All hail Grouchy Pants

They're mocking me. 

All those runners, in their colorfully mismatched running gear, studying the data on their Garmins. 

I know that they're looking at the cars go by, thinking how fat and lazy we all are.

Oh, OK, they don't even notice me.  But I'm one of them.  Or I USED to be one of them.  And I want to rejoin them now.  Patience is a virtue, yes, but it is not my virtue.  Without my running fix, I'm a bit of a grouch.  The elliptical and stationary bike just aren't quite the same and don't provide the same sort of release.  I really miss those endorphins.

Soon, my friends.  Soon, I will rejoin you and it will be glorious.

The results are in...

No, not the raffle.  It won't be until July 4.  So you all have PLENTY of time to buy tickets.  Seriously, the basket is really really awesome.  I know this because it is on the top of the shelves in our office so I have to look at it every day.  Trust me, you want to win this.  Don't worry, out of towners--you need not be present to win and I'll ship your winnings to you free of charge. 

The results of which I speak involve my short-term running plans.  Apparently I was too optimistic to think I could start running right away.  Instead, I need rest, ice, anti-inflammatories and PT to heal up the two inflamed tendons.  (Yup, I have to overachieve--one inflamed tendon is not enough!)  Which means no running.  Oh and it turns out that the hip pain was due to a very minor labral tear.  So even more rest, ice, anti-inflammatories, PT...are we noticing a trend? 

The good news in all this is that my bones and hip joint all look healthy.  This is a huge relief, as I watched my father deal with avascular necrosis (AVN) in his hips during the last few years of his life.  This medical layperson understands AVN to basically be when the hip joint dies due to lack of blood.  Sounds awesome, right?  Even moderate prednisone use (such as what I've already had) can cause AVN.  Dad was already very ill when the AVN hit, but it completely crippled him.  It didn't help that his blood counts were so bad that he couldn't have a hip replacement, which would have provided him some relief.  While rationally I knew that my hip pain did not match the symptoms of AVN, you can't unsee something like what I saw with my dad--it is always there in the back of my mind, and I know that if I ever develop AVN that I won't be able to run.  Which, for those of you new to the program, would be emotionally devastating. Yes, I know, waaaaaaa, poor Katie might not be able to run.  But running is how I deal with stress, which is what causes flares.  I would find another way to cope, obviously, and not running ever again is certainly a first world problem.  But it would be one more thing this disease has taken from me, and that's really not something I want to deal with.  I'm thankful that right now, I don't have to deal with since my current injuries are all of the type that I can bounce back from with proper treatment.

Wine Basket Raffle

If you've been debating whether or not to contribute (or contribute again) to Team Golden Colon, now would be a good time.  Why?  Because you can win wine and chocolate.  And when you consume that wine and chocolate, you can skip the normal guilt because you got it for helping people.

The details:

1. COST: Entries are $20 each, or 3 for $50.
2. TIME: The raffle will be held July 4, 2012
3. HOW: You can make your donations online (use the link in the information section to the right) or mail a check (the address is on the raffle flyer/ticket).  You can send the ticket with the information we need to find you (you do want to get the stuff when you win, right?) either via USPS (address is on the flyer) or e-mail (address on the flyer).  If you purchase multiple entries, we only need one ticket - we'll make more for you!
4. THE FORM: Click here to download and print the raffle flyer and ticket.

That's all well and good, but you're not going to donate unless you know you've got a chance of getting something really good.  Trust me, our friends at Cellar Rat Wine Merchants have really hooked us up.  First, a little bit of context.  The half marathon begins in Napa Valley and ends in Sonoma on the town square.  On the way, it passes through the wine growing region of Carneros.  Our basket does the same:

1. NAPA: Schramsberg 2007 Vintage Blanc de Blancs (Champagne-method California Brut)
2. CARNEROS: Etude 2009 Pinot Noir (Grown in Carneros, produced in Napa)
3. SONOMA: Atmosphere 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (Bismark Mountain Vineyard)

In addition, you will get a selection of fine chocolates from Vosges and Veritas.  Total value? $200.  So what are you waiting for?  Help end Crohn's and Colitis and enter for a chance to win!

Hippity, hoppity, dinner's on its way!

WARNING:  This post is not for my vegetarian friends.  I love you all, but I love my meat too.

Anyhoo, we have a large family of large (read: tasty!) rabbits living under our deck.

We know this because Lisa the Mighty Huntress lets us know whenever they leave the deck.  Of course the rabbits like to survey their territory by hopping across the front yard, taunting Lisa. 

Lisa wants to catch the rabbits, but she's not very speedy.  (The dog resembles her owner!)  So purely for our dog's sanity I'm thinking we should help her out.  Set some snares, let her think she caught the rabbit.  And not to be wasteful, we'll have some stew.

Mmmmm!

Events Galore!

As you are all aware by now, Katie has decided to continue her multi-year streak of summer injuries which keep her from running.  That doesn't mean, however, that Team Golden Colon has closed up shop.  No, far from it.  In fact, with just two months to go until the run and about $1000 left to raise, we're stepping up our efforts to convince you that at least some of your hard earned money should support research into Crohn's and Colitis.  Now we recognize that there are more exciting things you can do with your limited funds, and since the lure of the Golden Colon statue hasn't spurred any large donations (except for one, and the people behind that have insisted they don't want it), we're announcing a range of events and prizes to spur your desire to give.  So, onto the list:

1. We all need to eat.  Even history majors can remember enough basic biology to know that life doesn't work without caloric intake.  Heck, that's one of the major reasons Katie and I run - running allows for a greater caloric intake (although we seem to be pretty bad about balancing the two - apparently running doesn't allow for unlimited caloric intake).  So here's an opportunity, if you're in the Kansas City area, to eat and help us raise money and awareness for CCFA (see photo to the right).  Food and philanthropy, always a good combo.

2. Winning just feels good.  To that end, on Friday we'll be announcing the details of our raffle.  Our good friends at Cellar Rat Wine Merchants (it's not weird to be friends with the people at a wine shop, right?) have helped us put together a California Wine Country gift basket valued at $200 which we will be raffling off.  Tickets will be $20 each, or 3 for $50.  The raffle will run until July 4, 2012.  Again, check back here on Friday for more details.

3. Speaking of winning, here's another chance: Ever time you donate $10 (not earmarked for one of the other events) between now and June 30 enter your best guess for my finishing time in the race (hint: my PR is roughly 1:52:00).  As with the actual run, seconds count!  For the contributor who most accurately predicts my finishing time, Katie and I will bring a bottle of wine back from Napa or Sonoma.

4. Details are still being worked out, but sometime in June we will be hosting a trivia competition featuring drink specials, probably at Lew's Bar and Grill in Waldo.  Stay tuned for more information about this family-friendly event.

5. A reminder about an old contest: If we hit our fundraising goal by June 1, I'll let our contributors decide what I wear while running the half marathon.

6. Ever wanted to have the feeling of being rich?  Of seeing your name (or your business's name) plastered all over a sporting event?  Here's your chance.  Between now and July 10 you can become a "sponsor" of a mile in the race.  Simply donate $50 and designate which mile (1 through 13) you'd like to sponsor.  I'll write your name (or business, organization, or inspirational message) on my race attire (or body if the contest in #5 doesn't leave me with clothing to write on) as a sponsor.  A $100 donation sponsors the final tenth of a mile.

Whew.  Hopefully there's something here that entices you to donate (in the off chance you weren't already motivated by wanting to see Katie smile) or at least come out to have some fun with us.  Check back later this week for more details about the raffle and hopefully the trivia competition as well.

Do a little dance...

NO STRESS FRACTURE!  The MRI did show inflammation in my tendons, so I wasn't imagining this pain, but at least it isn't a stress fracture.  That's good, right?  (I say it is good, work with me and my nonexistent medical knowledge people!)  Anyways, I'm still not going to be running Napa as I'm being sent to a sports ortho and then probably to physical therapy.  Because the one specialist I don't have on speed dial (yet) is an orthopedist.  But right now, I'm so happy to have nonfractured bones that I don't care about the PT.    And maybe I can start doing easy runs again soon!  A girl can dream, right?

Change in plans

Don't worry, save or shave is still on, though my deal expires June 1.  So you have to get your "votes" in by then and you have to tell me how you vote per my previous posts.

Anyways, I really didn't want to write this post.  I still don't want to write it.  Which is why I'm wasting so much time getting to the point.

As any rational person probably figured out long ago, I won't be running Napa this summer.  The boot should probably have tipped me off that it wouldn't happen, but I'm stubborn as evidenced by that whole St. Louis Marathon debacle last month.  Anyways, while I wait on the MRI results on my achy left foot, I've decided to drop out of Napa. 

HOWEVER, Michael is still going to run and any donations you have already made will still be going to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation.  We here at Team Golden Colon remain committed to ending Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis.  Or at least making life a little better for patients (and their families) who have to live with these diseases. You may notice that on our fundraising site the amount we're raising has decreased, and that's because only one of us is going to be running Napa for CCFA.  I'll still be travelling to cheer on all the runners, but I'll be paying my own way.  I'm planning on hopefully running with Team Challenge next summer when I'm all healed up.

And then there were none

On Friday, my last living grandparent passed away.  Grandpa was 88, lived a full life and died peacefully, which is a pretty good way to leave this life. Even so, he was my last grandparent.  For those of you who have all your parents and grandparents still living, please remember how lucky you are and tell them you love them.  Please remember to tell them this and to really listen to some of the wisdom they choose to share with us--life is hard enough, it is nice to have a cheat sheet to try to get through some common bumps in the road!

Historical Convergences

Most of you know that I'm a history major.  Most of the time, Katie indulges my history nerdery.  However, I never thought she would take it to this extreme.

First, a little historical background:  In early April 1942 American and Filipino forces on the Bataan Peninsula surrendered to invading Japanese forces.  What followed, the forced march of over 50,000 prisoners, became known as the Bataan Death March.  Many of the prisoners, weak from starvation and dehydration, were forced along by their Japanese guards, often at the point of a bayonet-tipped rifle.  Those that couldn't continue to walk were either supported by their comrades or fell by the wayside, where they were frequently shot or stabbed by they guards.

Why this depressing history lesson in a blog that is supposed to be uplifting and inspire you to give freely to cure Crohn's and ulcerative colitis?  Because you've heard Katie's account of the St. Louis Marathon, so now it's my turn to talk about what went on.  Almost exactly 70 years after the fall of Bataan (there was only 6 days difference in the dates), the latter portion of the St. Louis Marathon seemed to turn into a reenactment of that infamous March.  From mile 11 to mile 21 we (okay, mainly her) staggered onward, attempting to reach the finish.  With each passing mile it became more difficult for her to move, as her pace continually slowed and the intervals between stretching breaks became shorter and shorter.  Now, there were some obvious differences between our march and the March.  For starters, no one was going to shoot us if we stopped (although if I had been able to get to a gun I might have shot her in the foot to get her to stop).  Second, the people lining the course were supporting us rather than gloating in our defeat.  Finally, and perhaps most crucially, Katie refused any and all assistance I offered her, unlike those survivors of Bataan helped onward by their comrades.

Obviously, I'm not trying to detract from what those who actually had to endure the Death March went through.  And while I felt like a Japanese soldier cruelly driving Katie ever onward, in reality there was nothing I could say or do to get her to quit.  And that's the main reason I bring up the Bataan Death March.  Like the soldiers who made that journey, many of who survived, Katie refuses to give up.  Despite her battle with ulcerative colitis, she spent months training for that marathon.  She wasn't going to let some silly little stress fracture and hip bursitis keep her from finishing any more than those American and Filipino soldiers were going to let the Japanese break their spirit and their will.  If you want to know why you should donate to the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation, it is so that those afflicted with these diseases will not have their spirits or their wills broken, like Katie.  Now if only the bones in her feet were as strong as her will...