Ketchup

While I do have a weird love for ketchup/catsup, whatever/however you want to call it, this time around the word is merely a funny way of saying, "hey, I forgot to post this week so I'm going to play catch up."

Get it?

Lets start with Bloomsday. So far it was/is my longest run of the season at a 12k distance. I had high hopes of completing the distance in under 1:20...which didn't happen and I can largely blame my nutrition...or lack thereof... and the hills along the course. I'm starting to think now that 2 days worth of pizza for over half of my meals probably isn't the way to carbo load for me. Now it's not like I was a glutton about it as I only had one piece a meal...except Saturday nights' dinner...Veraci...there's no way to eat just one piece. And the hills? Not like I didn't know they were there! How many Bloomsdays have I ran? Sheesh. Well, my mind said I could do it (because I have before) but my mind couldn't convince my legs. No way, no how. So I settled for 1:26:22. I also can't help but wonder if the extra weight I managed to pack back on to this 5'4'' frame has anything to do with it...in fact, I'm sure it does. I'm thinkin' it might be easier to run if my thighs didn't look like tree trunks and my badonka-donk didn't look like a tonka truck. But hey, I'm working at it. Slowly but surely.

I decided this year to not run with my IPOD. I thought I'd try it to see if I could get through without going crazy with my own thoughts. My morning runs are always done without the ear buds but my gym workouts and evening runs are not. So there I stood, in the middle of the yellows waiting for our start when I notice I am next to a father and daughter yakking away about something...and I notice dad's tone. Very complainy. I know "complainy'' is not a word but that's how he was. I realized that his negativity was contagious and quickly wished I had my ear buds to drown him out. Yuk. But throughout the rest of the race, not having my IPOD was wonderful! I saw things with my ears that I never paid attention to before like the appreciation showed to those who've run all 35 Bloomsdays (noticeable by their commemorative tank tops), parents reminding their kiddos that they can do it, the cheers from those on the sidelines and the great music I would have otherwise missed. Not to mention the joy that I was filled with for a good 5 minutes after passing a worship band. There's something about that music that always fills me...too bad I couldn't hear them the whole course...maybe I would have had a better time?
All in all it was a good day for a run. The sun really pulled through for us and the temp was just right.
I do have to figure out my nutrition though. For some reason, I found myself feeling half-dead about an hour after I completed the race. My eyes became droopy, my stomach ill and my head unable to process what I was hearing. I had to sit after 1 minute of standing for fear of fainting. I have no solid answer as to what triggered it but I have a theory that it has to do with the Boost energy drink I had within a half-hour of the race. I will be experimenting with that one and crossing my fingers that I don't suffer the same discomfort. Thanks to Jon and Tara who were willing to drive me home so I didn't pass out in the car! 2 hours of sleep later and I was left with only a sour tummy for the rest of the day. It boggles my brain.

THE REST OF THE WEEK
I was able to complete all of my workouts (except for my Monday swim...due to life happening) and my best run was Thursday morning. Tuesday I still suffered from a slightly sore quad from the race so it made my run awkward. Wednesday I did 2.5 on the treadmill and that is never fun (except for the fact that Melissa was right next to me doing the same thing!) and that is why Thursday was the best. I felt awesome, faster than normal and the morning air was light and not too crisp. It made me look forward to the runs I get to do in the summer mornings that require a t-shirt or tank top instead of long sleeved shirts and pants. Plus, there's more people out walking to work now so I have more people to greet "Good Morning!". It feels good!

All in all, it was a great week of workouts. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to "see" things more clearly on my runs and for making my schedule work so these things can happen. I am truly blessed to have these mornings to myself to think and pray.

Blessed duck!