Back in Class

Monday- 8 miles trail 1:11 easy
Tuesday- 12 miles hilly roads 1:36

Well my prosthetics program through Northwestern University has begun and I once again back in class! I have always loved learning and although I have been enrolled in my fair number of colleges (8 at last count) this program is a bit different. It is on-line for 20 weeks with video and teleconference sessions, on-line classes (think U-tube) and many many group projects, discussion boards, tests and quiz's along the way. The program has students from Ecuador, Australia, Alaska, Maine, Florida, TX, Calif, ect ect. Technology is great isn't it.!

Once I finish this portion I will go to Chicago for 8 weeks during May and June and look forward to getting my hands into the "hands-on" portion of the blended learning program.

Additionally I am observing/working at a prosthetics/orthotics shop here in Richmond spending half days learning all I can from the great practitioners at Powell's.

My boys

Well my boys are trying to get along. Look, we got them to pose together!!!!!

Puppy parenting continues to be fun....and challenging.

Running is coming along:

Monday- 10 miles- 82min

Tuesday- off

Wednesday- 19 miles- 3hrs (16 running- 3 walking cool down)

I know I need to do more of these steady longish runs. 90min-2 hours+ really works well for me when done on a regular basis. I need to get my yoga routine going again too. At least I am doing regular pull ups and back kayaking again. I already have shed some weight and am feeling fitter. Some races coming up soon:

Sept 22-Odyssey 40- as kind of an aided training run

Oct 7th- Towpath marathon- as a fitness test

Oct 28th- Marine Corps marathon- for a new PR???

Nov 17th- JFK 50mile- please please let me be fit enough to break 7hrs again!!!

Dec 8th-Hellgate 100K- for an experience

I will be off to Chicago to begin my prosthetics program for a 4 day mini-course at the beginning of October. Really looking forward to getting that rolling.

Great article today in the Washington Post on the new Amputee center being dedicated today at Walter Reed. Money well spent!