Training Log Archive: chitownclark

Up to the pancake house with Sari for the first time in a couple of years. Altho slim, in good health basically, and much younger, it has been hard to talk her into any real bike ride...or aerobic exercise of any kind.

She rode well today. But cut it short on the way back at 15 miles, and took the L home. But it was great to get out with a riding companion for the first time in years.

C • Yea 1

The deterioration continues. As a result of visiting a new urologist this week, I'm now self-cathetering twice a day.

Not really a big deal, surprisingly. Once your 'private parts' become accustomed to the invasion of a slim plastic tube, all the way up into your belly. Strange to feel it moving around in there. But other than carefully pushing through the sphincter on the urethra, the thing goes right in. And fluid begins to gush out.

Here in Chicago, commercial dialysis centers are springing up all over town. Apparently kidney failure is becoming epidemic. I think it is because few doctors test for backed-up, retained urine. People are becoming fatter, and finding their stream weakening. And more and more old people are suddenly finding their kidneys are not fully cleansing their blood stream...and toxins build up. Most of the time there are no side effects; sometimes mild kidney pain, sometimes mild headache. But let's face it: old people lose elasticity throughout their body. And that includes their bladder, which becomes enlarged, stretched out, to the point that the bladder cannot fully void. And urine begins to back all the way up the ureters to the kidneys...particularly when lying prone; sleeping at night.

A few blood markers can indicate kidney problems, particularly creatinine levels and the GlomFiltRate or eGFR. If those are out of normal range, they could be indicating kidney problems...and dialysis could be in your future.

Working fairway woods: #3, #5, #7, & #9. When you're 77, hit into the rough much of the time, and with low club-head speeds....fairway woods are a blessing. If you can control them! So lots of practice is called for with them.

Air and Water Show is this weekend. So jets and squadrons of prop planes were buzzing the Lakefront, and the driving range, as we hit, practicing their maneuvers. Father-daughter duo next to me were a bit unnerved by the racket. Can't imagine what it must be like to live in Iraq and have these things constantly making passes overhead...armed with live bombs, napalm, and 50mm cannon!

C • Iraq 3

Lake Michigan again. Water is becoming almost TOO warm! Much more choppy than last week.

White Deer Run GC, Libertyville.

Long commute to get to this premier GC up near the Wisconsin border. Hot and muggy; but day began with heavy fog as I was riding the train north from Union Station. Able to get a spot with a threesome in 90 minutes, so hit a lot of balls in the meantime.

When tee time arrived, threesome didn't, so Starter told me to go ahead. And that's what I did all day, staying nicely ahead of the tardy threesome chasing me in carts. Don't really like playing with people in carts. Whole different approach to the game. And when I'm slowing down in the Back Nine, they are still fresh...and wondering what I'm doing back there

Quit after #16; the last two holes would have taken me much farther away from my bus stop. As it was, I got home around 6pm. More than 12 hours on the road. But very nice day of golf. I figure the hour I spent on the driving range made up for the last two holes. :-)