Week 48 Um Ouch Recap

After the last week, I am so glad I don’t have anything to put under the “Training For” label. I had such high hopes for getting back to running but life was like yeah no. 😛

Monday– I packed all my stuff for an evening run and I was looking forward to testing out my new reflective vest and tights. My back started to feel sore bordering on painful towards the end of the day which I thought was odd but other than that didn’t think much of it. Since I was also waiting for a new shoe delivery I used it as a reason to rest. I figured I had the rest of the week to run, right?

Haha! Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday- Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch

My alarm went off on Tuesday and I damn near screamed when I went to turn it off. Whatever had been wrong with my back the day before was nothing compared to this, I could barely move without crying. Getting dressed was one of the most painful things I’ve done and I have a pretty decent pain tolerance. Every movement hurt. And kept hurting. I could have used a sling, I basically kept my left arm at a right angle and glued to my side for 3 days. Instead of screaming or cursing, I would only whimper with the occasional moan.

Problem was I realized just how left hand dominant I am. I am right handed so I write and eat with my right hand but I do damn near everything else with my left hand and arm. I felt like I forgot how to do everything. I kept losing the computer mouse at work, I’m not used to having it on the right side! Grrrrr. Anyways, I was about as active as a lump on a log those days. A moany lump on a log.

There were Shiny moments though- I saw Fantastic Beasts and it was awesome! Movie theater seats were not a good idea but the movie was great! Thanksgiving was a very low key, chill day with family, just the way I like it. I’m also not a huge fan of traditional fare so it’s the one day a year I have no worries of overeating. 😛😛 I was feeling a little better on Friday, so with slooooow, deliberate movements, a coworker and I decorated the building for Christmas. I guess that was pretty active, I hung lights around 9 windows. 🙂

Saturday was crazy rainy but I was feeling a little better so I took advantage of a break in the rain and headed out to attempt a short run. I made it 3 miles and kept it super slow both due to my back and the now 3 weeks off. I feel like I am starting over! That said, it was a pretty good run, it helped that I had zero expectations about this run. I was pretty happy that I was even able to get a sports bra on.

Sunday was spent doing some Christmas shopping. I also returned the Hoka’s. They just weren’t working. My toes felt bruised every time I wore them and I still have that odd spongy feeling in my left arch every now and then. It never existed until the Hoka’s. I hate returning shoes but I also can’t afford to just eat the cost on $130 pair of shoes either. I exchanged them for another pair of Nike’s. That is the only pair of shoes that hasn’t caused me any issues other than I can only wear them up to 8 miles. But it’s not like I will be hitting the double digits any time soon so these should get me through. Also, fingers crossed that the Hail Mary Sayonara’s that arrived on Monday will work for longer runs.

My back is still sore but drastically better then it was during the week. I feel a knot or something but I’m still going to take it easy until it is back to normal. This has happened once before, years ago. I remember rolling over to get out of bed, feeling and hearing something pop before the pain hit and I couldn’t get up. I also remember yelling for help for 40 minutes before someone in the house heard me. That may be why I forced myself to try to work through the pain this week. That or I am stupid. My boss tried to get me to go to a chiropractor but 1- they scare me, 2-by the time I jump through the insurance hoops it will be next year. 😞

How was your week?

How was your Thanksgiving? Did you run a Turkey Trot?

Ever break yourself while sleeping?😛

Racing Ahead

As rough as 2016 has been, I am still in denial that Thanksgiving is this week, more like tomorrow. How is that possible? It just can’t be! That being said, I am looking forward to one part of 2017…

My race plans!!!!

I would say schedule but considering they’ve already hit a drastic snag due to well…life. I had originally planned on running Surf City again on Super Bowl Sunday. 3rd try’s the charm right? Plus running it 3 years in a row qualifies you for Legacy status, it’s the little things right? But like I said 2016 has been rough and I will be attending a family memorial that weekend.

So with the need for something to look forward to, I took to the internet. Man, there are a lot of cool races out there! However, I am limited to those within driving distance. 😛 So, tentatively, I am looking at an early 2017 that might look something like this-

January- Carlsbad Half Marathon

This one is coming up fast, I won’t lie. I’m not registered for it yet. It won’t be a race race but more of a super awesome long run with thousands of other people along for the ride. The course looks amazing and I think it would be an awesome start to the year. I want to see how the first few weeks of December running go first before I register. I have a discount code for it and I would rather pay a little more than lose it all, you know?

February– Buzz Half Marathon

Keeping it local…and small. So small, the race doesn’t even have a logo 😛 This race takes place entirely on a nearby army base and it always been in the back of my mind to run but Surf City is usually the week before, so this year is looking good!

March– Wine Country Half … or Livermore

More than likely Wine Country. It’s small, it’s local and it’s one of my favorite races. I’ve run it 5 times. I broke my streak last year, boo, so I am looking forward to getting back out there. I know this course extremely well and love it. Even with the hill of death at mile 12.3.

May– Destination Races Santa Barbara

I get to run this race with BibRave and I am so excited. I have never heard a bad thing about any of the Destination Races. Plus running near vineyards is kind of my jam and one of my favorite things to do. I’ve also wanted to run a race in Santa Barbara but never been able to make it work. Plus with the start in Santa Ynez and the finish in Solvang, it makes me feel nostalgic. My grandparents lived in Santa Ynez when I was growing up and it brings back memories of many family trips. I am also thinking that May is perfect timing for a challenge race. That G word is still a 4 letter word in my book but I am liking the idea of a challenge for 2017. But more on that later.

Now that’s all to say I don’t do something crazy in April. I won’t lie, I am having crazy thoughts about April but we’re going to let those percolate a little more. 😛

Do you have any plans for 2017 yet?

How far out do you plan races? Register?

Week 47 Un-training Recap

Training for-

…..Nope, still nothing!

Another week of taking it easy. I don’t think I realized how run down I was feeling until I stopped moving. Granted, part of that could also be due to me deciding to cut back on caffeine, sugar and calories. All at the same time. Oh and throw in some new migraine medication we’re trying and it just seemed like a good idea to take things easy. But I wasn’t totally lazy.

Monday- 2 miles A short but sweet night run. Baby steps while I work my way into this night running thing. Baby steps. 😛😛

Tuesday- 15 minutes yoga I’m so awkward and inflexible! Then the video I was using crashed partway through so I had to start another one. Grr.

Wednesday- 4.47 miles It’s been so long since I ran a short run from my house I forgot what distance my routes were! I had an odd doctor’s appointment with a radiologist and a speech therapist of all things so I was able to get the whole run in before dark. Which was sweet but damn it was cold! We went from 80 to 50 with 20 mph wind overnight. I was wearing so many layers. And I wanted more.

Thursday- Rest Migraine from hell. This was the worst headache in weeks so I figured I would try the second new medication. Holy crap people, I couldn’t add 2 +2. The pill took about an 1.5 hours to ease the pain but for about 4 hours I was mired in a serious fog, I could barely function. It was ridiculous.

Friday- Rest That migraine usually lingers 2 days but I wasn’t taking another pill. So instead I got a big Diet Coke and a big coffee on my way into work, lesser of 2 evils right?

Saturday- Rest I worked in the morning and planned on running in the afternoon. Work ran super late and I was just exhausted. I watched a couple of cheesy Christmas movies instead.

Sunday- Rest It rained all day. I still have unhealed marks on my chest from the chafe of the Harvest Marathon. After 2 races in the rain, I think I am little leery of running in the rain right now. It may be a while before it happens again. I realize that makes me a big baby but that’s ok. I did a bit of shopping though and picked up a reflective vest for more running in the dark.

6 miles is way better than last week so I’m calling it a win. I’m realizing that I need a little more time off than I thought. That being said, I will not be turkey trotting this week. Boo. But the only trot available to me is a 10K and I don’t think I have a 10K in me right now. Plus, this will also be the first time in 4 years that I am working the week of Thanksgiving so that’s going to be odd.

How was your week?

Are you running a turkey trot?

What are your plans this week?

Night Moves

Working on my night moves
In the winter time
in the dark winter time

Like my rewrite? Sing it with me!

You guys, I ran at night!!!! Which if we’re keeping track is only the second time ever! I braved the dark, the cold and the potential mountain lions and went for a run. It was only 2 miles but it was a start right?

I packed my gym bag on Monday but I really wasn’t feeling it. I had only found 1 blinky light and while I had checked my flashlight and while it worked, I had checked it in the daylight. I didn’t really know how much light it put out. Work ran late, I was exhausted and I was telling myself I still didn’t feel well even after a week off. I used the restroom before leaving work, went to grab my gym bag…and stared at it. It’s not like it was getting darker right? So, after a lightning fast change, I headed towards home.

The whole drive home, I wondered if I would chicken out. Running in the dark is not my thing. But I really hate the treadmill. I parked at a local business directly under a light and headed for what I think is the best street. Which is funny as it has like 4 street lights. 😛😛 I had a blinking light on my belt, a flashing band on my arm, reflective hat and my flashlight. I didn’t feel like it was enough. Bonus, my flashlight was dying. Slacker fail.

I stuck to the sidewalk. I kept it nice and slow. Can’t worry about pace when you can barely see right? My eyes adjusted quicker than I thought they would. It was colder than I thought it would be. It was in the high 50’s and I probably would have loved that during the day. At night, I wanted more layers.

A group of teenage boys drove by and catcalled me and I celebrated. They could see me!!! My lights were working! I did a little jig. A short, slow 2 miles later and I was back at my car. I did it!

All excitement aside, I will be more prepared the next time. I found my second blinky light. I need new batteries for my flashlight. I need to buy a reflective vest. That should be it for now. No need to get crazy. Let’s make sure I do this more than once a year this time. 😛

Do you run in the dark? Night or morning?

Best apparel advice?

Week 46 Un-Training Recap

Training for:

Nothing! I have no scheduled races for the remainder of 2016 right now. That is so weird! After the last month of feeling stressed and sick, slightly injured and seriously bitchy, I knew what I was going to do post Golden Gate Half.

I was taking the week off. I didn’t even do that post marathon. Mostly because I had crazy high hopes that marathon training would bring me speedy fall half marathons…which didn’t happen. Actually I don’t think I’ve taken a solid week off all year long. Which is odd for this Slacker.

I had plans, I really did. I was going to get on the bike to keep the legs loose and blood moving. I was going to try more of my yoga app. I was thinking about busting out the kettle bell, maybe attempting a plank or 2. What happened?

Nothing. Not a damn thing.

Well, I gained 5 pounds but let’s not go there.

I slept… a lot. Turns out I really wasn’t feeling well. The week kind of passed in a foggy haze. I took Monday off as a vacation day to recover from the race and had Friday off due to the holiday. You’d think all that extra rest would have helped me feel better but no such luck.

Granted part of that fog may be due to drastically cutting back on my caffeine and sugar intake last week. I also finally had an appointment with a neurologist last week so maybe my daily headaches will be coming to an end? Fingers crossed?!?!? The appointment made me laugh though- at one point I had to do the “one foot in front of the other walk” down the hallway and I fell into into the wall. Ha!

A week off is enough though. I’m feeling equal parts twitchy and nervous. That first run back is always so hard. Combine that with the fact that I know it will be on a treadmill and boo. I also have that same old shoe conundrum again. My Hoka’s are ok but not great. They aggravate a weird soft spot in the bottom of my left foot. Also, by the end of the Harvest Half, I felt like my toes were bruised and bloody. They weren’t but they sure felt like it. I admit that I no longer look forward to shoe shopping. Now it just stresses me out. Grrr.

Ever take a week off? Or more?

What did you do?

How was your week?