Grrrr Sickness

Haven't run in a few days. I have been wiped out with a double ear infection, sinus infection, and bronchitis. I felt heavy pressure in my chest and my ears ached deep inside and my voice was completely gone. I decided it was time for follow up. Doc put me out for several days from work. I still feel weak, but starting to feel a little better. Voice is starting to come back.
I am a little disappointed as I was scheduled to do a 10k run tomorrow and  I had to cancel. I am not ready to run that far just yet. I will however start a run everyday challenge starting December 1st. Even if I only run half a mile sunday or other days, the goal is to run every day for the whole month.
It's possible.
I am thinking I again won't be making my goal of 60miles in 30 days due to this damn illness. I have 8 days left to log too many miles. Completely disappointed.
I did do some research and found athletes are more prone to cold infections. Taking a supplement 200 mg or more (not to exceed 2gm a day) can help prevent cold infection in athletes.
worth a shot to me
well gonna sign off.
Happy running  my friends.

Just a run to get my Zen back

       Just when I thought I was getting better, I get slammed again with another bout of freaking illness. This crap is for the birds.  I have completed a total of three runs since my last blog. None of which are any PR times for me but I had to get out there and do it.  I ran 5.35 miles on the 23rd and I can tell you, my legs felt like dead weight. I just didn't want to pick them up or put them down. Then on Sunday, I felt achy in my back and neck but headed out for a small run. I knew I as tired and not feeling well, plus I put my compression capris on in the dark, but while I was running, my pants kept sliding down. I though "surely I couldn't have lost that much weight?"  Then as I got further into my run, I kept seeing this annoying shadow off the side of my leg. I finally investigated it further. It was the damn tag that is usually on the inside of the pants.  I had put my damn pants on inside out. I'll blame it on the illness. I contemplated hopping off the trail to fix them but then remembered I had on hot pink panties that would be a beacon for any other runners or bikers on he trail. I left them just as they were.  My youngest was sick with cold and fever so I had to stop on the way home after my run to buy some cough medicine. I only did 4 miles but by the time I got home, I was running a damn temp myself.  WTF? I can't seem to catch a break from these back to back sicknesses. Thankfully, I wasn't scheduled to work that night and then I got put on call Monday. I slept for like two days.  Today, I still was feeling a little weak but was so damn frustrated with some personal things that I had to get back my mojo. I went out and did a small 4 miler and let me tell you, it gives you some immense peace after a run. I wasn't running hard or fast, just going with it. It was 50 degrees and misty out. I thank God that I can get out there and do it. Saturday, Amanda and I are doing a 10k race to benefit type 1 diabetes.  It's a color run at that. Hopefully the weather will be nice and we can enjoy the run.  I have11 days to meet my 60 mile goal. I have logged 35.78 miles so far, which means I have 11 day to log 24.22 miles. I believe I can do this. If I can accomplish that task, then I will up the anty and go for a bigger goal.
Happy running everyone.

Running Withdrawals

        So it's been since the13th of November since I ran.  I had originally wanted a couple days off due to achy shins but then I came down with a dang head cold that had me hacking up my lungs. I couldn't breathe through my nose, my head hurt from sinus pressure and I had an 80 year old smokers voice. All in all, probably just me being whimpy. LOL.  I was having severe running withdrawals but I knew I couldn't do it cause I felt overall just weak.
       I decided to go for a run today, I knew it was going to probably be causing some coughing spells but I needed it.  I took two puffs off my inhaler and headed to the trail. I thought, "just a few miles and I'll head home"
       Lo and behold I felt great except for the fact that I had to run with my mouth open to breathe and if I tried to breathe through my nose, I was snotting every where. Yep that's me, the sexy, beast princess, running with snot slinging from my nose. So, I chose to breathe with my mouth open.  I did indeed hock up my lungs for the first 3-4 miles then it settled down. I seen a bunch of squirrels and thought "oh how cute" then I seen a fox. It got me thinking.  What the hell would I do if I came across a bear?  I remembered what my friend Amie Pace said, stand still, or at least I think that's what she told me. It's been a couple of weeks since that discussion.  Then my inner being said, "girl, no, you better run cause you don't know what's out here"  Amazingly, I was making good time with that thought in mind.  Then my mind started thinking other crazy thoughts, like,  "what if someone jumped out of the woods and grabbed you, what would you do?, Would anyone know you where you were?" (I had left the spouse on the couch snoring as he has to work tonight), then I thought, hey dummy, you have a gps tracker on your phone.  I think I was getting a little paranoid after the bear thought and the sun was starting to set so it was getting darker.
     I just kept going.  I had NO intention of running 8 miles today but I let my heart guide my legs today.  My splits weren't too shabby.. Mile 1 10:34, Mile 2 9:21, Mile 3 10:29, Mile 4 11:27, Mile 5 10:51 Mile 6 11:47, Mile 7 10:58 and Mile 8 11:19   ...... AVERAGE PACE 10:52. According to the Nike app, I ran my fast 10k ever 1:06:08.  Not too bad being sick.
       I was getting cold fast, so tried to pick up the pace. Apparently my mouth was open wider than I thought as it happened... I swallowed a damn bug (total of two on the way home, but the first one really got me). It flew right into the back of my throat, which commenced the coughing and gagging and spitting like a man but I did NOT care. Another attractive thing for others to witness.. LOL
    Finished the run and the coughing and wheezing commenced but I just don't care. Sometimes you just have to GO FOR IT.

Reset my monthly goal on my NIKE app

I set a goal last month to run 60miles in 30 days and I missed it by about 10 miles.  I was a little disappointed but with my hectic schedule I was doing good to keep my training up for the Marathon Relay.  As of today I have 25 days in which to log 49 more miles. I believe I can do it. I did get out there and run today. I only logged 3.38 miles as my legs felt heavy today and the wind was kicking it up out there. It made me feel slow. My distance splits today were ok, especially my last mile. I was quite surprised by my effort. My first mile was 10'22, my second was slower at 10'58 and last mile and heading home it was 9'25.  Shocker right there.  Short blog today. I have lots of homework to do.
Happy Running everyone.

Pensacola Marathon Relay : Killer Bees

Today my team the "Killer Bees" ran the Pensacola Marathon Relay.  The original team was tweaked a bit. I received word Friday that a team member may not be able to participate in the race, leaving me almost NO notice to find a replacement. I racked my brain to think of who I could ask to participate and Kelly came to mind.  I called and texted her and told her it was NOT set in stone just yet but I would for sure let her know Friday night, or sometime Saturday.  Amanda and I had training in Marianna on Saturday and was not able to get to our cell phones all day. By mid morning my cell phone battery died. As soon as we were done with training we got ahold of Dawn and  she let us know our 4th member had cancelled on us.  I tried to contact Kelly again with no response. I thought, "dang she probably decided not to do it after all" I knew she had been running some but NOT 5 miles or more.  I had it in my mind that I would run the first and last leg of the race to let our team's hard work and effort not go to waste.  I arrived home and took a quick shower and hit the sack as I had been up since 4am.  Around 9:30 pm I received a phone call from Kelly. She was still in the game. I was super stoked as was my team.  I told her to meet me at my house at 5 am and we would all pool to Amanda's and ride over together to the start line.
Happy Birthday Marines:::::: 4 am rolled around and I was up and getting ready when the door bell rang. Kelly had arrived.  We headed out to Amanda's and set up at the start line.  I was nervous as was my team. I kept telling them, "all you need to do is stay above 14 min pace to avoid the sag wagan"   I am sure they were annoyed with me, but I wouldn't be my Marine self if I didn't push like I was pushed. I knew that Amanda was going to PT for her Achilles and taking antibiotics for  a toe infection. Dawn hadn't run over 6miles in a month due to shin splints and Kelly was restarting her training and was only up to a little over an hour at a time going out.  I knew the odds were against us but I had faith. I figured if I pushed and kept them motivated they would believe in themselves as much as I did in them.
I took the first leg (which I was suppose to do the last leg originally) which consisted of 7.2 miles and a lot of uphill windy length of road. Believe it or not, I felt great and the view was beautiful. I was so inspired at all the runners of all shapes and sizes out there. I had taped a slogan on my back that read "PROUD 2 B A USMC VET"  It was my way of saying "Happy Veteran's day and Happy Birthday to my beloved Corps all in one.  I received numerous taps on the back from random strangers thanking me for my service. It brought tears to my eyes. 

 

Mile 6 I was slowing down and getting a little tired but I was determined to not walk any on this Marine Corps birthday.  I rounded the corner and there was the transition area. Because I had started my NIKE app before I crossed the start line  I had actually run 7.53 miles in 1:24:28 seconds. 
 Dawn was running the second leg of 6.8 miles. The farthest she had ever run.  We hung out there until she got back as Amanda was next up. 

 

So my husband and girls showed up at this time and hung out with Amanda, Kelly and I . They were showing us support.

 

We waited for Dawn and I watched the other teams run past us and was getting nervous that she may be injured as she had told the girls before I arrived to hand off the belt that her "calves were tight" I wanted them to all have injury free fun.  We waited and waited and I got more nervous. I called her on her cell to check up on her and she said she was just around the corner.  I ran back and ran with her over the transition area. I feel that it was my job to motivate my girls as I was team captain. I don't know how effective I as in that endevear I 'm sure one day they'll tell me. Dawn ran 6.8miles today. So proud of her.

 Off Amanda went. I wasn't to worried about her because as I said before, she has an awesome stride and yes she hadn't ran over 6 miles before, I had no doubt she would succeed and rock it.  Her stride is something to envy. The pupil is surpassing the teacher.  Later she tells me "I'm beast 2" I asked her who was beast one?  she says "YOU"  lol.  I'll take it.  So on her run, Amanda sent me some funny motivating pics of her view, (motivation for her, I might add)

These guys were Marines I believe with Alice packs filled to the hilt on a march for wounded Warriors. So motivating.

 

We drove to the new transition area so Kelly could get ready. I had to pee so bad and there were NO portapotty's at the transition areas, I was a little disappointed. So for the first time ever as a runner, I squatted over a bush to pee. A little later I see my girl running up a hill and I run her in to the transition area.

She ran the farthest she has ever done 6.4 miles and did it in a wonderful time. I think I may have brainwashed her into doing a half marathon with me. I think she will only continue to get stronger as will Dawn.

Kelly started off and we all prayed for he safety as we headed toward the finish line/ mile marker 26.

We waited and waited and cheered others on.  We waited some more. I was getting this sick feeling in my stomach that she might be hurt. I headed out about a mile from marker 26.  I finally see her, limping. I run up and tell her it's ok, "go to the side walk, i'll run us in"  I text Amanda that she was hurt and that I would be flying past them to finish up, which meant that we all couldn't do it together.

I rounded the corner and gave that last mile my all. I finished and earned our medals or I should say helped earn OUR medals.  I went back to Kelly and  we walked the rest of the way back to the finish line. She wanted to complete the run no matter what  and she did it. So very proud of these girls. All of them. With time, they will all get stronger.

 

Kelly iced her knee and will be okay. Dawn came away with new knowledge for further runs and training. Amanda came away with more mental motivation to do another 10k this month and will possibly be running a 15k and half marathon with me in Feb and April, respectively.

Myself, I can say I can further attest to mental fortitude. If you believe t you can succeed it. I will continue to train and enjoy what I love.

Last set of pics is our prerace dinner minus Kelly who had to work.

 

 

 

 

 

Semper FI Marines.

Running in the RAIN

So I am in school for my BSN and one of my classes seems to be a bit more frustrating than the others.  Today, after being some what under the weather, having absolutely ZERO sleep, battling frustration related to school work, I decided to run in the rain.  I went out to Blackwater trails and had a thought in my head that I was only going to do 3 or 4 miles and that it wasn't going to be any PR run, it was to just get out there and de- stress. 
I thought I was moving so slow, when my NIKE app announced I had hit my first mile in 10:51. I was so excited that I was moving faster than I thought. I then moved into my second mile. I can tell you that the smell of the rain on that beautiful forestry landscape was wonderful. It almost smelled like cinnamon to me.  I hit 2 miles at 20:59. I kicked it in to high gear. I don't know what I was thinking other than, I wonder how fast I can run a mile in.  At one point I looked at my NIKE app and found that I was running a 7:48 second pace.  I hit mile 3 at 29:55. MY 3rd mile pace average was 8:56. I was in complete shock. I knew I couldn't hold out that pace much longer so I slowed it down. My goal was to make the 4 mile mark under 40 minutes or just at 40 minutes. Ladies and gentlemen, I did it. I ran 4 miles in 39:57. Close, but dang it, I did it.
I stretched it out and headed home.
More great news, my youngest came home from school and made top reader of the week in her class again. She also made Bulldog of the month. She was super happy about that.
I have found more friends who run. It is so motivating to me to be able to discuss running and running techniques with my friends.  My friend Melissa Clark is a running nerd like me.  I gave her a list of races I have signed up for the next several months. We are contemplating doing a triathlon. I know I won't be doing an ultra, but a half ironman triathlon I would love to give a whirl.
For the half triathlon it's 1.2 mile swim, 56 miles biking, and 13.1 running. It will be a long training session if we decide to do it.
9 days until the Marathon Relay: Dawn Pohlen, Donna Domiano, and Amanda Brown. I am super excited to know that Melissa Walters is going to cheer us on and my husband and kids will be there as well.
Well I am getting back to homework. I will sign off saying:
Run while you can, run when you can, and run what you can. Happy running my friends.