That Redheaded Sister

Monday, Monday, Monday.  Its over!

First I want to address my last post.  You all made me laugh with your responses.  Frankly, I dont know HOW I have managed to give up french fries for this long or WHY I have been talked into it, but I dare you to try it.  Try to give up something, something small.  I think my biggest feat would be to give up pasta or sweets.  Lets all join in a good laugh at that one.  Who in their right mind could do that?

I did something last week and some of you should probably smack me in the face.

I considered retiring my running shoes.  GASP!!  I had a breakdown after my Thursday night run and seriously considered it.  Let me set the scene for you:

Thursday my friend and I head to a local park for a quick 3 mile run.  After last weeks debacle, I prepped myself for this run.  I drank until my pee ran clear.  I stretched at my desk all day long.  I knew this was going to be a great run.  The lights were even lit when we got there and the weather was AMAZING!

We started to run and hit the first hill.  I made it through like a champ.  I was feeling ok when around 3/4 mile my calves tightened up.  It was so incredibly painful, but I kept telling myself I had to run through it.  I started cursing and my friend knew I was going to quit.  So he yelled at me in a very irritated voice.  Around mile 1 I was SO thankful to find a bathroom.  I had so much to drink and needed a minute of not being yelled at to stretch.  UGH I knew I wouldnt want to finish this run.  We mushed on.  I hated EVERY second of the last mile.1.  I kept telling myself it would go away, keep pushing.  It didnt go away and I was letting myself down.  My friend told me he knew I was going to go home and be pissed at myself for not running this route.

At mile 2.1 I told him to run however much he wanted, I needed to stretch.  The second he ran off, I cried.  I didnt know what else to do.  The pain was awful and I had no solution.  Was I going to have to quit running?  After about 5 minutes of stretching, the pain was magically gone. (Which makes me think its not something serious other than improper prep?)

Part of me thinks it has something to do with my shoes.  I NEVER had this pain when I ran in my Vibram Five Fingers.  While these are a minimal shoe, I dont think they allow my very wide feet to do what they need to do. Matt thinks its my electrolyte count (low low low low)

Enter Sunday.  My other friend asked me to run 5 miles with her since she has a 10k coming up sooner than I do.  I was worried about that distance because of my 3 mile performance.  She assured me we could run/walk, walk/walk, it didnt matter because she needed the distance.

I prepped like a mofo!  Saturday I drank nothing but water switched off with powerade.  I pretended I was prepping for a half.  That night I rolled out my legs for 30 minutes and rolled them out for 30 minutes in the morning.  Our meeting time was at 9, so it gave me time to roll and hydrate.  I made a great breakfast of homemade brown sugar oatmeal and filled up my water belt, one bottle water, one gatorade. (I have discovered Gatorade HURTS my stomach when I drink it.)

Sunday came.  I was scared.  We hit the trail and I felt good.  I looked at my watch around 3/4 mile and saw we were at a pace of 8:30.  WHOA!!  I have never run that fast and knew it was time to slow it down.  Plus my calves started acting up (and I normally do not run that fast, so I do not believe there is a connection between the two).  We walked a little and just like that I was fine.  My only issue with this run was my breathing.  For some reason I couldnt catch my breath.  My legs felt great and let me run 5.3 miles.  I will take it with a big smile on my face.  I felt like I was on cloud 9.

Our plan next weekend is 6 miles and I will prep just the same way.

I told my Thursday night friend what happened and he said I was making the whole thing up.  He said I better bring my A game to our Thursday night run.  I want a flatter course!!!!

I am going to start researching shoes, but I dont see buying new ones anytime soon.  I still have to buy a dryer and eventually tires for my car.

Has this ever happened to you?  Something so frustrating you just wanted to stop?