Week 5 of 2010 / Gratitude/ Before I die...

Week 5:

Week’s Running totals: 48

Running Total for 2010: 237.45

Weight training: 3

Swim: ½ mile

I am tired. Very tired. Still not sleeping well, but slightly better than I was. Going to a wedding last night and having a few cocktails didn’t help. Oh, did I say a few weeks ago that I gave up alcohol until after Boston? Whoopsy. I had reason though, that being I actually had a nice time :).

A 21 mile run yesterday ended rough; I ran the same course as the week before where I had that long uphill haul for the last half of my long run. You know, that course that is "good for me." Next week, I'm not sure where I will run long but I promise you it will not be this course!! I’m thinking I need to rethink what "good for me is" as I am mastering the uphill long run death march pretty darn well! Is there a prize for that? I ran with Tara as she approached mile 3 to 13.5ish. I say “ish” because neither one of us managed to get our Garmins started properly (Sorry, Tara, that my A.D.D. is rubbing off on you! I’m sure just the anticipation of meeting me at your mile 3 caused some brain cell malfunction). You’d think two above average intelligence and beautiful : ) women could manage to have at least one working Garmin watch between the two of us…..okay, you do not need to comment on that little mishap. At one point, we were both laughing so hard trying to figure out where we were based on multiple restarting of the watches. I felt like we were doing advanced calculus trying to perform simple addition and subtraction. Anyway, my goal was to go 20-21 miles depending on how I felt. Beings I felt like crap the micro-second I woke up, I should have gone about 3 miles and called it a day; but sudden brain cramp came and told me that I could go 21. I haven’t felt that great all week and I was behind in mileage due to some icky crud I most likely picked up from twin #2 and thought I could make up mileage here on long run. Hahahaha. Dumb. But us A.D.D.ers think that way sometimes. Tara was running various zones, per her coach, and I was holding back better than normal kill-your-long-run-in the-first-few-miles-by-going-too-fast pace so I thought the last half of my run would be great. And it was. For about 4 miles. Around mile 15, my stomach bothered me, my legs were heavy, my glute was screaming it hurt, and yucko - I shuffled through the next 6 miles utterly exhausted. Let’s emphasize the word shuffled as I am certain my form did not resemble anything related to running. Yea, that was one totally miserable long run (the 2nd half - after Tara was smart and only ran 14 and got a ride back home, in her husband’s nice, warm car and I ran alone back to my car. Alone. In the cold. By myself). M.I.S.E.R.A.B.L.E. But it’s ok, actually. Considering all: I didn’t feel that great, this was my 2nd 20+ miler in as many weeks, it's still a little early in training to creep up this high and I have time to perfect it, and sometimes you just need these type of runs to appreciate the good ones that much more. I know I'm capable, just not yesterday. I have one more tough week of training and then it’s a slower, recovery week...but I may end up tweaking that schedule some if my body is screaming for more rest this coming week. The ole bod’s not what it once was, darnit!

Today I managed to get to the gym and ran a couple easy, shake-out-the-legs miles, some glute and arm weights and about a half mile in the pool. It felt good but I’ve taken 2 very short 15-minute naps today so I know something germy is brewing inside me. That, or it’s just the sleep thing. Plus, my sinuses are killing me – again. Imagine that! (remember when I told you you'd be sick of me whining about my sinuses??? Yeah, we haven't even begun people!) I’m vowing to get my diet back on track, too, and get the excess body fat back down where it needs to be. It’s just a constant struggle as I end up compensating my fatigue with food and also contributing to excess bf is my weight training as it takes a back seat to the running since I’m struggling getting both in on the same day. If I could manage more than 4 hours of sleep a night, I’d get up in the morning and do weight training before work, as I used to do, and the run after work. Now, I’m just cramming it all in. 2 ½ hours in the gym after work is about killing me. Ughhhhhhhhhhh.

Okay, enough whining. Suck it up, Jilly!!!!

5 things Gratitude list for the week’s end:
1) Aleve – I know this is a no-no on a long run but dang, it helps!
2) Bubble bath – I’m sitting in one right now while most of you are out there watching those fab superbowl commercials. Nope, I’m soaking in a tub of bubbles. Ahhhhhh…
3) I booked a flight to run the ING half marathon in prep for Boston. I’m grateful I finally made the decision as it’s been a few weeks of torment. Even if I run pathetic, I know the opportunity to see old friends, and maybe a new blog friend or two, will be a magical few days for my stressful, crazy life.
4) Brendan (twin #2) performed an awesome honors band concert last night!
5) Ryan (twin #1) placed 2nd in the middle school geography bee.

Finally, Ulyana at shaped by running, tagged me to write 3 things I hope to accomplish or do before I die. Hum. Since this is my blog about me, I'll write about what *I* want:

1) I hope to get out of the suburbs when my boys are done with high school and buy a cute little cottage/house. Somewhere. Somewhere preferrable warm. Even if it's a "2nd" house. Somewhere to go and get out of the sprawling burbs for awhile.

2) To land an amazing job! I have some ideas of what....but I'll just leave it at that for now.

3) Having a lot of money to do some awesome vacations with my kiddos. We've been to some cool places but right now we don't have the funds and I hope someday that all turns around again and I can take them on an amazing adventure that, now they are older, will remember when I'm long gone.

Instead of me tagging others to write their "to do" list, why don't you guys just tell me, instead :).

Run safe this week, friends!! Looks like a lot of icky weather east of me....