Pamlico Jack?

I think I have lost my mind. I have been the slackest of all slackers this summer. Actually, I have been the slackest of all slackers since, umm, April. When the marsh fires began and my spring was ruined by asthma attacks.

I've been hiding. From all of you. From running. From life a bit.

And now, I've done something insane. sigh There's something seriously messed up in my head, y'all.

I signed up for the Pamlico Jack Challenge. What is that? Well, as you all know, I've walked/run the OBX Half Marathon twice now. I had vague plans to maybe sign up. And then the marsh fires. And then "no running allowed" and suddenly now it is August and I got a wild hair up my bum and signed up for not just the OBX Half Marathon but also the 8k for the day before.

gulp

Did I mention I haven't run except twice since April? And those two times were wrought with coughing, wheezing and gasping.

Oh boy.

I think I need to get my head examined. I should have started training on Monday for a November Half. Today is Thursday and I still haven't laced on the shoes to even go for a walk. And it doesn't help that temps are in the high 90s with a heat index of 105 in the shade and 92% humidity.

Jamoosh - how do you do it? Cause I need some real inspiration right now!

The treadmill is a big no-no for training due to the ITBS from last year. I can use it at most once a week.

Help?

Run on.

Listening to: By Your Side by Sade

Verse: ““This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it—the LORD is his name: ‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’” Jeremiah 33:2-3 NIV


Looks like God hears me, even when I'm writing a blog post!

Tonight, tonight, tonight

Ha. I've been listening to 80's music at work today. I like to mix up every now and again.

But tonight, ahh, tonight. I'm going for a run! As soon as work ends, I'm headed home to pull on my running clothes, lace up my new Brooks and run the hills around my neighborhood. Neener neener, doc. I don't give a darn about no smoke.

Jealous?

Run on.

Listening to: Tonight, Tonight, Tonight by Genesis - I love Phil Collins!

Daily Verse: “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;” Psalm 103:13 NIV

Now what?!?

We have been issued official news regarding our local marsh fires. It appears the fires are set to burn for the next 5 months. FIVE MONTHS! What kind of BS is that? I can't wait five months. Oh but the best news is yet to come. They also inform us it could be A YEAR before the fires go out. Our only chance of redemption? A tropical depression dumping over 8 - 10 inches of rain. Never, in all my life, have I prayed for a tropical depression. And yet, a tiny part of me wants to...

I am taking the advice of my two commenters, Jamoosh and Danny, and tying on my running shoes to go for a run. I know it will look more like run 10 steps, walk for 8 minutes, run 10 steps, walk for 8 minutes. Puff away on the inhaler to clear away the wheezing. Run 10 steps, walk for 8 minutes. But yeah, I'll be outside running.

Anyone want to visit me at the beach? It's a great spot for running, as long as you don't mind sucking in marsh fire smoke.

Run on.

Listening to: Goodnight Moon by Shivaree

Daily Verse: “The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.” Proverbs 23:24 NIV

What do you mean...

Ever began a question this way? Sure you have. Countless times, I am sure. Mine ended with "I still can't run?" B*)#^&# doctors. I need to run for my sanity and to keep all my coworkers breathing. I work in a circus, I mean a property management office and it's summertime. Do you want me to go to jail? Why can't you understand that I just need to run?

It has now been almost 2 months since I last ran. Stupid freaking marsh fires. (I totally stole Emz' freaking. Of course, I think mine is being used in a much more abusive way. But hey, whatever works.) Smoke blows.

The doctors have informed me the cough I have developed due to marsh smoke inhalation will not go away until the fires go out. And the fires are now expected to last all summer. Even running indoors is frowned upon. Shoot, I'm not supposed to do any cardio, no bike, no Zumba, no Body Pump, no strength training. Stretching and yoga are fine, though. Pilates is okay and hey, why not concentrate on core work? Whoop de do da day. Stretching does not keep me from wanting to pick up a fork to stab someone in the eye. Running does.

And you know what? I've had it. Poo on that. I am going for a freaking run. Otherwise, someone might get shanked. Or stabbed in the eyeball. Or hit with a darn shoe.

I need my sanity, people. So, here's my new response to the doctors who say no: Shove it, I'm going for a run. Neener neener.

Run on. I will. Even in the b@%#(%& smoke.

Listening to: Dog Days Are Over  by Florence + The Machine

Daily Verse: “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,” Philippians 3:20 (NIV)

Smog

I live at the beach in a part of the world that is relatively full of clean air. We might get 100% humidity and the air might be heavy and wet, but it's pretty much clean.

Until the fires. Oh, you thought only the West had forest fires? Well, they do. We have marsh fires. And there is a lot of marsh around here. A lot of marsh.

So, we now have smog. It's a different type of smog than what you might find in, say, a big city. This smog is a combination of the humid air and the smoke from the marsh fires.

I have been out of commission for over a month. Partly due to work reasons, mostly due to health reasons. See, I'm allergic to marsh fire smoke. Truth be told, I'm allergic to pretty much any smoke, and a bunch of other stuff too.

Not only do I have allergies to the lovely smog, I also have allergy-induced asthma.

Smog + allergy-induced asthma = upper respiratory infection. Fun.

I now sound like I am hacking up a lung. (I know, nice imagery) Still, it's true. I sound horrendous. Although, I do sound much better this week than I did last week. Must be all the drugs the doctor gave me. (Note: these drugs are antibiotics and inhalers to help my lungs function in the smog. They are prescription and not illegal.)

Still, Doc tells me I will probably keep having issues until the fires are out. And I'm not allowed to run or do any type of physical exertion that will tax my lungs until I am fully healed.

Last check, they had them 75% out. Can we get the other 25% too please? I'd like to go for a run.

Run on.

Listening to: Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash - appropriate, no?

Verse: After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 1 Kings 19:12