Radiohead live from Reading festival. A class apart. Ran 8.25 Miles in 49 minutes and felt great. Knee was sore for about the last 8 minutes. I was glad to be done. New training plan, new goals, new ideas to come. Right now, this is what you get when you mess with us.......
Love Kel
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
It Means The End Begins
AM: 7.25 Miles, 43:07, Blvd.
PM: 80 Minutes Ride, 45 Min on Trainer 35 Min Outside
Tonight I enjoyed a few pints of Dogfish Head Ale at Abes. The company was excellent with Max Smith making an appearance and the Ancient Aged Advisor Jay Romasco. Abes has a really nice vibe and we ended up spending many hours discussing running and music. What else is there really? You know the night is good when the bartender plays Wolf Parade "Apologies To Queen Mary" as the background music. Where would you get it? One of the best albums I've heard and here it is ringing out around the empty pub while we get the scoops in. Fantastic.
From a training perspective the day was really good too. I ran an easy 7.25 in the AM and finished with a little lift in my stride. Max brought his bike in the afternoon so we could do a few hours but a couple of delays quashed any opportunity we had of getting in the long ride. We will have to wait for the weekend.
The big news of the day is that Blue Cross Blue Shield of New England has denied to pay for my surgery. I am not going to rant too much about it. Earlier on I was beyond upset. I had to listen to a lot of Amiina to get through the afternoon. They have a new EP out called Re Minore and it is beautiful. This kind of music mellows me out and encourages a more positive outlook.
According to the "experts" at BCBS of New England my Knee Surgery is not a medical necessity.
Services are denied because you did not meet the medical necessity criteria required for coverage of an osteochondral autograft transplantation because you did not have the symptoms of disabling localized knee pain for at least 6 months, which has failed to respond to conservative treatment. The size of the lesion is not documented to be between 1.5 and 2.5 cm squared in total area, the criterion used to guide the decision was BCBS of MA Policy #374 criteria; policy encolsed.
So what they are saying in lay terms is that because I can function in society, ride my bike, walk, swim, and even jog with average pain I do not qualify. My lesion is about 1cm so slightly smaller than the required minimum. Furthermore I am high risk based on the policy because I do not have an intact meniscus and I have "wear and tear from years of overuse". The doctor is one of the best and has made it clear that if I ever want to run at a high level again or if I want to compete in events such as the marathon I may have to get this procedure done or else I will be limited to using pain as a guide of how much I can run. Not being cocky but I am not the average person. I am a serious runner but there is no distinction and after a shouting match with a lady on the phone I was told that they make no distinction between serious athletes and regular sedentary persons. So I said, I could be an overweight, high risk patient who has a defect because I am fat and the surgery would be covered but because I am fit and very healthy I do not qualify. And she said that because I run so much I am considered high risk. So runners are basically considered the same as obese people in the eyes of the healthcare companies. Finally she said that I am more than welcome to pay for the operation if I deem it necessary. I think she was being condescending but I'll give her the beneift of the doubt. She was nice and was following rules. Think outside the box for 30 seconds? No, that would be too much to ask for.
I am going to follow up with the Doc tomorrow or Friday so I should have a new plan in place. Right now it is to start training and tolerate the pain. If the legion gets worse then maybe I'll get it covered. I ain't giving up hope.
I just got the new Asobi Seksu - Transparance. Looking forward to hearing it.
Here is some Amiina Live, with one of the tracks off the new EP.
Love Kel --
PM: 80 Minutes Ride, 45 Min on Trainer 35 Min Outside
Tonight I enjoyed a few pints of Dogfish Head Ale at Abes. The company was excellent with Max Smith making an appearance and the Ancient Aged Advisor Jay Romasco. Abes has a really nice vibe and we ended up spending many hours discussing running and music. What else is there really? You know the night is good when the bartender plays Wolf Parade "Apologies To Queen Mary" as the background music. Where would you get it? One of the best albums I've heard and here it is ringing out around the empty pub while we get the scoops in. Fantastic.
From a training perspective the day was really good too. I ran an easy 7.25 in the AM and finished with a little lift in my stride. Max brought his bike in the afternoon so we could do a few hours but a couple of delays quashed any opportunity we had of getting in the long ride. We will have to wait for the weekend.
The big news of the day is that Blue Cross Blue Shield of New England has denied to pay for my surgery. I am not going to rant too much about it. Earlier on I was beyond upset. I had to listen to a lot of Amiina to get through the afternoon. They have a new EP out called Re Minore and it is beautiful. This kind of music mellows me out and encourages a more positive outlook.
According to the "experts" at BCBS of New England my Knee Surgery is not a medical necessity.Services are denied because you did not meet the medical necessity criteria required for coverage of an osteochondral autograft transplantation because you did not have the symptoms of disabling localized knee pain for at least 6 months, which has failed to respond to conservative treatment. The size of the lesion is not documented to be between 1.5 and 2.5 cm squared in total area, the criterion used to guide the decision was BCBS of MA Policy #374 criteria; policy encolsed.
So what they are saying in lay terms is that because I can function in society, ride my bike, walk, swim, and even jog with average pain I do not qualify. My lesion is about 1cm so slightly smaller than the required minimum. Furthermore I am high risk based on the policy because I do not have an intact meniscus and I have "wear and tear from years of overuse". The doctor is one of the best and has made it clear that if I ever want to run at a high level again or if I want to compete in events such as the marathon I may have to get this procedure done or else I will be limited to using pain as a guide of how much I can run. Not being cocky but I am not the average person. I am a serious runner but there is no distinction and after a shouting match with a lady on the phone I was told that they make no distinction between serious athletes and regular sedentary persons. So I said, I could be an overweight, high risk patient who has a defect because I am fat and the surgery would be covered but because I am fit and very healthy I do not qualify. And she said that because I run so much I am considered high risk. So runners are basically considered the same as obese people in the eyes of the healthcare companies. Finally she said that I am more than welcome to pay for the operation if I deem it necessary. I think she was being condescending but I'll give her the beneift of the doubt. She was nice and was following rules. Think outside the box for 30 seconds? No, that would be too much to ask for.
I am going to follow up with the Doc tomorrow or Friday so I should have a new plan in place. Right now it is to start training and tolerate the pain. If the legion gets worse then maybe I'll get it covered. I ain't giving up hope.
I just got the new Asobi Seksu - Transparance. Looking forward to hearing it.
Here is some Amiina Live, with one of the tracks off the new EP.
Love Kel --
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Strung Up By The Wrists
PM: 8.25 miles, 49.15, Fruit Loop and Blvd
Hhhmmm, another solid run with minor pain. I was tempted to run as hard as I could for the last mile but quickly realized that I may be loosing it slightly and made the rational decision to actually slow down (I didn't) and finish the run feeling good. The disturbing thing is that when I went into my house to get some cytomax I actually felt some stiffness and pain in my knee and it made me happy.
I don't sleep well. Its not something I talk about much but I am a light sleeper. My mother is a light sleeper so maybe I get it from her. I would be a night owl if it wasn't for Frankie trying to improve my sleep hygiene and encouraging better habits before I go to bed. It has helped but sometimes the old head will not switch off. Last night was one of those nights. I did not actually fall asleep. No dreams, no nodding off, nothing. Just laying there thinking and getting up every few hours to walk around my apartment, drink water and read ROAD magazine. I even read some Sam Harris this morning at 4 am. My point in mentioning this is that the catalyst right now is my forthcoming knee op. I know I need it because there is something wrong with my knee but why does it have to feel so good the week before? Why couldn't it be in the same agony it has been over the last 6 months? Obviously, like I said before, I am going ahead with it but I need to be more accepting of the situation. Perhaps the other changes in my life are contributing to my high energy levels or maybe I just have more energy than the average person. I often think about this when I reflect on all my injuries. Sleeping is a time that the body recovers and since I don't sleep much surely it has contributed to my inability to heal seemingly basic injuries. I know a lot of athletes that sleep 10 hours a night and nap an hour + per day. I can't imagine what that must feel like.
There are lots of end of decade lists coming out on the blogosphere, scary. I have not found one that I agree with yet although the I Guess Im Floating blog has a lot of tracks I truly love. I need to start thinking about my own best of the decade lists. There has been a lot of discussion around the need for such lists. Some people think its a load of bollix and a way for poseurs to show everyone how cool they are. I don't agree with this stance at all. I have been introduced to so may great bands through blogs and many great bands owe the world of blogging a little piece of their success. Some lists are obvious (see Pitchfork) and lack any depth but many others are insigtful and offer great selections. I am looking forward to reading them as they roll in.
Love Kel
A track that will almost certainly be on my best of the decade list:
Hhhmmm, another solid run with minor pain. I was tempted to run as hard as I could for the last mile but quickly realized that I may be loosing it slightly and made the rational decision to actually slow down (I didn't) and finish the run feeling good. The disturbing thing is that when I went into my house to get some cytomax I actually felt some stiffness and pain in my knee and it made me happy.
I don't sleep well. Its not something I talk about much but I am a light sleeper. My mother is a light sleeper so maybe I get it from her. I would be a night owl if it wasn't for Frankie trying to improve my sleep hygiene and encouraging better habits before I go to bed. It has helped but sometimes the old head will not switch off. Last night was one of those nights. I did not actually fall asleep. No dreams, no nodding off, nothing. Just laying there thinking and getting up every few hours to walk around my apartment, drink water and read ROAD magazine. I even read some Sam Harris this morning at 4 am. My point in mentioning this is that the catalyst right now is my forthcoming knee op. I know I need it because there is something wrong with my knee but why does it have to feel so good the week before? Why couldn't it be in the same agony it has been over the last 6 months? Obviously, like I said before, I am going ahead with it but I need to be more accepting of the situation. Perhaps the other changes in my life are contributing to my high energy levels or maybe I just have more energy than the average person. I often think about this when I reflect on all my injuries. Sleeping is a time that the body recovers and since I don't sleep much surely it has contributed to my inability to heal seemingly basic injuries. I know a lot of athletes that sleep 10 hours a night and nap an hour + per day. I can't imagine what that must feel like.
There are lots of end of decade lists coming out on the blogosphere, scary. I have not found one that I agree with yet although the I Guess Im Floating blog has a lot of tracks I truly love. I need to start thinking about my own best of the decade lists. There has been a lot of discussion around the need for such lists. Some people think its a load of bollix and a way for poseurs to show everyone how cool they are. I don't agree with this stance at all. I have been introduced to so may great bands through blogs and many great bands owe the world of blogging a little piece of their success. Some lists are obvious (see Pitchfork) and lack any depth but many others are insigtful and offer great selections. I am looking forward to reading them as they roll in.
Love Kel
A track that will almost certainly be on my best of the decade list:
Monday, August 24, 2009
Coming To At Dawn
PM: 90 Minutes Trainer Ride
PM: 7.45 Miles, 46 Minutes
I rode the trainer so I could watch Liverpool play Aston Villa. An easy game, a mere formality. I mean, we beat them 5-0 at Anfield last year. So there was a moment of shock when Lucas steered Ashley Young's free kick into his own net. And from there it went down hill. Liverpool lost 2 games last season. They have lost 2 of their first three this season. We will not win the league. But I'll be there supporting hard through it all because football's a funny old game and you never know.
I didn't do a brick. Rather I opted to get some food in after my trainer ride. I lost a lot of fluids considering it was like a greenhouse in my front room. Once I did get out running I felt fantastic. Not wanting to beat this issue to death or anything but my knee was really not that bad. It gave out a couple of times but where is the pain? Where is the feeling that my bone is crumbling. I had it in Peoria 2 weeks ago. Answers on a postcard please.
Through all this madness I still enjoy my nightly writing and music listening. This evening, after watching a "Real Time with Bill Maher", I listened to Julian Plenti's NME radio performance. Beautiful. I need to figure out a way to get a ticket to his forthcoming NYC performance. My knee should be decent by then. I only have Sunset Rubdown to look forward to this fall so this gig will be welcome with open heart. Speaking of Sunset, I think I listened to "Coming To At Dawn"from their "Introducing Moonface" EP at least 10 times today. Amazing, amazing song.
Love Kel
PM: 7.45 Miles, 46 Minutes
I rode the trainer so I could watch Liverpool play Aston Villa. An easy game, a mere formality. I mean, we beat them 5-0 at Anfield last year. So there was a moment of shock when Lucas steered Ashley Young's free kick into his own net. And from there it went down hill. Liverpool lost 2 games last season. They have lost 2 of their first three this season. We will not win the league. But I'll be there supporting hard through it all because football's a funny old game and you never know.
I didn't do a brick. Rather I opted to get some food in after my trainer ride. I lost a lot of fluids considering it was like a greenhouse in my front room. Once I did get out running I felt fantastic. Not wanting to beat this issue to death or anything but my knee was really not that bad. It gave out a couple of times but where is the pain? Where is the feeling that my bone is crumbling. I had it in Peoria 2 weeks ago. Answers on a postcard please.
Through all this madness I still enjoy my nightly writing and music listening. This evening, after watching a "Real Time with Bill Maher", I listened to Julian Plenti's NME radio performance. Beautiful. I need to figure out a way to get a ticket to his forthcoming NYC performance. My knee should be decent by then. I only have Sunset Rubdown to look forward to this fall so this gig will be welcome with open heart. Speaking of Sunset, I think I listened to "Coming To At Dawn"from their "Introducing Moonface" EP at least 10 times today. Amazing, amazing song.
Love Kel
Sunday, August 23, 2009
But Enough About Me
PM: 6 Miles 35 Min, Blvd
My confusion is at an all time high. I am feeling better everyday I run. It is as if my knee pain has decided to go away for a few days. I am running with less pain than I was last February and I don'tt know what to do. I know I have to snap out of this buzz but I am getting a pretty serious surgery next week and I actually want to be in pain. I want to feel that awful stabbing pain I had for the last 6 months so I can feel really good about getting my second left knee op in 18 months. Now on the flip side I did take a lot of down time over the last few weeks and I have not done any long bike rides in 3 weeks so maybe I am just feeling a little relief. I also know if I don't get the surgery or put it off the next day I am going to feel the pain. Bottomline is that I am getting it done and if he goes in there and says its not as bad as we expected he won't do much and I will take 14-20 days off, or he goes in and sees a hole (as the mri shows) and he has to fix it. Hopefully its the former and if that is the case then I could be on the way back! I am going to bang out miles every day this week but I will slow down and see how a little longer time on the feet affects the joint.
Radiohead played in Prague tonight. Similar set list to last night. Next stop is Poland before the UK gigs. I also just saw that Sunset Rubdown are playing in NYC in October and I will be going, that much I'm certain of. Packing up the apartment these days is pretty depressing but these things happen and its time to move on and look forward. Last week at 27 Humboldt.
Love Kel
My confusion is at an all time high. I am feeling better everyday I run. It is as if my knee pain has decided to go away for a few days. I am running with less pain than I was last February and I don'tt know what to do. I know I have to snap out of this buzz but I am getting a pretty serious surgery next week and I actually want to be in pain. I want to feel that awful stabbing pain I had for the last 6 months so I can feel really good about getting my second left knee op in 18 months. Now on the flip side I did take a lot of down time over the last few weeks and I have not done any long bike rides in 3 weeks so maybe I am just feeling a little relief. I also know if I don't get the surgery or put it off the next day I am going to feel the pain. Bottomline is that I am getting it done and if he goes in there and says its not as bad as we expected he won't do much and I will take 14-20 days off, or he goes in and sees a hole (as the mri shows) and he has to fix it. Hopefully its the former and if that is the case then I could be on the way back! I am going to bang out miles every day this week but I will slow down and see how a little longer time on the feet affects the joint.
Radiohead played in Prague tonight. Similar set list to last night. Next stop is Poland before the UK gigs. I also just saw that Sunset Rubdown are playing in NYC in October and I will be going, that much I'm certain of. Packing up the apartment these days is pretty depressing but these things happen and its time to move on and look forward. Last week at 27 Humboldt.
Love Kel
Saturday, August 22, 2009
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