SWIM 1hr and 2400y, MS of 12x100
This was Wednesday's missed swim, rescheduled for today as I figured that not having another session today would allow me to focus here. I was focused, alright. Focused on finishing, no matter what.
Stubborn vs Determined. The Blerch vs The Bee.
I started off OK with the 400 swim, 250 pull, and 250 kick. But the pool and air above it seemed cold, again, and it was starting to wear on me. Once again it was 3F outside (as the overhead radio reminded us) so why can't the pool at least be a little more comfy? Whiiiiiinnnne.
So by the time I came to the main set (12x100 at race pace with 10s rest), during which I was supposed to collect time and interval times, I wasn't into it. My form was sloppy. I was distracted by a few things, not the least of which was the woman sharing my lane and swimming past me so fast it was depressing. But mostly the fact that I wasn't letting myself push off the wall, so as to rest the arches in my feet. Assuming that my wall pushes had anything to do with my arches. Deciding that meant that my 100 times wouldn't be "real" times, and that fed into my mental "this doesn't count/this isn't real" decline.
I wanted to just quit. I'd already fought off a Blerch attack at the lockers when he said that I was already running late (not really, only 30 mins or so) and that I should save time by just leaving with a quick shower. Now he was back, telling me that since this swim "wouldn't count", it wasn't worth doing.
Now here I was hanging on the wall, wanting to do the swim anyway. The first interval was 2 mins, my usual 100 time + 5-10 seconds. I reminded myself about the lack of wall pushes, and started the 2nd. Same time. The next 5 or so 100's clicked away with awful form that continued to degrade.
I was Determined, but it was turning into Stubborn. Things were falling apart yet I couldn't stop.
My intervals fell to 2:05 and 2:06. The woman alongside me must have been laughing between her fast sets.
Around interval 6 I forced myself to wait longer than 10 seconds. Stop for 30s, 60s, just stop and regroup! Be Determined, not Stubborn!
I ended up repeating this longer wait every few intervals, and while I'd feel good the first 25 any semblance of good form didn't last. I tried to be long in the water, torpedo-ish, tried to get my butt up to the surface, tried to find my catch...no luck. This was getting awful.
But I stubbornly continued. Dead set on doing this set to the finish. The final sets were still just over 2 mins, ranging in the 2:02 to 2:05 range. I'd like to think that my wall pushes could make up the difference. Am I kidding myself?
On a good note, my feel felt great today. I wore my Born shoes yesterday and today, they don't seem to have obvious arch support but they feel good all day anyway. This is a huge improvement over Wednesday!
Friday, February 7, 2014
Thursday, February 6, 2014
The Bee vs The Blerch, who won?
RUN 7 miles in 1:02, treadmilled
SWIM 2200y in 1:00-ish, 1x750 then 1x 700
Once again it's 1F degrees outside and my Thursday run group canceled. I'd already canceled myself out by the time the notification texts arrived. I knew Weds night, after thinking about my feet hurting all day and having gone 7 hours without eating in the afternoon that my energy wouldn't be into a run so freaking cold.
On top of that, I had more calf cramps overnight, these have been ongoing for a few weeks, and it left my lower left leg stiff and sore. It then occurred to me that these could be contributing the the pained arches (see yesterday's post) I'm experiencing. I stretched it out and thought about foam rolling. (thinking about it was as far as I got...I'm not big on foam rolling).
So off to the gym! My training plan had some boring 12x125y strides workout, not really workable for the 'mill, so I just did some random intervals at first before deciding on doing a few mile intervals at marathon goal pace. According to my marathon training plan, that's 8:11 m/m!! Can I do that??
Let's find out. I decided to do at least one mile at race pace, and since the treadmill doesn't do exact numbers I ended up with 8:03 m/m. This isn't a hard pace really, in the Thursday group run we'll average that pace! And my form and stride is better at these faster paces. But the mental energy to push through 8 boring minutes of effort is....ugh. HARD.
I did the one mile, rested a half mile, then did another at the next setting of 8:13m/m. And here's where I really started to mentally falter. I was pulling out motivational trick after trick, until I hit upon The Bee vs The Blerch halfway through this mile.
That fat little cake eating cherub was on the left side of the treadmill, floating alongside the display, telling me that I already did 1 mile this fast so why do I need to do another.
The Bee was buzzing near the right side of the display, telling me that if I ever want to improve I need to learn to push through it.
I mentally punched The Blerch and knocked him under a table along the wall. I envisioned fat little cake eating birds circling over his head. I finished the mile strong and even tacked on a few tenths to round up to 7 miles. The Bee won this round.
Off to the swim, where I lost momentum. I ate a box of raisins but apparently I need more than that! After a lingering shower I hit the deck (15 mins after the run!) and started the 400 WU. I changed the 6x50 as 2x(easy, med, fast) to alternating fulcrum drills. I was trying to build my steam back up to get into this swim. The MS was 2x750y, with the option to pull the 2nd one.
It wasn't working. I was flat, unmotivated, and uninterested. The two guys swimming alongside me were dropping me hard. I was using the Tempo Timer and sticking to the 1:05 time until I popped my right ankle out and lost focus. That's when I realized another potential reason for my arches to hurt--pushing off the wall!! (see yesterday's post).
This was all the more distracting as now suddenly I'm afraid to push off the wall. I tried drifting off the wall, using the floor, didn't matter. I fell off the 1:05 lap time and decided to alternate 100s/100p for the last 750y interval. This was barely working and I realized at one point that I'd shifted from being Determined to being Stubborn, another Bee Binary. I was suddenly dead-set on finishing this 750 regardless of the craptastic form I currently was using.
Until I saw SM during one of my drifting non-push tumble turns! I happily stopped to talk to her a few mins, ironic that I'm doing swimming with her and NK in just one month and here I am struggling through a swim... I thought the stop would let me re-engage, but no. It didn't. I was done. I stubbornly pulled the last few laps up to 700y before calling it done at one hour.
Well I wouldn't characterize The Blerch as a stubborn mo-fo, so can I say he won this round?
Yesterday's swim is moved to tomorrow, so my goal for tomorrow is to get back on track and have an awesome swim!
SWIM 2200y in 1:00-ish, 1x750 then 1x 700
Once again it's 1F degrees outside and my Thursday run group canceled. I'd already canceled myself out by the time the notification texts arrived. I knew Weds night, after thinking about my feet hurting all day and having gone 7 hours without eating in the afternoon that my energy wouldn't be into a run so freaking cold.
On top of that, I had more calf cramps overnight, these have been ongoing for a few weeks, and it left my lower left leg stiff and sore. It then occurred to me that these could be contributing the the pained arches (see yesterday's post) I'm experiencing. I stretched it out and thought about foam rolling. (thinking about it was as far as I got...I'm not big on foam rolling).
So off to the gym! My training plan had some boring 12x125y strides workout, not really workable for the 'mill, so I just did some random intervals at first before deciding on doing a few mile intervals at marathon goal pace. According to my marathon training plan, that's 8:11 m/m!! Can I do that??
Let's find out. I decided to do at least one mile at race pace, and since the treadmill doesn't do exact numbers I ended up with 8:03 m/m. This isn't a hard pace really, in the Thursday group run we'll average that pace! And my form and stride is better at these faster paces. But the mental energy to push through 8 boring minutes of effort is....ugh. HARD.
I did the one mile, rested a half mile, then did another at the next setting of 8:13m/m. And here's where I really started to mentally falter. I was pulling out motivational trick after trick, until I hit upon The Bee vs The Blerch halfway through this mile.
That fat little cake eating cherub was on the left side of the treadmill, floating alongside the display, telling me that I already did 1 mile this fast so why do I need to do another.
The Bee was buzzing near the right side of the display, telling me that if I ever want to improve I need to learn to push through it.
I mentally punched The Blerch and knocked him under a table along the wall. I envisioned fat little cake eating birds circling over his head. I finished the mile strong and even tacked on a few tenths to round up to 7 miles. The Bee won this round.
Off to the swim, where I lost momentum. I ate a box of raisins but apparently I need more than that! After a lingering shower I hit the deck (15 mins after the run!) and started the 400 WU. I changed the 6x50 as 2x(easy, med, fast) to alternating fulcrum drills. I was trying to build my steam back up to get into this swim. The MS was 2x750y, with the option to pull the 2nd one.
It wasn't working. I was flat, unmotivated, and uninterested. The two guys swimming alongside me were dropping me hard. I was using the Tempo Timer and sticking to the 1:05 time until I popped my right ankle out and lost focus. That's when I realized another potential reason for my arches to hurt--pushing off the wall!! (see yesterday's post).
This was all the more distracting as now suddenly I'm afraid to push off the wall. I tried drifting off the wall, using the floor, didn't matter. I fell off the 1:05 lap time and decided to alternate 100s/100p for the last 750y interval. This was barely working and I realized at one point that I'd shifted from being Determined to being Stubborn, another Bee Binary. I was suddenly dead-set on finishing this 750 regardless of the craptastic form I currently was using.
Until I saw SM during one of my drifting non-push tumble turns! I happily stopped to talk to her a few mins, ironic that I'm doing swimming with her and NK in just one month and here I am struggling through a swim... I thought the stop would let me re-engage, but no. It didn't. I was done. I stubbornly pulled the last few laps up to 700y before calling it done at one hour.
Well I wouldn't characterize The Blerch as a stubborn mo-fo, so can I say he won this round?
Yesterday's swim is moved to tomorrow, so my goal for tomorrow is to get back on track and have an awesome swim!
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Plantar fasciitis or not?
BIKE 1 hr and 17.6 miles
no swim due to pool closure
Not much to say about the workout, just did repeats of [7.5 mins 75% (90s); 4 mins 85% (90s)] until I was done. It didn't occur to me that the pool might be closed due to overnight snow until I was almost done with the ride. Good thing in the end, it would have made my already full day all the longer.
So that gives me time here to discuss a potential injury/problem. I'm wondering, but not sure, if I have the dreaded PF. I had similar symptoms late last summer that developed from shifting to a standing desk. It's a cold pain in the arch of my foot. Doesn't hurt when I get out of bed, like PF is supposed to. Doesn't hurt in the heel, like PF is supposed to. Doesn't hurt when I run, seems to be worst when I'm sitting (!?) or in bed waiting to fall asleep. Well that last one is easy -- I have nothing else to think about!
I've been feeling this for a few weeks now, it comes and goes. Worse yet, it moves around the bottom of my foot. But today it bothered me during the bike and hurt the worst yet so far. On a scale of 1-10? Low, maybe a 2. It's more that I'm aware that something is wrong, more than it is a pain in the true sense.
I've been coming up with differentials and potential causes of things I've changed since December:
1. The sudden shift to wearing boots in the winter, specifically the Ariats I dug out around Thanksgiving, and also the blue hiking boots for the snow.
2. The awfully broken down Brooks Adrenaline 12's I use to bum around in.
3. Standing at work more
4. Taking the stairs at work more, it was a gradual build into it but it's still "more"
5. Taking the possibly bad-fitted orthotics out of the Adrenaline 13-2 and putting in the insole from the 13-1 (now retired).
6. The 13-1's have 550+ miles on them, and I'm only now retiring them.
7. (edited to add) Pushing off the wall at the pool
8. (edited to add) My calves are cramping a lot overnight, especially the left leg, and that's the worse foot. And PF can originate from tight calves and hamstrings.
So what to do? I'm more aware of stretching my feet and toes. I'm rolling them like I did last fall. I'm getting off my feet more. And I'm retiring old shoes and replacing many this weekend. I'm amazed at how old many of my shoes are, and not just the running shoes!
At what point do I call in help?
no swim due to pool closure
Not much to say about the workout, just did repeats of [7.5 mins 75% (90s); 4 mins 85% (90s)] until I was done. It didn't occur to me that the pool might be closed due to overnight snow until I was almost done with the ride. Good thing in the end, it would have made my already full day all the longer.
So that gives me time here to discuss a potential injury/problem. I'm wondering, but not sure, if I have the dreaded PF. I had similar symptoms late last summer that developed from shifting to a standing desk. It's a cold pain in the arch of my foot. Doesn't hurt when I get out of bed, like PF is supposed to. Doesn't hurt in the heel, like PF is supposed to. Doesn't hurt when I run, seems to be worst when I'm sitting (!?) or in bed waiting to fall asleep. Well that last one is easy -- I have nothing else to think about!
I've been feeling this for a few weeks now, it comes and goes. Worse yet, it moves around the bottom of my foot. But today it bothered me during the bike and hurt the worst yet so far. On a scale of 1-10? Low, maybe a 2. It's more that I'm aware that something is wrong, more than it is a pain in the true sense.
I've been coming up with differentials and potential causes of things I've changed since December:
1. The sudden shift to wearing boots in the winter, specifically the Ariats I dug out around Thanksgiving, and also the blue hiking boots for the snow.
2. The awfully broken down Brooks Adrenaline 12's I use to bum around in.
3. Standing at work more
4. Taking the stairs at work more, it was a gradual build into it but it's still "more"
5. Taking the possibly bad-fitted orthotics out of the Adrenaline 13-2 and putting in the insole from the 13-1 (now retired).
6. The 13-1's have 550+ miles on them, and I'm only now retiring them.
7. (edited to add) Pushing off the wall at the pool
8. (edited to add) My calves are cramping a lot overnight, especially the left leg, and that's the worse foot. And PF can originate from tight calves and hamstrings.
So what to do? I'm more aware of stretching my feet and toes. I'm rolling them like I did last fall. I'm getting off my feet more. And I'm retiring old shoes and replacing many this weekend. I'm amazed at how old many of my shoes are, and not just the running shoes!
At what point do I call in help?
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Speed up, slow down. Repeat.
BIKE 21 miles in 70 mins, 5x7.5 intervals, hard
RUN 3.2 miles in 28 mins, spinups on the straightaways
I pushed the bike intervals "hard" but not sprinting. I'm kinda lost now on my HR zones on the bike, still re-setting them. At least I'm working harder, and not coasting through the 75% intervals.
We watched MacGuyver while I rode. I had the theme song stuck in my head the rest of the day.
The run was right after the bike, I changed clothes and went out the door thinking I'd run the 1 mile to the track, loop it 4 times, then come home. How did I forget the track was only .6 miles away? So I did more than 4 loops. And I spiced it up by changing lanes each loop. How did I forget the track had 8 lanes, not 6?
Time to get back to the track!
It felt great to speed up and feel the movement of it. Even if it was 25F and windy. It just feels so great!
RUN 3.2 miles in 28 mins, spinups on the straightaways
I pushed the bike intervals "hard" but not sprinting. I'm kinda lost now on my HR zones on the bike, still re-setting them. At least I'm working harder, and not coasting through the 75% intervals.
We watched MacGuyver while I rode. I had the theme song stuck in my head the rest of the day.
The run was right after the bike, I changed clothes and went out the door thinking I'd run the 1 mile to the track, loop it 4 times, then come home. How did I forget the track was only .6 miles away? So I did more than 4 loops. And I spiced it up by changing lanes each loop. How did I forget the track had 8 lanes, not 6?
Time to get back to the track!
It felt great to speed up and feel the movement of it. Even if it was 25F and windy. It just feels so great!
Monday, February 3, 2014
Finis Focused: First test of the tempo timer
SWIM 58 mins and 2400y
WU 200S 200P 200K, used my new forearm fulcrums in the pull, alternating 50's with swimming
MS 2x800
CD 200 choice
Last week my swim order came in and I was delighted with how it looked coming out of the box: yellow and black Tyr suit, yellow and black forearm fulcrums, and a yellow tempo timer in a yellow and black box! I should have taken a picture, it would have BEEn great to capture that!
Today was my first test of all the new gear. As an aside, I didn't realize how loose my old Tyr suit was getting! The fulcrums were interesting and all the more so during the CD when I realized I was wrapping my thumbs around them -- that's a no-no!
But what I really want to rave about is the tempo trainer. I worked perfectly today. I picked a 50 interval of 1:05 and set it to beep every 1 min and 5 seconds. That would be my goal time for each 50. This was a comfortable pace that I hoped to maintain through both 800's. Would I fade? I wanted to find out!
I didn't! In fact, I had a brief pause at the end of each 50, suggestion I could have done 1:03 or 1:04. If I'd do a decent turn, I could do maybe less!
Due to the way this 800 was timed, I can't really compare it to the 800 TT I did with NK a few weeks ago, which came in at 16:45. These were a preset 1:05x16 so not a fair comparison.
I was feeling really good this morning (I continued the sleep changes that worked Saturday night, this makes me sad and energetic at the same time). No lingering in the shower at all, I picked a schedule and stuck to it. So my mind and momentum were rolling.
In each 50y, I'd focus on something in my form to see if I could decrease the time in the 50. A few things seemed to shave off a second or two, nothing major yet. Midway through the 2nd 800 my left shoulder/lats started feeling it. At first I thought it was because I was using my left hand to hold my head up to breathe? But some playing on that had me doubting. I don't doubt that I will use my left hand in that way, but I also considered the fact that I'm NOT using my arm that way so much now and the muscles are responding, and that I tend to turn with my left arm touching/hanging on the wall. So 1 of those or a combination of the three.
The time doesn't have an Off button, so it kept beeping through my shower. It made me aware of the time, kept me moving. Maybe I need one of these in the rest of my life...
Oh and I tried the baby shampoo trick to keep my goggles from fogging. I think it worked!
WU 200S 200P 200K, used my new forearm fulcrums in the pull, alternating 50's with swimming
MS 2x800
CD 200 choice
Last week my swim order came in and I was delighted with how it looked coming out of the box: yellow and black Tyr suit, yellow and black forearm fulcrums, and a yellow tempo timer in a yellow and black box! I should have taken a picture, it would have BEEn great to capture that!
Today was my first test of all the new gear. As an aside, I didn't realize how loose my old Tyr suit was getting! The fulcrums were interesting and all the more so during the CD when I realized I was wrapping my thumbs around them -- that's a no-no!
But what I really want to rave about is the tempo trainer. I worked perfectly today. I picked a 50 interval of 1:05 and set it to beep every 1 min and 5 seconds. That would be my goal time for each 50. This was a comfortable pace that I hoped to maintain through both 800's. Would I fade? I wanted to find out!
I didn't! In fact, I had a brief pause at the end of each 50, suggestion I could have done 1:03 or 1:04. If I'd do a decent turn, I could do maybe less!
Due to the way this 800 was timed, I can't really compare it to the 800 TT I did with NK a few weeks ago, which came in at 16:45. These were a preset 1:05x16 so not a fair comparison.
I was feeling really good this morning (I continued the sleep changes that worked Saturday night, this makes me sad and energetic at the same time). No lingering in the shower at all, I picked a schedule and stuck to it. So my mind and momentum were rolling.
In each 50y, I'd focus on something in my form to see if I could decrease the time in the 50. A few things seemed to shave off a second or two, nothing major yet. Midway through the 2nd 800 my left shoulder/lats started feeling it. At first I thought it was because I was using my left hand to hold my head up to breathe? But some playing on that had me doubting. I don't doubt that I will use my left hand in that way, but I also considered the fact that I'm NOT using my arm that way so much now and the muscles are responding, and that I tend to turn with my left arm touching/hanging on the wall. So 1 of those or a combination of the three.
The time doesn't have an Off button, so it kept beeping through my shower. It made me aware of the time, kept me moving. Maybe I need one of these in the rest of my life...
Oh and I tried the baby shampoo trick to keep my goggles from fogging. I think it worked!
Sunday, February 2, 2014
It's faster to bike 12 miles than it is to run
RUN: 12.1 miles in 2:06
BIKE: 12 miles in 40 mins
Well of course it's faster, duh! I didn't plan it this way but I ended up running and biking the same distance today!
After yesterday's hard bonk, I was a little worried about how today would go. Especially if I thought yesterday was cold -- yesterday was mid-30's but today was 23F with 14F wind chill! But I got a good night's sleep (in the office bed!) and ate more honey with my sweet potatoes this morning. I was feeling really good when I rolled out the door!
The plan was a super easy paced run around TGP. There was a fresh layer of snow on the ground that obscured a layer of ice. Some areas were treacherous but most were OK as long as I was careful. Falling would suck. I didn't have a set route in mind, I only knew I wanted something different and something off my normal commute route.
So I looped down to the park, up around the BG, back to the park, then ran back-n-forth and back-n-forth in TGP. How is that different?! Thing is, there was a bitter cold wind out of the NW and I didn't want to get exposed to it. I didn't run on any of the same paths, TGP is good for that, but geez loueez how is that different?!
This run went great! So different from yesterday! I felt faster, light, energetic, clear, and as if I might could just keep going like this all day. Another surprise is that I didn't even want or need the gel I brought with me! My poor Fuel Belt bottles froze up until I tucked one into my vent pockets, but I stayed hydrated. I wove back through the BG area before coming home. Still feeling really good, I did the ride shortly after the run.
What a 180 from yesterday! Focus on what I did differently: no other workout before the run, better fueling, lotsa water beforehand, better sleep.
BIKE: 12 miles in 40 mins
Well of course it's faster, duh! I didn't plan it this way but I ended up running and biking the same distance today!
After yesterday's hard bonk, I was a little worried about how today would go. Especially if I thought yesterday was cold -- yesterday was mid-30's but today was 23F with 14F wind chill! But I got a good night's sleep (in the office bed!) and ate more honey with my sweet potatoes this morning. I was feeling really good when I rolled out the door!
The plan was a super easy paced run around TGP. There was a fresh layer of snow on the ground that obscured a layer of ice. Some areas were treacherous but most were OK as long as I was careful. Falling would suck. I didn't have a set route in mind, I only knew I wanted something different and something off my normal commute route.
So I looped down to the park, up around the BG, back to the park, then ran back-n-forth and back-n-forth in TGP. How is that different?! Thing is, there was a bitter cold wind out of the NW and I didn't want to get exposed to it. I didn't run on any of the same paths, TGP is good for that, but geez loueez how is that different?!
This run went great! So different from yesterday! I felt faster, light, energetic, clear, and as if I might could just keep going like this all day. Another surprise is that I didn't even want or need the gel I brought with me! My poor Fuel Belt bottles froze up until I tucked one into my vent pockets, but I stayed hydrated. I wove back through the BG area before coming home. Still feeling really good, I did the ride shortly after the run.
What a 180 from yesterday! Focus on what I did differently: no other workout before the run, better fueling, lotsa water beforehand, better sleep.
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Bonked hard, momentum sent me to treadmill!
BIKE 1:50 and 32.5 miles, 2x[20 min 75@ + (3x1 mile 84@)]
RUN 56 mins and 6 miles of mental hell
The bike went great. Each of the 20 min intervals was 6.3 miles. I'm pretty consistent.
Then I went to work, after which I was going to run. Actually, I was going to run to work and back, but it was cold and raining. Actually, it was only kinda cold. In all honesty, I was wimping out.
The sky was foggy, but no where near as foggy as my head. I'm not sure if it was dehydration or sugar or both, but wow was I fogged up. Funny thing is, my momentum was great. There was no stopping this run. It was just a matter of how I was going to do it.
I picked the Y for a treadmill run. I was cold, the Y was warm. And I'd get to run in shorts and a tank top! Happily wiping sweat off my face.
After meeting another athlete who noted my tattoo and told me she was going IMWI this fall (YEA!!) I picked a treadmill in the corner so I had a brick wall to the my left and my front view. I didn't do this on purpose, mind you. But I think it reflected how I felt!
The goal was 6 miles. Simple enough. But I think I counted damned near every 10th of a mile. A running (ha!) dialog of what was going through my head would be a sad read. Anyone who could have seen me from the front would have seen me counting along with the treadmill (10% complete, 20% complete,...) and giving myself fist pumps and thumbs up to motivate myself.
At 20 mins in, I let myself walk and promised another walk at 40 mins in. At the 30 mins mark, my mental state was pretty sad, every damned tenth of a mile...
Around 25 mins another running jumped on the mill to my right. She played with her phone more than she ran. Two miles of belt running, but not her running on the belt, and she was gone.
I walked again at 4 miles (22 mins left) and told myself that the almond butter/honey/apple dessert I'd designed in my head around mile 3 would have NO almond butter if I didn't finish the 6 miles.
At 5 miles I told myself there'd be no honey if I didn't run through to 6 miles. At 5.1 miles I realized it was February. What an odd thing to think.
Afterwards, I felt better than I did before running, a runner's high + checklist accomplishment. But the rest of the afternoon I was wiped, no energy, useless, cold, and suffering.
I'm short on sleep, count that as another potential problem.
RUN 56 mins and 6 miles of mental hell
The bike went great. Each of the 20 min intervals was 6.3 miles. I'm pretty consistent.
Then I went to work, after which I was going to run. Actually, I was going to run to work and back, but it was cold and raining. Actually, it was only kinda cold. In all honesty, I was wimping out.
The sky was foggy, but no where near as foggy as my head. I'm not sure if it was dehydration or sugar or both, but wow was I fogged up. Funny thing is, my momentum was great. There was no stopping this run. It was just a matter of how I was going to do it.
I picked the Y for a treadmill run. I was cold, the Y was warm. And I'd get to run in shorts and a tank top! Happily wiping sweat off my face.
After meeting another athlete who noted my tattoo and told me she was going IMWI this fall (YEA!!) I picked a treadmill in the corner so I had a brick wall to the my left and my front view. I didn't do this on purpose, mind you. But I think it reflected how I felt!
The goal was 6 miles. Simple enough. But I think I counted damned near every 10th of a mile. A running (ha!) dialog of what was going through my head would be a sad read. Anyone who could have seen me from the front would have seen me counting along with the treadmill (10% complete, 20% complete,...) and giving myself fist pumps and thumbs up to motivate myself.
At 20 mins in, I let myself walk and promised another walk at 40 mins in. At the 30 mins mark, my mental state was pretty sad, every damned tenth of a mile...
Around 25 mins another running jumped on the mill to my right. She played with her phone more than she ran. Two miles of belt running, but not her running on the belt, and she was gone.
I walked again at 4 miles (22 mins left) and told myself that the almond butter/honey/apple dessert I'd designed in my head around mile 3 would have NO almond butter if I didn't finish the 6 miles.
At 5 miles I told myself there'd be no honey if I didn't run through to 6 miles. At 5.1 miles I realized it was February. What an odd thing to think.
Afterwards, I felt better than I did before running, a runner's high + checklist accomplishment. But the rest of the afternoon I was wiped, no energy, useless, cold, and suffering.
I'm short on sleep, count that as another potential problem.
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