What Really Grinds My Gears

I got the idea for this topic from a Family Guy episode. Peter did a regular spot on the evening news called, "What Really Grinds My Gears". It was a ranting spot and if you've seen it, is hilarious.

As I read today's Tribune-Democrat it got me thinking of something that grinds my gears. A few years ago when Pittsburgh hosted the MLB All Star Game my wife and I bought season tickets to the Pirates. It was a 2-year commitment that allowed us the 'opportunity' to purchase All Star Game tickets. That season, I paid close attention to the "local" coverage of the Pirates. Of course, the Tribune sent their Sports Editor Eric Knopsnyder to Opening Day and then he never went to another game that season as a reporter (I say that because 'maybe' he went as a fan; but I would doubt it) until; you guessed it...the All Star Game.

I wrote a letter to the editor that year and got a response from them saying that they don't publish letters that talked "about" or was "directed at" another individual. My letter referred to the Tribune's Sports Editor. I never named names. But the funny part is that if you read the Letters to the Editor, nearly 4 times a week letters about or toward other people are published. It makes me laugh.

Now, in this economic downturn, the Tribune-Democrat has once again outdone themselves and I can't say I'm surprised. Mr. Knopsnyder is in Tampa to cover the Super Bowl. It's hilarious that this podunk town has sent a live reporter to cover the game. With 24/7 media options available and with no less than two Pittsburgh papers (all of which have excellent websites) having representatives there, I see no reason why anyone would want to read the junk that is coming out of Tampa in the form of our very own reporter. Whoopie whoop. The same Tribune-Democrat that recently laid off employees is paying to send someone to the game. All season long, their coverage of all major sports teams relies heavily on AP stories.

The time for newspapers is running out. But in Johnstown, PA, that time is a lot closer than some think. Soon, only major metropolitan areas will have a full-time newspaper and the last I checked Johnstown doesn't qualify. And worse yet, they are their own worst enemy.

That's what grinds my gears.

The Return

To running? No. To pain. Even though I had a great week, I have returned to sporadic pain in and around the break area of my foot. Once again, the superstitious part of me wonders if I jinxed my rehab by writing about it here. Common sense will tell me that one has absolutely nothing to do with the other, but I can tell you from experience that the mental side of an injury or anything for that matter, is very powerful.

I have been able to walk but running is still not an option. Skating is probably not an option at the moment and I am really fearful about how much longer this is going to drag on. This past Wednesday was 9 weeks since my diagnosis. Has it improved? Yes. I can say that with 100% certainty. But the fact that I still have issues frustrates me like absolutely nothing else I have ever been frustrated by in my entire life.

Everything is questioned. Everything is an issue. I should be glad I'm moving around. I know I should be happy I'm not bound to a walking boot and fortunately not in "constant" pain. For now, I am limited and unable to do either of my favorite activities (running and skating). I am in dire need of the running and it is probably going to be the last thing that comes back. Even though I have run on 3 occasions since the new year started, none of those events was for very long and none gave me any sort of satisfaction. It wasn't the running I knew. Much like the start of this injury, I sit and wonder a lot. When will I get back to the way it was? Harder yet to wonder; will I get back to the way it was? Perhaps my return is imminent. A return to a doctor's office?

No Celebration Here; Well Maybe a Little

With the Pittsburgh Steelers winning yesterday and getting another trip to the Super Bowl one thing is for certain; there is no celebration in my house. Without going into great detail, the hatred that I hold deep in my sould for this franchise runs so deep I can barely determine whether I love my team more than I hate them. But I digress.

Today was a bit of a day of celebration, but I'm keeping my growing confidence in check. I am simply building up my strength and testing my foot out a little more each day. Today I walked two miles. Amazing to me that a 2-mile walk causes me such excitement. Contained excitement, but I do feel good about it. With each workout, I deal with a bit of pain and discomfort but nothing horrific. I have even secretly run a few times since my New Year's Day debacle. I have learned how to remain patient. My runs are done at or around the 10:00/mile pace (I'm used to 7:30-8:00 paces) and I have only run two more times since. Once I ran 1/4 of a mile and the next time I ran 1/2 mile. I will gradually build upon that as my foot allows me.

In regards to returning to the ice, I am also being patient. Perhaps too patient for my liking, but I have visions of working a few games throughout the month of February. Normally a time that I am preparing for a playoff run, I am not sure where I am this season. Perhaps I will not work the playoffs. Perhaps I will make a deep run into the playoffs. Who knows. What I am doing is literally taking it one step at a time. I have a greater good to be concerned about and have been very proud of myself for remaining patient and doing this correctly.

As for football season. I think I will make plans to do something else on Super Bowl Sunday. It eats at me like cancer to see all of the bandwagon fans surrounding me like flies on a carcass. Watching might be too much to bear. Go Cardinals.

The Long(est) Road to Recovery

Today is the ten week anniversary of my last official activity. I refereed a hockey game in Altoona that night. Over the past ten weeks I have learned quite a bit about what I am capable of mentally. It's ironic, but I thought that the toughest mental challenge I ever faced was running a marathon. Going through this injury has been far and away much tougher.

How I got through this and continue to get through it was and is simply changing my perspective. I've changed my routine. A new saying that I catch myself saying all the time at work is that "this is my reality". My reality for the past 10+ weeks, and actually longer than 13 weeks when you consider that I was very hobbled for three weeks, has been that I have not been able to skate or run.

I'm getting closer. I'm getting healthier. I'm getting stronger. Both mentally and physically. It's been a process, no doubt about that. I have learned to adapt to a situation I hadn't been faced with before. When I come out of this, I'll be better for having gone through it. I'll be as mentally tough as I've ever been, and that's saying something. I am ready for my next challenge. And right now, that challenge is getting to the end of this, the longest road to recovery.

The day I remove those counters to the left (days since I ran, days since I last officiated) is coming soon. When exactly? I cannot say for sure, but soon.

Something Old and New

Well, so much for the road to recovery. Once again I feel as though I've jinxed myself. Despite getting better, the foot continues to give me issues. I called the doctor on Monday and complained a little, which prompted another scheduled MRI, which took place on Thursday. Now I try to relax the weekend with my follow-up appointment scheduled for Monday. I'm beginning to think that perhaps a trip to Pittsburgh is in order for some real medical advice. I hate to be that way, but I'm just not sure what's going on and I feel a second opinion could be in order. I'll wait to hear what I'm going to hear Monday before deciding, but it looks like my near future includes more rest and time. Not what I want, but this thing has a mind all of its own.

I'm also facing a grim reality that perhaps hockey season should be over for me. I mean, what am I rushing back to? Screaming parents, coaches and kids who have no respect for authority? On the surface, this is an easy decision to make. Unfortunately for me, I still love the game and love being on the ice. I'm leaning toward bagging the rest of the season, but I'll wait and see what Monday provides me in terms of insight.

I'm also leaning toward not talking about this injury on this blog anymore. I'm a superstitious person and every time I've written that things seem to be going better, things take another turn. But then what do I write about? A running blog without running is like a cooking blog without food, a pet blog with no animals. Perhaps I can come up with random thoughts. Perhaps I can temporarily change this "running" blog into a "ranting" blog. I think I'd like to try something different, but I guess I need to figure out what that is. For now, I'm going silent. When there is anything to report, I'll report it. I'll return to running, but I sense it's not gonna be anytime soon. I'm beginning to think that the Pittsburgh Marathon is in serious jeaopardy. I mean, training should start on Tuesday. That ain't happenin'. The final last day I can start and be ready will be mid-February. I suppose there's a chance, but I'm not banking on it.

One Day and One Step at a Time

Although I'm walking and was dumb enough to run a little on Thursday, this weekend has given me the reminder that I've had a broken bone in possibly the worst place possible; especially for runners. I dealt with swelling and some residual pain in my foot after trying that little stunt on Thursday.

Walking is not what I would describe as 100% comfortable, but thinking back I am not limping as I was when I didn't know I had a broken bone. After long walks I still have some pain and today was no exception. I walked a mile and a half and have some discomfort over the break area. I continue to question the medical profession and with my next follow-up appointment now eight days away I wonder when and if this thing will ever allow me to run to the levels I've run before. It angers me, but I am happy that I am able to walk, able to get around and am confident that perhaps at some point I will be able to push my envelope once again.

Perhaps I have pushed it too far for the type of injury I have. Who knows. I've got questions, and far too few answers.

An Incredible Feet

Or what about one foot? Today is January 1 and begins 2009. Normally I don't have many plans for New Year's Day and this year was no different. I watch the Winter Classic and a little football and have the traditional hot dogs, saurkraut and kielbasa. Today I awoke to a big breakfast and a nice hot cup of coffee. Then I decided to take my 1-mile walk.

When I reached the 1/2 mile turnaround point, I felt so good I decided I might try a little light jogging. And for fear of sounding like Forrest Gump, that's what I did. I jogged to the normal 1-mile mark of my running course and turned back running back to the place where I started. Then I walked the 1/2 mile back home. It was only a mile, and it wasn't very fast but my foot passed a fairly important test today. Yes, it was a little bit sore but I ran with a normal gait and plan on continuing to work at it. The fact that it was unexpected makes it a glorious day for me and what I hope is the start of a great year ahead.