December 2020 Monthly Running Challenge

Just got this! The word "FINISHER" is sticking out to me. May we all keep the right goals in focus, and finish well

Thanks everyone. I just skimmed all of your posts. Congrats and hugs to all who need them.

Yes, tragically, dad passed away yesterday afternoon. I was so glad that mom and I were able to be there with him. He never was able to respond to us again after Monday evening, but I think he could hear and knew we were there. I did play my Southern Gospel running playlist for him a couple of times and once he raised up one hand and was keeping time to the music. He really loved Southern Gospel and singing bass. I imagine he is now singing in some heavenly quartet and enjoying having the deepest voice imaginable.

Mom and dad were married for 63 years and together for 66, ever since she was 18. It's going to be really hard on her, as they did everything together!
I'll try to check in, but not sure how much. I just wanted you all to know. You really are true friends and I love you all.

rheddmobile wrote: »

quilteryoyo wrote: »

Thanks everyone. I just skimmed all of your posts. Congrats and hugs to all who need them.

Yes, tragically, dad passed away yesterday afternoon. I was so glad that mom and I were able to be there with him. He never was able to respond to us again after Monday evening, but I think he could hear and knew we were there. I did play my Southern Gospel running playlist for him a couple of times and once he raised up one hand and was keeping time to the music. He really loved Southern Gospel and singing bass. I imagine he is now singing in some heavenly quartet and enjoying having the deepest voice imaginable.

Mom and dad were married for 63 years and together for 66, ever since she was 18. It's going to be really hard on her, as they did everything together!

This picture was taken on Oct 14th. I love it because it shows dad's genuine smile. It was always hard to capture.

I'll try to check in, but not sure how much. I just wanted you all to know. You really are true friends and I love you all.

I’m so, so sorry. Happy that he was still enjoying his music up until the end and that you were with him.

It’s so typical of you to take time to read everyone’s posts and think about us, even at a time like this. As someone very lazy myself who loses track of what happened to who and thinks up replies sometimes but doesn’t post them I really appreciate that you are the person who always notices and has something to say to everyone - you put so much thought and love into your comments and I want you to know that we see it and appreciate it. It’s so unfair that this happened to you and your family and I wish I could do something to make things better. Praying for the peace which passes understanding to be upon you and your mom, with much love. Please take all the time you need.

This ^^^is EXACTLY what I was trying (and failing) to find the words to say. @quilteryoyo we love you and are hurting for you. If there's anything at all any of us can do, please, please tell us.

@quilteryoyo I'm so, so sorry to hear that.

I'm not sure if this is the right time or place to talk about this - ignore me if it's not appropriate.

In traditional Chinese culture, there's this thing called a "happy funeral" (Xi Sang), that's specially reserved for elderly folks who have enjoyed a long life and have a big family. Since this was really rare in the old days, these events were a great festivity and people would come over from far and wide to be part of the celebration. In many places, the family would set up a feast and pay for a Chinese Opera group to come perform, because they thought that having a life like that was something to celebrate, even though they would be missed.

In certain places, there is also an old custom of giving out ceramic bowls to the guests. These bowls usually ended up being used by children, because it was thought that they would pass on happiness and longevity.

Was planning on running my last 5k race of the year Saturday but it’s going to be rainy and the road we run is slick in the rain, so I don’t like running fast there when it’s wet. Sunday is supposed to be dry but chilly, I think we are doing it then, which will give us an extra rest day. Which I can use because my calf muscle is sore.

Sore calves always make me worry about blood clots but this feels exactly like the first few days of the time I ruptured my baker’s cyst, so unless blot clots feel exactly like ruptured baker’s cysts which would be really bad luck, I am thinking it’s the cyst. I ran with no knee brace behind Kroger and my knee is feeling a little spongy, so possibly the cyst has a slow leak. So far no swelling. When I ruptured it originally it didn’t swell at first, then on day 2 it blew up my whole lower leg. I’m hoping it’s not going to be a repeat of last time which basically took me out of running for six months. But I hope even more that it’s not a blood clot, which could kill me! And I am for sure not going near an ER right now to check. Read an article that TN is the worst per capita place for Covid in the entire world right now. Just going to the grocery and feed store has my husband terrified.

At least if it is the cyst I know what to do to minimize it this time - compression on lower leg, ice the knee, and take lots of aleve.

In addition to my little trot behind Kroger we ran 10k on the Greenline Wednesday. It was cold. I still don’t understand how people in places that get COLD cold manage to run. When I say it’s cold I mean Memphis cold, in the 30s. Running in the cold makes everything feel harder. My first mile felt like a ten minute mile and it was an eleven minute mile. The one upside to running in the cold here is that everyone in Memphis is an even bigger wussie than I am. We usually pass about twenty people on a 10k on the Greenline. We passed ONE other runner on our entire run and he made a big production of bowing and waving his hands in honor of our hardiness as we passed. We also passed a homeless dude on the way back to the car. He gestured at my husband and said, “Son, look at you freezing your *** out here on purpose.” Hoping he had somewhere to get in out of the cold.