Use it or Lose it

Problems - two dogs attacked my cat last night, I spent several hours at the emergency vets, missed running this morning, had to run tonight (I HATE running at night!)  Then the animal control officer came to take my report right after I ran, and I ended up standing around in the cold outside air for an hour, and now my muscles have froze up and are all knotty!  I was also starving, so finally got a glass of milk & a pb and honey sandwich.  

I'm hoping my cat will be okay; she got hammered really bad by the dogs, vet thought she had spinal injuries because she didn't move at all, but it must have been shock because she finally started moving, x-rays show no broken bones, but bruising around the lungs (which could cause bleeding and be a bad prognosis indeed), and also severe tissue damage along her inner thigh and hip region (could cause blood clots to break loose), and lots of other bruising and scraped foot pads, etc.  My son heard it happening, ran outside, and tried to break it up, but he was barefoot and the dogs started snarling and growling at him, then a bike rider stopped and chased the dogs off right when they had picked my cat up with their mouths and were playing tug a war with her.  I am so thankful for that bike rider, if the attack had gone on for just a few more seconds I truly think my cat would not still be alive.  Agh! 

Kind of a crappy run, I warmed up, then did 4 reps (1/4 miles at 6.5 mph), then finished the run with a mix of 5 to 6 mph.  Feel truly spent right now.  Gotta go try to give my cat some pain/anti-inflamatory medicine, then I should probably try to take a warm bath to try and loosen up my muscles.  AGH!

Short run before work, mostly 5.5 mph with 4 x 100 at 6.5 mph.  Mildly painful knot in my left glut. max.  Post running stretches.

Still have a knot in my back left glut. maximus, probably brought on by Monday night's hour stint in the cold rain after my run.  Today I just did a short run, mostly 5-5.5 mph with 4 100's at 6.5 mph.  Cut back mileage this week, due to knot and also because I might run the leprecaun lope 5K this saturday.  Depends on how the knot feels and whether it is way cold and windy like yesterday!  Feel like I'm getting my energy back; I lost my appetite and didn't eat well for a couple days after my cat was attacked.  Basha seems to be doing lots better, but she isn't out of the woods yet.  Did my post running stretches.

Decided to run the Leprechaun Lope 5K; the forecast was for rain/sleet & 18 mph wind, but . . . instead the start had very dark clouds with no rain, and no wind. Sweet!!  I did not want to run in the wind!!  I ran about a mile to warm up and then stretched a bit before the race.

It was a hilly course, and began by going uphill (5-6%)  by the Capital building, then a long mild uphill grade, then a bigger longer uphill section, then the turn around and the rest was all downhill into Memory Grove.  I ran the first hill somewhat slow, then tried to hold a good 2-1 breathing pattern for the rest of the run.  I started in the middle of the pack, and passed quite a few people. It was fun because several of the girls running had green tutus, colorful green leggings, etc., and I got a kick out of passing them!  There was one girl in a green tutu I was trying to catch for the last mile; I finally gained on her and passed her about 100 feet from the finish line, but then she must've been offended because she kicked in and passed me about 10 feet from the finish. oooh!  But, I'm 55 and she looked to be about 25, so what can I say? I'm glad I was finally able to pass her, though, even if I didn't stay ahead of her!  (My legs were extremely wobbly the last 50 feet of the race - I was somewhat worried that if I tried to go faster at that point I might fall!) 

Anyhow, I had fun running and think I did a good job considering I haven't trained for long and last week's running schedule was sporadic to say the least.  I also think I would much prefer a flat course to a hilly course!!!  Oh, and my unofficial "watch time" was 27 min 27 sec - YEA! - except I later heard someone with a garmin commenting that the course was short and just shy of 3 miles. Bummer!  But some runners next to me said I should be happy with my time and not worry about it. :)  

I initially planned on running more after the race (it's my long run day), but it was chilly and I was sweaty and the wind was starting to pick up so I came home and ran 5 miles on my treadmill: 1 mile @ 5 mph, 3 miles @ 5.5 mph, 1 mile @ 5 mph, followed by some good stretching. 

Lotsa big heavy snowflakes coming down now!

UPDATE: several people commented on the active.com site that they thought the race was way short, possibly 2.82 or 2.86!  So no PR, but I wasn't really expecting one at this level in my "retraining".  Still had a lot of fun, and am happy with how I ran!