February 24, 2013

Up and Down and All Around

So... it's been awhile since my last post, and BOY, has it been eventful. (No, I am not engaged, nor am I pregnant, however I would love both of those. It seems anytime I have "news", people ask me that.).

I had a check-up last week and things did not go well. Bottom line, I had some sort of *thing* on/near my uterus that my doctor was worried about. This *thing* required blood work and an ultra sound, not to mention a FOUR day wait to figure out what the heck was going on. Being that I'm a complete Worry Wart, by the time Friday came, I was convinced I was dieing. Fortunately, I am healthy with the excepetion of some cysts on my uterus and low iron. Sounds kind of serious while typing it, however, my doctor assured me that with proper treatment, I will be good as new in a few months.

In those 4 short days, I was on a complete roller coaster of emotions. First there was fear- fear that it was something very serious. Fear of cancer, losing the ability to have children (something i want very much), and basic fear of the unknown. I was then kind of relieved to hear that my iron was low. It's not good, however, it explains a LOT. It explains the crazy fatigue, ups and downs in racing/training, AND my weird bruising. (I got bruised by my own watch!) With the health fiasco over and done with, I could focus on my fun weekend- New Orleans, baby!

The Boy would be running his 2nd marathon. I would have the opportunity to sell The Stick with my famous coach, and oddly enough, meet him for the first time. (We've communicated a ton via Internet and phone conversations, but I've never actually MET him. Crazy.) Sunday he and I would run my last big training run for The Woodlands together. Selling The Stick was pretty awesome. I liked talking to people and helping them with their sore spots. (I have The Stick; so I really do believe it's a good product. I couldn't sell something if I thought it was bogus.) Coach and I worked well together, and sold a good amount. The weather was kind of crappy Saturday, but we still had fun. I ran Saturday  morning (and got lost); and our running group went out to eat Saturday night.

Sunday morning came quickly. Sam, Daniel, Boyfriend, and I were up early and ready to go. I always have a little bit of anxiety during large races. The whole get-in-the-corral-use-bathroom-in-time thing worries me a LOT. Nonetheless, we made it to the corral just in the nick of time. I met up with Coach and our plan was start out about 20 seconds slower than marathon pace, hold that for a few miles, and slowly work it down from there. We would not be *racing* actually, but still working out hard- showing my body what to expect next weekend and challenging it when I am tired.

*Part of me wants to share splits here, and give every details, but they really aren't important. I'm kind of over those kind of details in the blog. Anyway, the summary of it was we had a GREAT progression run and workout. I love the splits on paper. They are solid. This weekend was more than that, though. I built a relationship with my coach, and from that run (and the whole weekend), he and I can hopefully get me on track to some FAST racing in the near future.

From this weekend I took away a LOT of lessons, and advice. My HEAD needs help, meaning my mental game. I lack a lot of confidence. I would bore you all to death with the kind of twisted weirdo stuff I think about, but the bottom line is that I need to fix the gray matter between my ears. With that being said, Coach gave me some real compliments this weekend. And trust me, he is NOT one to throw out free compliments. If you get a compliment from my coach, it is for real. And I like that about a person. It means more that way. On the flip side of that, he totally called me out on some things I do while running/racing! He actually coached me while I was running. Since graduating college, I haven't had ANYONE tell me what to do during the race. I was curious as to how I would respond to this, but results were good. He doesn't crap around- very direct, but I like that. It was different from my college coach that barked orders at us in between his put downs. It was almost like a voice in the background telling me what to fix or do. Kind of weird because it has NOTHING to do with running, but I really, really struggle with trust since the divorce, and not just in the relationship category. It is really hard for me to trust people- like ANY people. Not to be on a tangent, but when your husband has an affair with your best friend/coworker and half the town knew about it, it doesn't do much for your trust in human race. Back on topic, but this race really allowed me to TRUST my coach. That quiet voice behind/beside me was telling me all the things I WANTED to tell myself. It was a quiet dictator, yet cheerleader- a person there who "got your back" while running. It was good, and made feel ridiculous for ever doubting the process before.

Next weekend's marathon is a GO. The plan is run strong, test the pace, push myself. However, I know from blood results and recent illness that Sub 3 is a leap. I love The Woodlands and I want to go there and do well. I'm going to give it all I have, hopefully take some risks. Any success will be made sweeter because of my close friends there, and any disappointment will feel easier with them there. It's a win-win.

I'll leave you with some snapshot quotes from mine and coach's work day and race. Run Happy, friends!

At the expo while working
Me: I would never wear tights in public.
Coach: You don't really have the butt for it. *BAM!*
(Later on)
Coach: At least you aren't a midget.

At the expo while working:
Coach: (He goes through the freaking TRASH!)
Me: What are you doing?
Coach: Just seeing what you threw away.
Me: TRASH!

Mile 5:
Coach: *sniff sniff, blow blow, cough cough
Me: *sniff sniff, cough cough, snort snort
Coach: Blow your nose!
Me: Ew, no!
Coach: I'm going to have to teach you to blow a snot rocket.
Me: No! That's nasty!

Mile 8:
Me: I think I smell marijuana.
Coach: No, that's a mile 8.5 camel
Me: *laughing*

Mile 9:
Me: *sniff, sniff, cough, cough, snort snort
Coach: *cough cough, sniff sniff, snot snot
Me: We're quite a pair, huh?

Mile 11:
Coach: Holy crap, I even see knee lift!
Me: *laughing*

Mile 12:
Coach: Are you an effing Gallowayer?
Me: *laughing*

After the race:
Me: What's wrong, Coach?
Him: Nothing, why?
Me: You're walking like this. (Imitates him walking)
Him: I'm old!
Me: *laughing*

Later on the phone:
Coach: Do you do any core work?
Me: YES! (He apparently thinks my abs SUCK. LOL)


 

7 comments:

  1. Wait...you were here in NOLA today?!?! I saw the stick booth at the expo but being as I already have one, didn't stop by. I didn't realize RnR New Orleans was on your schedule.
    I struggled back from injury at the half today.

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  2. This post makes me happy on lots of levels. Yay!!!

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  3. Love it when I hear that; next weeks Marathon is ago...

    The work is done, rest time...

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  4. This post was so honest, so open, and so dang funny in lots of spots. As for your mental game-here's what I got that I'll call you on publicly (what friends are for, right?!):

    You say quote in your post: "*Part of me wants to share splits here, and give every details, but they really aren't important. I'm kind of over those kind of details in the blog. Anyway, the summary of it was we had a GREAT progression run and workout. I love the splits on paper. They are solid. This weekend was more than that, though. I built a relationship with my coach, and from that run (and the whole weekend), he and I can hopefully get me on track to some FAST racing in the near future."

    Here's what you do (and channeling your coach's style a bit I hope):

    1. Print out post, make a couple copies.
    2. Cut out section in post.
    3. Tape section to anywhere you can see it: your desk, your fridge, your dashboard, your forehead (j/k!!) You get the idea
    4. Read early and often.
    5. Repeat.

    4 more days:)

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  5. Great blog! Great lessons! Great Runner! Better Person! I mean that.

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  6. Glad to hear you had such a good time with the expo and the race! Just reading your blog over the past two years it seems like you have made progress in the area of confidence and mental stuff. You have grown a lot, have a clearer sense of who you are and what you want. You know your strengths. You have lots of things in life that are valuable to you-- not just running! Anyway, I am glad to hear that the cysts can be treated and you are healthy.

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  7. Your post made me smile. Glad you had a good time in New Orleans. I was there last year and did not take much advantage of the great things offered in that great city.

    Looking forward to San Diego. :-)

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