Losing.
I do not know what is wrong with me this week. I do not want to run. And even when i start running, rather than just accept its fate, my body has been fighting me. I feel overly tired and groggy, and no amount of coffee helps at this point. I'm not sure if i am sick (no one around me is sick?) Not recovered from the 20-miler (i feel significantly worse now, sitting here, than i did at mile 18...) or if i am just burnt out (30 days until race day...) Either way, my body totally and utterly failed me last night. At mile 4. MILE 4? I was literally hobbling the last half mile. Nothing is injured, but my entire body just hurts as of late. This is really not the time for my entire body to fail. On the plus side, this week was a scheduled cut back week anyway, so now its just a mega cut back week. Everyone always says that you can easily miss a week of training and still be fine on race day, but that is a scary, scary thought.
When i was licking my wounds from such an awful run last night, Matt made me a nice and healthy dinner
He made the salmon and kale, and i made the fried green tomatoes. Granted, fried green tomatoes aren't particularly healthy, but we had to use the tomato, and i apologize for nothing.
While i am mostly just exhausted (and partially sick too - i just had a sneezing fit all over my keyboard) I am starting to panic that everything that can go wrong, will go wrong. What if i get sick?? What if i pull a muscle, or roll my ankle? What if my knee acts up? What if i put on 20 lbs of candy weight before race day?? What if a develop a freak allergy to kale???
When any of these things happen, they call it murphy's law. Although years ago, it was unofficially changed to "Rockwell's Law" because as a general rule for me and my family, if it can happen, it will happen. So, as an attempt to not let my whininess overcome my unwavering sense of humor at my own expense, here are a few of murphy's laws for us running folk.
Watch your back, Murphy - I'm coming for you. Like a honey badger.
Okay, yes, all of those things are totally true. The wind ones crack me up, though. That's what happens!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you're on the verge of over training. Seriously, take this week easy. I promise you will be fine. In fact, if you take this week easy I bet next week your runs will be amazing!
Also, watch out for taper madness. That's when you start to question EVERYTHING.
Its so funny that you mention that, because i am reading an article someone sent me on taper madness as we speak! That is part of my problem - everyone i trained with just started tapering, but i need to truck along for another week and half if i want to time it right...who knew there was so much planning involved in running a marathon!!
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ReplyDeleteI love that chart. All of it is true. Especially the bathroom one, for me!
ReplyDeleteI am happy to hear you aren't physically hurting, just feeling run down. I agree with Erin. It's burn out and the taper starting to sneak in.
Let me know if you need a buddy for your last 20 (next weekend, right?)!
I'm running 20 too next week! Pick me!
DeleteThe nice part is that the CARA 10 miler is next week. So i wont be alone for the last 10. The crappy part is that i need to be down there running by 6:15 in order to get 10 in before the race starts. It's going to be an ugly day.... If anyone is doing the 10 miler, look for me! I will be near the back, haha
DeleteDerp. I knew that. LOL. You told us already :)
DeleteRats! I knew that too - duh!
DeleteI'm no expert, but this is what I would do if I were you:
ReplyDeleteTake cold water baths (I'm too cheap to buy ice) after every "hard" run (8+ miles, or hilly, or fast) followed by wearing compression tights for the rest of the day
Lots of sleep. Lots. As much as you can. Preferably 8+ hours (But who does that? Every night?)
Eat. As much as your body tells you. But healthy stuff (BORING). No booze. Try to cut out caffeine (OK, that's impossible for me, but I can dream)
Foam roll EVERY night, whether or not you ran that day. I roll out the front, side and backs of my thighs, and the backs of my calves, and try to do the sides of my calves, but it's a tough angle. And I roll out my back (sideways and up/down).
Do yoga on one of my rest days (ideally weekly, but who has time for that when you're spending up to 7 hours/week running?
I feel like i am sleeping more than pregnant women. If it were up to me, i would be sleeping 10 hours a night. Everything you are saying makes perfect sense though - i have been slacking on the foam rolling, cross training, and yoga as of lately. I somewhat brought this upon myself!
DeleteDo we really run 7 hours a week? that's bananas.
Give yourself a break this week. Really. Your whole being will thank you for it next week :) You could take the whole week ENTIRELY OFF and be fine, I promise you, so just do what you can, but don't push it...
ReplyDeleteI think your right. I am going to switch a couple runs out with cross-training, to eliminate any guilt. I am also taking tomorrow off, so i hope the extra sleep will give me a boost!
DeleteIt sounds like you are burnt out!!! Push through but give your body what it needs! Maybe some rest is in order?
ReplyDeleteI love that chart, so so so so true!!!!
See you Monday!!!
So excited for monday! Running with other people makes it seem like you aren't even running!
DeleteThis is SO true, Murphy's law is a sack of horse poop. I got adult allergies for THE FIRST TIME in my entire life, the week before my first half. I missed all the last week and a half before the race. It was awful! Sore throat, itchy eyes, sneezing, coughing, I was pissed! Also, I agree, it does sound like you are burnt out. Take a full 2-3 days off, don't even consider running, maybe just go out for long walks or whatever normal cross-training entails and hope that your body will not bitch slap you again the next time you go out!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering where my body got so much sass from, until i realized it got it from me....
DeleteThe murphy's law pic is hilarious. I especially like #11 & #12. Hilarious!
ReplyDeleteI think your body just needs some extra recovery time from that 20 miler. I hope you are feeling better tomorrow. Maybe drink some wine? :-)
when honey badger is tired he takes a nap, when he is hungry he eats and then when he feels real good he runs.... and then eats snake. see you are honey badger, except trade that last part with candy.
ReplyDeletetake care of yourself, honey badger.
Chin up love, it happens to all of us! You are amazing!
ReplyDeleteHAHAHAHA that Murphy's law things is hysterically true! GAH! Stupid!
ReplyDelete