3 Hours of Sleep in the Last 80 Hours.

In the last 80 hours I have slept approximately 3 hours.  Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights were each all nighters.  I came home from the office around 6 p.m.; the goal was to hydrate, nap, and get in a 7 mile training run.  I needed to get it in today in light of the race on Sunday.  I couldn't sleep but rested; I was afraid that if I let myself sleep that it might be for days.  So, around 8 p.m. I got dressed and went to the gym.  I couldn't do more than 6.5 miles tonight, and I only ran 4.5 miles.  The only thing making me feel better is that for at least one of the miles that I walked it was on an incline.  I've taken ibuprofen, have my feet, achilles, and calves on ice. 

In preparation for the pavement, my doctor prescribed me another presdnisone course that I will start tomorrow.  That should sufficiently dull any pain that I may feel on Sunday.  It will make me puffy, but I've lost 3 pounds this week (not healthy, I concede that) in light of nonstop work, not having an appetite, and stress.  I guess it will all work out.

Weather reports for Sunday have the temperature fluctuating between 60-80 but with thunderstorms.  UGH!!!!!  Why rain?  It's not as if I don't get rain in the bayou.  Why do I have to get it in Chicago as well?  I expect cold in Chicago in April, I expect an overcast sky in Chicago in April, I even expect the Cubs to lose in Chicago in April --- but thunderstorms?  I don't know what to wear if it is raining.  I guess I will have to buy something in Chicago on Saturday.  Again, I welcome any suggestions as to appropriate rain gear.

My bed is calling my name.  I am so completely exhausted I may fall asleep without showering.  Gross, I know.  But the housekeeper is coming tomorrow to change the sheets.  Hoping and praying that I can rest, hydrate, and stretch enough in the next few days to have a decent race on Sunday.

How do you properly train when you are swamped at work?

Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it, right?  I'm absolutely swamped at work.  I start trial in a few weeks.  I have several oral arguments next week in different courts.  Tonight will be my second consecutive "all nighter" in a row --- which at 36 I simply am too old for.  It is exciting work, which is cool, but I'm exhausted.  Truthfully, I should be working right now but am writing this instead because my mind needs to rest for a few minutes. 

At 6:30 p.m. I made the decision that I had to get in a training run tonight.  The half marathon is quickly approaching and I am already at a disadvantage because I'm limited in the number of days per week that I can run.  I figured that I would go to the gym and then come back to the office.  No time for strength training tonight and no time for Liberdy tomorrow morning.  I got in 7 miles and am, again, professing my deep love and admiration for Adidas.  My feet feel fine (knock on wood).  I have ice on my achilles and calves.  I'm tired, but it feels good.  In a strange way it woke me up and got me excited to write all of these reply briefs.

It would have been so easy to make an excuse tonight and not get a run in.  If I had, though, it just would have made crossing that finish line even harder than it is already going to be.  Forcing myself to leave the office and get in a run was the best thing I could have done tonight. 

On Sunday afternoon I got a tattoo that I had been contemplating for some time.  I got the words "memento vivere" put on my wrist.  From Latin, the translation is "remember to live".

Every time I glance at my wrist, I am giving myself a reminder to remember to live.  It was that reminder tonight that made me chose to leave the office, get in a run, and now come back.  To me, remembering to live means remembering to run.

Good night y'all.  Sweet dreams to those of y'all lucky enough to sleep tonight.  For those of y'all who are going to have to work tonight --- may your thoughts be clear and your arguments precise.  And for any of y'all out there in blog land who have advice about training runs when you are swamped at work, I welcome it.

The Registration Materials Came and I Have a "Race Day" T-Shirt.

It arrived via email.  In order to get my bib number and race t-shirt I have to present the email at the expo.  Kind of crazy.  It's not like I hadn't paid for the entry fee, plane ticket, hotel, etc.  I knew it was coming up, but this made it so real.  Sunday is "race day".  It is only 5 miles, but it starts and ends exactly where the Chicago Marathon does.  Strange thing about it is that Sunday is exactly six months until the marathon.  Seriously?

I glanced at http://www.weather.com/ to determine what the weather would hold on race day.  Not looking so good, especially for this transplanted southerner going to run in the Midwest.  Rain showers and a high in the low 50s.  Oy vey!  What does one wear in that weather to run --- snow is one thing, but rain?  I am open to any recommendations.

I exchanged some emails with my Gen, (who graciously offered to pick up my bib and t-shirt, and for which I am quite grateful) who asked me what I was going to wear on Sunday to run.  I hadn't given much thought to it.  I told her that I presumed I would wear a Michigan hat, Michigan t-shirt, likely a long sleeve Under Armour shirt under the t-shirt, the calf compression sleeves, and I would figure out the rest.  After I wrote that, though, I got a little package.  I couldn't help but smile once I opened it.  I now know the exact Michigan t-shirt that I will be wearing on Sunday (in addition to the half marathon).  I took the liberty of taking photos of both the front and back of the t-shirt, respectively.

Front of t-shirt.

Back of t-shirt.

Just a few more days until I'm back in Chicago and running on the pavement.  I'm not a religious person, but I'm praying for no rain.

Addendum Post Pavement/5K --- I Profess My Love For Adidas

I want to profess my admiration for Adidas  http://www.adidas.com/.  It is not a brand of running shoes and/or running clothes that many running stores carry.  They need to start.  The shoes are amazing.  I have NEVER been more happy with a pair of running shoes.  The socks kick ass as well, more so than Nike, Asics, or any other brand that I've tried.  The clothing is top notch as well.  It wicks better than the other brands I've tried and actually fits well.  I am now an Adidas devotee. 

I encourage you to give Adidas a try.  Love the shoes so much that I bought another pair to rotate with.

5K on the Pavement --- Check!

I was really nervous this morning.  I wasn't nervous about the distance.  I didn't care about the pace --- I didn't even wear my watch.  I was worried that running on the pavement would be too much for my achilles.  I was even more worried that, as a result, the upcoming races wouldn't be so possible.  Now, a few hours after the race with ice on my achilles and calves, I am ecstatic.

My friend Mary was generous enough to run with me this morning.  Mary kept me from going out too quickly --- which has been my problem when I have run outside.  I ran with Mary for the first half of the race at a very comfortable pace.  She kept me in line and it helped because I felt good, I had energy, and my achilles didn't hurt.  We hit the half way point and she gave me permission to start going faster, and I did.  It was fun.  I had my iPod on with the music I loved.  I was giving myself goals to overcome certain people as I approached them.  One woman in particular must have had the same "game plan" in mind.  I would get in front of her and then she would get in front of me.  The last quarter mile I saw the finish line, and I said to myself, "time to overtake her for good."  This is where the interval training came into play.  I kicked it into high gear and wound up finishing a full minute before she did.  ( I did the right thing, though, and cheered for her at the finish line even though I didn't know her.)

My time wasn't great but wasn't terrible.  36:22.  Really not bad considering I was at the half way point with Mary at 20 minutes.  I stretched well.  I drank a ton of water.  I'm icing now. I took ibuprofen before the race and I will take some more shortly.  All in all, not so bad.  I'm actually excited for the Shamrock Shuffle next weekend.

I didn't know the proper race etiquette.  There was this tab thing on my number that I tore off and put in my care before the race started.  That is what I was supposed to hand to them as I crossed the finish line so that my time could be officially recorded.  So, my time for this one won't be officially recorded --- but I am fine with that.  My time was 36:22.  I'll know better for next weekend.

This is starting to actually feel real, and it is starting to feel like an amazing thing.  I didn't run with my camera, so there is no shot of me as I crossed the finish line.  Mary took this shot of me after the race --- when we went out for breakfast.

First 5k Of The Season

First outdoor 5k in a long time in the morning.  Nicole Murphy LSU Med School 5k.  http://www.medschool.lsuhsc.edu/tigerrun/  It is going to be interesting.  Props to my friend Mary Egan who is going to run it with me.

I'm Walking (or Flying) to New Orleans

It's 6:15 a.m. and I have to be in the lobby in an hour to meet my colleagues and go to the airport.  Flying back to New Orleans --- back to the heat, humidity, and the office.  I'll be back in Chicago next Saturday for the Shamrock Shuffle, but a week in New Orleans will do me good.

I ran 6.5 miles yesterday.  It was raining and cold, so it was on a treadmill.  It was hard and my achilles started to "scream" around 5k -- but I walked for 2 minutes and then started again.  My goal was to run 7 miles, but it hurt and I bargained with myself as I was running.  I was exhausted afterwards.  I spent about 30 total minutes stretching and then iced.  I popped ibuprofen at dinner and again before bed.  I don't want to jinx myself but I actually feel fine today.  The true test will be tomorrow at the LSU Med School 5k in Audubon Park. 

I'm still VERY happy with the Adidas shoes.  I highly recommend them. 

All in all, great trip to Chicago.  Good work wise.  Ate at amazing restaurants (as an aside, go to The Girl and the Goat http://www.girlandthegoat.com/  if you are in Chicago).  Was able to run again.  Nervous about the Shamrock Shuffle next weekend in Chicago, but I will finish it even if it isn't pretty.