Why My Running Has Sucked this Spring and Summer!
Why My Running Has Sucked this Spring and Summer!
Back on May 27th I ran my fastest 5K of the year and I felt like I was starting to get back into running form. Little did I know that would be my high point for the spring and so far the summer.
That’s because shortly after that run I went to an ophthalmologist to find out why everything was gray when looking only with my left eye!
First a Visit to an Ophthalmologist
Anyway, the ophthalmologist didn’t know what the caused the problem. She thought I may have a tear in my retina, so she sent me to a retina specialist.
Then a Retina Specialist
The retina specialist had some good news and some not so good news. He said there was no tear in the retina. And aside from some age related dry macular degeneration everything looked good. However, he speculated that the cause of the appearance of the grayness was an arterial occlusion, i.e. a “mini-stroke”
Next a Cardiologist
He gave me some post examination “homework”, The homework included a lipid panel, two other blood tests. As well as, a visit to a cardiologist for an echo cardiogram and an ultrasound. My blood work is all good and Im still waiting on the other tests. Oh and right now I’m wearing a heart monitor for three weeks!
Finally, A Return to the Retina Specialist
After a return visit to the retina specialist he still doesn’t see anything wrong with the retina except for the AMD. He said the next step would be a visit to a neurological eye specialist.
However, before taking that step he wants me to return to the ophthalmologist and see if they can do something with eyeglasses to help.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is I am now waiting for my ophthalmologist appointment and the two tests at the cardiologist. Oh and the result of the heart monitoring. Even though at the end of the cardiologist visit he said I’ll see you in three months!
All of the above and the hot summer weather have played havoc with my running. I have been taking it easy even though both the retina specialist and the cardiologist said to keep running!
Back to Running
So this week I ran twice! Once on Tuesday and again on Friday. Both times I ran for a total time of 30 minutes rather than a set distance. The runs were 2.3 and 2.4 miles respectively at a pace of 12:52 and 12.57 minutes/mile. I keep on reminding myself this is just base miles and speed doesn’t matter! Doing it is what matters!
Now this is the point in a post where I would write about the soundtracks for these runs. But I’ve rambled in enough, so I’ll write about those soundtracks in another post!
The soundtracks respectively were : The Right Man the debut album from D.K. Harrell and Sticks and Stones from Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real.
Catching up, Moving Forward with Proposed Reads
Catching Up
OK so it’s been so long since I’ve posted on this site on a consistent basis that I feel I need to introduce myself again! My name is Edward K.Karn or EKKarn, or “a sixties man” on Instagram. That Instagram user name may need to be updated to ” a seventies man” as I left my sixties a couple of years ago and on October 1st I will turn 72! However, I still do love those “Sixties” what a wild time they were!
Cyrus Chestnut – Soul Food – 6/11/23 – Random Album
So occassionally I use a random number generator to pick an album to listen to that evening. I did just that tonight I counted the albums on the top shelf of my jazz albums, Then, I used a random number generator to select an album. The number generator result was 21, which led me to Soul Food from jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut. I am enjoying the album as I am writing this post. Here’s a little biographical back ground about Cyrus.
Nick Schnebelen – What Key is Trouble In? Powers a Great Run
Ok so I have been moving forward in many ways and also feeling my age (71) in others. I have been moving forward in my battle with my ADHD, as I try to do more thing that I’ve thought about doing. While doing others when I think about them, rather than putting them off ! And so far it’s working! One of those things I didn’t put off was this morning’s run!
Storm Watch (Joe Pickett #23). – C.J.Box
Paul Siebel – Looking Back at Woodsmoke & Oranges
Continuing with yesterday‘s thread on the Facebook Record Collectors Group, I have Paul Siebel‘s album Woodsmoke & Oranges spinning on my turntable tonight. I bought the album, when it first came out in 1970, based on the glowing review about the album I read in some music magazine. Additionally I may have been convinced to buy the album, when I saw that the following musicians played in the album…
Looking Back: Jimmie Spheeris – Isle of View
Ok so today on the Record Collectors Facebook Group a member asked people to dig into their collection and post an album that is unknown and/or obscure. Well, I have many vinyl albums that fit that description! And many more CDs that do also! However the album I decided to listen to and write about is the debut album from singer-songwriter Jimmie Spheeris Isle of View. (Say it three or more times fast). Anyway the album has been one of my favorite quiet night albums since I bought in in the early 70s! However, I think Jimmie’s music has largely been forgotten because his career was cut short by a tragic accident. From Wikipedia…
Grant Dermody – Behind the Sun. Great Blues Harp!
Over the last month or so there have been three blues albums in my music rotation. Each features a great blues harmonica players. The albums are the latest release from: Bob Corritore, The Dig Three and Grant Dermody. I am going to start the discussion of these albums with Behind the Sun. The latest album from singer, songwriter and acclaimed harmonica player Grant Dermody.
