Auntie Em Goes Running

5:30am, 51 degrees, calm, light rain.  It felt much colder than 51; there is a lot of dampness in the air.  I met some of my group at the track and we did four easy with 3 200m pick ups.  We just did one at the end of each mile.  The pick ups felt good, nice and easy, a little faster than 5K pace.  

That's it!  The marathon training is in the bank.  The next few days will require only two very easy miles with pick ups on Saturday morning.   Looking forward to getting to Portland now, and resting  (?)

Jogged around the university of Portland on Willamette ave.

OK, here goes.  I don't really want to talk about this, but I DO want to move on, and this is part of the healing.   Its long, but I'll try to get some of the funny bits in as well.

Beautiful marathon morning in Portland!   Wore my throw away jacket while lined up waiting to start.  Standing by my running buddy Brad in the start line up.  Some nerves, but I knew that once we started, it would be fine.  The gun went off and the first few miles, Brad and I concentrated on avoiding other people and not going too fast.  Its a bit downhill at the beginning, but even so, our first miles were 8:15, 8:21, and 8:47.  This last one is a bit fast, since its a long uphill, but neither of us felt winded.  The next mile was a WHEEE! downhill (7:41).  Then I just settled in to a pace that felt good, focusing on not going too hard and staying steady.  These miles took us through downtown Portland and on a 3-4 mile out and back, so we got to see some of the elite runners returning as we were running out.  Our coach was somewhere on this section also.  It was good to see him.  I ate GU and drank at every water station.  These six miles were 8:05, 8:17, 8:21, 8:15, 8:30 and 8:17.  Somewhere around here we headed out toward Hwy 30, which would eventually take us to the St. Johns Bridge and over to the bluff for the final 8 miles of the race.  Very flat in here.  Met Cara from my training group and chatted a bit.  She looked really strong, but we both tried to slow a bit here, in preparation for the one big hill of the course - the ramp up to the bridge.  I also walked through the next several water stations.  So, as planned, the next four splits were 8:34, 9:09, 8:51, and 8:21.  During the last 10 minutes, I began to get the aura that precedes a migraine headache.  I don't get migraines, but do get that visual aura every few years.  I just kept running, trying to breathe especially well to help with the visual disturbance.  The left half of each visual field was rather dark, but I felt that it would clear.  

Then I was on the ground, with AJ the EMT talking into my face.  His lips were moving but no sound was coming.  I think my lips were moving but the words stayed in my head.  This part is a bit foggy.  As soon as I realized where I was and WHERE I WASN'T! I tried to sit up and bolt, but that didn't work.  I was trying to answer the questions that the EMT were asking, but was pretty focused on just getting up and running, so they were definitely not happy with my answers.  Finally, I was wavering between trying to run and accepting the fact that I was not going to run.  When the ambulance came, I resisted all that I could, but I was unfairly overpowered.  Then, once in the ambulance, I cried, got an IV, and got a 3.14 mile split on my Garmin!  Fastest split yet.  I don't know how long it had been since I passed out, but AJ told me that a spectator heard me say "going down", and he tried to sort of break my fall, so I only have a few bruises and a nasty back of the head ache.  Once in the ambulance, I was able to answer all the questions, like birthday, age, all that stuff.

About here it dawned on me that I was powerless and in the clutches of my worst nightmare - the medical machine!  I really really do not like this institution, and am very mistrustful about medical care.  I begged and tried to bribe my way out of going to the hospital, but with an IV in the arm and straps holding me down, I was really powerless.  Probably you guys know that I don't like to feel powerless.  

Then it got worse.  Once at the hospital, I began to worry about Karen, my sister in law, who would expect to see me at 18.5, and my coach and teammates, who would not know what had happened.  I had no phone, of course, and didn't know anyone's numbers.  The hospital staff, led by a Nazi woman doctor, were 100% focused on keeping me down, filling me with unnecessary fluids, and inventing every imaginable test to perform!  They wanted blood, urine, Cat scans, MRIs, and chest xrays!  All this in spite of the fact that my oxygination and heart rate were excellent.  I allowed an MRI to see if I had had a stroke.  While the MRI was being prepared, I tried several times to escape, but my speed was hampered by the tubes and electrodes and the stupid gown, so I couldn't get it done fast enough and was captured and actually put under arrest!  Yep, armed guards.  Two of them, so I must have represented quite a threat.  They were really nice guys, though.  Oh, I forgot.  This is kind of funny.  When they helped me take off my shirt and bra so I could wear the regulation hospital gown, the GUs that I hadn't used flew out of my bra.  The staff looked quite shocked because they didn't know what it was!  

So, finally, MRI.  These are truly awful, but I let them give me some kind of sedative, and had some nice Led Zeppelin in my headphons.  So I was pretty calm.  Of course I'm not allowed to walk anywhere for any of this, but have to get wheeled along on a guerney.  I am totally convinced that the medical model works by making people feel sick and powerless.  It was really starting to affect me.

Of course my brain was fine and I didn't have a stroke.  Finally, a friend from my group who was not racing but was tracking my progress on her computer was able to locate me at the hospital and help me get in touch with my sister and coach.  I was way overhydrated from the IV and kept having to go to the bathroom, but had to be accompanied by the hospital guards each time.  I am convinced that the IV was only to keep me from escaping and not for any medical reason.  

Ms. Nazi wanted to keep me overnight for observation, but finally she was replaced by a much more reasonable Neurologist.  He agreed to release me to my sister and saw nothing wrong with me.  

 The whole experience is working its way into a box in my brain called "unexplained experiences".  That's where I keep alien abductions, miracles, and anything related to hormones.  

Sorry, that wasn't as funny as I thought.  Here are the positive things:

1.  No need to recover.  The 15 plus miles of training at a fast marathon pace left me strong!

2.  Jogged 7 miles on Monday.  Only intended to jog 3.5, but my daughter forgot to pick me up, so I had to jog home as well.   Felt like nice recovery miles.

3.  I had a great pace and felt great for the first 15!  Wow.  Tapering works.

4.  I'll see Sno and Snoflake on Sunday in Victoria, where I will finally finish my marathon!

Thanks for listening.  We really are all crazy, but its all good.  I'm spending the rest of the week focusing on mental strength and a second taper week, with a nice training run thrown in.  Still a bit weepy as I write this, but its a positive step to get it all down and on its way out! 

Whoops!  Forgot to log these miles.  Just 7 easy miles, more than I wanted for recovery, but it was a beautiful afternoon for running.

Just two today; some lingering tiredness from the drama of the weekend.  Hope I feel a little more perky soon.  Getting lots of sleep.

 Thanks, everyone, for all the niceness on my sad sob story blog.  I love and need the support, especially since certain unnamable coaches think that I'm not entirely sane for doing Victoria.  You all are better than a coach.

Five miles nice and easy on the treadmill.  The weather in the gym was warm, humid, but not raining.  Listened to David Bowie's "Heathen" album, Death Cab for Cutie and Snow Patrol.  Finished with Lucinda Williams "Lonely Girls".  That's all for now.

4 miles, alternating between easy pace and 400m pick ups.  I think I screwed it up; they were probably supposed to be 200m pick ups.  Easy was easy, fast was fast.  Sunny and beautiful, little wind.  

Ended my run at my sports medicine Dr.  He lasered my arm for awhile before my daughter showed up for her appointment.  My elbow and arm are terribly bruised and sore from the IV needle.  Hurts when I run.  Maybe the laser will help. 

Wow, I'm banking pre marathon sleep big time!  Eight whole hours.  

No running today, so I luxuriated in the opportunity to spend an entire hour on stretching.  And, this is huge, actually spent 2 minutes sitting quietly approaching meditation!  I'm going to kick it up about 10 seconds next time.  I feel so zen and self satisfied (wait, are those mutually exclusive things?).  

My mental game is in an interesting place.  Not the same as last week at all, but every bit as strong. 

Two easy miles, 8:27 and 9:09.  Cold this morning - 47 degrees at 8:30.  BRRR.  I packed longer pants for Victoria tomorrow just in case.  I for sure cannot run slow miles if I'm freezing!

I just love Canadia! 

Victoria is done; Portland never happened.  I don't really need to say more, do I?  

I know that most people in my life (and maybe a few of you on this blog as well), thought I was insane to run Victoria after what happened in Portland, but it was absolutely the best thing that I could have done to get over it.  My time is crappy, and for once I don't even care. It was a terrifically fun race; wonderful to see Sno and family!  I can say very honestly that I enjoyed every single mile of the run.  

My first half was a few minutes faster than planned, but by mile 18, I had to admit that I was not recovered enough from last week's miles to have a great time on this one.  So, I just settled in and enjoyed the scenery and the people.  The spectator support was great, and very funny.  I even helped a guy work his calf muscle out a bit towards the end; got him walking again and went on.  At mile 24, I saw a man being loaded onto a stretcher and cried for 1/2 mile.  All the tears that I held in all last week.  

So glad the week is over; I'm not going to run with my Garmin for at least three weeks.  I want to run like crazy in the mud and trails.  The next marathon will be about performance; this one was about healing and fun!  

Thanks for your support, everyone! 

Enjoying my day off, but I'm antsy to run!  Maybe tomorrow.  

I feel so stupid for inaccurately reporting my marathon time, although it looks pretty good!  Do you think I can get voted off the blog for that?  My time was 4:18, something, not 1:18! During the last 5 miles, while I was just sort of 12:30 miling it along, having a great time, I met some really interesting people.  I met these two guys who were on their seventh day of doing the full marathon course.  They were running for some charity, and the actual race day was their last one!  They were in pretty good spirits, but were out of fuel sources, so I gave them a couple of GUs, and walked/ran along with them for awhile.  They were amazing!  I think I already mentioned that I helped a guy with his calf muscle!  He thought I was the EMT at first, and wondered how I found him.  He had a knot the size of a baseball in his right calf.  He was able to stand and walk when I left him.  It was his first marathon.  Then there were the many strange assortments of people cheering us on.  At one point, a really trashed car was parked, with "You Ain't Nothing But a Hound Dog" blaring out of it, and a bunch of people dancing.  I was walking at the time, but I picked it up into a sort of solo dance, kicked into a sprint, and got a lot of cheers!  

So, those are some happy memories of this one!  I hope that next time I'll be running to hard at the end to enjoy it in quite the same way, but it sure was fun to take in all the sights. 

Sleeping badly now from not enough running.  I don't know if the marathoning is worth it, having to take these days off.  Have been yogaing and stretching, and today went to the gym for eliptical training for 40 minutes.  Took the edge off.  But, interestingly, I'm totally hooked on the idea of my NEXT marathon now.  I guess I never realized that I have an addictive personality.  Luckily, I'm fairly busy at work right now, planning for shelters for winter disaster victims, natural and otherwise.  

The other thing in my favor is that its gotten VERY windy here today, and I do not like to be out in wind.   If the wind dies down tomorrow and there is no rain, I'll get to ride my bike a bit.  

Went to my family Dr. today to have him check out the results of the multitude of tests that were performed on me against my will in the hospital in Portland.  I love him sooo much - he said of course there is nothing wrong with you, but stop running next time your migraine aura happens, and its a very good thing that you did Victoria immediately so you won't build up any fear.  Isn't that great?  He just wants me to not lose any more pounds, eat lots of protein, and get weighed at the office every week.  Which is great, 'cause there is a really good coffee place right near his office! 

Next marathon is definitely Newport. 

Did about an hour of stretching and weights and abs and stuff, then later some time on the recumbent stationary bike in the basement.  The recumbent bike is kind of nice, because you can read a book while riding.  This activity helped a bit, but its definitely not running, which I miss.

Running again!  Six gloriously muddy, wet and rainy miles on my favorite hilly woodsy trail!  With four of my running buddies.  It was fantastic to be running again, without Garmin, without discipline, without a plan!   No splits, no MP, no easy pace, just the run.  It felt positively primal.  No cougar sightings.

Happy. 

60 degrees this morning!  It rained hard all night, then cleared up, with no wind.  So different from yesterday's lightning and wind.  

I ran seven miles through and around Whatcom Falls Park.  Still no Garmin.  Felt good to run flatter trails after yesterday's hill workout.  Legs were somewhat tired near the end, but still feeling pretty dang good. 

Added some bike miles later.  Still sunny and warm; 1 hour ride out Lake Whatcom and around the Agate Bay loop.

Another dry day, so I decided to ride the bike.  The Fall colors are beautiful, and riding is pleasant right now.  Unfortunately, I had no energy left for a run.  IT band is somewhat tight; have had to have two special stretching sessions for that.  

Eight miles, perfect weather again.  I went out for three, and couldn't stop.  I may have overdone for recovery.  At mile 6.5, I swallowed a gnat or something.  I coughed and spat, but could still feel it in there all the way  back home.  Yuk!

Forgot to say my splits!  I wore Garmin again and got 8:51, 8:40, 8:49, 8:46, 9:38, 9:25, 9:17, and 8:51.  Notice how I begin and end on 8:51; that must be a significant number for me today.  Maybe I'll work for 8:51, or eat 851 calories for breakfast, or do 851 crunches. 

Well, I did overdo the recovery running a bit yesterday, and I'm paying for it today.  Legs feel very stressed.  I decided to skip running, do lots of stretching, work with the stick, and bike ride.  

Five easy miles; legs still somewhat stressed, in a strange way.  Did a nice upper body weight lifting session and a killer ab workout.  

No running; had to travel South for an all day meeting, and its absolutely pissing rain here, so didn't get out before I left.  My legs need a day off anyway.  This recovery stuff seems to come in waves!  

44 degrees and clear!  Beautiful.  It was a little bit cold in shorts for about 1/2 a mile.  Eight easy miles along the Chuckanut Trail, through the leaves and up and down in the woods a bit.  Splits were 8:48, 8:55, 9:24, 9:35, 9:21, 9:54, 8:15, and 9:12.  No tightness in the butt, IT band, calves.  Everything good.  Am I finally recovered?  Hooray!

Finished at the Village Green and got some excellent coffee.  Ran into a couple of guys who also had on their Victoria Marathon shirts.  We chatted for a few minutes about how great the marathon was.  

Its going to be sunny today; we really need this! 

I dressed for my run just as I did yesterday  morning, without realizing that it was 8 degrees colder!  I drove to our meeting place and saw that it was 37 and I was in shorts.   Luckily, I was warmly dressed on top and had my little gloves.  It took somewhat longer than usual to warm up partly  because I was underdressed and partly because the route starts flat, then descends a rather long hill.  Once my muscles were warm, though, I was good.

This was a different group of runners, one that I have not run with, and it actually turned out well for me.  There were six of us, and we ended up divided into two groups by the middle of the run.  But the pace was great for me, you can see by my splits that I was able to maintain an easier pace than usual.  The route was super hilly, with really long hills.  I was delighted to find that I felt great on the hills; recovery seems complete!  

Splits were:  9:29, 9:36, 9:30, 9:18, 9:03, 9:27, 9:28, 8:28, 8:34, and 8:55. 

Used the treadmill at the gym today.  3.5 miles in track flats, then 1 mile in barefeet.  I tried a few strides at 7:20 pace, and felt good.  I believe that I might be ready for a track workout tomorrow evening!  That is very exciting.

 My gym does not like me to run in bare feet, so I may either buy a treadmill or find a new gym.  Why can people do yoga in bare feet but not run?  Noone at the gym had a good answer to this question.

Followed the run by some intense upper body weights (I will be sore tomorrow!), and some squats with weight, then all my stretching, core work, and conditioning exercises.  Made for a long time at the gym, but everything is done! 

May ride the indoor bike this evening if time permits. 

Track workout!  We started at 5:30, so already dark, but the WWU track has lights, so its good.  The workout called for 5X1200s, which we decided to do at 5K pace.  Mile paces for these 1200s were:  7:26, 7:19, 7:24, 7:08, and 6:50.  I had tons of energy and felt great, especially on the last one.  Felt really good to go fast for a change.

Will thoroughly stretch and do abs and strengthening stuff before I go to sleep. 

No Sleep.  Dark.  Cold.  Raining.  7.75 miles.  Food.  Hot Shower.  Off To Work.

1:30pm - some X training on the basement bike, where I don't have to look outside.

Whoops, this entry is supposed to be on Wednesday, and Wednesday's entry is supposed to be on Thursday.  Nothing really happened today except some indoor biking.

Since I have to miss my group's longer together run tomorrow, I decided to do a track workout today on my own.  I don't know why I decided to do 800s, I'm really kind of lost doing this with no guidance.  But 800s sounded fun.  I meant to do them at about 5K pace, but they turned out quite a bit faster.  I did four, with 2 miles warm up before, a lap or so in between each 800, and some cool down miles afterwards.  The last 3/4 of a mile were barefoot on the track, since its quite warm today.  Splits on the 800s were 3:14, 3:16, 3:13, and 3:20.  

Just small spitting rain here today, but no sun.  Very very windy; we seem to get a lot of wind here in Bellingham.