If Salvador Dali Ran the Second Circle of Hell
On Wednesday I ran a pretty good 10K up to Prospect Point and back down in Stanley park, measuring 10.2K on my Polar in just over 47 minutes. Usually we take a water break for two or three minutes at the top (it's a 600 foot ascent), but i slurped and scooted.
Had a lovely slice of pizza, or two, or three (I confess I have let my weight get back up to 194) - the best pizza in Vancoucouver at the Flying Wedge - even if you were counting the Top Ten in Vancouver, Patrick and Justin - and a nice long chat afterwards with Seymour and two more brand new running buddies I've gained over the course of the last marathon clinic.
Actually I'm amazed that Rob and Kevin still talk to me, at least socially. I immediately recognized them as a couple of superior athletes right off the bat five months ago. I might not be able to run a lick myself, but I do know talent. And!, they're in the SAME peer group as me (guys over forty) - thank Gawd someone my own age to run with! - and just as or even faster. Kevin needs a 3:20 to qualify for Boston and he lost about twenty pounds over the course of the clinic and ran a beautiful, superbly strategized 3:29. He'll do it no problem in his second marathon, conditions and marathon Gods willing. I felt like a proud older brother. Had to, these guys are too old to play my children! Rob, same vintage as me, needs a 3:30 and ran a 3:36 in his very first marathon...
Even these guys would be the first to admit they were and are hard-chargers. You have to love marathoners, but in the same breath, admit they can drive you a little crazy... I prefaced EVERY word of advice I gave them over four months by say, "I did the same thing myself once and this is what happened..." Stress, recovery, stress, recovery. recovery, recovery, recovery....
Don't credit too much of their success to me, these guys were smart enough to read some of the information I sent them and actually listened to what I said in technical terms. I am willing to bet all comers that if the weather and conditions hold, these guys will be in Boston next year.
Anyways, a lovely dinner that was running related that is my long-winded way of getting to two days of Hell...
But I have not even mentioned that I think I have two potential sub-three guys, and one who at 24 might even in a few years be good enough to do a 2:45 - or better. Shoulda been a coach...
After suffering through chemo-therapy for skin cancer last year I have been wearing 60 Sunblock, hats and keeping out of the direct mid-day sun if I can. I volunteered to help a friend on his farm Thursday. To put in fence-posts and gates after he had been robbed. Required operating a huge powered auger. That's the thing that makes holes in the ground...
Went out to Tom's farm. NOTE: Woke up with a slight sore throat. Despite 60 sunblock and the hat and being covered up head to toe - by three in the afternoon thought I might be suffering heat stroke. Was light-headed and nauseous and had a splitting headache. Had to lie down and soak my head in wet towels. I've had it - heat stroke - before and that makes you more susceptible to getting it again. An hour later I felt well enough to help Tom finish installing the gates. All in all it was still a twelve hour day... But the fences and gates looked magnificent. A showcase farm.
Yesterday - Friday. Woke up at the crack of dawn unable to swallow and with my throat in incredible pain. Felt like I had been eating my Reidel crystal all night long...
Had to take blistering hot showers to fight off the chills. Sweat-soaked sheets had to be changed a couple of times. I was light-headed and fell in the shower. Fell again when I got up out of bed. Rest of the time I was freezing and shivering to the point of convulsing under four quilts. My throat started closing up, swelling and making it agonizing to talk. Or even drink water.
My little dogs must have thought I was dying. They both perched by my head, giving me sympathetic licks on the forehead. Hell, I thought I was dying.
By Noon I thought I'd have to call in re-inforcements. My regular doctor was at his second practice in Kamloops and out of town. Thought I would just tough it out. But I was in really rough shape. When I could breath I started calling around to friends because I didn't think I could safely drive to a clinic myself.
We live in a strange age of cell phones, e-mails and not so instant as we would like to think communication.... Actually couldn't get hold of anyone. Not one person. In desperation I called a dear, dear, lovely friend who is a Veternarian. I knew she couldn't leave her surgery but I thought I'd get some medical advice... Hey, I'm as close to a monkey as you'll get on the evolutionary ladder.
After ten weeks with my father in the hospital, I just couldn't IMAGINE sitting in an ER for six hours to be told I had a sore throat and to go home. And I didn't want to call a Cab or, God forbid, an ambulance unless there was a good chance I was going to die.
By the way, I have a first-aide kit for my car, for my running pack, for camping and a heavy duty- Muther-Trucker for expeditions. But no thermometer!?! Is this because I have no kids?
So I called my friend the Vet. I started talking until finally Cathy had to ask me, "Who is this?". She couldn't even recognize the croak that was my voice. She literally said I sounded like a frog. She gave me some sound advice. I promised if I got worse to go to the ER. I gargled with hot salt water and felt a little better. And after work she saved my life. Despite drinking copious amounts of water, at least six or seven litres I was severely dehyrated. I had a raging infection, probably strep throat or a cousin, and a fever of over 103. Baby, I know I'm hot, but I was burning up.
After treatment and a few painkillers, I felt well enough in a few hours to let my dogs out to take a piss. You know, open the front door, pee on a shrub and come right back. No need for a leash right? Hell, I've done it several thousand times.
The skunk, all six and half inches of her with a twelve inch tail, was waiting for them. The skunk bolted for safety and Cactus Jack and Panhandle Slim were yelping and whining and doing a strange dance of "bury my face in the grass". The skunk was running straight for me and I was leaping and cavorting about the yard like a mad Cossack. In seconds I was drenched in sweat and the stench of fear and the stink of my wounded puppies.
My Gawd, you can not imagine the smell, the absolute stench. It made you gag. Your eyes water. Literally. The dogs were in agony, I was in agony, my neighbors began pouring out of the building. That is quite the little sulphur compound up the ass of a skunk let me tell you.
Someone mistook the skunk smell for a gas leak and called the fire department. I kid you not. I picked up the dogs and carried their whimpering little bodies into the bathroom and left them in the bathtub.
What were the chances of having a Vet on the premises? Thank God.
The Fire Dept. showed up. Nice guys. They quickly realized that our building has no gas appliances. Vet Cathy and i told them what happened. I had to lean against the wall to keep from passing out.
Next stop, Safeway, where we cleaned them out of hydrogen peroxide. Literally. I wandered the grocery store isles, high on antibiotics and a mittful of pain-killers and every once in a while would have to hang on to something to keep from falling over...
Recipe for getting skunk smell off of dogs? Two litres of hydrogen peroxide, a quarter cup of baking soda and two tablespoons of liquid dish detergent. Under no circumstances try to use water on skunk spray - it will only make it worse.
Plus, both boys had been sprayed in the eyes, so we had to get an eye-flush kit and eye drops to reduce inflamation and swelling.
Did I mention this all happened after ten at night?
Next stop, beer and wine store. Liberally gave away bottles of twenty dollar Yellow Tail Shiraz to all my neighbors on the front of the building.
Washed dogs and sprayed my apartment until after one in the morning. Burned fifteen sticks of incense. Went through abottle of Febreeze de-odorizer. Still reeks of a small stinky forest creature. Did I ever mention how much I love Mother Nature. Vindictive Bitch...
By now it was close to three in the morning and i was ready to pass out.
Cost of medical supplies - $64.57
Cost of cleaning supplies - $34.89
Cost of wine - $92.75
Cost of towels that will have to be burned - $50.00
Cost of an experience like this? PRICELESS!
I tried to keep the boys locked up in their little kennel in my office. I just couldn't imagine letting them sleep with me. But two seconds of hearing them whimpering and I just said fuck it. Hey, we all stink anyways.
This is what it must be like if Salvador Dali runs the Second Circle of Hell. Surreal.
Had a lovely slice of pizza, or two, or three (I confess I have let my weight get back up to 194) - the best pizza in Vancoucouver at the Flying Wedge - even if you were counting the Top Ten in Vancouver, Patrick and Justin - and a nice long chat afterwards with Seymour and two more brand new running buddies I've gained over the course of the last marathon clinic.
Actually I'm amazed that Rob and Kevin still talk to me, at least socially. I immediately recognized them as a couple of superior athletes right off the bat five months ago. I might not be able to run a lick myself, but I do know talent. And!, they're in the SAME peer group as me (guys over forty) - thank Gawd someone my own age to run with! - and just as or even faster. Kevin needs a 3:20 to qualify for Boston and he lost about twenty pounds over the course of the clinic and ran a beautiful, superbly strategized 3:29. He'll do it no problem in his second marathon, conditions and marathon Gods willing. I felt like a proud older brother. Had to, these guys are too old to play my children! Rob, same vintage as me, needs a 3:30 and ran a 3:36 in his very first marathon...
Even these guys would be the first to admit they were and are hard-chargers. You have to love marathoners, but in the same breath, admit they can drive you a little crazy... I prefaced EVERY word of advice I gave them over four months by say, "I did the same thing myself once and this is what happened..." Stress, recovery, stress, recovery. recovery, recovery, recovery....
Don't credit too much of their success to me, these guys were smart enough to read some of the information I sent them and actually listened to what I said in technical terms. I am willing to bet all comers that if the weather and conditions hold, these guys will be in Boston next year.
Anyways, a lovely dinner that was running related that is my long-winded way of getting to two days of Hell...
But I have not even mentioned that I think I have two potential sub-three guys, and one who at 24 might even in a few years be good enough to do a 2:45 - or better. Shoulda been a coach...
After suffering through chemo-therapy for skin cancer last year I have been wearing 60 Sunblock, hats and keeping out of the direct mid-day sun if I can. I volunteered to help a friend on his farm Thursday. To put in fence-posts and gates after he had been robbed. Required operating a huge powered auger. That's the thing that makes holes in the ground...
Went out to Tom's farm. NOTE: Woke up with a slight sore throat. Despite 60 sunblock and the hat and being covered up head to toe - by three in the afternoon thought I might be suffering heat stroke. Was light-headed and nauseous and had a splitting headache. Had to lie down and soak my head in wet towels. I've had it - heat stroke - before and that makes you more susceptible to getting it again. An hour later I felt well enough to help Tom finish installing the gates. All in all it was still a twelve hour day... But the fences and gates looked magnificent. A showcase farm.
Yesterday - Friday. Woke up at the crack of dawn unable to swallow and with my throat in incredible pain. Felt like I had been eating my Reidel crystal all night long...
Had to take blistering hot showers to fight off the chills. Sweat-soaked sheets had to be changed a couple of times. I was light-headed and fell in the shower. Fell again when I got up out of bed. Rest of the time I was freezing and shivering to the point of convulsing under four quilts. My throat started closing up, swelling and making it agonizing to talk. Or even drink water.
My little dogs must have thought I was dying. They both perched by my head, giving me sympathetic licks on the forehead. Hell, I thought I was dying.
By Noon I thought I'd have to call in re-inforcements. My regular doctor was at his second practice in Kamloops and out of town. Thought I would just tough it out. But I was in really rough shape. When I could breath I started calling around to friends because I didn't think I could safely drive to a clinic myself.
We live in a strange age of cell phones, e-mails and not so instant as we would like to think communication.... Actually couldn't get hold of anyone. Not one person. In desperation I called a dear, dear, lovely friend who is a Veternarian. I knew she couldn't leave her surgery but I thought I'd get some medical advice... Hey, I'm as close to a monkey as you'll get on the evolutionary ladder.
After ten weeks with my father in the hospital, I just couldn't IMAGINE sitting in an ER for six hours to be told I had a sore throat and to go home. And I didn't want to call a Cab or, God forbid, an ambulance unless there was a good chance I was going to die.
By the way, I have a first-aide kit for my car, for my running pack, for camping and a heavy duty- Muther-Trucker for expeditions. But no thermometer!?! Is this because I have no kids?
So I called my friend the Vet. I started talking until finally Cathy had to ask me, "Who is this?". She couldn't even recognize the croak that was my voice. She literally said I sounded like a frog. She gave me some sound advice. I promised if I got worse to go to the ER. I gargled with hot salt water and felt a little better. And after work she saved my life. Despite drinking copious amounts of water, at least six or seven litres I was severely dehyrated. I had a raging infection, probably strep throat or a cousin, and a fever of over 103. Baby, I know I'm hot, but I was burning up.
After treatment and a few painkillers, I felt well enough in a few hours to let my dogs out to take a piss. You know, open the front door, pee on a shrub and come right back. No need for a leash right? Hell, I've done it several thousand times.
The skunk, all six and half inches of her with a twelve inch tail, was waiting for them. The skunk bolted for safety and Cactus Jack and Panhandle Slim were yelping and whining and doing a strange dance of "bury my face in the grass". The skunk was running straight for me and I was leaping and cavorting about the yard like a mad Cossack. In seconds I was drenched in sweat and the stench of fear and the stink of my wounded puppies.
My Gawd, you can not imagine the smell, the absolute stench. It made you gag. Your eyes water. Literally. The dogs were in agony, I was in agony, my neighbors began pouring out of the building. That is quite the little sulphur compound up the ass of a skunk let me tell you.
Someone mistook the skunk smell for a gas leak and called the fire department. I kid you not. I picked up the dogs and carried their whimpering little bodies into the bathroom and left them in the bathtub.
What were the chances of having a Vet on the premises? Thank God.
The Fire Dept. showed up. Nice guys. They quickly realized that our building has no gas appliances. Vet Cathy and i told them what happened. I had to lean against the wall to keep from passing out.
Next stop, Safeway, where we cleaned them out of hydrogen peroxide. Literally. I wandered the grocery store isles, high on antibiotics and a mittful of pain-killers and every once in a while would have to hang on to something to keep from falling over...
Recipe for getting skunk smell off of dogs? Two litres of hydrogen peroxide, a quarter cup of baking soda and two tablespoons of liquid dish detergent. Under no circumstances try to use water on skunk spray - it will only make it worse.
Plus, both boys had been sprayed in the eyes, so we had to get an eye-flush kit and eye drops to reduce inflamation and swelling.
Did I mention this all happened after ten at night?
Next stop, beer and wine store. Liberally gave away bottles of twenty dollar Yellow Tail Shiraz to all my neighbors on the front of the building.
Washed dogs and sprayed my apartment until after one in the morning. Burned fifteen sticks of incense. Went through abottle of Febreeze de-odorizer. Still reeks of a small stinky forest creature. Did I ever mention how much I love Mother Nature. Vindictive Bitch...
By now it was close to three in the morning and i was ready to pass out.
Cost of medical supplies - $64.57
Cost of cleaning supplies - $34.89
Cost of wine - $92.75
Cost of towels that will have to be burned - $50.00
Cost of an experience like this? PRICELESS!
I tried to keep the boys locked up in their little kennel in my office. I just couldn't imagine letting them sleep with me. But two seconds of hearing them whimpering and I just said fuck it. Hey, we all stink anyways.
This is what it must be like if Salvador Dali runs the Second Circle of Hell. Surreal.
posted by Vince Hemingson at 8:46 AM
3 Comments:
You're that sure your decent will stop at only the second circle of Hell?
My good friend Justin - he who is still attempting to qualify for Boston, mind you - was giving me a little grief about the last post...
I was reading that earlier. How's the smell in the apartment? I'm waiting for your response to that comment:
"You're that sure your decent will stop at only the second circle of Hell?"
:-)
Of course the Second Circle of Hell is reserved for those guilty of Lust, of which I am now and shall forever be guilty. I am descending to at LEAST the Second Circle.
Now, the Third Circle of Hell is reserved for Gluttons, but because I have now run over twenty marathons and assorted ultramarathons, the gluttony of which I am almost certainly guilty can I think be convincingly argued as merely feeding the running machine that is Vince Hemingson...
As for the other Circles, I cringe...
Who said I was attempting to qualify for Boston? I'm quite content with my mediocrity. I'll be hanging out beneath the mud down in the 5th circle. :-)
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