Monday:
Took it easy today and ran 6 miles. It was a test run in many ways. I wanted to see how my Achilles is feeling. It was just fine. I wanted to see how my lungs are feeling. They were just fine. And I wanted to test a pair of Salomon S/Lab in the right size.
Everything seems to be coming along really well, except the shoes. I love the Salomon’s but I can get a bit of nerve pain on the button of my right foot from a bunion. I just don't think my feet could handle 60 plus miles on the trail in those shoes. But it still amazes me how light they are and how well they grip. With rain in the forecast the days leading up to the race and race day, I am not comfortable with my road shoes on the trail. I just worry there will be too much slipping. No traction can make it tricky to run fast. I am trying to figure to how to work a pair of trail shoes into the budget (because I currently do not own a pair).
Of course I went to yoga.
Took it easy today and ran 6 miles. It was a test run in many ways. I wanted to see how my Achilles is feeling. It was just fine. I wanted to see how my lungs are feeling. They were just fine. And I wanted to test a pair of Salomon S/Lab in the right size.
Everything seems to be coming along really well, except the shoes. I love the Salomon’s but I can get a bit of nerve pain on the button of my right foot from a bunion. I just don't think my feet could handle 60 plus miles on the trail in those shoes. But it still amazes me how light they are and how well they grip. With rain in the forecast the days leading up to the race and race day, I am not comfortable with my road shoes on the trail. I just worry there will be too much slipping. No traction can make it tricky to run fast. I am trying to figure to how to work a pair of trail shoes into the budget (because I currently do not own a pair).
Of course I went to yoga.
If you want super light trail shoes, these are amazing!
Tuesday:
I decided to put speed work back on the schedule. Not sure how my body would feel I went with a very easy progression run. I was very happy that I made that choice when I got to Granada Park and the water was turned off. I had decided to not carry water that day because I knew I was only running 10 miles. I did finish my progression run, but I cut a mile off the cool down so I could get home and get some water. Other than being thirsty, I felt good the whole time and I think I have totally gotten rid of the plague. I am usually a no show sock girl, but I loved these Drymax hyper thin crew socks!
Unfortunately, Norm seems to have come down with the plague that has been going around our house.
My boss at the community college asks me to sub for him on Wednesday morning. That means I lose my time that I usually run, but the extra money would be nice.
Yoga in the afternoon.
I have become a bit obsessed with trying to figure out how I can afford to go to the 50K National Road Championships on March 4th. There really isn't a way…maybe I should start playing the lotto. I am in a bit of a cranky mood in the afternoon. For months I have been waiting for February as the light at the end of the tunnel. But since enrollment was down a the college and my schedule got changed around I am making a lot less money than I thought I would be right now. I am not really sure where the light is now. And I am tired of being stressed about money. It’s not the first time I have said this, I love teaching but being an adjunct is just too stressful and financially not a stable plan for living.
Wednesday:
I spend all morning at the community college. I was okay to give up my running time to make a little extra money, but in the end I had to take my youngest to an appointment in the afternoon and I wasn’t able to go to the kindergarten or my tutoring job. That means I really didn't make any extra money and I lost my running time. Not thrilled about this turn of events.
I am still obsessed with trying to figure out how I can afford to go to the 50K National Road Championships on March 4th. There really isn't a way…maybe I should start playing the lotto.
Thursday:
I was not feeling great last night and it’s pretty chilly for Phoenix weather so I did not set an alarm and I slept in this morning. I had to make a dog food run before I could start running so I got a pretty late start. I had 15 miles on the schedule. I did not have it in me to run the same routes I always run so I did something a bit different and headed to dreamy draw to run in the preserve over there. It was a smart idea because as soon as I got over there I felt better and even thought about adding in some extra miles just to check out some different routes. My lungs had not been feeling great on this run and I am a little worried about how my day is going to go at Black Canyon. I decided against the extra miles and hoped I was on the right trail to get my back to bathrooms at the mile mark. Just me or do other people think, “yep, this is the right place, I remember peeing in that wash or behind that bush?” Any way I got to the bathrooms at 10.5 and was a little off on my guess about distance home so I ended up with 16 miles.
Went to yoga in the afternoon. Had a little cry in the parking lot talking to Norm about running and finances. Like I said before, I thought there was a light at the end of the tunnel and that light got moved. Now I feel like the water is coming in my boat faster than I can bail it out.
Friday:
It was a beautiful morning and the trails were so empty that I ended up just getting lost in enjoying the running and the trails in the PMP and ran more than I meant to run. I ended up with 18 miles.
After work I went to pick up my bib for the Phoenix Half Marathon. Originally the plan was to pace Hayley, but she has an injury and isn't running. I was on the fence about running. I kept changing my mind so I figured I might as well pick up my bib and worry about making a decision later. I actually would like to use the race as a speed work out, but I don't really want to get up at 3:30am to get a speed work out in. I’m lazy.
By the time I got home I had a headache, it was 4:30pm and there was no food in the house and nobody took the dogs out. At this point I just wanted to drink a lot of wine and go to sleep. But we went and got something to make for dinner. Brandi made dinner for me. My head feels better and I decide to race.
Saturday:
I did not sleep well at all. I actually was awake before my alarm went off so it seemed like I might as well get up and go to the race. The dogs were not amused with having to get up and go to the bathroom at 4am. Norm dropped me off the half marathon start. This is a much better option than taking the buses. But in retrospect, I would not have had him drop me so early. The race said you needed to be there by 5:15am, but that was not true. Lots of people showed up much later.
At 5:45 I took off my warm clothes and turned in my drop bag. I did about 2.5 miles of really slow running to warm up. I got to the start line too soon, and I really should have gone to pee one more time.
Off we go! And I really needed to pee. I tried to just pee on myself but it wasn’t happening. At mile 2 I ducked behind some bushes and went pee. I may have lost the pack and some time but I am so happy I stopped to pee. I felt so much better after.
My plan was to run fast until mile 8 and if I felt like I needed to pull back the pace I would. I wanted to try to run 6:15 pace but I ended up running about 6:25 pace. The good news about this I never really felt like I was running all out. I think I could run faster if I was really racing it. I held pace through mile 8 and dropped a bit for miles 9 and 10. I am not sure why but mile 11 was just a lot slower than I would have wanted. Then I realized that if I could pick it up I might run a PR, but I missed it by a minute. Overall, though I am happy with the day.
In the afternoon Ava came to tell me that our dog Maui isn't doing well. She hadn’t eaten since the morning before and was panting a lot. We started talking about having a vet come to the house maybe it’s time to put her down. She is 15 years old and she can't see, hear or smell. We gave her some shredded chicken and she scarfed it down. She is a big dog (Rottweiler/black lab mix) and she has lived a long time. I know she is getting to the end of her life, but I am totally willing to buy her all the shredded chicken she wants if I can keep her alive this week and not have to deal with sadness of losing a dog going into a race I have been working so hard to train for. Selfish, I know. I mean I want her live as long as possible is she is happy. But of it's her time, can it just not be this week.
It’s national pizza day so we are of course eating pizza. I went to bed feeling like my chest was bugging me again.
I decided to put speed work back on the schedule. Not sure how my body would feel I went with a very easy progression run. I was very happy that I made that choice when I got to Granada Park and the water was turned off. I had decided to not carry water that day because I knew I was only running 10 miles. I did finish my progression run, but I cut a mile off the cool down so I could get home and get some water. Other than being thirsty, I felt good the whole time and I think I have totally gotten rid of the plague. I am usually a no show sock girl, but I loved these Drymax hyper thin crew socks!
Unfortunately, Norm seems to have come down with the plague that has been going around our house.
My boss at the community college asks me to sub for him on Wednesday morning. That means I lose my time that I usually run, but the extra money would be nice.
Yoga in the afternoon.
I have become a bit obsessed with trying to figure out how I can afford to go to the 50K National Road Championships on March 4th. There really isn't a way…maybe I should start playing the lotto. I am in a bit of a cranky mood in the afternoon. For months I have been waiting for February as the light at the end of the tunnel. But since enrollment was down a the college and my schedule got changed around I am making a lot less money than I thought I would be right now. I am not really sure where the light is now. And I am tired of being stressed about money. It’s not the first time I have said this, I love teaching but being an adjunct is just too stressful and financially not a stable plan for living.
Wednesday:
I spend all morning at the community college. I was okay to give up my running time to make a little extra money, but in the end I had to take my youngest to an appointment in the afternoon and I wasn’t able to go to the kindergarten or my tutoring job. That means I really didn't make any extra money and I lost my running time. Not thrilled about this turn of events.
I am still obsessed with trying to figure out how I can afford to go to the 50K National Road Championships on March 4th. There really isn't a way…maybe I should start playing the lotto.
Thursday:
I was not feeling great last night and it’s pretty chilly for Phoenix weather so I did not set an alarm and I slept in this morning. I had to make a dog food run before I could start running so I got a pretty late start. I had 15 miles on the schedule. I did not have it in me to run the same routes I always run so I did something a bit different and headed to dreamy draw to run in the preserve over there. It was a smart idea because as soon as I got over there I felt better and even thought about adding in some extra miles just to check out some different routes. My lungs had not been feeling great on this run and I am a little worried about how my day is going to go at Black Canyon. I decided against the extra miles and hoped I was on the right trail to get my back to bathrooms at the mile mark. Just me or do other people think, “yep, this is the right place, I remember peeing in that wash or behind that bush?” Any way I got to the bathrooms at 10.5 and was a little off on my guess about distance home so I ended up with 16 miles.
Went to yoga in the afternoon. Had a little cry in the parking lot talking to Norm about running and finances. Like I said before, I thought there was a light at the end of the tunnel and that light got moved. Now I feel like the water is coming in my boat faster than I can bail it out.
Friday:
It was a beautiful morning and the trails were so empty that I ended up just getting lost in enjoying the running and the trails in the PMP and ran more than I meant to run. I ended up with 18 miles.
After work I went to pick up my bib for the Phoenix Half Marathon. Originally the plan was to pace Hayley, but she has an injury and isn't running. I was on the fence about running. I kept changing my mind so I figured I might as well pick up my bib and worry about making a decision later. I actually would like to use the race as a speed work out, but I don't really want to get up at 3:30am to get a speed work out in. I’m lazy.
By the time I got home I had a headache, it was 4:30pm and there was no food in the house and nobody took the dogs out. At this point I just wanted to drink a lot of wine and go to sleep. But we went and got something to make for dinner. Brandi made dinner for me. My head feels better and I decide to race.
Saturday:
I did not sleep well at all. I actually was awake before my alarm went off so it seemed like I might as well get up and go to the race. The dogs were not amused with having to get up and go to the bathroom at 4am. Norm dropped me off the half marathon start. This is a much better option than taking the buses. But in retrospect, I would not have had him drop me so early. The race said you needed to be there by 5:15am, but that was not true. Lots of people showed up much later.
At 5:45 I took off my warm clothes and turned in my drop bag. I did about 2.5 miles of really slow running to warm up. I got to the start line too soon, and I really should have gone to pee one more time.
Off we go! And I really needed to pee. I tried to just pee on myself but it wasn’t happening. At mile 2 I ducked behind some bushes and went pee. I may have lost the pack and some time but I am so happy I stopped to pee. I felt so much better after.
My plan was to run fast until mile 8 and if I felt like I needed to pull back the pace I would. I wanted to try to run 6:15 pace but I ended up running about 6:25 pace. The good news about this I never really felt like I was running all out. I think I could run faster if I was really racing it. I held pace through mile 8 and dropped a bit for miles 9 and 10. I am not sure why but mile 11 was just a lot slower than I would have wanted. Then I realized that if I could pick it up I might run a PR, but I missed it by a minute. Overall, though I am happy with the day.
In the afternoon Ava came to tell me that our dog Maui isn't doing well. She hadn’t eaten since the morning before and was panting a lot. We started talking about having a vet come to the house maybe it’s time to put her down. She is 15 years old and she can't see, hear or smell. We gave her some shredded chicken and she scarfed it down. She is a big dog (Rottweiler/black lab mix) and she has lived a long time. I know she is getting to the end of her life, but I am totally willing to buy her all the shredded chicken she wants if I can keep her alive this week and not have to deal with sadness of losing a dog going into a race I have been working so hard to train for. Selfish, I know. I mean I want her live as long as possible is she is happy. But of it's her time, can it just not be this week.
It’s national pizza day so we are of course eating pizza. I went to bed feeling like my chest was bugging me again.
While Pasta was not happy to be woken up at 4am to go pee, she was happy to snuggle in the afternoon.
Sunday:
I am just really pleased I feel so good after yesterday. I am not sore at all which I feel like validates the feeling that I was not running full throttle. Unfortunately, I did wake up with a sore ankle. It’s not terrible but enough that I know running on it isn’t a good idea. I also woke up with just a ton of snot in my head. I kept blowing my nose and it just wouldn't stop coming.
I went to yoga and discovered that my ankle was swollen. I have such tiny, twig ankles that it can be hard to tell. I went into my first downward facing dog and it was immediately clear that my left ankle was really swollen. I was really careful during yoga to not do anything that would hurt it. The good news is that very few things made it hurt. That makes me feel like it may heal quickly.
I came home and grabbed my computer and charger, phone, books, food, water and pillows and set myself up in bed to ice my ankle and keep it elevated. I told the kids I am staying off of it as much as possible so they will have to help me out. I also brought hot tea and sore throat drops to bed with me because throat is killing me. Am I getting sick again? I never felt like totally recovered so maybe it’s not that I am sick again, but still sick? This is freaking ridiculous.
The goal now is to stay patient and calm as I go into the taper week for Black Canyon. This was not the taper I had planned.
I am just really pleased I feel so good after yesterday. I am not sore at all which I feel like validates the feeling that I was not running full throttle. Unfortunately, I did wake up with a sore ankle. It’s not terrible but enough that I know running on it isn’t a good idea. I also woke up with just a ton of snot in my head. I kept blowing my nose and it just wouldn't stop coming.
I went to yoga and discovered that my ankle was swollen. I have such tiny, twig ankles that it can be hard to tell. I went into my first downward facing dog and it was immediately clear that my left ankle was really swollen. I was really careful during yoga to not do anything that would hurt it. The good news is that very few things made it hurt. That makes me feel like it may heal quickly.
I came home and grabbed my computer and charger, phone, books, food, water and pillows and set myself up in bed to ice my ankle and keep it elevated. I told the kids I am staying off of it as much as possible so they will have to help me out. I also brought hot tea and sore throat drops to bed with me because throat is killing me. Am I getting sick again? I never felt like totally recovered so maybe it’s not that I am sick again, but still sick? This is freaking ridiculous.
The goal now is to stay patient and calm as I go into the taper week for Black Canyon. This was not the taper I had planned.
