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!!