Run Fail

Today I had a ten mile trail run planned.  It was going to be so perfect: I had posted in our Ragnar group that I wanted ten miles, but I don't know how the trails in Peninsula connect, and I was afraid I wouldn't make it out without having to eat a limb.  Steve picked up the bait and offered to lead the group.  At 8 AM I was fueled, rested, and ready to run.

This may or may not be one of the views of the run.  I was too busy avoiding roots and rocks to look up.

The group started from Pine Hollow, running and chatting, and about half a mile into the run I realized that I. Just. Couldn't. Go. On.  My heart was racing, and I started to see spots, so I knew I had to stop.  I sent everyone on without me, and I put my head between my knees and tried to regulate my breathing.  I then started walking.  I had to walk for the next mile before I was able to start running again.  Then, all of a sudden, the feeling was gone and I felt great.  I increased my speed a bit and only walked the steep hills.

Luckily for me, the group had left trail markers (including a smiley face), so I followed those until I found Jen and Mandy, who had stopped just before the end of the loop to show me the way out.  We ran together to the parking lot to find the group waiting for the second loop.  I felt terrible that I had held people back, but they were super-cool about all of it, and we did another trail.  This time I had no problems whatsoever keeping up with the group, and we all finished with seven and a half miles.  Given that I had wasted a lot of our time with my issues, I was happy to stop there.

This is EXACTLY how I look when running trails.  Except I'm not a dude.  And I was actually bent over gasping, head between my knees.  So, other than that.

When I got home, I suddenly felt sick to my stomach, and the dizziness returned.  I won't go into detail here, but what happened next leads me to believe that I have the flu. My husband informed me that I DON'T have the flu; I am just over-tired and hungry.  One peanut butter-and-strawberry-preserves-sandwich and a nap later, and I do feel better, but my stomach is still fluttering.

Flu?  Heat?  Exertion? Just weirdness?

I dunno.  I do know that I have been under a tremendous amount of stress lately, and running has kept me out of trouble (see what I did there?).  One thing I know about myself is that when my stress suddenly lifts (as it did yesterday), my body turns on me.  "Screw you," it says to me, "I kept you going through the end of the school year, endless meetings, two half marathons, and a house guest.  I deserve to act up a bit."  Yes, Body, you deserve some attention.

I plan to spend the rest of the day napping between laundry breaks.  I've taken care of everyone else for a long time; it's time to take care of myself.

Coming up next week:  I'll tell you why I've taken to running trails when I've devoted many posts to hating them.  Until then, run happy, Peeps!

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Chicken Soup Cures Everything

Peeps, I have been so. sick.  It wasn't the flu this time; it was a cold and allergy combo.  The bad part was that I could only medicate for one of the two problems, and I chose unwisely, I guess.  I couldn't breathe, I couldn't talk, I couldn't think.  It was a great way to end the week before spring break.

This is EXACTLY how I look when I can't breathe, talk, or think.

I went to the doctor when it descended to my chest and I felt like I was wheezing.  Luckily, she said she felt I could kick it myself without antibiotics.  When I asked her about my long run the next day, she said the biggest problem would be the cold air hitting my lungs and advised me to dreadmill it.  What I heard was, "Whaa--waa-waa. . .You can run," so when Mandy asked me to run part of her 18-miler with her on Sunday morning, I was all Sure!  What can go wrong?

I'm not completely stupid; I told Mandy that if I couldn't stop coughing I was going to have to bag the run.  Then I made myself a huge pot of chicken soup.  After dinner I took some Robitussin and went to bed early.  Chicken soup + sleep = Feeling much better.

The run was fabulous!  The air was cold, but the sun was bright, and it really warmed up the Towpath.  Lots of hacking, spitting, and blowing my nose (sorry, Mandy), which actually helped me.

Halfway through the run we climbed the Wicked Stepsisters, a 1/2 mile set of hills that are part of a 5% grade.  The top of the hill was a great place to take some pictures (after blowing my nose and hacking up a lung):

View of Akron where the Towpath ends at the top of the Wicked Stepsisters

Looking back from where we came

The second half of the run was pretty speedy, as much of it was downhill, and I felt really, really good.  I was able to do ten miles with Mandy, and she continued on for her final eight in the sunshine.  I'm so glad I didn't have to bag the long run; this would have been a much gloomier post if I had.

I'm starting to get excited about my upcoming races, especially the Rite Aid Cleveland Half Marathon on May 17.

One last thing, look what I bought:

My very first pair of trail shoes!

They are bright and colorful so the snakes know to stay the hell out of my way.  Where will I be wearing these babies?  Well, let's just say I have a few plans to shake up my training this summer after I #runCLE.  More to come!

Eat your chicken soup and run happy, Peeps!

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