Old Man Still running

Recovery going very well.  It never fails, if the stomach slows me down, the legs just don't really get sore because I'm dogging it.  After CCC100 two weeks ago I was sore from 4-5 days.  This time the soreness is already gone.  The only problem I have is a very sore and swollen elbow.  Funny thing is that I hit that elbow during a fall running down Timp a week ago.  The elbow just started to swell up last night.

I'm a mess.  Better this week then next.  Yesterday I was down for the count with stomach flu, felt like I was running Tahoe Rim all over again.   Then, I finally went to the doctor for my bad elbow that I fell on 11 days ago on Timp.  They drained it and said it is infected.  Got a shot in the butt and can hardly walk now.  Oh the fun!

Another day at the doctor.  Today they x-rayed the elbow.  Shoot....not busted.  It would have been cool to say I ran Wasatch with a busted elbow.  For the second day they shot up my butt with antibiotics and in the other butt today a corizone shot.  Seems like it is starting to work, the swelling is coming down.  Tomorrow I go back in for Day 3 and they should have the culture results back so they will know which antibiotic I should be taking.   I had worries that this would keep me away from Virgil Crest 100 next week, but now I'm encourage.  Last night I was up almost all night in pain.  I've been looking at catlogs for a nice hook.

Virgil Crest 100.  That area got hit hard by the hurricane and still is very wet.  Looks like more rain the two days before the race and maybe race day too.  Looks like my kind of race.  I certainly have had plenty of mud slogging training this year.

On the downside, I see I scheduled my return flight for Sunday, so I sure better finish by 29 hours, because I then have to drive 4 hours to catch the return plane in Philly, then fly a very long flight home.  This could be very ugly.  Last time I tried do to this on the day I finished Vermont it was pretty bad.  The people on the plane thought I was going to die.

Well, I think I'm getting better.  Elbow feels much better although still big. 

Went to the doctor.  My doctor for years retired, so I'm going to a new young doctor who took many of his patients.  First thing she said to me today was, "I found out that you are famous."  I thought, oh boy, here it comes.  Sure enough, she looked at my records closer and it had some note about my crazy running.  She found my blog and now is a gushing fan, said she thought about me as she was trying to push through 5 miles this morning.  So much of my visit this morning was talking to her and another doctor about my ultrarunning.  They both must have wasted 10 minutes with me asking running questions.

It is comforting to know that she understand and appreciates what I do, even concerned to make sure I'm healed up for my next race.  She told me if I have further problems to make sure I come in early next week to she can help get things improved before the weekend.

Turns out the fluid from my elbow didn't grow a bacteria culture.  Good news, the bursa isn't internally infected.  But I probably had a skin infection.  The bursa got big probably just from the trama and maybe it decided to get inflamed when the skin infection started for because my body was whacked out from Wasatch.  Who know?

Anyway, the elbow fills much better.  I can move it with very little pain and it no longer is hot to touch.  The steroid shot had me awake all night and the antibiotics gave the the runs, but I'll live.

I behaved today and took it easy, recovering from the crazy health issues from the week.  The elbow swelling went way down and now feels pretty fine.  That is a relief.  They gave me some drugs to take but after reading the side-effects, it wouldn't be wise with a race this week, so I'm just hoping to fully heal on my own in a few days.

The late morning was spectacular.  Went out for my first run in a week.  Wow, haven't run a step in six days.  The legs felt fantastic.  Just ran eight miles on the Jordan River Parkway, enjoying the beautiful morning.  My brother and his sons were up hiking Twin Peaks and had a miserable time in the cold wet bushes and snow at the top.  I was glad I skipped that one.