April 28, 2010 - Getting Better

I'm feeling pretty good right now. Well, emotionally anyway. Monday, Tuesday and today I spent over 13 hours at work. I normally come home, eat something, then go to bed. Tonight I left early, 8:15 pm, and felt that I could get a short run in. I ran 2.5 miles in 31 minutes. The first mile I felt great! It was shortly after that that I realized that I'm not quite over whatever I had. My lungs started to hurt. Not too bad but enough to make me stop and think. Ok, I didn't stop but I did slow down a little. I'm home now and I'm still feeling it in my lungs but I feel great. I feel like going out for another run. But it is almost 10 pm and I still have a couple long days ahead. I found out I missed something else as well. My music. I only get to listen to it when I run and then only when I run alone. This illness has been very enlightening.

I'm under control at work so I can take a breath. Barring any major catastrophes, we should be able to finish fairly early, and by early I mean before 8 pm. Have I said how much I'm looking forward to Saturday?

Tax Season - 2 days left
Athens - 186 days left

Victory!

I ran today! It was slow and my sinus' hurt because I was breathing through my nose (I'm a mouth breather when I run) but I ran. For 48 minutes. Boy, did it feel good. My butt was sore from sitting at my desk so much. Afterwards, I went to work for 5 hours and now I'm exhausted but at least I know I can. I have so much to do at work that I don't know if I'll get out again before the weekend but at least I know I can if I can find the time. Well, I've got a poem to write. I am so looking forward to Saturday!

Tax Season - 5 days left
Athens Marathon - 189 days left

:(

Well, I tried running last night. I lasted 19:11 before my lungs hurt too much to continue. I felt well enough before I headed out but it didn't take long to feel the burn (in my lungs). I continued, hoping that it would subside or at least stay tolerable but, alas, I had to walk the rest of the way home. I have to say that I was terribly disappointed. It hurt to breath for the rest of the night so I went to bed at 9 pm. I am suffering today with uncomforable lungs but other than being a little tired, I'm doing fine. I just don't know what to do. I'm sure I can feel my muscles turning to fat as I type. Depending on how long this takes, it could put a real kink in my training schedule. I will try to take it as easy as I can and get lots of sleep. After tax season I'll deal with training.
It is getting pretty stressful at work. My time off really put us behind. That stress is not helping.

10 days left in tax season.
192 days to Athens.

Still sick

Ok, so the doctor said I literally ran my self into the ground. It is Saturday and I'm feeling alot better but I still get worn out when I do too much. Haven't exercised since Tuesday and I'm sure I've lost 20 pounds of muscle (if I had that much). I won't be running until Tuesday so not only do I feel like I'm letting my bosses down by missing work, I'm letting my friends down by not running with them tomorrow. I know, life isn't fair. And I should be grateful it wasn't more serious and I generally have my health and I will run again. I really don't know what I'd do if I couldn't run anymore. I hope I don't have to find out. Edith and I were discussing the fact that as I get older, the less people there are in my age group so in 20 years, I'll probably be in the top of my division. Now that's something to shoot for. A long term goal, if you will.

On another note, I'm reading this book "The Non-Runner's Guide to Marathon Training for Women". This woman, who seems to have never exercised before in her life, signed up for a Marathon to raise money for a cause close to her heart. She kept a journal and there are snippets of it in the book. She's very funny and very anti-running. I'm quite enjoying it and wish my journal entries were as amusing as hers. Oh well, my talents lie elsewhere.

13 days left in tax season
197 days until Athens

Being sick sucks

Remember that lung discomfort I was feeling after the run? I went to emergency on Tuesday night and the doctor thinks it might be walkin pnemonia. I've been in bed since. I tried to work today but now I feel worse. I feel terribly guilty because it is tax season and there is just piles of tax returns to do. And worse than that, I can feel all my muscle turning to fat! I don't think I'll be able to run for quite awhile. There goes all that training. But on the brighter side, I probably had it when I did the April Fools Run so if I was 100%, I probably would have done better! Ok, I can dream, can't I. I'm just killing a few minutes while I wait to go to the doctor. I am so tired but I just can't seem to sleep.

15 days left in tax season (and I'm not being any help).

April 12, 2010

Well, I sure had a busy weekend. Went to see Little Shop of Horrors at the local theatre and then appies at the Blackfish Pub afterwards. Worked all Saturday and the went to the Golf Club for the Fire Department Semi-Annual Dinner. Food was great and so was the company. I tried to get to bed early so I could get lots of sleep before the race the next day but came up a little short.

In spite of the busy weekend, I had a PR (personal record) for the half marathon. I beat my previous best of 2:20:22 at the April Fools Run in 2008. I finished this year in 2:16:09. I am whining though because my GPS says I ran 21.55 km. I had a great race. Edith was my pace bunny most of the way. Thanks Edith! I probably wouldn't have done so well without you. Shelly and Alyson did great as well. It was fun to have so many people I know running the race and on the sidelines cheering us on.

I was pretty tired for the rest of the day. My stomach was upset all day and my lungs felt funny. I'm going to lose a toenail but other than that I think I made out alright. My legs muscles are pretty sore today but I'm sure that won't last. I think I will just do a bit of time on the stationary bike and circuit training this week and get back into training on the weekend. Gotta beat that 60 minute mark at the Sun Run.

18 days left in tax season.

April 9, 2010

I had a good run last night. I did a good pace and if I can do that on Sunday, I think I'll get a decent time (for me). I now understand about this tapering thing. I have all this extra energy and I just want to use it up but I'm suppose to save it for the Race. I guess I don't have to worry about it now because my hours are pretty much taken up from now until the race. Tonight, right after work we are going to a play - Little Shop of Horrors. I'll be working tomorrow until package pick up and then I'll probably nap until it is time to go to the Fire Department "Semi" annual dinner. Home to bed and then race the next day.

If you want to "see me run", you can go to runkeeper.com/user/litze. It will show my progress in real time on a map. I haven't used it yet but I'd love to know how it works. I may have to send Tina out for a walk at lunch today to find out :)

22 days left in tax season.
206 days left to the marathon.

Race App

Got my race application today for the 2500th anniversary of the Athens Marathon. I'm pretty stoked about it. Can hardly wait to get it in the mail.

I've got the April Fools Run this Sunday, April 11th. It is a half marathon. I'm a little concerned about my achillies injury. It has been bothering me quite a bit lately, some days worse than others. I tried cross training on the bike and elliptical for a week but that didn't seem to do anything other than make it harder to run on Saturday. I'm hoping to get through this half without too much extra damage and then rest it a bit until the Sun Run. I'm hoping to get a 2:20 on Sunday but I think 2:30 might be more realistic. We'll See.

23 days left in tax season!!! :)