Sucky run. I don't understand what's going on. I feel like there's so much against me. I have no idea what could be causing this. I feel nausea, my legs hurt, I'm bored. WTH?? Where's the excitment and joy I usually get from this? I want to just cry my eyes out. I feel so defeated and discouraged.
I've been doing some praying, soul searching, listing the wonderful feelings and results I've gotten from running, reminding myself the goals I have and how much I have accomplished. I'm hoping to wake up one morning and this was just a phase.
WOOSH go away yucky blahness!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Planning Race Day
With 7 weeks to go, and lots of holidays mixed in that time, I figure it's definitely time for some race-day planning. Food and clothing mostly.
I have hypoglycemia. That means my blood sugar is normally too low, which makes me irritable, disoriented, nausea, and I get headaches. If I eat something with too high a glycemic index - like bananas, pasta, toast, bagels - my sugar levels spike too quickly which makes me feel sluggish, extremely tired, irritable, and again I can get headaches. So all this carb loading the night before and eating bagles and drinking coffee the morning of a race... it doesn't work for me. In fact, it will do the exact opposite of what other runners say it does for them.
Up until now, I have gotten away with... gasp.... not eating at all before a run. I go out on an empty stomach in the morning or after having not eaten for many hours. I don't like the heaviness in my stomach, don't want to cause cramps and most of all, I have been afraid to eat the wrong thing. For races I have just gone with nibbling on a granola bar, and for triathlons I have done PB sandwiches.
So now I'm on the hunt for a healthy, lightly filling food that won't leave me feeling hungry but also won't spike my blood sugar. If PB sandwiches do it on a 1.5 hour triathlon course, then I'm thinking it might do it for the 1/2 marathon too.
Anyone else hypoglycemic? What works for you??
Also, I've heard good things about mixing gel packets with water. Have any of you done that and what's your feedback?
I only have 6 more long runs to figure this out.
I have hypoglycemia. That means my blood sugar is normally too low, which makes me irritable, disoriented, nausea, and I get headaches. If I eat something with too high a glycemic index - like bananas, pasta, toast, bagels - my sugar levels spike too quickly which makes me feel sluggish, extremely tired, irritable, and again I can get headaches. So all this carb loading the night before and eating bagles and drinking coffee the morning of a race... it doesn't work for me. In fact, it will do the exact opposite of what other runners say it does for them.
Up until now, I have gotten away with... gasp.... not eating at all before a run. I go out on an empty stomach in the morning or after having not eaten for many hours. I don't like the heaviness in my stomach, don't want to cause cramps and most of all, I have been afraid to eat the wrong thing. For races I have just gone with nibbling on a granola bar, and for triathlons I have done PB sandwiches.
So now I'm on the hunt for a healthy, lightly filling food that won't leave me feeling hungry but also won't spike my blood sugar. If PB sandwiches do it on a 1.5 hour triathlon course, then I'm thinking it might do it for the 1/2 marathon too.
Anyone else hypoglycemic? What works for you??
Also, I've heard good things about mixing gel packets with water. Have any of you done that and what's your feedback?
I only have 6 more long runs to figure this out.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Day 30 - Half Marathon Training
It's been exactly one month of half marathon training! That includes half of it covered in a sinus and bronchial infection. So, naturally, I was a little nervous today. I was pickng up from where I should be, not from where I left off. I am able to do the distances and I don't want to lose precious time. The timing is exact leading up to the first of four races.
9am
4 miles
11:59/mile
total time - 47:58
It was really nice out today. It was November. Chilly but sunny.
I had a really rough run today. Within the first 1/2 mile, my legs were sore. I'm not sure what that's about. I figured it was that I just needed to warm up, but the rest of the run I felt like I just couldn't get them up. I felt like I was dragging the whole way. I felt mentally strong, but not physically. Eh, every run is different.
I had some muscle cramping... in my shoulder! Not in my legs, hips, calves, back... nope, it was my shoulder and neck. It moved down into my chest on the right side. It was bad enough that I ended up walking from about mile 2 to mile 3. Then I ran most of the way of the last mile to finish out as strongly as I could.
Lucky for me, I had a massage scheduled today! Thanks to my honey :o)
Overall, the run wasn't my best, but I did it and that's all that mattered today. Getting back out there on the road and proving to myself I can.
9am
4 miles
11:59/mile
total time - 47:58
It was really nice out today. It was November. Chilly but sunny.
I had a really rough run today. Within the first 1/2 mile, my legs were sore. I'm not sure what that's about. I figured it was that I just needed to warm up, but the rest of the run I felt like I just couldn't get them up. I felt like I was dragging the whole way. I felt mentally strong, but not physically. Eh, every run is different.
I had some muscle cramping... in my shoulder! Not in my legs, hips, calves, back... nope, it was my shoulder and neck. It moved down into my chest on the right side. It was bad enough that I ended up walking from about mile 2 to mile 3. Then I ran most of the way of the last mile to finish out as strongly as I could.
Lucky for me, I had a massage scheduled today! Thanks to my honey :o)
Overall, the run wasn't my best, but I did it and that's all that mattered today. Getting back out there on the road and proving to myself I can.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Revamped
Feeling great today! For the last 2 weeks, I've been hit really hard with a sinus infection. I tried running but ended up hacking the entire time. Finally it's gone!!!
My back in the meantime has been so neglected and got to the point I couldn't even bend over without uncomfortable pressure. That has never happened before. So now that the sinus infection is over, and I'm sooooo ready to get back into training, I figured a trip to the Chiropractor was in order. He's always so good to me :o)
Then, my rockin' hubby got me a giftcard and an already-made appointment for a massage for tomorrow! Gotta loooove that!
I'm going to jump into the training schedule from where I should be now. I'm not going backwards. This is the beauty of having started out simple and taking my time.
The plan says that this week I will be running
4m
4m
6m
I can totally do that...I hope. lol
oh P.S.
I forgot to mention that while stuck in a non-running state for the past 2 weeks, I took real notice to my eating habits, which have been relatively great. I am still a vegetarian, but not one that goes for the pasta instead. Being Italian, that's hard not to do! But I do really well. I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, whole grains but limit the bread/carb intake. I eat to fuel my body, not to celebrate or deal with emotions. It's been a very life-changing year for me and the way I view eating habits.
Which brings me to my newest challenge. I always said I would never be the one to count calories... but alas, I'm counting calories. I have had the habit of writing down what I eat from years ago, but it became really hard to do with the more children I popped out. I admit, it's time consuming some days. However, I have found that if I write it down as I make my meal, then it doesn't really take much more time. So I have been doing this now for 2 weeks, keeping it down to 1200 if I'm not running or working out. I have now lost about 5 more pounds. I know that seems like a lot really fast, but this is how my body always works when I change something up. Then it levels out and slows down. I'm looking forward to seeing the resuslts of getting back to full-time training and cross-traning workouts. I'm excited really! I have set a goal to lose 1/2 a pound a week for 6 months. It will keep me motivated each week and give me that more immediate reward I need to keep going.
My back in the meantime has been so neglected and got to the point I couldn't even bend over without uncomfortable pressure. That has never happened before. So now that the sinus infection is over, and I'm sooooo ready to get back into training, I figured a trip to the Chiropractor was in order. He's always so good to me :o)
Then, my rockin' hubby got me a giftcard and an already-made appointment for a massage for tomorrow! Gotta loooove that!
I'm going to jump into the training schedule from where I should be now. I'm not going backwards. This is the beauty of having started out simple and taking my time.
The plan says that this week I will be running
4m
4m
6m
I can totally do that...I hope. lol
oh P.S.
I forgot to mention that while stuck in a non-running state for the past 2 weeks, I took real notice to my eating habits, which have been relatively great. I am still a vegetarian, but not one that goes for the pasta instead. Being Italian, that's hard not to do! But I do really well. I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, whole grains but limit the bread/carb intake. I eat to fuel my body, not to celebrate or deal with emotions. It's been a very life-changing year for me and the way I view eating habits.
Which brings me to my newest challenge. I always said I would never be the one to count calories... but alas, I'm counting calories. I have had the habit of writing down what I eat from years ago, but it became really hard to do with the more children I popped out. I admit, it's time consuming some days. However, I have found that if I write it down as I make my meal, then it doesn't really take much more time. So I have been doing this now for 2 weeks, keeping it down to 1200 if I'm not running or working out. I have now lost about 5 more pounds. I know that seems like a lot really fast, but this is how my body always works when I change something up. Then it levels out and slows down. I'm looking forward to seeing the resuslts of getting back to full-time training and cross-traning workouts. I'm excited really! I have set a goal to lose 1/2 a pound a week for 6 months. It will keep me motivated each week and give me that more immediate reward I need to keep going.
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