Low Maintenance No More

I think I am a fairly easy-going, low key, low maintenance person.  (Feel free to jump in and disagree--I know someone who thinks she is low maintenance, but is actually the most high maintenance person on the face of the Earth.)  I liked how this translated to my running.  I got up, had some coffee, put on my running shoes and headed out the door.  I think those days are over.

Following my back-to back migraines, I had a running break.  I missed two long runs.  It was also a week of decisions and changes aimed at making the kids' lives easier (especially my little Dude who is still having a rough time).  Last week would probably have benefited from a few runs, but I watched the barometric pressure and it scared me off of running. 

But I have a half-marathon coming up soon.  I can't afford to miss long or short runs.  As it stands now I am on a steady ramp up to race day.  My first 13 miles will be on race  day.  So last night I made the decision to run this morning NO MATTER WHAT.  Mondays are usually a recovery run, so it's already short.  Just in case, it was also going to be slow.  It was also going to be well prepped; no more low maintenance running.

So now, I am a high-maintenance runner.  Good sleep, fuel, NSAID and allergy medicine, hydrate, go.  I wasn't going to check the barometer, but the weather man said it was high, so I did go check.  It was high, but steady and I decided to head out.  It is usually the changes that are a trigger, so I was going with the theory that high, but steady was okay.  (As I type this, I keep checking for blind spots and "floaties"--so far so good.) 

"High, but steady" was a bit of a mantra today.  And it wasn't just the barometric pressure.  It's now the kind of runner I am:  high-maintenance, but I get out and do it. Slower, but I will steadily get faster.  Low mileage, but it will slowly but surely add up.  

Today's Run:  2.6 miles.  33:18 mins.  12:48 min/mile.

I feel like I am going backwards, but I guess as long as I am running I am making progress.

What is your pre-run routine?  Do you consider yourself high-maintenance or low-maintenance?

Running Scared

I made a deal with myself last night before bed:  if the barometric pressure was pretty steady this morning, I would go out for a short, slow run. 

After two post-run migraines in one week, I wasn't going to take any chances.  I wanted to control any triggers as much as possible.

Sleep: I woke up this morning at 7:30.  Very late for me, but I suppose I got some good sleep last night, so that is one check in the positive column.  

Coffee:  I had some coffee (studies show that coffee before a run can be helpful, and caffeine is supposed to help headaches).  

Blood Sugar:  A possible cause of exercise-induced migraines is a blood sugar drop caused by the run.  To counteract this, I had a whole-grain English muffin with almond butter before my run.  Carb and protein. 

Hydration:  Usually I just drink water.  And for short runs, I didn't really worry about it until I got back from my run when I would drink throughout my cool down walk with the dog.  I have gone back to Vitamin Water Zero.  A past neurologist suggested this for hydration.  She recommended Vitamin Water over Gatorade because Gatorade is high in sodium.  Sodium could raise your blood pressure which could exacerbate headaches.  Okay.  Vitamin Water it is.  I drank 10 oz. before my run.

Barometric pressure:  I have lived all over the United States.  I have had migraines everywhere.  I seem to have more in Rhode Island.  The changes in barometric pressure seem to be more extreme here.  I track the barometric pressure here.  After I have a migraine, I can go back and look at the start and stop times.  They invariably coincide with a sharp rise in barometric pressure.  They end as the pressure decreases.  There isn't much I can do about the weather except be more mindful of it.  Today both the graph and the weatherman on TV said the barometric pressure was holding steady.

So, all systems go, right?  Yes.  I was going to run.  I had no reason not to step out the door.  As I was getting into running gear I thought about all the people who overcome incredible hardships to run.  You want inspiration?  Sign up for a Race for the Cure 5K.  You are running with cancer survivors, with women going through chemotherapy, with family members of those who fought so hard to be there.  Go to that 5K and then come up with an excuse why you can't run.  Runner's World magazine often profiles runners who have overcome debilitating injuries and illnesses.  These stories inspire me.  How can I not go run on the off chance that I might get a headache?  That excuse doesn't hold up.

I went for very, very slow run.  I concentrated on my footfalls.  I didn't run with music because I didn't want it to push me faster than I felt I should go today.  When I got back, I picked up Carley for our cool down walk and a bottle of Vitamin Water.  After the walk, I had a banana and the other half of the English muffin.  

Today's Run:  2.6 miles.   35:45 minutes.  13:45 min/mile pace.

Even though this was not a great run.  It was a run.  I count it as progress for two reasons:  (1)  I did it.  (2)  When I started, this would have been my longest, fastest run.  Today I consider it short and slow.  Progress.

What are you doing for exercise today?

What's My Body Saying?

Today's planned six mile run has been postponed.  Not canceled, postponed.  I am listening to my body.  Two migraines in one week is telling me that I need to stop and figure out what is going on in my brain.   I will be scheduling a doctor's appointment.  I want a referral to a headache specialist.  While I am there I am going to see about some PT for my foot and the plantar whatever it's trying to be-itis.  It is not stopping my running yet, but as long as I am there, I will try to be proactive.

So head to toe, my body is saying wait.  Figure it out.  Then get right back to it.  

What are you doing for exercise today?

Oops! I Did It Again

Good run.  Walked into work this morning and immediately called Brian to come pick me up.  I had a huge blind spot and my migraine aura was beginning.  A frantic search of my purse did not turn up my Imitrex which I am supposed to take at the first sign of a migraine.  I took a Naprosen (Aleve). After sitting and waiting for a bit I thought I might have one stashed in my glove box.  I headed out to my car just as Brian was pulling in.  A quick stop to get the Imitrex out of the minivan and I hopped into Brian's Jeep for the drive back across the bridge.  When we pulled up to the house, Noah was waiting outside.  Brian had called to let the kids know we were coming home.  They had got my bed ready.  Noah let me know that he had put the sick bowl and a cool, wet washcloth on the nightstand for me. My medicine was there too, waiting the second dose.   I took an Ambien.  I changed into a comfy t-shirt and crawled into bed.

I HATE MIGRAINES!  I have never had migraines back to back like this.  I expect I need to go back to a neurologist and see if anything can be done.  I don't want to stop running just when I am beginning to enjoy it.   

Looking on the NOAA site, it looks like the barometric pressure was climbing pretty steadily at the headache onset.  How am I supposed to account for this in my daily runs.  Last time we lived in Rhode Island, I got a lot of migraines due to the weather.  The fronts are more drastic here?  I don't know, but it isn't good for me.

Anyway, this one seems to be over.  I just feel wrung out.  I doubt I will be running six on Sunday :(

I'm Bringing Sexy Back

I go back and forth on the music front.  Do I run with it or without it?  Lately, I have been doing hybrid runs.  I start out without my music, I run down to the beach and listen to my feet on the sand, the waves, and the wildlife.  When the beach is behind me and all of the hills are ahead of me, I put in an ear bud and  keep going.  Today was no different.  

So I thought I would share some of my running playlist.  I know everyone's taste in music is different.  Many of these songs have been on my running list for years; I remember running to them in Monterey and Virginia Beach;  some of them I have added recently:

• Coldplay, Viva La Vida
• The Killers, Human and Somebody Told Me
• Eminem, Lose Yourself
• Green Day, American Idiot, St. Jimmy, and Holiday
• Barenaked Ladies, One Week
• Ozzy Osbourne, Crazy Train
• My Chemical Romance, Na Na Na
• Blues Traveler, Run-Around, Brother John
• Finger Eleven, Paralyzer
• Train, Hey Soul Sister and Drive By
• Justin Timberlake, SexyBack
• Kings of Leon, Use Somebody and Sex on Fire

This morning, as I was running with my music, I turned the corner and faced another hill.  (My husband calls hills "speed work") and I thought "I got this" and pushed up the hill.  Or at least I started to:  my watch beeped, the run interval was over.  I decided that I could up my intervals.  I did the rest of the run in 4:1 intervals.  This was doable.  Small problem was the incredible side cramp that I got a couple of intervals later.  It slowed my time waaay down, but I know from past experience that the best thing to do is put your arms up and try to run through it. It was almost gone by the time I got home.  If I'd had to run farther I feel it would have worked itself out completely.  I will not blame it on the increased interval, however, for the 6 miles on Sunday, I will stick to 3:1 and go back to 4:1 next week.

Today's run:  3.1 miles.  38:51 minutes.  12:30 min/mile pace.

Last week a fellow Newport Princess gave me a fantastic hostess gift--an iTunes gift card.  I am looking forward to adding some new songs to this list.  What songs are missing on this list?  What are your go to running songs?  

Just Do It, But Don't Push It

For weeks after I have a migraine I feel as though I am living on a knife's edge.  I feel like I am one glaring headlight, one flash of sunlight,one storm front away from another headache.  I constantly change my gaze asking, "Was that a blind spot?  Am I getting an aura?"  But I know that taking time off from running will throw my training off.  It would be too easy to stop and too hard to start again.  

I did take Monday off.  I was still too close to the migraine to go running.  Today, I knew I had to get out there.  Since Sunday, I have been hydrating like crazy.  I am rarely without a glass of water and  I made sure I was getting the sleep I needed.  Hopefully, that is two triggers eliminated.  Now I just had to worry about the weather.

When I woke up this morning, as I was making the coffee, the idea of NOT going for a run today did flit across my mind, but I quickly pushed it aside knowing that this was not an option.  As I watched the weather report and saw the storms forecast for today, I just hoped they were low pressure fronts and not high pressure fronts.  

I got dressed and stepped outside to the sound of thunder (how far off I sat and wondered).  Today I ran in the rain.  I ran VERY slowly.  I was plodding along.  I felt dumpy. I tried not to think about what other people would think as they passed me.  They have no idea how far I have come or how far I have to go.  I hoped I would not get a migraine when I got home.  I was barely winded when I got home. This was an important run.  I did it.  I got back on schedule.  

Today's run:  2.6 miles.  33.4 minutes.  12.56 min/mile pace.

What are you doing for exercise today?

The Dreaded Migraine

Yep.  It happened.  Exercise-Induced Migraine.

20 minutes after my last post I was eating breakfast and realized I had a blind spot in my eye.  The aura had started.  I hopped up, took my drugs, took a quick shower, and crawled in bed.

The aura stopped and the headache started.

5 hours later the ice pick has been removed from the side of my brain.  I still feel a bit hung over.

Today's Trigger's

• Dehydration:  I am guessing that I am a bit dehydrated from the Thursday/Friday fast/cleanse/drugs/colonoscopy.
• High Pressure:  Looking at a history of the barometric pressure readings, it was climbing right up there while I was running.
• Lack of sleep:  I have been waking up at 2 am for the last few days and having a hard time going back to sleep.

What to do:

• I don't expect the dehydration to be a problem again.  I didn't realize that would still be a side effect. 
• Not much you can do about the weather.
• Just have to keep working on my sleep diet.

I will probably skip tomorrow's short run.  I usually feel hungover for a day or so.  

I will be back out there on Wednesday!

Rain, Rain Go Away

I woke up this morning to rain.  Wet. Wet. Wet.  I still planned to go for my run, I just sat drinking my coffee hoping that it would stop or at least slow down.

Last night Brian asked me if I wanted him to run with me this morning.  I said he could if he ran slow and didn't talk the whole way.  He wasn't sure he could run without talking.  He backed out this morning because of some shin pain.  I left him to sit on the couch and watch the Olympic Marathon with his coffee and headed out.

There was a light drizzle when I started my run.  The temperatures were not high, but it was very sticky.  I had a very good run this morning.  I ran the first half of the run without music.  As I hit the hills for the last half, I was having some pain in my right Achilles.  This was somewhat worrisome since that was a big injury for me last year, but it was more of a soreness than sharp pain so I kept going.   I turned on my iPod and finished pretty strong.  At that point, the music was just what I needed.

After picking up Brian and Carley for a cool down walk, I am sitting and icing my Achilles and my shins.  Better safe than sorry.

Today's run:  5.5 miles.  1:05:31    11:54 min/mile!

What are you doing for exercise today?

Excuses and Reasons

It's Wednesday.  It's a running day.

I didn't get much sleep last night.  I went to bed about 11:30, but I know I saw 2:30 am on the clock.  I'm not sure how long after that I finally fell asleep.

I woke up at 6:00.  I forced myself to stay in bed as long as possible.  I got up about 6:40.

I sat down on the couch with my coffee and picked up a book.  With no pressing plans, I thought it would be really nice to just sit and read a book.

The weather report on the news said it was going to be hot and humid today.

Enough excuses.  After I finished my book and emptied the coffee pot, I got into my running clothes and headed out the door.  It was hot, slightly humid and late. It was 9:40 am.  

As I took off, I felt a little shaky.  My feet were a little tingly.  There was a slight breeze, so the run wasn't going to be as hot as I thought.

About 10 minutes in, as I headed to the less populated part of my run, my arms and face got a little tingly.  I stopped, turned around, and walked home.

I don't count this as an excuse not to run, I think of it as a reason.  I was already out there.  I was running.  However, it is important to listen to your body.  It was telling me, "Not today."  Road ID bracelet notwithstanding, I didn't want to have a problem on that back section.  

Not sure why it wasn't working this morning.  My best guess is lack of fuel; usually I am back and eating breakfast by this time.  Waiting so long, I think I missed my window where I can do a short run without fueling up beforehand.  

Today's run:  Almost a mile.  10 minutes.  

What are you doing for exercise today?

Still Going

It was beautiful this morning.  Overnight, the humidity left.  Unfortunately, today wasn't a run day.  I took advantage of the nice weather by taking Carley for a nice walk before I headed upstairs to do arms and abs.

I changed it up a bit today.  I started with an ab DVD that I picked up at the library.  The Firm: Jiggle Free Abs  was 26 minutes of new and old ab exercises.  I have always liked the Firm series and today was no different.  (I probably won't like it as much tomorrow.)  

After wearing myself out with the DVD, I was tempted to skip the arms, but I stayed with it and completed the entire list.  For some reason, the tricep dips were extra difficult today.  The push-ups seemed a bit easier, but probably only because I wasn't as sore after four days off from this part of the workout routine.

I hope the humidity stays away for tomorrow's run.

What are you doing for exercise today?

Sloth and Gluttony

Yesterday, I did nothing.  I never even got out of my pajamas.  Everyone was off doing summer things.  I stayed out of the yucky, sticky heat.  I enjoyed my time alone reading and eating some of the junk food hanging around the house:  cinnamon rolls, pizza, cheese sticks, and ice cream.  Obviously, I need to go to the store.  It's on today's to do list.

I knew I had to get out and run this morning.  Luckily Mondays are my short 2.6 mile run.  Sort of a recovery run after the weekend long run.  I slept in until 6:15 this morning, so I did get a late start.

One step out the door and I was soaked.  The streets were wet from last night's rain.  The air was thick and wet.  I had decided to try running with the iPod again. 

As much as I enjoyed the music, I ran into the same problem as I did on Saturday.  Listening to the music rather than my body.  I think I will save it for treadmill runs and long run emergencies.  I don't need it on the weekday runs.

It was a slow run this morning.  I don't know if it was due to yesterday's sloth and gluttony, the nasty, humid conditions, or if it was a result of the pace set by the iPod.  Whatever it was, it's done.  

Today's run:  2.6 miles.  31:26 minutes.

What are your exercise plans today?

A Royal Run

As you know, I have signed up to run the Disney World Princess Half Marathon.  There is a group of military spouses here in Newport (Jessica, Natalie, Elizabeth, another Jen, Charlotte, and me) that have all signed up to run it.  Jessica dubbed us the Newport Princesses (we even have a Facebook page).  

Today was our first group run.  We decided to meet up at the base track.  We are all at different stages of training.  This allowed all of us  to get our workouts in at our own pace, but still be together.  Plus, we decided to go out for breakfast afterwards. Good plan.

So after an early morning of coffee, laundry, and emptying the dishwasher, I hopped in the Jeep and headed across the bridge to meet up at the track.  As I pulled into the lot, the ladies were saying that the Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) and Officer Candidate School (OCS) formations were out on the track and we should find somewhere else to run.  Luckily, before we left, they marched off and a few other runners could be seen making their way around the track.  We stayed.  We all set our beep-y watches and off we went.   

We are all getting into or back into running.  The Disney race is our group goal.  We have also signed up for other races (5Ks, 4 milers, 10Ks) along the way.  I'm pretty sure that I was the only one stupid crazy enough to sign up for a half marathon in October.  I have had to accelerate my training.  

Jessica was running three for her long run this morning.  My plan was to run with her and be done; get up tomorrow and do five for my long run.  We had a good three mile run (interrupted by colors which was patriotic and a nice break), but I started thinking that it would be so great to add two miles on to today's run and just have tomorrow OFF.  I asked Jessica if she minded. I told her I could meet them at the restaurant when I was finished.  Nope.  They would stick around and wait for me.  Princess friends are like that.  So as Jessica peeled off for her cool down walk, I headed out to finish up my run.  

I was running with music today.  I have a pretty good mix on the iPod.  There are pros and cons to the music.  The biggest thing in the plus side is that running in circles is boring.  It's not as bad as a treadmill, but a close second.  Music makes it more fun. Another plus is the fast songs.  Fast songs are great as long as you want to go fast.  I did a fast interval and felt great.  The song for the next interval came on (another fast one) and I said "Oh, hell no!".  I couldn't hit the next button fast enough.   On the down side, the beat dictates the run more than how you are feeling.  A couple of times today I found my self running to the beat, but I knew I could go faster.  Try running against the beat of a song--not an easy thing to do.   That just tells me that I need to pull some of the slower songs.  That means I am making progress.

Once I finished my last lap, we all took a cool down lap together.  The Royal Procession made its way around the track.  I didn't do the royal princess wave to the NAPS/OCS kids, but I thought about it.

Today's run:  5 miles.  1:02:42   12:32 min/mile.  


What are you doing for exercise today?  Want to join us?

Reasons To Run Early

1.  You are not sitting on the couch drinking coffee and checking Facebook when your friend and Princess training team member, Jessica, posts her "yucky" run/weather report.
2. It is, in fact, much cooler if you run earlier.
3. You avoid the traffic.  I was buzzed by a Bentley and a Cadillac got a bit close. *** Unscientific Experiment***  The crappier the car, the more space they give you on the road.  
4. You are running with Marathon Barbie and Triathlon Ken.  It's a love hate relationship, but they do inspire.  Geriatric George also inspires, but not as much.
5. You have time for a longer cool down before you have to hop in the shower and head out to work.

Today's Run:  A Friday 5K.  3.1 miles.  38:40 mins.   12.26min/mile.

What are you doing for exercise today?

Accountability

I had a late start this morning.  Brian was home.  There was extra activity this morning getting everyone out of the house.  Once it quieted down I considered just blowing off the arm/ab workout.  I had my excuses ready:  I'm still sore from Tuesday, the late start, I have to be somewhere in three hours.  Then I thought about having to write in my training log that I just didn't do it.  And the excuses were pretty weak.  So, I put Carley on her leash and took her out for her walk (I use this as a warm up, and she looks forward to it).  Then I headed upstairs.

I did the arm workout again, but the push-ups were admittedly weak.  

I changed up the ab workout a bit.  

• 30 crunches
• 30 second plank
• lower ab/leg lift (I don't know what these are called, but are my nemesis, so I thought I should add them.)
• 30 left oblique crunches
• 30 right oblique crunches
• 30 crunches
• 15 second plank

I'm sure I will feel that.  I also have some Ab workout DVDs on hold at the library.  

I ended my workout with the dreaded foam roller.  

Done.  

Aches and Pains

Before I stepped out the door this morning, I had dubbed this The Aches and Pains Run.  Not a good start.

• My right foot is pretending it has plantar fasciitis. It doesn't.  I refuse to be sidelined with this.  Luckily, it doesn't hurt while I am running.  To be on the safe side, here are the exercises I am adding to prevent it from getting worse.
• My arm workout from yesterday has left me a bit sore.  Not a bad sore, just the kind that hurts worse if you bounce up and down.
• Let's add general aches and pains in my knees and ankles.  These will always be there, so I usually just ignore them, but today I cataloged them.
• I get migraines.  I usually need a couple of triggers to be present for one to appear.  One trigger is here; I can't do anything about it.  Drinking too much caffeinated soda is a big trigger for me.  I no longer drink soda. Another trigger is exercise-induced; going too far or too fast.  In the past, my best workouts have resulted in my worst migraines.  I haven't had one in a while (knock on wood), but I am also being very mindful of what my triggers are.  

I meant to grab my iPod before I headed out this morning.  I thought it would distract me from my whining.  I forgot it.  

I was running very slow.  As I headed uphill on my third interval, my mantra was "I'm not feeling it".  Oops.  Still, I kept going.

When I walked in the front door to pick up my water and get Carley for her walk, I wasn't even winded.  It felt a bit like a wasted run.

Running is mental:  I had a lot of negative thoughts this morning.  It translated to a less than stellar run.

Here's the crazy part:  knowing I was hurting, knowing there was a possibility of a migraine on the other end; I went anyway.

Today's run:  3.1 miles.  40:25 minutes. 13 min/mile pace.

What are you doing today?