Virtual Race, Real Trepidation

I have been SO BAD about running over the past few weeks. I'm currently terrified that I'm going to bomb at my 5K on Saturday.

See, I didn't run at all on Wednesday. I had to go pick up my shirt to wear when I volunteered at the 5K on Thursday night. I didn't run on Thursday because all my lunch-time running buddies bailed on me and I couldn't find the motivation to get sweaty all on my own. I didn't run on Friday because, well, I didn't.

So, Saturday, I told myself I was definitely going to run. I actually had motivation because the LJ Runners Community was having a virtual 5K race. My plan was to run at an 8:30 minute per mile pace. Slower than what I want to do at my actual 5K but still pushing it for me on my own.

What I didn't take into account was the horrific humidity. Or the fact that the weird muscle cramps I'd been experiencing the day before actually meant something (yes, they were PMS cramps).

Weather Underground indicated that the humidity was around 96% when I left the house around 8:15 AM. It was like walking out into a wall. I ran my first mile faster than I had intended. And then, about a quarter mile after that, my quads, my lower back, and my abdomen seized up. It was horrible. I didn't want to walk, but I had to. In fact, I almost stopped altogether and went home. Almost. Instead, I walked for about three minutes, gritted my teeth, and started running again. I made it another three quarters of a mile before I had to take another walk break. This one was shorter, though. Then it was back to running.

Overall, I finished 3.1 miles in 29:03 with an average pace of 9:22. More than a full minute slower than I want to run my real 5K. Good thing this was a virtual one, huh?

So, yeah, I'm hoping that this upcoming Saturday the weather is better. I shouldn't have any cramping issues. And I promise not to drink two glasses of wine the night before!

Regardless, I'm still scared. I haven't trained at all for this race and I know I should have. But, there's not much I can do now.

Also, speaking of being scared, I going to try and run with the Oak Park Runners Club tonight. I'm always terrified when I run with a new group of people. What if no one my speed shows up? What if I get left behind? What if I get lost? What if people are cliquish? Please tell me I'm not the only person who thinks these things before running with a group where you don't know anyone!

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Virtual 5K Stats

Activity Route: -- Elev. Avg: 620 ft Location: Forest Park, IL Elev. Gain: +0 ft Date: 08/08/09 Up/Downhill: [+13/-13] Time: 08:17 AM Difficulty: 1.9 / 5.0   Weather: Light Rain Fog/Mist   72 F temp; 90% humidity   72 F heat index; winds S 14 G 20 Performance Distance: 3.10 miles Time: 0:29:03 Speed: 6.4 mph Pace: 9' 22 /mi Calories: 354 Map   Elevation (ft)   Pace (min/mile)   Splits Mile Pace (min/mile) Speed (mph) Elevation Gain actual +/- avg actual +/- avg 1 8' 09 -1' 13 7.4 +1.0 +3 ft 2 10' 20 +0' 58 5.8 -0.6 -3 ft 3 9' 33 +0' 11 6.3 -0.1 0 ft end 8' 01 -1' 21 7.5 +1.1 0 ft Versus average of 9' 22 min/mile

Posted from bimactive.com

Half and Ugh

Last night was supposed to be an 8 mile tempo run (one mile warm-up, 6 miles at 9:29, one mile cool-down). My plan was to do half outside and half inside on the treadmill. Well, I got the first 4 miles done outside (and three of them substantially faster than 9:29) but when I got back to the house I felt exhausted, light-headed and just generally out of sorts. I had been hoping for the effortlessness that was last week's 7 mile tempo run, but it was not to be. I thought about just calling it at night with the four miles. Four miles is better than no miles! But, I changed out of my running tights and into shorts and pounded out 2 more miles on the treadmill at 6.3 and 6.4 MPH, respectively. Six miles is definitely better than no miles!

This has just been a week of half-effort workouts. Tuesday night's 30 minutes on the elliptical barely registered 2 miles when usually I crank out at least 3. Tonight's Pilates class about killed me. I did do my two miles on the treadmill at the gym (at 5.6 MPH and 1% incline) but I fear that the wrath of the hormones might be upon me.

Normally I'd be stressed out that I didn't do my entire tempo run, but this week I'm like, "eh, whatever." I know I can run 10 miles at a stretch. I'm not worried about finishing my half. I haven't set an outrageous goal time (at least I don't think I have) so I'm pretty sure I'll be just fine. Plus, the race is almost only two weeks away. I think some people would claim I should be on my way to taking it easy anyway.

So, with that, I'm going to go enjoy my dinner and sit on the couch like a lump. I think I've earned it.

But, first, I'll leave you with the Garmin and Bones in Motion data from the 4 miles I did get in outside on Wednesday:

Activity Route: -- Elev. Avg: 628 ft Location: Forest Park, IL Elev. Gain: +0 ft Date: 03/25/09 Up/Downhill: [+85/-85] Time: 06:25 PM Difficulty: 2.0 / 5.0   Weather: Overcast   43 F temp; 64% humidity   43 F heat index; winds W 13 Performance Distance: 4.14 miles Time: 0:38:07 Speed: 6.5 mph Pace: 9' 12 /mi Calories: 354 Map   Elevation (ft)   Pace (min/mile)

Posted from bimactive.com

28 Days Later

Photo of the estrogen molecule courtesy of www.3dchem.com

Disclaimer: Those of the non-female persuasion may not care about the following post. You may read at your own risk or you can move along and pretend there was nothing to see here.

When I opened an email at work on Tuesday and wanted to cry, I knew something was up.

When Tuesday night I felt completely weak and out of it at Pilates and couldn't even consistently keep the elliptical above 6.0 MPH, I knew something was up.

When my Wednesday night tempo run took everything I had both emotionally and physically, I wanted to blame it on the something that was up.

And yesterday, when I could barely drag myself out of bed in the morning, I realized that, yes, something was here.

Just what is that something? I'm sure many of you have guessed by now.

My freaking period.

The only scientific studies I can find doing a simple google search that deal with estrogen and exercise (at least, the only studies I could decipher) indicate that exercising decreases the amount of estrogen in your system. Which is, of course, why we're told to exercise when we're crampy and feeling like death warmed over. There are probably myriad other interactions between estrogen and exercise that I'm not aware of as well. I just know that in my own personal experience, during the few days preceding the start of my period I'm a complete failure when it comes to most exercise.

And then, of course, the next few days most everything between my knees and the bottom of my sports bra hurts and I'm exhausted.

And then I'm fine.

But right now I want a nap, an Advil, and a pretzel. Followed by a piece of chocolate. Or maybe a chocolate covered pretzel.

And then maybe I'll squeeze in that two mile run I skipped yesterday.