Back to the Basics

My long runs are in full gear and the big day is 2 weeks away...  

Sunday morning, I headed out early.  It was a gorgeous morning, probably 56 degrees and I was ready.  I drank my SPARK and ate 3 shot blocks.  It was actually a really good run, despite some hills that I had to add in to get my miles.  Around mile 5, I ate the 3 remaining shot blocks and began the the hills.  Don't get me wrong I was tired, I stopped at a convenience store on my way back and asked if they could refill my water and I ate some Vanilla GU, this was about mile 9.  I always dread the last 3 miles of this route.  It's got long gradual hills and it just seems to take forever!  My last big hill is crossing over the interstate, on this run something odd started to happen...  My eyes got blurry, under and around my pupil.  I could still see but if I looked down it was cloudy.  I kinda got nervous, but to be honest, I wasn't going very fast, I felt strong but I was worried I was going to pass out over the interstate and fall to my crashing death off the bridge to the racing cars below...  A little dramatic, YES.  But I did think that!  Instead, I began to pray.  Prayer is my thing, if you haven't tried it, you should and if you don't want to, that's cool!  Just keep reading anyways...

I always pray before my runs for safety, endurance, strength and protection, I may cover things more than once, but it makes me feel better!  When I get really tired, I pray for a push, etc.  At this moment, I prayed for healing and for God to take control of my body and get me through whatever it was that was causing me the blurriness.  He did and that's why I love my Almighty God!  

I finished out my run and got a good 12 miler in.

However my recovery was not very good!  When I got home I began to stretch and I began to get a headache in my left eye.  Here's where the basics come in...  I should have come in and eat. but instead I proceeded to the shower and began to get worse and worse.  Light headed, nauseous, and a pounding headache in my eye. I laid down on my bed and just tried to rest.  After a little while, I made some oatmeal with peanut butter and only ate a couple of bites but I knew I had to eat something.  Finally it clicked, I bet my blood sugar is low.  I don't usually have a problem in this area, but I've been doing a 10 day Advocare Cleanse so my body hasn't had carbs, just fruit, veggies and lean protein.  I begged my daughter to go to the fridge and bring me a red can, of Coke.  I drank half of it and felt tons better within 15 mins.  So odd!  

After a long discussion over text messages, my running buddy clearing explained that not eating before my 12 miler and burning over a 1,000 calories, that my body was completely depleted.  She was right!  I just don't like to eat before I run, but long runs are different....  My body needed something to use to help fuel me.  Usually I do eat before an event, because they don't start until 7 or 8am and I have to travel, but just getting up and running it's hard for me to eat.  

(Her suggestion) Set alarm, eat, go back to sleep, set another alarm for run time.  

Basics people!  Sometimes they are the hardest part!

It's Raining, It's Pouring...

And I'm running a 10k!

This past Saturday, I headed down to good old Chattanooga to run in the 'Round the Rim 10k.  All week long I heard "It's gonna rain all day Saturday."  And like always, I just ignored the bad news and pretended it was all Sunshine and Daisies!  I actually headed down on Friday to play a little with my BFF/Running Buddy before the race.  I love Chattanooga!  It's such a cool urban town and we walked and the streets and ate some really good food at Tupelo Honey. 

Then it was morning.  A wet wet morning.  We headed up to Raccoon Mtn and waited, in the car until 5 minutes before race time.  Fortunately, we were not the only crazy people who decided to show up!  For that 5 minutes we waited to start all 200 of us were drenched.  Soaking wet.  We headed out and up to the Rim, where the rain was like ice and the wind was fierce!  I prayed and he listened, as the rain let up around mile 2, it was barely noticeable by mile 3, even though it was still there!  At the 3.5 mile marker was a long hill that looked crazy steep from the bottom, but we conquered it like Champions!  We rocked this race...

I can't say it was our best time, but it was a great run, even in the rain!

And check out this "Killer" raccoon race shirt....

Kinda scary, huh!?

Success

I finally completed a long run with success.  I set out for 10 miles this morning and even though I stopped to rest about 2 times, I ran the entire trip.  Around mile 7-8, my legs got really sore, fortunately my fab fam showed up and I was able to stretch and rest for a minute while I kissed my babies!  I love it when they show up on my long runs, it's support, encouragement and even motivation!  

They are my cheerleaders and I am so thankful for them.

In my small little town, you tend to know almost everyone.  And if you don't know them, you've seen them!  When I was training for my last half marathon, I met a older gentleman along my route.  He tended to a horse farm and was very nice, I stopped and talked to him for a minute.  Ever since then, when I'm running I see him on occasion.  Today he passed me and was waving so big and giving me a thumbs up!  I love that...

Today's stats are pretty decent considering the distance, but it's no PR.

Time:1:52:54

Miles: 10.01

Pace: 11:17/min

Pushing The Limits...

(Half) Marathon training is all about pushing the limits.  You set a goal and week by week you push your body one mile further.  Some days you are prepared and some days, not so much.  Lately I've struggled going that extra mile further.  Which scares me about race day.  I so badly want to succeed, 

to meet my goal...still standing!  

Today I ran 4 miles, I so could have stopped at 3 but I knew I needed that extra mile.  It was comfortable.  My body agreed, no energy loss, no soreness...  Just a good ole' run!  This easy 4 miler made me realize my own comfort zone and that I truly am pushing my limits when I attempt a long run.  Truth be told, my body just isn't prepared for anything over 6 miles!  This is not to my advantage come October, but it's my own 

fault.  At this point all runs are crucial and all long runs will benefit me in my race,  

even if I don't successfully run the whole time. 

Too Hot to Trott!

Two long runs and and no blog posts!  That's how busy we've been...

Last weekend I was up for a whopping 8 miles.  As I began to plan my weekend, I slowly lose motivation because I realize that my long run probably isn't going to happen.  I guess you could say I checked out!

Sunday morning around 9am, I get a call from the Hubs stating that "If I'm going to run, I better get my stuff together and go, NOW!"  How nice.  I was so not prepared and even though I truly was grateful for the opportunity, I left home feeling uneasy.  He returns home, I leave out.  Story of our life lately!

Miles 1 - 4 were great.  The heat was coming and I began to feel it around mile 5.  A friend of mine brought me water and I was so thankful, how silly of me not to carry water on an 8 mile run at 10am in August!!! 

 I had actually just planned to stop at the gas station on my way back home and beg 

them for a cup of water...

Around mile 6 I began to get really hot and lost all of my energy and motivation:

BONK: describes a condition caused by the

 depletion of glycogen stores in the liver and muscles, 

which manifests itself by sudden fatigue and loss of energy.

If this is a new word for you, you will never forget it, because you will know when it happens!

I tried to push forward, I walked some, then ran some avoided running any hills and then pushed my way back to my house.  To me it was a fail, however my best bud brought light to my eyes ensuring me that I still did it, no matter how I got there!  Thanks Kimmie. 

Next come my short runs or lack there of.  I did not complete one short run last week.  Long Story - Yada Yada Yada!  I wasn't feeling 100%, I had to work every day and Summer decided to show up with  heat indexes of 100 degrees.  No thank you.

So Saturday morning comes and I'm ready to go, even though I had the worst upset stomach most of the night due to some amazing food that I overate and it made me sick!  I guess that is what Anniversary dinners are for...  Eat a meal consisting of $140, eat to much that you pass out when you get home and spend the rest of the evening in the bathroom! ;)  I am a true Romantic!!

Back to my long run, I head out with my water and my GU, ready to take 9 miles by the neck!  However it took me first.  Again 6 mile bonk, WTF!  Push forward, walk a lot, run some and make it to 8 miles.  I know it has been very hot, I was dripping in sweat after mile 1, but I'm still frustrated.  I have to do better!

Dr. Pepper is the Devil

Do you have a go to stress headache weakness??  Mine is Dr. Pepper! I don't buy it because I will drink it.  This week the hubs came home with a 12pk, thanks honey!

Over the course of the last 2 weeks, I've been struggling with a sinus cold and headaches. So a Dr. Pepper and some Ibuprofen have been my go-top drug this week! 

I guess your wondering if I got my 4 miles is today?  NOPE! But I did get 3 in...  It was hot and humid and around 9am.  Overall pace was under 11 and I have had a headache the rest of the day!  Say hello to my lil' friend...

Balance

I talk a lot about "life circumstances" on this blog because that is what happens to me every single day.  When you have (2) children, a busy working husband, a new career you are trying to learn/grow, it's all about finding your BALANCE!

 

Yesterday I made an attempt to walk/run the 4 miles that was on my training schedule.  I had a battle with my mental and I ended up walking a mile and coming home.  Lil' Brother starts preschool next week and I HATE asking for help or finding someone to keep him, therefore I missed a Sales Meeting and that really ate at my conscience!  So I came home and worked as much as I could.

 

With that, I knew I needed to get that 4 miles in and since Mr. Man didn't get home until 8pm last night, this morning was my only option.  The alarm was set for 5:30am and I made it out the door by 5:40am.  It was a great run but that awful humidity finally decided to show it's face!

 

Lately I have taking it slow, but this morning I surprised myself with an overall pace of 10:12min/mile and my last 2 miles were an equal 9:58 pace.  That motivates me!!!  Remember that goal of a PR at this Half in October??  I haven't been too positive about making that goal and I still may not, but throwing runs like I did this morning lets me know that I still can do it! 

This is a prime example of why it's important to get those short runs in...all of them!