Busy...busy...busy

Couldn't resist posting this - I wish someone would do this in my library. It's from the group Prangstgrup, they have some cute videos. Found out about the group from my friend Shev - thanks :).

I haven't posted in 3 days! 3 DAYS! I think that's the longest that has gone by without posting since I started this blog just over a month ago. Anyway, been kinda busy the last few days. For those of you who don't know me I am graduating Albert Einstein College of Medicine this year. I took last year off to do a Masters in clinical research methods with my thesis on cervical cancer. I am currently applying for a residency in Obstetrics/Gynecology - my interviews start in about a month. After the 4 year residency I hope to start a fellowship in Gynecological Oncology (a specialty that treats cancers of the female reproductive tract: ovaries, uterus, cervix, etc...). My mentor asked me to coauthor a chapter on cervical cancer and HPV(Human papillomavirus - the virus that causes the vast majority of the cases of cervical cancer). I accepted knowing that this was a great opportunity for me but not realizing how much work it was going to be. I spend my days in the library reading articles and trying to figure out how to write this chapter. So it has kept me busy - though I have to admit I have played a lot of games of solitaire since I started working on this chapter.

On the running front - I ran for the first time on Wednesday with the knee ace bandage I bought. I ran 3.25 miles and I had some mild discomfort during the run, but the good news is that I didn't have to stop at all to restretch my IT band. Also - even more importantly I had very minimal pain the couple days after the run - which is not something I am used to - so almost no Motrin this week since wednesday. Today the Q and I are scheduled for 5 miles - that's the big test for me. Sunday they are scheduled for a 10-miler, I don't think I am ready for that - since I missed last weeks 9-miler. I will definitely go as far as I can without injuring myself - if I can make it all the more power!

Yesterday Danny and I went to Target to get winter running gear - I have been running in the C9 line by champion - may be exclusive for target - but I have been happy with it - so I got a few winter shirts and pants. Have never ran outside for a long distance during the cold of winter - so I may need to supplement with some extra warmth - though I do tend to like it cold and warm up quickly.

Getting pretty close to signing up for the Las Vegas half - that's going to be a momentous day for me. The bad news is that I am likely to have an interview on the East Coast the Friday before which means I am going to be stuck flying out 8PM or so on saturday night, getting in around 10:30 vegas time for a 6AM start time - not the optimum prepping for a race - but I can't miss this race - I have been focusing on this one since I started running.

Gotta go cook a little for shabbos - will try to post a picture of the 5-miler later - I want to change the route a little instead of heading toward city island - maybe continue for the extra 3/4 mile up into westchester - along the route that Danny and Q ran last week.

Q and I did 5 miles at 3:49PM today. Why 3:49, not 3:45 or 3:50? I don't know - Q is quirky like that. Anyway, had my knee brace on - run went decently - had some pain - but you guys don't care about that - I finished 5 miles, which is my longest run in about 10 days, also the first time that I have done that without needing a break in a long time - so it was definitely an ego boost.

If you guys pay any attention to my maps at all you will notice that the route we do crosses over the Hutchinson River - we cross the Pelham bridge. Just over the bridge we hit Shore Road and frequently we go southeast at that point toward City Island. Today we changed things up a bit - as mentioned above we continued North (similar to the 9 miler they did last week). It's so quaint as you head up toward Westchester. We passed the Bronx Equestrian Center - I was so impressed, so that's where all those champion Bronx riders train...very cool! Almost got run over by a car that decided that Stop Signs were merely suggestions. Our halfway point was just at the beginning of the Split Rock Golf Course. I actually played the front nine there about 3 years ago. I have been told that they hosted the US Open a long time ago - but couldn't confirm that online in the limited time I had.

Anway...more to come...