#317: The Pied Piper of the Dog Park

Jake and I returned to the park today. It was a much more pleasant run: sunny and 61 degrees. We even picked up a couple of other dogs whose humans sat on the bench while we all did laps. I felt like the Pied Piper leading my pack around the park.


Not hurting, Just
complaining a little.

We ran and walked for about half an hour. I wanted to take it easy because Monday's rainy run left me feeling a little puny the next day. I'm also getting a little bit of complaining from my right knee. Not pain or soreness or anything like that, just a little kvetching as if it doesn't really feel like doing too much today. I don't mind giving it a little rest. Besides, I have a long, slow run planned for Saturday and I want to be fresh.

Saturday is a big day for me. It's my D-day. It was April 16 of last year when I had my surgery and was diagnosed with cancer. It's hard to believe that it's only been a year. So much has changed. I'm working on an anniversary post in my head, and I'll try to have it up by the weekend. There's a lot to digest.

Yesterday's workout wasn't the greatest. I spent a long time in the gym, almost an hour and a half, but it felt like I hardly got anything done. I worked on lower body and core yesterday. I like those exercises, but want to keep them as far from my long weekend runs as possible. Increased the weight on squats, straight leg dead lifts, and lunges. I'm also working on widening my grip on the lat pull downs. My sides are pretty blubbery under my arms and I want to build up some muscle under there. I'm getting better at the hanging leg raises for my lower abs, and found a crunch with a twist that really burns. The belly is a long way from washboard status, but it is nice to feel something working under there.



The last time I shivered in
the afternoon.

 So, I guess I did get a lot done, but I just felt exhausted when I got home. I laid down to read for a while, and started shivering. Long-time Pennsy followers will understand when I say that shivering in the middle of the day brings back some pretty troubling memories of chemo and the crazy hat Mum made for me. No that I have hair, I don't need the hat, but I put on my comfy gray sweats and climbed under the down tick while Jake curled up close to keep me warm. Once my left brain convinced me that I didn't have cancer, I decided it must be the onset of a cold. Mrs P got home, cooed over me a little, and made some comfort food: meatloaf and potato salad. Not your traditional "Feed a Cold" fare, but it works for me. I woke up this morning feeling a little groggy, but fine. I'm thinking now that I wasn't shivering because I was sick. I was shivering because I was cold. See, the window was open in our room and the chilly air was blowing in on me as I read. I went to see my therapist this morning, then took Jake to the park and felt fine. I really must learn to look for the simplest solution to things.

Mrs P wants to go out for dinner tonight. She deserves it, after all her tender nursing last night. Maybe we'll find a place that serves chicken soup, you know, just in case.

Peace,
Pennsy