Trails for Two

FINAL Rehab Run! 3.51 miles

Weather: Clear and coldish. 34° Gear: Topos, tights, T, wool pullover, jacket, hat, gloves. Not quite enough.

This was it! The final run of our 8-week rehab protocol. For a change of pace, we went out after work instead of before work. It was weird running at 7 p.m., but it was warmer than it's going to be tomorrow at 4 a.m. Even so, it was close to freezing, with icy patches in some spots. We had to be careful.

Whether it was our bodies trying to stay warm, or just the fact that we were awake, but we kept drifting into the 10/mi pace range. We'd ease up for a while, then surge again. It was kind of fun.

We celebrated our final rehab run with a late dinner at Taco Bell and a bottle of bubbles.

Now, just don't go break anything.  Maybe do 24 hour needlepoint.  Alita can go run.

Mark B wrote:FINAL Rehab Run! 3.51 miles

Weather: Clear and coldish. 34° Gear: Topos, tights, T, wool pullover, jacket, hat, gloves. Not quite enough.

This was it! The final run of our 8-week rehab protocol. For a change of pace, we went out after work instead of before work. It was weird running at 7 p.m., but it was warmer than it's going to be tomorrow at 4 a.m. Even so, it was close to freezing, with icy patches in some spots. We had to be careful.

Whether it was our bodies trying to stay warm, or just the fact that we were awake, but we kept drifting into the 10/mi pace range. We'd ease up for a while, then surge again. It was kind of fun.

We celebrated our final rehab run with a late dinner at Taco Bell and a bottle of bubbles.

Taco Bell...now that's a celebratory dinner!

Has it been 8 weeks already?  I'm sure it seems more like 16 to you and Alita.  Anyway...congrats.  Sounds like your legs are happy and feeling fast.  Remind me of your race goals this year...

Hey! Nancy's back!

You came back at an opportune moment: Today was my last day of PT. I've graduated.      

Of course, she gave me new, even more difficult post-graduate work, but I never would have expected less.

Truthfully, I was worried going into this round of PT that I'd done something that had ruined me for not just running, but even hiking or walking. I'm lucky to have the PT I have, because she was patient, easygoing, curious and diligent in figuring out what I needed and now to get there.

Today, she tested my glute strength, and I got a 5/5. My running form at paces from ~ 11/mi to as fast as about 7:24/mi was "excellent" -- in fact, she said my form improved the faster I went. She was pleased. My knee didn't complain at all. She ran me through the one-legged swiss ball curl, and saw that my left side gets it, and my right side isn't quite there yet. She gave me a modified version of the exercise that's going to make it a lot harder, but will do good. My calf exercises also need continued tweaking, since my body isn't quite getting it yet. It's as if I've lived 54 years without using them or something, which is amazing considering what I've done.

(It has me wondering why my right side is so much less coordinated than the left, when I'm actually right handed.  But it is what it is. )

So.

Going forward, we're clear to add distance/time/speed/hills as we can tolerate it. She seems to have reason to think Alita or I shouldn't try the 24-hour race in June, though she can't really wrap her brain around it. So that's what we'll do. Keep adding, keep building, keep growing.

As they say, every ending is a new beginning.

Onward.

Mark B wrote:

(It has me wondering why my right side is so much less coordinated than the left, when I'm actually right handed.  But it is what it is. )

Well, if your right hamstring had ever written, then you might have something.  (couldn't resist)

I think you ought to find out what the situation is about left vs right.  It could really make a difference, I think.

ounce wrote:

Mark B wrote:

(It has me wondering why my right side is so much less coordinated than the left, when I'm actually right handed.  But it is what it is. )

Well, if your right hamstring had ever written, then you might have something.  (couldn't resist)

I think you ought to find out what the situation is about left vs right.  It could really make a difference, I think.

I have a theory, other than some neurological deficit I never knew I had: I usually drive the car, so I get in and out of the car using predominantly my LEFT LEG to lift and lower me. I hardly ever ride as a passenger, so the right side doesn't get the same stimulus.

Clearly, I need to move to a country to where the steering wheel is on the right. Wonder if I can get a prescription for the moving expenses?

Mark B wrote:

ounce wrote:

Mark B wrote:

(It has me wondering why my right side is so much less coordinated than the left, when I'm actually right handed.  But it is what it is. )

Well, if your right hamstring had ever written, then you might have something.  (couldn't resist)

I think you ought to find out what the situation is about left vs right.  It could really make a difference, I think.

I have a theory, other than some neurological deficit I never knew I had: I usually drive the car, so I get in and out of the car using predominantly my LEFT LEG to lift and lower me. I hardly ever ride as a passenger, so the right side doesn't get the same stimulus.

Clearly, I need to move to a country to where the steering wheel is on the right. Wonder if I can get a prescription for the moving expenses?

Under your plan, your commute would be a bit longer than you presently enjoy.

Clearly, you need to open a southern Pacific Rim bureau office for your paper in Melbourne or Sydney.  Maybe the Editor of Emerging Markets in Medicinal Marijuana?  You DO have experience in that realm.

To counter your presumed deficit, why don't you rotate 90 degrees, place both feet on the ground, and lift your fanny out of the car?  Drivers of low clearance vehicles have to do that and reverse it to get in the vehicle, although getting in is easier with the assistance of gravity and a plop down, to some degree.

Separately regarding Alita's low platelet count, I have a question.  After sticking you, they collected some blood in a little bag then clamped it off and unclamped another tube to begin the process of donation.  Then, the little bag of blood is emptied into about 4 or 5 vials and placed on a rack next to the 3 or 4 bags above the collection machine.

 You may have noticed one of the vials being placed in a machine about the size of a bread making machine.  That machine spins the blood to arrive at a platelet and white blood cell count.  They would take the platelet count, go to the monitor for your collection machine, and adjust the default setting based on your last donation or hematocrit.  It's a 3 digit number.  This will adjust your total time of donation.  The white blood cell count is used to adjust anything on the donation.

Do you remember them doing that? 

It would have increased or decreased the total time of donation, usually by less than 5 minutes or so.  I've never done a single platelet donation before, so I don't know if they adjust the time by the platelet count.

Not adjusting the count may have created the situation of Alita's low platelet count.  The FDA has procedures for everything, so there may have been some latitude where the count did not have to be adjusted when she was in the chair.

Dr. Google says B12 foods will help with creating platelets.  Beans, too, I think.  Since females don't fart, she seems good for both.

ounce wrote:

Mark B wrote:

ounce wrote:

Mark B wrote:

(It has me wondering why my right side is so much less coordinated than the left, when I'm actually right handed.  But it is what it is. )

Well, if your right hamstring had ever written, then you might have something.  (couldn't resist)

I think you ought to find out what the situation is about left vs right.  It could really make a difference, I think.

I have a theory, other than some neurological deficit I never knew I had: I usually drive the car, so I get in and out of the car using predominantly my LEFT LEG to lift and lower me. I hardly ever ride as a passenger, so the right side doesn't get the same stimulus.

Clearly, I need to move to a country to where the steering wheel is on the right. Wonder if I can get a prescription for the moving expenses?

Under your plan, your commute would be a bit longer than you presently enjoy.

Clearly, you need to open a southern Pacific Rim bureau office for your paper in Melbourne or Sydney.  Maybe the Editor of Emerging Markets in Medicinal Marijuana?  You DO have experience in that realm.

To counter your presumed deficit, why don't you rotate 90 degrees, place both feet on the ground, and lift your fanny out of the car?  Drivers of low clearance vehicles have to do that and reverse it to get in the vehicle, although getting in is easier with the assistance of gravity and a plop down, to some degree.

Separately regarding Alita's low platelet count, I have a question.  After sticking you, they collected some blood in a little bag then clamped it off and unclamped another tube to begin the process of donation.  Then, the little bag of blood is emptied into about 4 or 5 vials and placed on a rack next to the 3 or 4 bags above the collection machine.

 You may have noticed one of the vials being placed in a machine about the size of a bread making machine.  That machine spins the blood to arrive at a platelet and white blood cell count.  They would take the platelet count, go to the monitor for your collection machine, and adjust the default setting based on your last donation or hematocrit.  It's a 3 digit number.  This will adjust your total time of donation.  The white blood cell count is used to adjust anything on the donation.

Do you remember them doing that? 

It would have increased or decreased the total time of donation, usually by less than 5 minutes or so.  I've never done a single platelet donation before, so I don't know if they adjust the time by the platelet count.

Not adjusting the count may have created the situation of Alita's low platelet count.  The FDA has procedures for everything, so there may have been some latitude where the count did not have to be adjusted when she was in the chair.

Dr. Google says B12 foods will help with creating platelets.  Beans, too, I think.  Since females don't fart, she seems good for both.

I drive a Ford Escort ZX2, which actually IS pretty low to the ground. But jumping out of the car and pivoting 180° to propel myself up on my right leg might not work so well. Interesting idea, though.

I did see the blood folk take the blood. Didn't see them centrifuge it, though. My time on the machine was 100 minutes. Alita's was less. I didn't see what they did or didn't do with hers. We were happy to find out that they did use her donation, so her time wasn't wasted. They'll want her to come in and do a platelet count to see if it was some weirdness with the machine (as in citrate got in to the sample), of it it was just her.

Night Run: 3.07 miles with Alita

Weather: Dark and cold. 31° with a breeze. Gear: Topos, tights, long-sleeved T, thicker pullover, jacket, hat, gloves.

We tried another right run vs. getting up early in the morning, heading out after I got off work and before dinner. It was going okay, if chilly, when Alita caught her toe on an uneven concrete seam and took a spill. Ripped her tights and gloves on impact, and gave herself a large strawberry on her leg, and a smaller one on her hand. It was, of course, right at our turnaround point, so she had to go all the way back home.

On the upside, she didn't bleed profusely, so that suggests she's got good platelets now...?

We discovered that our headlamp batteries had weakened and our lights had gotten dim, which may have contributed to the spill. She should be fine, though we'll need to get her new cold weather gear. It ripped a big chunk out of her tights, and tattered her gloves.

Walked first and last 5 minutes.

Mark B wrote:

ounce wrote:

Mark B wrote:

ounce wrote:

Mark B wrote:

(It has me wondering why my right side is so much less coordinated than the left, when I'm actually right handed.  But it is what it is. )

Well, if your right hamstring had ever written, then you might have something.  (couldn't resist)

I think you ought to find out what the situation is about left vs right.  It could really make a difference, I think.

I have a theory, other than some neurological deficit I never knew I had: I usually drive the car, so I get in and out of the car using predominantly my LEFT LEG to lift and lower me. I hardly ever ride as a passenger, so the right side doesn't get the same stimulus.

Clearly, I need to move to a country to where the steering wheel is on the right. Wonder if I can get a prescription for the moving expenses?

Under your plan, your commute would be a bit longer than you presently enjoy.

Clearly, you need to open a southern Pacific Rim bureau office for your paper in Melbourne or Sydney.  Maybe the Editor of Emerging Markets in Medicinal Marijuana?  You DO have experience in that realm.

To counter your presumed deficit, why don't you rotate 90 degrees, place both feet on the ground, and lift your fanny out of the car?  Drivers of low clearance vehicles have to do that and reverse it to get in the vehicle, although getting in is easier with the assistance of gravity and a plop down, to some degree.

Separately regarding Alita's low platelet count, I have a question.  After sticking you, they collected some blood in a little bag then clamped it off and unclamped another tube to begin the process of donation.  Then, the little bag of blood is emptied into about 4 or 5 vials and placed on a rack next to the 3 or 4 bags above the collection machine.

 You may have noticed one of the vials being placed in a machine about the size of a bread making machine.  That machine spins the blood to arrive at a platelet and white blood cell count.  They would take the platelet count, go to the monitor for your collection machine, and adjust the default setting based on your last donation or hematocrit.  It's a 3 digit number.  This will adjust your total time of donation.  The white blood cell count is used to adjust anything on the donation.

Do you remember them doing that? 

It would have increased or decreased the total time of donation, usually by less than 5 minutes or so.  I've never done a single platelet donation before, so I don't know if they adjust the time by the platelet count.

Not adjusting the count may have created the situation of Alita's low platelet count.  The FDA has procedures for everything, so there may have been some latitude where the count did not have to be adjusted when she was in the chair.

Dr. Google says B12 foods will help with creating platelets.  Beans, too, I think.  Since females don't fart, she seems good for both.

I drive a Ford Escort ZX2, which actually IS pretty low to the ground. But jumping out of the car and pivoting 180° to propel myself up on my right leg might not work so well. Interesting idea, though.

I did see the blood folk take the blood. Didn't see them centrifuge it, though. My time on the machine was 100 minutes. Alita's was less. I didn't see what they did or didn't do with hers. We were happy to find out that they did use her donation, so her time wasn't wasted. They'll want her to come in and do a platelet count to see if it was some weirdness with the machine (as in citrate got in to the sample), of it it was just her.

Welllll, I'm thinking more Acura NSX, Corvette, Ferrari, or any vehicle where your butt in the driver's seat is below your knees, when your knees are outside the vehicle and your feet are flat on the ground.  If the ZX2 seat is that way, then excellent.

As far as the platelets, I've always been told that the less the donor weighs, the longer it takes.  And you're proving it with 100 minutes on the machine.  I outweigh you by 65 pounds and I'm on the machine for 87-105 minutes for a triple.

Do you reach a point at about 52 minutes, and maybe again later, where you get a "Clearing the LRS chamber" message?  I like that because it gives my hand and forearm a break.

Mark B wrote:Night Run: 3.07 miles with Alita

Weather: Dark and cold. 31° with a breeze. Gear: Topos, tights, long-sleeved T, thicker pullover, jacket, hat, gloves.

We tried another right run vs. getting up early in the morning, heading out after I got off work and before dinner. It was going okay, if chilly, when Alita caught her toe on an uneven concrete seam and took a spill. Ripped her tights and gloves on impact, and gave herself a large strawberry on her leg, and a smaller one on her hand. It was, of course, right at our turnaround point, so she had to go all the way back home.

On the upside, she didn't bleed profusely, so that suggests she's got good platelets now...?

We discovered that our headlamp batteries had weakened and our lights had gotten dim, which may have contributed to the spill. She should be fine, though we'll need to get her new cold weather gear. It ripped a big chunk out of her tights, and tattered her gloves.

Walked first and last 5 minutes.

Glad to hear that Alita didn't suffer any serious damage during her spill.  Make sure you get new batteries when you replace her tights and gloves.

Stay safe...and warm...and enjoy your runs.

ounce wrote:

Mark B wrote:

ounce wrote:

Mark B wrote:

ounce wrote:

Mark B wrote:

(It has me wondering why my right side is so much less coordinated than the left, when I'm actually right handed.  But it is what it is. )

Well, if your right hamstring had ever written, then you might have something.  (couldn't resist)

I think you ought to find out what the situation is about left vs right.  It could really make a difference, I think.

I have a theory, other than some neurological deficit I never knew I had: I usually drive the car, so I get in and out of the car using predominantly my LEFT LEG to lift and lower me. I hardly ever ride as a passenger, so the right side doesn't get the same stimulus.

Clearly, I need to move to a country to where the steering wheel is on the right. Wonder if I can get a prescription for the moving expenses?

Under your plan, your commute would be a bit longer than you presently enjoy.

Clearly, you need to open a southern Pacific Rim bureau office for your paper in Melbourne or Sydney.  Maybe the Editor of Emerging Markets in Medicinal Marijuana?  You DO have experience in that realm.

To counter your presumed deficit, why don't you rotate 90 degrees, place both feet on the ground, and lift your fanny out of the car?  Drivers of low clearance vehicles have to do that and reverse it to get in the vehicle, although getting in is easier with the assistance of gravity and a plop down, to some degree.

Separately regarding Alita's low platelet count, I have a question.  After sticking you, they collected some blood in a little bag then clamped it off and unclamped another tube to begin the process of donation.  Then, the little bag of blood is emptied into about 4 or 5 vials and placed on a rack next to the 3 or 4 bags above the collection machine.

 You may have noticed one of the vials being placed in a machine about the size of a bread making machine.  That machine spins the blood to arrive at a platelet and white blood cell count.  They would take the platelet count, go to the monitor for your collection machine, and adjust the default setting based on your last donation or hematocrit.  It's a 3 digit number.  This will adjust your total time of donation.  The white blood cell count is used to adjust anything on the donation.

Do you remember them doing that? 

It would have increased or decreased the total time of donation, usually by less than 5 minutes or so.  I've never done a single platelet donation before, so I don't know if they adjust the time by the platelet count.

Not adjusting the count may have created the situation of Alita's low platelet count.  The FDA has procedures for everything, so there may have been some latitude where the count did not have to be adjusted when she was in the chair.

Dr. Google says B12 foods will help with creating platelets.  Beans, too, I think.  Since females don't fart, she seems good for both.

I drive a Ford Escort ZX2, which actually IS pretty low to the ground. But jumping out of the car and pivoting 180° to propel myself up on my right leg might not work so well. Interesting idea, though.

I did see the blood folk take the blood. Didn't see them centrifuge it, though. My time on the machine was 100 minutes. Alita's was less. I didn't see what they did or didn't do with hers. We were happy to find out that they did use her donation, so her time wasn't wasted. They'll want her to come in and do a platelet count to see if it was some weirdness with the machine (as in citrate got in to the sample), of it it was just her.

Welllll, I'm thinking more Acura NSX, Corvette, Ferrari, or any vehicle where your butt in the driver's seat is below your knees, when your knees are outside the vehicle and your feet are flat on the ground.  If the ZX2 seat is that way, then excellent.

As far as the platelets, I've always been told that the less the donor weighs, the longer it takes.  And you're proving it with 100 minutes on the machine.  I outweigh you by 65 pounds and I'm on the machine for 87-105 minutes for a triple.

Do you reach a point at about 52 minutes, and maybe again later, where you get a "Clearing the LRS chamber" message?  I like that because it gives my hand and forearm a break.

I didn't pay that close of attention to the machine. I was following your instructions and burying my nose in a video to keep myself distracted. It may have done a clean cycle, but I didn't notice and kept squeezing anyway. My hand was pretty sore afterwards.

nkrichards wrote:

Mark B wrote:Night Run: 3.07 miles with Alita

Weather: Dark and cold. 31° with a breeze. Gear: Topos, tights, long-sleeved T, thicker pullover, jacket, hat, gloves.

We tried another right run vs. getting up early in the morning, heading out after I got off work and before dinner. It was going okay, if chilly, when Alita caught her toe on an uneven concrete seam and took a spill. Ripped her tights and gloves on impact, and gave herself a large strawberry on her leg, and a smaller one on her hand. It was, of course, right at our turnaround point, so she had to go all the way back home.

On the upside, she didn't bleed profusely, so that suggests she's got good platelets now...?

We discovered that our headlamp batteries had weakened and our lights had gotten dim, which may have contributed to the spill. She should be fine, though we'll need to get her new cold weather gear. It ripped a big chunk out of her tights, and tattered her gloves.

Walked first and last 5 minutes.

Glad to hear that Alita didn't suffer any serious damage during her spill.  Make sure you get new batteries when you replace her tights and gloves.

Stay safe...and warm...and enjoy your runs.

It took a pretty big divot out of her leg and caused some swelling and bruising underneath. It's starting to heal but is pretty goopy with lots of drainage, so hopefully she'll be able to run on it next week. Crossing fingers.

Mark B wrote:

ounce wrote:

Mark B wrote:

ounce wrote:

Mark B wrote:

ounce wrote:

Mark B wrote:

(It has me wondering why my right side is so much less coordinated than the left, when I'm actually right handed.  But it is what it is. )

Well, if your right hamstring had ever written, then you might have something.  (couldn't resist)

I think you ought to find out what the situation is about left vs right.  It could really make a difference, I think.

I have a theory, other than some neurological deficit I never knew I had: I usually drive the car, so I get in and out of the car using predominantly my LEFT LEG to lift and lower me. I hardly ever ride as a passenger, so the right side doesn't get the same stimulus.

Clearly, I need to move to a country to where the steering wheel is on the right. Wonder if I can get a prescription for the moving expenses?

Under your plan, your commute would be a bit longer than you presently enjoy.

Clearly, you need to open a southern Pacific Rim bureau office for your paper in Melbourne or Sydney.  Maybe the Editor of Emerging Markets in Medicinal Marijuana?  You DO have experience in that realm.

To counter your presumed deficit, why don't you rotate 90 degrees, place both feet on the ground, and lift your fanny out of the car?  Drivers of low clearance vehicles have to do that and reverse it to get in the vehicle, although getting in is easier with the assistance of gravity and a plop down, to some degree.

Separately regarding Alita's low platelet count, I have a question.  After sticking you, they collected some blood in a little bag then clamped it off and unclamped another tube to begin the process of donation.  Then, the little bag of blood is emptied into about 4 or 5 vials and placed on a rack next to the 3 or 4 bags above the collection machine.

 You may have noticed one of the vials being placed in a machine about the size of a bread making machine.  That machine spins the blood to arrive at a platelet and white blood cell count.  They would take the platelet count, go to the monitor for your collection machine, and adjust the default setting based on your last donation or hematocrit.  It's a 3 digit number.  This will adjust your total time of donation.  The white blood cell count is used to adjust anything on the donation.

Do you remember them doing that? 

It would have increased or decreased the total time of donation, usually by less than 5 minutes or so.  I've never done a single platelet donation before, so I don't know if they adjust the time by the platelet count.

Not adjusting the count may have created the situation of Alita's low platelet count.  The FDA has procedures for everything, so there may have been some latitude where the count did not have to be adjusted when she was in the chair.

Dr. Google says B12 foods will help with creating platelets.  Beans, too, I think.  Since females don't fart, she seems good for both.

I drive a Ford Escort ZX2, which actually IS pretty low to the ground. But jumping out of the car and pivoting 180° to propel myself up on my right leg might not work so well. Interesting idea, though.

I did see the blood folk take the blood. Didn't see them centrifuge it, though. My time on the machine was 100 minutes. Alita's was less. I didn't see what they did or didn't do with hers. We were happy to find out that they did use her donation, so her time wasn't wasted. They'll want her to come in and do a platelet count to see if it was some weirdness with the machine (as in citrate got in to the sample), of it it was just her.

Welllll, I'm thinking more Acura NSX, Corvette, Ferrari, or any vehicle where your butt in the driver's seat is below your knees, when your knees are outside the vehicle and your feet are flat on the ground.  If the ZX2 seat is that way, then excellent.

As far as the platelets, I've always been told that the less the donor weighs, the longer it takes.  And you're proving it with 100 minutes on the machine.  I outweigh you by 65 pounds and I'm on the machine for 87-105 minutes for a triple.

Do you reach a point at about 52 minutes, and maybe again later, where you get a "Clearing the LRS chamber" message?  I like that because it gives my hand and forearm a break.

I was following your instructions and burying my nose in a video to keep myself distracted.

You've been married for a while.  You have been trained well to do as you're told.

When the machine is doing a Return, you can stop squeezing for the 8-10 seconds until just before the Draw starts again.

ounce wrote:

Mark B wrote:

ounce wrote:

Mark B wrote:

ounce wrote:

Mark B wrote:

ounce wrote:

Mark B wrote:

(It has me wondering why my right side is so much less coordinated than the left, when I'm actually right handed.  But it is what it is. )

Well, if your right hamstring had ever written, then you might have something.  (couldn't resist)

I think you ought to find out what the situation is about left vs right.  It could really make a difference, I think.

I have a theory, other than some neurological deficit I never knew I had: I usually drive the car, so I get in and out of the car using predominantly my LEFT LEG to lift and lower me. I hardly ever ride as a passenger, so the right side doesn't get the same stimulus.

Clearly, I need to move to a country to where the steering wheel is on the right. Wonder if I can get a prescription for the moving expenses?

Under your plan, your commute would be a bit longer than you presently enjoy.

Clearly, you need to open a southern Pacific Rim bureau office for your paper in Melbourne or Sydney.  Maybe the Editor of Emerging Markets in Medicinal Marijuana?  You DO have experience in that realm.

To counter your presumed deficit, why don't you rotate 90 degrees, place both feet on the ground, and lift your fanny out of the car?  Drivers of low clearance vehicles have to do that and reverse it to get in the vehicle, although getting in is easier with the assistance of gravity and a plop down, to some degree.

Separately regarding Alita's low platelet count, I have a question.  After sticking you, they collected some blood in a little bag then clamped it off and unclamped another tube to begin the process of donation.  Then, the little bag of blood is emptied into about 4 or 5 vials and placed on a rack next to the 3 or 4 bags above the collection machine.

 You may have noticed one of the vials being placed in a machine about the size of a bread making machine.  That machine spins the blood to arrive at a platelet and white blood cell count.  They would take the platelet count, go to the monitor for your collection machine, and adjust the default setting based on your last donation or hematocrit.  It's a 3 digit number.  This will adjust your total time of donation.  The white blood cell count is used to adjust anything on the donation.

Do you remember them doing that? 

It would have increased or decreased the total time of donation, usually by less than 5 minutes or so.  I've never done a single platelet donation before, so I don't know if they adjust the time by the platelet count.

Not adjusting the count may have created the situation of Alita's low platelet count.  The FDA has procedures for everything, so there may have been some latitude where the count did not have to be adjusted when she was in the chair.

Dr. Google says B12 foods will help with creating platelets.  Beans, too, I think.  Since females don't fart, she seems good for both.

I drive a Ford Escort ZX2, which actually IS pretty low to the ground. But jumping out of the car and pivoting 180° to propel myself up on my right leg might not work so well. Interesting idea, though.

I did see the blood folk take the blood. Didn't see them centrifuge it, though. My time on the machine was 100 minutes. Alita's was less. I didn't see what they did or didn't do with hers. We were happy to find out that they did use her donation, so her time wasn't wasted. They'll want her to come in and do a platelet count to see if it was some weirdness with the machine (as in citrate got in to the sample), of it it was just her.

Welllll, I'm thinking more Acura NSX, Corvette, Ferrari, or any vehicle where your butt in the driver's seat is below your knees, when your knees are outside the vehicle and your feet are flat on the ground.  If the ZX2 seat is that way, then excellent.

As far as the platelets, I've always been told that the less the donor weighs, the longer it takes.  And you're proving it with 100 minutes on the machine.  I outweigh you by 65 pounds and I'm on the machine for 87-105 minutes for a triple.

Do you reach a point at about 52 minutes, and maybe again later, where you get a "Clearing the LRS chamber" message?  I like that because it gives my hand and forearm a break.

I was following your instructions and burying my nose in a video to keep myself distracted.

You've been married for a while.  You have been trained well to do as you're told.

When the machine is doing a Return, you can stop squeezing for the 8-10 seconds until just before the Draw starts again.

Yes, I know that. But the return was so quick I often ended up squeezing during that, too.

Rainy Run with Altia: 3.05 miles

Weather: Downpour to start, letting up to steady rain. 49° Gear: NEW Topo Fli-Lyte 2s, shorts, long-sleeved T, jacket, hat, gloves.

Alita's lower-leg gouge has healed up enough for a test run, and besides, a coworker of hers has started running every day and Alita agreed to do the same thing to help keep her motivated. We may be starting a streak here...

It was POURING when we started, but it usually lets up, so we headed out anyway. It did let up after a few minutes, to a steady moderate rain. At that point, we were wet enough that it really didn't matter. Thank goodness the teperature was around 50°, not 40° or lower. That would have been a different story.

We did not do a walking warm-up, since it was coming down in buckets at the time, which made the run feel longer sooner, but we did walk a bit at the end to cool down.

Mark B wrote:Rainy Run with Altia: 3.05 miles

Weather: Downpour to start, letting up to steady rain. 49° Gear: NEW Topo Fli-Lyte 2s, shorts, long-sleeved T, jacket, hat, gloves.

Alita's lower-leg gouge has healed up enough for a test run, and besides, a coworker of hers has started running every day and Alita agreed to do the same thing to help keep her motivated. We may be starting a streak here...

It was POURING when we started, but it usually lets up, so we headed out anyway. It did let up after a few minutes, to a steady moderate rain. At that point, we were wet enough that it really didn't matter. Thank goodness the teperature was around 50°, not 40° or lower. That would have been a different story.

We did not do a walking warm-up, since it was coming down in buckets at the time, which made the run feel longer sooner, but we did walk a bit at the end to cool down.

We need the moisture so I'm not going to wish for to many dry runs for you this winter...although I wouldn't mind if the moisture stayed in the mountains and left you with some nice dry running weather once in awhile.

Good to hear that Alita's leg healed up fairly quickly and you're both back out there.  Hope Alita's running partner sticks with it and they enjoy running together.  Having a partner that is counting on you really helps when motivation levels are low.

Any big plans now that Alita and Alec are on holiday from school?

Stay warm and relatively dry....

nkrichards wrote:

Mark B wrote:Rainy Run with Altia: 3.05 miles

Weather: Downpour to start, letting up to steady rain. 49° Gear: NEW Topo Fli-Lyte 2s, shorts, long-sleeved T, jacket, hat, gloves.

Alita's lower-leg gouge has healed up enough for a test run, and besides, a coworker of hers has started running every day and Alita agreed to do the same thing to help keep her motivated. We may be starting a streak here...

It was POURING when we started, but it usually lets up, so we headed out anyway. It did let up after a few minutes, to a steady moderate rain. At that point, we were wet enough that it really didn't matter. Thank goodness the teperature was around 50°, not 40° or lower. That would have been a different story.

We did not do a walking warm-up, since it was coming down in buckets at the time, which made the run feel longer sooner, but we did walk a bit at the end to cool down.

We need the moisture so I'm not going to wish for to many dry runs for you this winter...although I wouldn't mind if the moisture stayed in the mountains and left you with some nice dry running weather once in awhile.

Good to hear that Alita's leg healed up fairly quickly and you're both back out there.  Hope Alita's running partner sticks with it and they enjoy running together.  Having a partner that is counting on you really helps when motivation levels are low.

Any big plans now that Alita and Alec are on holiday from school?

Stay warm and relatively dry....

Agreed. We definitely need the rain. And the snow in the mountains, to be precise. Besides, the rain is usually warmer cold and windy.

On Alita's friend: They're not actually running together. They're just sharing texts when they run to keep each other motivated. Her friend's motivation is already wavering, so Alita is being supportive. Even if her friend bails out, I think we're going to try going for a streak to see if multiple days, even if at lower mileage per day, does what they says it does for building endurance for super-long distances.

Easy Run with Alita: 2.29 miles

Weather: Clear with a chilly wind. 45° Gear: New Topos, shorts, T, pullover, jacket, hat, gloves (shed)

Our second day in our streak, doing a little less to alternate longer with shorter distances. Not surprisingly, this run felt more difficult for both of us. It caught Alita off guard, but it gave me the chance to talk about accumulated fatigue and what it can do for you as a training tool. She didn't throw her shoe at me, so that's good.

My knee complained a little on a left-to-right camber, so I'll have to watch that. It settled down as soon as I got off it, so that's good to know.

Walked first and last 5 minutes. Our paces were in the 11s, mostly.


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We're on Christmas break since Saturday. I took the first week of their Christmas break off, too, so that's been nice. We've tended to some things that needed doing, went to see the new Star Wars movie (I'd give it 2.5 stars out of 4), celebrated a friend's 50th birthday, done things with friends and tried to enjoy the season. I finally got some new lights up, too. Much more cheery now!

Don't know if Alita wants to expose her friend to the Baron of Barefoot Running.  Might be too much for her friend to assimilate.

ounce wrote:Don't know if Alita wants to expose her friend to the Baron of Barefoot Running.  Might be too much for her friend to assimilate.

No worries. The odds of us ever running with this other person are slim at best. This is support via text message.

And, speaking of barefoot...

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Barefoot Treadmill Run: About a mile with significant uptempo segment.

We never got around to doing a run earlier today, so to keep our streak alive, both Alita and I did a mile on the treadmill to meet the minimum running requirement. I decided to do mine barefoot.

I started with one minute walking then brought the speed up to 6 mph (10/mi pace). I did a lot of clunking before my lower body remembered about landing more on my forefoot and smoothed things out without me even thinking about it. That was surprising. I went from klunk klunk klunk to ... pad pad pad ... just like that. So much better.

I did most of the run at a 10/mi pace, but in the last half mile I decided to rev the TM up to 7 mph (about an 8:30 pace) and then in the last quarter mile to 8 mph (about a 7:30 pace) and proceeded to klunk klunk klunk again as I was fighting to get in enough air. (It didn't help that I'd had steak for dinner, so that was a good learning moment.) After I hit a mile, I turned the speed down to 3 mph and walked a couple of minutes to get everything back in sync.

Afterward, I started coughing pretty vigorously. Apparently, I made my lungs sweat.

Probably not the smartest thing I ever did. But it was nice to go barefoot for a change.

Nothing wrong with coughing vigorously, with no other symptoms, I would figure. 

Are y'all going to dress up Alec as the dog in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," this year?

Y'all have a good 'n snowy Christmas.

ounce wrote:Nothing wrong with coughing vigorously, with no other symptoms, I would figure. 

Are y'all going to dress up Alec as the dog in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," this year?

Y'all have a good 'n snowy Christmas.

Thanks! And we'll take the costume suggestion under advisement.

Wet and rainy run with Alita: 3.21 miles

Weather: Rainy, breezy, 37° Gear: New Topos, tights, T, pullover, jacket, hat, gloves.

Brr. If it were any colder, and it'd be snowing, but we needed to get out and do a run today, so we geared up and headed out. Rain ended up soaking through my jacket, SportHill top and Capilene base layer. Warm while wet? Not so much.

The run itself went pretty well, though. We did learn a valuable lesson of having Mexican food with lots of salsa verde a couple of hours before the run. Oops! Live and learn.

Walked first and last 5 minutes or so.

Good luck on your streak!  Sounds like you're going to have some tough days especially this winter...nice that you have the option to hit the treadmill if you need that option to keep the streak going.

From the sounds of things this streak may affect a lot more areas of you life than just running...meal timing and choice.

We got enough snow last night to turn everything white and the snowpack in the mountains is slightly better.

Stay warm...

Merry Christmas to you and your family.  Hope the Christmas Day run goes well.