Delaying the Inevitable

Today's "run" did not go the way I had hoped it would. One bouncity-bounce and I was in internal hysterics. The insides have not healed enough for running yet, I now know. It has only been two weeks, I have to keep reminding myself.

I did walk three miles with the stroller and I'll continue to do so until I'm able to run.

A Quick Update

I just updated my training schedule for the week. I actually started it for next week - today is two weeks from my surgery and I am going to take it slowly for the rest of this week, just to make sure everything is in order. I did walk 3+ miles yesterday and felt fine, so I think a quick half mile jog with the stroller will be fine today. No promises.

Also, I officially declared my intent to run in the Heart of America marathon next September. Now I am on to planning out my training for the half in April. So exciting!

I Am Back!

Well, sort of.

I stopped posting about a month and a half ago because the gallstones had made it difficult to move, much less run. Any attempt at running on my part was accompanied by an almost unbearable pain in my chest that would quickly spread throughout my torso, shoulders, and arms.

I had surgery on Oct. 22. It went very well, but I was not immediately healed and ready to hit the road as so many others would have me believe. Instead, the recovery has been slow (though not as slow as it would have been had I had the "old fashioned non-laparascopic" surgery), but now I am ready to start running again.

My plan is to take it slowly, building up to a 5k on New Year's Eve. I just registered for the First Night 5k here in Columbia, and my goal is to beat the time I had at my last 5k, which was 30:44. Even if this 5k ends up at 30:43 it will be a tremendous success.

I am rebuilding my training program, and am anxiously awaiting getting out there and getting active once more.

Very Slow Week

This week has been really disappointing to me. I have not run nearly what I need to or even what I want to. I am very anxious for my surgery, which is now less than a month away.

Next week, my husband's college is hosting a 5k. I seriously considered signing up for it, but found that even running only a couple of miles now causes tremendous pain in my chest. This morning, I had intended on running 6, but I was debilitated with a horrendous attack last night that left me mostly unable to move for the evening. When I awoke this morning, there was no way I could run.

Some days are better than others. Yesterday I ran about 2.5 miles, which was fine. As long as I run very slowly, even for me, I feel pretty much okay. Thursday I ran about four miles (the total mileage was 4.5 but I had to take a couple of walk breaks) and that really killed me. Tuesday I ran as well. Other than that, I have not run this week. I have worked out on the Total Gym, and for kicks, I stepped on the scale yesterday and have not gained. Although, I am throwing up almost every night, which would explain a lot.

Many people have told me that gallstones are common and not that bad, but I have to beg to differ. It seems that no matter how I tweak my diet, I am pretty much in constant pain these days - with some days being really bad and some not being so bad at all. Still, I have to believe that once the surgery is over and I have healed, I will be able to run once again. I really miss it - I don't like it when it is extremely painful, from the first mile on, but I love it when I can get out there and truly enjoy myself. It's only been a few months, but I greatly miss my running habit. I can't wait to get back to it.

Falling Behind

I have really been falling behind on this blog - not so much my running. The truth is, and I'm just being totally honest here, instead of blogging about my runs, I have been working a lot and blogging at my other blog - my John McCain one. The election is taking up so much of my time because I love it and because I hate it and because I won't get to do this for another four years. :)

I've been pretty much on track this week, except this morning's 10 mile run didn't happen. I ran my 5k route instead. I woke up feeling that pain from my gallstones that is all consuming and horrible and is only getting worse. So, I ran 5k and came home, with the promise to myself that I would attempt the rest of the run later today or even in the morning. The gallstones are not only causing pain, but are also giving me a supreme shortness of breath, which is actually the worst part of trying to run. I'm not going to give up running, but I may have to give up my long runs until after the surgery. I love the long run, I do, but I don't think I can do it - at least not right now. We'll see. I'll keep planning them, but I just may not be able to follow through.

I also need new shoes. The Adidas ones that I've been bragging about so much are wearing through already. I guess that's why they were $10.

Day 99: Continued...

I managed to get in a two mile run this afternoon, after my husband returned home, but did not run to and from my son's soccer as planned. I blame my husband - he didn't want to run.

I did get in five miles today, so thus far this week I am behind by 1.5. Not to worry - I have a plan. I'll run my scheduled five tomorrow, then a 5k on Thursday. I may even be able to cut that back, as I need to run to the supermarket (1.5 miles - 3 round trip), but I'm not going to marry myself to it. Tomorrow and Thursday's runs should be no problem whatsoever as long as I get the sleep I need.

Saturday I have a 10 mile long run scheduled. I can't even begin to tell you how much I am looking forward to it.

Day 99: Crisp, Fall Air

I did not get to run at all yesterday, so I am going to play catch up today. I ran three miles this morning and need to get in another four today. I can do two miles with the stroller at some point, and then tonight when we take our son to soccer I'll have another two miles of running. So it's not all at once, at least I'm getting the mileage in.

Tomorrow will be 100 days of running - I just realized that I started typing this post. I plan to celebrate with a long run. If I can make myself get up at 4:30, I can be out the door by 5:00; I think I can manage at least six, but maybe seven miles by the time I need to be back for my husband to go to work. What a wonderful way that would be to honor the milestone! I'd really love to do ten, but there is no way I could do that in the limited amount of time I have.

This morning's run was just okay because I felt under a time restraint - so much so that I couldn't enjoy the run. My son woke up a couple of times last night and I had a difficult time sleeping anyway. That meant that I rough time waking up this morning and didn't get out the door until almost 5:30. Since I needed to be back by 6:00, I knew that three miles was all I would get in, and that's exactly what happened. Still, it was a nice enough run. It is very, very cool outside - circa 40 degrees. I started my run off with a short sleeve shirt, a long sleeve tee, and a jacket (I tossed the jacket about a mile in). I definitely need to invest in some kind of head gear because my ears stayed cold and hurty the entire time I was running - imagine how it would feel on a longer run!