See Scott Run

Turning 50!

By • March 2, 2017 • General

So one of my “highlights” of 2016 was turning the big 5-0!  One of my closest friends turned 50 in 2014.  For his birthday we decided we wanted to Run with the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain.  We could not coordinate our travel plans and 2014 passed us by.  Then we decided we would Run with the Bulls for my 50th.  Again, our travel plans did not work out.  This left me without any way to challenge my looming milestone birthday.

In October 2015 I completed my first (and to date only) Half Ironman.  I was proud of my base level of fitness, so I decided I would run at least a half marathon every month for 2016.  This would be my way to thumb my nose at my birthday.  So I sat down with a calendar and planned out my year!

I picked races near and far and even signed up for another Half Ironman.  Plus it gave me opportunities to spend weekends traveling to new towns in my home state of Mississippi and visit some new states to check off my “one day” goal of completing at least a half marathon in every state.  Now we had some hick-ups along the way and we had to deviate due to family needs, but I made it.  I actually completed at least a half marathon every month from October 2015 through December 2016.  Keep checking back for my race report for each race!

Also, I am officially signed up for Pamplona 2017 – we’ll actually get to Run with the Bulls before I make it to 51!  Hopefully I’ll survive to post that run!

 

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Follow me on Bloglovin’

By • February 24, 2017 • General

Hopefully this will all work!

<a href=”https://www.bloglovin.com/blog/18509341/?claim=b994vcfvf5n”>Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

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Garmin Vivoactive

By • February 22, 2017 • Equipment, General

A while ago I purchased a Garmin 300 and was not at all happy.  I tried to like it, but because of the size, limited battery life, loss of GPS signal etc., I only used it a few times. It was quite the investment at the time – money down the drain!

Then all my running friends started using their smart phones to track their routes and times.  I was still old school – a Casio watch!  I would then use the Runkeeper app to map my run and then key in my times.  I would spend 15 – 20 minutes every night updating my Runkeeper.  I liked the idea of the instant upload from the phone, but I have never liked running with that arm band or holding my phone.

About a year ago, I finally made the move to a GPS watch.  After several weeks of research, I chose the Garmin Vivoactive.    I liked it for its simplicity.  I didn’t need a lot of fancy capabilities, just a simple tracker for my route and my time.  It was a bit more trouble setting it up than I expected, but once I got it up and running it works great.  Now I just hit start when go for a run and synchronize with the Garmin app on my phone when I get back.  Here’s a sample screen shot of the Vivoactive –

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Sjogren’s Syndrom – The Diagnosis

By • February 21, 2017 • Sjogren's Syndrome

I don’t remember what year it was – but one day I was sitting at my desk at work when I suddenly had a sensation of my face swelling!  I had no idea what was happening.  I felt my face and I could feel the swelling, and it was warm to the touch.  I went to the rest room and that’s when the “freak out” started.  I looked like a hamster sitting in a bird feeder.  My first thoughts were I had the mumps, followed by I have the fastest growing cancer in the history of man.  I walked into my boss’s office and said “I have a problem”.  He looked up and replied “oh my god!”  So off to the doctor.

My primary doctor gave me the greatest treatment plan ever.  He said I had an infected salivary gland and the duct was block.  He prescribed lemon drops!  Really – my doctor prescribed candy.  So I went to Walgreens and bought a pack of lemon drops and started my treatment plan.  We all had good laugh at  my new “meds”!  The lemon drops theory was the sour candy would trigger salivation and eventually the duct would clear.  I also got some antibiotics for the infection, but it a much better story to tell everyone I had been prescribed candy.

After a couple of days, the duct “opened”.  That was a 5 second experience that can’t be put into words – I don’t recommend it!  It’s kind of like the old scenario of “does this milk taste bad to you…?”  Basically you suddenly have a mouth full of smelly 4 day old saliva with out any warning!

A couple of years passed and the duct issue would pop up every two or three months.  Then I noticed I was having trouble eating spicy foods.  I use to enter pepper eating contests, enjoyed hot wings, spicy chili, curries, you name it!  Now these foods were really burning my mouth.  The I noticed my lips were always chapped and mouth seemed really dry.  After some nudging from my wife (she is a Nurse Practitioner after all) I went to the an Ear Nose and Throat doctor.

As soon as I laid out my history for the ENT, he said you have Sjogren’s Syndrome.  My response was “what is that?”  He said we’ll run some more tests to confirm, but basically said its a form of rheumatoid arthritis that impacts various glands in the body.  Basically my body was attacking itself and the scar tissue that was building up in the ducts was causing the blockages.  At this point, he took a biopsy of my lip and ran some bloodwork.  Then they followed that up with a CT Scan of my salivary glands to make sure there was nothing else going on.  That was the interesting part – they actually inserted a tiny catheter in the ducts in my cheek to shoot the dye into the gland.  Bottom line, the key indicator is an increase level of rheumatoid factor in my blood, which I had.  So after a couple of days we had our answer – Sjogren’s Syndrome.

https://www.sjogrens.org/

Sydney – Opera House Run

By • February 18, 2017 • Cities, Sydney

The Sydney Opera House is as iconic as it gets.  Much like the bridge run, I cheated with my picture.  I actually took the picture from a ferry!  But the run was great.  The Opera House is also at Circular Quay (remember its pronounced Circular Key).  As a bonus, the Royal Botanical Gardens are just beyond the Opera House.  I had a great 3.3 mile run with no cars or traffic noise.  I just left the hotel and hit the sidewalk.

All my runs in Sydney also take me to the Rocks neighborhood.  This area has some of the oldest pubs in the city. Fortune of War, Lord Nelson, Mercantile and the Glenmore – all have local brews on tap and reasonable meals.  If you really want to get off the diet, they have the Lowenbrau Keller for some pretty good German Food and oompah music!

I just keep finding my self with a cold beer in front of me.  There is also a great outdoor bar at the Opera House – I think its simply called the Opera Bar.  Plus its the best place in the city to enjoy the sunset….again with a cold beer close at hand!  Here’s a selfie of Robin and I from the Opera Bar!

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Sydney – Harbor Bridge Run

By • February 17, 2017 • Cities, Sydney

If you ever have the chance to visit Down Under – don’t pass it up!  The best way to get over the 20+ hours of travel time is to go for a cold beer …. or maybe a run in a new country.  One of my favorite things is to run somewhere new.  I try not to plan my routes in advance.  I just pick a distance hit my GPS and go!  You find little restaurants, pubs, parks and shops along the way that you can visit later.  You do need a general idea of the layout of the area so you can make it back to the hotel.

This was my second trip to Sydney.  The first time I was “off the running wagon” and it was before GPS and apps like Strava and RunKeeper.  This trip I was all excited to run the cool sites and make my friends who follow me on Strava jealous.  Top of my list – other than holding a Koala (I’m sorry Aussie friends – I know you guys don’t like the tourists holding your national treasure – but we love it!)

Our hotel was in the Circular Quay (pronounced Circular Key) area.  My actual run was simple – leave the hotel – run to the Harbor – through the Rocks – up the stairs (400 foot elevation gain on these stairs) – run across the bridge – turn around and come back.  It was only a 3 mile run, but the view was amazing!

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How it all began!

By • February 16, 2017 • General

Growing up I was a firm believer of what I call the cross-country mantra “my sport is your sports punishment!”  I was a soccer player.  I could chase a ball relentlessly for 90 minutes – but ask me run a lap around the field – no way!  My daughter and I tried to figure out how many games of soccer I’ve actually played.  We came up with somewhere north of 3,000 -and I have the hips and knees to prove it.  I played organized soccer at some level from 1979 (I was 12) until 2008 (older than 12!).  My running consisted of two miles preseason prep for soccer…AND I HATED IT!

The “CHANGE”

In 1992 or 93, I was living in Memphis.  My wife and son were going out of town for the weekend leaving me to fend for myself.  I checked with all my buddies to try to make some weekend plans and everyone I knew seemed to be leaving for the weekend!  One of my co-workers and his girl friend invited me join them for Memphis Library Literacy 4 mile run.  I thought – 4 miles – I play soccer three time a week how hard could it be?

The Starting Line

So I get to the starting line with my friends and start looking around.  I was amazed by the different types of people there – young, old, long and lean, short and stout, men and women.  For some reason I noticed this one lady who was about 15 or 20 years older than me.  She did not look to be in very good physical condition and I thought to myself “at least I won’t be last”.  They fire the starting pistol (it was the early 90’s remember – still starting old school).

The Race

The run was in Overton Park – perfectly flat.  I don’t remember there being any aid stations along the way like most races today.  It was just you, on the road, under the oak trees.  I took off – I’m a soccer player right?  No problems.  At about the 1.5 mile mark I started to feel some new pains I had not experienced before.  But I was not going to give up.  By mile 3 I think I was starting hallucinate – my mind was pretty blurry at that point and I could barely pick my feet up.  But I was not stopping!  With about a half mile to go, the lady I noticed at the start passed me like I was standing still!

The Finish Line

When I finally saw the finish line, I got this feeling that I imagine feels very similar to winning the lottery.  Plus I learned a very valuable lesson that I have retained to this day – people who are faster and in better shape than you are evil!  The closer I got – the more they cheered – the faster I ran!  They do that to us on purpose – they are trying to see who they can get to throw up as the cross the finish line!  I managed to hold my groceries – but just barely.  After I regained my wind, I ate my post race banana drank a cup of water chit chatting with people I have never met.  I felt like I had accomplished something plus I got a new t-shirt!  I wish I new what my time was – I don’t even remember there being a clock!

 

 

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Welcome to my Blog!

By • February 15, 2017 • General, Welcome

Well here we go!  I decided to write a blog about my attempt to become a runner.  This is not designed to be a “how to” site (though I may share some “how not to’s” along the way).  This is just the simple story of my ups and downs along the way – some are much more entertaining than others.  I hope you enjoy it!

Scott

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