A Head Full of Stuff

These past few days have not been the best. I'm bummed that my visit with my sister Khai was marred by illness, and I'm bummed that I haven't run since last Thursday. I'm not sure if running has anything to do with my sinus and ear infections - Kyle (my guru) did say that intense work-outs can lower one's immune system. I do know that I have never had either, at least to my knowledge, and it was miserable.

I am just now getting out of the "head full of stuff". Yes, there is still some fluid in my head, and it still gives me some trouble, but I'm not feeling seasick every time I move my head. That's an improvement, and I'll take it. And I'm going to run tomorrow - it may only be a couple of miles, but I really need to get out there and do it. I have a 10K to run this weekend with Bonnie, and I'm not bailing on her!

So, nothing really interesting to say, other than TGIFB!

Bonkity Bonk Bonk

"In endurance sports, particularly cycling and running, hitting the wall or the bonk describes the condition when an athlete suddenly loses energy and becomes fatigued, the result of glycogen stores in the liver and muscles becoming depleted."

Ok, whatever, I'm no science-y nutrition-y type (although I DO like some science, just not the technical bits). But this is what Kyle thought happened to me on Saturday, and he's probably right.

Jeni and I ran together on Saturday for the first 10.5 miles. I felt incredible the first 6 miles or so, but then my energy started to flag. By the time we returned to our cars and I took off solo for my last 5 miles, I was pretty much toast.

I managed to push it for 3 more miles, though, when suddenly I just couldn't go any further. I was DONE with a capital D-O-N-E. Even walking the last 2 miles back to my car (ok, minivan) was brutal. I was spent, physically and mentally, and I actually felt like crying.

I want to feel good about the 13 miles, I really do. But this is only the 2nd time in training that I haven't been able to complete what I set out to do. I said I'd do 15 miles - by God I was going to do 15 miles! - but I didn't mean that I was going to walk the last 2. So that sucked.

I set myself a huge goal, I know that. I don't want to let myself down, so I've got to figure out the whole re-fueling thing so I don't "BONK" again the next time I set out on a long one.

Sore Kneecaps

I really didn't know if I could do it, and I'm a bit surprised that I did, but I ran 12 miles yesterday morning. I didn't break any speed records or anything. It took me 2 hours and 15 minutes. But that is a lot faster than I thought it would be. I thought it would take me 3 hours!

Running 12 miles when my body is really in no shape to do so takes its toll, however. My kneecaps hurt. My lower back hurts. My legs hurt. But the silver lining to all this soreness? I can totally justify getting a massage!

Double the Trouble, Double the FUN

Is running fun? Hmmm. Not fun, exactly. Satisfying? Is that the right word?

Well, I've been so satisfied with the past 6 weeks (Is that all it has been? Geesh!) that I decided, as some of you already know, to run the FULL marathon instead of the half.

Why would I do something so... foolish? Crazy? Exciting? Amazing? Lengthy? Because I can. Because I never do things in a sensible manner.

I'm having a blast, really. My scale hasn't changed (At all! Not even the BMI part! WTF?) but my body has changed. And I hope I've changed too. Not the things that were already good. The bad bits... you know.