Back and running ... on empty?

Although I'm feeling much better the antibiotics aren't playing nicely with other parts of my anatomy  Did do a 35 min. s-l-o-w run on treadmill tonight.  The meds are making me feel so feverish that I started to get nauseous quit early in the run.  Now I'm feeling like crap - dizzy,still  hot, nauseous, yuck!

Tomorrow @ 9:00 am is breast cancer run in town -- actually late in the morning for me to run but considering it's just a 5k I'll survive.  I'm not intending to 'race' this but rather just run along with S and keep him company.  I promised him I wouldn't run with iPod but I could change my mind depending on my mood in the morning.  It's a run through our old neighborhood and a nice easy course.  Since I have been running over the years I've got several good running and triathlon friends who should be participating and I'm looking forward to seeing.  It's so hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that I've known these friends for 20 years or more and that we're all aging.  I'll give a recap tomorrow.

So right now - weather is becoming a bit too intense - severe thunderstorms with tornado warnings (we are in Kansas after all).  Naturally my horses are turned out and I refuse to step out and bring them in when the lightening is in full force.  I have to remind myself that they are animals and can survive. although they can be 'babies' about foul weather. Hopefully we won't have the worst of the storms and by morning all will be good and the humidity will be history.   Right now I'm sitting here with Mindy (the Morkie) who is terrified of storms and the other 4 dogs are in the bedroom hunkered down with S.  Nobody is getting any rest until this crap is past us.

So let's talk about the upcoming birthday (yup - Sunday).  Well....I won't be getting the Costco cake I dreamed of because during my crappy feeling days I said I didn't want a b-day cake (after downing last of the anniversary cake) and thus lost the opportunity.  In addition, I am firmly believing no Garmin or new iPod either because I said I'd take the new netbook I'm typing on as an early b-day gift back in late July (what a fool!).

Ok, enough whining and gritching for a Friday nite.  I'm sitting here listening to what now sounds like hail on the sky lights and something large (tree branch) landed on the deck (I'm afraid to look) so I'm gonna sign off and hunker down with the crew in the bedroom.  Later gators.









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Sick day --- hate it!

After suffering chest, throat and muscle pain decided to bite the bullet and go see Dr.  Turns out I have bronchitis and sinus infection.  No wonder I've felt like dog poop for days.  I'm now coughing and feel like all I can do is sleep!  No run for 2nd day in row but fortunately only have 5k on Saturday.  Wasn't planning to 'race' it any way b/c S is running with me.

I hate being sick but since I'm a walking petri dish I guess I've got no recourse but to drink fluids and rest remainder of day.  Take care the rest of you running monkeys, more tomorrow with the intent of having finished 6 miles before dawn!

Labor Day ... yup, I labored 7.3 miles

I actually slept in until 6:30 this morning and didn't run until 8:00-ish.  Even though I live in Kansas, we do have hills and finding a route longer than 1 mile that doesn't involve hills is nearly impossible.  As I'm battling hip, thigh, knee pain on my left side (which I refuse to believe could be an injury rather than annoyance) I tried to plan my 7 mile run with minimal climbing.  The first mile was great even though started with major hill the first minutes of the run.  Things started to feel painful after that but I trudged on.  I love to run and when pain, weakness or crap get involved it can just ruin a good thing. 

I generally run @ 5:00 am with the light source being my head lamp (that I wear on my waist) I can't see the hills coming up or how far to the next mile marker.  Running in daylight seems weird to me -- as I passed a number of road kill, animal poop on the road, and other sightseeing opportunities I have to wonder how many of these things I've trudged through during my past runs - YUCK!  I also tend to be out before people let their dogs out but this morning met a new group of dogs coming from the South (same direction as the wind) and I knew if I sprayed them with my 'dog spray' I'd end up blinding myself thus could become runner road kill at the hand of said dogs.  Thankfully they were more bark than bite ... naturally the terrier in the group was the last to quit the chase.  I also was thankful that the turkey vulture noshing on squashed possum wasn't interested in a skinny runner. 

Got home, checked GPS on iPhone (don't get me started on that!) and discovered that it failed me again on the distance.  I'm hoping that S gets me a Garmin for my birthday next weekend.  Please, please, please!!!!  Decided to try the ice bath routine and yup - it's shocking but does help.  So another day done and only 6 planned for tomorrow.  Rest of the day I will spend non-laboring other than giving Mindy a much needed bath.  Hope everyone else has a great day and enjoys the late summer weather we've got going on. 

All dressed up and no party

Today was to be a lesson on Artie -- all tacked up with matching saddle pad to my outfit -- beautiful weather, groomed arena AND a lame horse!  As soon as I asked for a trot the unmistakable head bobbing began.  Who knows what he and his buddies were doing during turnout that caused this but it's the 2nd time in as many months this has occurred.  Now I'm totally bummed because this was to be my cross training day - riding instead of running - and now that's not possible  I'm still sore in hips and left hamstring which is the only thing holding me back from hitting the road today.   So what's a girl to do -- make gluten free, sugar free choc muffins of course.

I did get new running tights last night and settled for Reebok boys size large for $20!  This was terrific value considering the womens styles started at $40!  Same style and fabric yet the childrens were so much less.  I find this another reason to stay thin - the savings.  Of course, if I keep eating muffins and ice cream I might lose my kids department discount card. 

Looks like farm work is calling my name today -- never much sit down time around here.  Tomorrow I plan to run 7 miles @ 6 am. and THEN hop on Artie and see if he's done acting sore.  Hell, I'm lame but I'm still willing to give it a go.

It's the beginning of a new phase --- old womanhood!

I'm currently staring down the barrel of my 49th birthday.  In my mind I'm still 30-ish but a quick glance in the mirror reflects back to me a middle age, sometime haggy face and body I barely recognize.  During my long run this morning (just 8.53 miles of 10 planned) it dawned on me that I should publicly air my last year in the 40's  and maybe others can relate.  Chances of having followers seem dim but I'm doing this more for a 'time capsule' social experiment so any readers are just 'fondant on the cake'.

I've been a runner since my early 20's -- off, on, off, on, repeat.  I also ride dressage on my painted 'pony' Artie.  Between these two activities I should be 'thin' but alas I'm still one treat away from the fat girl I used to be.  I run, ride, and clean because it burns calories to allow me to eat sugary treats!  Let's be honest - during my long runs I'm thinking about pancakes as much as I am solving the problems of the world or avoiding imaginary dogs in the road.  Think Mrs. Magoo with a head lamp, fuel belt, dog spray and cute outfits! 

Let's not belabor this further and just reflect back to 6:30 am when I started my run.  Here's a little of my thoughts along the road:  I see that one of our 'neighbors' now has dual mailboxes so it appears that the 70's era travel trailer in their 'yard' constitutes a separate dwelling - who knew! I confirm that most vehicles on the road prior to 7 am are pick up trucks, it's getting cool enough to warrant UGGS and sweats wardrobe, I think about the calories I'm burning and plan what I could eat the rest of the day, wonder if I should call Steebe at various points during the run to come pick me up because my left hip is screaming that it can go no further. Contemplate that if I did collapse during the run would I have time to throw myself off the shoulder of the road or would I face the fate of the road kill I've skipped by the past hour? 

Enough for today's random thoughts -- off to read other's blogs and find some chocolate.