Christmas x3....and lots of shoes!

Well we have been back stateside now for almost 2 weeks.We have spent time with Roxanne's family which has been really nice. As for the running part, I was able to walk my favorite route in St. Pete, I really do love the "burg".

  I was also able to pick up all my shoes that had been shipped to the us. I do love the new Brooks pure line. My new pure connects will be my new favorites I can already tell.

I also was able to hit the gym once at the hotel and should be able to get there with my brother in-law today at some point. Then more walking at my parents house. I did find the steps at my father in-laws house. My gluteus are thanking them immensely. I got a massage from...well I guess she would be a colleague now. It was much needed and has been great for my arm and my wrist. I have eaten way too much junk and not enough workout time, so I am getting way to fat, so getting back to Penang and my routine with the gym is something I look forward to.It has been nice being home and seeing family and friends, we will continue our trek down south to see my parents, then it is back to St. Pete for Dr. appointments and then back on the plane on the 5th. It would have been nice to run in the cooler weather especially today when the temps are in the 60's (Fahrenheit). As for New Years resolutions, I don't tend to make them as a rule, I figure one day of the year should not make for changes in life, those changes should be constant throughout the year, anyway. I have resolved to run in 2012, and when I do to run with more joy and less competition, I do want to be healthier and to run better, however I think better might just be to enjoy the experience more. If anything this experience has taught me that I do love to run and I miss the fellowship and the pure joy of it. So I hope 2012 finds me running again and running happier! As for you loyal reader I hope Santa brought you everything you wanted and the joy of this season has filled your soul! I hope that 2012 finds you happy and healthy and as always running HAPPY!!

So I walked 5k twice now, once outside and once on the treadmill. It felt good but I still need to get stronger before I can run. So I continue to go to the gym, continue to attend my physio, ans keep my head up. I can't wait to run again. The Florida runner will be headed back to the burg, and I am looking forward to walking my old running route, hoping to grab some running buddies and getting them to slow down for just one day! Run happy loyal reader!

So the Florida runner is now the Florida walker, but it is far better than the Florida crutcher. I have been in the gym now for a month and things are improving a great deal in my opinion. It is not easy taking off the extra weight i have put on (about 5 lbs) but I am getting stronger for sure. So Penang Bridge Marathon has passed and i am disappointed but not that much, i am more hopeful for February to arrive and the opportunity to run again is just around the corner. Rox brought up an interesting point though and that is the minimalistic shoes i have run in from time to time. i mean the Saucony Kinvara is not a true minimal but its not that far away, I also have trained and raced in the Brooks T7 and i have just gotten some green silences and the new Pure Project connects from Brooks as well. i also continue to train regularly in my Brooks Launch, it has been my go to training shoe for a few years now. I think when I do go back it will be a slow transition and i may begin on some trail runs and something less of a pounding than a road run. I feel like I can still handle the shoes i have always trained in, again I just need to transition slowly. So I am happy to be nearing the end of this recovery and getting back to the original purpose for this blog, running in Penang. I cant wait!! Run Happy Loyal reader!!

So this past weekend was the "Rock to Rock" run, held at the Hard Rock Hotel here in Penang.The run was only 3.8 KM and I thought seriously about walking it and when my nfriend Hoay Jen handed me a bib #...I almost could not resist, but I was good and stayed on the sidlines. My photo skills sucked today, could not get one good shot and missed my friend Thuan Lin Goh finishing all together. Despite all that it was really good to see all my friends...I have felt very isolated as of late, as I dont do their normal LSD run on sunday andmore and I have missed a ton of races. Everyone ran really well and the big race for all of them is this weekend, at least for me it was going to be a big one, The Penang Bridge Marathon. This was one I was looking forward to for sure and it is dissapointing to be missing it, but next year is always there. The fun part about the race this past weekend was the costume contest...I guess it was a nod to Holloween, but there were seperate prizes for best costume, and I-Run represented in grand style, really added to the fun of the event....If they do it next year, I am going as Captain America, or Santa Claus. Anyway a fun day for sure, great to see everyone, and great to be on my feet without crutches...it was a hattrick Sunday for sure...Run Happy Loyal reader!

Blessings and Curses.

Well I got my race kit for what I was hoping was going to be my fastest 1/2 marathon yet, The Penang Bridge Marathon (half marathon for me) This was a race I was so excited about, it is an international race and seems to be the premier race here in Penang! I had one 1/2 under my belt and it was within like the first year that i started running, and I did that one in 1:48...so I was really looking at like a 1:40, maybe even a 1:35...So I got with the Hanson's training programs, got Luke, who is supposed to be the best and was just about to begin the training when the accident happened...That day was both a blessing and a curse...I got to spend time with friends which was a blessing, but this soon to be 6 month ordeal has been nothing but a curse. Here is why...I figured, well 3 months of healing and then another 3 months of rehab and by January or February I will be ready to go...not so fast big guy!! As it turns out the 6 months will be healing only, i found out yesterday at my most recent doctor visit, that I can now walk (blessing) but there does not seem to be new bone around the fracture site, so I now have till the end of January before I can do any weight bearing exercises (Curse...curse curse curse!!). I really am having trouble with all of this delay...I mean your average fracture should take 6-8 weeks to heal, then another 6-8 weeks of rehab, so why 6 months for this...Maybe its the fact that I am a runner so I will be putting this joint through much more trauma than the usual person...not sure but I am really trying to practice patience...it sucks!!
So I figure with continued work in the gym, and a good training regimen now, I should be able to get back to form by March or April...its the cardio that concerns me, i have not run now since July, and although i have been on the stationary bike (40-45 min) It just not the same. Every little bit will help though, i just have to focus on not overdoing it now that I know I am allowed to walk. I need to stay consistent and pray that there are no further setbacks...looks like the Penang Bridge will have to be a goal for next year, and  Great Wall Marathon will have to wait, as well....Run Happy loyal reader!!

Celebrity Fitness Vs. Fitness Studio Penang

When I first arrived in Penang, I was determined to get into better overall shape. I was not in bad shape, I really needed to get leaner and work on my core strength though, I have been told by fitness minds greater than my own that good core strength would make me a better runner overall... so, a gym membership seemed like a good idea...So rewind to those first few weeks, I checked out 4 gyms, the gym at the G-Hotel, Celebrity Fitness on the 7th floor of Gurney Plaza, The gym at Island Plaza, (I think, I don't remember, but it may have been the one at straits quay...either way it was too far away, blah blah blah.) and Fitness Studio in the Gurney Hotel tower. So my impressions of each: The G-hotel gym, crowded, and a bit expensive for what you get, nice gym, don't get me wrong, just not worth the money in my opinion. Celebrity Fitness, not my cup of tea, lots of great equipment, and if I was single, cute and single I would be all over that place like a cheap suit, but married, old and swimming around in the "EW he looks like my 4th grade math teacher!" pool, this place was not for me. With Straits Quay/Island Plaza being to "blah blah", that left Fitness Studio...not too far away, in fact I could (when I could walk) walk to it, it was inexpensive, not much newer equipment, but enough to keep me happy, it seemed like the perfect fit, so we signed up. Now I have to admit, although it felt small and cozy and smelled like what a gym is supposed to smell like, the novelty wore off, and although Rox and I did use it, we did not use it as much as we should have...I mean yes I did use the (cringing) treadmill a few times, and Rox would use it on the weekends. The injury put the kibosh on everything so.....fast forward to 4 weeks ago...The doctor finally clears me to rehab my wrist, and weight bearing at 20 - 25% on my hip, so I figure I need to get stronger now, I'm getting around better and can do non weight bearing exercise, so damn, I need a gym!! Fitness studio?? nope, had to be something closer...so that meant...oh yes loyal reader...Celebrity Fitness. I thought ok, I will keep an open mind, lets just check it out, so we sat and got the sales pitch and decided that for the sake of convenience and my need to build strength before I got the nod to walk again...what the hell!! I mean i have pretty thick skin, I can take the "oh god who let the old guy in" looks, I NEED to do this. Well loyal reader...I was wrong...yes, I can admit it, it was not the meat market I thought it to be (although it may be, but since i am there early...may be I miss all that). The people were friendly, the trainers well qualified, the equipment was new and state of the art, and there were even some people there that I knew....I really like Celebrity Fitness, I really do...I mean it doesn't smell like a gym should, and its fancy and loud, but I like Celebrity Fitness...In the beginning...
"I would not go there on a bet
I would not go there with a pet
I would not go there to work out
I would not go there with the gout
I would not go there covered in slime
I would not go there anytime
I do not like it dumb and witless
I do not like Celebrity Fitness"

Now...
I would go there on a bet
I would go there with a pet
I would go there to work out
I would go there with the gout
I would go there covered in slime
I would...ok you get the picture...I'm doing the Dr. Seuss thing with it, yeah its lame but it was funny in my mind for a second and i have ADD so it works. Anyway I really really like Celebrity Fitness, it works for me and other than having to take the service elevator...It just plain  rocks, I like everything about it and now find myself disappointed I did not put aside my judgement and give it a chance!!!
So Celebrity Fitness is the winner in this battle of the gyms, and i am better for it.
Run Happy!!

Records at Kona...and Rehab.

Ok, so I figured it was a good morning to get in a blog, since my posts are now at about 2 to 3 weeks...not much going on. Rehab is going well, the stretching and the strength training seems to be working, i feel stronger, and people who have watched my recovery from day one are saying that the leg looks better, not so puffy and discolored. Still trying to get to the gym at least 4 days a week and in the pool at least twice. that changes if I am sore from Rehab though, which was last weeks story. I find that I am eating really bad too. its like, when I was running all the time my body seemed to crave the healthy foods, fruits, veggies, healthy carbs and proteins, now that I am far more sedentary, I seem to crave the junk...not good, but I have been able to maintain my weight, I have just lost and muscle tone I did have (which was not much). Kona 70.3, was yesterday, and Crissie Wellington and Craig Alexander both won, which is good, because If I had been able to put money down in Vegas it would have been on them...For Craig, it seems like business as usual, the guy is a machine and one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, I had the opportunity to meet him at a Florida tri event and he was a great guy! Crissie is a Brooks runner, so enough said...She even has her own pair of limited edition T7's which look awesome. (I would buy them just because I LOVE the T7 and they look awesome, but at this point I am going to need a suitcase just for new shoes when we go home in December.) Craig posted his THIRD Ironman Win, and set a course record, personally i would be happy to finish it before the guys were out taking the course down, Which is amazing since he started to cramp towards the end and actually stopped with about a mile and a half to go, despite all of that a 12 second under the course record finish. For Crissie,her FOURTH win, with a torn pectoral muscle no less, and still swam, biked and ran 70.3 to a victory...Not athletes...not a sport...Think about what she accomplished with an injury that would put most Basketball and Baseball players on injured reserve for months!! You have to respect both of their accomplishments!! BRAVO!! Loyal reader, Run Happy!!

Rehab is delish!! NOT!

So Rehab has begun and I am so thankful I made the decision to go to the I-Sports clinic in Island Hospital, My therapist Avery Tan, really knows his stuff and I really feel like he will get me back where I need to be! So beyond his knowledge and assistance is the pain factor which at times is in the 10+ range...biggest culprits...flexors and extensors that run across the wrist joint...holy crap those hurt!! The patella tendon (knee tendon)...Holy crap I thought I was going to jump off the table. I have had muscle pain and soreness before and have had some deep work done on trigger points...this new pain is on a whole new level. I know it has to be done and I feel myself improving every time...but WOW!! I have a whole new level of understanding with "No pain no gain." The other part of my rehab is to join a gym, I had joined a fitness center at the gurney hotel, but that is too far away for me right now, so I have joined the Celebrity Gym that is located on the 7th floor of the Gurney Plaza shopping complex. I actually like it there, it is easy to get to, they have newer equipment, and allot of it, and good trainers. The only downside is that the Gurney Plaza does not have a pedestrian elevator that goes to the 7th floor, only freight elevators, and depending on what has been transported that day...the elevators can be a bit, well "ripe". Otherwise the gym has worked out well with some time on the recumbent bike. hopefully next week some time with one of the trainers. The last part of my rehab has been the Regency's pool. It tough to get to on crutches (lots of stairs). Once there its a good  lap pool, and the exercises in the pool helps as well!! So getting better, getting stronger, and with all this going for me right now i am excited to get walking again...should be pretty strong by the time the Doc gives the ok! Well loyal reader, run happy!!

Well loyal reader it has been sometime since we have talked...well since I have talked and you have read anyway...My progress towards being on my feet was not as expected.I thought as of today I would be walking, and for all intents and purposes I am...only at 20% of my body weight (on my right leg)...so my plans for the Penang Bridge 1/2 seem to be shelved, and training when we are home in December may not be a reality either. The one good thing in all this is that the rehab is going well. I have really liked I-sports rehab, they are part of island hospital. The really know their stuff and it has gotten me motivated again. I am swimming now at least 3 times a week and should be able to start on a stationary bike next week...both being non weight bearing, I can do them. anything right now to help strengthen my leg before I get the nod to walk at full weight, gets me closer to running.So things are going well. I like the time in the pool and should enjoy the bike as well. Just an update loyal reader!

Tourism Taiping Heritage Run 2011.

So its been 10 years since that terrible day when fear and hatred became the norm for Americans, when we were witness to events that we thought possible only in our nightmares. Some lost friends, relatives and family who did nothing more that day than get up and go to work...to honor this I went to this run, knowing that i could not run in it, but feeling the need to support a fellow I-run member and a friend who was one of the organizers, and a friends who were running (My friend Thuan was going as were some of the I-run group.) I felt a strong need today to be surrounded by friends and family and the activity I love most. I was worried as Taiping is one of the if not the wettest cities in Malaysia, everyone says it rains there all the time, and Saturday when we arrived was no exception. We checked into the hotel and our friend Thuan took us around to some of the sites, and we also grabbed some lunch at a local hawker!! Very good!! Dinner was simple with a pizza hut just down the street. Although it was raining on the morning of 11 September (fitting, don't you think) we walked and hobbled down to the race site/finish line. We got the chance to see a few of the I-run group and our friend Thuan finish...Everyone did so well despite the soggy conditions, and I got to see our friends Karen and James, as well as watch Bee Hong, and Jin Ji finish the race! I have found that runners are a very special group of people, i think because of the personal nature of our accomplishments and struggles, we feel a certain kinship to one another. although running is not often a team sport I often feel that my goals are accomplished with those around me...The guy/gal that comes in first, motivates me to be better, because I feel (and not in a condescending egotistical way) that I am just like them, so I will train harder to compete better next time. It is the same as the person who comes in last, that person motivates me to train harder and be better, because (lets face it ) I don't want to be last! To a larger degree though because it takes tremendous courage to be the last finisher...think about how much internal fortitude it takes to cross that finish line last...those are the real hero's on race day!! I say this because even though I was probably the strangest thing most people saw at that race that day (guy on crutches). I got more smiles and had more strangers shake my hand and ask me what had happened. I love the club I am in, not only will we run on a day that is better for ducks than people, we will get up at 5:15AM on a Sunday to do it!! We will even get up at 6:30AM to watch others do it!! That's the kind of society we are, this society of Runners, there is no race, no creed, no color...if your a runner your in!! We don't care if your a trail runner, a barefoot runner, a slow or a fast runner (although you muddy buddy and adventure race runners...you might need your own society...but we will put it up for a vote, if you want in) we don't care, you are welcome here, sit down...have some water and a banana...Gu?? no?? ok... I have decided to remake the Emma Lazarus Sonnet "New Colossus", its inscribed on a plaque on the Statue of Liberty, you know, "Give me your tired, your poor...". My version goes ""Give me your tired, your sore, Your slow and steady, your wickedly fast and moderately pacing yearning to a personal best. The Trail runner, ultra marathoner, relay team member, and soul runner who does not care for time and score.Send these, the sun burned, rain soaked, wind blown, and snow chilled to us, I lift my voice and hands to cheer and rejoice beside the "finish line"!

Rehab and Time

Well its been a while since I blogged on here so i figured it was time for an update. I am cast and wire free on my wrist, and I have started to rehab it, which has been difficult (harder than I thought). The wrist is stuck in flexion so I constantly look like i am trying to do a shadow puppet of a duck. all or my extensors and flexors of my forearm are VERY tight, actually every muscle system in my whole right arm is tight..it hurts to raise my arm, hurts to extend at the elbow. It hurts to do just about anything with my right arm, I push through it as best as i can and it is progressing slowly. The hip is still not ready for weight yet, and no rehab or anything on it till i go to the doctor in another week, I think he will do a bone scan then to determine the health of the femoral head, and the healing process over all. I will know if I can begin to rehab the hip after that. Things are moving forward, slowly but forward!! Well I finally had a chance to download the data from my Garmin 405 from the day of the accident..I can tell you that heart rate and elevation gets a bit wonky at the end of the ride. This got me thinking, Garmin, Polar, Timex or no watch at all...Hummm...Well I began running with your standard Timex Ironman, no bells and whistles, just a lap counter and stopwatch. With my Timex I could go on to a site like Mapmyrun.com and plug in my route, measure distance, then time the distance out...worked great! Then my inner "gearhead" took over and I saw the Polar RS300X...ala Homer Simpson "Polar..gurgle gurgle"...so that was my new toy and the Timex became, well just a watch. I bought the foot pod for the polar, and would use it indoors, while using the armband GPS sensor outdoors, and heart rate monitor all the time...This thing was great time, distance, heart rate, pace, calories burned...it was an invaluable piece of my running equipment...I mean like right up there with shoes!! Then I started to hear at races and from running friends that the Garmin HRM's did not have the external GPS sensors that the polar had, it was all self contained....Oh my god!! In my mind, someone had reinvented the wheel and done it BETTER!! So I went on a search for the best Garmin, checking websites and blogs (just like I did for the polar) and decided on the 305...from the reviews it seemed like everyone loved there 305, even though it was like having a desktop computer on your wrist! Well, despite its size, and I have chicken arms, I LOVE my 305! It does struggle from time to time with Satellites, and the GPS signal in city settings can cut out, my polar used to do that too! The computer interface for it is awesome as well. My only real complaint about it, is that after a while the "dock" that it sits in to upload data does not make great contact with the watch and you have to update a few times to get it to work. I love the flexibility of its interface, you can set it up to monitor quite a few things and display them on the watch face, I keep pace, distance, heart rate and time on mine, but you can put elevation, heart rate % (I think). Now for as great as my "training computers" are...I don't think there is anything better than going out for a run without my trusted 305...It has taken me some time to get to that place, where i can leave it t home, i feel a little like I did the first time we left Brenna with the sitter...well not really but you get the gist of it, right. Anyway, with watch or without watch I am still months away from that glorious feeling of a good morning run..Hey, i have been married for 10 years, you get you glorious morning feelings where you can, if you know what i'm sayin!! Well Loyal reader, i had such high hopes for this blog, but as with me it will come back stronger than ever (I hope). Run Happy!!

Its been a week...not much happening.

Well it has been a week (5 days) or so since I last blogged...That one was about the I-Run anniversary dinner. Since then the group has had a race this weekend and been talking about everything from Ironman to Marathon...gets me psyched for when i do come back! I just found out that the town where I went to school East Stroudsburg has both an Ironman and a marathon...It would be fun to go back there for either one, and with me being able to run some hills here...I should be ok!! Wrist is finally done getting infected and all the wires are out, i go in Monday for another check up and should be able to begin rehabbing it then, awesomeness!! So I saw a question on the Brooks Fanatics page about barefoot running, minimalist running. I have for some time now trained in a neutral shoe, the Brooks Launch is not a minimalist shoe by any stretch. I do race in the T7 which is a running flat, so still not really minimalist. I have to admit though, and this is so hard to say (Forgive me!!) I have mixed a Saucony Kinvara into my runs and although I would not classify it is a true minimalist shoe (The Saucony Hattori)it is more minimalist than the launch is. Ok so why all of this about shoes and such, well the question from the brooks site got me thinking, "how do i feel about the minimalist/barefoot trend". Not that anyone really cares what i think but its my blog so (middle finger). I think that for some with a tru neutral gait or who are willing to learn, its great! For those that have been wearing a "corrective" shoe, pronation control, etc, I think it could be really bad. I mean muscle structure changes dramatically over years of being "corrected" and i would think that to an extent bone structure would change as well. With a FLOOD of minimalist shoes hitting the market, i mean EVERY manufacturer has one (Thank you Brooks for the "Pure Project" shoes...I can retire my Saucony's and no longer be committing a sin... "Thou shall have no false shoes before Brooks") It may become such a marketing push that EVERYONE might give a minimalist shoe a shot, when in my opinion i don't think minimalist shoes are for every runner..yes, the human body will adapt..bla..bla..bla...i get it. For some though, i think that adaptation might take an extreme time period if at all...I know that all the literature expresses caution, but when do we exercise caution, especially when "big brother" tells us to?? Look if this is really a "Revolution" of epic proportions, why are Newton shoes still $250 a pop?? Why don't the big shoe manufacturers discontinue the "motion control" lines? For me the jury is still out on this, i mean if you do the "Vibram five fingers" for your next road marathon, fine, great...I am happy for you. For me,I have to remember that when I was a kid my mom took me to "Striderite" and i got measured 4  way till Sunday...That Kenyan kid, running across the plains in his bare feet ... he didn't. For now, i will stick with my Brooks Launch (when i can run again). I will try out my Pure Project shoes when i get them. I have a pair of Green silences at home waiting for me to bring back also...That's as far as i will go, which is pretty far i guess, i have always had a neutral gait though, even with my right tibial twist. Well that's my opinion, based on some of what i have read, and heard...I'm sure i am missing some facts, but fact and opinion don't always go together...just ask Michael Moore. Loyal reader, Run Happy (yes even in bare feet..i ain't hatein!).

I-Run 1 year Anniversary dinner!

I-Run 20 August 2011, Happy 1Year Anniversary!

Well the group I joined in late March of this year, and only ran with for 3 months was celebrating a year since its inception, and they invited us...well I think they invited me, I invited us! It was held this past Saturday at a restaurant called Stone Bay, very nice place, aside from the two flights of stairs I had to navigate to get to the restaurant. There were allot of people there, and usually big social gatherings are cause for nervous energy among the adult members of the Neilson clan, We (Rox and I) feel tremendously close and comfortable with these accepting and kind people...Brenna...Brenna is always comfortable, no matter the situation! Anyway what a great night, Great food, and I mean it just kept coming, seafood, and chicken dishes, it was awesome! Great friends, some of my dearest friends that I have known since I arrived and were there for me when I had my accident, to new friends who I have seen at races but never had a chance to talk with, it was a room full of some of my favorite people! I did miss getting some photos with some of the people I wanted to, but the group shots cover most if not all of the bases.

Chun How Lee

Chung Mei Ling, Chun How Lee, Cupido Kelvin

SK Leon, Andrew Lo, Tan Heng Hooi

Chun How Lee, Eric Lim, Cheng Siew Seng

Chung How Lee, Francis Khor

Tan Cheng Jin, Cupido Kelvin, Chung Mei Ling, Chun How Lee
Andrew Loh, Eric Lim, Ong Leng Hin

There was some awesome Karaoke going an and let me tell you both the men and the women who sang did awesome!! The lucky draw was hysterical and everything before after and in between was just so much fun!! We actually won some lucky draws as well, with Roxanne getting one and me getting one!! I of course had to model the shorts I won!!

Karen Geh, with the winning ticket!

My new shorts..Nicol Chug, Andrew Loh,
Chung Mei Ling

Roxanne got to draw, and she also won!!

To end the night we got to nip into one of Mei Lings awesome cakes, and there were pictures galore!!

Got some help down the stairs from my friend Choo Cheng Liang, who also waited with me while Roxanne got the car! So many great friends!! Such a great time!! I look forward to being able to continue to run with this group, share my love for this great sport, and be inspired by them!!
Thank you I-Run!!

One month from my accident....Time for contemplation...

So things are going well with my healing process, except for the fact that my hand looks like a boxing glove...its pretty swollen. I have good movement in my hip, although my right calf is still really sore!! So Its the one month anniversary of my accident and surgery (yesterday for the accident 17th). Since that time, things have not been easy, I am not one to sit around and do nothing, so I have tried to stay as active as possible...Sooooo, I have attended a 54 year old 8K race, Went to the Penang Butterfly Farm, Got to see how they make "Hungry Ghost" effigies, and "Backstage" at one of the Hungry Ghost operas. All that has little to do with running...what it does have to do with is the fact that i began this blog to document my adventure in this new and wondrous place, Penang. This experience has become part of that adventure! I cannot overlook the fact that I am VERY lucky that I can do all those things with my family and friends, crutches and pain (sometimes) aside! This leads me to the contemplation part of this for me...I have been very blessed to have a wonderful family, Roxanne is my Rock, Brenna is everything a parent could want and they have both been beside me all the way....I know that support has meant everything. Here is the best part though...a group of people that 4 months ago I did not know...saved my life..I mean no drama, they saved me!! For them to ride back over 10 miles, after completing the ride, just to make sure I was ok. Staying with me till the ambulance came and then going with me to the hospital (I think). That would have been enough for any friend, but not for them, they visited me every day they could, brought me flowers, Lunch, snacks for Brenna, and piece of mind for Roxanne. It went beyond the pure nature of friend, and passed into a realm that could be...well...family. I feel like family with this group of people, and to be honest Roxanne and Brenna do to. Roxanne is really excited to be at the dinner that this group will host on Friday, and I am as well. Just so you know it did not stop at the hospital either, they have visited us at home, brought us cake (Awesome!), movies, helped us shop, brought my bike back to me. I have said thank you many times and some day I will have a chance to repay the kindness fully. These are all people I am honored to call friend, and proud to be a member of their running family. On this day of contemplation I remember a kindness bestowed upon me...a kindness I will never forget. This blog is about running, and here in this place I have found a group of runners that have given me much more than someone to pace off of on a long run...they looked out for me in my most desperate hour...they are family...isn't that what we all should be to each other in some small way...Thanks I-run and to Chun, Eric, Kelvin, Mei Ling, Francis,James, Andrew,Thuan...I know I am missing a ton who visited and were there after I crashed....To all of you...There is an old Irish blessing for friends that ends with this "...For luck and laughter too, and a host of friends that never ends, each day your whole life through!". Thank you for gifts that are priceless!! Run Happy!!

Recovery is going well!!

So the wrist has 10 more days, and the hip will have had almost 2 months by then...hoping that some further progress will be made on the hip, and may be by October I can begin rehab on the hip...That would mean a January or February race would be possible!! Run Happy loyal reader!!

Now more like "A Floridian Runner Recovering in Penang"...

My recovery although difficult at times is moving along at a plodding pace, but moving none the less. Thursday was an interesting day in the process, I woke up to find my hand very infected at the pin sites, and got myself in to see the Doc a day early...In the process of looking into the infection, he had my hip and my wrist x-ray...The wrist is mostly healed, about another 10 days and I can begin rehab. He took off the cast, and replaced it with a wrist guard, he also removed the more infected of the two wires...Good Lord that hurt...it was just grabbing the protruding end with a wrench and pulling it out...not fun...but its out...I go back Monday to have him check it again, and possibly the second wire comes out.No more cast is a good step!! The hip is another story, clearly badly broken initially, and now repaired, but the bone is far from knit as of yet. The good news is that it looks from the x-ray like the femoral head is healthy, will need a bone scan at some point further along to confirm, but for now its good news!! My hip movement is getting better, the only thing that is still difficult is abduction and adduction...everything else is improving...i got my own sock on and tied my own shoe yesterday...Rox was jealous...she cant do that with her arthritis. So Its coming along with the hip, the wrist feels like a foreign object right now, no strength at all and a good deal of pain when I try to move my thumb..all other fingers are good, the thumb though...not so good, but rehab has not begun yet, i am sure it will be better once it does. From the running side, i pre-ordered my Brooks pure project shoes, they should be shipping around October, and I am hoping to be a month or so into my rehab by then...I got the true neutral pure connect..hoping that the injury has not changed my stride at all!The will be my recovery reward...i am still thinking about Penang Bridge being a possibility, even if I walk most of it...not sure though and not going to push it...but would that not be a kick!! Run Happy loyal reader!!

54th Penang Chung Ling 8km Cross Country Run 2011...post race

So how awesome is it that there is a cross country race here in Penang, exclusive to those of Chinese descendant, that has been taking place for 54 years!! I thought it was great, and was honored when I was invited to attend, and disappointed but understanding when I was excluded...I mean we often get to honor our cultures through holidays or other social events, but how often do you get to do that through a competitive athletic endeavour...not often. I arrived via cab, as I wanted to give rox some time to rest. Other than slipping on a dead bird and almost falling on my crutches, my arrival was uneventful. The I-Run group was there in force, i mean everywhere there were yellow and red I-Run shirts. I met up with my friends and had some time for a quick hello before we walked to the start line.

They were off, I took some finish line photos of everyone i knew, but missed some others, not easy to get into that great finish line photo position on crutches, i will have you know! I did get quite a few of the group as they finished though. I have to say that this is a great group of people, There are also some really good runners. both the men's and the woman's grouping were very competitive, but the I-run ladies ruled the day placing...I want to say 3 or 4 out of the top 5 finishers, including 1st place. Well done ladies, on the men's side due to the highly competitive field we had one that I am sure of make the podium. A great race by everyone though! The day itself was memorable for me, not just the hospitality and the friendship, the food was awesome, despite some ultra weird expression i have in one photo while I was eating. I got to see some friends i had not seen in some time, i also got to meet some of the group members i have not before. I was also officially inducted with my brand new I-run racing singlet...LOVE IT!! I just need to get well and wear it in a race...hell i may just have to wear it in December in a race back in the states when we go home...if I am ready.  So the race itself was broken into two groups, one was the public and the other the student body of the high school, that was very cool, so there were two starts...I love tradition, especially tradition that incorporates sport and wellness!! So this is what the Doctor ordered for sure...i needed some time out of the house, and what better way to spend that time if not with Family, with good friends enjoying their enthusiasm over an interest and a lifestyle you share..I cant think of one! Ok for the Brooks Fanatics side...You all need to know that Brooks is IT in Asia, at least in this corner, I saw Brooks shoes on the majority of feet, and some color variations and styles I have not seen before, but the usual suspects were there, Launch, Ghost, Adrenaline, Glycerine, even saw some T7's, ST5's and green silences. The apparel was there as well, HVAC synergy shorts...The works...Brooks has always been the best brand, we know that...guess the rest of the world does too...the I-Run Penang group did the brand proud Fanatics...we may want to think about getting a fanatics group started here...food for though!! now for pictures!!

54th Penang Chung Ling 8km Cross Country Run 2011

Well the above takes place on Sunday, and I cant wait to see it...I did sign up when the offer was made initially, but it is for people of direct Chinese descent only, and no matter what i tried i could not find any Chinese history in the Neilson lineage. Instead I'm going to go out and watch the race...it should be a great event, its also a chance to honor one of the primary cultures here in Penang, and give a respectful nod to some of my friends who have been there for me. Not sure how I will do being on my crutches that long, but its worth it. Pictures to follow!! Run Happy loyal reader!!

recovering...

Its tough watching races that I was going to be a part of, and looking forward to running in pass by...The KL night run was the first, there is a cross country event this weekend, it is for runners of Chinese descent only...as much of a melting pot as my genealogy is...there is no Asian anywhere...I am thinking of going, just to watch, and I have some friends running. October is the release of the Brooks pure project shoes, I cant wait!! hoping that they will make a viable alternative to the Saucony Kinvaras I use from time to time...I hate not using a Brooks shoe, but I love to toe box and the heel to toe transition, as well as how low they are...its a good shoe, no denying that...its just not Brooks!! Run Happy loyal reader...just wait up for me...crutches are a bitch!!!

its been a while...

So loyal reader, happy runner...things are improving still, my ROM is increasing, the Doc had positive things to say at our visit on Friday, and the cast may come off my wrist in another 2 weeks or so!! awesome!! Sleeping is still hell, I make it till around 4 AM before everything starts to cramp and there is no longer a comfortable position to sleep in.
I want to rant a bit on behalf of some friend who went to a night run this past weekend in Putrajaya (near KL), and got robbed, had their car broken into, and electronics, cash and credit cards stolen...This is an American problem, and should not be something we export!! I mean that from the standpoint that although crime is prevalent everywhere, this patrolling the grounds of public sporting events is getting to be an epidemic. Most runners especially are not wealthy, its not a sport that demands wealth, like polo. Runners are usually 9-5 ers who save up for their running adventures, and often give up other things in pursuit of the finish line and a PR, or a finishers medal or even dare I say a chance to stand on the podium. Why steal from us...huh...why!! Hell most of the runners I know are the kind of people who would toss you a 20 if you needed it and not ask for anything in return!! Take for example the group here...I am a newcomer, and someone they all know will be here only for a limited time, and they, THEY treat me like family...like we have known each other for years....Hell one of the guys who raced this past weekend and had stuff stolen, offered me his placement medal...That is rare to find in people, those are FRIENDS, those are people who deserve better than to go someplace to do something fun and good for you and have to wonder if their stuff is safe...Not have some idiot with zero respect for anyone jack their stuff. I believe in karma, so I know that ill will be revisited on them 10 fold. I am not sure what is happening to us as a people, but I do know this, for every idiot who thinks that its acceptable to take something that is not theirs, and ruin someones day in the process...there are hundreds of people like the friends I have made here, who gave up their time to visit me in the hospital and here at home, have baked for us, have offered medals, spent hours in the mall...generally have made us feel welcomed and cared for. Like the friends I have at home who have offered their get wells and advice from thousands of miles away. We are of greater number than you smash and grab idiot, and with all that karma working against you....you might want to put down the tire iron, and get a job...because we are coming for you....don't say you have not been warned. Run Happy!!

ROM getting better!

So my hip flexion and extension are getting better. I can do seated hip flexion and extension, not at a very dramatic degree but doing it none the less! Also my standing knee flexion is getting so much better...really hoping that when rehab starts I can be ready. I crutched happy today loyal reader...please continue to run happy!!

Progress.

So since I can no longer make this about my running, i will make it about my recovery.First off though a special congrats to all the friends I have and those I have yet to meet that are associated with the Penang I-Run group, on their first (for some) Triathlon...its a great feeling to accomplish a difficult task such as this, so a standing ovation to you all, you are Triathletes!! I have not been seriously injured as an athlete for well over 15 years (knee injury/ice hockey). It is very different having been so significantly envenomed by the running bug, to now be completely static...i mean even when I had days off I knew there would be a run the next day. At this point, my body does not know what to do...I feel like the puppy at the window, waiting for his owner to show up with the leash to go out. I am not sure how I am going to deal with 3 months of this. I am also praying every day that the surgery was done in enough time, to my hip and the femoral head is not necrotic. If that happens, the surgery was for nothing, and I will be off to Singapore for a full hip replacement...that will not be good.From everything I have read a full hip replacement means my running career is over, now at 40, that would be a total suck fest!! I am also itchy as hell, I think the anti biotic that they were giving me has dried out my skin, especially my scalp which is itchy as all get out!! Well I cant find my road ID either, I know I had it on during the ride, all I can think of is since the arm i wear it on is the same one that I broke my wrist, and the hospital pictures don't include it...I am thinking the EMS guys cut it off, really glad I had it though, this is one of those times that make an investment in a road ID totally worth it!! So, recovery stuff, I took a shower on my own this AM, and yesterday I was able to do some standing knee flexion like 10 times, will do the same thing today. I also continue to do my seated knee flexion, at least 10 -20 times. I cannot as of yest do any adduction or abduction of my hip, and there is allot of swelling, posterior to the hip joint, its not as bad as it was, but very noticeable...I imagine it will go down in time. My wrist feels ok, although that is not preventing me from running, and my head injury is healing, but there is still a nice knot underneath it. Yesterday I looked up, got some advice on and sent some emails to, some local sports rehab places, the best being the one at Island hospital, at least according to the friends I have in the running and cycling groups, so when I can, I will check in there and begin my road back.
So I think that is it for today, I am living each day in the positive as best as I can...heck it cant get any worse...unless the head of the femur is necrotic...that would qualify as worse. Run Happy loyal reader, and do so for me!

Day off (there is going to be alot of them)

So...yeah...day off...sucks!! Proud of the group from here (I-Run) that did the Port Dickinson Triathlon this weekend....all really good times that they should be proud of...hopefully I can join them next year!!
Run Happy loyal reader...I will be crutching happily!!

Bad Accident

So on the way back from Balik Pulau, I crashed...not sure (still) where or when, but bits and pieces are coming back...soft sand...climbing back up wit my bike still clipped to my shoe...screaming for help...Seeing my friends Chun, Me Ling, Eric and Francis...I am not completely sure of any of these, they are all hazy memories. I don't even remember being in the Ambulance or the Hospital initially...but Brenna took these pictures to prove it.

So after the 14 or so stitches to close the gash on my head, the soft cast and later the hard cast, and the two wires to repair my broken wrist. the surgery to repair my broken hip (using 2 screws to reattach the femoral head). I was now in the hospital till yesterday afternoon.

so now i am finally home..a bit rested and a bit sore, but home. i would say that the Florida runner in Penang is on hiatus for at least 6 months...may be 8. thank you all for your kind words of healing, and well wishes. I will be back...loyal reader... run happy!!

The cross-training was a killer!!

Ok, so as you all know, I started biking and swimming to balance my running. The swimming has been haphazard at best, the biking a bit more so. I decided on Sunday (17/07) that I would join the big group and head up to Balik Pulua, past the dam where James and i went a few weeks back. the ride was fun, we took some picks near the dam and then a bit further up.

 Then we went for some breakfast "Laska is good!!"...on the way back things did not goo well!! as great a morning as it was the afternoon went all the way in the other direction.

I crashed...big time...