GOOD STUFF #1:
My first PR certificate for 2007. My line at the race read:
31. Sam Spritzer Williamsville NY 0:22:02 0:07:06 3/M50-54 27/M
Good enough for 3rd place in my age group and a glass for the trophy table.

Steph’s line read:
45. Stephanie Spritzer Williamsville NY 0:23:06 0:07:26 1/F50-54 6/F
And that was good enough for first in her age group and also a glass for the trophy table.

The course was part uphill (at the beginning), part downhill (at the end). The weather was misty and cool, good enough for shorts and a long sleeve running top. Thanks to the hill training I have been doing, the uphill wasn’t a factor and I had plenty of gas left for the final kick to the end. My only regret was not starting the kick sooner so that I could have broken the 22 minute mark. There is always next time. And, Steph does have a chance to break the 23 minute mark next time, too and get her first PR of the year. The next race – Louis J. Billittier Memorial 5K Run/Walk, downtown Buffalo with a post-race party catered by the famous Chef’s restaurant.

GOOD STUFF #2:
Because of Welcome to Sam Spritzer’s Web Site and the writings about my cochlear implant experience, I was invited to be part of the Advanced Bionics Cochlear Implant Recipient Blogs community. YIPEEE, I am gonna become famous!! A great big shout-out to Gloria Garner who not only spun the wheels to get Welcome to Sam Spritzer’s Web Site this special distinction but also for her efforts in starting up and administering Hearing Journey. Thank you Gloria!

GOOD STUFF #3:
I continue to make progress with the new Fidelity 120 (see Upgrade). Conversations are more clearer and even talking to my sons has become easier. In the past, they would talk very softly with very little facial expression/mouth movements to give me some addition clues. I am still struggling somewhat with speech discrimination but considering its only been 3 months, I am being told I am making great progress. It will take practice, something I have not been doing but something that I have to make a commitment to in order to succeed so right after this, its back to the books on CD.