Tag: slacker

Leaded or Unleaded

And the long run headaches are back.

I drink plenty of water so it’s not a lack of hydration.    Granted I am prone to headaches and migraines so there is that.   I am still loving the Ultima for shorter runs but I am wondering if my issue with longer runs is a lack of calories.  I still fuel horribly…as in I don’t.   I just can’t eat on my longer runs.  I buy gels and gu’s and chews and never eat them.  I carry them with me but they just end looking very beat up and expired.  So maybe my water needs to gain some weight?

With that in mind, it was time to experiment.  So I hit up The Feed.


#1  Gen Ucan Orange-   I heard great things and I really liked their protein powder so I was hopeful.   Out of the package, it mixed chalkier than I had expected.   It kind of seemed like it didn’t dissolve.  It didn’t taste powdery it just looked like that.  It actually had very little taste.   Very bland.    Taste aside, I had a surprisingly great 8 mile run.   I ran a hill I have never run in its entirety before.  I even posted about it on Instagram.  My mother made fun of me.   My post run headache was very muted.

#2- Glukos Orange-  Mixed and dissolved well and was very orange in color.  It also tasted very yummy.    That said, I slammed into a wall at mile 6 of a 9 mile run.    I felt ok leading up to that point and then things went very south.    It was the same route as before and at first I thought to blame it on the French toast that I had for breakfast but again that was the same as before too.    And I had a headache.

#3 Tailwind Raspberry Buzz- Caffeine!!!!    I was heading out for what I thought I was going to be a shortened long run because I wasn’t feeling it so I admit I only mixed 1/2 the pouch.    It blended well but oh man, it tasted like medicine.  I wasn’t a huge fan of the taste but a I went from not wanting to run at all to bartering with myself to just run 4 to actually running a solid 8 miler that day.  Hmmmm.   I do like that it has caffeine in it.   I feel like my asthma cranky lungs appreciate it sometimes.  I had a medium headache.

I am still cycling through these options.  I bought multiples so I could try each one on multiple runs in hopes of finding the golden ticket.    But a new contender has entered the ring too.


Thanks to Bibrave, I get to try the Beachbody Performance line.  I’ve heard great things about their Hydrate product so yay!    One of these has to solve the long run headaches, right?

How do you hydrate?

Fuel?

 

 

Week 8 Recap- Sleepy Time

Training for:

  • Livermore 13.1 -March 26
  • Destination Races Santa Barbara 13.1- May 13

This was a blink and you missed it week but it wasn’t without its own headaches.  That said it wasn’t a bad week it was just odd.   Well unless you count me finding out that someone has already filed a tax return using my social.  😒

Monday- Nada–  I had big plans to run but it was cold and windy and I just couldn’t make myself get out the door.  I usually love having Mondays off so I can get in a good run but the cold front rolling in just made me a big baby.  My toes have been so damn cold!

Tuesday- Rest- The work day was straight chaos.  With the power issues last Friday and this being the first day back after a 3 day weekend, things were nuts.   I wore a pair of old faithful boots but by the end of the day my feet hurt so bad that I wanted to cry.   My shoes turned on me!


Wednesday- 2.7 miles-  I headed out for my usual post work route run.  Except I hadn’t taken into account the cold and the wind.  I wasn’t dressed right with just capris and a long sleeve.   The winds were in excess of 20 mph and they almost took my Buff off my head twice.  My wool Buff that I recently accidentally dried.   I hit the spot where I take the sunset pics and decided it was too cold and turned around to head for the car.


Funny moment on the way back- if I am coming up on an intersection the same time as a vehicle or two and don’t want to play the “no you go, no you go” game, I stop before and stretch or fake tie my shoe.    This time one of those cars was a cop car and I guess they thought I looked shady.  I got the stink eye for a moment when I straightened back up.  😛    Nothing to see here, move along.     Even though when I damn near had an asthma attack 2 blocks later on a street corner I was wishing they could come back.


Thursday- 5 miles.     Blood work test fail #1.  Doctor said that I did not need to fast for a glucose test.  He even wrote it on the work order.   I took time off work in the afternoon and headed back to home town for the testing.    He was wrong, the lab refused to do the testing.  Grrr.  Now what?    I went running!   I dressed a little smarter this time but could have used another layer.   I’ve determined that as long as we have rain in the forecast, speed is not likely because my lungs just can’t handle the moisture in the air.  No sooner do I accept that than Strava informs me that I broke my previous record for 400m and wasn’t even trying…


Friday- Rest  Glucose test fail #2.  And then success.    I tried to get the process started in work town before work but was unable to, the line was insane.   Luckily my boss is awesome so once everyone got to work I went back to the lab and got the process started.  And then went back and forth for the next 3+ hours.   I didn’t finish the glucose testing until 1:30.  By then I was hangry and already bruising.  My lunch was around 2 and I went through a drive thru intending to treat myself to some french fries but I ended up being lured by a picture of giant burger so I ordered that and some fries.   Instead of feeling stuffed after eating it, I still felt oddly empty.  It was very odd. I was so hungry all day.


Saturday- Rest.  I crashed hard the night before around 9:30 which is odd for me.  Normally I am up late reading and catching up on tv on Friday nights.  I slept for 12 hours!  It wasn’t un-interrupted but that’s a little ridiculous!   Even when I did get up and get going I had zero energy.  After doing a few errands I ended up taking a long nap.    I had planned on running both Saturday and Sunday but decided that my body was trying to tell me something.

Sunday- Rest Yeah, this was just a total lack of motivation on my part.  I kept telling myself to change and get out the door for 10 miles but I couldn’t actually do it.   It was cold and my toes were frozen in my slippers in my house and no matter how much I berated myself I couldn’t make myself run.  I just kept pushing it back later and later.  #longrunfail

7.7 miles for the week.  I’m not going to say ouch because missing my long run was entirely up to me.   Was a case of the blah’s worthy of missing a long run?   Maybe, maybe not.   Only time will tell.   I do know I am over the cold weather.    Timehop keeps showing me pics from last year and I was running in shorts and a tank.  I miss those days.  This weird cold front and crazy wind, rain just needs to take a break.  I’m not saying it’s entirely responsible for my lagging motivation but it’s part of it.

How was your week?

Do you have warm weather?  Wanna share?

 

Week 6- Ouch- Fail

Training for:

  • Livermore 13.1 -March 26
  • Destination Races Santa Barbara 13.1- May 13

Did anyone else have an odd week last week?   Did it seem freaky long and just off for no real reason?    Everyone at work seemed to feel it too.  I know there was a full moon on Friday but still the whole week was just odd.

Monday- Rest-  Last week saw a wealth of knowledge drop on us at work- all merger related.  It started today with a meeting with the new CEO.     It was a good meeting but I was kind of fried by the end of the day, I can’t remember what I did when I got home.  😞


Tuesday- Gym Fail- Work was a little busy but overall the rain and the highway closure is keeping us a little slower.  I changed after work and planned on heading home for some #bibchat and hitting the gym for intervals.  What the hell? Traffic was ridiculous.  It was raining but nothing like it has been lately but I didn’t get back to home town until almost 7.    So much for #bibchat.  Ok, gym time.  Every single treadmill was taken.  What?!  I admit I gave up.  I bailed.  I headed home and ordered a pizza.


Wednesday- 4 miles– After the previous day’s snafu, I decided to do another baby tempo at work.  Except when I set out I realized I has somehow lost my inhaler the night before.  For crying out loud.  Ok, so no speed work.  The marine layer was heavy so running without my inhaler was probably asking for trouble but I really needed to run.   I kept it nice and easy but even with the slower pace, my breathing still sounded like I was sprinting, ha.    The marine layer holds light pretty well so I pushed further into the state park and was able to make it to the Natural History Museum before I had to turn back.  I love running though the eucalyptus grove.

Thursday- Ouch–  I woke up to some not so good pain in my left leg.  And not the typical shin variety pain.  I took my running clothes to work but when it didn’t get better throughout the day I conceded defeat and decided to make it a rest day.

Friday- More ouch– My leg still hurt.  It was isolated to the inside of my left ankle and I was starting to freak out a little.   I also figured I knew what did it.   While I loved running the trails through the eucalyptus grove on Wednesday, I shouldn’t have done it in my Nike’s.   While I love my Nike’s for speed work, they are not big on traction, they have very smooth bottoms and the trails were pretty slick and muddy from all the rain.  But I was having fun in the moment.


Saturday- More of the same–    Good thing I decided it was too muddy to that run that 10k!  I opted for active rest and wandered around SLO doing some shopping and consoling myself with some amazing pizza.  I may have spent too much money at Lululemon. 😛  The clearance rack was just too tempting.


Sunday- 9 miles  I had rested for 3 days, what was my ankle going to do???   I knew I was going to be slow and that was fine.   I was stiff for the first few miles which is typical but I made sure to focus on my ankle and walk anytime I felt more than a twinge.   Overall I felt ok.  I picked up the pace a bit across the bridge per usual and indulged with a little river watching when I made it down to the river bed.   Everything was going ok until a little past mile 6.  Then things went south real fast.  I was hustling to cross an intersection before a car and I suddenly felt ill.   I had to pause for a breather rather than be sick and even when I got going I had to walk a lot.   I felt very crappy for the last 3 miles, it was all I could to finish.   If I could have bailed sooner I would have but it’s not like I was getting to the car any other way.   My lungs were abnormally pissed too.  They were angrier then they had been on Wednesday but I had found my inhaler so what gives?    I wasn’t quite right the rest of the evening either which is why this post is a day late.

13 miles for the week.   Once again, I missed workouts.  Grrr.     Between merger stuff, crazy rain, and my weird dizzy, nausea spells, I feel like I’ve turned into a giant flake.  My lab work should be done next week but knowing my luck it won’t show anything.   I’m not even sure what I should keep my fingers crossed for?    This year is Challenging in me in different ways than I planned.  I broke down crying in a meeting with my boss last week.  Get it together!

Anyways, moving on to a shiny new week.  One good thing— my road is open again!!!!!  30 less miles a day!!!  It’s the little things right?

How was your week?

Ever bailed on a workout when you were in workout clothes already?

Tell me something shiny!

 

Week 5- Training Begins??

Training for:

  • Livermore 13.1 -March 26
  • Destination Races Santa Barbara 13.1- May 13

Or does it?     I was looking forward to putting my money where my mouth is as it were and hitting the marks during week 1 of training.   Or at least trying to.   I knew the miles were going to be hard and I knew I had a busy week but I was looking forward to the challenge.


Monday- 3.1 miles   Baby tempo!   You can read all about that enlightening run here.   I’m still debating where to run my tempo miles.    I’ll figure something out.

Tuesday- Planned rest day  My legs were a little tight after the attempt at speed the previous day.   I wore compression socks under my slacks most of the day and made sure to foam roll.

And here’s when things went south-

Wednesday- Intervals– rest  I woke up with a headache and stomach pain.  I held fast that I was going to run after work.    Except that I didn’t make it through the day at work.  It got to the point that I couldn’t even stand up straight my stomach hurt so bad.    Joy.

Thursday/ Friday- Rest   What I didn’t mention was that starting  Tuesday night I woke up every night sweating ridiculously.  TMI?  Sorry.    Maybe I was fighting something?  My brother had been sick, my boss missed a day being sick.  Whatever it was, my migraine wouldn’t quit and I felt weird.  I also had a doctor’s appointment where he ordered a series of fun tests.  Yay.

Saturday- Planned rest.   We were going out of town for my grandmother’s memorial.  I knew I wasn’t running that day.    It was a sad, nostalgic, interesting morning and a long day.


Sunday- 8 miles.   I didn’t want to run.  I still wasn’t feeling great but I also wondered how much of that was real and how much was just lingering inertia of the week.   I slept in in the morning and headed out a little before 3.  Yes, I was running during the Super Bowl.   😛     I was bartering with myself in miles 1 and 2, the week was already a wash so I could call it at 4 right?  I even slowed down in mile 3 which has a downhill and is usually a little faster.  Grrr.   But I kept running and something changed around mile 3.5.      I just kept going, mile 4, across the bridge- where I pulled a sub 10 mile.  This is only interesting because I average around 11:30ish until I hit the bridge and bring the pace down over the next .3 mile.   I swear I wasn’t sprinting.   Mile 5- still going and feeling pretty good.  Mile 6 and I ran an entire hill that I have never run all of before.    I celebrated on IG and my mother laughed at me.  Ok, so the hill less than 1/2 mile and only gained 92 feet but let me have my tiny victory!!!   Onto mile 7 and mile 8 and I still felt good!  Woo hoo!!   I have no idea what happened but I’ll take it!

11.1 miles for the week.  1 half completed workout, 1 fully completed workout.  1 missed run and 2 missed cross trainings.    I’m still on the long run high though so yay!  But I am thankful that this is a longer training plan now.  If it was the standard 12 weeks, I may be a little nervous but the longer plan is keeping me a little calmer.  It may be a false sense of security but only time will tell.

How was your week?

Did you watch the Super Bowl?  Puppy Bowl?

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?😛