Running at the mouth

My training this year has been close to perfect.

Since December 31st, I have been trying to run a 50 k each weekend and rack up 65-100 miles a week, with lots of weeks around 80.

It has paid off. My endurance is better than ever. My recovery is swift. I rarely have DOMS after hard or long runs, even 50 milers!

There is only one thing missing in my training this year and every preceding year, quality miles and speed work.

Now, this season, it is the time for sharpening. In the past, I have always remained blunt, ignoring the whetstone.

Perhaps now, I could try a little...

Numerology

My wife has long noted my fascination, nay obsession, with numbers.

When I was a 3rd grader, I counted 151 books I read that year.

My senior year, I stupidly counted down the days left in Paris, France when I lived there.

Now, I am 1/12 done with my last year of training. 7/8 years down.

I ran 22.25 miles today at 7:50 pace at 85o.

They say you should never wish away time. I am sure end stage patients would readily agree.

My goal this year is to learn as much as possible and merrily witness the days evaporate ( I might count a little!)

PCT 50 miler

New course this year. Wilderness act precludes race being held in Mt. Hood wilderness. Overall, a good performance but felt poor the whole race. It is amazing how hard it can be to run long no matter how many times you have suffered through the same doubts and fears.

What does not kill you, makes you stronger!

Lots of learning

Had a very educational week. Lots of very sick patients, active resuscitation. Lots of firsts. USed methylene blue for refractory hypotension on bypass, glucagon for possible CCB and BB overdose, gave pencillin for the first time.

My post last week on risks and benefits rings true.

A younger woman for diagnostic biopsy. The surgery goes well but has anaphylaxis and ends up intubated over night for a medication reaction. Just a routine procedure, ma'am.

Risk Benefit Ratios- To my co-pilot, Erica

I use the term "risk-benefit ratio" every day with colleagues and patients.

A catch-phrase that paints the picture of a decision or act balanced between different concerns, sometimes with competing issues.

You may die from your surgery, but if you don't have it, you will die anyway.

We want to make your surgery safer by sticking a needle in your neck. We could cause a complication but it is unlikely and it will end up safer for your procedure.

All good unless you are the "one percent" who get the complication!

Expand this to Life and the act of living.

Critics point out that dangerous or thrill-seeking activities risk death.

Devil's advocates remind the above critics that driving is dangerous, an earthquake can attack you on your porch or sudden death can occur for any number of reasons.

Where does this ratio lay? Where should it lay for a given individual?

Spendthrift blowing money with nothing to show on retirement or frugal investors living on beans and rice, unhappy all of life but with one million in the bank.

My good friend died on an Alaskan peak but when he drove, he behaved like a fearful grandma.

Run hard until your knees blow out or let your knees blow out from traumatic arthritis from your complacent obesity.

Strive to find that sweet spot where you are living life rather than prolonging the onset of death or hastening the black shroud.

Contentment

Nice start to the new academic year. Excited to progress, solidify my knowledge and judgment.

My running is going great. Occasional L knee pain and deep buttock pain. Running close to 90 miles a week routinely. Not feeling overtrained at all.

Family is doing well.

It's a all good.

Nice Holiday Weekend

Satisfying liver transplant on Thursday. Pt did very well over the weekend.
Enjoyable hike with the family near Hood on Friday. Babies in tow.
Long, hot run in the Gorge on Saturday.
No-hitter on call on Sunday. Ran 10 miles around the neighborhood.
Landscaping is finished at our house. As always, I am always resistant to new ideas. Erica was right- the house looks really nice.
Met the new anesthesia residents today, as a group. Hard to imagine we were there just a few years ago- feels like a thousand years have passed.

Post Fourth

Enjoyed watching the fireworks last night with Galactic and Berf.

Nice day. Sunny with a little breeze. Ran laps in the neighborhood around the house while on Va Spa call.

Nice weekend!

Chi Chi's retirement

Went on a nice hike the family yesterday in Salmon creek. Chi chi began limping after three miles. She has been becoming less able to hike with us for a year or more. Today was her retirement day, unfortunately. I carried her home four miles in my arms.

Happy Fourth of July

Ran from Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake. On the way back from Wahtum to Herman Creek, found the last traces of Gorge snow at 4200 ft. Descended down Herman creek to the PCT. Doused my head with water at every creek. Finished up at Eagle Creek with nearly seven hours of running in 90 degee heat. 33 miles felt like 40 plus. So run 30 miles then repeat x 100 days... Doesn't sound very appealing or doable!

First day of CA-3 year

Today was my fourth out of five "senior" years in my life. The next will be when I draw social security.

Two great thoracic cases with Griffee today.

Ran two hours in the heat after work. Felt good. Nothing better than new shoes.