Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Wednesday Workout Update

I made it pretty far into this season of training before getting hit with aches and pains, but this week, my legs have been protesting all of the running.  Motrin has become my friend once again, I've been using The Stick on my legs, and the coupon for a $45 massage that I've been hanging onto?  Might just get used in the next couple of weeks...hopefully that will get all the knots out and "reset" my legs for the next part of training.

Saturday's long run went much better than the previous one.  I can't tell you what a relief that was!  It was still stupid hot, but there was a slight breeze at times which helped to cool our sweat-soaked bodies.  We had 6 miles on the schedule, but Coach Will changed it up to 6.2 - an official 10K.  Considering that I loathe 10K races (mostly because they are coupled with 5K's, and the majority of the runners end up doing the shorter distance, while the fools go on to run the longer, lonely 10K) (I have been that fool a couple times), I didn't mind this distance.  When Jenny and I started out running (Jeff is still out of town), I said in a cheerleader-type chant to her: "what are we gonna do?!" and she responded "watch out for cars!" LOL.  Awareness, it's a good thing.

This course takes us through some busy intersections - some that we cannot cross against the light; it's just too dangerous.  So we had a couple of unplanned rest stops at red lights - probably a minute each - but we really didn't take a break until mile 3, when we hit the water station.  We refilled our bottles, had a GU, and then started back up.  I think that break hit me mentally, because at about 3.75 miles, I wanted to stop and walk.  I told Jenny that, and we agreed to push it to mile 4 - that's when it's good to have a running buddy who will keep you going.  We walked for about a quarter mile at mile 4, and then pretty much ran (red light stops excluded) the rest of the way in.  Just the fact that we didn't feel like death throughout the run made it so much better, and my confidence has bumped up a notch about doing these long distances.
Team Sweaty Jelly!

Monday morning Erica was kind enough to come over and run with me at 5:00 am - she had a busy work day and needed an early start.  Paco, who normally only gets to see her on Thursday mornings, was thrilled - he LOVES her.  So cute - I think he really believes she's coming over to see him, not to run with me!  The run was great fun as usual, but because we ran an hour earlier than we normally do, it was really dark, which made it hard to see roadkill until we were practically upon it (either a possum or armadillo - we didn't want to look too closely - and a snake)...gross!  Tuesday evening Julia and I met with our running club and did speedwork at the track.  It wasn't pretty - at 8:00 pm, it was still 96 degrees!  But we got it done, and then had dinner afterward:
We wanted soup, but as this was our late dinner, were hungrier for more than a cup, so we each ordered a bowl.  Cauldrons arrived!  Too funny.  Hot and sour for Julia, wonton for me.  Yum.

I have a confession:  some mornings, after I've finished my run?  I come home, take a quick shower, throw on an old nightgown, and go back to bed (after I've had a chocolate milk and some Gatorade, of course).  These 4:15 am wake up calls, coupled with my multiple wake ups during the night (I'm hot! I'm cold! I'm WIDE AWAKE! It's fun being me...) have been getting to me.  The nice thing is that Paco lays on my legs during these naps, and that pressure feels good on them - I'm thinking he could be considered a reverse foam-roller.  Anyway, I know I'm very lucky to be able to do this, and the best part is that when I wake up again (usually between 8 and 8:30 am) I feel refreshed, human, and ready to start my day - and I've already done my exercise, which is a nice bonus!
Awkward shot taken with iPad of my view when I woke up after my Monday morning nap...Paco and Henry sleeping on me.  My little helpers!

18 comments:

  1. Im starting to think you and JODY G have it right!!
    git up. workout. shower. BACK TO BED.

    Im sooo getting me a wife and doing that.
    oh
    or should I wake the husband?! :-)

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  2. Awwww... that sounds like a blissful way to start a Monday (exercise, then nap). Henry and Paco are toooo cute!

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    1. Exercise, then nap kind of sounds like kindergarten, right? Maybe they had the right idea? ;)

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  3. How do you know that Erica isn't just using running with you as an excuse to see Paco? Hmmmm?? Haha! Jealous of your naps. I totally would if I could.

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    1. Oh ho!!! Maybe you're right - I'll have to question Erica and her motives tomorrow morning, LOL!!!

      Yeah, the naps are awesome. Just enough to keep me human throughout the rest of the day.

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  4. I have never seen "The Stick" before! That looks amazing!

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  5. You're right to go back to bed after those early morning runs. Paco is just like Bella. She sleeps in her cradle in our bedroom with the door closed but on weekends when one of us wakes up, we open it and she can sleep on our bed for an hour or so. And always she has to lay close to me or R. even though we have a huge bed :)

    I hope your legs turn out better for the rest of your training cycle and do make use of that massage, it will be good for your legs.

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    1. That's so cute about Bella - our dachshund used to sleep right up with us on the bed, but Paco likes the foot...good thing with his long legs!

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  6. Your legs are just feeling the increase in mileage - take good care of them.

    Hurray for doing your speedwork, especially in 96 degrees... and I can't EVEN imagine wanting soup after that!

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    1. The restaurant was air conditioned, and the light salty broth sounded good - you know when you're hungry but can't really stomach the thought of anything heavy? Soup! :)

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  7. I can't imagine getting up VOLUNTARILY to run at 5 am! Once it cools down you won't need to do that, right? Don't you get hot with Paco and Henry right next to you like that? I love the feeling of the dachshunds right next to me, but sooner or later I heat up and have to evict them!

    Those soup pictures are funny. Kinda like glamour mug shots. Mmmm. Won Ton soup is one of my favorites. Have you had War Won Ton Soup? Full of extra meat--yumm.

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    1. LOL on the glamour mug shots!!! Pretty much! Never had War Won Ton soup, but this giant bowl had lots of won tons, which was awesome. I didn't end up eating a lot of the broth, but the saltiness of it was great after running.

      And YES, Paco and Henry are little heaters. Eventually I have to make them move, which always makes them look SO put out!

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  8. I think its an awesome idea to go back to bed! I think its good for your recovery too - and I wish our dog would sleep in bed with us, but he's an asshole in bed - he ends up trying to push us both out so he can have it to himself!

    And now he's too old to jump up on the bed. :( Have a great day Shelley!

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  9. Yay for a running buddy! It's so good to have support sometimes on the course.

    I am like you with the sleep, only never cold. We have the AC on (window unit). Poor John actually sleeps with flannel jammy bottoms on and a comforter and I wake up in a pool of sweat wearing only a t-shirt. He wants to get closer for heat, but then he says "ewwww". LOL.

    Those soup bowls crack me up. How much soup can a person eat, anyway?

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    1. ...and the funny thing was that when we placed our orders, the waitress asked "no food?" - really? People eat that ginormous bowl of soup AND Chinese food, too???

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  10. I hope your legs feel better soon Shelley! LOVE the words "a cauldron of soup arrived", great description, and I "awww'd" out loud at your little bed mates. SOOOO cute!!!

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