Friends,

Last Saturday night I was watching the Red Sox baseball game. For 4
days I had suffered diarrhea. During the game I have severe abdominal
cramps. They subsided after a half hour during the 4th inning. Then
they came back very bad in the 8th inning. Jackie called 911 and the
fire department arrived just as the top of the 9th was starting. Our
living room was filled with 8 firemen, emts, and police officers. The
pain had diminished and I delayed the ambulance trip to the hospital
while the Red Sox pitcher completed his no-hitter. At the end of the
game I switched of the TV and said, "OK. Let's go to the hospital."

The crew was as thrilled as I was about the no-hitter. While at the
hospital I felt a surge of endorphins. The pain went away and I slept
for 3 hours. When all the blood work and X-rays were completed the
doctor woke me and sent me home. There was a suspicion of a blockage
in my intestines but no confirmation. I didn't care. Jackie made me
skip attending a political rally on Sunday, but let me run on Monday.
I had a wonderful race on Monday. No pain, no problems, and a great
conversation with a nun for the second half of the 5K race. I was
surprised when the finish line came into view. I took off with a
sprint and was followed closely by the nun in full habit.

After the race I grabbed a cheeseburger from the food court provided
by Outback Steak House. The day before I watched Bernard Lagatt win
the 5,000 meters at the world championship track meet in Osaka, Japan.
Interviewed after the race he announced that he had restored his
energy after a win in the 1,500 meter race by going to Outback Steak
House and eating the biggest steak in the house. I predict a huge
change in the eating habits of distance runners and a shock to the NIH
promotion of fruit and vegetables to prevent obesity and maintain health.

Shalom,
Chuck