Saturday, August 31, 2019

Let me wear your coat

Well with about 7 weeks to Big’s Backyard I am 16th on the wait list.  With only 75 spots it does not look promising to get in.  However, with only 208 miles in July and 225 in August, I figured I better get motivated to train just in case.  So I signed up for the Glacial Trail 50 mile on October 13th so I have to train now.  I feel pretty good after a couple real low mileage weeks.  I am ready to put a few miles in and may get 80 in this week if I can get tomorrow’s miles in.

I have honestly been enjoying the run easy plan.  My back/hip hurts way less, the dog can power jog a bit with me, and I’m never totally spent as when one is airing it out.  The dog is good for about 2.5 miles with one drink stop.  I then circle back out for the final 15 minutes.  It also lets me get a second run in without wife feedback.  In fact I may be kinda earning some bonus pointage, but they are like the mallow cup or green stamp deal...you never get to use them.  You really just don’t go backwards, which is nice.

We have strongly settled on relocating to Florida when done here.  We lived there previously and left there on January 1, 1997.  Never thought I’d go back, but one thing is for sure, not going back to live in the WPB to Miami corridor.  That place is built out all the way to the Everglades.

Monday, August 12, 2019

She’d a made Whitefish Bay

Andrea and I put in close to 35 miles on Saturday afternoon and into just past midnight on Sunday.  The running and moving portion took 8:22:29, or better yet about 14:30 per mile.  That’s not counting all the bigger stops for aid and changes at the car.  It was Angela and straight up Tina’s 3rd year for the festival.  Probably close to 30 people running various distances.  Andrea and I started 2 hours early at 4pm.  Not sure how many went the full 50 miles.

It was not easy and required effort.  Effort I am more than willing to initiate and accept, but have learned I only have so much juice.  Why would I even consider another 100, or a last man standing event?  Outside of the erosion of skin from the surface of my body, one gets all lurched up.  I mean lurched up in the sense of creaky, stiff, old man like.  Granted, I did come in with 35-36 miles the 4 days prior, but after a lifetime of trotting around one would think this would be much easier than it was.  Andrea is training for the Superior Sawtooth 100 and is in pretty fine form.  I was pleased to be able to keep up.  I never bonked or cramped, but dang it was not easy at all.

Either way I am examining much about what the future looks like.  Running has always been a great alternate vehicle to step out of the rat race.  And that is just what it all is.  Having the energy to manage all these continuous prompts is ponderous.  One just wants to get off the merry-go-round and let some other George Jetson character take my place.  Looking to ground control to Major Tom before the circuit is dead if you are feeling me.  I’ll be 58 next month and it might be time to stop trying to win one for the Gipper.  Looking forward to the, “I think the old guy down on the corner can sharpen you blades.”  “You mean the dude I see running up in the Big Belt and the Blue with no socks?”  Yeah that dude.  The one who said he doesn’t wear sox because Bobby Orr didn’t.

Any ways I put in about 70 last week with two days off.  I’ll decide if I’m going to go do the 12 hour run for a bit of entertainment this week.  That’s August 31st.  I hope to, but it seems I’m gone so much for work and then pounding out miles that Donna should justifiably say no.  We shall see.

I want to add I just learned my great uncle is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.  He died 10/19/18 in WW1 from disease in Europe.  He was a private in the Medical Corps.  His name was Leroy Dehart.  My Dad’s middle name is Leroy.  I knew all my relatives closely on that side of the family.  You mean no one ever mentions this...ever?  My Dad was named after him and never any mention?  I find this randomly on line and no one knows squat?  My brother went out to the grave this weekend and took photos.  He does have his name on one of the Foreign Legion building back in rural PA, so maybe they have more info.  I find it interesting.  Perhaps they just did not know.

Saturday, August 3, 2019

2019 Blog Hop Challenge

2019 Blog Hop Challenge Questions
1.  Who are you? If applicable, share anything you want about your cancer (type, stage, when diagnosed, whatever.) Share something about yourself such as where you live, the name of your blog and it’s “mission” (no links here, though, or you might end up in spam), a challenge you have faced or are facing now, or whatever you want.

Dave Dehart.  I have had Polycythemia Vera since 2002.  The name of my blog is How Far To The Barn.  It is primarily about running.  I live in WI with my wife Donna and my primary challenge is work.

 2.  Have you ever participated in a blog hop before?

No I have not.

 3.  What’s your favorite sort of blog post to write and/or read – personal story, informational, how to, controversial, political, opinion, rant or other?
 
I stick to running based blogs, though many people ramble about just about anything.  Running blogs (especially those geared towards long distances) can be full of useful tidbits.
 
 4.  Describe yourself in three words. Yes, just three!

Fallible, Hungry, Dependable

 5.  Name three of your favorite books from your youth (whatever age that means to you.) that had an impact on you.

My Side of the Mountain
Self-Made Olympian
The Deerslayer

 6.  What are you reading right now, or what’s on your to-read list for when you have time?

See You at the Terminus by Brian Frain

 7.  What’s your favorite dessert of all time?

Chocolate cake with chocolate icing.

 8.  Tell us about a special pet you have, had, or would like to have. (Never wanted a pet, that’s okay too.)

ET was a kitten my very young kids found.  That cat could kill any varmint and cut rabbits in half.  There was no daily limit.  And he lived among us like he was a normal being.

 9.  What’s something people don’t know about you and might be surprised to learn?

I like to watch birds.  I like to listen to them.

10.  Do you believe healthcare is a privilege or a right?

No

11.  What’s your favorite thing about blogging and/or reading blogs?

It is a great way to see that many of us are the same, but at the same time so much different.  Many running blogs have individuals taking on adventures I could never accomplish.  It motivates me.  To see people do incredible things somehow motivates me to get out and run my simple few miles a day.

12.  What’s something you really suck at?

Technology

13.  What’s something you’re pretty good at?

Mowing the grass. 

14.  How do you escape from cancer (or life in general) worries?

I'm just out pounding a few miles.  Looking for a little adventure here and there.  Last Saturday I was able to finish the Tosa Perimeter Run around the city of Wauwatosa with 9 others.  I  might sign up for a 12 hour run at the end of August.   

http://nancyspoint.com/