Have you Considered Training for a Marathon?

Every now and then I go for a long walk. Sometimes it’s with our dog, Milo, and sometimes it will be a solo walk, but undoubtedly, during one of these walks, I think to myself, “Self, you like longs walks. Why don’t you train for a marathon?” In my head I have grandiose notions of being some 40+ year old dude who can somehow beat the Kenyans to the finish line at the Chicago Marathon, then I’ll try to jog for a while instead of walk, and then, rather quickly, as I’m huffing and puffing, reality kicks back in as I then think to myself, “Self, what are you thinking?”, and then it’s back to walking. The thinking then goes back to things like my “bowler’s knee” as I call it, where I have issues with my left knee from all of my years of bowling when I was a younger lad. Then the thoughts go to my OCD, or rather I should say my ankle OCD, or to be technical, my osteochondrosis dessicans, and figuring there is no way my ankle, let alone my knee would be up for the challenge. Then, of course, there is the actual training, where, I was reminded today by a post from a friend on Facebook, that you shouldn’t drink beer while training for a marathon. I know beer is involved in marathon training, but I think it’s supposed to be after the marathon and not before.

I know a couple of people who have completed a marathon and applaud them, and I know a couple of others who are training (I’m not sure on one of them anymore as their excuse for training was so that they could eat more, or at least so they posted), but me, I think I’ll stick to my walks. That is, unless, beer is part of the “before” training regimen. Maybe I’ll have to look into this marathon training a little more.

With the Chicago Marathon coming up in a little over a month, and inspired by a post by a friend of mine, I know I consider marathon training every now and then, and so I plight: Have you considered training for a marathon?

That’s it for this plight! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

 

Are You Planning on Getting a Flu Shot This Year?

Last year I visited my doctor for what I thought was gout but turned out to be a partially torn ligament as well as Osteochondral Injury of the Talus (a.k.a. Ankle OCD), but while there, she also convinced me to get a flu shot. I had read, and she reiterated, that it was supposed to be a horrible flu season and sometimes it’s better safe than sorry. The thing is that I had never gotten a flu shot before, never really had the flu (I’m told you know if you have the flu, rather than a cold, although most people say they have the flu and only have a cold), and as I’m in okay shape and not old, yet, I always skipped getting one mostly out of fear because I would hear of people who had reactions to the flu vaccines. As my doctor and I discussed it, I decided “What the hell?”, rolled up my sleeve, tossed the “bad reaction” dice, and got the shot. All was well, I didn’t have any strange reactions nor get some kind of “phantom” flu, but wouldn’t you know it, it turned out to be a not-so-horrible flu season, there were no stories of a massive flu outbreak, and when all was said and done I questioned my decision and wondered why I got a flu shot.

As flu season is started to creep upon us I’m starting to see commercials for flu shots, or at least I just saw a commercial for a flu shot with this tiny needle so that it doesn’t hurt, and the thoughts of “Should I get a flu shot?” are starting to creep back again. I mean, maybe I didn’t get the flu last year because I had the vaccine, or maybe it’s just because I didn’t get near the influenza virus. Also, I didn’t have a reaction, so I suppose getting the vaccine wouldn’t hurt, especially if I get one with that new shot that’s out there, and maybe I’ll feel a little safer shaking hands with people this winter. And so I plight: Are you planning on getting a flu shot this year?

That’s it for this plight! I’m The Dude on the Right!!  L8R!!!