PIckle juice and a long run...

So this am I woke up to my last long run before taper! I was so excited!!! I honestly am just over these long runs- I don't get into the groove until about 1:30 HOURS into the run. It's miserable until then!!! Luckily I really enjoyed the first 8m of the marathon last year so I'll be OK. Anywho I ran in CP even though our initial plan (after having run extensively in the park this season) was to run up the WSH. It was really windy this morning! It was about 48 at the start of my run (730) with winds gusting to 25-30 mph. I wore my Nike wind jacket which really is just so versatile. At the finish it was approx 58 degrees and just as windy!

I ran from the apt to the Mall, did a 6m loop counterclockwise, crossed over at 72nd street and did a 5m loop. From the apt to the Mall its about 2m which when I measured it for the first time it was 2.7m so I'm kinda confused over what I did. I ran for 2 hours and 48 min and felt OK. I was pretty tired by the end.

I spoke to the doctor last night- he thinks I have post nasal drip (I mean its like a cold) and acid reflux (which I'm had issues with in the past).... I have been taking maalox and wow my throat doesnt hurt anymore. I am coughing still after the run which is troublesome. The doc told me to rest, push fluids and told me to not take the zpak. He doesnt think I'm sick enough. So we'll see.

Oh and the post is called pickle juice because I drank some post run. Headache isnt really there (I did take tylenol preemptively) so I say success.

What kind of sick am I?

So as I've said quite a few times, I'm sick. First it was a cough, (last week) I was so scared it was bronchitis, I coughed for almost a week, I went to the doc (Monday), I'm clear of bronchitis. I got a flu shot (Monday) and Tuesday and Wednesday the cough is worse, the spasms are back.... Today I wake up congested, slightly sore throat, clogged ears. Awesome. Different sickness. I went to work late and came home early.

My back was starting to be achey so I decided that before I took my nap this pm I was going to go to the gym... maybe just walk a bit, stretch, etc... so I get on the treadmill and remember the workout from TNT was warmup, 2m at MP, 2m at 1/2 MP, cooldown. So I decided to go for it... figured if it sucked I would stop, no big deal. Well, I ran the whole thing. What in the hell? What kind of sick am I? I felt BETTER when I was done with the run... which went as follows:

0.5m warm up, slow walking-- fast walking...
2m at 10:42 pace (ideal MP)
1m at 10:20 pace
1m at 10:10 pace (started to feel tough and my HR was up at 166 supposedly according to the machine so grain of salt people)
0.5m at 11 pace
cooldown 0.25m

So yea, workout, pretty much done. Better than nothing. TOmorrow, weights. Saturday 15m, Sunday something!!

MP-ish run

Tonights run was meant to be 3 lower loops (so 1.7m x3) at MP (marathon pace) then MP-15, MP-30. I decided to only do 2 loops and a little (for 40 min) to make sure I didnt stress out my chest.

To recap, the doc said no Z-pack but if I don't feel better by tomorrow pm I am going to start it. I can't afford to be sick.

Anyway back to the run.

I didn't track the splits because we were having such a great time running. I ran with Heather, who is my fabulous mentor. In fact, shes the only mentor over THREE seasons that I've bonded with. I hope we stay friends. SO, that was a wonderful luxury, to be able to run with her- we chatted the whole time and at one point were running 9:45. OOPS. Def not MP or MP-30. I was supposed to run 10:50, 10:35, 10:20. OOPSIE.

Anyway I wasnt following the workout so why do I even care!!! I am goign to go for a qiuck run tomorrow and then will do weights in the am if I can fit it in or will do it tomorrow before dinner with Nicole. I am going to a conference in the pm so it's OK if I spend 90 min tomorrow working out. I should really sleep in but I hate running indoors at this point so who knows. It makes more sense to let myself sleep in, so again, we'll see. I really want to be better. I am so terrified of being sick.

So that's all I've got. I ran into Danny leaving the park. OH, and random, I was walking out the 73rd street exit and a guy came bounding down and told me to not go up that way because there was a pack of raccons! yikes!

Blister side note: my entire heel is like the remnants of a blister/dead skin. SO gross. I'm jsut letting it stay there- which is even more gross. My plantars warts are still alive and kicking (apparently running makes them spread- so disgusting) I went to get it acid-burned today and I hate running on it after- so painful!!

Also- side note. when we went to Cooperstown over Labor Day I tried a bunch of Ommegang beers which is a micro brewery up there. They sell it at Whole Foods. If you like beer, try them. I love Hennepin. YUM!

the land of air parenthesis

It’s funny. This weekend I have to run 15-16m. This is hardly different from the 18+ I ran last week yet I am SO pumped to ‘only’ have to run 15-16m. Pretty lame huh? I suppose perhaps I am more excited that it’s going to be the last ‘long’ run before NYCM. I am running the ‘last 10’ with TNT the weekend following and after that running 6m Saturday and an easy 5m at the Marathon Kick-Off. All my runs after this Saturday’s seem manageable and doable without falling under the elusive ‘Marathon Training’ umbrella which seems to be suffocating me.


In other news, I am trying to mentally prepare for the race. I know what I’m wearing (baring weather issues- pink tank top with arm warmers and shorts, debating compression socks but might just put them on after? I will run with them this wkd and see how I feel), I’m trying to stay positive re my finish time. In fact, I am going to run this weekend with the 10:30 pace group and see how that goes. I’m a little panicked over the idea so perhaps I need to ask Mike about it. Maybe run some slower miles at the start and then meet up with the group to run 10:30s?

Tonight is a pacing workout. I am still coughing although I’ve taken the inhaler about 3x since yesterdays doctors visit. I am still coughing. I need a day in bed is really what it is at this point. I have a conference tomorrow pm so I might be playing hooky in the am.

Monday blues

I hate that today is a half holiday and I am at work. It's nonsense.

I went to the doc this am since I'd been coughing for over a week and just feel like I need a day in bed. Unfortunately with my job, that won't happen and we have another busy week and weekend ahead.

Long story short he gave me a flu shot, told me to use my inhaler (which I've been saddled with since I had swine flu this past spring, I have gotten bronchitis 2x since then!!!) and rest up and push fluids. I have no fever and no real issues besides a slight wheeze, but I don't have asthma. The inhaler is steroidal in nature and allows your bronchials (the small ones that havea  different name) to relax and stay open which alleviates the wheezing. It's no big deal but still, sucky.

Hey, at least I got a flu shot!!! All included in my $15 co-pay. I was happy!

So today as a result is an off day- which means Wednesday I now have to wake up early, bummer.

Schedule:
M: off
T: pacing run at TNT- 5.1m at MP or faster
W: 45 min cardio, 45 min strength (uhm yeah, who has time for this?)
T: tempo run (5m all in)
F: arms and abs
S: 15m, no more, no less, although I keep feelign like I should do 16. I've done 2-16's and 3-18s. Is that enough???
S: recovery run-3/4m(yawn I hate recovery runs!)

2nd to last long run

Yesterday I ran just over 18 miles in Central Park. It was my first run from my new house which was kinda neat. I really liked the convinience. I took off around 7:30 and headed into the park at 90th street going clockwise to hit up Harlem Hill and beyond. I met up with TNT at the 72nd street transverse and turned around to run counterclockwise (ugh back up HH!!!) I had to slow significantly to run at the 11 min pace the group I always run with was running. I'm not sure if that is good or bad, its my newest 'problem': comfort at the 10:15/30 pace for quite a few miles (less than a half marathon though!!!).

We ended up doing 2 full loops of the park and then a lower loop. Should be approximately 4.43+12+1.7. Then I walked home from 72nd street which is another mile and a half or so. I'm not sure why I walked home, in retrospect it was pretty dumb, I didnt drink until I got home, well I did, just not a ton. I did have a bagel at practice after the run though.

I ran with a girl I met, Megan- she was super cool so that was fun.

My head yesterday- oy vey. It was the worst headache I've ever had. Like honestly, the worst. I bought pickles today and before the run tomorrow I am going to drink pickle juice before and after the run whcih apparently is supposed to help. APparently the vinegar used to brine (sp?) the cucumbers really helps with hydration. I don't know whats up with me. I don't know if its too much salt, not enough salt, too much water, not enough water. who the hell knows. Its really frustrating. I don't know what or when this took over my life. Swollen fingers, but not too bad yesterday, headaches... etc. AND I have been drinking water/gatorade/gelling/eating etc. Like I am not NOT drinking enough, if that makes sense.

Overall the run went well. I was tired at the end but hey, I hadnt run long lately AND I think I went out too fast because I was later than I thought. Overall I felt ok. Today my IT band is iffy- its very chicken cutlet-ly if that makes sense. I went for a 2 mile recovery fast walk. I tried to run but honestly it sucked. So then I walked and then I ran a few errands.

My blisters (the remnants/areas of) were ok after the run. theyre slightly sore but theyre OK which is super positive.

Nothing else to report. Ready for another weekend, not a week of work!!