One Month Away

It has been a long, long break since my last post. So I will try and summarize what has been going on.

I first got diagnosed with "fat pad impingement." I got a second opinion and that doctor says it was "ITB Syndrome." Either way, they are practically the same injury. Swelling caused by overuse. So I did lots of PT and took anti inflammatories and I am ready to go! I still get sore so its all about staying ahead of the pain...icing every time I get a chance...lifting my quads and stretching.

The training group has started to pick up the pace. We are doing 6 mile runs (race distance), 1 mile swims (also race distance) and BRICKS (Bike then run). We also did a swim/run in Coney Island. We got our wetsuits and we practiced open water swimming and then right into running on the boardwalk. It was very interesting to see Coney Island now and compare it to the place where my parents talk about visiting when they were growing up.




(That's me eating a Nathan's hot dog at 10am after swimming and running at the original Nathan's)

Still nothing on the job front, but I'm hoping something will pan out soon enough. Time will tell.. In the meantime, my golf game has benefited tremendously.

Again, thank you everyone for donating. It really has been amazing. I have been able to raise more money than most, faster than most, and for that I am really grateful to all my friends and family.

Back in the Bicycle Seat

My 3 week hiatus is just about over. My "Fat Pad" injury is on the mend. The swelling has gone way down and I can walk almost pain free. I am not quite at the sprinting level, but I am able to swim without problem and I am going to try to bike/run for a short distance today.




On the work front - I have vacillated, pondered, and deliberated. I have opened the metaphorical door to any and all opportunities that arise, whether they be finance or otherwise. I have decided to take the GMATs, though, so I have the option of school for the next few years if I decide to go that route. In the meantime, I have been eating books.




I will leave you with a picture from Diamond's going away party. A Diamond event for the ages.

Trials & Tribulations continued

It has been a challenging few weeks on a few fronts. Unfortunately, I was laid off from the Bank of Dimon two weeks ago as they shuttered the FAST group and my knee has not shown any significant signs of improvement. The plan of attack is to think long and hard about what is the best next step for my career ( CDOs..maybe not so much) and the upcoming triathlon. I have been doing physical therapy 2x a week and just finished the anti inflammatory meds. I am discussing getting a cortizone shot with the doc to assuage the swelling and expediate the recovery process. We shall see...

On a great note, I have reached the $5,000 landmark and its all because of you guys/gals. Thanks a million times. I reached the LLS defined goal before their "Recommitment Date" and I don't have to put up any money to meet it because you guys/gals are great.

I am going to report back with great news shortly about jobs and training.

Eric

Trials & Tribulations

There is no shortage of obstacles here. I went to the swim on monday night and got my butt kicked and embarrased as usual. I wake up Tuesday morning at 5:45 am, and wait for Zach. Of course the big hairy beast was probably doing this...



..and he slept through his alarm. So I decide to hit up the YMCA ( I just joined the Y and cancelled the NYSC membership. The Y has a pool and bball). I rode the stationary bike for 30 min. At some point after I got off and walked to work, I noticed a really sharp pain in my left knee. This pain persisted for the next couple days and it is worse than any bump or bruise I've ever had previously. I can't even walk , I have to limp, because any pressure causes real pain.



So I went to a knee doctor ( Dr.Jordan Metzl, it was a stroke of luck, I took whatever doc had an appt on Good Friday, but this guy has done 4 ironmans so he really knows whats up - http://www.drjordanmetzl.com/ ).




I have whats called a "Fat Pad Impingement" - It is basically an irritation of the tissue between my patella in my knee and my thigh bone. It can be caused by wear and tear or constant extension and contraction. The doc thinks I got it from the bike and not having the seat in the proper position.




See a description here - http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/knee/fat-pad-impingement.htm




So I cant really do much right now, which is really disappointing with the weather getting better. I am on anti-immflamatory meds and physical therapy for a month. I am going to try and swim with a buoy in between my legs for the next week and see where I am at. I really have to capitalize on this training time so this is notttt good.




Otherwise, I am doing the PT, taking the meds, stretching, and doing the core strength work.



Check out this link to see a course/race overview - its really cool -




http://www.nyctri.com/Event_Info/Course/RCN_High_Speed_Course_Tour.htm






Thanks for reading, come back soon.

Weekend in Ann Arbor Sets Me Back Five Years

It was a wild weekend in Ann Arbor. It looked like this....

and this....

and this....

Great time on all the old stomping grounds (Zingermann's, No Thai, Skeeps, Stonebridge Golf, No Thai again, Skeeps again, Greeks(don't even ask), Rendezvous Cafe, Cafe Ambrosia, DTW, Charley's, PinBall Pete's, Pancheros, NYPD, the list goes on...Monday AM was not easy...

I am officially the worst swimmer in all of triathlon world.

Monday Night Swim @ Asphalt Green -

First I am kindly told to switch from the intermediate lanes to the beginner lanes by one of the coaches. Then, another coach is so flabbergasted by my seemingly lackluster swimming stroke that he makes me swim with a buoy in between my legs next to the rest of the "beginning" swimmers so I could isolate my arms and perfect my stroke. Well, it didn't work. He then stops the whole lot, say 50 people, and proceeds to advise me that he has never seen anything like it. Whoever taught me how to swim did a terrible job. Finally, at the end of the practice, he makes me use a kickboard (think 5 years old) and practice bringing my arms to the front and keeping them parallel through my stroke. It wasn't a great start to the week....

...All of that after getting all new gear at JackRabbit. Great Store - they fit you for running sneakers on the treadmill and they have all the gels, spandex, crazy expensive and over complicated GPS watches any triathlete could want.

Firts Bike GTS in Central Park this weekend ....going to try and take it easy also as I am deeming April , "Re-Dedication" Month. I need to get in shape and get started if I want to make it in a few months. Will post more in a few days...really tired and need to get 45 min on the bike tomorrow.

News and Notes:

Congrats to Diamond for getting into Med School - He'll be shipping off to the Caribbean in a few weeks - no golf on the island - it doesn't bode well for him on that front.....Team Ramaz "One Left" didn't bring their A game for the playoffs. After going 10-1 in the regular season and earning a bye in the first round of the playoffs, the squad didn't bring it at 101 and Amsterdam. It was a pathetic showing...good thing we get another shot next week.....Golf in Ann Arbor was treacherous, I have a lot of work to do....thanks to all my friends who keep donating, you guys are "unreallll" in the words of Rog.....I earned the nickname "burns" for my lack of....burns.....if I ever see that haircut guy again......

The Weather Won't Cooperate Yet

The weather won't warm up, even though its spring. We have Monday night swims at Asphalt Green on 91st and York - this cold weather makes the prospect of jumping in a pool at 9:30pm pretty...cold. But I have to make it to the swims. Last night, one of the tri coaches told me he has never seen anything like my swimming stroke, and it seems like hes been coaching for a long time. "Apparently", once you "scull" with your right arm (see root of "scull" from dictionary.com : an oar mounted on a fulcrum at the stern of a small boat and moved from side to side to propel the boat forward) , your left arm should be right behind. And "allegedly", I scull with my right and then just float for a couple seconds, and then scull with my left. No wonder I'm always last. He said I improved at the end, but I'm pretty sure he was just trying to assuage my ego.

I haven't made it to many of the GTS(group training sessions) this past week because it has been hectic at work and otherwise. It was my birthday on Saturday so that really inhibited pretty much anything productive for Sunday - it was a blast though, I think (see proof below)...(Ram.Roasted.Boom), thanks for coming to chill everyone.

Zach "Size 17s" Lamberg keeps making me run early in the AM. We're both making trips in the time machine to Emory and Michigan respectively this weekend so we had to get in some exercising "so we can be the best exercisers." The kid insists on wearing shorts when its 20 degrees at 6 am..not for me, I got the under armour, hat, gloves, etc. We're logging runs in the 5 to 7 mile range -48th down to 23rd...up to the east river entrance on 59th st bridge...up to 72 / 80th st...across to park and back down to 48th / 23rd. See classic Lamberg pic below. I have a plethora of these babies, so I'll try spread them out over the next few months.

News and Notes:

Took in the Nets v. Knicks Game with Nets fan club president Robbie Natelson, Dan "tri-angulate" Joels, and Dave "I dont write funny emails any more because I have a long commute to my new J-O-B" Miller and it was a thorough beating.....Shout out to Courtney Sims...Breaking News, Knicks are signing Michael Bresabrasow Melnitzky next.....Team One Left dominated Urban Professionals AGAIN last week - the outlook was dim for the opponent once they saw big Jake tear off his Jordan warmups...it was a 73-45 romping..Solid play all around - No subs..Trencher sent the tone falling harder than Robbie Natelson, Spira made some spectacular passes to Jake who was putting on his standard clinic, and Joels dominated the post with left, right baby hooks that would make Elgin Baylor blush.......had a little Strip House dinner with the family for the bday - 2 observations, (1) the goose fat potatoes are over-hyped and (2) River Palm is still way better

Grandma Selma

This picture is from my parents wedding - 1976