Did you miss me? I'm back!

Well, actually I've been back for close to two months now. Let's do a quick recap and I'll fill in the details in future posts.

When we last left our hero...

I stopped running (again) after I got sick back in November. The ear infection combined with the coming winter was enough to tip my "severe lack of motivation scale" and I stopped. I know I know. I'm weak. I suck. I'm lame. I know all of these things.

As winter turned to spring, the wife and I treated ourselves to new iPod Nanos (my iPod at the time was 5+ years old and no longer holding a charge). I also got the Nike+ SportKit (review to follow) thinking this would keep me motivated. It did, for about two weeks.

It was around this time that I started losing weight without even really trying. Now, I know I shouldn't complain about sudden and effortless weight loss, and I didn't for a while. Then the weight kept dropping, and I kept eating (and drinking). No matter what I did, the weight kept coming off.

So I started running again in mid-May to try and build some muscle back up. At the same time I thought it appropriate to get some bloodwork done to try and figure out what was going on.

The Big D(iagnosis)

Long story short, I'm diabetic. Like insanely diabetic. My numbers were astronomical.

Quite shocking, really, since I a) have very scant family history of diabetes b) am relatively young c) am not overweight. Now, I know these are not the ONLY risk factors for diabetes. There are exceptions to every rule and I guess I'm just one of the exceptions.

So, I'm resurrecting this site to talk not just about running in general (although I plan to do a lot of that), but also running with diabetes.

At this point, I have no choice BUT to run. I've seen what it does to my blood sugar readings and it's all good.

Consider me born again for the last time!

It's now been over 2 weeks since I've done any running. I've had a sinus infection that is still here, and that was not really helped by the usually run of antibiotics, and about a week ago developed a nasty earache in my left ear (who gets those anymore?) that is still hanging around.

I think at some point this weekend I'm just gonna say "screw it" and get out for 3 miles regardless of how I feel. Maybe it will help move this stuff out of my system.

But needless to say, we've been two disappointed runners in this house, with Jenn still recovering from the stress fracture in her foot and me with the mystery illness.

Hopefully next post I'll have better news to report.

Today marks one week since the start of this illness, and four days since I last ran. This is really a battle of wills between my stubborn hippie brain, and all documented medical and scientific research.

I'm pretty sure I have a sinus infection, and I can cure it with my special blend of beer, sleep deprivation, football and hoagies!

Now, most normal people would've just gone to the doctor five days ago, gotten their antibiotics, and been back in action by Thursday.

Not me!

Why make it easy? If I have the opportunity to suffer and milk every last ounce of pity out of this thing, it would be wrong not to take it, right?

Having a kid in daycare is a wonderful test for your immune system. The baby and the wife were both sick last week, and of course my near-invincible self was able to fend off infection...until Tuesday.

I'm currently in the full throes of a massive head cold. I'd really like to avoid any drugs (because I'm weird), but I've been taking Tylenol Sinus Congestion or whatever. It somewhat helps.

I did manage to make it out for a run yesterday at lunch, and I took tonight off. At this point, I doubt I'll be training tomorrow. I'm so lame. Hopefully one more day of rest will get me back where I need to be and I can have a good weekend of training.

We opted NOT to stick around for the prizes on Saturday. But my dad called tonight to let me know that I came in 2nd in my age group (30-39) and as a result received a coupon for 1 large Pizza Hut pizza! Just what every middle-aged runner needs!!!

Hey, it's nice to get something.

Dad came in first in the 60-69 age group! Good times!