Back In Boston, Running Ragged

First off, anyone who tells you that a long run is a great cure for a hangover isn't lying.  I know, I am as surprised as you are since that sounds about as appealing as ripping off every one of my fingernails for fun.  But this morning, as I was a little under the weather I just said, "fuck it, let's just go for it because if I don't run now, I will definitely not run later in the day."  About twenty minutes into the run, with my head still pounding, I was about ready to kill my runner friends who suggested this idea to me.  But by the time I finished, a little over 50 minutes, I felt remarkably better.  Chugged down a Gatorade and stretched and I felt like a new person.  So at first I was a skeptic, but now I am a believer.  Just give it a try, it'll change your hungover Saturday and Sunday mornings like none other.

Now the second important step in ensuring that you will avoid any headaches later in the day, and you live around BC, you should probably stop by Jim's diner in Brighton off of Washington Street.  Incredible service, a mind-blowingly enormous menu and, of course, delicious food.  It is rapidly becoming one of my favorite places to eat around this area and I have no doubt that I will be a frequent eater there this semester and summer.  Go and you won't regret it.

Okay, now on to my post.  Here is one of the issues that I have with being back in Boston.  I have no soft surface to run anywhere.  Roads and sidewalks everywhere and then when it snows, like it did earlier this week, those are covered in snow.  The worst part is that you can be running along a sidewalk and going along at a nice pace and then you run right into a part of the sidewalk that hasn't been touched by a shovel or snowblower.  Your choices: plow right through the snow (not advised, leads to cold shoes, feet and general frustration), weave your way through a smaller snow bank onto the road and run through the slush or just avoid the sidewalks all together and then run the risk of crazy Boston drivers blowing by you and not moving over.

I just said screw it and decided to run on the road because it made life a lot easier to not have to be running sideways onto the road as much as you run forward.  And I will say this: I think that Boston drivers have actually become more courteous in my time gone as almost all of them slowed down and moved over in order to give me space.  Either they got nicer or drivers in Greece really were just that crazy and now Boston seems a little more tamed.  Regardless of which one is true, it has been a nice change since being back.

Alright, I want to do a real sports post actually.  That was just me rambling and some people have complained about me writing about sports too much so I am just trying to give the people what they want.  Since I did so well last week picking games, I guess I will give it another go this week.

Pittsburgh and Baltimore
Alright, this is some smashmouth football right here.  These two teams played twice this season, splitting each game to the home team.  Over their last 17 meetings, Pittsburgh holds a 9-8 advantage, but both teams have scored the same number of points.  But when it comes down to it, the defenses will neutralize each other and whichever quarterback outplays his opposition will win.  And as much as it pains me to put money on a borderline rapist, I am going to have to go with Big Ben's consistently outstanding play in the playoffs and give the edge to the Steelers.  Pittsburgh wins 24-17

Green Bay and Atlanta
Two of the best young quarterbacks in the league going head to head in the playoffs.  Aaron Rodgers and the Packers withstood a last-minute attack by the Eagles, intercepting Michael Vick in the endzone to seal the deal.  Matt Ryan and the Falcons, boasting the best record in the NFC, had last week off to get healthy for this week's matchup.  Matt Ryan is 20-2, 20-2, in the Georgia Dome and that is reason enough for me to give the edge to Atlanta.  That and I won't try and hide my BC bias for Ryan so I just want to see the Falcons win.  Atlanta wins 35-24