Sunday, February 7, 2010

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....

28 comments:

Unknown said...

Ha, ha, thanks for NOT tagging ME! I get it..
Sounds like you had the kind of long run that I had. Pillar legs, the scary shuffle, scrappy pacing, weakness of the brain and heart...oh well. Some runs are like that. I actually feel like you, it's kind of early to be feeling great about a long run when we have so many more to do! Plus, my hippy was hurting and gosh, I've gotta watch that!
Anyway, Baby Cakes, sounds like you're ready to get back into it this week!
By the way, I want a cottage and travel money too!!
Hugs,
megs

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

Love that little cottage ! Sounds like a dream place.

I wish you had enjoyed that long run but either way I am glad its done for you. (I have still to do over 15 miles!) life, the weather...just get in my way!

Vacations...PA is lovly in the fall ;-)

JonathanMarathonMan said...

I did it.. I finally blogged for the first time on months. And it felt good. Now to keep it up is the challenge.

AZ said...

I hate long runs like that, but maybe those are the ones that makest stronger. Either that or they just suck.

Jenn said...

21-NICE! I'm saving the rest of my 20 and overs for when it finally gets nice out and then I'm going to run 4 of them 4 days in a row the week before Boston! I hate those dragging runs but they still go down as mileage in the books! You want to get out of the suburbs and I want to get to the suburbs-Funny! Congrats to your boys-have a great week!!

AM! said...

thanks for sharing your 3 things. that's fun to think about.

Char said...

Look after yourself and listen to your body. As a now-expert on overtraining syndrome you do not want to go there. Hope you're felling a bir more perky soon.

ajh said...

That sounds like a tough long run! i hate those but you didn't give up and hung in there. Give yourself credit. I ran 12 as I am only getting ready for a half marathon and my last mile of only 12 was rough.

saundra said...

Wow, Jill. I'm tired just reading that. You have such a positive attitude! I tend to beat myself up to a pulp whenever runs don't go well, especially long runs. But good job going the extra miles. Just remember to rest.

Jennifer said...

Sorry your long run was funky! Don't beat yourself up about it, it's all good and your training looks fabulous, rest up, a little break is all that's needed. Have a great week!

Julie said...

Hi Jill,
Great job on your 21 mile long run! I love your list of things. The cottage is a great idea...a place to escape to for relaxing..we all need one of those. I am with you with having more money for taking our kids on awesome vacations so that they can experience other cultures:) God bless Aleve and bubble bath and cheers to your twin boys!!

ShutUpandRun said...

Sorry about the sucky run. It is no fun to feel like crap for six miles!! Glad you got the long run in, though and hoping you're feeling better today after some R & R.

Heather said...

Sorry about the tough run - good for you for sticking with it.

HappyTrails said...

You're right about having a crummy run now - get it out of your system and on a good day, you will feel like you have wings! I dream of a cottage/cabin in the country, too! Ditto on the more money and time for seeing new places (especially sunny, warm ones right now - grrrr!)!
Kathleen

Anonymous said...

I give you a lot of credit for pushing through the tough run! Glad to see your rewarded yourself with a fabulous bubble bath!

Amy said...

Great job on the 21! Those are so satisfying. Pledging not to drink NEVER works for me, FYI.

Anonymous said...

There's not a prize for mastering the uphill long run death march, but there is a marathon: Bataan Death March. Miles 8-13.1 are up a mountain.

Abby said...

240 miles in 2010? Holy moly, you're a machine!

Felice Devine said...

Great job getting that run DONE! I would've given up for sure. And I'm sure the decision to run the half is a relief. Sometimes you just need to make the decision and you feel worlds better!

Tricia said...

Great job getting through a sucky run!

Running and living said...

21 miles is awesome! These tough runs make us mentally tougher, so good job with that, too!

Tina @GottaRunNow said...

2 Wishes: A cabin in the woods sounds lovely and running marathons in 50 states sounds like fun!

Congrats to your boys! My daughter used to be in orchestra and made it to state in the Geography Bee one year - fun times!

I hope you feel better soon - read you were sick in a comment somewhere.

Julie said...

Hi Jill,
I just read the comment that you left for Adam. I am sorry that you are sick and hope that you feel better soon:) Keep your chin up and stay positive!! Take care of your self!!

Tara said...

Awww....I'm soooo sorry that your run back sucked! That's terrible. :(
You'll run with me again though right? Just not THAT route.

I love your #1. Rick and I were talking about this same thing this past weekend. We hope to someday have just a little cottage in the woods, just the two of us. I can't wait!

Alissa said...

Oh bad long runs are bad for the soul. Listen to that body, it sounds like I really needs some rest! I can empathize with you on bad sinuses. Its the pits! I love that you ended your post with your gratitude list. I think I may have to copy you! Great idea.

Anonymous said...

Kim from Atl-I think we're having the same week, Jill. Crud, no sleep, crappy long run. Next rookie question: If Aleve is bad on a long run, can I stick a couple of Tylenol in the pack? (you're my go-to girl, if you haven't noticed!)

Irene said...

A bubble bath sounds wonderful about now! Will this crud ever end! I hope you're feeling better by now.

Thanks for your kind words over at my blog. :) I didn't PR my last 10K. I need to shave about 6 minutes off to PR. I'm working on it! :)

Adam Culp (Crazy Floridian) said...

Nice list of wishes, they all sound super. Sorry to hear your run went bad. Sounds like rest is needed.