Poll update

Update on poll. I think that most people who would have voted have done so now. The topic has just about dropped off the active list and I don't think I'll bump it up to the top again.

I can't believe that there are so many scrunchers out there. Don't you know what could happen people?!! I was surprised at the number of rollers too. Not sure what the "other" was since there was no comment to explain it. Maybe it was someone who does both. Perhaps it was you Ellie? I think my theory about runners being unusually orderly control freaks is looking a bit shaky considering these percentages are about the same as the straw poll on Rove Live.

Looks like pretty good support for the intended orientation of the toilet roll. Can't say I'm surprised at that.

Assuming the 12 people who voted for "seat up" are male, it looks like a majority of male runners are well trained. The lid category looks to have followed male/female voting lines.

Good progress

Saw the physio this afternoon and he said he is happy with my progress. The lump on my tendon is half the original size, the tendon is moving freely and the calf is a lot less painful to his deep tissue massage. He has suggested no more than 4 runs per week for 4-6 weeks and just build up the length of the runs with one run a week up to 45 minutes. No speedwork for at least 2 months. He's suggested to do more slump stretches to loosen up the whole back of the legs which may release the calves a bit. He aggrees that I shouldn't do the eccentric exercises until the calf feels up to it. I just sent him an SMS asking whether trail running with or without hills is OK. So I'm pretty happy with this course of action. I'll run every second day for 20-30 minutes and try building a longer run up to 45 minutes over then next month or so. I'll go back and see him in 5-6 weeks to see how things are going and to get his thoughts about going in a few shorter events.

The poll is getting some interesting responses.

Ava good weekend!

Quick update and poll announcement

Went for a 27 minute run today and also ran on Monday (27 minutes) and Wednesday (16 minutes). On Monday I also did a circuit on some equipment out on the uni-loop eg. chinups, pushups, crunches, dips etc. My arms and abs are still sore from that especially my triceps from the pitiful 5 then 3 chinups that I did.

The leg is feeling OK, not 100%, but getting better and I have been testing it out a bit more than I'm supposed to. Going to see the physio tomorrow. Apologies to the tracktimes guys for not getting out this morning, I slept in.

The Folder/scruncher poll is up on Coolrunning. Go forth and vote people. I'm preparing myself for much ridicule over this poll, but I think it should be fun.

Fold or Scrunch: part 2

Following the response to my previous post, I think this might be worthy of a poll on CR and Ausrun. I have a theory that the incidence of folders vs scrunchers might be higher in the running/fitness community. The ratio on Rove Live last week was about 60:40, but that sample may have been biased by members of the running/fitness community being in the audience, so it wouldn't have reflected the views of the rest of society. My theory is that runners/gym junkies are more obsessive-compulsive or at least strive more towards order and organisation in their lives than the average in our society.

I think three questions need to be posed:

1. Folder or scruncher
2. Toilet roll facing inwards or outwards
3. Seat down or up

Any other pertinent questions?

Am I sounding slightly obsessed with this topic (You don't need to answer this)?
Would I get "Folder" tattooed on my bum for $20,000? Hell yeah, it's $20,000 people!

Fold or Scrunch: the case for folding

This age-old debate has been rekindled thanks to a new advertising campaign from Sorbent. I am a folder. My reason, other than one of familial habit, is one of structural integrity.
Given the same length of paper (although scrunchers seem to use more) there is a predictable and reliable amount of paper between you and disaster. Sure, scrunching may potentially put a thicker wad over your fingers, but, being a randomly formed structure, there is a distinct chance that you may poke through a gap. That's a chance that I'm not willing to take. Folding has the added benefit of the wipe/fold/wipe combination - I can't see how you could do that with scrunching. The only downside I can see is that it may take longer to fold, but I think this is a small price to pay for increased hygeine and may be obviated by a decreased handwashing time in the event of 'exposure' as a result of unlucky scrunching.
I'm happy to debate any valid argument against folding. Despite the fact that I will never change, I may come to accept scrunching as a valid if not flawed method.

This might sound a bit daft...

Especially when you consider what I wrote yesterday. I woke up this morning and my leg felt fine - a rational person would have gone back to sleep thinking how great it was that the leg was healing so fast - so I went for a 15 minute run. The leg was fine. It still feels fine after I've cooled down, got ready for work and iced it. We'll see how it feels later, but I may have been a little premature with my prognosis yesterday.
Stay tuned!

I'm out

The news is not so good. After my last run on Tuesday, I came up sore in the calf the next day and the achilles is sore too. It's not as bad as before, but it isn't good, and it comes from just a handfull of 10-15 minute runs. The achilles is still sore now. I've stopped running and I've done a bit of ice-massage. I'm going to see my physio next Friday to see what he can do and to get his opinion on my next move.

I'm thinking of taking off as long as it needs to heal by itself without treatment. I'll just do the eccentric exercises and other strength work as well as some bike work and then maybe get a checkup after a month to get clearance to start running again. I don't think I could lose anymore fitness than I already have and I haven't put on any weight either, so I should be able to stay healthy. This will rule out any racing for most of this year, but I've got a thesis to write, so the extra time may help in that area. So, what do you think? Sound like a good plan?

As you can imagine, I'm pretty down about this. A fairly simple injury has managed to wipeout an entire season of racing, not to mention the fact that I can't even run just for the hell of it anymore. There might not be much on this blog about running for a while, but feel free to drop in to hear about the house or lexicology or sculptures or any other shit I feel like spinning.

PS. Tesso. My name doesn't have many anagrams. Onlt two: CARD SHARD VIM and CARD DRAM SHIV. And they don't make any sense.

PPS. But Tesso, your name comes up with some corkers and thousands of anagrams. Anyone for some SATAN HAIR BEEF?

Funny email one of my workmates sent me

Did you ever stop and wonder...

Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, "I think I'll
squeeze these pink dangly things here, and drink whatever comes out?"

Who was the first person to say, "See that chicken there... I'm
gonna eat the next thing that comes outta it's bum."

Why is there a light in the fridge and not in the freezer? I
have a light in my freezer.

Why does your Obstetrician, Gynecologist leave the room when you
get undressed if they are going to look up there anyway?

Why does Goofy stand erect while Pluto remains on all fours?
They're both dogs?

Can blind people see their dreams? Do they dream??

If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests? (This one kills me!!!)

If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from
vegetables, then what is baby oil made from?

If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from
morons?

Why do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have
the same tune?

Stop singing and read on...

Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup?

Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets
mad at you, but when you take him on a car ride, he sticks his head out
the window?

Does pushing the elevator button more than once make it arrive
faster?

Do you ever wonder why you gave me your e-mail address in the
first place?

:-)

Things people have searched and found me

runner massage blog
Joggers World explosion
what to eat before 10 km run
channel 9 suck adelaide crows (too true)
sa hockey (surprised this one came up)
"pull my finger" 1800s (odd)

All pretty benign. Why can't I get juicy RunnerSusan type search referrals? You know, like "porno massage babe" and other funny stuff that gets linked inexplicably to her blog. Maybe I need to put more random and off topic phrases in my blog.

Simpsons dominatrix strategic MTV. See how that goes.

Edit: Failed. Maybe I don't get how this works?

House progress

A couple of shots of the house.

Favourite Sculpture/Fountain

This is one of my favourite sculptures. I guess it is really a fountain, but I really like it. I'm not sure who the artist is. Can anyone guess where it is located?

Bananas $10/kg

I commented on this in Flashducks blog, but I thought I'd expand on my comments. I love bananas. You don't realise what you've got until it's gone. I used to eat at least one banana per day before Larry. Now I rarely eat them because they are just too expensive. It's going to be a long while before they are back too, but I really hope they don't allow imported bananas - it'd just kill the local producers. Over at mum and dad's place yesterday, I spotted an overripe one sitting in their fruit bowl, so I pinched it. Oh, the delightful creamy texture, sweet taste and pungent aroma of the banana - how I miss you!
Now what are the symptoms of potassium deficiency?

Doing a 15 minute run later today. My calf is still a bit sore, so we'll see how the run goes.

Dunlop kt42s

Has anyone tried these? They look and feel the goods, but I'm skeptical. At $50 they may be worth a try. Tim, if you're out there, have you seen or tried them.

Progress

Stepped up to 15 minute run today. My legs felt good and it was great to get out for a bit longer. My calf has been just a little bit sore, but the achilles feels fine. I also did my 10 minute run on Thursday but stretched it out to 12 minutes and felt fine. Stretching and massage have been going well, but I've been slack with the eccentric exercises. Feel free to admonish of for this.

2nd run back

Ran again on Monday. Walked down to the uni loop, did one lap (2.2 km) in about 10:20 and then walked back to uni. Achilles felt really good the whole way, but my hip is still feeling sore. My calves have been a bit sore for the last two days, but I'm not sure if this is from the running or the eccentric exercises. I'll do my next 10 minute run tomorrow with the track timers and see how it feels after that.

Thanks everyone for the reminders. I have been doing all my tasks. Keep on my back lest I become complacent and stop doing them again.

I ran today...

for 10 minutes. And it was over all too soon. I set out walking for 5 minutes then ran for 10 minutes and then walked home. I was supposed to run at an easy pace, but I think I ran way too fast. I was so happy to be running again and I looked at my HR, 145, ok I'd better not push it too much harder. Two minutes later, 155, ok slow down now. Then a moment later, 167, what am I doing, racing or something? So I was a bit keen and my fitness has decreased a lot, but the good news is that my achilles feels fine. I followed with some ice massage and a little later some more massage with Brauer arnica cream. During the run my hip felt a bit stiff and sore still, so I must remember to stretch this area and my back/abdominals.

The delay in running was due to the fact that I didn't get my new blank orthotics until Thursday afternoon and then I didn't get the opportunity to adjust them until today. The orthotics felt fine, so I think I've got them right, although I won't really know until I've used them on a longer run.

Anyway, I'm a pretty happy camper at the moment. Next run will be another "easy" 10 minutes Monday or Tuesday. In the meantime, feel free to harrass me about doing my icing, massage, eccentric exercises and stretching.

Spoonerisms

Was talking about spoonerisms with a friend at work today and decided to look a few more up. Anyway, a search on google led me to this web page - Fun with Words - which along with many spoonerisms, had dozens of other language manipulation topics including anagrams, Mondegreens and tonguetwisters. I hope you enjoy it, it really brightened up my day.

Injury update

The good news is that my physio thinks that I can start running again, the bad news is that I'll have to wait until Friday to do so. He doesn't want me running in my old orthotics because they have broken down somewhat. He is bringing me some new Orthotics tomorrow which I'll have to take home and adjust for my feet. So it will have to be friday morning. He has set me a program for the next three weeks, after which I'll go back and see him again. It was to be two weeks, but he will be away with the SA hockey team in the second week.

So here's the program:
Week 1 - 3x 10min light run
Week 2 - 3x 15min light run
Week 3 - 2x 10min light run alternating with 3x 15min light run

- ice massage after each run
-eccentric exercises each day 12 reps single leg/12 reps double leg
-massage soleus muscle each day

Explosion Update

They found the body of a man believed to be the cafe owner inside the building. Very sad.

From the Rupertiser:

Man's body found at blast site
02may06

THE body of a man has been found in an Adelaide cafe destroyed in an explosion early today.Police said the body was located at the back of the cafe following a search of the premises.
Emergency services spent several hours searching the Pirie Street building, which houses the cafe and two other businesses in the city centre, after the man's vehicle was located nearby shortly after the 3am blast.
A police spokesman said the body was yet to be formally identified but was believed to be that of the missing man.
"A short time ago the body of a middle-aged man was located at the back of the premises.

"This brings to a conclusion the tragic circumstances for the family," South Australian police Superintendent Paul Schramm said at the scene.
A post-mortem examination will be held tomorrow.
The blast blew out the front and rear sections of the building and caused a big section of wall to collapse.
It also showered debris across the street and damaged a second building.


Final update on this: This story at the age has most of the current info in it. I won't put up any more about it until there is some new information.

Jogger's World Damaged in building Explosion

Adelaide's only specialist running store has been damaged by a serious explosion in the basement of the building in which it is located. The whole building is closed and will likely be demolished. There are also fears for a cafe owner who may have been in the building at the time of the accident (3am).

Here are a few articles from the internet:

Last Update: Tuesday, May 2, 2006. 10:44am (AEST)

Fears for man missing after Adelaide blast

Adelaide police hold grave concerns for a man who they have been unable to account for after an explosion at a building in the city.
The blast happened just after 3:00am ACST in what is believed to have been the basement of a building on Pirie Street.
The cause of the blast is not yet known.
Fire investigators will attempt to enter the destroyed building to search for a business owner and Superintendent Paul Schramm says there are concerns the man could be injured.
"We have not been able to obviously make contact with this person," he said.
"His business is extensively damaged.
"We do hold concerns but let's not speculate. We will get that information to the relatives as soon as we can."
Former Adelaide Crows player Tom Warhurst says his sporting goods store was damaged by the blast.
"The force of the explosion's come out the front but because of the movement in the building it looks like the two storey back wall has collapsed at the back of the building," he said.
"The building's not in good shape, so I have spoken to the owner of the building who is also in construction and he says that it would be bowled over, it'll be condemned."
Rory O'Neill from a nearby wine business says his shop was also hit by the explosion.
He says a cleaner saw the blast.
"She got quite a shock. There was quite a ball of flame that came out of the building at the time of the explosion," he said.
"She actually witnessed [the blast] so she's been treated for shock I think and been taken to hospital."
Business owner Ben Barletta says his wine bar was damaged but says it is lucky no one was there at the time.
"Not knowing how these things are and that's why they call these things accidents," he said.
"Thankfully it wasn't a crowded day or we were in the building itself at the time, or a late night function, or anything like that so in as much as you can say it was opportune."

Also:

MAN MISSINGAFTER ADELAIDEBUILDING BLAST
02may06
POLICE hold fears for the safety of an Adelaide man missing after an early morning explosion in a central city building.Investigators are trying to enter the building in Pirie Street after an explosion severely damaged the premises about 3am today.
Police said there were concerns for the owner of a cafe, one of three businesses in the building.
Officers were unable to contact him and his car had been found parked behind the building, Superintendent Paul Schramm told reporters.
"So we can't completely rule out the fact that there may be an injured person in the building," Supt Schramm said.
"We don't want to speculate further on that.
"We have been in contact with the relatives. Obviously they are extremely concerned.
"As soon as we can safely enter the building and confirm whether or not anyone is injured, we will do so and notify the relatives.
"We are doing our very best to get in as soon as we can, safely."
The blast blew out the front and rear sections of the building and caused a major section of wall to collapse.
It also showered debris across the street and damaged a second building.
The explosion appeared to have been sparked in the basement of the building which housed a retail wine outlet, a cafe and a sports store on the first floor.
There has been some speculation gas may have triggered the explosion.
Supt Schramm said the situation could have been much worse had the blast happened later in the day in the usually busy retail and business section of the city.
"If it had happened other than in the early hours of this morning, clearly there would have been significant injuries," he said.
Supt Schramm said the front facade of 121 Pirie Street was extremely dangerous and would likely have to be brought down later today.
An area around the building has been declared a danger zone, limiting public access.

PS. A guilty secret. I don't buy my shoes from Joggers World, I get them at Athletes Foot because we have a family discount card there. I do buy my other running gear there though. After I redeem my reward discount next time, I might start getting my shoes at Jogger's World - if they have reopened yet!

Itchy feet

This no-running caper is really starting to get to me. I just want to go for a run. I ran to get over some traffic lights the other day and I felt fine. Surely I can start now. No I'd better wait. A measly 38.5 km for this month. I suppose there is no option but to take it easy, but it is so frustrating. Bring on Thursday. Fingers crossed that I'll be allowed to run then.