Gazelles On Crack Rotating Header Image

advice

Google Search Term of the Day

Aug 5th, 2011
by gazelle.
3 comments

Yesterday, someone got to my blog by googling: “How to hang out with stupid people.”

My first reaction: “Why would you want to?”

I prefer to avoid dolts, and in fact, none of my friends are even a tiny bit imbecilic! It’s great!

However, maybe you have no choice. Maybe a close friend is dating an idiot, or you’re related to a dummy and you’re forced to sit next to them at Thanksgiving. Maybe you’re cursed with an asinine co-worker.

Well, that is a different answer. It is true that sometimes we cannot avoid the brainless. However, it is also true that for every clever person out there, there is another even keener person who thinks the former is simpleminded.

I tend to believe I am fairly intelligent. I did well in school. I learn new tasks at work fairly quickly. I am well-read and know something about a wide variety of subjects.

I have friends who definitely surpass me intellectually…*ahem*Brian*ahem*…and he seems to be okay hanging out with me in limited quantities. Perhaps I should ask him for his secrets. I have also talked to people that initially seemed obtuse, but once the conversation moved around to something they were familiar with, they surprised me.

Just because you think someone is a dullard, doesn’t mean they are. They may know a lot about something you don’t, and you just haven’t discovered it yet.

So – take some time and ask the perceived moron some questions about what they’re interested in and what they do for fun. They may reveal an amazing amount of knowledge about something you know little about, enriching your intellectual storehouse and your pool of acute acquaintances.

However, if they are truly cretinous, then just smile, nod, make agreeable noises, plot your escape, and think of blond vampires. Works for me every time.

 

 

Serious Post: Advice Needed

Aug 20th, 2009
by gazelle.
5 comments

I received an email from a friend who has been dealing with an injury/chronic pain condition for almost two years now. (Holy crap! Has it really been almost 2 years!)

She originally thought she’d pulled an oblique muscle, and was having a lot of pain in the oblique area that seemed to get worse when she would do such crazy things as run, walk, yoga, pilates, etc. Before you say, “see a doctor!” I want to let you know that she has seen more than just the one. Also a naturopath/acupuncturist, chiropractor, physical therapist, and a voodoo practicitioner (actually, that last one is probably made up on my part – if she’s tried some kind of voodoo, I’m not aware of it).

The pain has not stayed in the same place – it moves around. To her hip, or her other regions of the body, or Aruba (but it never stays in Aruba).  Recently, as a result of her most recent MRI, it was determined by the MRI reader that she has a labral tear. The doctor wants to do a diagnostic arthroscopy and surgery.

My friend was hoping that one of you crazy runner people out there has experienced a moving pain like this and/or has had this kind of arthroscopic procedure and can offer some words of wisdom/comfort/advice.

I don’t want to reveal a lot of details about her or the reasons why she’s trying to decide if it’s worth it to have the surgery now (with the resulting with intensive PT, 2x/week for one hour each time for 3 months) or wait another  6-12 months, but this is a decision she’s going to have to make fairly soon.

So – wise & helpful internets – what say you? Have you had a weird yet super painful injury like this? Have you had arthroscopic surgery? Would you do it now, even though that might mean a huge, stressful upheaval in an already stressed & upheaved life? Would you wait until you were less situationally anxious but deal with the (already 2 years of) pain for another year?

Please help a fellow runner out, so she can run pain-free again. Thanks in advance! You guys are the awesomest.

Quick Question – Advice Please!

May 21st, 2009
by gazelle.
11 comments

I ran Tuesday morning (3.5 miles) and this morning (4.5 miles). Both runs were HARD. My legs feel like lead – so heavy & slow. This morning, my pace was about 12 minute miles, which is sloooooooowwwww for me on a level course (even my first mile, which is mostly downhill, clocked in at 11 minutes).

And now for the question, in two parts

1. Do you think this lead-legs is from a) the increase in other activities in the last week (biking + swimming), b) the fact that I ran my ass off in a half-marathon just under two weeks ago, or c) something else altogether

and

2. Since I do have a 20K trail race Sunday that I would like to finish without wanting to kill myself at the end, what do you think I should do with the next few days leading up to the race? I had planned

Today: morning run (done) & afternoon yoga
Friday: 6 mile run to & from pool, with swimming (about 1500 yds)
Saturday: 10 mile bike ride

I’m not worried about racing the 20K – it’s my first at that distance (so automatic PR) and it’s a trail race, so my goal was just to finish strong & have fun. But, since my 4.5 miles this morning sucked pretty hard, I’m not sure at this point that I could finish strong & happy….thoughts? advice?

Thanks in advance (brew review & corn chronicles this afternoon).

This week = FAIL!

May 6th, 2009
by gazelle.
8 comments

I think I will move porn to Fridays – less mid-week pressure, and plus how better to spend my days off than looking at shoes!

So, now we need a new Wednesday theme. How about ‘excuses for why Amy isn’t exercising this week?’ Good, no?

So far I have:

1. Monday I had to console the architect by taking him out for drinks & greasy bar food

2. Tuesday I woke up with a pain in the neck. I assumed it was just from sleeping weird & it would eventually go away. By Tuesday afternoon, I had pain radiating down my right shoulder area into my mid-back & up my neck into my head. Driving home (yay! driving! my new parking spot has cut my commute time from an average of 90 minutes in the morning & 2 hours in the evening to about 35-40 minutes door-to-door) was really hard, what with my desire to turn my head being thwarted by my inability to turn my head. So I did what any dedicated fitness buff in her first week of tri-athlon training and a half marathon on Saturday would do – I stopped on my way home & picked up a bottle of wine.

3. Wednesday morning I was still unable to turn my head comfortably, so I did not swim, since the only stroke I know is the freestyle & if I remember correctly (I haven’t been in the pool since FEBRUARY!) there was some head turning involved with that.

4. Wednesday afternoon is supposed to be my first bike ride of my tri- training. I think I can do this if I wear my regular shoes & pretend my bike has regular pedals. BUT, should I run instead? Should I do both? I am planning on running tomorrow before my yoga class – which I will not skip – it is already paid for. (Even if the instructor has not yet cashed my check almost THREE WEEKS LATER – does that drive anyone else crazy? just me?)

I have my first half of the season (and, to be honest, my second ever) on Saturday. I ran the same course last year & I really, really want to PR. A LOT. I will be running another half on 7/4 on a flat course, so this isn’t my last shot at a sub 2:15, but I really want it. What do I do? I am planning on calling the magic chiropractor tomorrow if it isn’t better, but I feel like I may have some kind of nerve pinching thing going on.

Advice?