I have sinned yet again

Okay, somehow I got in a little funk today at work. So, after having a nice grilled chicken salad with diet dressing for lunch, I hit the junk food machines about 5 pm. A large pack of sugar wafers followed by a big bag of peanuts. This was after an earlier bag of microwave popcorn which I called carbo loading. Then, I got an ice cream craving. I had text messaged my daughter to see if she was going to temple knowing we'd go out for dinner afterwards and she never answered. So, after the cookies and peanuts (and the popcorn), I left work briefly to go to Cold Stone Creamery and got the largest size cup of something sinful with coffee ice cream, peanut butter, pecans, and some other good stuff. But, I felt a bit gross afterwards, maybe needing a shot of insulin???? And, I'm not diabetic. Yet. So, we shall see what sort of running experience, in the dark, in the heat, that I have tomorrow.

I'm thinking I may have to start going to Cleveland, Mississippi that is, each weekend to check on things, so yoga may be out of the picture, and also Monday morning lawn mowing, but we shall see. I have enjoyed all the me time I've had these past 2 or 3 years but it may be time to think about others first for a little while. I may even have to move up there but I'm going to postpone that until after the Jewish holidays in September and after the marathon in October if at all possible. I'm afraid I won't be too accountable just to myself to exercise and train for marathons but maybe I will if I can blog with you guys and join a gym up there. Who knows???

Nice change of scenery, don't lift full coolers

Jody and I had a nice walk through Belhaven and walked up to Fondren to see his potential new house. We walked a little ways and ran a little and even got told hello by a fellow Marathon Makeover person--Merrill McKewen--I think I mispelled both of her names. Then I came home to gather up all the stuff I made for snacks/dinner for the board meeting at the temple tonight. This included a loaded cooler with ice and drinks which I had no choice but to lift by myself up into my van. Actually, one of my neighbors was out across the street and I should have asked her but I didn't. Thank goodness our custodian was available when I got to temple to help me get it out!

I think I might order some Strassburg socks today to see if that helps with my plantar fasciitis. They only have the large ones at Fleet Feet and they are too big for my darling, petite little legs and feet--hah, my feet are bigger than some men that I know! I also encourage the ones of you whose feet are hurting to consider new shoes. If they hurt from blisters, that's one thing, but if you just have generalized pain, your shoes might be worn out again! I have bought some new ones that I am holding as long as I can before I wear them, but I got them out of the box and looked at the bottom of them and at the bottom of the old ones, and I could see a LOT of wear on the old ones. And my feet are beginning to be sore in various places, sort of like bone bruises, sort of like they began to feel last year before the marathon where I ended up with a stress fracture. So, BE KIND TO YOUR FEET as we have three more really long runs--20, 22, and 26.2!!!!

It's even hot in the swimming pool!!!!

Wednesday is usually swim day for me although I almost bagged it for yoga. But, I went and did my weights and went out to the pool. I stuck my foot in and it was almost as warm as bath water! So, I walked in to the indoor lap pool, hoping it would be cooler, and, of couse, it wasn't. It is only cool if it is winter or if they just changed out the water. So, back outside I went and got in my usual lane. It was so hot after one lap that I decided to go to the other side of the pool which is shadier to see if that made any difference. Not much. I almost decided to stop at 12 laps but then I remembered about all that heat that you lose from your head. So, I took off my swim cap which made a HUGE difference. However, there was hair everywhere but I dealt with it. Most of you probably haven't seen my hair down but it is pretty long and feels yucky when it is wet and clinging to the shoulders and getting in your eyes. But, I did it and I always feel better about myself when I manage to get in some sort of exercise in a day. I brought my yoga stuff to work in hopes that I get enough work done to leave here and come to that, too, because I thought the stretching there was very helpful to all of the sore and creaking parts of me that I have. I'm dreading the 20 miler alone already but have planned out my route and hope to get Jody and Sally to distribute many bottles of water and Propel all over creation at the reservoir so I can drink some of them and pour the others on top of my head!

Be Kind to Carol Week

Well, I usually push myself to the ultimate brink--of disaster, usually!!!! But, I don't think my leg muscles had fully recovered from the 16 miler in time for the 18 miler. I put on a thigh wrap on my right thigh which helped a lot but my muscles were and still are very tired, including my back. Just general fatigue. So, guess what I did today???? I walked rather than ran which felt REAL good. So, you guys that are still feeling sore and tired, take it a little easier this week than usual and don't feel guilty about it. If you had run a long race, you'd be taking a few days off so just go easy on yourself, if you can. And I'm not one who usually does that but I do think that, if you push yourself when you know your muscles are still sore and fatigued from your last run, your potential for causing more harm than good is pretty high. Just my humble opinion but I do have a couple of years experience of debilitating myself under my belt because I would NOT slow down or miss any workouts. So, Thursday Jody and I are going to meet in Belhaven at New Stage for a change of scenery at 530 am. We probably will walk and I won't run ahead since I won't know where I'm going! So, Saturday may be the next time that I run, believe it or not.

I am sad--last long run with the group

My schedule has not jived with the group long runs very well this year. Since I've had to do several of them alone, I think some of you might think that I LIKE doing them by myself. WRONG!!!!!! I knew I had to do the 15 in Dallas and the 16 in NY by myself. And I know that the 20 miler is on the day of my son's wedding in NYC. So I may have to do that one on a weekday by myself. But, Sally just pointed out to me last night that the 22 miler is on Yom Kippur! Which, for those of you who don't know, is an important Jewish holiday which requires not only being in services all day but involves fasting for food and liquids!!!!! So, needless to say, I'll be doing that one on another day, too. And I truly love having you guys around me as I /we suffer through running forever and ever. And, so far, I have never managed to be able to get to the party we have after the marathon is over so I'm doubly sad. And, Onetta, I didn't pass you twice I don't think--I was just running the route backwards since I started early. I was "ahead" because I started an hour early to try to beat the heat--it was muggy that first hour but I wasn't horribly hot during this run. Either not running in that last hot hour or the pouring of the water over my head did the trick. And what is a HoverRound????

And, newsflash, Carol has exited the bed! I got up around 10 am and bathed and got dressed. Am at work for a little while. Hoping to get to the yoga class. Slowly re-entering the land of the living!

I hope I'm still behind/ahead on calories

I cannot seem to put enough food in my mouth. I remain in PJ's and in bed except to go get food. And lots of it. Just now finished the last four blue Sport Beans left in the bag from this morning. This follows one gel, one bag of Bloks, and half of one Power Bar eaten during the run. Ate the other half during the cold plunge. Then had turkey sandwich after the Endurox. Bag of popcorn, bag of Sunchips. TONS of leftover candy--Halloween candy from last year, desperation. One low fat ice cream bar, one diet coke float with lowfat vanilla ice cream. Two clementines. One heated up from freezer pasta dish with chicken and spinach--I don't remember making it or freezing it but too tired to get dressed and go get something else to eat. Just made cheese nachos and ate those. Hopefully the Sport Beans are the last thing to go in my mouth tonight. No wonder I don't lose weight from running, huh? But, the muscle soreness is leaving me and I am feeling good now. And not sleepy since I have dozed off and on all day. Sorry I missed the party but I'm not sure I could have come without a walker or a wheelchair and a driver!

I'm not a couch potato

Nope, not a couch potato but a bed potato! Still in bed. Only getting up for bathroom and food breaks. And hitting the bottle, water bottle that is. In bed with me and my laptop. I felt so good during the run that I'm surprised at how sore and debilitated I am. Sort of feels like the way I felt after finishing the marathon!!!! I even skipped my Crestor dose on Thursday to help me get through today. And got permission from my doctor to stop the Crestor for a couple of weeks before the marathon. (Crestor is my cholesterol medication and it causes muscle soreness). I am watching Animal Planet now, having watched reruns on CNN ad infinitum. I think that there might be a cruelty to humans group that might want to arrest someone for letting me get to this state but they'd be surprised to find out that I am the one to blame! I was planning on going in to work today but I think the Rack Monster is winning. I can't decide where I'd like to trough down for dinner. I'm too exhausted to come to the party, I think. Can't cook anything and don't think I can drive for 30 minutes and stand up and be sociable. Maybe I can call for delivery of butt? So I can judge for myself which is best?

And, another thing I learned after today's run. You should have a designated driver to drive you home after a long run, started way too early in the morning, and augmented by a couple of tiny doses of muscle relaxant along the way! I was very sleepy driving home. Kept sipping on the Monster drink to help keep me up. With the caffeine and the overly sweet taste, I thought the sips would jolt me awake but it was a struggle.

I'm wishing now I had picked up a map so I could come to the party even though I don't have anything to bring!