Hydration pack

Remember the Time…

“Running is a big question mark that’s there each and every day. It asks you, ‘Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'” 
– Peter Maher, Canadian marathon runner

(maybe I should have been a wimp…)

I am sick and tired of being sick and tired!

When I ran a really hilly, windy half marathon with a stomach bug and got dehydrated… and likely gave myself ischemic colitis?  Yeah, that totally sucked.  (Not the running, the getting sick part…just to clarify) It sucks even more now because yesterday I felt fine.  In fact, I felt great.  I felt so great I did two Insanity workouts and then spent a couple hours at the climbing gym where I was either climbing or belaying pretty much the entire time…

I did drink lots of water, but apparently not enough cause last last I woke up in pain… again.  It wasn’t as intense as Saturday, but it was enough to keep me up all night.  When I dragged myself in to work this morning, they pretty much turned me around and sent me home where I have been drinking fluids, fluids, and more fluids ever since.  

They were very kind to offer me some IV fluid before I left, but I told them I could manage to drink on my own.  So, now I’m home “sick”- except I feel more exhausted and frustrated than sick.  I did take a nap, which helped with the sleep deprivation, but I am super annoyed about not being able to work out. 😦  I am also not happy about missing work... but more the working out.  I have been having some sharp, crampy abdominal pain on and off…mostly after eating, so I have been pretty much trying to avoid food and just drink liquids instead.

Initially, I had hoped to use some vacation time at work today to get out in time for boot camp, but instead I will be home all day with no exercise allowed. Total bummer!

Boo!

I guess I should have listened better to my body on Saturday, but I honestly didn’t feel that bad.  I’ve been either getting or getting over something all winter, so I didn’t think much of the symptoms.  When I had all that pain while I was running, I really wasn’t sure what it was from.  I thought maybe all the uphill running was making my abs hurt and the nausea is not that unusual for me when I’m pushing hard.  When I finished and got really sick, I figured I was probably dehydrated and may have developed some ischemia.  However, I NEVER would have imagined I’d still be having issues 2 days later.

The only thing I can do now and take it easy and wait it out… and be smarter next time!  In the future I will definitely be doing a better job of hydrating myself before race days (instead of drinking caffeine all day to stay awake at work…).  Also, I think I’ll seriously consider bringing my hydration pack on any future half with only 3 water stations.  Aside from the Tough Mudder, I can’t ever remember being that thirsty on a run!  I would rather carry a little extra weight than run this risk of getting dehydrated again.

The good news is being home sick has given me a chance to catch up on my blogging, and blog reading!  Plus, I know know I’ll be back to kicking butt (my own that is) in no time.  I have a whole list of goals now and I am ready to get at them- body permitting.

I totally need to make one of these!!!

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Chafing is no fun…

“Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice. ”
Wayne Dyer

Or you could run enough miles to eat the whole package of cookies and still not feel guilty- then throw in some boot camp for good measure. 😉

I debated whether to name this post “I make mud look good” or “Chafing is no fun”… and the title went to the one I felt more strongly about.

Today I went for a 3 hour run.  My initial goal was 15 miles, but I couldn’t figure out how to work Adam’s GPS watch and figured 3 hours would be close enough.  That is exactly how long I made it before my gait started to resemble a drunken sailor, and I called Adam to come rescue me.  I stopped at a gas station less than 2 miles from home.  I knew I could push myself the rest of the way, but it would be at the expense of over-doing it (again).  I didn’t want to risk another sideline, especially when my joints were already screaming from running on the pavement- and I knew I still had a boot camp class to make.  To reward him for the effort of dragging himself out of bed to get me, I bought Adam a pint of Ben & Jerry’s cookie dough ice cream (his favorite flavor) while I waited.  I also purchased a package of Vienna Fingers (no not the little one- the big one!), which I promptly dug into while the patrons pumping gas looked on with bewildered expressions (largely, I’m sure, owing to the fact that I was soaked and covered in mud).

I had just enough time in between my run and my evening torture session to grab some lunch with Adam.  I made it a point not to stuff myself with the hopes of decreasing the amount of workout related nausea ahead of me.  Overall the second class went well.  I only got light headed a couple times and barely had any nausea.  The work out was tough, but totally rewarding- I was especially proud to have managed the entire 60 push-ups scattered throughout the hour.  Adam was there to cheer me on and coach me through many of them, which I immensely appreciated.

So today I give myself a gold star for motivation!  My calves feel like jello, but my hot pink compression sleeves are due to arrive tomorrow, and I’m hoping they will help!  I am also hoping to get one more long run in before we leave for Cali and the NorCal Tough Mudder.

The downside of my ambitious workout- I have so much chafing on my back and chest from carrying my weighted down hydration pack that I am pretty much covered in itchy, raised, pink blotches.  I have scars on my collar bones from where the straps cut in; and scars, scrapes, and bruises all over my legs from all the debris and branches I get tangled in when I’m on the trails.  It’s all pretty sexy. 😉

Not visible- my calves completely caked in mud

Thanks for reading!!! Comments and questions are always welcome.  Have a terrific evening everyone!