Rest and sleep are crucial!

I am still working out the details of the best way to post pictures!  Please bear with me and I will go back and add in some for you.

For most of my life, you could say that the name, "Sleep Queen," would apply.  From grade school through most of graduate school, sleep was my top priority and I would carve out 9 hours of sleep.  Yes - I realize this is a large amount, but hey, I need it!

In late grad school and throughout the beginning of my professional career, I realized that sleeping is a lot harder, when you have a lot on your mind or if you are under lots of pressure/stress at work.  Slowly, I began backing off on the sleep priority and eased into getting 7-8 hours during the week and more on weekends.

A month ago today I started drastically changing my life (diet, training, etc.) and once again the need to prioritize rest and sleep is coming to the fore.  Early morning runs are getting sidelined or delayed until the evening, since getting to sleep by 8-8:30 on a weeknight is tough!  I am pleased to report, though, that I am back to getting about 9 hours of sleep a night.

After long runs, I need to prioritize (again) getting adequate rest and sleep or I end up taking an unplanned rest day (2 weeks in a row).  Making changes requires flexibility and being able to adapt.  While I believe finishing this marathon in one piece on November 14th is a good thing, I would be dishonest, if I did not admit that backing out has been really tempting.

Highlight of the month - yesterday, I felt almost like me for the first time since making drastic changes! :)

Hurrah for the return of Fall weather!

Roots'NBlues Half Marathon - September 26th, 2015, in Columbia, Missouri

Getting excited for race day! The race did not go as I hoped, but I finished and only walked a tiny bit of it.

A photo posted by Runningwithallergies (@runningwithallergies) on Sep 26, 2015 at 12:14pm PDT

Oh well..Saturday..it was an experience for sure.  I am going to try and recap it for you, while trying 

not to sound whiny about it.

Pre Race Meal: 2 Picky Bars (Smooth Caffeinator and Need for Seed) and some water - I was hungry before the race started and probably should have added a banana or an additional Picky Bar to the mix.

Warm Up:

After driving to the race, which was about 45 - 60 minutes from my hotel, I stretched, added some sunblock to my legs and arms with bug repellant, and decided to jog to the start line, which was about 1.43 miles away.

Race:

It started about 12 minutes late and, having completed my warm-up by 6:30ish, I was cold and a bit stiff (not good).  Also - I was slightly hungry, but it was time to start.


I went out in 11:15, which was on the fast side, and quickly fell back into my easy pace.  Given that this race was just an extension of a longer run, I am glad that I could transition paces easily.  By mile 2, I realized finishing was a great goal and I attempted to tell myself that is why I set it in the first place.  Concrete or running in the bike path were my options and I played it safe, since I did not know the area particularly well.

First aid station - about 2.5 miles - still out on the concrete and I learned that I am quite handy at getting my right wrist covered in water.  OOPs - I will improve.

Onto the trail - or so I thought - and no concrete - oh boy, was I mistaken.  The course took us via handicap accessible pathways down, under bridges (concrete), through open fields and such (pretty but an incline was present throughout most of it), and then back onto the road onto a steep hill around mile 9-10.  A volunteer said, "Congrats, you are halfway up the hill." I was so tempted to flatten her or say something, instead, I kept grimly moving up, step by step, past the next volunteer who said, "No walking on my watch!"  I make it a point of thanking volunteers, but it was really hard to thank that lady.  Finally - we reach the top of the hill and it goes flat for about, oh 500 meters, before the climbing resumes and we are back on the concrete.  Mile 9.5 or so - an aid station with only gatorade is available.  At this point, I was parched and I won't deny it.  I asked twice to verify it only had gatorade, because I cannot have it and really wanted some water - any water!  Nope - my hearing was right.  I kept on going and they had water at the last aid station (11.5 miles) and I slowed way down to drink it. I passed mile 12 and started the ascent of yet another hill.  My calf muscles, by this point, were in the heat of spasms and stopping by 10 miles or so to stretch did not help.  I caved and started walking somewhere between mile 12 and 13.  I did run in the last .2 miles, since I could not justify walking the finish.  It was tempting, but I resisted.

Post-Race Meal:

They provided pulled pork, which I took on plate along with 3 little water bottles and two banana halves.  I sat down and within a few minutes another, new finisher, passed out due to over heating.  The way it was handled only confirmed my feeling that I will not repeat this race.  Thankfully, the lady was ok.

Many hours later, with two pairs of new running shoes and having watched the Perioscope by Tina Muir, I started getting some perspective.

My Takeaways:

• I could have prepared more by running the course and by ditching the concrete sooner.  Also - I could have checked to make sure water would be available at all aid stations rather than just thinking/assuming it would be.
• Ignore the volunteers - thank them but do not let whatever they are saying go to your head, especially if it relates to the course!  They might not know anything.
• Eat a banana with the pre-race meal - apparently potassium reduces muscle spasms and hydrating more could not have hurt.
• Avoid any race planned by these coordinators for future experiences - a participant guide arrived on Thursday for a race on Saturday.  Aid stations were in terms of quantity, but they provided not additional details.

I learned a lot from this experience and some parts I will not repeat.  I hope this does not sound whiny, because I waited to prevent it.  I will post some pictures of my new sneakers later, once I figure out how to make Instagram and my computer behave!  

The best part is that I finished and I know future races will be fine.  Sure - I can tweak meals and so forth, but I can do it, folks, and that is what yesterday's experience taught me.  I will not be the fastest, but I can finish, even if I need to walk.

Freaking Out Friday

Halloween is something I ignore - routinely.  Today, however, I definitely feel as though it is "Freaking out Friday".   I am admitting it.  The planning alone (food, drinks, etc.), staying overnight, racing, checking-in, etc. for a 1-2 day trip away is enormous!  So here are five things I have learned so far:

1)  Food - realistically, I can only pack so many meals and I can hope it all goes ok.  I am eating only safe foods starting with lunch and dinner through post-race tomorrow.  The enormity of packing for a race in a different city and flying - not driving - hit me full force today.  The plane tickets are scheduled for November and somehow this will work out for the best.

2)  Race Day nerves - typically, I will get these the night before, but they hit in full force yesterday.  My longest run has been 10 miles and it went ok.  I am tacking on an additional 6 miles tomorrow, but my long interval workout earlier this week went decently.

3)  Workouts and Scheduled Runs - I wanted to get in all the scheduled workouts this week.  It did not happen.  That will be a goal for next week.  Focusing on getting 8-9 hours of sleep, however, is the key, which will prevent getting sick.

4)  Meal Planning - despite the disastrous soup, discovering a rotting apple, and not planning use of a big spinach container; it went the best since getting the news this week. 

5)  It's Friday!  I am always glad for Friday!

Happy Racing or long runs to all!  I will be working on the picture end add some to this post. :)

Running in the Heat: Love it? Hate it? No Preference?

Blogger fail - the picture looked fine, I posted it, checked it this morning, and they looked awful.  I have removed them.  My apologies to all!  I will get this down, eventually.

 

With the onset of the allergy news three weeks ago this afternoon, getting up and out to run in the morning has been an issue.  Normally - I am a morning person and I will do anything to avoid running in the heat.  Starting in January, I began working 7-4 pm.  This means on those mornings, when I do make it up-and-out, I am starting by 4:30-4:45ish at the latest.

Yesterday evening, I did my first 2 by 2.5 mile workout and I started around 4:45 pm.  The heat index was in the mid 80s, the dew point was in the mid60s, and it was so tempting to just not do it.  Instead, I persisted.  My times were slow.  Walking during the 4 min of rest between sets was necessary.  My time varied by 2 minutes and the first round was on gravel and the second was on pavement and gravel.  I had to cut the cool down short, since I had another meeting.

In short - this workout is indicative of a person mid-change.  No - heat is not my preference and I did drink a ton of fluids after it.  It will, however, make me stronger at some point and I am proud that I did the workout, even if the time, temperature, and overall feeling about it were not ideal.

This Saturday, when I run my 3rd Half Marathon, I have about an hour to drive, since I am not sure exactly how long it will take.  I will be up by 4 am, fueled and out the door by 5, and parked and warming up by 6-6:15 for a race starting at 7 am.

Check back on Friday to learn more about my pre-race fueling strategies!  I can tell you I have learned a few things that are not working this week, but sharing dud recipes is not fun. 

Happy Running!

 

Meatless Monday - Oatmeal Pancakes!

Hi All,

I am hoping to get back into the swing of Meatless Monday recipes.  Today, I am sharing one that I tried back in May, but I have tweaked it just a bit.  Do not the let picture fool you - it actually tastes pretty good!

Introducing...Oatmeal Pancakes!

1 banana (mashed)
1/2 c oatmeal (I use old fashioned!)
1 egg
Dash of vanilla, chia seeds, handful of tart cherries
*Optional - add some nuts of your own choosing.*

Directions - mix them all together and then spoon them into a pan for frying.  Depending on how big you want it to be, adjust the spoon size accordingly.  Usually - I fry it with Vegan Butter, but you can use any oil or real butter of your own.

The final product resembles something like this:

 

 

In the future, I will post better pictures, but I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!

Truncated 14 Mile Run - It's ok!

Yesterday, I was scheduled to run 14 miles and I stopped at 10.3.  Was I disappointed, slightly frustrated, and a bit concerned?  Yes - yet, I am proud of how far I have come in a week, particularly with the massive food allergy reactions that occurred Sunday - Thursday and a bit on Friday of this week.

Pre-run fuel - water (not enough probably), 1 banana, 2 Picky Bars (Smooth Caffineator, Lauren's MegaNuts).

Post-run Fuel - Banana, Tart Cherry Juice (concentrate mixed with water), Pineapple Coconut Water (Simply Balanced), Water, 2 things of IcedTea and bit of honey, Smooth Caffienator - much later that day.

Dinner (much later than planned) - Turkey Burger, 1/2 tomato, 1/2 Spaghetti Squash with spaghetti sauce, scallions (~8), and some Vegan Butter to taste.

I decided to try running in a nearby state park, which is about an hour from where I live.  The course ended up being much hillier than expected and my hips/calves were not happy.  I had to stop twice on the return portion for stretching/loosening up the muscles.  Given all that, I got in a great 5-6 miles of hills, which will really help with my half marathon next Saturday.

All-in-all, it was the best albeit shorter than planned long run I have had in 3 weeks.  No complaints from me - I am happy to be running and I am thrilled that I recovered post-run so much better than I have the previous two times.  I might be onto something!