track fan

No running for me today, nor will there be for a couple more days.  If you have a weak stomach do not read the rest of this blog.

On Sunday night I got really sick, like really sick.  Back up a little ... a couple of years ago I had a bad tooth, I got a root canal and I thought all was well.  About a month ago it started hurting a little when I would bite down (which is weird because it doesn't have any root and shouldn't hurt).  Apparently it was cracked very bad at the base of the root and got super infected (probably another reason my runs were so sluggish last week).  So I couldn't eat much on Sunday, and by the middle of the night I was in so much pain I can't even describe it.  I had to teach yesterday but set up an emergency appointment with a "root canal doctor" for right after class.  There was nothing he could do for me -- the tooth had to be pulled, so I had an appointment today for an oral surgeon.  Last night was horrible ... even though I was taking pain-killers, and a heavy dose of antibiotics (apparently it was the abscess that caused the pain), I was just lying awake in pain all night (and day number 2 of not eating - I had some veggie broth last night and that was pretty much it).  I woke up this morning and my whole neck was swollen (from the lymph nodes I think) and I was so sick (technically, I guess I still am).

But ... though I am down one tooth, I feel a lot better right now (we'll see how I feel once all the stuff wears off - but honestly it can't be much worse than the past two days). 

I am bummed about not running, but was so sick this morning that I really did not miss it much.  Hopefully I will start missing it tomorrow.  I cancelled tomorrows class ... so I will be able to recover from home.

Gross, I know.  You should be here if you think it sounds gross.  I kept thinking about The Rocket last night -- when I was feeling sorry for myself about having to have a liquid diet for a few days -- I instantly got over it ... but did moan because of the pain - quietly, of course.

Big ole' goose-egg.  The swelling in my throat is going down, I can almost swallow real food!!  I have to work today, I have a bunch of meetings.  I am hoping to leave a bit early and rest a little more, with a goal of being able to eat two meals (I have not been able to eat much more than slim-fast and last night I had a couple of scrambled eggs).  IF I do eat two whole meals and I can swallow normally by tomorrow morning I will try to jog for 30` and see how it goes.  The worst part is that although I am worried about losing fitness, I feel so horribly that I can't even imagine running.  That is bad, and demonstrates just how sick I am (since I rarely get sick enough not to run).   This is not fun.

The good news is that I can sit up for more than 5 mins at a time, so hopefully later today I can catch-up on some of your blogs.  I have missed you guys, and need live vicariously through you!!

Happy day bloggers!

~ 38 mins.

I wanted to try to jog a little yesterday, but I was still weak and nauseated so I decided to wait one more day. It wasn't as bad as I expected, I did not feel much worse running than I do just walking around ;-). I think at this point much of the nausea is due to the antibiotics - luckily, I spoke with the doctor and he said I only need to take them for a couple more days. The swelling in my throat has gone down so I can swallow, breath, and eat normally again. It will likely take me about 2 weeks to get my mileage up to normal again, but I will be happy just to run and live my normal life again. I am grateful that it wasn't worse. When I talked to the doctor on Thursday he said that it would take a while to feel better. I guess since I could have ended up in the hospital - which would have hampered my training in months instead of days - I am happy with just being behind a couple of weeks of training.

I am on my way into work ... now I am even further behind ;-).

I hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day and enjoy your family day today!

50:41 -- was probably a little longer than 5.5, but it wasn't quite 6.  Dean had made a very convincing argument about how I shouldn't run more than 5 today ... but I am stubborn and ran al little more just because.   My lungs feel fine, my legs feel fine, I am still just a little weak, and maybe a little dehydrated (because my weight was 126 today and I am pretty sure I did not lose that much weight last week).  

Happy End of Summer everyone!  (it has been under 100  since last Friday ... ahhhh).

1:01:58 (31:42/30:16).  Awwww.  It was a balmy 78F and I felt pretty good this morning.  I am still not completely back in terms of energy but I am feeling so much better.  I will likely take it a little easy this week, ease back into the mileage, but I am expecting to be back up to my "usual" by next week.  I am not sure that my first race in October will be what I was hoping, but it will be fine and I will just have to use it as a gauge and not look for PRs for a while ... the joys of running.

Have a wonderful week bloggers!

1:03:16 (can't give out and back splits because I added on around the park before I went up to my house -- some friends were out with their dogs and I had to say hi!).

Things are really busy bloggers, all I can say is that teaching and research don't mix well ... not with living life anyway.

I miss you all!

1:19:45.  Outstanding run.  Didn't really feel as easy as my pre-illness memory of 9 miles, but it didn't feel bad either.  I am kind of liking not having to schedule my second run during my class prep time -- but I miss the runs a little ... next week, back to the grind.

Short info: we might have a new house here ... nice mountain views ... very different runs, in the mountains.

More later!  Happy running bloggers.

I don't know what the time was right now ... it was normal pace, a little hot today so maybe it was slower.  I needed to get home so I could get to work early, what else is new?  Now I have to go home and try to eat ...to do it all over again tomorrow.  Is it December yet?

Have a great weekend bloggers!

1:03:02 (37:25/35:36).  Hmmmm, one thing I hate more than heat is wind, worse than wind is  hot and windy!!  A little warm (91F when I finished),  there is a big storm blowing in so the wind was pretty rough ... headwind for the first 2 miles (which did mean a nice tailwind the last 2 miles that are uphill -- so that was good).  

It kind of sounds like I am complaining, but I am really not.  All and all, I am still just thankful to be running ... and feeling so much better!

Happy Weekend bloggers, I have to hurry and get to work before the football fans get there and take all the parking spaces!

1:59:37 (63:20/56:17).  Not bad, it was 89F and sunny when I finished (and no shade).  I was surprised that I ran the out portion at 9:00 pace, it is slightly uphill and there was a stiff headwind ... I guess it is because my legs were not tired as usual for a Sunday -- despite running 7 days in a row, my mileage was about 15 miles less than usual this week and zippy legs are bound to happen with lower mileage and no hard workouts.  The first 3 miles after the turnaround were at about 8:30 pace and dropped it down from there, I felt pretty uncomfortable the last mile (in part because I was so hot) - but I finished in around 7:00 pace or slightly under.  

I have two more sections to prepare for my lecture tomorrow/Wednesday ... I hope I can sneak some laundry in there as well.

Happy Sunday bloggers!  Have a wonderful week! 

AM: (9.5+ miles, 1:25:35). Ran 9 miles and added on 8 x 100m strides at the end of the run (might be close to 10 miles).

PM: (4.5 miles, in the dark at Reid Park).  I was at the "turn-around" point when I remembered that the last time I ran this route was with Dean.  He had asked, "where are you going to turn around" and then after I told him he said, "you call that 4 miles?" -- I thought, "darn, I am running slower than I thought and he is going to tell me it is only 3.5!".  So, when I asked him how short it was he said, "short?  that is much further than 4 miles".  Let me tell you, I actually try to underestimate my miles (so I don't over-estimate my pace) - but Dean is usually even more conservative to me, it was quite a surprise to find I was actually underestimating even by "Dean-estimate" standards ... anyway, the main thing was I ran a mile more than I had intended last night, but it felt ok.  My legs feel fine, my body is exhausted, more from work than running.

Happy Tuesday bloggers!

(126.8 -- I think this is dehydration, I have been between 127-128 for three weeks or so now ... but it is so close to my goal I couldn't resist putting it down ;-) ).

1:02:40 (31:32/31:07).  I tried hard to keep it slow today ... very very tired - after my class today I have two major projects I have to finish.  One is going to be a big deal as we are writing a letter that tears apart a study that was published in a scientific journal (it will create some "letter to the editor" wars that will likely last a year or so).  The other is designing a trial to look at a new biomarker for colon polyps.  Things are hectic right now.

Tomorrow I will have more time to catch-up with everyone -- run well, have fun, be safe!!

AM: (8.5, 1:11:37).  30:11 wu 6 x 200m hill repeats (~1:01-1:05 up and 1:25-1:30 down) 29:58 cd. 

PM: (~4 - 4.5 miles).

I actually had an "emergency" grant application I had to work on after class yesterday - so I am still working on the letter.

Happy Thursday bloggers!
 

1:03:20 (31:57/31:22).  Tried to take it really slow ... when I did my PM  run last night (in the dark) I literally "ran into" Dean - well I ended up running the last 2 miles much faster than I normally would (or should) ... so I am taking my recovery run today very seriously ;-).

I got out late for my run because I had to get up early and finish some work that I was too tired to finish after my run last night ... so I did the work-run-work thing.  It was warm, but not nearly as warm as it was last month, so I won't complain. Actually, it was funny.  Last night it was 92F when I started my run, I can't tell you how much better 92F feels compared to last months 101F ... amazing.  I am going to have to pull out the tights when it drops below 70F  -- just kidding, I hope!

Happy Friday bloggers ... meetings all day for me!
 

AM: (8 miles, 1:13:08 (37:43/35:25)).  Pretty hot when I finally got out.  I bought a printer/fax/scanner last night at Costco, I am hoping I can work from home on the weekends instead of driving into work (extra hour to work) ... I was up late trying to get the wireless router to work ... I never got it work, so I got up and worked on it all morning.  It now works from my laptop!  If only I can find a 64-bit Linux driver for it, so we can use our desktop computer too.  But, at least I have a workable solution for now.  It was so cheap, and cool too.

 PM: (4 miles).

I can't wait to see how everyone did today!!
 

1:59:05 (1:02:25/56:39) (8:55/8:05) - last 2 miles were about 7:55 pace.  I was supposed to run the last 20` hard, but as usual, I just ran the last 7 miles hard-"er" and tried to finish at least a min/mile faster than the first 7 miles.  It was 89F when I finished ... it felt a little warmer than that, I have to admit ;-).  I was surprised to see my time at the turn-around.  Today was not one of those "nice run" days.  I felt like I was struggling the whole time.  My split for the 2 miles after the turn around was about 8:30 and I thought for sure that I was going to miss my "1 min/mile" faster for the last 20` goal -- but, my brain took over and pushed my old, hot, tired body to the end.

I took a 1/2 of a day off yesterday (and will pay for it today as I have to finish my lecture for tomorrow before bedtime) ... Dean and I went up to Phoenix to see the ART guy, John.  He worked on my adductor and hip flexors -- and scraped my knee (he said I have some "arthritic changes" going on -- I told him to jump in a lake ;-).   The coolest thing was that on the way home we stopped outside of Tucson so I could get my 2nd run in before it got dark.  We went about 10 miles from the highway to this mountain range and ran on a dirt road around this Indian Site that has thousands of rock paintings (petroglyphs).  It is amazing, some of them are from this very ancient group of Indians (the Hohokam tribe who lived here in the Tucson basin from 300 - 1500 AD) and some are from a more modern tribe, the Tohono O`odahm (their reservation is here in Tucson, about 2.8 million acres of land - they are the second largest Indian nation in the U.S.).  I can't tell you how amazing this place is ... you look up this mountain side and there are literally thousands of these paintings ... it is a very intense thing.  Plus it is surrounded by beautiful desert, saguaro forest (mountain-sides covered with huge cacti) and scrub-brush.  I was both relieved and disappointed not to see any snakes on our run -- but we saw a huge one lying in the middle of the road on our way back to the highway -- it was dark, but I still found him!!!  It was a hard run last night, first off because I was running with Dean - which means it was too fast -- and it was all uphill for the first half --into a stiff headwind -- but then the wind died down for our nice downhill back (because the sun had set).  I can't complain though - it was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen ... and only 1 hour from our house!

I am so impressed with everyone's racing yesterday -- you guys are so awesome!! Congrats to all of you - especially Allie, Carolyn, Jun, Becca, and JD!! 

Happy Sunday bloggers!

AM: (10 miles, 1:26:53). 8 x ~100m strides at the end of the run.

I struggled again today -- the only time I felt "good" was during the striders ... I guess because my body was tired (mainly from work not running) and it was the only time my form was good ...

PM (4 - 4.5 miles -- depending on how late I will be at work ... oh please I want to leave before 8PM tonight!!).

Happy Tuesday bloggers, I hope you are running strong and feeling good!!

1:01:36 ... I don't have my splits, I will add them later.

Barista sounds pretty good right now.

AM: (8.5 miles, 1:09:57).  29:53 wu 8 x ~150m hill repeats 27:34 cd.  Pretty steep hill, dirt/sand = tough on stabilizer muscles.  Consistently 43-44secs uphill ... couldn't get any faster than that no matter how much I tried! 

PM: (4.5 miles).  I truly am going to try to get to my favorite park tonight ... 

Happy running everyone.

1:02:18 (31:49/30:28).  Not a bad run.  I did not get to go to my favorite park last night for my run -- it is just getting dark too early and I couldn't get home from work in time.  But, I had a nice run anyway.  It was 92F, but it felt much cooler ... this morning at 5AM it was 62F - winter is here ;-).

On our way to finish up some paperwork for our new house -- it has been pretty drawn out because there were some property line issues that came up.  In the end, we will be buying a house (on 1 acre) plus another 1.25 acres of adjoining undeveloped land.  The whole thing used to belong to the house but there were some weird (and perhaps shady) deals going on a few years ago and the land was split and sold.  Both properties were then foreclosed and someone else bought the house, remodeled it, and then when we went to buy it we found out (and the sellers found out from us) that the driveway actually was on the "other" lot ... not a happy time for any of us ... in the end we are buying into more than we bargined for, but it cost the seller a little more than hoped.  Moral of the story -- "do your homework"/"caveat emptor". 

The adjacent lot is a mountainside of saguaro cactus ... it is spectacular.   The house is in the Tucson Mountains with incredible city and Catalina Mountain views.   Best of all, it is much closer to work, so commute time will be reduced considerably.  It is also much closer to my favorite long run place (Saguaro Park West).  I will miss my favorite park - as it will be much too far to get to now. 

Happy Friday bloggers.
 

AM: (8 miles, 1:11:58 (37:09/34:48)). Nice run, a little hot (87F), but tolerable. Felt pretty good today. About 2 weeks until my first race since the marathon. I know I am not really in racing shape yet, but my weight is good (my dehydrated post-run weigh-in was 125.6 -- so very close to my target, I think I will call it good!) and my overall fitness level is ok -- so I am just hoping for an indication of my fitness level so I see what a realistic expectation might be for my upcoming 10K races (that I hope to actually be in race shape for!!) ... I think it will be fun to race again.

PM: (4.5 miles). Will definately leave work before dark tonight!!

Happy Saturday bloggers!

2:00:54 (1:03:29/57:24) (9:04/8:12).  I tried to keep it easy today, my goal was to not go too much faster than marathon pace.  The first mile was about 9:15 or so, and then each mile got a little faster until I was at about 8:55 pace until the turn-around.  After the turn-around I dropped it down to about 8:30 pace for a couple miles and by mile 10 I was at 8:00 pace.  The last 2.5 miles I kept it at 7:50-7:55, it was hard because my instinct is to get those last 3-4 miles down to 1/2 marathon pace, but I just made sure I was breathing from my nose (which limits my pace a lot, since it has to stay really easy).  The reason for holding back a little today is two-fold, first it was over 90F and sunny when I finished, and secondly, I have to rearrange my running schedule this week and I won't have a day off between today and my next "harder" day (Tuesday).  I am giving a seminar in the cancer center really early Wednesday morning and I originally was suppose to go on a full-day trip down to Mexico with some of the community health people on Friday.  I am not sure I can go on Friday now because we have some new house stuff that we need to schedule and the only during the day that I have to do it would be Friday this week.  That is one of the sucky things about my life right now, there is absolutely no 'give'  -- my days  are pretty tightly scheduled.

Next Sunday -- as well as being a big marathon day for some bloggers (namely Auntieem) - and the day after a big marathon day for other bloggers -- all you SGM folks -- is a big race day here in Tucson.  It is the Jim Click 8k -- and it usually draws most of the Arizona elites out to race.  We might be hosting 4 of the McMillan Elite athletes.  Last year Brett Gotcher (new American 20K champion who just got chosen to represent the US at the World 1/2 marathon championships) and 3 other McMillan Elite athletes took the top 4 spots ... it should be FUN to see who comes down and how they do this year too.  Oh yea, it is also my 47th birthday -- which means only 11 later is the big 50 for Dean!!

I have to go work now, I hope you all have a nice Sunday!

1:03:32 (31:53/31:38).  Recovery run ... I was trying to run at about 9:30-9:40 pace ... I did not quite make it, but I still kept it pretty slow and was able to refrain from charging up the hills to get home.  It has been a while since I have run the day after my long run -- maybe a year or so -- it took me longer to warm up and get into a smooth gait, but the last couple miles were pretty pleasant!

Have a great week bloggers!

AM: (10 miles, 1:25:54). 9 miles + 8 x ~100m strides. Felt really good today, I hope to get out for 4.5 tonight, but if it is like most Tuesdays I might not get done with work until it is really late so I might just do 4.

PM: (4.5 miles, 39:14).  Yea!  I left work and 7:30 and was at the park by 7:45.  I felt so good on this run.  One of the easiest, and most enjoyable runs I have had in a long time (not that most of my runs are not enjoyable, this one was just very comfortable).   Another thing that made it special -- TMI -- is that I stopped at an actual bathroom. Usually, I have to run around the parking lot and find a very dark corner to pee in before I get into my car to drive the 1/2 hour home (I am not as picky about my bathrooms as Sno is ... as a matter of fact "the world is my bathroom ;-) just kidding) ... ahhhh I was living in the lap of luxury (a public bathroom at a tennis court)!

Happy Tuesday bloggers!