Wow tired

This was a step-down week for me, which meant running under 40 miles, with a long run of only 13 miles.  All of that should have made it a nice, easy week, but I'm still dang tired.  Saturday was the Fleet Feet Sunrise 10k - a hilly, humid course.  It felt GREAT to be racing again and, even though I was taking it easy, it was so fun to just run and race.  Here are the pics of me, apparently goose-stepping, across the finish line.

Sunday morning was an early 13 - and it hurt.  I was tired, beat, dehydrated, and just did not want to run.  I fought heartburn for the first 9-11 miles and finally barfed on Eldon Rd.  The guy on the road behind me stopped to make sure I was okay - but that was actually the best I had felt all run.

I'm really going to concentrate on getting some sleep and proper nutrition this week, so that next weekend's 20 miler does not feel so horrible.

Thanks to Ceci and IAAP for the pics!

Next up - hot, humid hills

This is probably going to hurt.

I am the crazy old cat lady

So, after bagging my Friday night run in favor of a vet visit for Driver, the fostercat, I woke up Saturday and got in a humid 6 miles before heading into work for some overtime.  When I came home, Driver seemed to be somewhat improved, and I was relieved. 

When the alarm sounded at 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, I dragged out of bed and geared up for 18 miles.  Driver seemed to be doing better, but I had some peeplaces to clean up.  Not so much fun at that (or any) hour.  I got in a solo 6 miles, then hit the roads with the Fleet Feet folks for the remaining 12 miles - soaking wet.  It was THAT humid.   I drove home and discovered that Driver was feeling worse and trying to pee everywhere.  Again, not so much fun. 

I cleaned up the peeplaces, washed my hands, rewashed my hands, ate some food, showered, and then wanted to crash, as is my custom.  However, given Driver's growling (and pee attempts), I was debating bringing him back into the vet (that decision is actually harder when it's someone else's critter). 

Anyway, I ended up throwing on a sleep shirt, compression socks, and crashing for an hour at a time, waking up to syringe some water into Driver's mouth and clean up pee, then crash for another hour, then awaken to reevaluate the situation.  I totally looked like the crazy old cat lady in my attire and actions.  Sigh - but, I tell you what, those ugly knee socks REALLY help to reduce post-long-run calf cramps!  Crazy old cat ladies may have something there.

Anyway, by Sunday night, my legs were cramp-free, and Driver seemed to be improving, so I decided not to revisit the vet - which would just stress him (and aggravate his condition). 

And, this morning, I figured that he must be feeling better when I caught him conspiring with Gwen the Pitoodle on some sort of escape plan.

Thank goodness I only have 2 long (20 milers) left and thank goodness the fostercatdaddy is coming to retrieve Driver between the two runs.

no race weekend

Well, I'm not running any races this weekend.  Instead, I'm staring down an 18 miler on Sunday in 100+ degree heat and a makeup 8 miler with overtime at work tomorrow.  I was supposed to run the 8 tonight, but Driver the fostercat had to go to the vet for urinary problems. 

He wasn't very happy about it.

Bye, Pete, and happy trails

My friend, Pete Vandermey, died.  And that makes me very sad.  He was an extraordinary athlete - frequently kicking my butt on trail and road runs after undergoing chemotherapy the day before.  He was also a great dog lover, and he and his wife, Jenna, helped to rescue the lazy pit bull known as Gwen the pitoodle, who they convinced me to adopt.  I miss Pete and I ache for his love, Jenna, but I know that he lived life at full speed and enjoyed the crap out of it.

Here is a pic from the Tour de Goliad, years back, when Pete was kicking Pancreatic cancer's butt the first time around.  He's the superstar on the far left.  Have a good run, Pete.

heat index 101 Sally 0

Wow.  I don't remember being this exhausted since basic training and Sarajevo.  I honestly do not know what is wrong with me, but I'm much more tired and fatigued than any other training season.  I work standing so as not to fall asleep. That's crazy - especially considering how I've slowed down on my run pace.  At this point, waking up for and finishing the marathon seems insurmountable.  Man, I'm tired.  I'm just focusing on finishing, but I don't think it will  be pretty.

Long run recovery

Still no races here.  But, it was the beginning of what I think of as the (really) long runs for marathon training.

This morning, I woke up at 0345, so I could get on the road to run 17 miles.  I still didn't beat the heat, the humidity, or the sun.  After these runs, I generally enjoy a beer with buddies (purely medicinal), eat a bunch of food, take a shower, and crash.  Sometimes, I take an ice bath to help my legs recover, but (since I do not have a bath tub) the latter involves dogs, slime, and a kiddie pool, so I passed on that option. 

Tody, I simply went straight to the couch crash - with a Simba compress.  This is pretty much what it always looks like (from my point of view):

I don't recommend this for everyone - Simba only likes Sally.

Race withdrawal and contemplating kharma

Yes, it's been weeks since I've posted - or raced.  But believe me, it has been a crazy couple of weeks.  I visited with my family in Nantucket, which was a wonderful trip, punctuated with nice, cool runs and random acts of kindness by strangers.  Here's our wild bunch.

In the meantime, and in other news, a friend's house was pretty much decimated by the flooding in Milwaukee, and a good friend and awesome athlete lost his 4+ year battle with pancreatic cancer.  That's just not fair. Bad things shouldn't happen to good people.  I wish there were some way to trade in the undeserved acts of kindness I received this past week for the bad things that happened to buddies, but I guess that a last-flight-out seat and a first-class seat just don't trade off with the sadness visited on Tim and Pete and their families. 

It still isn't fair.  So, I'm just going to run - a lot.  I don't have many future races planned this month, but then, it's August, it's San Antonio, and that means that both the heat and humidity are (at least) in the high 90s.  But, the training schedule calls for 40ish mile weeks, so I'll spend this weekend with an 8 miler and a 17 miler.  Very romantic, I know. In between, perhaps for a bit of inspiration and hand up from my melancholy, I'll also be attending Doug's Post-Badwater Celebration - he rocked the 135 mile trail run from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney in July.

So, please think good thoughts for Jose, who put me on the last plane to Nantucket, Mr. Patrizio, who gave me his first class seat from Newark to San Antonio, Tim, who is working to rebuild his house with a newborn baby, Pete, who fought the hard fight but lost to cancer, and Doug, who ran a helluva race in a helluva a place and can't wait to tell everyone about it.

And, if you want to do more good, consider making donations to:

Teecycle for Tim Cigelske's family (buy a shirt, donate a shirt, make a donation, or attend the fundraiser at Sprecher Brewery)

The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (in memory of Pete Vandermey)

The Lustgarten Foundation (in memory of Pete Vandermey for Pancreatic Cancer Research)

The Fistula Foundation (Doug's charity for which he ran the Badwater Ultra and raised money)