Well, it’s around 5:30 pm here in Richmond, and it’s still 100° outside. I haven’t been posting much at all here or even to Flickr in the past few weeks. I wish I had a good excuse, but for right now, I’m just going to say that it’s because my brain is melting.
I’ve been suffering from some lower back problems for several months now, and the pain is getting bad enough that I’m looking for just about anything to help. I’m not big on taking heavy medication for that sort of thing (odd, given my wife’s chosen profession, huh?). I do have a great doctor, but even he was at a bit of a loss as to where the pain was coming from. He ruled out spinal problems as the root cause, which is good. However, he recommended seeing a physical therapist, which I have yet to do but plan to begin seeing one. In the meantime, I’ve been going to a weekly yoga class. It’s actually a pretty tough workout; all about balance and focus. Sounds easy, and the people who do yoga make it look easy enough. However, when you start trying to extend your arms out in front of you while sticking one let straight back behind you and balance on one foot all while remaining still and breathing slowing… well, it’s pretty tough, let me tell you.
I have been running, although not nearly as often as I did this time last year. Again, it’s hot as hell here and I really got burned out on running so much about a month prior to last year’s marathon. I’ve been just trying to maintain a fair level of endurance while also working on my speed and strength. I’ve been doing some hill workouts on Thursdays after work, although I nearly threw-up from the heat last week. After reading the article in this month’s Runner’s World on a young man who died of heat-related stress last summer over in Charlottesville, I’m going to pay special attention to not getting sick or dying out in the heat. I hope all of my friends and family out there be sure and look after themselves in this heat as well; it can be remarkably brutal on your body to exert yourself in it for very long.
On a related note, even though I tell people to save a few bucks on their energy bills by keeping the thermometer at 75° in the summer, make sure you’re not keeping it too high, there, cheapskate. None of this environmental stuff is worth cooking your brain over. A good idea is to get an electronic timer thermostat that will let the place warm up when you’re not around and cool it back down around the time you arrive home.
Well, our air conditioning is out currently and the high today is supposed to be 104° (without factoring the heat index in, which is more like 119° – no, seriously). Our biggest concern is the dogs, who don’t have cushy air-conditioned jobs. We’ve tried to get them boarded for the day, but no one had room. Currently, their doing their best under a ceiling fan in the most shaded part of the house. Angela’s going to try and check in on them at mid-day.
