running group jitters

nervous
ahhh! i’m filled with anticipation right now. i am headed out to join yet another running group — this time, to join carolina godiva’s official marathon training group. this is a fairly organized group that actually has a fee to join, so i really hope that today goes well!

the plan will be 12 miles, although it may turn into 14 depending on what others at my pace are running. i am really hoping to find others who run their long runs at around at ~9:00/mi pace — it seems like i tend to fall into an in-between category that makes it hard to find training partners! there are tons of exceptions, but i feel like new (and more cautious) runners tend to hang around the ~10:00/mi mark, while seasoned racers and former track athletes blow me away at more of an 8:00/mi pace or faster (jess, susan and miss marathon maiden, i’m talking to you!).

soooooo. hopefully this morning’s outing will go well . . . i’m all set to go, heart all aflutter. although i just realized that the only gel i have left expired in july (i hate them, but find them a necessity for runs that are 12+). it will be a fuel experiment as well, i suppose. hopefully the TLC bar i happen to have on hand won’t rip up my GI tract too badly, as i don’t think barfing on the trail would impress any prospective new friends.

post-run plans
this really is going to be a lovely weekend, both weather and activity-wise. i do have some work to do in the form of a presentation on the lantus-cancer controversy on monday, but i’m actually looking forward to some calm, focused research time, especially on sunday. i want to be productive, but i want to get my FLOW on so that i enjoy it as well!

plans for the day
• 12-14 mi long run with new group
• shower, eat, generally recover
• hair appointment (my tri-yearly japanese straightening fix)
• easy catch-up stuff: trip planning, sending out emails, etc
• out for dinner somewhere TBD!

life as a resident? can be pretty good. as you can see.

medical student question
jenny asked yesterday whether all pediatrics residents do a stint in endocrinology, or if it’s just because i’m going to be going into that specialty for my fellowship. i figured i would answer her here in case anyone else is curious!

basically, just like the clinical years of medical school, the pediatrics residency is a series of rotations. one month i might be in the NICU, and the next is some easy-peasy elective. this makes for somewhat of a life roller coaster, but it is certainly a relief to have a month of call followed by a kinder schedule.

every pediatrics residency has to have a certain number of electives, as they are required by the all-important residency governing body of the american academy of pediatrics. or something like that. from what i gathered during residency interviews (although i only did a few), duke has more electives than average (selling point!). thus far throughout my residency, i have done one month blocks of infectious disease, rheumatology, neurology, allergy/immunology, and pulmonary, and now i am on endocrine. i also did a random 2 weeks of renal! still up and coming are months of genetics and GI.

at our program, you definitely have input on which electives you end up on — i definitely tried to choose things that a) sounded interesting and b) seemed like they would be useful for a future career as a peds endocrinologist. i avoided things like cardiology since we get SO much of that on the wards and in the intensive care units!

electives are a great way to help decide on your subspecialty (should you choose to subspecialize), and they are — in general — interesting and fun. one question i often get asked is whether we rotate on ADULT services. the answer to that is: HELLS TO THE NO. this is pediatrics, after all, so babies/kids/teens only! yes, a stray 30 year old sometimes sneaks their way onto a cardiology or heme/onc roster, but that’s it. thank god.

————————————————————————-

9.11.09

workout: 40 minutes elliptical + weights
– 2 x 12 pushups
– 2 x 12 squats with ball (10 lb weights)
– 2 x 12 bicep curls on bosu (12 lbs)
– 2 x 12 walking double lunges (8 lb weights)
– 2 x 12 seated rows (40 lbs)
– 2 x 15 bicycle crunches

i strayed from my planned schedule a bit this week because sunday is going to need to be complete rest due to the hair straightening today — ahh the sacrifices necessary for beauty!

doin’ time: this dinner of garlic-marinated chicken + roasted potatoes was good, although not the most exciting. i suppose not every dinner has to be EXCITING, though, right? of note, the greens i have been using this week for salads are mache, and i really like them! very fresh-tasting and crisp, despite a week in the fridge.

reading: on friday night? nah. weeds was watched instead — i love this show! we’re midway through season 3.