It's not a toomah

Or at least I hope not.

Been fighting the "not getting sick" fight all week, running my miles, working the night shift and going to derby. Finally after a sore throat afternoon I figured it was time to take a break. I had 3 days off before work and I wanted to finally kick whatever this cold/flu thing was.

So three days of lying around (yeah!) come to an end and I prepare to hit the sack early again. But while brushing my teeth I notice a weird lump on my throat. Fast forward 24 hours. I saw the doctor and got a mixed bag of news.

I have allergies! Yeah, the "I'm not getting sick" feeling was just allergies. Take one claritin and call it good. That's a relief, I was getting tire of almost being sick.

Second news is I got a goiter. Well not really. It's likely a cyst on my thyroid. Not uncommon, but as it popped up so quickly I'll need to have it aspirated to make sure it's not thyroid cancer. Which yes is freaky. But in the land of cancer, apparently thyroid cancer is the one you want. Easy treatment and excellent prognosis. My mom had it and she's still kicking around.

Anyways, it's probably not cancer. Not a toomah. (In my best Arnold voice)

Finishing week 3

This week was lame. I got all my runs in, and all the miles. But the long run at the beginning of the week and Sunday's supposed to be long run was plagued with the side ache/ab pain again.

I persevered and made the minimum five miles. I wanted to enjoy my kid free morning running a good 9 or 10. But I gave up after five and my abs wouldn't let up.

I'm starting to think maybe my slow runs are messing with my form. I never seem to have this problem on speed, hills or runs with strollers. Hmmm.

Anyways week three was finished up and onto week four. I'm really really glad this is almost over. I'm tired and want to take more than 2 days off. Also I'm looking forward to running 3-4 times a week instead of 5. Way easier to fit into my schedule.

But I am so very glad I did this challenge. My legs now feel like 5 miles is no big thing. 10 miles is a nice easy challenge and running with a stroller is great. The hard work has paid off and is no longer hard work to do!

The worst and the best

Monday was my long run day. The hubs was at home with the kids, I wasn't totally wiped from work, la la la. Well it ended up the worst 9 miles of my life. I got the most awful side ache. It started at about mile 2, and it was so severe I actually had to stop completely.

I ran and walked trying to work around it. Which wasn't working. Finally I got it to a point where it hurt but I could keep running. And it was hot. I ran too late in the day and the heat (only about 75-80) combined with the side ache made the whole run miserable. I probably walked at least half a mile of the whole thing. So freakin lame.

Side aches really bug me. Each time I get them I think that maybe this it. I'll get a side ache every run and my running career will be over. I know it sounds a little ridiculous, but when they seem to come on for no rhyme or reason it's hard to be rational. Fortunately there were some clues that indicated this would not be the case.

On Sunday I started adding in weights. I didn't do very much, but I did a smidge of weighted ab exercises. And the rest of Monday and most of Tuesday the ache continued to hurt. Side aches don't do that. Side aches are crampy little bitches that make you stop running, not twingy muscle pain that lasts for days. So the verdict is, I strained my ab muscle. Lame, but ok!

I took a day off, which was remarkably frustrating, and tried again today. I was very nervous and almost bagged the whole run. But... It was absolutely awesome! No pain. Yeah! And I was sooo much faster than I have been!

Me and my girl took off in the jogging stroller, which strangely I've come to love more than running solo, and made great time. I felt so strong and so much fast than I have been.

Yeah running!

More goals

Having finished the first two weeks strong I am now adding more items to the goal list.

Lift weights 2 -3 times a week. I'll start with focus on core and upper body strength and only do lower body on my off running days.

I'm really pleased with my running progress and I don't want sore legs to slow me down. I'll slowly build on the lower legs over the next month or two and get back to my old (last year) body!

Ending week 2 on a good note

Today's 5 miles came at the end of the day.

I was planning on waiting to do these on Saturday, but an untimely child accident (scraped chin, no ER necessary) causing me to be late to a meeting, and then a second accident with my other child during the meeting (garden cultivator to the eye, only a shiner with scratches), left me frustrated and annoyed. I definitely needed to run to work out the agitation.

So glad I did.

The sun was going down and it was just a beautiful evening. I did a speed workout, which in average wasn't so fast. But it was a good effort and felt really good to do. Speed will come, I'm not worried about that.

I'm already planning my next long run. I'm thinking of Monday. Two days off of running this weekend should get my legs good and ready to tackle 10 miles.

So nice to be back!

Long run success!

This week I've included the "key workout" into my runs.

Sunday was a hills run. Short but difficult. 5 miles on the nose.
Monday a recovery run, slow and five miles.
And Tuesday was an awesome, slow and easy 10 miles!! Super stoked I made the full 10.

Today I'm taking a day off from running, well mostly a friend is coming over for a short run/walk. My knees are sore and me feet a little uncomfortable, but otherwise I'm doing great!

May challenge week 1!

Yeah I finished week 1!
5 miles or a bit more 5 days of the week.
I hit the pavement or treadmill Mon-Fri and made at least 5 miles if not a bit more.

They definitely get slower towards the end of the week. Today's was pretty slow. And sore. And tired.
Anyways, I did it though. Funny thing is I wasn't working very hard on the last run, but it was really hard. Cardiovascularly it was not a challenge, I didn't push hard, but it was still such a challenge to do. My feet and pretty much my entire lower legs are exhausted.

Two days off are going to feel great! Well except for the game I'm skating in tomorrow. Details.

Oh and to make next week more interesting I though I would start adding in the key workouts; hills, tempo and the long easy. And with 2 recovery runs, read short and slow.

I'm thinking the long easy would add on 1 to 2 miles to start and see how long I can get them by month end.

4 days in

4 days into my May challenge and things are going well. I knocked out another 5 miles today on the treadmill. I'm definitely beginning to notice the fatigue and soreness of continuous running. But nothing major that some time laying around on the couch won't cure.

But oh am I glad tomorrow is my last day for the week!
And I have a game on Saturday. Only skating in 2 of the three bouts!

So far so good

May's month of 5 milers is going strong on day two!
Yes I realize it's not hard to stay committed two days in. But I ran my 5 today with one kid in the stroller!
Yes I know, how bad ass is that? Almost as 2 kids in the stroller. That won't be happening for a while though.

May goals!

Ok May goals!

I'm officially in the 5 miler runs! Not a fluke, and they've been good for a couple weeks now.

So I'm upping the runs. 5 miles 5 times a week. Cake right?