"I love New Orleans physically." (Anne Rice)

Well, my continuing knee soreness is putting future runs in danger, and my continuing unemployment is putting our Halloween New Orleans trip in danger.

Some may argue I should have posted this yesterday. August 29th is when the storm hit, and when the levees [US Government] failed, but August 30th is when we [the informed citizens, not the US Government] found out how bad it really was. While missing a jazz-filled vacation isn't the same as losing all your worldly possessions, and some 1800 souls, I still know what it means.

Do you know what it means to miss new orleans

And miss her each night and day

I know I'm not wrong because the feeling's

Getting stronger the longer I stay away

Miss the moss covered vines, tall sugar pines

Where mockingbirds used to sing

I'd love to see that old lazy Mississippi

Running in the spring

Moonlight on the bayous

Creole tunes fill the air

I dream about magnolias in June

And I'm wishin I was there

Do you know what it means to miss new orleans

When that's where you left your heart...

(From the classic, "Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans," obviously.)

I watched "Runaway Jury" yesterday, just for the scenery, as usual. Even though it is one of the most rewarding films I have ever seen, ever, there's still something specifically about the scene when Rachel Weisz jumps out of the St Charles Ave streetcar and Hackman looks out after her that takes me breath away. I'd love to be able to jog the neutral ground every (other) day and get to see that scene over and over again in person.

Anyway, as there's always a reason to party in New Orleans, I'll close with a perfectly New Orleanian quote from some random person who was drinking on Bourbon St yesterday, and wisely posting on Facebook.

"Katrina, Happy Birthday, you bitch."

Day 70, Attempt V

Well, this attempt took place on Thursday, and as it is now Saturday night, you can guess my excitement about the whole thing. I scrawled some notes after the run, but I've already mostly repressed the details.

My knees were still sore, but not too bad, and the thing is, is that they don't hurt when I run. So I convince myself to hurry up and run before school gets out. I'd had the highly nutritious foods of a cupcake, grapes, and about 12 ounces of water. Oh, and a gingin, because - shocker! - my stomach hurts. I went upstairs to get my clothes, and laid down and took a nap. Yep, super-motivated. Luckily, it was short, and I still had time before school got out.

I put my contacts in literally just for the run, so that I could wear sunglasses. I also slathered on sunscreen, which I've been forgetting lately. Since I've been running either at dawn or in the rain aftermath, I haven't worried too much about it, but should have on the last couple. I had also been meaning to change my mp3 from random to one specific cd. I was thinking Eminem, and today that's what I went with. Mmm. "Recovery." That's gotta get me through this.

One more change: the route. I have to finish this bloody thing, so I'm taking out the hills. Now it's basically 4 long stretches, that have significantly fewer hills than the route I've been trying. It's still the same route, mostly, but by moving it over a block, I avoid a chunk of up and down.

OK, so off I go (from my driveway now!), and run down the main road. I did get tired quicker than the last run, but it wasn't too bad. As I was running up the side street, I was thinking about "Eat Pray Love," which I started this morning, and is already one of my favorite books. The author spends a lot of time on the inter-connectedness, we're all in this together as one, theory of the Universe. I tried to think of all the people who were running with me, much like she tried to think of all the people who were hoping her divorce would go through, but lack of oxygen gave me a pretty short list. (I think Bill Clinton would want me to complete my run, but I didn't think of him. She did. Probably why her papers got signed and I still haven't run a 5K.)

As I ran toward the post office, I got one of my lovely upper stomach cramps, and it was terrible. I felt like I couldn't expand my chest to get a full breath. I kept going, but not far. When I got to the point that I would be running away from my house (my new mental block), I stopped and walked home.

There weren't many people out, but this truck towing a boat kept passing me. The first couple of times, it didn't seem that unreasonable, but when they went by the last time, several streets over, I was concerned. At least if they nabbed me, I could live on a boat.

By the time I got home, my knees hurt to the touch. They were horribly sore, like balloons again. I hate this. I iced them, of course, and then my ice pack burst, I guess. There was gooey gunk everywhere. Luckily I also iced my back, so it was in my hair, too. Running has brought so much joy into my life.

As it's now Saturday, I'll add that my knees continue to hurt like a funky monkey. Yesterday I thought I may run today, as they weren't too terrible. Mostly just my right knee, and I iced it and put some oils on it. Then, just before I went to bed, it started hurting so bad I was almost in tears. And that was before I tackled the staircase. So, I continue to fear permanent damage, and as I will finally officially have health insurance again on the first, I think I will wait until then to run again, even though I really, really, really, really want to run. This past week I have wanted to run desperately every day. I'm so sick of taking a week off to heal. I abhor being elderly.

Speaking of elderly, since I can't run, and in anticipation of not being able to run most of the winter, I have broken out the knitting needles. And I finished "Eat Pray Love." Perhaps I'll finally get back to the Gita now, too. Even if I can't afford yoga training now, and I have a hunch that my overwhelming new age vegetarian hippie aura with morals and ethics is preventing me from getting a job in the world of finance, I can at least be at peace with my impending homelessness.

Time: 2:30p; Run 16.5 minutes
Weather: 81, SUNNY, 2 mph breezes, 39% Humidity. (According to the Weather Channel, the temp was 82, Feels Like 81 - apparently there was a wind chill.)
Distance: 2.32K (1.44m)
Elevation: +53.2/-41.8/net 11.5 feet
5K/10K: 37:49/1:19:57 (Best overall - at least I'm getting faster; 5th best just run time)

Day 70, Attempt IV

Sigh.

Today I was completely listless. I didn't want to do anything. I was all riled up about a lack of job, and finally gave up and tried to meditate. My aching knees took issue with Lotus, and I ended up, face down, spread across the floor, listening to my poor upset tummy gurgle while being pressed into the floor.

I finally decided the only thing I could do was go for a run. Weird, I know. I think it was because I got my Alumni magazine in the mail today and there was a blurb about a guy who runs 2+ hours a day, 5 days a week, and by my math, he's about 70. I also saw a quote on the Runner's World Facebook page that said, "You only ever grow as a human being if you're outside your comfort zone.” (Percy Cerutty)

I got most, if not all of my water yesterday, but I ate crap. Today, I had had some water, but not a lot, and had lunch and some grapes. It had been awhile since lunch when I decided to run. I was very concerned about my churning stomach and my knees, which are making going up stairs virtually impossible.

Before I left, I laid out my ice pack and towel, because I feared I may come back crawling. As I have on the first three attempts, I wrote down my start time before I left - after all, you don't expect me to retain something for 40 oxygen deprived minutes, do you?

I got outside and remembered that I was going to run the route backwards today - the thing is, the Figure 8 doesn't measure out to a 5K right at my house - the finish line is part way up the block. So, I took off walking to get to the official start line and started a minute later than I wrote down. I don't need this stress.

Speaking of stress, I have had on my to-do list for weeks to look up when to use farther vs. further, as I use them so regularly in the blog. Turns out, at least one reputable source says they can be used interchangeably, however the general consensus is that farther is for distance ("more miles"), further is for time or amount ("additional"). I'm sure I have used them incorrectly often, and that stresses me out.

At any rate, I take off, and my knees are doing ok when running, and there's a great breeze, in addition to it not being too hot to begin with. I am running down the main road, breathing like a champ. It's been a bit since I have run down the main road and it was nice to go down it and not be panting like usual. It was a super easy run and I reminded myself that it IS downhill.

Then I turned to go up the long uphill side street. Aside from having two people stare at me like I was nuts when I was trying to be nice, the run was going brilliantly. I was even checking out the scenery more than usual! I was moderately concerned when I saw a school bus dump off a bunch of kids ahead of me, but they were all safely tucked in their houses before I got up to them. There is one intersection where there are 3 or so steps that you have to go up - I had been worried about this due to the extreme pain in my knees on the stairs. When I actually got to the spot, I went in the grass and up the steep little hill next to the steps. Still hurt my knee, but at least I tried.

I continue to be in disbelief about the butterflies. It's like being in a butterfly house - I am doing my best not to step on them or otherwise harm them as I run along. Butterflies are the one bug-like critter that don't freak me out. They are everywhere!

I made it up the hill, and while I was starting to feel it, I was still moving along - made it past the post office and was wrapping into the lower loop of the Figure 8. I don't know if running the opposite route really made the difference, or the weather, or what, but I felt good. I was still in a bit of an emotional huff, and if ever I needed a run to provide the promised endorphin rush/mood boost, it was today.

I headed down to Post-Apocalypticaville. Across the bottoms. Oh, man, I'm tired and I have this massive hill to get up. Slow and steady, up the hill, and the lungs are burning a bit. I'm going downhill now. I haven't run this direction in quite awhile, and this is the hill that usually kills me to go up. This is cake. Downhill, then a little bit of uphill, but not much for a few blocks. Then another hill, but after that it's FLAT to home. Oh man, but I won't make it up that hill. I can't. I'm tapped. I made it past the halfway point! Screw it, I stopped at the bottom of the hill. Much like in Attempt II where I stopped at the top of the hill, I have to wonder how I convinced myself to get up the huge hill and then stop. Anyway, I did.

I started counting the seconds, and continuing on my route. I walked two blocks and decided if, when I got to the next corner, the minute clicked over on my clock, I would take off running again. It did not, so I turned for home instead of continuing on the route.

It was a long, slow walk home. I wasn't pissed today, just disappointed. I made it 21.5 minutes, which is the best time I've had in awhile, but I had SUCH a good start, and the rest of the route is nearly all flat! I thought, while running, that I would at least make it 30 minutes again, but no.

I finally got enough oxygen to realize I had had a great run, made it farther (distance) AND further (time) than I had in awhile. My knees and stomach and lungs were awesome. I had really only had one cramp, across my chest like yesterday, and it was weak and short-lived. Good run. And for the first time that I've noticed, my mood improved drastically after the run.

I'm going to take tomorrow for a rest, and then hopefully run again on Thursday. We are in a perfect running weather pattern right now, but I definitely want to give my knees a break. I talked myself into the idea that they may feel better if I worked them today, which of course, did not happen. I have iced them (immediately upon my return, since I left the ice out), but this has been the oddest "injury" I've had so far (except maybe my right thigh twinges).

Weather: 80, Partly Cloudy, Windy 13 mph, 68% Humidity, Feels Like 83
Time: 3p; Run 21.5 minutes (6th longest time - at once)
Distance: 2.96K (1.84m)
Elevation: +61.5/-65.7/net -4.2 ft
5K/10K: 37:53/1:20:04 (Best overall time, 5th best just run time)

Day 70, Attempt III

Balls. I almost did not title this post "Attempt" III, due to the sad, sad effort I put forth. However, I really did put in a good attempt.

I had an interview this morning, and while it WAS above 85 degrees by the time I had a chance to run, I felt comfortable running this afternoon. I made sure I got all my water yesterday, and I had plenty already today (for better or for worse). I had only eaten an English muffin with peanut butter, and a mtn dew, in addition to about 4 glasses of water.

I was sure that today was the day. My knees hurt very badly after the run two days ago, and hurt a bit yesterday, too. They were still a bit sore today, but barely. Regardless, this was the day I'd complete the 5K.

I was all prepared to blog about how Attempt I failed because I later discovered a watermelon seed in my shoe. And Attempt II failed because my socks got wet from all the rainfall we had received.

I put my contacts in just so I could wear sunglasses in the blinding sunshine, and then had to run back through the house to get them, so I could leave at the time I wanted. So I started my run with a run. Anyway, I set off in my Food Bank volunteer shirt that appropriately says "Will Work For Food" on the back.

We have had a simply unbelievable amount of butterflies this year. UNBELIEVABLE. I have never in my life seen so many. And there are suddenly caterpillars everywhere, too, so they aren't going anywhere. As I ran down my neighbor's sidewalk, with knee-high grass on either side, a butterfly flitted out of the grass and scared the ever-loving crap out of me. I can't believe I didn't fall I moved in such an absurd way. We both survived, and on I went.

I was moving perfectly. The pace was fast, but I wasn't getting winded! I was hitting mostly on my heels. I could feel the shock, a little, in my knees, but it wasn't bad. It was hot, but there was a breeze, and the humidity was low. This, my friends, was it.

Pass the kid screeching along with his mp3...

I had a little paperboy on a bike that I was circling around. I was amused by his very presence, probably due to the long history of paper routes in my lineage. There were plenty of other people out, and I kept a pleasant pace as I went past them.

I did have to stop for a quick second at the one cross street that brings regular traffic on this stretch of route. I am convinced that stopping at least once at that street, which I cross twice, is a requirement for me to survive the run.

So I am still doing great. Running along, now headed back toward home. The route thus far is pretty much flat. I have a downhill before the rolling hill section. And at the bottom of that hill I stopped. I had to tell myself to stop, my legs were still going. I still had my breath. But, the problem was the muscle cramps. Today it was all the way across the bottom of my chest/top of my stomach and it felt just like a cramp that would not release. It was horrible, and stuck with me for several blocks without relief, so I gave in. That was at 12 and a half minutes. Shameful. My knees were killing me. I had a very long walk home, a stretch that I have NEVER had to walk. I was pissed, of course. Why are my runs getting worse!? I mean this one was TERRIBLE.

Argh. I didn't try to walk out the route, I just walked home. I wonder if it's nutritional issues that I am being limited by? I'm not eating great, but it's not THAT bad. I got home, and really wanted a mtn dew, which is what I usually reach for when I get home from a run first thing in the morning. Since I try to only have one soda a day, and I had it this morning per usual, I needed something to up my whatever that is the reason we take in sugars after working out. I decided to have a Twix. I mean, people swear chocolate milk is the perfect after workout drink, so... Whatever. I said I wasn't nutritionally "great" right now.

I had to ice my knees, which I did for quite awhile, and they do feel better. I'll continue icing tomorrow. I wish I knew what the hell I did to them two days ago.

I can't figure out what has happened that I could one day run for 30 minutes, and now I'm down to 12. And a half. I've decided that next time (hopefully in two days...maybe tomorrow), I'll reverse my little 5K route. Mainly, it will give me something new to look at, but it will start on a long downhill, then move into a long uphill, which, while painful, is doable. Then I will have the hills, and a long flat stretch to finish. I hope that works. Either way, I enjoyed my run today, short though it was.

Weather: 87, Sunny, 7mph wind, 47% Humidity, Feels like 89
Time: 3:30p; Run 12.5 minutes
Distance: 1.77K (1.1m)
Elevation: +16.8/-16.2/net .6 ft (So, so, so flat)
5K/10K: 38:23/1:21:07 (4th best overall...not so great for a "just run" time.)

Day 70, Attempt II

Well, I took Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday off from running. Not from injury per se, but I didn't really feel like running. I also had absurd weather to deal with. And several interviews (in related news, I didn't get the job at the rec center - and I got that news about half an hour before I went to another interview - very encouraging way to go in). And what's with the sun going down so early? I hate winter. A couple of nights I had really wanted to run, but just did not have enough daylight left to try for a 40ish minute run. So, Saturday it is.

Last night, it rained, and rained, and rained. The forecast said the rain would stop and it would be cool in the morning. I wasn't too concerned about getting up early to get my run in, however I *of course* slept way longer than I intended to. I'm nothing, if not consistent.

I checked the weather, and although it was disgustingly overcast, there seemed to be no reason I couldn't run (other than I may need an ark). I told Husband the route I was taking in case a storm kicked up (yeah, I still run with my phone, not sure why I thought I wouldn't just be able to call him and tell him where I was instead of asking him to drive all around the neighborhood looking for me).

I was worried today would be hard after taking off so long, and it's not like my last run was even that impressive, but I took off in the mist (lovely - the first time I've ever run with my glasses instead of contacts and it's misty. Love it.) and felt the tightness in my left Achilles immediately. I haven't been feeling bad at all this week, so I was disheartened from the get-go. I did not take off like a bat out of hell like I did last attempt, but was still winded whilst on my own block. I tried to tell myself that's just how running is.

All sorts of people were out, everywhere - JOY! I saw a guy pulling a kid in a wagon (which made me happy, I love wagons), I saw a runner go shooting across the street I was running on, I saw two people on scooters (like rascal scooters) to counteract the two people in town running, and plenty of people just sitting about, staring (yay meth!). I tried, so hard, not to run faster to get away from them. There were just more ahead anyway.

I was getting tired, but not too tired, not like Monday. I tried to turn my focus to my feet, and hit with my heel and roll up and push off with my toe. I immediately felt a difference from the flat way I had been stomping along. I also felt like it made me speed up and as I was approaching the hilly part of my run, I, well, went back to stomping.

I was most definitely suffering from side cramps throughout my run today. The uber-painful searing variety. I tried to breathe into them, I tried until I thought I was going to pass out from focusing so hard on that. I have GOT to get back to getting all my water in. I don't know why I've had such a hard time lately, but I woke up (after my long night's coma) soo thirsty. I'm combining not getting enough water, with sleeping way too long, and expecting to be able to get up and run without a drink. There's no way. So I had drank a bit - maybe 8-12 ounces - before I left.

Once I got to the hilly section, I pulled out every single one of my motivational tricks to keep me going. I wasn't sure yet if I had it in me or not. On Monday, I was beyond toast at this point, and I don't know what kept me going as far as I did. Today, I didn't feel great, but I felt like there was still a chance.

I made it through Post-Apocalypticaville, and turned uphill. This corner was where I stopped Monday. This is a long, gradual uphill. It was going to take a lot out of me. I started thinking, when I get to the top of the hill, it will be flat for quite a ways, then a long downhill. I CAN DO THIS. But, then, I have a long uphill home. Balls. There's no way I'll make it up the main road at the end of this. My legs were getting very, very heavy.

I decided I had to stop and walk. I would stop when I got to the back of the house on the corner (top of the hill, where I turn toward the post office and the top loop of my Figure 8), walk around the house, and when I got past it on the other side of the corner, I would run again. This would be really easy to map my walking distance on Google. How I convinced myself to stop when I got so close to the top of the hill, I don't know, but I stopped after 19 minutes of running.

I was utterly depleted. Breathing was pointless, because no oxygen was serving my body. I walked around the corner, past the house, and kept walking. There was no way I could run again. Not a chance. Plus my knees started hurting while I was walking. They felt like balloons.

I was pissed. I was about to head for home, at least with the satisfaction I had made it further than last time, when I decided to keep walking the route. Undoubtedly, once I fully recovered my breath, I would want to run again. Sure, my time would blow, but whatever. At least I would finish it, and then maybe take another go at it before I moved on with my plan to increase time and distance.

I kept walking.

And walking.

And walking.

Ok, now I am coming up on the post office and I feel ready to run. Do I really want to start running at this corner, and have to run past the post office, or just walk this long block and then start running on the other side of it? Ahh, I bet you thought I would keep walking, but I did not. I had walked for 6 minutes, and off I went.

I ran past the post office, around the corner, and the side cramp was so bad, I just couldn't take it. I finished off that block, and completed another 2 minutes of running. At this point, I was very close to my house and fairly certain I wouldn't run anymore, so I just walked home.

My knees did not enjoy the walk. When I got home, I iced them, my ankles, my left shin, my back/shoulder area, and I did a few stretches for my left Achilles. Oh, and I swore off running forever.

Bah, I'm sure I'll go again. Perhaps I won't even wait so long. I thought about how previous fails would cause me to repeat a week in the training, and since I had been up to 30 minutes, but my last two were 18 and 19 minutes, maybe I need to go back through the last week or so and build back up. Of course, as long as I keep running the same route, and running as far as I can, I'm kinda doing that anyway.

OK, so I have a bunch of numbers today. I didn't count seconds or anything, so these are somewhat estimates, but should be pretty close. I'm updating the total stats with the Run 19, Walk 6, Run 2 numbers.

Weather: 77, Cloudy, Breezy 4mph, 87% Humidity (The mist leads me to believe that should be 100%), Feels like 77
Time: 10:30am

Time: Run 19 minutes
Distance: 2.62K (1.63m)
Elevation: +41.6/-37.5/net 4.1 ft
5K/10K: 38:12/1:20:44 (This would be my 6th fastest just run time, but I'm putting the numbers below into my spreadsheet.)

Time: Run 19, Walk 6
Distance: 3.15K (1.96m)

Time: Run 19, Walk 6, Run 2
Distance: 3.45K (2.14m)
5K/10K: 40:19/1:25:13 (Meh. Not great.)

Time: Run 19, Walk 6, Run 2, Walk 4
Distance: 3.85K (2.39m)
Elevation: +53.7/-53.7/net 0 ft
5K/10K: 41:07/1:26:55

Run Time: 21 minutes
Distance: 2.92K (1.81m)
5K/10K: 37:33/1:19:22 (4th fastest just run time)

Day 70, Attempt 1

I knew today was going to be a challenge, not so much for the extra 10 minutes I was expecting to run, but because my stomach was in twists. My sleep also got interrupted last night when Husband caught a potholder on fire in the kitchen after I had gone to bed.

Regardless, I was determined to do this.

Last night, I sat down to map a route and runningahead had changed their website. I was utterly dismayed, due to my dislike of new things. However, it wasn't drastic and before long, I had mapped a route that was essentially the Figure 8 I have been running, increasing the upper loop to go all the way past the post office, down the side street, and back up the main road.

I got up early, and despite being groggy, hungry, thirsty, and achey, I was doing this. The weather was too perfect. I ate half a granola bar and had a little water, because I feared not being able to survive a longer run. I had an early dinner last night, so it made sense to me. I should have had more water.

When I took off, I took off fast. For once, I wasn't telling myself to slow down - this, after all, was a race. I knew I was taking a chance pushing it, but I thought today was the day to do it. I also tried to focus on taking longer strides - I realized I have been landing more on my toe area with my baby steps. When I take longer steps, I roll from my heel, which I believe is the 'proper' way to hit the ground. Regardless, I was back and forth with it today, because it quickly became a "do whatever you have to to keep going" kind of day.

It was downright cool out this morning. I was panting, hard. I had cramps the likes of which all the meditative breathing-into-the-pain in the world could not touch. I couldn't get comfortable in flat sections to prepare for hills. I thought a woman in her driveway said something to me, then realized it was just the song I was listening to (wow, 'in stereo' is fancy).

I saw a loose dog, but clearly I was a huge wreck, because he ran up his driveway and cowered as I went by. Speaking of driveways, most of those cars that were blocking the sidewalks Saturday were gone today. Aww, poor pains in my ass have to go to work on Monday morning?! Awww! I so sowwy.

I finally got to a point where I had cleared up the worst of the cramping, but I don't know how I got through a few of the hilly areas. When I got through the Bottoms of Post-Apocalypticaville, I was supposed to turn up the lesser of the hill options, but I had given up. I don't know if I could have made it through the course today or not, but I knew I had a long way to go and I was in horrible pain, so I stopped when my options were all hills.

I trudged home, bordering on numb. I was disappointed, but although I probably should have tried a slower pace, today was not meant to be a run day for me.

I came home, took some muscle relaxer/pain killer, and fell asleep for about 5 hours. Yes, that's how unemployment is supposed to be handled. I don't plan to run tomorrow, and then the weather will have to be evaluated. There's no way it could be as perfect as today was, but oh well. I am used to the heat. Kind of.

I knew I was at less than 2 miles today, but all in all, I'm pretty happy I made it 1.5 miles. It was about half my goal for the day, but that's still a hell of a run for a person as rough as I was this morning, or for me any time.

Runner's World published a review of Compression Socks this afternoon. As I have mentioned, I don't quite understand how this compression gear is supposed to help, so I checked out the article. The main thing I learned was that one of the pairs of socks made one of the reviewers have tingly feet. So when I asked a few days ago if my tingly legs were a result of the compression pants, apparently, yes. How that helps, we don't know.

Weather: 65, Sunny, No Wind, 93% Humidity, Feels Like 65
Time: 7:30am; Run 17:51
Distance: 2.48K (1.54m)
Elevation: +36.1/-38.3/net -2.3 ft
5K/10K: 38:04/1:20:29 (Fastest overall, Fastest just run since I was only running 16 minutes....which I didn't manage much more than today, so this was the 5th fastest just run time.)

No 5K Today

I'll post what I did accomplish later. After my painkillers kick in.

Day 69: A Highlight Reel

I have spent some time re-reading the blog in preparation for the big finale tomorrow. I decided to list my Top 10 Favorite Moments, but it turned into the Top 25. Sue me.

In order of appearance, I present my Top 25 Favorite Blog Moments.

1. My First Blog: I really enjoy the entire first blog.
2. Day 1: I started off with a "Fail" day but managed to view it as a success.
3. Days 4, 6, 7, 8, 13, and 17: These were my early days of weather concerns. It went from hoping to run in the rain, to considering running with an umbrella, to not wanting to run in the rain, to finally having to run in the rain and loving it.
4. Day 7: Google image search result for "weightlifter."
5. Day 10, part 1: Discovering runningahead.com to track my runs.
6. Day 10, part 2: When I noted that I had started Napolean Dynamite'ing away from people. I still struggle not to run away like a lunatic when people appear in my path.
7. Day 11: A post on Zombies and Coco. You know it's a good one.
8. Day 13: The first time I really gutted it out to complete a run.
9. Day 18: Live jazz!
10. Day 13, Take 2: The Lost Finale.
11. Day 15, Take 2: A great run, on a 2nd attempt.
12. Day 17, Take 2: The whole post is great. Running with cats, Rapist Corridor, (cacao) delivery. Classic.
13. Days 20 and 21: Blog Tour.
14. Day 22: The only day that I really felt like I had a lot left when the run time ended.
15. Day 26: Leg muscles are definitely a highlight.
16. Day 36: Figuring out that I needed to put my head back was a revelation.
17. Day 29, Take 2: Finally getting to see the 10K route...at least the part that I hadn't previously seen.
18. Days 38/39, II, 40, II, 43, and 45: Vacation running, can't beat it.
19. Day 50: Not only did I tackle my long standing fear of a couple of hills, but something about a 17 minute run was very momentous for me.
20. Days 15, Take 2, 49, 52, and 68: The absurdity of dancing and singing while running.
21. Day 57: My first Other Runner spotting. Also, a successful run in 95 degree heat.
22. Days 59 and 61: My new, challenging, hilly route and the Batman elevation graphic.
23. Day 66: My new mission statement options.
24. Day 64: Having a random dog run with me.
25. Day 68: I made it to the last day of training!! Craziness!! And I ran for 30 minutes!! More craziness!!

Well, those were some of my favorites. Tomorrow is the big 5K day. There's 0% chance of rain, and the afternoon high heat index is only going to be 86. Looks like a perfect day to wrap this thing up!

Day 68: The Early Bird Gets The, Ugh, Worms

Day 68?! That means today is the last official day of training - a Run 30 minutes!! Rest day tomorrow and then the 5K part of the "Couch to 5K" the next day!! Holy cow!! This is all terribly surreal to me. Not only did I just start this little adventure, but I'm pretty sure I can't actually run for 30 straight minutes. If you happen to know how much I have hated each and every one of my PE teachers, you know how badly I want to look them up and tell them about this. So that they drop dead of shock. Yes, I still harbor that much hatred of them. Actually, now that I have taken it upon myself to learn how to be fit, nutritious, and active (one MIGHT CALL THAT physical education), I actually have spent a lot of time hating them more, due to their utter ineptitude at doing their jobs. It's no wonder our generation is all Twinkie eating fat ass diabetics who are going to die earlier than the previous generation. Thank you, PE teachers of the 80s and 90s for making us play volleyball, and archery, and softball. Our healthcare industry wouldn't be what it is today without your support.

I digress. And I'm about to digress further. I checked the headlines this morning (I like to ensure the world is still okay before I venture out into it armed with only pepper spray and a will to fight for food), and was quite pleased to see that Mr. Obama is supporting something that is quite controversial, that I support, and that I kinda can't believe he is supporting, even though it's clearly a Bill of Rights issue. I mean, I didn't know we still used that, but it's good to see the President brushing it off and supporting our Rights. This is actually relevant to my run - stay tuned.

Last night I checked the weather for today and it was supposed to be storming this morning, all morning, until it was too hot to move, which continues into the night. In spite of that, I set the alarm for an inhumane hour. I looked out and it was cloudy and dreary, but I pulled myself together and came out to the computer. The chance of storms had gone down, and we weren't under any weather watches (except for heat, of course). Glad I got up! I had all but resigned that I'd be running on the itty bitty track at the gym today (I think it's 1/16th of a mile). I would literally need a counter to keep track of my distance. My goal, again, was 2.5 miles, so counting to 40 laps is just unbearable to consider.

I couldn't quite decide what route I wanted to take today, but I decided to take another go at my Figure 8 from Day 66, hoping that it would be closer to the correct distance when I added the 3 minutes. I started out too fast AGAIN and was promptly worried about my ability to endure this today. On I went, around and around and around the douchebags who park their cars over the sidewalks. Some fantastic Christmas music came on the mp3 which resulted in me very nearly dancing down the block. The dead smell was gone from the turnaround block, so that was wonderful.

Thankfully, it was pretty cool and although I felt the need to keep checking the time all along, I was moving on pretty well. I got to the turnaround pretty easily, and I made my regular route back without too much trouble. I made the turn uphill to make the twist in my Figure 8 route, and I still had plenty of time left, so I went ahead and went into that top loop. I wasn't sure I'd be able to finish the loop, and turns out I didn't quite, but it was close.

A couple of things I noticed on my run today. First, there were worms EVERYWHERE. There always are, but they're usually more dried up. These were still plump and huge, and horrifying. I try not to step on them for fear of splatter, or getting them stuck to my shoe and having the end slap my leg, or whatever. They're just disgusting. I was probably risking injury doing all the sidestepping I did today. At one point my ankle itched so bad I was certain there was a worm bit on it. I had to scratch it, which resulted in me hopping on my other leg while I did it. It was a super hard variation of the Super Douche.

There was NO ONE out today. No cars, no people. As I went through Post-Apocalypticaville, I noticed one of the residents has moved a semi trailer into their yard. Like an old, beat up one that people would live in after very bad things have happened. That is one bizarre stretch of road. At the end of it, where I turned to go uphill, I passed an older guy with three fatty dogs that were trudging along. That was about it for humanity today.

I also noticed that although I kind of felt like I was moving fast today, I just take really, really tiny steps. I'm going to have to work on that.

I didn't have to use my usual mind tricks today, I just freaking ran it. However, a big help at the end was my music that popped up, that I need at the end of every run. First - not sure the official name, but it's a mash-up of Barack Obama quotes and "We Will Rock You" and "Changes." Between being happy with the President this morning, and being re-inspired hearing his campaigning in my ears, I was dancing again. And then Madonna's "Holiday" came on. Girl, you know I'm going to celebrate this last training day and a 30 minute run.

Once home, I got a little dizzy while sitting down. Considering I thought I was having a heart attack for the upper loop of the 8, I probably should have been more concerned. I ran 2.43 miles. I was hoping for at least 2.5, considering I'm running 3.1 in two days. I looked at my map and another mile would be practically back up to the turnaround point (actually to the side street that my zig-zag route takes to get to the turnaround). That seems unlikely to be doable. I'll map out a route tomorrow, probably combining my Figure 8 route, and the main road I usually run on.

One last thing, I had previously mentioned that I needed to come up with some new goals, after I decided to skip the 10K race. I came up with a list of goals on the side of my blog that I have either mentioned in my blog, or have thought about. This is an easy way to add new ones as I come up with them, and mark my progress. Today I can cross another one off the list - Run 30 Minutes!!! Yay!

Weather: 72, Partly Cloudy, No Wind, 95% Humidity, Feels Like 72 (disagree)
Time: 7am; Run 30 minutes
Distance: 3.91K (2.43m)
Elevation: +60.6/-54.7/net +5.9 ft
5K/10K: 39:08/1:22:43 (5th best overall time, so I wasn't real happy with this. Also not happy that I'll be running an extra 10 minutes next time I run to finish a 5K!)

Day 66: "If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep on [running]."

Oh my goodness, a lot has happened since my alarm went off at 5:30 this morning. That's right, pre-dawn. Not pre-sunrise, PRE-DAWN. I had to get up extra early because it is trash day and Husband had to be at work early AND I had a job interview later in the day. As we have one car, I had to take him to work, so that I could get to the interview later.

I knew it was trash day in the sense that I factored in having to get the trash out in the timeline of the morning. However, I forgot that meant I would have to run out of my neighborhood, and I had planned on repeating my last route, with an additional block added on. At the last minute, I sat down and mapped a 2.5ish mile route, in a figure 8 around town. I'd start out with the big bottom part of the 8 out of town, then twist around to avoid the big hill by my block. The little loop could be adjusted as time allowed at the end of my run.

The weather was great, although humid, and it was lovely running at sunrise, and I took off like a bat out of hell. I knew I was in trouble right away, I mean today is a Run 27. One does not start with a sprint around the block. My route was a long straight route, instead of a zig-zag route that I had been following. I was a little worried about getting restless on this stretch, as I often do when I have no turns. However, I had a walker to say hi to, TWO separate runners to wave to, and a bunch of people smoking on their porches to scowl at as I passed. Before I knew it, I was within a couple of blocks of the turnaround - the point where I usually join up from a side street.

There was something dead near the turnaround. I didn't look around, for fear of spotting it (now I see why runners always find the dead bodies), but I did manage to hold my breath, somehow, for a hundred feet or so in each direction.

Heading back for home is such a boost for me. As long as I am pointed toward home, I know I can do it. I passed three high school age girls running, and made it to the bottom of the hill, where I turned into the twist of the 8. This street went uphill, too, and was rough, but not as bad as the other option. It was, however, pointing me away from home, so it was dreadful.

By the time I got to the top, I really didn't have much time left, so I did not make the top of the 8 at all. I was disappointed because I thought I was running pretty fast, and I got nowhere near my distance goal. If I am not running closer to 3 miles now, how am I going to do it in 4 days!?

When I got home, there was no time for rest, as I had to get the recycling out. Husband had the trash out in the kitchen, cleaning out the fridge. The trash stunk sooo bad. I thought I was going to hurl. I had to venture back by the door, hot as I was, to get some fresh air.

I recovered quickly and overall, again, this seemed to be a pretty painless run. My throat is still bothering me afterwards, but that seems to be getting better, too. My legs felt good throughout a long day that didn't revolve around sitting in a recliner for the remainder of the day!

My interview was at a rec center, for the business office. I've determined I MUST get this job, if for no other reason, to access their indoor track this winter. I fear running in the winter (ours is short, but still) in general, but especially if I go back to work. There will be weeks when I will not see the sunlight before or after work. In theory I could run at lunch, but barring a workplace with a shower, that won't happen. I guess I'll have to make my weekend runs count! Seriously, though, getting this job would be like going to work every day on the playground. It would be amazing.

I can't believe I'm almost done with the Couch to 5K! Even though it has been 101 real-time days, it feels like the time has flown! In two days, I run 30 minutes, and two days after that, I'll mark out a 5K to run. I don't see how I'll make the jump from 30 minutes to near 40 minutes in two days, but I know I do better with a finish line in mind, so maybe it'll happen.

Weather: 74, Partly Cloudy/Sunrise, No Breeze, 92% Humidity, Feels like 74 (I disagree. While it was cooler, it did not feel like 74. Why? Because there was 92% humidity. I don't understand the heat index.)
Time: 6:30am; Run 27 mins
Distance: 3.63K (2.26m)
Elevation: +60.7/-62.2/net -1.5 ft (I put in the pic to show the long straight stretch was also crazy-flat.)
5K/10K: 38:10/1:20:40 (Holy Atalanta, Batman! Fastest overall time yet! It's 5th best "just run" time, but the other 4 better times were based on run times of 16 minutes or less.)

Day 64: Who Let The Dog Out?

Another hot day forecast, another early alarm for me. Even earlier than yesterday. Even earlier than most mornings that I worked. Again, I prefer to run with a heat index below 85, but the forecast called for above 85 about the time the sun came up, so I just did the best I could.

I ate some olives before I went to bed last night, so I knew I would be thirsty this morning, and I was. I had about a cup of water before heading out. I was hungry, too, but I held off on that.

I did laundry yesterday, so I'm sporting my Under Armour pants again. I want them to do the magic that will make me a super runner. I again tried to focus on my calf stretches, but for once they didn't really feel tight. While stretching, I decided I didn't want to run the same route as yesterday. It's challenging, and I like it, but I think doing it two days in a row is excessive. So I quickly mapped out a two mile route (today is another Run 25), and set out, basically on my main loop, with a 2-block block to run around to make the distance.

My Achilles actually didn't hurt when I took off, although my left knee did a little. I didn't notice it for long. I took off pretty fast, and despite constant efforts to slow down, I felt like I was going too fast most of the run.

As I was running down the main road, I saw a guy coming with an unleashed dog. I wasn't too concerned, but I needed to cross the street anyway, and there happened to be no traffic. As I ran past them, on the opposite side of the street, the dog came over and ran with me for about half a block. That was cute, especially since he didn't maul me, but he didn't seem interested in going back to the guy. I feared I was going to have to backtrack to get the dog back to his owner! But, when I crossed the next street, the dog made a turn like he was going to go back, and I was turning to run around this block. He didn't follow me. So I run down this block, turn, down the next block, turn, and I have half a block to meet up with my pretty side street that runs parallel to the main street. And there was the dog at the intersection. He had run down a block and over half a block to meet me. Alright. He saw me coming and ran over to scoot me along. We ran a couple blocks down the side street, and then he fell back. Hopefully he finds his way home, because he was super cute, and, after all, he didn't maul me.

The rest of the run was uneventful, a lot of telling myself "You got this," counting blocks, telling myself it was all downhill (once it was), and after my two-block 'detour,' reminding myself I was headed for home now. Unfortunately, I got to home too quickly, and had to run on to the corner, which meant when I turned around I had a brief uphill...and when I got to my back door, the timer still hadn't gone off, so I took a little more significant uphill up the alley, but only went a few steps before the alarm did go off.

I felt pretty good...I mean, I was still hot and panting like crazy, and my left ankle hurts, but I recovered quicker than normal, and it wasn't the most agonizing run I've ever had. Some parts were worse than others, but I kept control for the most part. I still had a hard time picking up my feet sometimes, but I liked the pants more today, even with the sun out.

At one point I told myself I had to finish the time because I have to finish this week, then I can relax. I have felt very obligated to stick tight with the Couch to 5K program and now I'm worried that I won't be as obligated to stick with my 5K to 10K plan. As I told myself, I can just run until I'm tired, I won't have to keep going. But, if I quit as soon as I get tired, I'm not going anywhere. I didn't want to run at all today. It took every ounce of energy to go through the steps to get ready to run this morning. I'm going to need more motivation.

Tomorrow is a rest (hallelujah) and the next day is a Run 27 (gasp).

Weather: 77, Sunny, No Breeze, 88% Humidity, Feels Like 82
Time: 7am; Run 25 Minutes
Distance: 3.3K (2.05m) (My longest "just run" yet!)
Elevation: +73.7/-75.2/net -1.5 ft
5K/10K: 39:10/1:22:48 (OK, but glad it's under 40/1:30)

Day 63, II: Deep Dish In My Belly, Cupcake On My Shirt - Let's Go For A Run

Yesterday, Husband set about on the all day task of making Chicago-style deep dish pizzas for supper. As it is an all day task, I get one just slightly more regularly than I actually go to Chicago, but I'll take it whenever I can get it, and outside of Chicago, this is the only way I can get it. Husband has a killer dough recipe and as we have three deep dish pans, Husband, Stepson and I all get our own custom pizza. Somehow, since the last time we had it, I got bumped from the Medium "Mama" sized pan down to the tiny "Baby Bear" pan. I repeat, I'll take it. I ate half of it. Friends, if you don't know, this is an insane amount of dough and cheese and "toppings" (they're actually middlings, as they are between the two crusts). We all were nearly in shock upon completion. The only way I know to boost oneself out of a near food coma is with a slice of Triple Chocolate Cheesecake, which I had after my half pizza pie. Appalling, I know. However, I knew I would be running today, so I took my chances on doubling myself in size overnight.

I actually set the alarm to get up with the sun today - I needed to get my run complete by 8 to avoid 85+ heat index. I had checked the Fitness Forecast last night and apparently we are expecting thunderstorms and 108 heat index this afternoon. According to the Fitness Forecast, that is still moderately comfortable for outdoor fitness. Meaning, on their scale of 1-3 for comfort, it was ranked a 2. I disagree, so I was up bright and early. It was overcast, so of course I re-checked the weather and everything seemed safe and sound.

My stomach hurt this morning. (It's worth it, I don't care.) I popped a Gingin before I ran, yum. I also wore my Under Armour pants for the second time. Since the sun wasn't out, they did seem to help keep my legs cool. I still don't get the compression part...It's hard to say, since I don't feel well and haven't run in a week, but I still feel like they make it harder to move.

I paid extra attention to my calf stretches this morning, but as soon as I started running, I definitely felt pain in my left Achilles. My options were to stop or continue on a quest for a 25 minute run, as my last attempt turned in only 20 minutes. I kept going.

I had decided to go back to my route that takes me up and down a million hills and out to the edge of town, despite the theory that the hills may be what's hurting my Achilles. Since I ran that route in 24 minutes before, I also decided to take a turn in Post-Apocalypticaville, and run around a block - essentially just adding two blocks to my route, which I estimated to be around a minute.

There was absolutely no one out. No cars, no people. I was pondering the creepiness as I got back on my route and out popped another runner from around the corner. Yay! My 2nd Other Runner spotting! We smiled and waved, and carried on with our craziness.

I did end up having to stop at the one significant cross street for traffic, each way. The first time, I had to stop for several cars, but kept walking in place. I was really, really exhausted today. This route definitely encourages you to get your breath back on the flat or downhill sections before the next hill appears, but today I was just barely moving on. Of course, I wanted to go somewhat slow to survive, but I was pretty sure I wasn't going to make it the full 25 today.

When I got to the approximate halfway point, I was past halfway in time, I think. It was close. I didn't spend a lot of time worrying about it, because I wasn't going to make it back anyway. Somehow, I made it to the turnaround, and started the long slow trek back. I kept checking the time, because I was no longer expecting my house to be the finish line.

I kept hoping that the time would finish before the next hill, and I kept having to drag up another hill. Finally, I got almost to the big downhill, before the horrible uphill a block from home. I made it up the hill prior, telling myself that the downhill would be easy, and there's no way I would have to tackle that last uphill. There was a lot of telling myself to "Harden the 'f' up," per my super-motivational sirius dj, Jason Ellis.

It continues to surprise me how even going downhill can be so miserable. I really was just power walking at this point, but all I could focus on was the giant hill on the other side of Post-Apocalypticaville. Thankfully, time was up in the Bottoms. Whoa, does that mean I just survived the 20 minute mark, the 24, and made it to the 25?! After a week off!?

That's freaking great, but how am I supposed to make it the quarter of a mile home from here? As I walked, very slowly, I decided I should go back to bed when I got home. I mean, what self-respecting unemployed person is up and exercising at this hour!? Maybe I can keep getting up before the dreadful heat, so long as I keep crawling back into bed upon completion. I managed to actually clean up and get dressed properly instead. I put some Burt's Bees on my feet, and there appears to be no skin on the top of my middle right toe. Curious. It's not like a blister, or raw, it's just peeling off. Ew. As the day wore on, my left knee also got a little sore, on the outside.

Ah, but I get ahead of myself. I made it home. My legs were tingling like crazy - is this the compression acting? My stomach hurt and I was very, very nauseous. I went into the fetal position, on my back, in the bottom of the recliner, where I realized I could do calf stretches. Yay. I haven't been doing post-run stretches as there are, of course, a million opinions on when stretching is best, and I have stuck with the pre-run only discipline. However, given the state of my Achilles, I thought it might be a good idea. Especially if it could be accomplished from the fetal position.

As my runs have gotten more painful, I mean longer, I have noticed that the only thing that pulls me out of the fetal position is my desire to check my distance and race predictors. I was pleasantly surprised to see I almost made it 2 miles, and although my 5K time crept back over 40, I was still pleased, because it didn't feel very fast at all. I guess I just completely mis-estimated my extra minute's distance that I needed.

I had been pretty proud of myself for not working myself into a frenzy over the clouds this morning, and just heading out. I mean, I still checked the forecast, but I didn't dwell on the utter lack of sun. Within 20 minutes of being home, it was BLACK outside. If that had come up when I was running, I would've been looking for the nearest condemned house to hide out in. It never actually rained, but I hate how quickly it comes up around here!

Next run is tomorrow, a repeat of today. And, so I send Week 9 off into history.

Weather: 79, Mostly Cloudy, Allegedly 11mph wind, 85% Humidity, Feels Like 82
Time: 7:30am; Run 25 minutes
Distance: 3.17K (1.97m)
Elevation: +83.4/-87.8/net -4.5 ft
5K/10K: 40:54/1:26:28 (highest since 7/22, but better than I thought it would be)

I Want to Run

My ankle feels fine today, and it's not so terribly hot. I want to run. But, I'm waiting and hoping the extra time will payoff. It does reassure me that I still seem to be healing up pretty quickly. Monday will bring a repeat of Day 63, and the first of two attempts at a 25 minute run.

Day 66: I have no goal or purpose, but I can still stand up

If I officially skip my last running day (Day 64), today would be a Run 27 minutes. My plan was to go for it. If I only made 25, that would be ok, too.

I woke up at 7 because it IS trash day and was surprised to see it overcast and foggy. Surprised, really, only because I wasn't fully awake yet - I knew rain was in the forecast but mornings have become especially confusing for me lately. This was either going to become an excuse for me not to run, or was going to be great running weather FINALLY.

Surprise! While gathering the trash, I realized my left Achilles is super, super tight. I don't know a lot, but I do know you don't mess with the Achilles, as it is a major player in keeping you upright when you are attempting to stand. I did very little research, because I knew it was all going to say the same thing: REST. I did read that restricted ankle movements, which I've been experiencing for awhile, could actually be a SYMPTOM of a tightened Achilles. It mentioned also that tight calf muscles could be a cause -- my muscles usually are tight when I start to stretch, but they usually feel pretty good by the time I'm done stretching. It could also be the shoes. Most likely, it can be caused from hills. Oh, good gravy, you know it had to be the hills. I hate them and now they have immobilized me.

So..I had been thinking about taking the rest of the week (at least) off to see if the weather becomes more cooperative (doubtful), and I can get my sleep straightened out, and this pretty well confirms that I will be doing just that. If there is damage to my Achilles, I should probably take longer than a week off, but I'll decide that later. I'm going to rest until at least Monday, 8-9-10 (sigh, my planned conclusion date).

Meanwhile, I have learned a few things about upcoming races. First of all, I will not be running in the RNBNBBQ10K. I had assumed this would be coming off the agenda, and yesterday the announcement of the free entries was made and I was not one of them, so that's that. It made the decision to not risk further damage to my Achilles easier. They also announced the finisher prize for the half marathon which is being run at the same time. It's a belt buckle. OK, I get it, it's the Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival. Hillbillies, belt buckle, I get it. I think. But most runners don't need belts much less big ol' rodeo style belt buckles. Offensive. Even though I was never aiming for the half marathon, that made it easier to accept that I wasn't going to be running in the Hillbilly 10K.

I had also mentioned previously that the same company was going to be putting on a Thanksgiving race to benefit local charities. It is going to be a 5K and the lamest name ever that they held a contest for before naming it is.....Turkey Trax. That is so dumb that I refuse to participate. I assume it's because the company is Ultramax and someone thinks that's cute. That someone is not me.

All of this leaves me with some blog rehabbing to do.

My Goal is no longer the Roots N Blues N BBQ 10K. I actually don't have a goal, which is par for the course for me. I think my new goal will have something more to do with time/distance, unless a particularly interesting (and magically, free) race comes up on my radar. Of course, a LONG-term goal is the Los Angeles Marathon. That would be dreamy, but I need more baby goals to keep me satisfied. Since I don't have a particular race in mind, I probably will start my own made-up 5K to 10K Plan when I finish the Couch to 5K.

My "mission statement," or blog definition, needs to be changed from, "If I'm going to be at home all day, I've got to find something to focus on. And that thing is going to be running past jazz musicians in October. And since that only takes up a few minutes every other day, I have to blog, too," to something more like:

"I run and I hate it. This is where I complain about it."

"I run so that I have a reason to get dressed and leave the house. I blog so that you know I survived it."

"Running has taught me to appreciate the important things in life: like being able to breathe."

"Too competitive for team sports."

"I like jazz. I like writing. I like running, sometimes. I hate technology."

"Until I find work, running gets me out of the house regularly. Otherwise, I'm going to run out of movies to watch in my pajamas."

"Running hurts everything except my soul. That gets saved in a very special place until I go back to work, where it can be crushed like a grape."

"Yoga helps me reach that piece of cheesecake. Running tells me it's okay."

"This would be a lot easier if I were in New Orleans."

"I started running because I wanted to run past jazz musicians. I kept running because now I want to run past you."

"I'm too old for this."

Ah well, I have a few days to think about it and make some changes. Feel free to post your own ideas, for goals, or mission statements, or movies that I should watch...

Day 65: And the Excuse of the day is...

I'm too tired.

I woke up at 9, half an hour later than planned, and when I went outside it really didn't feel that hot. The internets announced it felt like 91. I thought I could handle it. I sat out on the back steps for a few minutes, and it was breezy and I was sure I could do it. If I weren't so tired.

I mean, get-me-a-mountain-dew-and-I-still-may-go-back-to-bed tired. But, maybe I'll have a dew and risk stomach cramps running afterwards.

No, it already feels like 93.

And that's just too hot.

Day 64: Not Getting My Run In Today

I set my alarm for 8:30 this morning. I haven't been setting my alarm. I did it so that I could get up to give the cat his medicine at the proper time, to try to get back on a proper sleep schedule (hopefully alleviating my headaches), and to get my run in, as 110 heat index is predicted for today.

I woke up before my alarm went off, due to the fact I was drenched in sweat. It was so incredibly hot in my room that desert-like is the only phrase I can think of to describe it. I had to get out of there. I thought perhaps I had slept through my alarm and the day had wore on, causing it to be so hot, but no, it was 8:20. I stood up, and as I walked out past a litter box I said, aloud of course because running has made me crazy, "Is it trash day?" Trash day is Thursday. "Shit, I have to clean the litter box." Trash usually comes around 7. I was panicked, and couldn't focus my eyes, and my ankle hurt, and sweat was literally pouring off of me. I usually take a bag upstairs on Wednesday night, so I can clean the box Thursday morning and take it down to take out with the trash. I had no bag, I was going to have to hobble up and down the stairs, no wait it's not trash day.

What the hell was that? Am I losing it , for real? Or is it the sore throat tea with all the safety warnings that I had last night? (My throat feels much better today.)

I go downstairs and try to get my dog to go outside. He won't go. He's scared of bugs and the extra noisy cicadas this year are paralyzing him with fear. He's about as big as me, so if he says he's not going, well. That's that. Meanwhile, I'm standing on the back steps trying to coax him out, convinced I am going to die of heat stroke. It is just blazing hot and I'm hoping that it has as much to do with me already being hot and standing in the sun than the actual temperature.

I give up on my miserable dog, and check the temp. 84, feels like 91. I refuse to run. I go back outside to check it out, because I have officially run in this heat before. It's just thick. I don't think I can do it. Maybe it's just a huge bs excuse, but it's not going to happen.

I sit back down at the computer, with a Mountain Dew in hand, because my wake up is not going well. I am staring at the weather channel page, wishing it would change, when I see a "fitness app." I will save my rage against the apps for another day, but I scrolled down to check it out and it breaks down all the hourly info just how I've needed it and have to push a million links to see. Yay. There's even a calculator to tell you how much water you need (64 ozs for me, what a revelation - it's not like they figured out how to turn water into wine, it's just an app). It doesn't look like it will be out of the 90s before 10pm, so balls. The Fitness app (I really, really hate that), is located under the Forecasts tab.

This is my last week, I don't need this. Tomorrow is supposed to be inhumane also, but I will give it another go. Then we have rain coming, so I don't know that my "race" is going to happen on 8-9-10, which enrages me, but so it goes. It won't happen on 8-9-10 if I heat stroke out either.

So, Day 64 looks to be in the books. I will be taking a walk to go vote against one issue that is so dumb, I almost feel like I am belittling myself and all intelligence in this country by casting a vote against it. But, if the intelligent start saying "that is so stupid I won't validate it with a response," the hillbillies are going to take over and form their own United States of Amethica, so off I will go to fight the good fight against Stupid once more.

P.S. Dear Google, I understand that words in links on websites are frequently what makes websites come up on searches. Please for all things holy, don't make this site come up when people search Tea Party. I trust most people searching for that can't spell tea, so I'll be safe, but I was referring to actual tea, not Crazy Kool Aid. Thanks.

Day 63: Week 9 Closes With A Pllthh..

First, let me set the scene. After my last run, I felt pretty good, then I took a nap. When I got up from my nap, my left ankle was a solid mass of ow. Last night, my left knee randomly started hurting. Of course, it has hurt in the past, but this go-around is most likely due to to trying to avoid putting pressure on my left ankle. I've also had a sore throat off and on lately, certainly because I can't breathe through my nose when I run. It used to wear off after my runs, but as the run times have increased, so has the time of the sore throat. And after some time of not having headaches, they're back, and I can't get rid of them.

More scenery: A large motorcycle rally is starting in Columbia tomorrow. They're expecting over 35,000 bikers. In a town that only has 100,000 people, it shouldn't have come as a surprise that all the hotel rooms in all the towns nearby are booked up. I was surprised that on my little road to nowhere street, bikers felt the need to cruise all day yesterday. At one point 3 bikes stopped in the street, blocking traffic, and generally annoying the piss out of me. As I stood at my front door, one of these jackasses pulled into the alley and drove THROUGH my front yard. I was violent. If they weren't disgustingly loud obnoxious vehicles, I would have been out the door screaming at them.

So today, for the first time, I am running with pepper spray. I've given it a lot of thought, and I knew there was some in the house, but I hadn't felt threatened enough to dig it out. I'm sure there is truly no added threat, but I don't even want to be hassled. So, yes that is pepper spray in my pocket, and no, I'm not happy to see you. You've been warned.

One other bit of news since my last post. I saw on the news that there was a 5K held in Columbia to benefit a theatre company. It was called the Break a Leg 5K and encouraged participants to dress as their favorite stage character (the old ladies from Arsenic and Lace would be mine - I am used to running with stuff, and I would run with a bottle of wine). I mention it because the race was held in the evening, "because theatre people aren't morning people," according to the interviewee on the news. Damn, I thought evening races was my idea, but yay that they exist! Now I just have to be able to both run one and hear about them ahead of time! (And I would totally run for a theatre, one of my favorite things about being alive!)

So I woke up today facing a 25 minute run. My ankle was very stiff, and my head hurt a little, but overall I've just been feeling very blah. I have two run 25 minute days in a row, so I felt like today was a throwaway day. I could go ahead and rest today and kill it tomorrow, but I may not be able to run on my ankle two days in a row. I was getting conflicting weather reports that made me uneasy. I was hungry. I was thirsty. I think I had plenty of water yesterday, but I don't really remember. I have been waking up so late, though, that it's not surprising that I am so thirsty halfway into the day. My goal has been to run first, eat and drink later. Maybe I'm just tired - my sleep has been less than regular. Whatever, the general sense of disinterest that running was supposed to help me avoid is setting in, hard.

Screw it, let's do this.

I had just enough water again today to wet my mouth and throat before heading out. I didn't have a route in mind, but with an additional minute, I didn't want to run the same route of the past two runs. I also didn't want to face that hill at the end of that route. So, I set out towards downtown, with no route in mind, but come to think of it, I don't want to face any hills. I ran past the post office, so I was over a block from the main street. I ran downhill down this street that I have been suffering uphill lately. This way, I can run uphill on the main street where the long incline isn't so severe. It's a pretty street, but I never get to take it in when I am suffering uphill into the sun. I took it in today. It's so pretty, I can almost pretend I'm in a town that makes me happy.

I'd be a lot happier if my legs didn't weigh 20 million pounds today. Is it the pepper spray weighing me down?? Ugh, I was doing pretty well with my breathing, not always breathing in my mouth, but I couldn't get the legs going. I felt like I was running very slow, which was a necessity to survive 25 minutes anyway. I was also trying to work out my route because I knew I'd be back at the house before 25 minutes.

When I got to the end of the road, I made it uphill one block and debated running up another block (my hated end of road hill), but because I had thus far kept my breathing in check despite being in total misery, I went ahead and turned on the main road. Of course, this was still uphill, just not as severe. I trudged along, knowing I couldn't make it 25 minutes.

I decided to turn towards home and see if I had anything left when I got there. I didn't. It was right at 20 minutes when I got home, and that was good enough for me. Tomorrow I'll fix this. I have to fix this because my "race" is in one week. I was mad at my terrible run until the waves of nausea and delirium passed and I realized I had just run, fairly easily all in all, for 20 minutes. It wasn't 2 miles, but it was a recently inconceivable 1.7 miles. Yay me.

I did have to ice my left knee and ankle, while feeding my face.

Weather: 83, Partly Cloudy, Light Breeze 10 mph, 72% Humidity, Feels Like 90
Time: 11am; Run 20 minutes
Distance: 2.73K (1.7m)
Elevation: +58.7/-58.7/net 0 ft
5K/10K Predictor: 38:27/1:21:17 (Second Overall Predictor to Day 61 - a surprise given my legs weren't coming off the ground.)

Just for a comparison to the hills from the last couple of runs, here's the elevation profile for today.