Fitter and Faster

I guess it's time to start a new blog.  I've been thinking about it for several weeks and typing one up, but for some reason got shy about posting it, even though that was the intent.  But tonight seems like the night to finally put it up.  There's something fun about writing about it and having the accountability online.  
I've been running more consistently over the past several months.  I started back up in January 2013 after taking a lot of November and December off.  I've been a lot better about logging my miles, too. Since I run with my phone (often have to for work purposes and it has all my music anyway), I started keeping track of my runs on EverNote immediately after finishing.  In January, I started working with a personal trainer, although truth be told, I hated it.  They put me with a guy who hates runners, and wouldn't let me run before working out because then my legs would be too tired to work out.  When I would try to run afterwards, I found my legs trashed and too sore; just walking hurt enough.  I put up with it far longer than I ever should have, but it ended in June and don't plan to go back. In the spring, I was having a really rough time with work and in my personal life, a relationship that wasn't working, and was really stressed out.  I found that for the first time in my life, I had a real desire to run, like a need or hunger for it, to help reduce the stress.  So I started running very consistently, more so than I'd ever been before.  I didn't take any time off except in March when I had to--I had surgery on my ear for the 2nd time.  The first time was the year before, and I was told not to run or work out at all for 3 weeks, and I did run, and it didn't heal right and the surgery failed. It was because it got infected and probably had nothing to do with running. But the 2nd time, I wasn't allowed to run for 3 weeks and hell if I was going to risk it failing, so I didn't run. (I worked out on a stationary bike instead, which was also forbidden, but I figured less risky since non-impact.) April 4th, I saw the surgeon, learned that my ear was healed, the surgery worked, and I was allowed to run again, and I've been at it ever since, slowly improving.  Later in April, I lost 10 lbs from stress / not being able to eat.  It was weight I've been wanting to get rid of anyway but not really disciplined enough to really do.  Suddenly, my paces went from 10-11 minute miles to under 10 minutes.  I've never seen such drastic improvement in myself before.  It's been great, and I've kept the weight off for the most part. I want to keep improving though.
I did the soldier field 10 mile race in May in 1:28:17, 8:50 average.  Last year I did it in 1:34:17, 9:26 avg.  Then I did the Rock/N/Roll Chicago half marathon in 1:56:48, 8:55 avg.  The previous year, I did 2 half marathons, the faster being 2:10:38 (9:58 avg).
Future plans for this year include the Chicago half in September and the Monster half marathon in October.  My first goal is sub 1:55, which is very do-able; I would have easily done that at the Soldier Field this year if it had been a half instead of 10 miles.  I'd like to do even faster, but I'm not sure what time goal just yet.  In the next year, I'd like to break 1:50 for a half, but I don't think that's realistic for 2013.

Yeah, Kathy - keep it up girl as you are on your way.

You're doing well! I love my running group but it's quite informal but sometimes it sure makes the miles go faster to have friends with whom to run.  Keep us posted!

Michele and Julie, thanks for stopping in!

8/19-8/25

Mon 8/19/13 outside, with fleet feet, alone, 5.01 in 44:59, 8:59 avg, with a faster finish (last mile 8:44).

Tues 8/20/13. Outside, hot 9.0 miles in 1:30:21, 10:02 average. My legs were feeling tired from yesterday and the weekend runs. The first 6 miles went pretty well and were at 9:58 average but the last 3 were a struggle and I ended up slowing down.  I went South along the lake around the planetarium. Part of the run was right next to the water. It was so hot, the water looked very inviting to jump in. Starting to worry because there are only 3 weeks to the next half marathon race and after taking 2 weeks off from long runs, and having this one go poorly, my confidence is shaken. 
    My back pain had gone away last week. But tonight, hours after the run finished, it came back. Not sure what happened. I didn't feel anything there and forgot about it. It's annoying / uncomfortable so I hope it goes away. Thankfully tomorrow is a rest day. 

Wed 8/21 0 miles, planned rest day.  My back felt fine today. I bought a roller massage thing called Addaday from Fleet Feet. It's about 2 feet long and you can reach your back with it. I need to make a discipline of actually using it. 

Thur 8/22/13. 5.0 in 46:36, 9:19 avg, progression run. Splits were: 10:09, 9:29, 9:10, 9:05, 8:41.  The only time I noticeably stepped up my exertion level and actively tried to speed up was in the last mile. I knew I wanted to do a faster finish but the remaining first 4 miles were not an intentional acceleration. It just seemed to happen naturally.   Other than the first mile where I felt rather tired, I feel pretty good during the run. My back seemed to be fine. 
     I'm thinking about warming up before runs. The first mile I always do much slower and maybe that would help.   Later today that stupid back pain returned. I swear the location is moving a little, too. 

Fri 8/23/13 outside, humid. 3.00 easy in 31:00, 10:20 avg. splits were 10:26, 10:19, and 10:15. This was a run done immediately upon waking up after a nap. Tonight I'm doing a nightshift so took a nap in the afternoon, then got up to run before work. I wanted to do more than 3 miles but there just wasn't enough time. Felt okay but not great---I almost never run right out of bed and it took more than 2 miles for my body to stop feeling still asleep. 

Sat 8/24/13 0 miles, planned rest day. I can never run after a night shift. I had a mocha and 2 cans of coke 0 to stay awake and was still dragging by 3 am. Particular fun was a violent, verbally abusive and physically threatening guy who acted up in the middle of the night, screaming, F bombing, harassing / menacing the staff. I told him to go back to bed and got called the C word for the first time ever. Security came and that provoked him more. The nurses / staff felt unsafe and his yelling woke up the other patients. I'm too old to stay all night and deal with this kind of stuff. But the night paid for my new MacBook. 

Sun 8/25/13 outside, hot! 12.02 miles in 1:58:47, 9:53 average.  I set out at a nice, easy pace heading North along the lake.  I think there is more shade if I go North than South, although South I think has more interesting stuff to look at along the way.  I kept my exertion 1.5-2 out of 5, and the average pace slowly fell; at 10 miles it was 9;59 average.  After 9 miles, I started to feel it / felt like the endurance was suffering.  Managed to hold it together for a fast finish in the last mile, but that last mile was sort of painful.  I think the lack of long runs for 2 weeks didn't help.  Splits were: 10:22, 9:53, 10:09, 10:02, 10:01, 9:50, 10:03, 9:46, 9:46, 9:44, 9:41, 9:22.  I can see that I'm not that great at running at a steady pace, but as long as that pace is dropping overall, which it was, I won't complain.  I'm pleased that even though the wheels felt like they were falling off in the final few miles, the pace continued to slightly improve, until the last mile where I deliberately stepped up the exertion level.

Week: 34

What setting/department do you work in?  I get some interesting sometimes combative and volatile TBI patients (I work in acute inpatient rehab - mostly CVAs and TBIs).

You're doing great. I'm impressed by how much progress you've made this year and you look awesome in your avatar!

Julie wrote:What setting/department do you work in?  I get some interesting sometimes combative and volatile TBI patients (I work in acute inpatient rehab - mostly CVAs and TBIs).

You're doing great. I'm impressed by how much progress you've made this year and you look awesome in your avatar!

Thanks, Julie! The avatar is slightly misleading and makes me look a little thinner than I am.  I was trying to use a different one taken at the same weight and that one made me look really fat.  I guess it has to do with picture sizing or something but I couldn't get a completely accurate one.  So this one is kind of like those funky curved mirrors that are very flattering.  I guess I'd rather have that than have a frankly unflattering avatar...

Mostly I work in oncology, but do a little bit of general medicine. This patient that was combative didn't have a TBI or CVA, just a personality disorder

8/23-9/1 half marathon training for 9/8 and 10/20 halfs

Mon 8/26/13 outside, w/ Fleet Feet but alone, 2.0 miles, 20:16, 10:08 average.  Felt horrible and cut the run short.  In addition to globally feeling like crap, and being in a bad mood and not wanting to run at all, my right calf was acting up.  It felt super tight and made it very hard to run. Given all of the above and having no real desire to run in this sticky weather, I am ashamed to admit that I called it short and went home.  I did foam roll my calf, which seemed to help a lot.  It felt tight even walking before it.

Tues 8/27/13: 0 miles, planned rest day.  It was a good thing I ran Sun and Monday, even if not quite as many miles as planned Monday, because there was no way I could have ran today with work being crazy and plans in the evening.  I really, really need to start making stretching a priority.  Whenever I first get up from sitting, I can barely walk for a few feet until things loosen up.  I feel like I'm a little too young for these symptoms and am wondering if I'm just getting too tight.

Wed 8/28/13. Outside, humid and windy. 4.0 at 9:22 avg. There were big waves in the lake today. Decided to do a 2 mile tempo run using my heart rate monitor, with goal HR 160-171, with a mile warmup and cool down (which were in the 145-155 range). The first 2 miles were south with a tailwind. I turned around and the wind slowed me down since I was aiming for a HR and not a pace. Splits were 10:03, 8:16, 8:34, and 10:34.  I was very pleased to see the 8:15--it's probably the fastest mile I've run in a long time. I felt pretty good, and was a bit disappointed when the paces were slower on the way back.  Oh well.  I think I may try to do a tempo run with the HR monitor again each week.  Once I figure out what pace range correlates to the HR range, I'll start aiming for a pace to target.  Maybe 8:15-8:20. The goal will be to add on a half mile each week and slowly build up to running that pace for a longer distance.

Thurs 8/29 0 miles. I biked about 8 miles, to work, to then to an appt, then home. I don't mind the heat, but this humidity can take a hike any time now. I  was sweating and thirsty. My original plan was to come home and run afterwards, but my quads felt like absolute mush getting off my bike. I pushed it on the way there from work to not be late, and felt it.  My legs were shaky just walking, and thought maybe a run might be overdoing it. I don't want to get injured. I drink about 24 ounces of Gatorade at home. 

Fri 8/30. 0 miles. Well today didn't work out! I had an exhausting day at work. The kind where you feel like your spirit is fried. In all honesty I was not in the mood to run. But I wanted to get 6 miles in. Shortly after I got home from work it turned black and began to thunderstorm. I crawled into bed for a brief nap to wait out the storm. Plan B would be to go to the gym if it didn't stop.  Plan C was what ended up happening--I crawled into bed around 630 or 7.... woke up at 10:30, took out my contacts and changed, and went back to bed. I must've needed the extra sleep. Although it's not physically demanding, work is often emotionally very tiring in between that and lack of sleep, I needed to catch up.  This has been a lighter week of running but I also wanted to do a mini taper for the half marathon coming up. 
 
Fri 8/30. 0 miles. Well today didn't work out! I had an exhausting day at work. The kind where you feel like your spirit is fried. In all honesty I was not in the mood to run. But I wanted to get 6 miles in. Shortly after I got home from work it turned black and began to thunderstorm. I crawled into bed for a brief nap to wait out the storm. Plan B would be to go to the gym if it didn't stop.  Plan C was what ended up happening--I crawled into bed around 630 or 7.... woke up at 10:30, took out my contacts and changed, and went back to bed. I must've needed the extra sleep. Although it's not physically demanding, work is often emotionally very tiring in between that and lack of sleep, I needed to catch up.  This has been a lighter week of running but I also wanted to do a mini taper for the half marathon coming up. 

Sat 8/31  outside, humid 11.0 miles, 1:51:54, 10:10 avg. Let's hope a few bad to so-so final long runs are indicative of good luck for the upcoming race next weekend. This one blew. What bothers me with it are 1) I thought I should have done it at 10:00 avg pace, and 2) even at an easy exertion level I struggled and almost quit at 10 miles. The splits are slightly ugly: 10:05, 10:14, 10:02, 10:03, 10:01, 10:14, 10:14, 10:13, 10:33, 10:03, 10:04. It was humid. Wish the 10:33 mile was a typo; it was not. Because the race is next weekend I didn't wanna push too hard. So I went nice and easy, but still felt awful. I had some left lower quadrant abd pain in the middle that was uncomfortable, not sure what from. My legs feel tight / achy a lot now on runs and at rest, and did again during this run. I learned later that I passed a co-worker doing his long run, although I never saw him.  His was bad, too, not that it matters, but hearing that he struggled too today made me feel better for some reason. I guess I have to start stretching--I've gotten away with not for awhile, and I'm pushing myself harder now, and feeling it. Must do it!!

Sun 9/1/13. Outside, humid. 6.01 in 56:52, 9:28 avg. This was a deliberate progression run: splits were 10:23, 9:56, 9:39, 9:19, 8:43, 8:46. Some thoughts about this run and no particular order are 1) I'm really glad it at least went a lot better than yesterday. Nothing better than following up a bad run with a better one 2) I had indigestion all day today and felt very nauseated during the middle of the run. I threw a party last night and maybe drank too much...That left lower quadrant pain was back as well. It eased up in the fifth mile, I think due to endorphins. 3) at least this run was better than yesterday but I still am not happy with the paces compared to my exertion. Maybe it's the humidity, or maybe I'm overtrained and starting to burn out ?, or some combination, but I just feel I worked harder than I had been a month ago when I was hitting similar or faster overall paces. 4) in light of being possibly slightly burned out, this week is going to be super light until the race 5) I hope it cools down next weekend because this humidity is not helping 6) my confidence for this race is a little bit shaken, but I guess the bad runs keep you humble 7) the first and last mile of every run involve a tunnel and an uphill. The tunnel screws up my GPS and the uphill screws up my pace.  Remind myself to start my GPS after the tunnel to avoid this. while I'm generally satisfied but not thrilled with this run and the progression of pace, I'm pissed at that final mile. I was aiming for 830 and exerting myself for it. I think the underpass tunnel affecting the GPS signal and the uphill are partially responsible

Week: 23 (slight taper for race)

It's the humidity.  I struggled through 13 miles on Saturday in not too warm temps (75 or so) but brutal humidity.  Tonight I went 12 in 80 degree weather but very little humidity at a much faster pace.  It's crazy the difference it makes.

I was also going to blame the heat and humidity. Even though I'm not running far or fast I can sweat so much in a few slow miles and can't imagine going too far. But even so it does sound like you were kind of run down and exhausted from work and just needed a lighter week. Do you typically plan to run after work or can you ever run earlier/before (or are you on nights? sorry I missed that). I wanted to run this evening but it got too crazy and mornings are crazy too but I find evening runs are much more likely to be canceled than morning ones.

Wow, Kathy, I'm very impressed by your running. I remember a few years ago, when you were way too busy, that you tried to run and just couldn't get the time or were injured. This seems completely different now, I'm really happy you are able to get out this much.

I'll go ahead and state that it's not the humidity, but lack of rest, IMO.  The humidity is making the lack of rest glow like an MRI with contrast.  I just think your niggles rest on lack of rest.

I wouldn't run a meter until the race.  It would be hard to throttle back at work, it seems, which means you need to rest when you're not working.  This would include going out with your buddies until after the race.

Your body will thank you and reward you with a better time and some durability.

Good luck this weekend!!!  You will do great.

mul21 wrote:It's the humidity.  I struggled through 13 miles on Saturday in not too warm temps (75 or so) but brutal humidity.  Tonight I went 12 in 80 degree weather but very little humidity at a much faster pace.  It's crazy the difference it makes.

Jim, the humidity is no friend for running (or for my hair).  I wish it would go away but I do love the warm weather of summer! But heat without humidity really does make a big difference!

Julie wrote:I was also going to blame the heat and humidity. Even though I'm not running far or fast I can sweat so much in a few slow miles and can't imagine going too far. But even so it does sound like you were kind of run down and exhausted from work and just needed a lighter week. Do you typically plan to run after work or can you ever run earlier/before (or are you on nights? sorry I missed that). I wanted to run this evening but it got too crazy and mornings are crazy too but I find evening runs are much more likely to be canceled than morning ones.

Julie, I'm definitely feeling run down, and this taper week is much needed! My work schedule has been more erratic lately than usual, with a bunch of evening and nights thrown in.  Usually, I work during the daytime, and we start at 7 a.m.  So mostly I run in the evenings, but August and September have been anomalies.  I wish I ran in the morning, but I just cannot get myself up any earlier than the last minute and end up paying for cabs to work because I oversleep and can't wait for the bus.

JohnP wrote:Wow, Kathy, I'm very impressed by your running. I remember a few years ago, when you were way too busy, that you tried to run and just couldn't get the time or were injured. This seems completely different now, I'm really happy you are able to get out this much.

John, thank you! I've been fretting about the past 3 weeks of running just not being very good compared to mid-summer.  But this post reminds me that in the big picture, the general trend is still overall really good, even if the past few weeks haven't been great.  Turns out stress goes a long way toward consistency in running!

ounce wrote:I'll go ahead and state that it's not the humidity, but lack of rest, IMO.  The humidity is making the lack of rest glow like an MRI with contrast.  I just think your niggles rest on lack of rest.

I wouldn't run a meter until the race.  It would be hard to throttle back at work, it seems, which means you need to rest when you're not working.  This would include going out with your buddies until after the race.

Your body will thank you and reward you with a better time and some durability.

Ounce, I do think you have a point.  My body feels worn down. While it's too late to take the whole week off, I've only run 2 3mile runs at very easy paces this week.  I have not been sleeping well and I think you're right about needing more rest.  And less alcohol.  And less caffeine at work, which I really don't actually need since I get an adrenaline high anyway.

Michele \"1L" Keane wrote:Good luck this weekend!!!  You will do great.

Thanks Michele! I hope so!  I feel like I could do really well and surprise myself....But, after the past 3 weeks with some shaky long runs, I'm less confident, but will also not be quite as surprised or disappointed if it doesn't go well.

Thank you all for stopping in! I'm slowly reading through others' blogs and trying to get to all the active ones.

I agree with Doug - easy does it in these last few days before your race. Then makes sure to give yourself some recovery time afterwards. You've earned it! Hopefully, autumn weather will arrive any day now.

Mark B wrote:I agree with Doug - easy does it in these last few days before your race. Then makes sure to give yourself some recovery time afterwards. You've earned it! Hopefully, autumn weather will arrive any day now.

Thanks Mark...6 miles this week and that's it.  I wish I could take back the 6 miles and have logged a 0 every day, in retrospect, but oh well. It was 2 easy 3 milers.  And a massage

I'm on coolrunning's pace calculator thing right now. I really have no idea how this race will go so here are my goals

--unlikely (not impossible but a stretch and will be stoked if I did) 1:53:xx

--true goal is 1:55:00.    
I thought I could do it at this race after my last half, but my confidence is shaken now.  I KNOW I can go sub 1:55, I should say, I'm 110% certain of it, but I'm not sure this coming race is going to be when I do it.  It's gonna be hot, and I still feel tired / run down.  It may not happen until the weather cools down.

--alternative goal would be to improve from last time, which was 1:56:46.  
That wouldn't be a true PR but my PRs were during med school and before my 3 year residency /running hiatus / weight gain, so for my own goal-setting purposes, my "PR" is a PR-PR (post-residency PR).  So it would be a PR-PR for me

--if things aren't going great but just so-so, I'd be still happy with 1:58:xx, and sub 2 would okay
--if things are going very poorly indeed, 2:02-2:05 but I wouldn't be proud of that.  
--if things are really sucking badly, then just to finish

I'm reviewing my log, and my last solid long run was 8/4, 12 miles at 9:38 average.  Everything since then hasn't gone well.  I need to stop freaking out.  And in the race, I need to remember my mantra: RELAX AND RUN!!  When I get worked up, things don't go well.  Come to think of it, I've not been relaxed about running lately.  The attitude has been more one of worry / fret.  It's just a race, not life-death, nor large sums of money.  I need to chill out!  Throat's a little scratchy tonight--I really hope I'm not getting sick!  I take vitamin C anyway but will take an extra tonight and hopefully I can get some decent sleep (ahem, benadryl)

Good luck with that.  I'd recommend not looking at your watch for the whole race.  Just relax and run.  Isn't that your mantra?

Yeah I'd just run and do your best in spite of potentially humid and hot conditions and being exhausted from work.

ounce wrote:Good luck with that.  I'd recommend not looking at your watch for the whole race.  Just relax and run.  Isn't that your mantra?

Julie wrote:Yeah I'd just run and do your best in spite of potentially humid and hot conditions and being exhausted from work.

Ounce (are you Doug? Sorry, I never learned your real name until now!) and Julie, you are wise and make good suggestions.  But, there is no way I could not look at my watch in a race.  I'm way too OCD.  If I didn't wear my watch, I'd be checking on my phone instead or something.  I'd be watching the time when I crossed the starting line and subtracting that from all the time clocks on the course.  I'm pretty much incapable of running blindly in a race.  Maybe someday.  Sometimes I don't like being so goal-focused

Penelope wrote:

ounce wrote:Good luck with that.  I'd recommend not looking at your watch for the whole race.  Just relax and run.  Isn't that your mantra?

Julie wrote:Yeah I'd just run and do your best in spite of potentially humid and hot conditions and being exhausted from work.

Ounce (are you Doug? Sorry, I never learned your real name until now!) and Julie, you are wise and make good suggestions.  But, there is no way I could not look at my watch in a race.  I'm way too OCD.  If I didn't wear my watch, I'd be checking on my phone instead or something.  I'd be watching the time when I crossed the starting line and subtracting that from all the time clocks on the course.  I'm pretty much incapable of running blindly in a race.  Maybe someday.  Sometimes I don't like being so goal-focused

Yup, I'm Doug.  The cat's out of the bag.  I guess I underestimated how badly you wanted to do the PR.  But there's no telling how much of a sub-1:55 you would've had with a more rested body.  Work a day of rest into your schedule each week for your October half, which means not to run on that day.  That day of rest could maybe offset an evening of socializing on the weekend.  I understand about having to watch the watch on a PR possible race.  I know.  I did a tempo run without looking at the watch (I had a rabbit) because I didn't want to analyze how much faster I'm running than I am used to.  SLEEP!  It's more important that tempo runs, (IMO).

SLEEP!

I think that's one of the mistakes I made during my training in 2010 and 2011.  I wasn't getting enough sleep so I was disappointed in my training runs.  The harder I tried the more run down and tired I felt.  Don't be afraid to take some time to recover when you need it.

ounce wrote:

Penelope wrote:

ounce wrote:Good luck with that.  I'd recommend not looking at your watch for the whole race.  Just relax and run.  Isn't that your mantra?

Julie wrote:Yeah I'd just run and do your best in spite of potentially humid and hot conditions and being exhausted from work.

Ounce (are you Doug? Sorry, I never learned your real name until now!) and Julie, you are wise and make good suggestions.  But, there is no way I could not look at my watch in a race.  I'm way too OCD.  If I didn't wear my watch, I'd be checking on my phone instead or something.  I'd be watching the time when I crossed the starting line and subtracting that from all the time clocks on the course.  I'm pretty much incapable of running blindly in a race.  Maybe someday.  Sometimes I don't like being so goal-focused

Yup, I'm Doug.  The cat's out of the bag.  I guess I underestimated how badly you wanted to do the PR.  But there's no telling how much of a sub-1:55 you would've had with a more rested body.  Work a day of rest into your schedule each week for your October half, which means not to run on that day.  That day of rest could maybe offset an evening of socializing on the weekend.  I understand about having to watch the watch on a PR possible race.  I know.  I did a tempo run without looking at the watch (I had a rabbit) because I didn't want to analyze how much faster I'm running than I am used to.  SLEEP!  It's more important that tempo runs, (IMO).

Hi Doug, thanks for stopping in again.  Okay, I DEFINITELY take rest days!! No problems there, usually 2 a week, sometimes more depending on the week and how badly its going.  But....maybe a rest day should be a day where I'm also not working and a day where I actually relax and do easy / restful things instead of running errands and such.  Hmmm.  Agree with sleep > tempo runs, too!

nkrichards wrote:SLEEP!

I think that's one of the mistakes I made during my training in 2010 and 2011.  I wasn't getting enough sleep so I was disappointed in my training runs.  The harder I tried the more run down and tired I felt.  Don't be afraid to take some time to recover when you need it.

Hi Nancy, thanks for stopping in!  I definitely agree, sleep is KEY! When I don't get enough my runs are all horrible.  It's a priority for me, although recently I haven't been getting great quality sleep.  Keep waking up

Fall Half marathon training 9/2/13 through 9/8/13
 
Mon 9/2/13 0 miles. Planned rest day. I worked an evening shift that was quite busy given its Labor Day. People only come to the ER on a holiday if they truly have to, so it's often slower.  No downtime last night though. 

Tues 9/3/13 outside 3.0 in 29:30, 9;49 avg. Today was not as hot or sticky at least. Right before, I got really nauseated and had some stomach pain, and almost didn't go, but took a pepcid and some ginger ale and it helped enough to get the run done.  These were 3 easy miles just to get a few in before the race and not lose fitness. Splits were 9:50, 9:58, and 9:39. Still feeling icky, sore, achy, tired. I think I'm going to get a massage between my last run on Thurs and the race.  I get them 1-2x/ month and I think it helps.  
I started taking a magnesium supplement on Monday, and I'm not sure if it's that or just coincidence or recent alcohol, but my stomach has been totally upset recently. I wanted to stop at walgreens on the way to work this afternoon and grab some prilosec, but didn't have time. But for some reason, our main office area got a shipment of prevacid samples.  We NEVER get samples, so I'm not sure how / why we have all this prevacid sitting around, but I took some so I could make it through the shift.  The magnesium has got to go, in the meantime.  After the race, I'll try it again and see if it's that or something else.

Wed 9/4/13 0 miles, planned rest day.  Worked til midnight and then had a drink at my new favorite bar, 3 Dots and a Dash with a coworker who was also doing a midnight shift.  It's like these tiki drinks served in tiki mugs.  Good stuff, but after 1 drink, no more alcohol til after the race is done.  
On another note, since I have nothing running related to say, I'm starting to have car jealousy.  Several coworkers have BMWs…I want one, or an Audi.  Well, actually I want a Tesla---I got to ride in one this spring, in Palm Springs, and that thing was SWEET! The red light turned green and we were at 40 mph in about 2 seconds.  Even in Palm Springs of all the places to drive a Tesla in this world, people stared at us.  I love the idea of not using gas and being better for the environment, but then I learned that electricity actually runs off of coal, which doesn't seem that much more environmentally friendly.  And the charging part seems like a total pain.  What I have now is a 2000 Honda Civic ex.  I like that car, and it runs well and doesn't have obscure parts that take forever to order.  I really have been lucky with how few repairs its needed.  A mechanic in Atlanta told me to never sell it--he said "this thing is gonna run forever."  Then at a gas station a few weeks ago the guy who put air in the tires told me the same thing….sometimes I wish it would just die….but then I'm glad it hasn't. I have no legit reason to get a new car; it's all just pride.  Be content with my regular, non-fancy car and be glad it's reliable and grateful for it--it was a gift so I never paid anything for it.  I like what I have….I like what I have…..I like what I have….

Thurs 9/5/13 outside, 3 miles in 31 minutes and changed.  I almost didn't time myself.  They were easy miles just to keep the blood flowing and not regress / lose any fitness until the race.

Fri 9/6/13 0 miles, planned rest day. Spent the morning and afternoon running around getting stuff done, then went to work. Only two more evening shifts to go!  We have these shifts where we just admit patients, almost like ER doctors.  It's a nice change of pace at times from the daily grind of rounding on the same group every day for a week.  But admitting shifts are tiring. I was on my feet a bit more than I wanted to be but most of it was out of my control.

Sat 9/7/13 0 miles, planned rest day.  I mostly laid around and did some computer work stuff and read, and went to bed early.  Pre-race meal of Boston Market for a late lunch.  I don't carb-load.  Carbs in any real quantity make me feel sluggish, heavy, and tired. I do better with protein.  And I eat red meat about once a week so I usually eat a big hamburger or meatloaf (if I go to Boston Market) the day before a race.  I noticed that when I eat red meat, my runs seem to go a little better.  Makes me wonder if I'm borderline anemic or something.  Or just need more iron than I did before I was running so much.

Sun 9/8/13 outside, 13.1, Chicago Half Marathon.  75F and later I learned 93% humidity with a dew point of 70 at the start.  It felt disgusting / sticky. My goals were sub 1:55:00 and sub 8:50 pace. I finished in 1:55:15 and 8:47 average pace.  I'm pleased with the race but I know I have a better time still in me.  Even though I was able to negative split, the final 3 miles were pretty bad, and it felt like the wheels were falling off.  I felt like I wasn't in control of anything and was just hanging on for dear life.  I didn't put this in the race report, but figure in my own blog I can be a little more open. I am pretty religious, and give all the credit to this race result to God.  I'm trying to make it a habit of inviting God along with me on my runs, although truth be told I usually forget to. I didn't forget today. During this race, I continued to ask for strength and endurance.  Although during the time, the race was painful, I knew that I was relying on God and that was cool.  Moving on, I'm really excited for the Monster Half marathon in October when temperatures should be cooler and I bet I can get 1:54....or maybe better.

Week: 19 miles (including race)

Check your serum ferritin, Kathy.  Often if the stores are low, you will get that boost from red meat or at least I do.  You are probably not anemic per se, but have low stores as it is real common in endurance athletes especially female runners.  Here I am playing a doc on the internet and telling a doc what to do.

Michele \"1L" Keane wrote:Check your serum ferritin, Kathy.  Often if the stores are low, you will get that boost from red meat or at least I do.  You are probably not anemic per se, but have low stores as it is real common in endurance athletes especially female runners.  Here I am playing a doc on the internet and telling a doc what to do.

Ha ha.  You're probably right, though.  I bet my ferritin is low or borderline low but that I'm not actually anemic.  If I can convince my doctor to check it, I will, and if not, I'll probably just start iron tablets.  Or eat more red meat, which I love...although I have food allergies to beef.