Isabel

This is my cousin Isabel.
We are almost the same age (generation X in its purest form) and we were born in the same godforsaken place
She just turned 30 and for that and many other reasons she gets her own shiny post. Somebody (the closest to my heart) described her as warm, funny and welcoming.
I am looking forward to seeing her this weekend and giving her a hug.

Insomnia, that old friend

It just came to me. It has been several months since.

I have not posted since completing the race and now I am thnking (just because I am sleepy now, the missing i represents the quality of my thought process, so I will not add it) about moving the blog to a new spot.

What to talk about? A new race? More photos? Travel? Work? Books? FOOD? Maybe all of it.

These tulips were a welcoming present... she's back! :)

4h 25 min

Ok, so I am not the fastest. But it is done. And I am happy.

My feet did give me a hard time, particularly after mile 20.

Will post a picture of them when they recover a little bit.

Thanks to the crowd, they were at several parts of the course: Evi, Arianna (Mom), Leo (Dad), Ariannina, Angie, Isabel and Josh (who ran and had a great sign). And then for dealing for my post rece crankiness which was not a little thing.

I have some contributors to thank, you made this possible, I will try and put them in order of appearance:

- Francisco Prieto

- Raimundo De Solminihac

- Tyler Cymet

- Arianna Montalbetti

- Gilda Montalbetti

- Bruno Montalbetti

- Bruna Montalbetti

- Franco Montalbetti

- Hortensia Nuñez

- Monica Bravo

- Beatriz Jabat

- Arianna Caimi

- Andres Schultz

- Hernan Aguirre

- Isabel Munilla

Of course, my knees are remindidng me every minute of their work. But I think I will ice them to thank them.

Insisting on autumn

Autumn, continued

The season we're in

I am still not used to having autumn in the end of the year. I am also not used to the amount of color that you get here. Kind of a cheerfully sad welcoming of the desolation of winter.

Of course, running is so much easier at civilized temperatures.

The light was good yesterday, just before the rain came. So took some pics.

A small wedding gift

They are ready, just like my feet.
For a first big step.
Again, just like my feet.

Ahead, a long journey
Support and company
Respect and endurance
Love and tolerance

Lots of happiness
Many hugs.

Note: The photo above is temporary T & G will send me the real thing -their feet's picture- soon.

Cold

Not posted for a while.
Guess I have been busy.
Had some good memories to store. And others came.
In any case I cought up with some older photos and decided to meke some prints, so after cropping, editing and doubting, decided on this one.

Will probably give a copy to Gary K. as a farewell gift. I am sure he will have fun and enjoy his patients anywhere he goes.

Maybe because it's getting cold, maybe because I've thought about the winter, and cold in general. I am looking forward to it, and maybe running in the snow. I wonder if it is hard. I bet it is.

Regards to those I haven't seen.

Feliz cumpleaños atrasado, Trini!

Stop and smell the roses?

Everybody else seems to be doing so.

May not be roses, but something may it be. It could be someone that smells like a whole continent, or else a whole garden.

Another contributor

Not only a contributor,
but a supporter.
A pal to the author
and a sister.

"The little one"
as she was called
in endearing tone
just now told.

It was really great having you here.

14 Solo

Group running is a lot of fun, but doing it on your own has its rewards.

You get your music, look at what you want, take your time or your speed, keep your silly thoughts (well, OK, your thoughts may not be silly, mine absolutely are) to yourself.

Best of all, you don't have to share the Gatorade!

My feet are hurting somewhat. The Superfeet work, but I think custom orthotics are in my future.

All Done!

Yeah!

This picture, though out of focus, shows it.

This is how it feels.

I am ready to learn new stuff, but I may have to make some space in my head. Will have to decide what to forget.

Φιλάκια (another borrowed word, but then, aren't they all?)

Out Tomorrow

Gone fishing
For answers, that is.

Wish me luck.

The only thing I know for sure:

I will return as a Zombie.

Well, maybe I have been one all along :)

(Not socratic but realistic)

Cynical

You Are 80% Cynical

You're a full blown cynic... and probably even skeptical of these results. You have your optimistic moments, but most likely you keep them to yourself.

How Cynical Are You?

A little island

OK. For work reasons I won't go into details. (Not that many people at work look at this blog, or that I have told them about it. This way they can be badmouthed with impunity)


If you know your geography, you know your geography :)

Plagiarism

This photo is not mine. It's my sister's.

She left and saw this on her way back. Sometimes the vacations have something reserved at the end.

It was great having her here. My studying went down the drain, and it was totally worth it.

My mileage has been increased, I will be running 14 miles tomorrow. Hopefully no CPR will be needed. I have been pre-hydrating as if it worked.

I have new feet to show, but have do some retouching before uploading.

Vero: Gracias. Te escribo un correo pronto. Estoy a punto de dar mi examen de especialidad y he estado un poco ingrato

Metropolitan Run

I was in New York a last week.

Since I had to complete 12 miles for my long run, went to Central Park to do it. Full of people, running, walking, skating, cycling, etc. Really a summary of how diverse and massive that place is.

The circuit offered pretty good views of the city, which were probably improved by the early morning lights (there was no way of running later, in 90 degree weather - 30 degrees in the more civilized and less separatist Celcius scale).


My feet took the 120 minute pounding pretty well, though they did hurt by the end of the day, after maybe another 10k walking and museum visiting.

My sister came along, we laughed a lot and left our soles (but not our souls) in the museums. (Mine is still at the Musee D'Orsay).

My perception of the big city changed a lot. Maybe it was the weather, maybe it was the company, more to follow.

Torture

This submission I received
Real torture for your feet
If deformity is perceived
A way to make them neat?

(Disclaimer: do not try this at home, significant risks of infection and plain old pain exist.)

Ari plus MetaTarsal

She is here.

Can you tell that together we are dynamite?
She came loaded with chocolates and a book that I plan to start reading within the next half hour :)

Soon we will be talking in code again, and cracking up about it!

Weirdo

You Are 50% Weird

Normal enough to know that you're weird... But too damn weird to do anything about it!

How Weird Are You?

This was an underestimate, by all means! (I should have known better)

Rain Run Fun

Should have known it was coming. This picture is right before leaving home.

Realized what I had gotten into only when I was a couple of miles away from home. Too late, too far away.

Great lighning and an amazing downpour. The drops came down really hard. And there wasn't anywhere to take cover.

So I got completely soaked. It felt great!

I hadn't melted by the time I got home. So I guess I am not made of sugar (that is a borrowed phrase :)

I may try it again.

Selling your soul

Is not as hard as you may think, because you don't realize you have done it until you are handing the receipt.

But I will be an optimist (this time) and think that you can buy it back.

The good part of it is that you set the price. The bad thing is that if you get the price wrong and you may be actually selling it again. Kind of a second mortgage.

How many mortgages do you have? I am counting mine.

Back on track!

Finally.

It took a visit to the orthopad (medical slang for orthopedist), and a lot of reassurance (from me to my foot) to restart.

Plus I have been busy with other stuff, and feeling the pressure of not training exactly as I would have liked.

In any case, had a nice 2 miler without pain today, and maybe will do a bit more in a couple of days.

Took some nice photos around the neighborhood after the rain subsided. Will post them after some editing in a couple of days.

Missing the cable

For the first time in almost a year I have missed having cable.

I am not a big soccer fan. But the world cup I watch. Not as a follower of any national team, though.

Maybe when I move to my new place I will get it, just to watch the final phases. In the meatime Calvino keeps me entertained.

The reason behind double blind

"Expectations determine outcome.

People find what they expect they will find."

Consistently inconsistent.

So I have not posted for a few days.

As I said, I have been busy at work. Plus, other stuff has been going on that has taken time out of thinking time.

Today (as all partially or complete sedentary humans do) I did some thinking as I drove home. Sun was hitting sideways, but it was not too hot. So, eventhough what I was thinking about was not completely pleasant, I kind of enjoyed it.

We all have our inconsistencies. And most of the time it is surprising, like heroic cowards, obtuse smarties or inconsiderate kind people. Is it because of a law of balances? Are we bound to have one defect coupled with an asset?

Maybe it is just that I have been overexposed to some of these incongruences lately. But I am looking for the most notable of these in myself. It may be a good exercise.

Off running

So my left foot is much better. I sould know by the end of the week when I'll be able to run again.
Doing other stuff (swimming or rowing) is helpful, but boring. Plus, with rowing, your butt aches (no photos, for the benefit of the reader).

Still, the last few days have been full of activity, as work has changed a lot. Some of it is fun, much of it is BS.

No photos today

Because not everything is for them to keep.

Would it be too much?

If I put these pictures in my bathroom.

Maybe whatever you put in the bathroom should be out of context, like pictures of nice beaches, birds, fish, or stuff like that.

These tend to feel too contextual, although they are nothing but my car's biannual shower.

Feet trouble

Maybe I jinxed myself, but my heel has been killing me for the last few days.

I cannot pinpoint what the pain is though I am thinking it may be some kind of tendinitis or maybe plantar fasceitis.

At this point, anything finishing in 'itis" would be better that something ending with "ture".

Well, come to think of it, and that applies to almost all situations, even those not related to lesions!

Tomorrow I'll try to speak with a doctor... or an orthopedist.

This ruins the plan of running the 5K on Saturday.

Sand! Paradise for footkind and hell for shoes.

The first image from a contributor!

These feet look pretty happy. They are young, and I am sure they feel a lot younger when they are on a beach like this. They look like they have been playing in wet sand for a while, and now they are taking a much deserved aeration with first row view of the ocean.

Where are they right now? They are warm, the envy of color-changing hands, likely walking down the halls of the pediatric floor in a certain hospital of Santiago, Chile; maybe kicking (deservedly, for sure) some resident's ass?

First Donations

I am up to $125. We'll see if the mails are effective.

Thanks to Francisco, the first contributor. He already told me he will be submitting a picture for the blog.

My ankle is recovered, but will do cross training the next couple of days to let it rest.

Maybe, if things go right and my left foot doesn't fall off by thursday, I will run a 5k on Saturday. It is also cancer related, so I will really try to go.

If the foot falls off, I'll take a lot of pictures.

Fundraising Messages Sent

Sent the fundraising email out today.

If you are coming referred by the link on my email.

• I thank your junk mail handler for not deleting my message.
• Thank you for not deleting my message.
• I hope you are not annoyed by me asking for money (it's for a decent productive cause, much better than spending it on gas).
• Please check the previous post Fundraising Idea to see what yo uget for making any donation.

First Group Run

Today was the first time I went to a group run. I enjoyed it a lot.

The trail we go to is really green and shaded, and reminds me even more of the south of Chile.

The group seemed very nice and relaxed.

The run was great, but towards the end I started having pain in my left ankle that has left me limping. So I guess no running for me for the next couple of days, maybe I will do something else, aka cross training.

Ice is my new best friend. What did people do before the age of refrigeration? I guess put something hot on it, withstand the pain, breath better air and then die from gastric cancer.

Note to self: Bring Camera and come early next time. Morning light will probably be great for pictures up there.

Zen running?

Today was a really stressful day. Just full of tension and conflict. Not even patient care issues.

At least I finished early, and went for a short run.

It really cleared me up, like turning off the stupidity of work and starting clean for a more productive rest of the day. Remembering to focus on things that I care about.

Now all I have to do is clear the mess at home :) Maybe I do not care that much about it.

I do not believe in spiritual stuff or in any religion or philosophy. But maybe it is that exercise just relaxes you. And when you are relaxed, you think better.

For many it may be just plain obvious. Not for me. I am happy to get this side-effect.

Car wash

I have always thought about getting out of the car when I am inside the car wash. Is it dangerous? I doubt it.
Maybe next time.

Paucity of ideas

I am somewhat blank. Well maybe I am bland too.

And since I have been writing a paper for the last 6 hours, bland mush is what would best describe the state my brain feels like. Plus, for some reason, my computer kept freezing every time I tried to open PubMed. Not good, since that forced me to put some "original" content.

Will try to get some sleep to stay semi conscious at work tomorrow, and hopefully run some in the afternoon.

Thinking of Jonathan Swift, I am going to bed. Explanations tomorrow.

Abrupt Monday weight loss: I found my scale!

Run a 3 miler today. Nothing much. Almost run over a couple of guys on the track, not because I was running fast, which I don't. And this time it wasn't people using walkers.

I just realized I broke the 200lb mark this week. Finally. I just found out today because the scale was beneath a pile of unread JAMAs and boxes I have in preparation for my move. The boxes I have for packing. Bought them at one of my favorite stores in the planet, just a warehouse with incredible amounts of boxes (www.abcboxes.com), and cheap!. The JAMAs I have to make a pire before I leave. I am making the list of things to throw in, and I am welcome to suggestions.

I have a couch to burn, but that special occasion requires meticulous preparation. Otherwise, to my aunt it will return.

Looking for new shoes online is not particulary easy, I will have to go to a store an try them on (duh). The new ASICS seem pretty nice. I hope they fit my overpronating feet!.

I found this: "drinking large amounts of beer the night before the race doesn't constitute "smart" carb-loading". Guess so. (I do not want to think about the headache)

No photos today.

Fundraising Idea

I have committed to raise 1800 dollars (at least) before the marathon. The go to the Lymphoma & Leukemia Society.

Again, if you want to donate, check the link on the right of your screen, right below my feet's profile.

I guess it could be more interesting. So this is my idea:

- For any contribution ($5 minimum) I will post a photo of your feet. You have to email it to funkymetatarsal@yahoo.com.

- For a contribution of $25 the photo can go with a biography or fiction, whatever you want.

- For a contribution of $50 I will take the photo of your feet, post it in the site, and send you a printed copy. There is a geographic limit to the Baltimore/Washington area.

- For a contribution of $100 I will post a photo of you or any part of your body. Decency limits are determined by me (and maybe Blogger). No biography if you want.

- For a contribution of $500 I will take that photo, and give you the prints.

- For a contribution of $1000 I will make you the best tiramisu my hands can make. Of course, plus the prints. :)

I guess I will get a lot of $5 contributions. They are all welcome!

Saturday Run

Went running in DC today. Just around the national mall to the Lincoln memorial.

The day was great, finally some sunshine. It reminded me of the summer in the South of Chile. Yeah, spring here is like summer there. Lots of rain, lots of intense light aternated with shiny shade when the sun hides behind the white clouds of sun of the day after the rain. And windy.

Perfect for runnning.

I went with my cousin Isabel. We both concluded we need new shoes. Had to stop because of foot issues, mainly avoidance of blisters.

Here is a picture of her left foot after the run. She was amazed at the veins. I looked at them with professional interest.

My feet are ready!

You've come here following the steps of my funny feet. They have inspired my hands (and also, intermittently, my brain) to create this space.

As you read on my email or my Team in Training page, I signed up to run the Marine Corps Marathon in October 29th, 2006.

My feet feel pretty proud of this task I have commited them to do. The legs are a bit jealous of all the attention, but well, sometimes it is good to give some praise to the bases and ignore the middle man.

Follow here the progress of my training, along with other details about running, training and feet (not only mine, of course, I don't want them to get too full of themselves).

If you want to make a donation to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, please visit http://www.active.com/donate/tntmd/tntmdPaoloF