Training Log Archive: chitownclark

Marquette Park GC, Chicago. My 'go to' course for Sunday morning. Never crowded; and a decent 3250yds distance from the tips. This has been a marginal neighborhood ever since MLKing led marches through what was a white, blue-collar neighborhood back in the 1960's. The whites quickly moved to the suburbs after the riots. And it has been a tragic story ever since.

Unfortunately most Chicago city courses are located in 'marginal' neighborhoods. And as such, get very little play. But I'm too stupid to stay out of these neighborhoods. And think nothing of walking through them, carrying my clubs, and walking the course. One benefit: the clubhouse manager knows my name, and greets me personally every time I show up!

First time out on my custom road bike. Biked up to Wilmette, to the pancake house at 6am. Then to Farmer's Market. Beautiful morning, already in the 80's at dawn. North Shore just slumbering and quiet, on this early summer morning, exactly half-way through 2018.

Biked down to Northwestern Hospital for a meeting with my surgeon who chopped my colon in half last August. Absolutely no help. Just turned the crank; recommended the standard: another CAT scan, another colonoscopy, then come back to see him. For what I wonder? More surgery? Lose another foot of colon? No wonder old folks become invalid with guys like this handing out advice. Colestomy bags and Dialysis treatments are sure to follow.

The way I see old age, is that the body slowly shuts down, beginning in dozens of ways. Heart, cancer, emphysema, bones and joints, etc. Sure a doc might try to cure that specific malady....without due consideration for what it might do to your quality of life. Increasingly it seems, doctors do NOT consider the total man. Nor the Quality of his Life. All they're interested in is avoiding malpractice, and generating billing. The total well-being of their patients is rarely considered or discussed.

Frankly I think as we get older, we have to spend a lot of time educating ourselves, from a layman's point of view. And then learning to say 'NO' to most doctor's suggestions. Have faith in your body's ability to heal itself...or at least endure for many years. And I have a particular dislike for doctors who then try to scare you into following their advice, once you refuse their recommendations...as this guy did this morning.

Oh well; it was a beautiful morning for a 6am bike ride down the Lakefront as the sun was emerging from the water.

C • You need a better Doctor 3

Orchard Valley GC, Aurora. First time here in four years because of change is Aurora's bus system...they've cut service drastically. But was able to write a letter, with others I guess, and get the route to this GC partially restored. But riding the restored bus showed the transit dilemma: when you don't provide complete service, no one rides the bus. They're forced to buy a beater car and drive. Which adds to the congestion, global warming, and drunks on the road...since these are the lower elements of society that transit serves.

Anyway a very nice round. Played with an older gent from Morris and his grand-daughter. Both decent golfers. Of course I walked. And started to feel the ninety degree heat on the back nine. But dribbled in a Birdie putt on my last hole anyway!

Pine Meadow GC, Libertyville. Another round on Monday. Not really feeling it. But wanted to start doing doubles...golf on two sucessive days, for training, if nothing else.