All Over the Place

This week has been super weird. Our schedule at school was off because of a field trip Monday (to the Holocaust Museum here in SWFL...it's always an exhausting and rewarding trip), half-day Wednesday, and our big Fun Run for our fundraiser and carnation deliveries for Valentine's Day on Friday. Needless to say, it's been a little chaotic.

My homeroom thought up this brilliant name for our "band". Get it?

Still, I was able to get in my planned runs plus volleyball practice for our faculty volleyball tournament!

It's totally weird how one run can be perfect and the very next run can be awful. I experienced that this week and I think I've finally nailed down one of the main causes. Tuesday's run, after the pain-fest that was this weekend's 5k, was really excellent. I felt like I was flying and my lungs felt pretty good the whole time.

I was so exhilarated to run 4 in under 40! I miss the days when I did this all the time.

Volleyball was Wednesday, no run, but Thursday's run was terrible from the start. I got really bad shin splints (which I never get) and my legs started cramping and aching like they had during my marathon. And that's when I put two-and-two together.

My pre-run smile clearly says, "I was expecting better." At least I had a nice view for some of it.

I've been taking Mucinex for this cold, too, but I felt better Monday so I didn't take any Monday night or Tuesday...and Tuesday's run was fantastic.

I took it this afternoon after work...crampy legs.

I know Mucinex and other medicines like it are made to dry you out, and it's clear I haven't been drinking enough water to counteract the effects! (I've been drinking tons of hot tea for my throat and congestion; Meg [who is also running the A1A - we're wearing our matching Ragnar tops!] suggested I drink NUUN leading up to race day this weekend and that may help.) I'm so glad to have figured out what's probably causing my occasional  leg cramps. 

The big take away here is that I finally feel like I understand how to avoid the cramps I had during my marathon. I had never had cramps in training, but I was taking Mucinex the entire week leading up to the race!

Anyway, my runs were all over the place this week, but I don't feel too worried about Sunday anymore. I'm excited to enjoy it and to ring in my birthday with a crazy-cool race medal, fun experience, and lots of friends. I'm looking forward to meeting Kristina and some more Sub30 buddies!

Speaking of birthdays, I got a few cards in the mail today and I can't decide if I should open them now or save them until Sunday! What do you guys think? I already know Meg's opinion!

In other news, this week Matt picked our pineapple! It turned yellow overnight, which meant picking-time! I chopped it up and planted the top. It's delicious.

Just kidding...I know how to eat a pineapple.

Sweet, homegrown goodness.

And to top it all off, my new Pro Compression sleeves also came in the mail...perfect timing for the half this weekend! (And Valentine's Day, of course.)

All in all, I'm going to chalk this up to being a pretty fantastic week!

 

How has your training been this week?

Do you like pineapple?

Do you open birthday cards right away, or do you wait?

ABK