Wahhhter

Backing up a bit...

Week 3 of my marathon training program went well. I upped my miles a bit more than my schedule called for and was feeling pretty good. My big run at the end of that week was seven miles, the most I've ever run, and I was anxious to see if I felt more comfortable with it this time around. Nope. It was a long and arduous run for me, but I learned a lot. At one point my left knee started aching and I got scared, thinking I might get an injury, so I stopped. Then I realized that ALL my joints ached just as much, so I started running again and finished the seven miles. It was a slow run, but one of the things I've learned is that those longer runs are supposed to be slower so you can get into a good pace and not injure yourself. It's on the shorter runs that you want to push your pace and pick up the speed.

Week 4 was even better. I was improving my time, even reaching my goal of 8.5 minute miles on a 5 mile run. Saturday was nine miles. David took the girls and I took off on my trek around Weber State at the foot of the mountains. It was beautiful! This time I found my pace more quickly and while it was still slower than my shorter runs (which is the way it should be, but I still feel guilty, like I'm being lazy), I felt much more comfortable. The aches came and then they went. By mile 7ish, I felt like I was in my element--my breathing was calm, my body was in a great rhythm, my mind was clear. It was my best run yet. My only regret was that I didn't bring water (more about that later).

NOT my favorite:
-Dogs (the little yippy ones). I had one literally stop me in my tracks up at David's parents house, threatening to tear apart my ankles if I moved while I waited for his breathless owner to catch up and hold him back. It's always the little rats that think they're boss.
-Smokers. Dirty air, choking stench. blah.
-Cars. And this I know is part of running on the streets, but they really just get in the way.
-the BEGINNING of the run. It's like winding up a rusty old clock that was happy with where it's gears were parked (I sound like an old lady, but sometimes it takes my body a while to warm up).
-Digestive malfunctions...nothing too serious here, so far. but DO NOT eat two einstein bagels on a long run day. whew.

My favorite:
-finding my speed and settling in.
-downhill breezes.
-sprinklers.
-other runners; nice to have some commiserating company.
-the quiet. I always liked having music, but now I love the quiet.
-being by myself for a little while.
-feeling the calories melting away. yes.
-making good time.
-coming home with the sunset.

With that said, I embarked upon my fifth week this past week and was doing well. I'm having a minor issue with my new stroller that needs "tweeking" (name that movie), so I've been doing everything possible to get the girls to bed and run when David's home at night. Wednesday night I went out for a short 3 mile run, which went well. However, I had planned two visiting teaching appointments directly after the run, so I only had time for a quick few sips of water and a sad excuse of stretching. I got home late, did the dishes, showered and hopped into bed. Then the nightmare began.

At first I thought it was a bug. I felt nauseous all night and all day the next day. It just got worse and worse until finally in the early afternoon, David came home from school and took the kids while I passed out on the bathroom floor with signs of dehydration. I knew what it was once my hands and legs locked up and my lips tightened together and I wanted to throw up every time I moved. I've had that feeling once before after a major flu attack when I begged David to take me to the emergency room and he just poured more Gatorade down my throat and said, "We can't afford it!" So I slept and slept and drank sip by sip and then slept some more. Eventually that night I felt human again and passed out until morning. I've never felt so bad in my life. I wanted to die. It took me another day and a half to fully recuperate.

SO. Obviously between nursing and training for this marathon, I'm not getting enough water and calories. I've noticed my milk supply (sorry if TMI) is waning and I've had to really think a lot about whether or not I should continue training or wait until I'm done being prego and nursing. It might just be too much on my body. At the same time, this marathon has done SO MUCH for my mental health. What to do.

I've taken a few days off to heal and get healthy and hydrated and make sure I'm giving my baby the nutrients she needs. I hope I can continue running. I will do my best.

That's all for now. Sorry it's so much information, but writing it all out is so helpful to me.

janelle