Smoke from Wildfires

The wildfire smoke I mentioned in the last post continued to get worse as the month went on. Against weather channel advice I continued to work out in it but drew the line at racing because the air was considered unhealthy and as an “elderly “ person I was considered in the at risk group. I did sign up for the Turkey Trot in Modesto thinking things would be improved by then. The day before the race they canceled it due to poor air quality. Ironically the air turned out to be much cleaner that day after a rain but the decision had already been made. So while I didn’t get to do a Turkey Trot I did get out and run six miles. 

I took Charlie to the vet to get surgery to remove a growth from his eyelid. It was starting to become a problem because it was getting bigger and would bleed if he rubbed it against something. Nearly $1000 and ten days of isolation from the other dogs he came through with flying colors. He did a lot better than I would have. 

It wasn’t long after a couple of rains before the air cleared and race schedules got back to normal. If only it was as simple for the victims of the wildfires to return to some normalcy. 

With the smoke moving out our Valley fog rushed right in to replace it and as always it brought a bone chill with it. As well as the uncertainty of knowing what to expect driving to events. 

We decorated the house tree and put up a new tree where we decorate for my parents the day after Thanksgiving. We actually used the tree I used to use in Colorado. It’s been in my shed and hasn’t been up since 2010 so better to use it. That’s also the day I decided that I was going to have a Hallmark Christmas and spend it with Stacie and Tom for the first time in 14 years. I’m taking the train and the whole trip will be almost a month. I kept changing the dates so I could see more hockey and Haley’s piano recital. I haven’t been this excited about Christmas in a long time. 

I ran my first December race on the 1st and it was a good event. It was the California International Marathon Weekend 5K. After the race I jogged to the Amtrak station thinking I’d pick up my ticket while I was in town but since my ID was back at the race where I parked then no ticket. I checked results online while I was there and found out I needed to go back to the start for my award because I was 2nd in the 70-74 age group. A surprise in a race with almost 1000 runners. 

On Monday back to the reality of pet ownership. We had to take Billy to the vet and $1400 later had to hospitalize him for a blocked urinary track. He had been acting strange Sunday but it was after I gave him a natural stay flea treatment and I thought maybe that was causing his lethargy and odd behavior. Monday it was obvious he was struggling to pee and you could see spasms and then he would cry. We got him to the vet immediately and they determined it would require hospitalization. Expensive? Yep. Any question about getting it done? Nope. He and his sister were my Dad’s cats and we’ve had them 7 years. 

Heading Home

While it certainly wasn’t “on the way” home I took advantage of being “close” to Louisiana to drive to Bossier City and race in my 34th State. Doing all 50 states is still a tentative goal so when I can I’ll get another state done. The race itself was small on an out and back course on an asphalt path by the Red River and the weather was perfect so it was a good event. The only negative was what I jokingly refer to as age discrimination in age groups. They had 5 year age groups up until 60 and then it was I call 60 to infinity. That stunk because I would have won 70 and over but was 4th in 60 and over. No big deal in the big picture but it’s always fun to make the podium. 

This is what my state map looks like now after adding three states on this trip. What’s next? Time will tell. 

I raced four different states in four consecutive weekends and it would have been five when I got home but I opted out of the race I planned to do because we are dealing with bad smoke from the wildfires burning up by Chico. The fires have been horrible for the people affected. I have kept running despite the air quality warnings but I just go super easy. 

When I got home my Run The World Challenge #2 medal had arrived. It is motivating to be part of a worldwide “team” running for a common goal. 

I also came home to a new goat, Winston. He was a stray that showed up at our neighbor Mike’s place and he was eating his MJ plants. 😳 He’s got a great personality and I think Oliver enjoys the company. 

Sadly this past weekend we lost Shyla to cancer. It’s always hard when we lose an animal. She came to us as a foster with her son Tank over three years ago. We lost Tank almost exactly a year ago to congestive heart failure.