Eat Drink Run Woman

Many runners get anxious during their taper period as they’re concerned all gains in fitness will be lost. Who knows, perhaps I’ll feel that way over the next two weeks when my mileage really starts to decrease, but this week was all about taking care of myself, which meant cutting a couple of runs short.

The biggest thing on my mind was my Thursday appointment with the boob smasher. It was a call-back, so I was just a tad nervous. Interestingly, my anxiety was much greater the day of the call (as I was leaving from my previous boob smashing, the nurse said I’d receive a letter if everything was fine, a call if they found something). I was pretty calm while driving to my appointment, but my anxiety returned as I lay on the table getting an ultrasound. Wouldn’t that be ironic: just when I was feeling the most fit of my life, the big C hits.

My anxiety was short-lived, thankfully, despite hearing the doctor say there is a spot that is “most likely” benign. Having a biopsy is certainly an option if I’m feeling nervous about it, but his recommendation is to come back in six months (as well as do self breast exams). Since breast cancer doesn’t run in our family, I’m going with the doctor’s recommendation (and yes, I already have my appointment).

Of course, when I told my darling the news his inclination was to tell me to have it biopsied. I understand where he’s coming from; every time he has a seizure I want him to get an MRI. He has epilepsy, but there’s always that thought in the back of my mind that perhaps it’s a tumor after all (Ted Kennedy’s diagnosis certainly hasn’t eased my worry). Fortunately his meds keep things under control and it’s been a couple of years since he’s seized (every time he has the slightest twitch I blurt out, “Did you take your Dilantin?”)

Enough of this downer cancer/tumor talk. Sheesh!

Here’s the recap:

Sunday: Okay, so one more cancer reference. Even though, like many Pacific Northwesterners, I have a vitamin D deficiency, I always slather on the sunscreen before heading out for a run. I made it through 3 1/2 hours of intense heat/sun on Saturday with nary a hint of pinkness. On Sunday my darling and I attended his godson’s 2-year birthday party, and it didn’t occur to me to put on sunscreen. We sat out on their deck for a couple of hours, and I was mostly in the shade. I did, however, walk home as my darling had a photo shoot (it’s about 2 miles). The next day I was surprised to see my forehead was quite pink and when I brushed my hair, YEEOUCH! Gotta love the sunburn in your part.

Monday: morning arm routine, afternoon BUAL™ workout (8 miles w/5 x 600m sprints). I really pushed myself during the sprints (my fastest was a 7:02 min/mile!) but since I was still feeling the effects of the weekend sun I walked in between rather than jogged.

Tuesday: yoga, rest day from running

Wednesday: I was feeling the effects of the previous night’s wine consumption (I made dinner for a friend who was turning 40), so I decided to sleep in. My 5-mile recovery run that afternoon turned into a 5.8-mile run at an average 8:43 pace (my recovery runs should be in the 9:30-9:45 range).

Thursday: Planned on running 6 miles but my right calf was acting up again (most likely due to running the previous day’s run too fast). I still averaged a 9:22 pace but after taking 1 lap around the lake I decided to call it a day at 4 miles. I wanted to feel fresh for the next day’s 15K time trial. When I entered my run into my log I realized Pfitz had called for just 4 miles that day; I had decided to add on 2 miles to make up for a shortage. I know, I know; I’m supposed to be in taper mode. Now’s not the time to add miles.

Friday: back to the gym for my arm routine and some stretching. After yesterday’s run I iced my calf and ran The Stick across it. I iced it again after my gym routine as I wanted to feel good for my time trial. (I was scheduled to do the last of my tune-up races this week but was unable to find any races that fit the bill).

I had a rather ambitious goal — 1 hour, 15 minutes — which would be the same pace as my 10K race in Arlington (8:04). Just as I plan to do for the marathon, I wanted to start off conservatively and then gradually increase my pace. I started with a half-mile warm-up, then picked it up. I was shooting for maintaining an 8:15 pace for the first three miles, increasing it to an 8:05 for the next three, an 8:00 for the next two, then finishing the remaining 1.3 miles in a sub 8-min/mile pace. I hit my mark for the first 2 miles (8:16 and 8:13 respectively) but went too fast for my third (8:05). As a result my pace slowed to an 8:20 and 8:17 for the next two miles. By then I decided to shoot for my second goal of finishing under 1 hour, 17 minutes. I succeeded: 1:16:22 (which translates into a 3:51:16 full)! I also made note of each 5K time and was thrilled to see not only was each a PR, I ran each faster than the prior one (25:34, 25:25, 25:23).

Saturday: Although I was scheduled for a 16-miler, I not only decided to add a couple of miles, I was going to make it a hilly run. Because the weather forecast was for cool, cloudy skies, I wasn’t in any particular hurry to head out. It was well after 10:30 when I hit the road and I was dismayed to see bright, sunny sky (I’m sure the rest of the Memorial Day revelers didn’t share my dismay). My route took me through the neighborhood to the locks, then over to Discovery Park. Fortunately the loop trail at Discovery is shaded, but it’s also rather hilly.

It was after noon when I left the park and the rest of my route was in full sun. I got a slight reprieve as I ran along Elliott Bay (the temp was cooler along the water), but I started getting extremely light-headed despite taking in lots of Heed. It was then I decided to cut the run to 16 miles. I also walked up the two steep sections of Broad Street. I hit 16 miles in Fremont and immediately headed to the store for a banana and an Odwalla chocolate protein shake (I still had a little over 2 miles to go, and even though I’d be walking it, I knew I needed nourishment).

After washing off the crust of salt that coated me I collapsed on the couch for an hour-long nap. Thank goodness today is a rest day!