I'm at school for the first time in 10 days and I'm not really happy. I've been fortunate to have some time off to spend with the family and it's killing me being here and not hanging out at home with Kylee, Myles, and Bryn. I'm sure they're doing fine, but I have a lot of time to kill this morning since the students are taking the Ohio Achievement Tests (OAT). I get to sit here and not answer any questions.
Tomorrow night is the VW County meet. It parrallels the likes of the Toledo City League and other big name races so I'll link results when I get a chance. Van Wert hasn't lost the County Meet in the 10 years it's been running and I don't forsee it happening this year either, although, that's why we run the races.
*I got cleared to run on Thursday. I ran Fri. Sat. and Sun. and plan on running today. Things aren't great, but I'm back out there.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Big day
Today was a great day for the fact that I got about 3 hours sleep and still managed to be a pretty solid dad. On a scale of 1-10 I'd give myself a 9! Now of course I'm a little biased, and Kylee, Myles, and Bryn may say otherwise, but I don't think they would argue.
Bryn didn't sleep much last night, as expected, but with Kylee nursing, my fatherly duties were to be their for moral support. At 6:10 I got up and went home for a quick shower. Was back to the Hospital in time for the morning feed and to hold Bryn so Kylee could take a short nap. Myles arrived at the hospital with Grandma Alice a little before 10:00. Saw his little sis then went with me to the house for some lunch. We ate lunch together (much needed guy time) then went back to see Ky. He got to hang out with grandma all afternoon. Around 3:00 we left for track practice while grandma hung out with Ky.
Proud moment: Myles ran a 400 by himself. I didn't time it unfortunately, but I'm sure it was faster then some of the guys on my team could run. He did great. I almost cried...again..this week!
After practice Ky and I at our "Congratulatory Dinner" from the hospital. It was a very nice attempt by the hospital to provide us with a quality dinner. Unfortunately, it was still hospital food. I can appreciate the attempt. One thing that Kylee and I shared at dinner was how fortunate we are to have someone to share our "Congratulatory Dinner" with b/c we know there are many that come to the VW County Hospital that don't, and that's sad.
Myles and I are at the house tonight keeping down the fort before mommy and sissy come home. He's already out (7:30) and I'm heading that way. Take care and thanks to everyone whose called, sent cards, email, etc. I'll return the calls and emails soon.
Bryn didn't sleep much last night, as expected, but with Kylee nursing, my fatherly duties were to be their for moral support. At 6:10 I got up and went home for a quick shower. Was back to the Hospital in time for the morning feed and to hold Bryn so Kylee could take a short nap. Myles arrived at the hospital with Grandma Alice a little before 10:00. Saw his little sis then went with me to the house for some lunch. We ate lunch together (much needed guy time) then went back to see Ky. He got to hang out with grandma all afternoon. Around 3:00 we left for track practice while grandma hung out with Ky.
Proud moment: Myles ran a 400 by himself. I didn't time it unfortunately, but I'm sure it was faster then some of the guys on my team could run. He did great. I almost cried...again..this week!
After practice Ky and I at our "Congratulatory Dinner" from the hospital. It was a very nice attempt by the hospital to provide us with a quality dinner. Unfortunately, it was still hospital food. I can appreciate the attempt. One thing that Kylee and I shared at dinner was how fortunate we are to have someone to share our "Congratulatory Dinner" with b/c we know there are many that come to the VW County Hospital that don't, and that's sad.
Myles and I are at the house tonight keeping down the fort before mommy and sissy come home. He's already out (7:30) and I'm heading that way. Take care and thanks to everyone whose called, sent cards, email, etc. I'll return the calls and emails soon.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Daddy's little girl
Happy B-earth-day to Brynleigh Dash Moody! 7 lbs 11 oz and 19 1/2 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great!
Monday, April 21, 2008
T - 24hrs.
9:04 a.m.
We are officially under the 24 hour mark before Kylee will be induced. Both Kylee and I are a little bit "scared, concerned, afraid, nervous, etc." about the whole situtation as can be expected. We sat around last night discussing how different our marriage has been over the past four years. It started off with just the two of us in Tiffin, then Myles joined the clan when we moved in to our house in V-Dub. Now we will have another mouth to feed in just a few short hours. Life is pretty crazy when you begin to think about it. I don't know what I would do without either one of them in my life right now, and I'm sure it will be no different when the little one arrives tomorrow or Wed.
For the record, Kilo and Fartlek, did not make the final cut for names. I got over-ruled!
We are officially under the 24 hour mark before Kylee will be induced. Both Kylee and I are a little bit "scared, concerned, afraid, nervous, etc." about the whole situtation as can be expected. We sat around last night discussing how different our marriage has been over the past four years. It started off with just the two of us in Tiffin, then Myles joined the clan when we moved in to our house in V-Dub. Now we will have another mouth to feed in just a few short hours. Life is pretty crazy when you begin to think about it. I don't know what I would do without either one of them in my life right now, and I'm sure it will be no different when the little one arrives tomorrow or Wed.
For the record, Kilo and Fartlek, did not make the final cut for names. I got over-ruled!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
New day, new expectations
After Thursday evenings lackluster performances, I didn't know what to expect today at the 42 annual OG Gold Medal Relays. We had a very nice Mental practice on Friday which tested my guys ability not to break, with a push-up contest trying to get them to break one another. This unorthodox method of "pre-race" workouts, although not highly recommended, seemed to send my message of how they need to improve their mental game!
The meet got off to a great start with my 4 X 800 running 8:28.92, nearly 13 seconds faster than they have ran all year, and the fastest time in the past 3 years by our 4 X800. My next concern was that we would be a one race wonder on the day, but they proved me wrong in the 1600, 800, and 3200 meters. We posted season best times 4:44, 4:55, 2:10, 2:10, 10:28, and 10:52. Of the six times, we had 4 season bests, and 2 lifetime bests. The 10:52 was ran by an 18:00-18:30 5k kid during cross.
Although the times are not awesome compared to most teams around the state, or of VW teams of the past, my guys are beginning to turn the corner and understand what it is going to take to get to where they want to be. Today was probably the first time in 2 years that my distance squad carried their share of the workload for the team and for that I am grateful. They reassured me that today was a start and that they are not content.
The cancer of complacency is in remission for at least one meet!
The meet got off to a great start with my 4 X 800 running 8:28.92, nearly 13 seconds faster than they have ran all year, and the fastest time in the past 3 years by our 4 X800. My next concern was that we would be a one race wonder on the day, but they proved me wrong in the 1600, 800, and 3200 meters. We posted season best times 4:44, 4:55, 2:10, 2:10, 10:28, and 10:52. Of the six times, we had 4 season bests, and 2 lifetime bests. The 10:52 was ran by an 18:00-18:30 5k kid during cross.
Although the times are not awesome compared to most teams around the state, or of VW teams of the past, my guys are beginning to turn the corner and understand what it is going to take to get to where they want to be. Today was probably the first time in 2 years that my distance squad carried their share of the workload for the team and for that I am grateful. They reassured me that today was a start and that they are not content.
The cancer of complacency is in remission for at least one meet!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Baby news...
Today Kylee and I went to the Doctor for her weekly checkup. We are approaching the 38 week mark on Sat. At the check up, the doctor gave us the news that Kylee and I will be having the baby next Tuesday if she doesn't give birth before then.
There are several reasons as to why the Doc. will induce labor on Tues. but rather than boring you with those, I'll leave it at it is in the best interest of baby and mommy. We are very excited, now we know that within a week we will be a family of four!!!
After the great news of baby 2 within a week, I went to our track meet at Celina where we managed to piss down our legs in pretty much every distance event. One bright spot was my 2nd two miler running a 7 second PR, but other than that we refused to compete. Not a good day on the track. Hopefully Sat. will bring about some change.
There are several reasons as to why the Doc. will induce labor on Tues. but rather than boring you with those, I'll leave it at it is in the best interest of baby and mommy. We are very excited, now we know that within a week we will be a family of four!!!
After the great news of baby 2 within a week, I went to our track meet at Celina where we managed to piss down our legs in pretty much every distance event. One bright spot was my 2nd two miler running a 7 second PR, but other than that we refused to compete. Not a good day on the track. Hopefully Sat. will bring about some change.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Hernorific!
These are the before and after pictures of my hernia. The top two are prior to surgery, and the bottom two are post surgery, that's why there is a mesh screen on the bottom ones. If it looked like that before surgery then there wouldn't be any reason to have done the surgery, thus making the surgery a ridiculous procedure and not worth it at all.
Now that I'm five days post surgery, things are going a little better. The first 72 hours were a little rough, but with the help of my Vicadin and some Mira-lax, the pain in my stomach and the pain in my kidneys/rear began to subside. I've yet to have the urge to go run, so the mental aspect of being down hasn't come in to play yet either. I'm sure I only have a day or two before I want to run, but I will most likely hold off until my post-op appointment on April 24th.
I've been very pleased with the concern from Dr. Lucchesses' office and all of the calling/check-up's they've made over the past few days. It shows me they care about my quick and speedy recovery. My short term goal as of now is to begin running on Fri. April 25 and back up near 50-60 miles the following week, pending I'm pain free and cleared to go.
I'll keep you posted on the progress as it goes along. Take it easy!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Ouch!
I'm alive and hernia free (for the time being). Surgery went well, but I'm in some pain. Thanks to everyone who called and checked up on me or sent emails, r-mails, etc. Take care and I'll have some pics up when I get to a scanner. Take it easy, I am.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Chasing Ghosts
Since Saturdays meet, I've been trying to come up with ways to figure out why my guys don't compete. I don't fully know whether I will ever figure it out, but what I did relize, with the help from 3 of my former coaches, is that until they buy-in, they won't compete as hard.
With that being said, today we had a long over due talk involving goal setting and a discussion as to what they expect to get out of this year. I also allowed them to ask me a few peronal questions about life and running, in hopes to give them a better understanding of where I'm coming from with my high expectations.
Last February at the OHSAAA coaching clinic, Chris Lear, author of Running with the Buffalos, spoke of his high school "chasing ghosts" as he would call it. Basically it was guys running on the team that had no idea of the people that had ran before them. His coach spent a good deal of time trying to educate the athletes of the great running tradition that had gone before them. As I recalled this brief talk from Chris, I realized that the guys I'm coaching have no idea of the solid distance program that came before them.
Prior to 1998 our school records were 4x 800: 8:19, 1600: 4:31, 3200: 9:46 and 1:57. Since that time, our records have dropped to 7:58, 4:20, 9:41, and 1:55. What I realized, was that our guys have no idea who any of these record holders, or top ten guys are. They don't know what it is like to bring home trophey's from invitationals, they don't know what it is like to win an invitational, they don't understand that VW T&F went from nothing in Division II to one of the top programs year in and year out, because they haven't been around.
I spent a good 20-30 minutes today prior to our workout filling them in on who the VW "ghosts" they were chasing were in an effort to better educate them on why I can't live with a 4:50 mile when we're capable of running so, so, so much faster. I know that change will not take place overnight, but my goal is to have some familiar faces with those "ghosts" by the end of the year.
With that being said, today we had a long over due talk involving goal setting and a discussion as to what they expect to get out of this year. I also allowed them to ask me a few peronal questions about life and running, in hopes to give them a better understanding of where I'm coming from with my high expectations.
Last February at the OHSAAA coaching clinic, Chris Lear, author of Running with the Buffalos, spoke of his high school "chasing ghosts" as he would call it. Basically it was guys running on the team that had no idea of the people that had ran before them. His coach spent a good deal of time trying to educate the athletes of the great running tradition that had gone before them. As I recalled this brief talk from Chris, I realized that the guys I'm coaching have no idea of the solid distance program that came before them.
Prior to 1998 our school records were 4x 800: 8:19, 1600: 4:31, 3200: 9:46 and 1:57. Since that time, our records have dropped to 7:58, 4:20, 9:41, and 1:55. What I realized, was that our guys have no idea who any of these record holders, or top ten guys are. They don't know what it is like to bring home trophey's from invitationals, they don't know what it is like to win an invitational, they don't understand that VW T&F went from nothing in Division II to one of the top programs year in and year out, because they haven't been around.
I spent a good 20-30 minutes today prior to our workout filling them in on who the VW "ghosts" they were chasing were in an effort to better educate them on why I can't live with a 4:50 mile when we're capable of running so, so, so much faster. I know that change will not take place overnight, but my goal is to have some familiar faces with those "ghosts" by the end of the year.
Track Update
Two meets and our record stands at 3-5. We split at Napoleon/Bath and were 5th of 7 at Versailles. Our times are improving, but we still refuse to compete.
Top Times after two meets:
100m: 11.50
200m: 23.50
400m: 57.8
800m: 2:09
1600m: 4:51.9
3200m: 10:37.1
110 hurd: 17.5
300 hurd: 46.5
4X1: 47.2
4X2: 1:47:8
4X4: 3:46.9
4X8: 8:46
HJ: 5'4"
LJ: 16'8"
PV: NH
Shot: 47'10"
Disc: 132'8"
Nothing to write home about, but we still have some time (thank goodness).
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Under the knife???
I had my consultation appointment today for my lower abdomen pain. I saw Dr. Christopher Lucchese of Holistic Surgical Associates Inc. out of Lima, OH. The reason for the consultation is because my family physician thought that he felt a small lump starting to develop near my groin/abdomen area. He was unsure if I was developing a hernia or not, so he wanted a second opinion. I value what Dr. Lucchese has to say, as he has worked on both my mother and father in the past. I figured I would get some frequent flyer miles or a family discount if I needed surgery. Unfortunately, after the turn your head and cough routine he informed me that I have a right inguinal hernia and that I can opt to have surgery. I have decided that I will undergo the surgery via laparoscopic hernia repair.
Apparently, this is as non-invasive as surgery can get. They will gain access into my abdomen through my naval and 2-3 smaller incisions. He will perform the operation using "trocars" (tube like instruments) and a television monitor. It sounds like a kick-ass video game if you ask me. This method helps minimize the amount of damage opposed to the normal 3-5 inch incision. Most people are able to resume normal activities within as little as 2 days, with restrictions of course. No lifting over 10 pounds the first two weeks, and nothing over 30 pounds the following two weeks.
As with any surgery there are risks involved, but I feel confident that by getting this taken care of now, it will allow me to get back to my usual routine all that much sooner. My surgery is slated for April 11, 2008 at St. Rita's Medical Center.
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