"Give Life"

I gave blood again this morning. This was my 5th time donating blood all together, including the failed attempt last June. Today's appointment went very smoothly with no issues whatsoever.

I came in, read the info, did the interview, and went to the donating area with really no waiting. Maybe morning appointments run faster than afternoons, I've always had to wait in the past.

Previous prizes have been a pie (twice) and a shirt. This time we get entered into a drawing to win a 2 year lease on a Honda Civic or one of 6 $500 gas cards. Plus if I visit a local dealer, Jack Matia Honda for me, I can win another $250 gas card. They also gave out $8 discount coupons for Cedar Point.

Of course, the other good part is the post-donation snacks of cookies and pineapple juice!

Two In A Row

I ran today for the 2nd day in a row. Again my running partners were Rick and Milica. Although I upset Rick at the end by dashing across a street while all the cars were stopped, but before we got the "Walk" sign.

My hamstring is pretty much healed but I am getting some soreness / achiness in my legs & feet. I think it's time for a new pair of shoes. In fact, I'm bringing my shoes home from the fitness center tonight and replacing them with my much newer shoes that I have at home.

We ran the 5 mile homeless route, and I snatched the penny from yesterday. Then when I got back to our building, I found 2 more shiny ones! That's 3 cents in all!

Also of note, we had a nice surge today to get across a drawbridge before it started going up. We then picked up the pace a little to try to get to the next one but it started going up before we got there so we had a short wait.

See A Penny . . .

. . . pick it up! Then all day you'll have good luck!

That saying or slogan is one that I usually keep, even when out running. Today I ran with Rick and Milica, we ran the 5 1/2 mile Tremont route. About 4 1/2 miles along I saw a penny on the ground, but was already past when I noticed it.

I debated in my head picking it up for about 50 steps or so, then finally turned back, saying "I'll catch you in a bit."

Then I went back and couldn't find it!

The run felt good, which is a good thing since I have a 5k coming up on Saturday!

Our company is participating in 4 walks this fall and hopes to have 1000 walkers in all. I can't participate as we have soccer in the fall, but I thought I would show my support by putting links here:

• ALS Walk, September 9th, Tri-C Western Campus
• Race For The Cure, September 15th, downtown Cleveland
• Juvenile Diabetes Walk, September 29th, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
• Autism Walk, September 30th, Jacobs Field
  

Thursday 4.5 Miles

I had planned to run a few times but didn't make it a priority so I didn't get out from last Thursday until today. I ran at lunch again and today all of our regular group was there: Kevin D, Peter, Rick, Vicki, and Milica.

The weather was hot and very humid as we ran along the lakeshore. Peter, Kevin, and Vicki turned off by the Rock Hall but not before Peter announced that his wife Laura was pregnant, due either in late February (she thinks) or early March (the doctor thinks). Peter agrees with the doctor.

Laura just hopes the baby isn't born on February 29th, which is possible since next year is a leap year.

Today was definitely the best my hamstring has felt since the injury, in fact, I didn't notice any pain in my leg at all!

Thursday 4.5 Miles

I ran with the old lunchtime gang again today. The weather was warm and humid, we went 4 1/2 miles along the lakeshore.

My hamstring felt better than it has in a long time. It still feels slightly weak, but I didn't have any pain the entire run.

We did take a couple short walk-breaks.

Weight = 181 lbs

Getting Better

I ran 1 1/2 miles tonight with my son Luke. He stopped to walk a few times. The good thing was, my hamstring felt much better. I think it's totally healed (after 4 weeks rest). Now to try to get my conditioning back.

On The Boardwalk

I ran about 3.5 miles on Tuesday morning, on the boardwalk in Atlantic City. I think my leg is really starting to feel better. I did stop and walk a couple times (it was a 4-mile out and back course) just to be safe, but it was partly because the temperature was on it's way to the 90's and humid.

I love running on the boardwalk, what a great place to people-watch!

Victoria & George biked along also, much faster than my running of course.

I'll try the hamstring again on Thursday and hopefully by next week I'll be back to normal.

Short And Easy

I ran with Rick and Milica today. Kevin D is off for 2 weeks because he had finger surgery. Peter is resting because of the high miles he's putting in training for the Pedal to the Point bike ride.

My leg felt about the same as Monday. No better, no worse. We ran 3 miles, around downtown.