Aching...to run!

No, I haven't given up my blog. The end of the year means busy busy busy @ work. Which usually means the last thing I have time for is blogging. Even if I did update my blog, it would say: I missed another run today. Blah. Still struggling with these pesky (and painful!) leg cramps. Just when I thought it was getting better, my other leg cramped up on me. I have no idea what to do, or what I'm doing to cause these cramps! The weather lately really hasn't helped, either. It's been so cold in the morning. We up to visit B&G for Christmas, and it was FREEZING! I've been doing what I can to stay in shape, mostly weights every other day and ab work every day. I haven' t done this many weight workouts in two years! But it's definitely helping. I just wish I could run without hurting myself.

The new year is right around the corner (and our 1st wedding anniversary! So exciting!), which means I'll be re-evaluating my running goals for 2006. Hopefully my legs will cooperate. ;)

Something's not right

Last week was pretty good, up until Thursday night. I still managed to do 20 miles battling a yucky infection. But before this morning, I hadn't put any miles in all week. Then the day before yesterday, just as the infection seemed to be getting better, I started having horrible, debilitating cramps in my left leg and foot. I used to get these cramps a while back, and then they went away for a while. Now they're back and it sucks. I can't move and I just want to cut my leg off. Even stretching it out is so painful. Andy and I can't figure out what it is. He thought maybe peripheral arterial/vascular disease, which might also explain why my hands and feet are always so cold, even in the dead heat of summer. But I really have no risk factors for that. From what I've read, it could be compartment syndrome, which usually affects the side of the lower leg, which is where my leg freezes up. I have to get it checked it out.

I didn't think I'd be able to get out of bed today but it's already Thursday and I hadn't run since Saturday, when I did a pathetic 4 miler. Today was hard. I felt as though I hadn't run in months. I couldn't get enough air and my calf just cramped up on me from the get-go. Two miles into it I was ready to stop. BONK! No!!!!!! I haven't bonked in years! YEARS. I did 3 miles and stopped for some water and then did another mile. Usually, I'll just run all the way home no matter where my run actually ends, but today I had to actually stop and walk the rest of the way.

Three hours later my calf is still incredibly tight and just cramped all the time. This really sucks.

Stats from the Garmin later....

Run time: 00:38:01

Distance: 4.01 miles

Avg. Pace: 09:30 / mi

Best Pace: 07:47 / mi

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Saturday, December 10, 2005

Run time: 00:36:21

Distance: 4.01 miles

Avg. Pace: 09:05 / mi

WEEKLY TOTAL 12/4/05 - 12/11/05: 20 miles

Thursday's run

I actually did the run that was scheduled for today! A first! Today I was supposed to run 5 miles, including 4 x [1:30] AI, and 5 GP. I can't figure out how to turn off the interval training on my Garmin. I've been turning it off and on again to reset it; the result is that my run gets recorded in segments.

3-mile run:

Run time: 00:27:46

Distance: 3.00 mi

Avg. Pace: 09:15 / mi
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4 x [1:30] AI

Run time: 00:06:00

Distance: 0.75 mi

Avg. Pace: 07:58 / mi
-------------------------
Back to start

Run time: 00:04:06

Distance: 0.38 mi

Avg. Pace: 10:54 / mi
-------------------------
5 GP

Run time: 00:04:50

Distance: 0.62 mi

Avg. Pace: 07:45 / mi
--------------------------
Back to start

Run time: 00:06:16

Distance: 0.62 mi

Avg. Pace: 10:05 / mi

TOTAL DISTANCE: 5.37 MILES

Hanging around

Buddy, hanging around with Mr. Froggy.

Rain and disappointment

Another morning where I had to drag myself out of bed, today only to find that it was so foggy I couldn't see the house across the street. Blah. I put my hat on and went out anyway, hoping to do Thursday's run of 5 miles, including 4x1:30 AI and 5-6 GP. The plan was to do 4 miles, then do my speed work, which would have been a nice 5-miler. Alas, it was not meant to be; half a mile before I hit the 4 mile mark, it started to rain. I kept on going, but I was asking for trouble. Running in the rain is one thing, but running in torrential Florida downpours is quite another. I made it back to the house and huddled on the front porch. Then I heard the garage door open and ran for cover. My dad was about to get into the car to come rescue me! Hilarious. Note to self: put a map of your running route on the fridge for all would-be rescuers to see.

Now I'm two days into this week without any speedwork. Maybe I'll run out there tonight and go around the block a couple of times. Otherwise, weather permitting, it'll have to be tomorrow.

I was so disappointed at not finishing my run. Of course, it stopped raining about 15 minutes later, but I would have been ridiculously late for work had I waited. And it never even occurred to me to jump on the treadmill. So stupid.

Run time: 00:36:58

Distance: 4.00 mi

Avg. Pace: 09:14 / mi

Best Pace: 06:34 / mi

Making up for lost workouts

I hate not being able to run because it's that time of the month. Blah. Andy suggested I schedule off days for those weekends I know I'll be out of commission so as not to mess up my training (and be guilt-stricken). I'm not going to cry over not completing all my miles last week. This is a new week and I'll just keep going. Today was supposed to be a rest day, but I've had enough of those now, so I did Friday's run instead, which was an easy 4 miler. I did 5. I hate not having more time in the mornings because I felt really good and could have done a couple more miles. Oh well.

Run time: 00:46:04

Distance: 5.01 mi

Avg. Pace: 09:12 / mi

Best Pace: 06:55 / mi

Holiday Survival Mode

I told Bennie (my m-in-law) a couple of weeks ago that the "Average American" gains 7 pounds from Thanksgiving till New Year's. SEVEN pounds. For me, that's an entire dress size (and a half!). I've been doing great lately, but ever since Thanksgiving, things have not been going well. Andy was home all week and weekend (a first) and my normal eating patterns (read: healthy) were thrown all out of whack. Before this morning, I hadn't run since last Wednesday, and I hadn't exercised since Friday, when I did weights. No run + holiday food = two words = JELLY BELLY. Nooooooooo! I felt it this morning as I started to run and it did NOT feel good! Luckily, it's still early and certainly not too late to reverse the damage.

I've decided that I have to create some rules and abide by them if I'm going to get through the holidays without turning into the "Average American" and on my way to Goodwill to reclaim my size 4 jeans. So:

Rule #1: Only plain black decaf coffee (maybe a sprinkle of cocoa or two) when we're out around town. Andy and I have a bad habit of buying Starbucks whenever we go out. Actually, he's quite addicted and I'm just an enabler. And inevitably, as I hold my decaf skinny mocha, my brain starts crunching the numbers: 160 calories + no run = jelly belly. Yikes. But usually, I drink it anyway. No more. I don't care if it is the holidays.

Rule #2: Only two small squares of dark chocolate after dinner. No rice pudding, pumpkin cake, egg nog (damn those egg nog manufacturers!!!!), chocolate truffles, ice cream, etc. etc. I don't care if it is the holidays.

Rule #3: Let Andy eat most of the dessert. Or better yet, skip it! We rarely go out to eat, so when we do, it's hard to resist dessert. Of course we feel sick immediately thereafter, but it never seems to deter us. We'll save it for our anniversary.

Holiday survival mode has officially begun!