Tuesday, June 12, 2012 - Scary Failure

First, a little catch up since the June 2nd 5k: 5 miles on June 4, and 4 miles on Tuesday, June 5. 

That's it, until this Tuesday.  As I said in my last post, my running has been sporadic, if at all.

I set out for 12 miles that I was supposed to have done Saturday.  I was kind of amazed at how comfortable running a 9:00 pace was for 5 miles.  I knew I would get slower at the end, but felt good knowing I was able to do this.  It was 83 degrees when I started at 5:30 pm, so the temperature may have dropped a degree or two by the time I was approximately 5.5 miles into the run.  That is when I had a few moments of feeling a chill.  I also began to feel myself push trying to keep that 9:00 pace.  Mile 6 was 9:10. 

I would be running by the Xterra that was parked in the Salem United Methodist Church parking lot at around 6.5 miles.  I thought I should sip some PowerAde.  As I neared the vehicle, I stepped it up a little - I was wanting to keep near 9:00, and stopping for a drink was going to hurt that.  I had the keys in my hand as I neared the Xterra, popped the lock, opened the door, and felt like I was about to vomit.  The feeling quickly passed and I gulped a little PowerAde.  I took off with a new spring in my step and trying to make up for lost time.  I didn't make it - Mile 7 was 9:32 - and the it all fell apart.  By Mile 9 (14:28), I was having to walk! I thought maybe the break in Mile 9 would propel me for a better finish.  Mile 10 was better at 10:10, but then Mile 11 saw more walking and was at 13:38.  After walking into Mile 12, I decided to try to make it respectable by trying to slowly jog the whole thing.  I did pretty good, even sprinted - well, the best I could - the last 0.2.  11 Minutes. Total time: 2:03:00. Pace 10:15.

But that's not the end of the story...

When I opened the Xterra door, I gagged a little as if I was to throw up.  My tank was empty, so nothing.  (The Atkins diet is not for running.  No, I'm not on the Atkins diet. It just kind of happened that way. I grilled some cheap steaks on Friday night, ate at Longhorn on Saturday night, grilled cheeseburgers Sunday night, and then ate a leftover hamburger Monday night.)  The next thing I knew was that I was having to hold myself up.  My left arm was on the door armrest my right hand was on the seat keeping me upright.  I was staring at the floorboard that seemed to be moving in slow circles.  My peripheral vision seemed to disappear.  I felt like I was about to pass out.  I stood there for a couple of minutes.  I was then able to make my way to the back of the Xterra with a towel. I was too queasy to think of taking a drink.  I sat on the back of the Xterra.  If you've ever hit your head hard enough that it felt as if the inside of your head enveloped the outside of your head, that is how I felt - out of my head - but without the pain, which was a good sign, I guess.  I felt sickly and thought I would pass out any moment.  I wished Lainey's car seat, a couple of lawn chairs, and a few other things were not in the back of the Xterra so I could lay down. 

Several people had arrived at the church while I was running.  I thought about going in to get help, but wasn't sure I could make it across the road and into the church.  Maybe DeWain Harris would walk out on his way back to the parsonage, and I could get him to take me home or call Sherri.  Why didn't I bring my phone!?  I thought about just laying in the gravel parking lot until someone came out.  I just sat there staring at the gravel, which seemed to be moving like a kaleidoscope, with the previous sentences running circles in my out-of-my-head mind.  I got some relieve for awhile. I don't know if it was 10 seconds or 10 minutes, because I had closed my eyes and guess I dozed off.  When I awoke, I was still dazed.  With my mind floating just above me, the awful sickness in my stomach, and the flu-like feeling the rest of my body had, I was hoping that I would pass out. 

After 30 minutes or so, no one had came out of the church.  My peripheral vision had somewhat returned and my mind was back in my head, although it was still foggy.  I decided to drive home.  I tried not to move to quickly to avoid a more nauseated feeling.  I drove home without my seat belt, because I was partially slumped over the steering wheel and did not want to move anymore than I had to.  I was happy to see my driveway.  I had dreamed of lying on my porch, but I was freezing now, so I went inside.  Slowly, I made my way upstairs.  I had about 8 oz of PowerAde with me.  It had been about 45 minutes after the run, before I took my first sip.  I sat on the side of the tub, taking little sips until the PowerAde was gone.  Forcefully, I got myself into the shower.  I was still a little dizzy, but feeling a lot better. 

After the shower, I went back downstairs and poured a small cup of chocolate milk down my throat.  Probably not the best thing for how my stomach had felt.  It probably added to the feeling that I could not stomach any food, but I read that chocolate milk after long runs could help relieve soreness.  After the chocolate milk downing, I grabbed a 32 oz PowerAde and went to my living room chair.  I sat there for at least 30 minutes before I was able to open the bottle.  I finally took a big sip.  I nursed it about an hour, before I got the energy to go to bed.  I made myself finish off the last 6 oz or so, because I sure didn't want it, before I headed upstairs.

It is two days later and I am still feeling the effects.  I don't know how to explain it, but my mind still has a weird feeling.  My legs are quite sore for running/walking 12 miles.  I don't think they were this sore after my first half marathon.  My lower back and across my chest are also sore.  I don't know why. 

I think I may not run again until Monday and back off the mileage.  I don't have anything planned coming up soon, except the Muddy Buddy on June 23 (9 days) - sure glad it's not this weekend. 

June 11, 2012 - Some Catching Up

Yes, it's been awhile, and my running since the Country Music Marathon has been sporadic.  Now that I have been following the "Dr. Sykes Training Plan" of sporadic running, he has taken a more traditional approach of running four times a week and has added some cross-training.  :)

My legs, especially the knees, have been killing me.  I have had knee pain for over ten years, so the running (on pavement) did not bring it on.  I think it has made it more constant, though.  I believe years of other sports are the culprit - sliding, diving, cutting - with no type of workout or stretching in the latter years.  We would drive somewhere, roll out of the car, and play softball until we lost two games or won the tournament.  We would play two games in one night in a local league.  And that was it - no practice or anything.  In the early years, it was all out all the time even if it was backyard football, without any thought of injury, especially long-term effects.  Some nights I just want to cry. Some nights I can't sleep well, because I can't keep my legs still.  Some nights I go to bed a little earlier than usual, hoping that I will fall asleep and not feel the pain.  Every night lately, I have been taking something for the pain - aspirin, ibuprofen, Aleve, Tylenol.  I try to mix things up so not to build up an immune to any one type.  Sometimes I will take one thing, and if that doesn't knock it, I'll take something else.  I may go six months without any problems.  That's why every night for about three weeks has me on edge.

As I said, running has been hit or miss since the CMM on April 28.  I ran the Dash to Ditch Lymphoma 5k on June 2.  I wasn't feeling it.  I ate Papa John's pizza for supper Thursday night, had leftovers for lunch Friday, and the rest of it Friday night.  Of course, I had other "junk" - cookies, candy, etc. in between.  At least, I did spread a large pizza over three meals.  The morning of the 5k my stomach was in knots.  It usually is any morning I'm going to a race, though.  This morning, however, I felt stuffed, too.  I barely had enough room to get down some toast.  I began to feel a little better on the drive out to the race.  Once the race was on, I felt even better.  I took off faster than I should have and ran Mile 1 in 7:19.  I wanted to then keep everything under 7:30.  That wasn't going to happen!  I got realistic and hoped for them all to be under 8:00.  That didn't happen either.  I think Mile 2 was in like 7:55 and Mile 3 in like 8:05.  Plus the tenth-mile.  My overall time was 23:45 (7:40 pace).  I thought this would be my second (possibly 3rd) best time.  I knew one of the HC Fair 5k's was faster, but I wasn't sure if there were any others, so I was surprised to see that this was my 5th best.  I don't remember the pain of those other 5k's, but I sure thought I worked hard in this one.  I was 2nd of 5 in my 40-44 age group.  14th of 49 males.  17th of 154 overall. 

I may have done better if I wasn't so heavy.  Since I have been doing the "sporadic plan", I've put on a few pounds.  On the Monday after the 5k, my weight hit its highest point since September (that's about 8.5 months!)  I even survived the winter without packing on so much!