Blogging is harder than running sometimes

Days 54, 55, 56 and 57: Yep, it's true. I can find time to get out on a run, but not always time to blog. And, as my last blog stated... I am bored of winter running. I am fortunately not sick anymore, THANK GOD! and now my energy level is starting to get back to normal. Just in time for some more unusually cold weather! The highlights of my running over the last four days.... Jacob went with me twice. It was nice to run with him. I had a bit of an easier time keeping up with him than I hand before running over 50 days consecutively. We ran about 4.5 miles together. I think we could have gone further if we weren't already pressed for time. So... the weekend should be decent. Hopefully Melissa and I can go out for a long run on Sunday... and then the days just move on. February is almost over... and spring is on it's way... eventually. Yep. Blogging is more difficult to do than running. Fancy that.

BORING!

Day 52 and 53: My energy level is still not back to normal. This head cold is taking it's time leaving my body. My lungs are also at limited capacity. So, I've stuck to 3.5 mile runs. Yesterday it took me 31 minutes, today it took me 29. The weather has been awesome. But I am not feeling awesome. My friend who has this same head cold has been suffering much more than I have; I don't know if that means the running is helping my immune system or if it is just different for me. I do feel like this is the longest I have had a cold hang around in my system. I'm going on eight days. Each day I feel a little bit better, but not yet 100%. Just like the spring is bound to arrive, my cold, too, will leave. But next time I travel in a car with someone who is sick and they say, "You're definitely gonna get sick traveling with sick people!" I think my response should be, "I certainly hope not!" Instead of, "Nope, I don't get sick!" Well, my pompous ass got sick and no one else in my family did. Gotta love instant Karma, or not. So, yep. This is boring because there is nothing new to report. Not even interesting sights or encounters while out on my runs. BORING.

Redundancy makes me feel redundant

Day 50: I cannot, CANNOT talk about another horrible run, while I was sick, blah, blah, blah, bleck! So, I'm not going to, suffice it to say, I ran, when I didn't want to... damn I'm over it.

Day 51: I'm feeling a little better today. The sun is shining!!!!! It is beautiful outside. I got up did some cleaning and then met a friend for a run. I'm not 100% yet, and hoping to be in a few days, so I didn't push it too hard. We kept a good pace and ran four miles, and then I just sat in the sun. I love it!!! So, maybe in a few days I can run further than four miles. Once I get over this crap in my head and chest, I want to work on increasing my pace and slowly increasing my daily mileage. I'm going to give myself ample time to get over this first. Perhaps in March.

If your feeling sick and tired of feeling sick and tired...

Day 48: I slept most of the day. I felt horrible, my head was so clogged and my nose red and sore from blowing. I really thought today would be the day that I wouldn't run. It made me cry. But then I took another nap, took some tylenol, suited up and went out. It was slow...and perhaps pathetic looking. I ran for 32 minutes exactly. Three miles. And I was soooo happy when it was over. Then I ate some food and went back to bed. I'm sort of surprised that I went. I could have taken the excuse of being sick, but it just seemed so lame, I haven't even made it 60 days yet. There are really a lot of days in the year. I can hope that these winter days are the hardest, but I am sure there will be other days coming up that will be equally, if not more, difficult. Today was an exceptionally difficult day to talk myself into going out. I certainly hope it doesn't lengthen the amount of time that I am sick, although how would I know the difference?

Day 49: I just want to stop being sick!!!! I woke up this morning, feeling alright. But as the day wore on, I got more and more exhausted. I came home from work and immediately got on my running gear. I knew if I sat down, I would not get back up. My joints were sore and achy. I felt like rubber. My head was pounding and I felt like crying, but at least the sun was shining. It was almost 38 degrees out. I ran 2.5 really slow miles and then stood in the sun for a few minutes. The sun on my skin was deeply satisfying. It reminded me how nice summer is, how wonderful it is to feel hot and bronze from the sun. I need Vitamin D... the natural way. Then I could kick this frickin cold. I walked the last 1/2 mile back to my house and even saw some crocuses just beginning to peak out of the ground. I know spring is coming... I just wish it would hurry... Every other day that I have run while being sick, I feel pretty decent directly after running and then start to fade as the evening wears on. Today, though, is the opposite. I felt pretty haggard after the run, but now, I'm feeling alright, tired, but alright...hope certainly does spring eternal

On the fence

Day 46: I'm sick. There is no getting around it. Not ridiculously sick, but a pretty serious head cold. I went out running anyway. It wasn't as bad as I would have thought. I did three slow miles for self preservation. I felt pretty good the first mile and a half and a little weird the last mile and a half. When I was finished, I felt pretty good. But it went down hill from there. I felt worse and worse as the evening wore on. This morning and today at work, I felt miserable.

Day 47: So, today... feeling awful. The windchill made it feel like 15 degrees, but at least the sun was out. I decided to try the 5k and see what happened. It was easier and faster than I expected. I didn't have to walk or shorten the run. My head didn't really feel connected to my feet, but other than that it was ok. I probably could've run further, but I felt like I should keep it at a minimum so I can get rid of this crap in my head. After I finished, I felt pretty good. But, it's been about two hours and now I'm feeling wiped out. So, I'm on the fence as to whether continuing to exercise will prolong this cold or shorten it. I guess I'll see how I feel tomorrow.

Hubris

Day 45: There is something about day 45 that feels official. I don't know why, but it does. I woke up with a pretty wicked cold this morning. I didn't want to run. I really wanted to crawl back in bed. But, I didn't. I ran. I ran four miles in 35 minutes. I was on fire, mostly. As soon as I stopped, my head was spinning, I thought I might hurl, and I felt slightly faint. But, I recovered enough to stretch, make dinner and then crash. I'm soooooo exhausted, but I can't help being a little full of myself. I go. I go running, when I don't feel like it, when the weather is bleak, when there is really no time, when I would rather be doing anything else.... I still go. I'm feeling a little proud. You know that means a humbling is a coming. But, for now, I'll ride the wave of feeling good about myself...even if I am wiped out.

Only four more weeks?

Days 42, 43 and 44: So... it's cold. We've had snow. Apparently, I cannot "run" away from February funk. I ran with Melissa on Thursday (day 42). I didn't want to go... she was my strength. She didn't want to go that far, so 3.5 miles it was. It was fine. Not too cold, not too yucky. I was just fighting some sickness. My older son was sick too. I figured we had the same thing... then his turned out to be chicken pox. I had a momentary freak out about shingles, but then realized this non-descript, somewhere in between sickness, is how I usually get sick. No big deal really. Then, the snow came again... ON A FRIDAY, no less. Every person, and I mean EVERY person I ran into on Friday said, "Well, at least it's only four more weeks." Meaning the winter of course. But what about March? March can be cold and snowy and toy with our affection for spring. That's a little more like six weeks. Six weeks. Doesn't sound so bad, but feels bad. I ran out in the snowstorm. I did 3 miles in 27 minutes. It was slower than I wanted, but faster than I expected given the slushy, snow blindness. Oh, yes... and the child at home with itchy pox. So, I haven't wanted to take much time away... from our quarantine. So, today... really cold. Icy roads, snow filled sidewalks (see earlier blog about the lack of shoveling the sidewalks in Asheville). I tried to entertain my eldest pock marked child, but being stuck in the house without friends and unable to sled is pretty hard to ignore at 12. I went out today, after a not fun fighting morning with my spouse. (Somehow, when life is stressful we have the ability to turn it towards each other and pick useless fights...real helpful...)I ran the neighborhood 5k because I know I can at least run on the streets,which I did. The streets were also icy in some spots and slushy in others. I ran at a good pace, and being out was nice... at least the sun was shining, even if it felt like 10 degrees out. Something about being out is nice... good for the soul, even. But then you get home, back to quarantine... I mean we can't even go out and see a movie for fuck's sake. So, then the winter feels heavy, oppressive. It makes me want to run away screaming from the house. Instead, I'll play Monopoly with my children, and somehow get my butt kicked (maybe this doesn't bode well for my business acumen). I'll make pasta and salad and think, "Well, maybe it's only four more weeks." Four weeks seems tolerable, right?

At least I didn't toss my cookies

Day 40: A pretty nice day. I ran five miles in about 36 minutes. My left leg was a little sore and tired, but overall it was a decent run. The weather was mild, even though they have been calling for sleet and ice all day.

Day 41: I went to Chapel Hill and went to this awesome dinner at the Lantern last night. We stayed up until about 1:30 and the room at my uncle's house that we slept in had no shades and I was up at about 6:30. I didn't fell all that great and wasn't sure if I was hungry or needed more sleep or what. We went to breakfast and I was definitely NOT hungry, in fact, I felt pretty queasy and had to leave the restaurant before everyone was finished with their breakfast. So, we had to get in the car and drive back up the mountain. I felt like dookey the whole way home. I was able to nap some, but overall I just felt like crap. We got home and I ate some cous cous and took a long nap. When I got up, I was feeling a little better, but still off. I put on my running gear and went outside in the biting wind. The first mile was a lot better than I thought it would be. I wasn't feeling awesome, but it was tolerable. Then I started to feel woozy and queasy again, so I slowed my pace a little, but was able to keep moving forward. The wind was wicked and I just had to look down at the sidewalk so my eyes didn't water too much. In some ways not looking ahead made the run more tolerable. I ran three miles in 30 minutes. I was exhausted when I got home. My joints ache and I feel pretty tired, but I am a little hungry and don't feel queasy anymore. So, now I've run when I feel sick... just not that sick. One more day down...

Dance parties aren't always good for the legs

Day 38: Jacob unexpectedly took last night off and a bunch of friend's came over and we had an impromptu party. It was tons of fun... and let's just say some of us may not look at the band Skid Row or the steel support in our house quite the same way. So this morning when I woke up, I was a little sore from my "theatrics", but bound and determined to run up Sunset with Jacob and Mike T. I think it is about an 8.5 mile run. Everyone was a little groggy and foggy in the head. The fellas were certainly faster than me, so they went on ahead. At one point, when I peaked over the last real incline, they were waiting for me, looking as though they might upchuck. It was pretty funny. They "played through" however and we finished the run. I was definitely feeling like I was done in the last mile and a half. Afterward, I was satisfyingly tired, just as I was hoping. And I slept pretty well, too.

Day 39: My legs were pretty sore today. I had to take it easy, which is fine with me after the long run from yesterday. I ran 3.5 miles in 32 minutes. Slow and easy. I was trying to be easy on my legs, since they feel pretty worked at the moment. The sun was actually shining! It was about 40 degrees and dry. It was very nice. And, so... of course another snow storm is headed our way! February may not be quite short enough...

Sometimes friends are all the sunshine you need

Day 36: Slushy! At least most of the ice is gone, but it has been replaced by slush and mud and muck. There was no school again today. It mostly rained. It was pretty yucky. I got home from work and went straight for a run because I knew if I waited I would not go. I'm fighting the winter doldrums and I am not sure that I am winning. At least the temperature was holding above freezing. I ran the 5k in 26 minutes, so I could get it out of the way. I had the energy for a longer run, just not the time. Maybe on Sunday I can fit in 6 or more miles. I'm feeling the ache for a satisfyingly tiring run. Three mile runs have become so ordinary and dull. But many days that is all I can fit in. So, that is what I have to take.

Day 37: I went with my two great girlfriends for a MUCH needed girls spa day. Then we had lunch and shared a bottle of wine... then we went shopping... chatting all the way... and then it was like, "Oh, yeah! I have to go run!" So luckily for me, I have really good friends. We went and got their running shoes and clothes and headed out to the historic cemetery in the neighborhood. It was really nice to go out and run with friends. My pace currently is faster than theirs, so at a few points I ran ahead or did an extra loop, but it was great that they helped me get out there and do it another day! It is better than medicine to just hang out and vent and laugh and do those things that girls do. My spirits are certainly lifted even if it's still gray and mushy outside. And so, February marches on... thankfully it's a short month!

Here we go again...

Days 34 and 35: Yesterday, I ran four miles in 38 minutes. I would have run faster except for all of the ice. So, I was a little frustrated but overall no big deal. I am really looking forward to having the time to take a long run. I'm just not sure when that will happen.

And so, today.... I felt weird. My joints are achy, my head is woozy, I hope I'm not getting sick. I went out to run the 5k before going to my son's basketball game. I was really surprised at how well it went. I felt strange, but had no problem running at a good pace and finishing the run. I wasn't sure when I went out if I would be able to run at all. I guess I'm not getting sick, just feeling the drop in the barometric pressure because of this bleepin snow storm we are supposed to be getting... AGAIN!

A theme?

Days 32 and 33: Why in the hell don't people shovel their f'n sidewalks? Isn't it required by law? And even if it isn't required by law, it should be required by common decency and neighborly consideration. I can hardly run anywhere but the street. And it's been over two days since it snowed. Even many businesses, in downtown and otherwise, have not bothered to shovel. I mean, how lazy can people be!!! Alright, that was the tangent of my run a good portion of yesterday. I went on a five mile run. I felt good, my energy level was up...blah, blah... but I had to run a lot slower than I wanted because everywhere is icy and full of snow! It was annoying. Very. But I still have high hopes for February. It's bound to be better than January. They are, however, calling for snow again this weekend.... YUCK! Today I ran the 5k in 29 minutes, again, because of the snow. I moved to NC because I was sick of Colorado snow. Bleepin snow; flippin winter... I've been trying to be all sunny and rosy about the whole affair. But damn, give a sister a break. The damn groundhog saw his shadow too. I'm looking forward to April. And, man, I would kill to go to a warm, sunny beach... perhaps literally. Hitmen are bound to make better money than I do... how hard could it be? Especially, if the "mark" was someone who refused to shovel their walkways. Still probably a good thing I haven't found a way to buy a taser. Here would be one other reason that I would have to misuse it. I bet I can find one on line...