Message posted by: Greg C.

This was originally intended for Kevin’s thread but it took on its own life as rant status, so thought it appropriate as a seperate post:

Paul stated, “Only YOU control YOUR choices…” That’s the big picture here, you have choices..Don’t want to hear from well intentioned skinny freaks? cool, I won’t email you as requested..but you’re going to hear from this bonerack on this space. Here are today’s recent stats:

44 years old

148 lbs

5′11″, 6 feet when usually standing tall

nor am I happy with my appearance

nor am I happy with my athleticism or lack thereof

October 25th I went into an ER with brutal abdominal pain..5 days on IV and drugs, no food or water, set free after 7 with a liquid diet, then low residue..2 weeks of anti-biotics later, thought the worse was over..wrong, back in the hospital, bla, bla, wah, wah..another 5 days in the can, more drugs for another 3 weeks…bland crappy food…5 year olds ate more than me on Thanksgiving..canned cranberry sauce? 50 miles from Plimoth Plantation and Im eating canned cranberry sauce?? That’s a travesty borderlining on criminal in Massachusetts..

So, its diverticulitis, with a few complications..Chances are, later this winter, they’re going to have to cut me open, snip off a piece of diseased intestine and sew me back up..doesn’t do much for base building..but the condition doesn’t begin with the the letter C or involve a tumor..I’ll get over it and live to train and race again…as unimpressionable as ever.

Looking at my running sneakers is depressing, my bike left town looking for an ass because I don’t have one anymore and I’d most likely get lost in northern PA looking for my pool right now..feel like collapsing after walking up a GD staircase..just weak (but not weak and stupid like Fredo Corleone) Is this a lifestyle issue? Most likely not, as it runs in the family. Probably ate something that decided to set up shop in my gut and start a family of bacteria..

The point of this is not to generate sympathy and a chorus of violens (although Ill take it, thank you)..It comes back to Paul’s comment about choice. My choices of what to eat, what to drink (haven’t gone this long without a beer since Jr high), when to sleep, train or not were taken from me overnight..don’t take yours for granted! ever! Be thankful that you have the choice to eat 5 or 6 small meals a day or whatever wack job diet you pick..You CAN bike in the gorgeous Arizona sun tommorrow, so do, damn it..

This skinny freak is going to do everything in his power, with the Doctor’s blessing of course, to train for Timberman and finish that fng 70.3 in August..I dont give a crap if it takes me 6.5 hours..and Im going to pound weights like a mad man, get jacked like Hulk Hogan circa ‘86 and think nothing of getting on a plane for IMAZ ‘09 as a spectator, setting up shop near water station 4 and chuck Big Macs at the guy with the mike if I dont see vast improvement from those numbers I just read..nothing personal Kevin but you asked for it..do I sound bitter and pissed? well ya..its because I am..and thank you, I feel so much better..

“I need a Tylenol”

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