Weekly Rundown- The Race and Beyond
Well, this was a fun week! I ran a race! Then I spent the rest of the week recovering. Because I wasn’t running, and it was just my daughter and me (the guys were out of town) I had extra time to relax. Thanks as always to Kim and Deborah for hosting the weekly rundown… let’s get into the details. Sunday Sweat Swat ‘n Swear 50K! It was an awesome adventure, and the race recap is here. Monday Well, I had to go to work (ugh) but since there was no school, I was able to sleep in a little. Once I hobbled out of bed, I had two issues- my right calf (the one that hurt during the race) was still very sore, and I had a HIDEOUS rash (?) on my legs. I posted this photo in one of my race recaps: Wendy and SHU both immediately identified it as “purpura.” Wendy went on to say that in this case, the purpura was caused by “exercise-induced vasculitis.” Here’s the definition: “Exercise-induced vasculitis is a small-vessel vasculitis affecting the lower legs that occurs after strenuous sports activity such as running or hiking, particularly during hot weather.” Yep! Sounds about right. It didn’t hurt, or itch- it just looked HIDEOUS. But I was glad to know what it was! Tuesday My calf was still sore (just to clarify- the soreness had nothing to do with the purpura- two different issues entirely) but I figured “motion is lotion” so I took myself out for a 30 minute walk. It felt good! Wednesday Early morning 45 minute walk. The sun was just rising as I started. This was my day off from work, and I GOT A MASSAGE. Sadly, I didn’t want anyone to work on my legs- the purpura was starting to fade to a lovely maroon color, but it still looked awful. I just had a back, neck and arm massage, and it felt amazing. Thursday Big day- THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL. The last day of getting up at 5:30 until August. Woohoo! 40 minute walk. Friday Well, this felt nice! I slept in until 6:30 and then got out for a 45 minute walk. My calf is completely better, but now my right hip is sore and achy. What the…? I thought walking was good for you! Whatever happened to “motion is lotion????” Hurumph. Saturday Instead of my morning constitutional, I did some PT-type exercises for my hip- glute bridges, clamshells, side planks, air squats… everything felt good, although I forgot how hard side planks are! Look how much better my legs are… phew. Sunday On tap for today…. a visit to the gym? A walk? A short RUN? Sleeping in and waffles? All or none of these? Well, probably not “all.” I’d like to start running again- I’m starting to miss it. I just want to make sure my cranky right hip calms down. I think a little more stretching and mobility work are in my future this week. How was your week? Did you celebrate Memorial Day? If you have kids- are you done with school?
May Runfessions!
Phew, we made it to the end of May. It was a CRAZY month, starting with two weeks of non-stop school activities, and ending with a week of laid-back vibes. Oh, and there was a little race thrown in there as well! Thanks as always to Marcia for opening up her Runfessional. Let’s get started! The first thing I would runfess is, I’ve been walking all week and enjoying it immensely! So much easier to get out the door (compared to running.) No elaborate warmup, or needing the right clothes, or accessories (oh, my flip belt isn’t clean? That’s okay, I’ll just hold my phone in my hand!) Every time I think “you know, I feel like I could run a little” some little niggle reminds me that no, I just ran a 50K. I’ll stick to walking this week. On the subject of races… I’ll runfess that yes, I’m already lurking on Ultrasignup to find the next one. There are a couple in October in central Florida, put on by the same race directors as the one I just did. I’m VERY tempted. But… that means I would be doing long runs in the intense summer heat. I’m still debating. My last runfession is definitely more of a “confession.” My son and husband are out of town this week (in LA for a trumpet convention) and… I’m really enjoying it. I know! I’m always ranting and raving about how much I love having my son home, but it’s actually really nice with just my daughter and me. It’s so quiet! There’s hardly any laundry, or dishes, and only half the mess. And, dinners have been extremely simple (living the dream!) Also… for whatever reason, my daughter and I have been getting along GREAT. It seems like she’s somehow less agitated when fewer people are here. Now that it’s just the two of us, we’re laughing together, she’s telling me stories from school, and it’s reminding me of the days when she was younger, before the pre-teen and teen drama started. How is the month of May ending for you? Do you train in the heat of summer for a fall race? Top photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash
Sweat, Swat ‘n Swear Recap Part 2- The Aftermath
First things first- thank you SO MUCH for all the kind comments yesterday! I thought about my blogging friends often during the race- I don’t think it would have been nearly as enjoyable if I couldn’t share it. So thanks for reading!!! When I left off yesterday, I had just crossed the finish line. I chatted a little with the woman in the yellow hat (who ran ahead of me for the latter part of the race) and we took pictures of each other. And then we both started to wonder how Mark was doing, or, as she said, “Where’s that guy with the bottle of Dr. Pepper?” I was feeling a little bad about the way our “relationship” had ended. Yes, he made some weird comments, but he also ran with me through a part of the race that can be mentally tough- miles 10-18, where you might be starting to get tired but the end is nowhere in sight. I was hoping to see him at the finish. I hung around for a little, but then reluctantly went to my car for fresh clothes. I needed to get changed and cleaned up… because I had to drive the four hours home. WHY. Why did I do that to myself? Ultimately, I was glad once I got home and could sleep in my own bed. But at that moment, the drive felt daunting. I had been up since 4 am and just ran a 50K. What I really wanted was a nap, but instead I washed off my feet, wiped down the rest of my body, changed, and got in the car. SIGH. Before I got on the highway, I stopped at a Publix and got a Vegan Turkey Club! A footlong sub with vegan cold cuts, vegan cheese, vegan ranch, and all the vegetables. I don’t usually eat this, so it was a real treat. Here’s my car feast: The Pub sub, Fritos, and- the best part- a large Coke Zero. YUM. The car ride wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated- I was on the Florida Turnpike, which is a pleasant road. I did have to stop for the bathroom several times, and this was a bit of a problem, because my sore calf, which had thankfully made it through the entire race, decided it was done for the day. Every time I got out of the car I had to kind of shuffle that leg along- I can only imagine what I looked like. At one point I texted my husband “Just leaving the Port St. Lucie aid station!” ER- service plaza. Not aid station. My mind was still back on the race. I finally got home, showered and WENT TO BED. Luckily I slept well… because Monday I had to work. YUCK! I didn’t request the day off because we’re always super busy on Memorial Day, so I just decided to suck it up. It probably wasn’t such a bad thing- it was good to be active. My calf is still sore, and I have various other aches and pains, which is to be expected. But the weirdest problem is a… rash? on my legs. It’s in little patches all over, but I’m going to show you the worst part, and I’m giving a warning, in case anyone is reading this while innocently eating breakfast. I don’t want you to scream, or choke and spew coffee all over the place. I KNOW. WHAT IS THAT. An allergic reaction to one of the plants on the trail? But it’s not itchy. It’s not bumpy or irritated. I wouldn’t even know it was there if it didn’t look so… disgusting. The worst part is, I really wanted to get a massage this week and now I can’t. I don’t THINK this is contagious, but since I don’t know what it is, I can’t ask anyone else to touch it. BUMMER. Sooooo…. what’s next? First the calf has to heal up. I’m not worried about it- I’ve been going for walks and it’s slowly getting better. Soon I’ll be lurking on Ultrasignup, looking for another race. Possibly a 50K in the fall? And… the 50 mile distance and I have some unfinished business. One final note- Mark finished the race about an hour after me. I’m very glad he finished, sorry that I didn’t see him, and ultimately glad that I started my drive when I did. But I’m hoping to see him again at a future race. Anyone a skin expert with an opinion on my leg “rash?” What’s your favorite treat meal?
Sweat, Swat ‘n Swear Race Recap- Trading Expectations for Appreciation
On Sunday, I ran the Sweat, Swat ‘n Swear 50K in Inverness, Florida. My goals for this race were to 1) FINISH, and 2) not complain about the heat. I’ll tell you right now that I achieved both of them. WOOHOO! Was there sweating? Yes, about 20 gallons worth. Was there swatting? No! Either the bug spray I used worked, or the flies weren’t out that day. Was there swearing? Read on to find out! Inverness is a four hour drive from where I live. I drove up there on Saturday afternoon, and on the way I listened to this episode of the Everyday Ultra podcast with Joe Corcione, “How to Destroy Race Day Anxiety.” His #1 tip was “Trade expectations for appreciation.” I decided to make that the theme of my race. The race started at 6:30 am, at the Mutual Mine Campground. I was there nice and early, and as I was doing some ankle mobility exercises, I let it all soak in- three months ago I couldn’t even walk on my left ankle, let alone run. Now here I was ready to start a 50K race and honestly- I couldn’t even tell which ankle was the one I sprained. Time- and a lot of hard work- really does heal all wounds. The race started, and we were running on some nice single track trails. The weather was beautiful! It wasn’t hot yet, and I was feeling good. After a few miles, I noticed something puzzling. There would be times when I felt like I was working harder than usual, and then times where running felt very easy. Finally I figured out- these are HILLS. Very gentle, rolling hills. We don’t have these things in South Florida! It didn’t bother me- I was just happy to know why my effort seemed to vary so much. As a matter of fact, I was cruising along feeling really good until at mile eight… I suddenly felt a sharp, pulling sensation in my right calf. WHAT IN THE WORLD. Is this a cramp? I walked a little and tried to massage it, but it wouldn’t go away. Remember Calf Guy from my Dunes 50K race recap?? The poor guy had a terrible cramp in his calf and had to hobble through most of the race. Oh NO! Had I become Calf Guy??? I didn’t really know if this was a cramp, or a strained muscle- I’ve never had this happen before (but what better time to start than mile 8 of a 31 mile race?) I just continued on. The calf hurt with every step, but the good news was, it didn’t seem to be getting any worse. I left the 10 mile aid station the same time as another runner, and as we were running about the same pace we ran together for a while. His name was Mark, and we talked about various races we’ve done. I told him my sob story about the Forgotten Florida, and he said he’s done numerous 50k’s, some 50 miles races and one 100 mile race. As we ran on together, I noticed something extraordinary. Mark wasn’t wearing a hydration vest or any kind of waist pack. The only thing he had with him was… a bottle of Dr. Pepper. Sometimes he would hold it, and sometimes he would put it in the pocket of his shorts. WAIT A MINUTE! Is that really Dr. Pepper in your bottle? Yep. Is that all the fuel you’re carrying? Yep. He said he’s a “minimalist,” and drinks water and eats a little of whatever they have at the aid stations, but otherwise he just carries a bottle of soda. Sure enough, when we got to the 14 mile aid station, he drank some water while the aid station workers filled his bottle with Coke. And speaking of that aid station… while I was grateful for every aid station and every volunteer that day, Mile 14 aid station won first prize. They were making WATERMELON SLUSHIES. Did I want one? OH YES I DID! Wow, that tasted good. We continued on our way- me with my flasks filled with water, and Mark with his bottle of Coke. We ran together for about four more miles, and I started to notice Mark’s pace was getting a little erratic. When he was running it was great, but then he would take walking breaks. Now, walking breaks are fine- actually, necessary- but his were getting a little meandering. At mile 18 I decided I would do better on my own. I told him I was going to put some music on and run ahead for a little. He said “Oh, my company isn’t good enough for you?” and… it was a little awkward. I mean, I think he was kidding but I wasn’t entirely sure. I assured him that I had planned all along to listen to music at mile 18 and he said, again, I hope jokingly, “Oh, so you’re one of those runners.” Again… awkward. I felt bad, but with all due respect- did I really want to tie my fate to a guy running with a bottle of Dr. Pepper in his pocket? It was time to run alone. I did think I would see Mark again later, and as a matter of fact I told him that as I ran off- but unfortunately I didn’t see him again. My music really did pep me up, and I was feeling pretty great. Compared to the 20 mile run I had done the week before, which wiped me out, I now had a ton of energy. Yes, it was hot, but there was a LOT of shade on this course, which we don’t have in South Florida, and that helped tremendously. I got to the 21 mile aid station feeling good. Now once again- I’m grateful to ALL the aid station workers that day (and I made it a point to tell them all) but if Mile 14 won