Diaries of a Nearly Dead Man

Southern New England can a great place to live. There are sandy beaches in the summer, amazing colors in the fall, tulips and daffodils light up the landscape in the spring and then there is the joy of snow shoveling.

MFP says I burned 3,097 calories moving the white stuff around.

35 inches of snow (1 meter or so) has ruined my running for at least the next few days. I am glad my treadmill is sitting on the front porch where it won't get rained on. I do have a bike on a trainer in the livingroom.

It could be worse. I was scheduled for another surgical biopsy today. It was canceled due to the blizzard. They'll call to reschedule.

I have dropped to my lowest weight in decades and I want to get out there and run. When I run (or bike) I eat less. On rest days I am so hungry that overeating is a simple as there is food in the refrigerator.

Why is this?

It got me to thinking about being hungry and thirsty  and I tried to find words to express it.

- athirst
- cottonmouthed
- carnivorous
- could eat a horse
- covetous
- dry
- dry as dust (but not quite as useless)
- edacious
- empty
- esurient
- hankering
- parched
- ravenous
- starved
- unquenched
....and my favorite, rungry.

Did I miss any?

 Thanks for reading along.

I have been here since 2011. 2015 is now here, and along with it, the promise of another year. 2014 was a tough one, but in it were some personal triumphs. I beat cancer three times, finished the Boston Marathon in spite of a tibial fracture and had a personal record in every distance from 5K to marathon.

2015? Bring on Boston, New York (or Philadelphia) and San Diego!

I didn't run when I got here. I managed to get moving on the treadmill and the entire time, the couch was calling my name. Finally a night came when some buffalo chicken breast with a little salad on the side, was enough. Then I had congestive heart failure. And cancer. And a rash of other crap.

I just kept on running.

Except for a surgical biopsy scheduled for January 28th, I am free and clear to live my run life as I please. I am hoping to have the best year ever in spite of some life changes. I am working on my second book too. It's even going to have an app. :)

So what's in it?

More ridiculous runner terminology, tips for couch to 5K (C25K) and some personal stories which are partially true, partially fabricated and occasionally stolen.

From My New Book
- Couch to 5K should always start and end with 30 minutes on the couch.
- Run/Walk can be practiced on the way to the bathroom during commercial breaks on TV.
- A run is best if you had 9 beers during the first quarter.
- A brisk walk is best if you have diarrhea.
- Pretty much anyone can do a marathon, you just have to want to.
- If you are allergic to sweating, try swimming.
- If you are allergic to swimming, try sweating.
- Fartleks is a funny word but worthwhile for training.
- Heart rate is the best determination of effort. Your head lies, your legs lie, the weather lies and so do people on dating sites.
- Be your own cheerleader. Passion is best spent on your life and not a favorite sports team.
- You can get faster but training for longer races.
- Race fees are cheap compared to insulin and heart transplants.
- It's fun to run naked (technology free) every once in a while.
- If they give out underwear at a race instead of a t-shirt, do you have to run commando to earn it?
- Contrary to popular belief, long, slow distances do not produce long, slow runners.
- Running only hurts up to a point.
- Imodium because it does matter.

Thanks for the votes and comments.

I would also like to thank all my supportive MFP friends who have been with me since the beginning and supported my first book..

Do you remember when you used to have to ask a parent or teacher (or the prison guard) for permission to do something? We asked hoping that our request would be granted. Then when we were responsible adults, we pretty much only had to ask ourselves permission.

Can I eat this donut? Sure, have six.

This is the time of year when everyone is complaining about how full the gym is this week. Or they are complaining because people are complaining about the gym being full. Like we should be grateful "they" are there doing something good for themselves. I don't personally care.

What I do care about is this: am I succeeding at being fit?

Don't get me wrong, I am glad when others get fit and make good choices; however, my success does not depend on their success; this ain't baseball. Our lives are our own. I have well north of 700 friends on MFP and even more in my Facebook group. (I know, it's pathetic I'm online so much.) In all of the years of fitness forums (over 1300 days on MFP), what have I noticed is the most common trait? it is that we give ourselves permission to be slackers.

WE MAKE EXCUSES! We give ourselves permission when we shouldn't.

You: Today is my workout day.
You the slacker: The gym is full, I'll go tomorrow.

You: Today is my run day.
You the slacker: It's too cold out.

You: It's Sunday and I need to plan meals.
You the slacker: I'll just get something small for lunch (like a large Meat Lovers pizza) and do it tomorrow night.

You: I haven't lost any weight this week.
You the slacker: It's better to loose like one pound a year.

You: I am still overweight.
You the slacker: I have big bones. I have bad jeans (pun intended)

You: I am out of shape.
You the slacker: Round is a shape. .

You: I am not getting any faster running.
You the slacker: I don't like sweating that much.

You: I ate too much.
You the slacker: Everyone deserves a cheat day.

You: I am binging.
You the slacker: Might as well keep going and start tomorrow.

You: The doctor said cut out the sweets.
You the slacker: It's only chocolate.

You: I should throw out these clothes that are too big.
You the slacker: I'll probably fail and need them again.

You: The doctor said i should lose 50 pounds.
You the slacker: That's too skinny.

You: I should buy David's book, ICU to Marathon.
ME: DO IT!

Happy New Year!