is meant to offer them tea and coffee. Sure, whatever. #fb

    @Thehabygoddess I’m guessing they’ll be done before 9am, so a six pack’s probably not appropriate! 😛

    I wrote a review of my first run with the Newtons: http://bit.ly/4AT1ZP
    (Attn: @ironbrandon @steverunner )

    Plumbers are done & new water heater is in! Guys from Lee Thomson Plumbing did great job for LOT less than Chiswick Plumbing quoted.

    @knitabulous By the Snook. I think it had more to do with him being shy about talking to strangers though. He made the tea and coffee. 🙂