Humpday

Seven miles, barely made it.
Belly blow up, Code brown which caused my lower back to spasm. Walked 2 miles of the 7.
Am tired and feel really awful right now.

Tomorrow better be a good day!

Longest run to Date

Hurricane Irene brought a lot of panic and worry to New York City.  Public transportation was done at noon on Saturday, August 27 (my parents 49th wedding anniversary).  The city was shutting it's doors to Irene, cancelling all scheduled races on both Saturday and Sunday. What? Cancel races? That's unheard of!!!  I had a 5K but no more which was almost a relief since Saturday is my slow long run of 18 was scheduled.  I had been stressing on how to get teh 18 in.  5K then keep running? Bag the 5K and just run?  No running on Sunday, obviously since the biggest storm since 1938 was about it hit.  Blahblahblah.  So I was going to head out the door by 7:30 a.m. for 18 miles, hopefully beating the approach of Irene on Saturday.

I was so up in the air on which direction to head but decided to do the usual route of going east to the river, south to Battery Park, up the Hudson to Riverside Park at 114th or so.  As I approached Battery Park, the only people mulling around were the tourists heading towards the ferry to the Statue of Liberty.  Closed, hello, there was a hurrican coming and a city in panic.  Sandbags piled up, windows taped, and all the garbage cans removed. What?  Parks dude standing at one entrance to the westriver bike path explaining that the area where you can see the river was closed.  Wrong, I found an unmanned block and headed with the other crazies and ran all the way up to the Riverside Park along the river.  The river was quiet, boats were moving silently up towards to GWBridge.  I was running out of energy so had a gel, another flavor: STRAWBERRY BANANA by PowerBar.  TASTY!!!! 

Then I ran over to Central Park, too crowded with others who needed the mileage before Irene...then out of the Park at 96th Street to get closer to the eastside and back home on 27th Street & 3rd.  All the garbage cans were turned upside down, interesting.  People just piled garbage on top of them because what else were you suppose to do? Lazy asses.  So on and on I ran. Loads of people out, the darker the skies got, and wow, it was so humid.  I saw lines of people in grocery stores, drug stores, delis, even Subway had a line.  I broke out another gel, out of the PowerBar gels, Hammer, could be risky.  Had a Double Latte, not bad..consistency much better than the raspberry.  We had a winner here!!!!  Found a trashcan that was right side up at 89th so I could drop the empty gel thing in there!!!

I go to about 76th and 3rd when the skies opened up and there was a major downpour of the wet stuff.  I was soaked but I kept going, jumping over puddles and the flooding that was happening just with this rainfall.  So off I went, getting closer and closer to home and 18 miles.  At 30th and 3rd Avenue, I hit the 18 mile mark, stopped the garmin and walked home.  Wanting a bagel or something but the lines were just so annoying to even attempt. I felt good, the anxiety was for nothing, I guess.

Cold bath, shower, a sandwich and compression socks did the trick.  Was tired but Sunday, I felt great.  Irene missed the city but I didn't care, I got my LSD in and Sunday was able to run another 3 miles in rain and blustering aftermath wind.  Didn't miss any runs, got them all in and felt amazing!!

Getting motivated!

Heel Toe, Heel Toe

Okay pains from heel to toe.  I have had a blacktoe for a long time now, it's coming to an end, meaning it's about to fall off so it's rubbing rubbing rubbing against my sock/shoe....owwie!!!  I have it in a bandaid now, but what to do Saturday for the long run and 5K? I have no clue.  It is the most uncomfortable thing. Not a painful hurt but ouch enough.  It's so annoying.  Seems that if it's one thing one day, it's something else the next. 

Now I feel my plantars starting to fascitiis!  Why? Why? Why? So now the KT tape is doing it's stuff.  My right hip flexor is aching as well. Never ending.  Gotta put some KT on it as well. Later, later.

Thank goodness for rest days. That's tomorrow.  Attempted Yasso 800s today on the treadmilll.  Don't know if that's the best place to work it.

Trying, just trying.

Here we GO again!

Running on the treadmill this morning, not fun.  I was tired, getting over some GI issues from the day before, just not feeling it.  I was going slow as possible, tried so hard to do at least a 6.5 instead of a 7.0.  What a struggle, then a hot flash rushes through my body.  It is such an annoying feeling, the heat rushing up to your head and I am there chatting with Jon trying to play it off.  I just wanted to quit and call it a day.  I went on and did my 4 mile "easy" which was far from easy.  I think that's what happens, activity that was so simple and easy now is hard and a struggle.  The challenges of running through menopause, it is not fun.  If I could just sleep at night, that would really be an improvement.

This past weekend in Vermont, I did my first 16 miles.  Of course, not straight running because I can't imagine doing that on my own.  Running to Middlebury is only two miles, over to the college and the track.  Ran around the track for another 2 miles and then GI issues.  Luckily the Art Center is always open, which was right there...then ran to the cemetary across the street, don't really know what the point of going to the gravesite of my father is really.  I went anyway then ran through town and down to Route 7 South, but that was only 6 miles total.  Endless, just endless. Listened to some podcasts.  The best for running (for me) are: (1) Two Gomers Run a Marathon, (2) Marathon Academy, (3) Running with the Pack.  Sometimes I can run to Gay USA, Fat2Fit, Phedip, The Extra Mile but those mentioned first are my favorite to run to.  The Two Gomers are just so funny and really take my mind off of the actually running, too bad they are done for the summer.  The summer update was an awesome hour!!!  I get it, they walk if they have to, have code brown moments, do stupid things, which I LOVE.

I know that it's time to test gels, energy bars, drinks, etc.  My friend suggested NUUN tablets for my water supply.  I like the taste and it does nothing to my belly so am happy with HOWEVER I have been reading that with gels and other energy supplements, plain water is the best choice of beverage to wash them down.  So on this run, I used water sans the nuun, prepared some Hammer Recoverite to consume as soon as I got back and took power bar gels.  Thus far: (1) Chocolate is like pudding, love it; (2) Double Latte is very tasty; the worse so far is the Green Apple.  Yuck, Icky Poo Poo!!!!  It stung going down, grotesque, foul; almost impossible to palate!  Hammer gels KILL my belly, never fails.  The consistency is gross, too thick, sweet and sticky.  I tried some sports beans...BIG mistake, belly ache!  Just too sugary, not necessary.  I tried the Stinger energy gummies, not a good choice, once again.  So far the power bar gummies have no effect on my stomach.  Also the Stinger waffles are great.  Such a learning curve, hoping that after ingesting these different gels and gummies, that the rest room is in the horizon or that I am close to home.  Oh btw, the recoverite was fine, I don't even know how I would feel otherwise.  No aches, no pains, felt great after the fun and soaking in Scout's kiddie pool.  Freezing freezing water, my feet ached from the cold water!

Monday was a rest day and the drive back.  Quiznos is what did it to me.

Yesterday's run was most unpleasant.  On one hand it was great to run with my neighbor, who is much faster and more experienced, but nice that he wanted to run together.  I had been on the fence.  5:30 a.m. is now dark, makes me a bit apprehensive plus my belly was feeling odd.  The day before I had a belly ache from, most likely, Quiznos on the road.  So I was opting for the gym but I had a 5 mile run to do and thought it would be painful on the treadmill although close to a rest room.  Sad, that all these things have to be taken into consideration but who wants to have GI issues on the big day? Not me, but I will, I am so sure of that!!!  Anyway, my neighbor intercepted me and I decided that I could chance it.  He runs considerably faster than I do but he paced a bit slower. It was a lot of huffing and puffing  but it was great to push myself a bit.  He left and I continued on but I could feel my belly boiling over.  The restrooms along the east river were yet to be opened, I thought I would have to go behind a tree.  I walked, I hoped for the best...I ran again.  I had to walk the last mile, the belly was really about to explode all over Manhattan! 

My stomach was not it's best the entire day.  Draining me of all energy.  A bit better today but still kind of gurgling along.  I ran today and things were fine at the gym.  It was not a pleasant run, I assume residuals of the day before.  Tomorrow a 5 mile Yasso run is scheduled. I really don't care about speed, but I guess I have to challenge my body so I can endure 26.2.  Saturday is 18 miles but have a 5K and then Hurricane Irene is suppose to hit land by Sunday, the bitch.  Hampers running 18 on Sunday so should I just do the 5K and the continue on another 15 miles?  Hot and humid weather?  Great.  This whole training for a marathon is for the crazies.  I guess at the time I was crazy...but now that I have returned to sanity, I want to stop.

I am not a quitter...at least not yet.

A Not so new Diet...

Oh man, I got two new pairs of running shoes....one sucked from the get go but I tried to run 6 miles with another pair...legs felt weird, hip was yelping too much but by the end of the 6 miles, my little toes..baby wee toes were SCREAMING!!!  So guess what? I'm returning both pairs.  I need to find the perfect running shoes before November 6.  Damn it!  It's going to be an endless search, I guess. I have been searching for years.  Always think that I found THE pair and then somehow it turns out to be a dud.  My feet hurt today, as I mentioned before.  Oh well, that's life.

What a great run tho.  My garmin died so I just ran what I estimated was about 6 miles.  Mapped my run on mapmyrun and yep, it was exactly 6 miles in maybe an hour and 3 minutes or so.  Not bad. I felt good, sans the sore feet....the weather was a bit humid, but cool.  I just made my way up 2nd Avenue to 86th Street then over to 3rd and home.  I grabbed an amNY from some dude and read it at the red lights.  I have to say that's the biggest drag about running on the streets, traffic lights, cars that won't stop at the crosswalk, pedestrians.  I just can't run the same East River route every day. It's a drag.  The gym is good for shorter runs since Jon is there and I can chat with him.  That's tomorrow.

Jon suggested a great thing to curb the sweet cravings.  Freeze jello and eat it with fruit.  Wow, it was awesome. I didn't do the sugar free because the asparatame is disgusting.  Talk about gas!!!  How cute is that? Sweating hot flashes, farting, wrinkles and grey hair. Not a cute look at all!! LOL, anyway, I am trying to stick to this metabolism boosting regime.  Weights three times a week, eating better....I should be able to unload some of this extra weight.  I weighed myself this morning and was down three pounds...probably water weight.  Am drinking loads of water....trying to get it together before November.

Good luck to me....hope I find a new pair of kicks soon.  I miss my buddy, Lisa.

Another rainy day in NYC

Summer is slowly ending, so evident.  5:15 a.m. and it is still dark outside.  June and July, the sun was up and greeting me.  The temperature was balmy, now there is a slight chill in the air.  Hope it's just the rain that has rolled in, altho I complain nonstop about the heat, I miss it. I miss sweating profusely on a run.  Now it's pleasant, perfect running weather altho still humid.  The darkness is alarming tho, I cannot run in the dark that early in the morning, kind of creepy.  "The city that never sleeps..." such a joke, the city is fast asleep still at 5 a.m.  Even our puppies don't want to get up in the dark, which is a relief now.  So off I ran to the gym.

I am on a diet now, not a diet, a change of intake for the next few weeks. I need to take off this extra baggage that age has planted around my waist.  If I am seriously going to run the marathon in November, I feel like I have to loosen the load to avoid injury.  My hip flexor is still sore, my feet still tingling, really sucks plus the extra 5-7 pounds, I feel like doo doo.  People scoff at the 5 pounds that I complain about but I feel it, my clothes are tighteer, I feel slower.  Not that I was ever fast, back of the pack, a plodder, in my opinion. So with the help of my gym buddy, I have jumped back on the bandwagon of working out and eating better, altho I am craving sugar, big time.  Trying to substitute fruit for the ice cream, etc. that I really want.  It's only day two of this whole food change, which is the hardest...the first week.

Oh and a bird shat on me today. I am glad that no one really reads this, it's just stream of consciousness for me here.  I had no idea. I was chatting and noticed some gunnk on my shoulder.  Disgusting, I took my shirt and washed the shoulder in the sink and guess what? Now I am sitting with a wet sleeve and shoulder.  Thankfully I have a sweater here and no one knows.  So freaking annoying.  The bird probably targetted me because I was heading the train, in full on ped rage and scorning this 4 year old preacher who is featured tonight on the National Geographic channel.  What is this shit?  The freaking breeders should be put away for teaching this baby such bullshit.  The gestures of an old man, disgusting.  As I was walking and yelling at these fucking drivers who refuse to stop as I am crossing with the light, hit me, assholes.  I am mad and not going to take it anymore.

At least my hot flashes have slowed down a bit.....

Lucky Monday......

Well today is a rest day. I could have gone to the gym to crosstrain.  Thought better of it, don't want to do too much.  My feet and legs, brain, all tired. Need more sleep but menopause doesn't grant you that, hot flashes, restless sleeping, waking up constantly.  Not enough sleep = early death? Hmm, no surprise.  That's just great, as you age, you are closer to your grave so your body is just gearing up for a long slow death.  Such a comforting thought, right?

Aging is hard, and doing it alone is even more difficult.  My father died four years ago now.  It was kind of a shock that he got so sick and died within 90 days.  He never spoke about illness, always appeared to be healthy, just slowing down a bit with age.  He was over 80 afterall, but lo and behold, he died after 90 days in the hospital and 2 weeks in rehab because medicare stops after 90 days.  Such bureaucratic bullshit, if you ask me.  You can't get old and SICK in this country, you are screwed regardless if you have the best insurance policies. Hospitals just kick you to the curb and throw you into rehab, even if they know damn well that you shouldn't be released from the hospital. Whatever, medical care in this country is shameful.

So now my mother is left alone. I assumed that she would just blossom and come out of her shell as soon as my controlling father passed.  Boy, I was so wrong.  She was so oppressed for so many years that she lost all ability to think for her own.  At least that's what I thought.  Needless to say, I was very wrong in my assumptions and observations.  My mother was in early early stages of Alzheimer's and has progressfullly gotten worse over time, especially this past year.  No one knows what this disease does to a person unless you have someone close to you going through it.  People try to compare to their grandparents or their healthy but aging parent(s) but there is no comparison.  At least I don't feel that anything comes close.  What to do?  What next?  Is she really that bad?  All these unwanted questions, and then straight into denial.  Thank goodness my partner/girlfriend has taken control of the situation, inquiring, spending hours in the chatrooms on Alzheimers.org website, education herself.  She took over my mother's bill paying, tax, everything with my signature and stamp of approval.  I am lucky.

We go up to my mother's in Vermont once a month.  I leave my partner with my mother for hours while I run.  I cannot spend a lot of time with my mother, she's nasty, not my favorite person in the world.  Critical, judgmental, demanding..so out the door I go, running.  It's too stressful driving there, seeing what the caregivers aren't doing and then trying to get my mother to focus.  I push myself out the door and up and down the rolling hills surrounding my mom's house, not easy for an aging chick like me!  Anything to get me away from the disease and my mother.  I am lucky.

Now it's time to move her closer to us.  Manhattan is the cheapest place but it's here, near my mother's only family, me.  She's healthy physically, her memory her only enemy.  My father made sure that financially, all was set for long term care.  So to get her here will be an effort, cleaning and selling the house another effort, but at least my mother won't be alone in that big house with strangers coming in daily, a danger to herself.  I hope that her last few years will be peaceful.

My mother is lucky.