Well, either what everyone says about the marathon taper is true, or I'm just paranoid about things feeling "off" that I am making it true. Either way...this week has been quite annoying in terms of feeling "healthy."
After the half on Sunday, I was dead to the world. Hurting everywhere, exhausted...nothing like the River Run 3 weeks ago or EVEN the 20 miler in Rocky River last weekend. I don't know what the deal was. I had mentioned I started feeling a little off on Saturday, but then I guess the half "washed it out" for the time being, but then the icky feeling came back with a vengeance.
Monday I felt stiff, groggy, and had a headache and jaw pain most of the day. Kept taking Tylenol/Advil/whatever for it, but I hate taking medicine. I was going to go to yoga at 6pm on Monday--which I've done before and has actually helped a lot after a long run or race--but then I had a baking mishap while making Derek anniversary cupcakes (Salted caramel filled chocolate cupcakes with dark chocolate frosting). Everything started off fine, but then when it came time to make the caramel...WTF!?!?!?! It took me three tries. Finally, I got it.
But by that point, the kitchen was a mess, I had chocolate all over me...and there was no going to yoga. Oh well.
Derek did enjoy the cupcakes immensely though...
Anyway. I was a little on edge from not doing ANY type of working out on Monday, even though I didn't have a run planned. Derek and I went out that night for our anniversary at Farenheit, which was fabulous.
The only thing wrong was that my head started feeling gross again, and I couldn't get the smell of that caramel out of my mind...and all those dishes that had to be washed when we got home...
I did, however, enjoy a glass of my new favorite red wine, InZINerator, a Zinfandel (not to be confused with its trashy pink counterpart, White Zinfandel).
I got exactly ZERO sleep Monday night, adding to the problems. By Tuesday morning, I felt so tired. I didn't know what to do about running, because I know I am tapering, but not that much, not yet! I still have to do up to 80% of what I was doing last week, maybe even more since I didn't really do high-mileage throughout the training. Ugh.
Got a flu shot Tuesday afternoon (the spell is broken; after getting my first flu shot I am no longer convinced that it will give me the flu -- but knock on wood), then did a measley 20-minute run by the Steelyard. I just wasn't able to continue; too many things felt "off."
Wednesday the headache still wasn't gone. I was getting really upset! My tooth was still kinda hurting too (I have never gotten my wisdom teeth extracted, and so sometimes I bite my cheek and it hurts for a little while but then the pain goes away. Dumb, I know, I should get them taken out, yadda yadda yadda. I probably will. In fact, I made an appointment this morning to see the dentist so I will see what he tells me). I made myself go running, not only because I am stubborn but because I honestly did think it would make me feel better. And it did, for a while. I did around 5 miles and even tried to pick up the pace a mile at at time for a little makeshift speedwork session. I decided not to take any meds all day, but then kinda gave up that idea around 6 o'clock when I had to go meet Derek and his boss for dinner at Outback Steakhouse. I wasn't just going to go and feel miserable; I wanted it to be a pleasant experience. I took some Advil...and...the headache went away and stayed away!!! YAY!!
I am thinking it was sort of like a migraine...I only get those at times of stress. Saturday could have been the "aura" because I was feeling weird and lightheaded...and then the half put it off and then it came back. Ugh. I hate migraines. I think the nausea is the worst part of it. Blecch. So what's the stress? I dunno...not knowing where I stand job-wise...while part-time is good, it's not what I really need in order to feel secure. Been waiting to hear back from a couple places so we'll see. Also, tapering is good put it is also weird...how much do I run, how many days do I take off, with what intensity do I do my workouts? It's all kind of a mystery.
Went to Hot Powerful Flow yoga today at Inner Bliss...it was awesome, just what I needed. I am planning on doing 10 miles sometime in the next few days - maybe tomorrow, because I just signed up for a 5K for Sunday (or maybe just running 6-7 before the race?), then cutting back next week to two runs of 4 miles and maybe one of 3 miles...and then the week after that maybe 4, 3, and 2? I don't know, I think I'll just wait and see what my body tells me. As so many running experts will tell you, less is more in these situations. I just don't want to lose fitness (hence the 5K and some other minimal speedwork to keep me sharp). But I guess it's all just a mental thing right now; the hard part is done...now all I can do is TRUST MY TRAINING!!
No comments:
Post a Comment