Tag: headache

Run!, Stomach, Training

Week 27- Ha Ha Ha

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

Upcoming Races-

  • Rock to the Pier 10K?
  • Salinas Valley Half Marathon

So yeah.  This week was kind of a wash.  I was prepared for July to be busy.  I planned this week of workouts out accordingly.  It was a good plan, like I said I was prepared.  Until reality showed me otherwise.  Life just laughed at me.

Work was busier than I expected.  I wasn’t sleeping well, 5 hours a night if I was lucky. Then I got sick or exhausted, something like that.   Summer has fully arrived after a late start and temps have been above 100 in home town most of the week.    That brought power outages and way too many damn fires with it.

Monday- Rest I knew work was going to be crazy busy so I didn’t even bring my running clothes.  I was not wrong.   By the time I made it home, my brain was fried.  For it only being Monday, that should have been a sign.

Tuesday- Rest/Sick  The start of the downhill slide.  I was supposed to go hiking with my dad at a new trail but my stomach was a giant ass hat all day.  Nothing active happened.  I did enjoy some lovely 4th of July hot dogs with my family though.


Wednesday- Rest  This was partially planned.  I knew work was going to be insane after the 4th so the original plan was to rest.  I took running gear though since I had failed to run or hike on the 4th.   However my stomach was still being an asshat so running did not happen.  It was also 100+ at home when I got off work.


Thursday- 3.1 miles  I woke up with a sore throat and major headache.  Oh hell, no, I don’t have time to be sick.   It was a calmer day at work and I was hoping that a few easy miles would help run out the oncoming head cold.   I ran in work town as it was like 103 in home town.  I kept the miles easy- well they felt easy-ish but they were too fast.  I didn’t feel worse after the run but I didn’t feel better either.

Friday- Rest With my boss on vacation- I’m open to close on Friday’s so no working out.    Plus home town was 107.  And the air conditioner died.


Saturday- Rest I woke up feeling like I’d been hit by a truck.  Combine that with the 105 temps and the heavy smoke from the 3 huge fires burning in the county and I was not even attempting a run.  Instead I lazed around.  Did spend some time looking at refrigerators as a power surge on Thursday half killed the refrigerator.  Yay.  By evening’s end 3 more fires had started.

Sunday- 12 miles Rest I set everything out for a long run but when my alarm went off after the first decent nights sleep I have had in weeks, I just couldn’t do it.  I still didn’t feel great and I know the next 2 weeks are going to be crazy at work.  Being in sick is not an option.     Plus the sky was so thick with smoke, I had a hard time telling that it was actually blue.

3.1 miles for the week.  Ouch but it is what it is.  Moving on I need to be a little more flexible during the next 2 weeks as we move through this system conversion at work.    I am now a little hesitant about my 10K next weekend.   I knew July was going to be interesting so now to see what this week throws at me.😀

How was your week?

How do you handle setback weeks?

 

Run!, Slacker

Week 47 Un-training Recap

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

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.

It passed the flash test!

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?

Run!, Slacker

Adios August

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

Goodbye August, don’t let the door hit you on the way out.  Well, actually, on second thought…😝😃

I started August with such high hopes but unfortunately it seemed like life had other plans.   Between work stress, getting sick, crazy heat and humidity, headaches, crazy drivers and car accidents, I was so happy to see August end.  To add insult to injury I have some crazy, creepy bug bite.  I felt something sting after my good interval workout last week.  It just felt like I scratched myself so I ignored it.  Come to find a huge red lump below my ear on Friday.  It was so creepy that my coworkers are helping me keep an eye on it.   I can’t see it really well and cannot seem to get a picture of it either, so they and my mom have been super helpful.  It’s still a lump today.  So long August!

But let’s get to the numbers-August2015Not what I was hoping for but at least I am going back up in miles.   Even if it’s a tiny bump (half a mile), it’s still up.   I deliberately took the month off from racing as I was feeling achy and tired.   I was having some leg/foot/shoe problems that I needed to figure out as well.   Which led to buying new shoes.  So far I am really liking the Pure Flows.  My only concern right now is I am wondering how long they will last.   I am afraid that what makes them so comfortable will not last long.   Only time will tell.  😃

This look back made me notice some things.  While my running was pretty consistent at 3x a week, my actual workouts were hit and miss.  I thought I had done better than that.  I never ran farther than 7.3 miles.  Which if this was a non training period would be fine.  However, I am training for a goal half marathon, followed a month later by another half and a week later by a 25K.    This was not the month I needed.   I have been doing some serious thinking about that goal half but have yet to come to a conclusion.    Between the heat this month and my stupid stomach, I try to not even look at my splits.   Looking for a positive spin, maybe I am base building for 2016?

So hello September.   As much as I am looking forward to September, I have some serious scheduling issues.   Every single weekend is booked.  Between a work weekend, race weekends and Avocado Margarita Festival conscription volunteering, I have no idea how I will get my long runs.  Well I do.  Get out of my own way and get up early.  But can this Slacker do that?  Combine those weekends with my boss going on vacation for 2.5 weeks, which means I can’t even leave the building, and September will be busy.  Can someone set up a Diet Coke delivery? 😄  My planner looks a little scary.   I am trying to only look at 2 days at a time, 2 days is manageable and lets me breath.  All that chaos aside, I am still looking forward to September.  In denial that the year is 2/3 over but still looking forward to September.

Starting with this weekend- first booked weekend- 5k!  But I have Monday and Tuesday off!!!  Monday is Labor Day and I told my boss I needed a mental health day before she left so I asked for Tuesday off.   😉     I also haven’t raced a 5K since July 2014 so this could be a train wreck, we shall see.

How does your September look?

Any plans this weekend? Anyone racing?

Should #getoutofmyownway be my new motto?

Run!, Slacker

Radio silence 

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

Long time no share.   I think that was the longest posting break I have taken since I started this blog almost 3 years ago.   I try to stick to a schedule of posting 3x a week so my one post last week was very lonely.  😞

I wanted to post but just didn’t feel like I was in the right head space there for a while.   I ended up taking Wednesday through Saturday off of running as well.    So attempt 1 of changing my weekly schedule didn’t work out.  A migraine rolled in on Wednesday evening and didn’t leave until Saturday.    Sometimes I run through them but this time I just decided to embrace the Slacker and rest.    The migraine was probably partially hormonal and partially due to stress so rest sounded great.  😃  I watched some tv, read some fanfic online (yes I am that nerdy) and maybe ate some things that I shouldn’t have.    I have zero regrets about that donut- I needed it for my mental health.    🙂

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving. Albert Einstein
Just keep moving…. Thanks Pinterest

Work is in the process of getting a little crazier so I decided that I just needed some quiet time.   I work in a location with a smaller staff, only about 6, and 3 have given notice.    All are for different life reasons but the timing still makes me doubt myself as a manager.    There are some things that I have no control over and I know this but still that little voice in my head starts whispering.     Ugh.   Plus with 3 leaving, things are about to get really interesting.   I see some very long days in the future… Very soon.    I am trying going to stay optimistic and it is what is and we will get through it.  Where did the cynical Slacker go?

I am hopeful that I can stick to my usual running of 4x a week throughout  the coming weeks but if I have to drop a day I will.   We’ll see.   Also I need to get back on that schedule, I haven’t hit 4 days a week since the week before SLO.  oops!!   IMG_0336

I did get in some miles on Sunday.   On Saturday, my mother and I had headed into SLO for a little shopping.      One of those stops was the Running Warehouse.    It broke my little Mizuno-loving heart but I exchanged my Inspire’s.    I don’t know what it was but I just could not break them in.    I hate exchanging shoes,  I feel bad that they have to be sent back, but I do not have the room in the budget to just keep buying shoes.   I swapped them out for a pair of the Wave Rider 18’s.   Maybe they are what I should have gone with in the first place.  Hmmm, we’ll see.IMG_0355Sunday was Mother’s Day (Happy belated Mother’s Day to all you mothers!) and the day started with a nice run/ walk with my mom.  We did the usual walk for a bit then I would run ahead and double back.    I was feeling a little tired and sluggish but after 4 days off, I wasn’t complaining.   Plus it was my first run in my new shoes.   🙂    In a completely unimportant note, these shoes sure are pretty, I hope I like them.

So I am hoping to get back to the regularly scheduled programming this week.   Hopefully in all areas, fingers crossed!

How was your weekend?  Mother’s Day?

Ever needed a time out? What did you do?

 

 

Run!, Slacker

Lions and Miles

Fallon @ Slacker Runner

I am not ready for the weekend to be over.  Not at all, I mean who ever is but this last week was just soooooo long.

I normally take the work day after a half marathon off but for some reason didn’t do that this time.  Silly slacker.   Monday I was definitely feeling those hills.   I would stand until my hamstrings protested then I would sit.  Getting up and down off my chair was a little challenging.  🙂   Tuesday I was a little achy but I was ready to run.  However, I read the signs that I should have another rest day.   There was an incident nearby to work- thanks St. Patricks day- so after waiting for a bit I really just didn’t like the idea of changing and leaving the building by myself so we all left together.   So rest day #2.

We had been gearing up for a big inspection at work and had thought it was Wednesday.  Turns out there was a typo and it was actually Thursday.    I felt all out of sorts for the rest of the day.  We had prepared and readied ourselves but then nope, wait one more day, ugh.  I was looking forward to running so I headed to the lake path after work to get in some miles.

Got to test out the camera on my new phone though!!
Got to test out the camera on my new phone though!!

Ouch, ow, I was sore.    Stinkin’ hills.  I was feeling tight and a little stiff so I called it after 3.5 miles.   I was hoping for a better showing on Thursday.    However, that was the actual inspection and even though we had prepared the best we could, I felt like I ran around like a loon for most of the day.  By the end of the day I just felt nauseous and my head hurt.   I passed on running and just headed home.  Even my training plan recommended taking an extra rest day this week.  So I did. IMG_9774For some reason I felt like running long on Saturday instead of Sunday this week.  The plan called for 12-14 miles but let’s be honest, that wasn’t happening.   Partly because I was tired and partly because I just didn’t want to.  I thought that would be too much after last weeks race.  I’m trying to walk a line between my slacker ways and modifying the plan.   Normally the week after a race, the highest I would go would be 6 but I really wanted to hit 10 for some reason.   I really want to get used to running a minimum of 10 miles for my long run.

I have no idea why I am smiling.
I have no idea why I am smiling.

I headed out in the early afternoon prepared to take it super easy.  The week had kicked my butt and it was in the high 70’s.    The hill repeats in the middle hurt but they will help in the long run right?  I really need to find a long run with fewer hill repeats.  Plus the home owners probably think I am crazy.   I was doing good up to 8.  I should have called it at 8 miles but stubbornly pushed on to 10.  Miles 9 and 10 were so slow, they probably could have been walked.  Actually they mostly were.  🙂

My normal run route from home is mostly on back roads or in older neighborhoods.  No sidewalks, lots of trees and green spaces and space between houses.  Narrow, windy roads and a couple of areas that look more like woods than town.   I usually see few cars, Saturday’s 10 miles had maybe 8 except for the 2 blocks I was on a main street.   Sometimes I hear things in the bushes while running.   Usually I see a deer or 2 (or herd) so I brush it off.     Like on Saturday, I heard something moving but didn’t see anything so I brushed it off and kept running.  This hit my Facebook later that night.

source
source

Ummm, crap?!   Think I’ll be running somewhere a little more mainstream for a while!!  Yes, I know they are around here but this was just a little too real for me.  I shared it again to my wall, and got comments reminding me that even dogs like to bite me.  Seriously a former co-workers’ husband calls me ass-bite.   So, yeah the gym is actually looking pretty good right now.  🙂

How was your weekend?

What kind of critters do you run into?

How long do you rest after a race?