Back in the saddle?

I'm pre-blogging today.  I woke up every last night to my toe THROBBING.  Who knew a stupid blister could cause so much trouble?  I have been limping since Saturday.  If I can make it through the workday without limping, I'll go run on the treadmill tonight.

I really want to break 50 miles this week, so I hope the toe cooperates!

PM-the toe cooperated.  Wouldn't you know, it started KILLING me as soon as I stopped running.  I guess the solution is...run all the time!

I ran 6 miles on the dreadmill.  I wanted to do 7, but my body was acting up a bit.  Nothing I can put my finger on: a few chills, a weird feeling in what felt like a tendon wrapping my heel.  So I cut the run a little short.

For me, though, when I say I ran "only" six miles, that is a good day!

It's amazing how one can feel so different from week to week.  I felt DEAD today.  I actually had to walk quite a bit on the way home.  At about mile 5, I started feeling some intense pain in my right hip flexor, and my left groin muscle hurt when I got home.  I did run last night, and it was hotter than usual this morning, but I'm wondering if I might be overtraining a bit.

I'm adjusting my goals for the week.  I'll wait until next week to hit 50.  I just want to maintain the 46-47 mileage for this week.  Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow.

This has been a really rough week.  I had a really hard time today and had to walk again.  My legs felt like jell-o and could barely move.  I have been getting enough sleep and eating well, but I'm going to count my calories today to confirm that I'm eating enough.  Also, my work stress level has reached a boiling point this week and will probably not subside until I leave for vacation.

I also wonder if I'm overtraining and should take tomorrow off completely.  Having to walk two days in a row really gets me down, and I'd rather rest my legs than have to walk again.  AAARRRGGGHHH!

Weight: 142

I have decided to take today off.  Work is really stressing me out, and I feel some sickness coming on.  I also don't think I can mentally handle a third day in a row of crappy runs.  Today I will live vicariously through all of the exciting race reports!

I am really glad I completed this run.  It was a big confidence booster after a mediocre (at best) week of running and heat meltdown in previous long runs.  It was not without drama, though!  I did the whole run alone.

I left the house at 5:15 (still later than I wanted), but it was still kind of dark, so I decided to run a busier route and hook up with the canal after about 4 miles when it was lighter.  As I approached the intersection where I planned to get on the canal (already 86 degrees, BTW), I saw that it was completely roped off with cops and cop cars EVERYWHERE.  I saw one car badly wrecked, but no people anywhere.  I think something else was going on because of all the cops.  So, I couldn't get on the canal for another mile or so.  At least half of the run was on concrete or asphalt, which  will get me used to pounding the pavement for 26.2 miles.  I ended up running on the canal for only about 1.5 miles total.  I felt really good for the first several miles.  My first 10 miles were: 9:53, 9:53, 9:58, 9:46, 10:11 (uphill), 10:03 (less shade), 10:01, 9:53, 9:50, 10:00.  I took my only Gu at mile 9.  I had my fuel belt with Gatorade and water, though.

Then I hooked back up with the Bridle Path, where I run on the weekdays.  It is very shady, and I figured it would be better to run there, near my house and in the shade when it was getting warmer.  Well, it was shady, but it was also after 7:00.  I started really struggling and decided to just go home and regroup.  Miles 11-13 were 10:18, 10:50, 11:53.  I went in my house, got some ice water, and checked the weather.  The heat index was 92 degrees with about 50% humidity.  I REALLY wanted to complete the run, so I drank lots of ice water and stood under the fan for about 20 minutes.  Then I put some crushed ice in my hat and set out again.  My legs didn't feel tired at all, which I took as a really good sign.

I did 3 more miles around my neighborhood to complete the run.  None of those miles was faster than 11:00, and one was over 12:00.  On the home stretch, I got a disapproving mini-lecture from my neighbor who told me it was way too hot to be out.  Thanks for your concern, sir, but we runners know what we're doing!  Another neighbor lady was doing yardwork in nice white shorts.  Hmmm.....Sorry, I digress.

Yay for 16 miles in HOT weather!  Now I have to go to work.