Monday Madness, 8/22/2011

Ailarie · Aug 22, 2011

Good morning, folks. Hope everyone had a FAB weekend. Looking forward to seeing some AK birthday pics, too!
 
I have a question for you guys. It's something that seems like common sense to me, but I want a second opinion please. I ran 15 miles yesterday, and although I drank well over 64oz of powerade during/after the run + water + tea + muscle milk + whatever else during the day, the stupid dehydration headache came on again. It's better today, but still not great - strong enough to really make me want to reach for that ibuprofen. (Especially as soon as I start moving around.) I'm sipping more powerade now, and hope to kick this thing to the curb soon.
 
I was scheduled for a blood donation at 3pm today, but I'm thinking that if things are out of whack right now, that the donation might not be such a swooft idea today. I know that donating is important - but so is not making it harder for my body to recover. 
 
What's your take on the situation, please? Thanks!

eccabex · Aug 22, 2011

Good morning everyone!!
 
I tried donating once when I was a bit dehydrated and it was a miserable experience, Ailarie. I would definitely reschedule.
 
Happy belated birthday to AK and Litchkiddo!
 
2 more days until I have to go back to work. Sadly, I have nothing fun planned. I'm hoping to sneak out to see The Help tonight, but who knows it that will happen.
 
Oh, and I did a little running yesterday. My running partner and I were planning on running at 8pm, as she was busy all day. Originally, I was going to run a few miles in the morning and then run with her at night. However, I was lazy and didn't go in the morning. Big mistake. My running partner bailed at 7:45. <img alt="sad.gif" id="user_yui_3_3_0_8_131401252147625" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad.gif"> I only wound up with 3 because it was dark and I'm a big baby.

Litchfield Hills · Aug 22, 2011

Ailaire - I would reschedule. On a related note, I find that staying hydrated well before LRs helps minimize the headaches. If I am running long on Saturday, I drink water like mad on Wed, Thurs, and Fri. 
 
I've been awake since 3 AM. Bah. I did get in a sleasy 3.

aemerryman · Aug 22, 2011

Morning peeps!
 
Ailarie, I'm with everyone else on the rescheduling. And I, too, tend to get headaches after LR's, but in my case I've always wondered if heat didn't play a big role in it too, as I run 'hot' anyway...just a thought, since it's August and all.
 
I'm going to see if I can hit the PE center for a yoga class tonight at 5:30, hoping that the hand scanner is back up and running. I've paid my semester $20 for access, so I'd like to start using it. And, in other fitness-y type news walking around this HILLY campus is already causing me to drop a few lbs, which is nice. 
 
I had an interview Friday for a GA position with the Provost's office, but I'm not holding out a lot of hope...my computer skills (or lack therof, currently) may take me out of the running. This is where my retail background (not working on any sort of a computer every day) is going to hurt me. Still, it was nice to be recommended to interview, and if I don't get it, at least I now have some people willing to advocate on my behalf for another position. <img alt="smile.gif" id="user_yui_3_3_0_8_131401375851217" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">
 
Probably should jump in the shower, and head to the library. However, I can check back in when I get there!!! This is a fun and novel state of affairs. <img alt="biggrin.gif" id="user_yui_3_3_0_8_131401375851229" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">

praecipua · Aug 22, 2011

Morning, everyone! I actually have fitness to report! I walked 3.4 miles this morning, and it felt great. Sure, my back was twinging the whole time, but I love the adrenaline and cathartic nature of exercise. I know I keep saying this, but I really hope I can do it more regularly. I went up a size this year and some of those clothes are getting tight. Yikes!
 
Being in the UK for six months during the height of Mad Cow has prevented me from giving blood for the last 10-12 years, so I don't remember the protocol anymore. I would imagine that giving another day would be the best solution, Ailarie. Thanks for donating.
 
I want a report on Brandy's shirt-less running!
 
My first class is tomorrow, and I spent the weekend playing, so I need to head to the coffee shop this morning to get stuff done. Then I have a meeting with one of my TAs, who is also one of my favorite graduate students. Hopefully it will be fun as well as productive.
 
Good luck to all who start school this week either as teachers or students! And to all the rest, have a great week!

Ailarie · Aug 22, 2011

Thanks for the confirmation, folks. I've emailed my contact at the General Mills plant (where the blood drive is being held), asking him to please forward my need to cancel the appointment this afternoon. I'll just reschedule at a location sometime after the summer heat has passed, where I'm hopefully not losing as much fluid on my LR's. The term 'sweating like 10 men' definitely applies to me, and although I thought I was doing an OK job of hydrating in general, it looks like I'm going to have to step up the efforts a bit more during peak summer months. (or cut down my distances, which quite frankly, I'm rather enjoying - so that's not my preferred method of getting around the issue!).
 
Ugh... it doesn't help that the AC is broken here at the office, and we're all sweating just while sitting at our desks. I finally broke down and took some ibuprofen. If the AC isn't fixed by noon, my boss has OK'ed me to just go home and work remotely for the rest of the day. Smart move since it's already about 82F in here now.
 
Ann - Ooh, good luck on Friday! One never knows who the final candidate will be, so absolutely - go in there with the attitude that you can handle anything they'll ask of you!
 
Prae - Rawr for what sounds like a refreshing walk!

aemerryman · Aug 22, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Ailarie <a href="/t/74945/monday-madness-8-22-2011#post_2010812"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a> Ann - Ooh, good luck on Friday! One never knows who the final candidate will be, so absolutely - go in there with the attitude that you can handle anything they'll ask of you!
 
</div>
</div>
 
The interview was actually *last* Friday, and they had at least one more candidate to interview, so I'm not sure when I'll hear back. I think the interview went well from the standpoint that I wasn't thrown AT ALL by the fact that it was three people doing the interviewing, I was able to be very at ease and answer their questions without hesitation, and I think I was able to connect on a human level with all three of the women. I just don't know if a) I have the computer skills, and 2) 10 hours of availability will be enough for them. 
 
We'll see...I'll keep you posted. 
 
Now, time to READ... <img alt="read2.gif" id="user_yui_3_3_0_8_131402184326015" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/read2.gif">

Brandy · Aug 22, 2011

Ailarie - good call on the rescheduling. I find it extremely hard to avoid those headaches on LR/hard effort in humidity and/or direct hot sun. It doesn't seem to matter how much or what I drink...I can also get them when it isn't hot out if the effort is near 100%.
 
Good luck on the job Ann!
 
Happy berfday to AK!
 
Race Report - Overall another grand experience. Seriously, if you have never done a relay race with a bunch of friends, put it on your bucket list! We didn't finish too high in the standings but we were overall there for fun not placement (although I ran my arse off).
 
I was runner #1 (woot!) and my legs were scheduled the way I like them, with Leg 1 being the longest and hardest graded (7.7 miles). Our start time was at 10:00 a.m. but it was already in the mid 80s I would reckon and as you are running on the shoulder of state hwys for the most part, it was all in the sun and there was not 1 cloud in the sky. I was already soaked during my warm up (and yes I was shirtless!). I made a mental note to NOT GO OUT TOO FAST. In these relays, you rarely have a group around you so I wanted to make sure not to get sucked out at way too fast and burn out on the road. Still Miles 1 and 2 were some of my fastest at 8:16 and 8:10. I started to sit behind this one chick at mile 1 and was zoning out as we were slowly starting to pull people in and then after 2, BOOM! she starts doing 845s..so she became my first roadkill. I continued to hammer away at 820s. I reeled in another 6 people before finishing in 1:03 (leg was actually 7.61) <a href="http://www.runningahead.com/logs/7fc5917f2cb94b5b91a26557d6c2e584/workouts/8e678ccf77654fe686df84d226dd9572" target="_blank">http://www.runningahead.com/logs/7fc5917f2cb94b5b91a26557d6c2e584/workouts/8e678ccf77654fe686df84d226dd9572</a>
 
I was a pile afterwards but took my Ensure as a recovery drink and started to feel better. However, for runner #4, we stood waiting for her to come in for about 40 minutes (that leg was long) and there wasn't any shade at the exchange. It was blazing hot and I ended up with a bit of heat exhaustion with a nasty headache coming on and was sidelined for most of the rest of the night. boo. 
Everyone during the day time runs had a tough go with a few emergency calls and a ton of walking.
 
Only after 2 tylenol, 2 advil and 2 excedrin migraine and some Salted Nut Roll ice cream, was the pounding sidelined. time to get ready for Leg 2!
 
 
Leg #2 - This once started at almost 9 p.m. (so dark) and was supposed to be 6.4. I had gotten my stomach to cooperate (always an issue on these runs) but my right lower calf was giving me some issues. the heat broke and I could wear my compression socks for support. As it was dark out, I really had no concept of the course other than I was following the blinking lights out of town. I passed 1 girl right away and then started to feel really sick. I had those awful vomit burps and a nasty side stitch and was seriously thinking I might have to stop to throw up at some point. I continued however to hammer out the steps up and down some hills and avoiding nasty cars flashing their brights at me (seriously dude). I passed one more guy and did get passed 2x by gazelles doing sub 7s. I almost had another kill coming into the exchange but they put us up on the sidewalk due to road construction and there were tree branches to be avoided and uneven pavement so I couldn't smoke the downhill like I wanted. I had also tweaked my right foot on some uneven pavement on the shoulder and was having quite a bit of pain around my ankle which was worsened by downhill running. Overall came in at 52:12 for 6.34 (short again) which actually would have given me a 10K PR

<a href="http://www.runningahead.com/logs/7fc5917f2cb94b5b91a26557d6c2e584/workouts/97f1a6c1ae664f02a83f26ccc70d4629" target="_blank">http://www.runningahead.com/logs/7fc5917f2cb94b5b91a26557d6c2e584/workouts/97f1a6c1ae664f02a83f26ccc70d4629</a>
 
 
Break - bought beer and pretzel m & ms - ate the pretzels...saving beer for later
 
Tried to get some sleep but got none. Took a lovely shower (yay!) and got to see Nettie!
 
Leg #3 - my shortest and last. It was supposed to be 3.9 but again was short (seriously people!!). I only saw 1 guy on this leg and passed him - I really hammered on this one and it really felt good. Ended up with something close to my 5k PR on a 3.27 run. I almost threw up again.
 
<a href="http://www.runningahead.com/logs/7fc5917f2cb94b5b91a26557d6c2e584/workouts/18bf194a1fe34211b5f5ed06d48b75cc" target="_blank">http://www.runningahead.com/logs/7fc5917f2cb94b5b91a26557d6c2e584/workouts/18bf194a1fe34211b5f5ed06d48b75cc</a>
 
 
Drank a beer, had some popcorn, took a shower and went to the finish line to celebrate

Ran 4 recovery yesterday and 3 this morning. Legs are tired but not horrible. I however am still exhausted!

Litchfield Hills · Aug 22, 2011

Very impressive Brandy!!!!

runningINnyc · Aug 22, 2011

Morning all! My stomach was a wreck this morning and caused me to bail on my regular meet-up with a friend but I'll get out for some miles later today, the weather is quite nice for it too (finally!).
 
Fantastic performance Brandy!!! Was the MN Red Chicken in your van?
 
Ailarie - great job on the LR. As Litch said it's very important to be well hydrated going into the run, I drink like crazy and have plenty of salt in my system as well.
 
Way to get it going, Prae! I'm also mega impressed with your cross stitch project, looked beautiful!
 
boB - unfortunately I won't be in town to run the New Haven 20K this year <img alt="sad.gif" id="user_yui_3_3_0_8_131402322926918" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad.gif"> Although it's just as well, my running is in the shitter and I don't want another sucky day at that race.

Runninlaw · Aug 22, 2011

<img alt="icon_cheers.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/icon_cheers.gif" style="width:24px;height:24px;"> Brandy! Nice job!!
 
Ailarie - I would bag the blood donating until after Grand Rapids. Not only is it a bad idea when you are dehydrated, but it is a bad idea when you are long distance training. It really will take more out of you than you think. I gave blood during marathon training once and could not figure out why I wa having such a hard time for the following three weeks. Then my sister gave blood a few days before a half marathon and completely tanked and a little light bulb went off. The next time the Red Cross called me, I explained that I was marathon training and they unequivocally told me I should not give. So unfortunately, I haven't given blood in a couple years b/c I am seemingly ALWAYS training. I need to be better about giving the month or 2 I take off between seasons. But long story (still kind of long), I wou;dn't reschedule until the end of October.
 
Rest day for me. I am exhausted too. Our flight was delayed and we did not get home until Midnight. Then I slept like crap. Oy vey.
 
Thanks for the racing wishes - but I did not race last weekend! That must have been Cindi! I hope her half went well.
 
Happy birthday to AK and big old vibes and hugs to you all.
 
Here are a couple of my fave pics from the weekend:
 
<img alt="" class="spotlight" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/314321_2240071439870_1190554559_2602618_1950151_n.jpg" style="width:720px;height:549px;">
 
<img alt="" class="spotlight" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/298364_2240089800329_1190554559_2602660_3251960_n.jpg" style="width:720px;height:482px;">
 
 
<img alt="" class="spotlight" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/308952_2240092200389_1190554559_2602662_8042633_n.jpg" style="width:720px;height:482px;">
 
<img alt="" class="spotlight" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/315053_2240100680601_1190554559_2602695_4656572_n.jpg" style="width:720px;height:578px;">
 
<img alt="" class="spotlight" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/314908_2240105320717_1190554559_2602710_6107340_n.jpg" style="width:720px;height:525px;">
 
<img alt="" class="spotlight" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/313383_2240130561348_1190554559_2602793_3776568_n.jpg" style="width:720px;height:482px;">

praecipua · Aug 22, 2011

Way to gut it out, Brandy. Sounds painful but quite fun. I would love to do a relay some day, but that would mean starting to run again, so I'll have to put a relay off for a year or two.
 
I probably missed everyone's fall race calendar, but I know Ailarie is training for a full (you go!) and clare a half. Looks like boB is running about 12 marathons. What about everyone else? I'm already on the list to volunteer for a marathon and a 7 mile/25k/50k trail race. I'm going to talk to the guy who times local events, who I've helped at the finish line a couple of times, and see if he needs help at his races. He's only been in business about a year, but I like helping out, and it will be nice to have a reason to get outside on the weekends.
 
Hugs to those who are injured or feeling the heat. Fall is (hopefully) right around the corner.

Runninlaw · Aug 22, 2011

QOD: Last night on the plane, I was reading the latest Runner's World magazine, and in it, there was a comment that studies show that running over 45 miles per week only really helps elite runners and not regular joe schmoes like us. I find that hard to believe, but truth be told, only ran that low of mileage for my first marathon. Any thoughts?

Brandy · Aug 22, 2011

QOD: I think that is RW BS - they are seriously pandering to more entry level/weekend warrior types of runners (obviously based on their choices of covers and topics). 45 mpw is bare minimum in my book for training for a marathon & won't get you the best time you could be capable of.
 
Maria - why yes he was!

clare · Aug 22, 2011

Hi guys!
 
We had a busy weekend! My niece got married on saturday. Lena was the flower girl. She did a great job! I'll have to post some pics when DH gets around to sending them. While my sister was doing a reading, Lena runs over to me in the audience and says, "I love you!" hee hee!
 
Poor DH had to have a molar pulled first thing this morning (after his back shift). It had cracked a while back and he didn't realize it. Got infected. So they hauled it out this morning. The whole idea of it gives me the greeblies. Yikes.
 
I did a 7k run on saturday and a 16k run yesterday. Today is a rest day. I'm not sure what's happened lately but it seems any speed I gained (well, speedy for me) has been lost. I dunno. It's a little disappointing.
 
Question: I'm doing a half marathon this weekend. I've been trying to break the 2 hour mark on a half for a long time. Last year I ran this course and finished around 2:04. But I'm in marathon training right now. Should I not worry about speed and just treat this as a long, supported run? I just don't think I have it in me to do it in under 2 hours. If you'd asked me earlier this year, when I was busting PRs left and right, I'd say I did. But not lately. 
 
Prae, that's some beautiful work you did! Very impressive!
 
Brandy, you too! Wicked! I've never done a relay where there was more than one leg. The ones I've done have just had one, long leg. I'm not sure I could handle doing something like you did!
 
Ailarie, good job on rescheduling your donation. I donated a couple of weeks ago and haven't felt the same since. I'm supposed to go again in september but I'm going to reschedule for after NYC.
 
Love the kiddo pics!
 
Evelyn pooped out 2 pennies at daycare the other day. It freaks me out, wondering if there's anything else in there. That girl is bad for putting things in her mouth. I'm not sure where she got the pennies because we're pretty careful not to leave stuff laying around.
 
Sad news. The federal NDP leader passed away earlier this morning from cancer. He battled prostate cancer earlier this year and seemed to be doing alright. Then a couple of weeks ago he said he would be stepping down so he could deal with another bout of cancer. He looked horrible then. I guess things went downhill from there, fast.

Brandy · Aug 22, 2011

clare - I would say go for it. Some tempoish running will be helpful in your marathon training. What is your goal marathon pace?

Runninlaw · Aug 22, 2011

Clare - I would try to race it. You are in good shape since you are marathon training, even if a bit tired. If you can rest a bit the days before, you may have a great performance and it could be a great tune-up race. That said, if you don't have it, don't hesitate to slow down early on and just run it as a training run. Note, however, that I have found that all-out halves affect me for a good week afterwards. I usually need to slow it way down and take an extra day or two off to fully recover.

duckgeek · Aug 22, 2011

Yay on the exercise Prae!
 
Ailarie - I only get those headaches when I postpone my caffeine for too long. Since I normally have some caffeine in me by 9 am, if I'm doing a long run from 9 am to 12 noon I have to make sure that I get at least a little bit of caffeine in me prior to my run or around 4 to 5 pm I'll start getting a headache. Weird, and I should just quit the stuff but I think it's how I self-medicate my likely ADHD. WRT giving blood, I'll do it early in a training cycle but not in the last 8 weeks prior or 2 weeks after a marathon. The only time I bonked after a blood draw was when I donated 10 days after a hard marathon. I couldn't stand up and walk around for about 3 hours after the donation without getting dizzy.
 
Clare - run it at marathon pace and kick the last couple of miles if you feel great.
 
Great pix, RIL!
 
Brandy - I love, love, love relays! It would be great to get a 30s team together for the Cascade Lakes Relay (my favorite) some day. Congrats on the smokin' fast times!!!!

Ailarie · Aug 22, 2011

Rehi, everyone.
 
Ann - Uh.. oops. Yeah.. I remember that now. I even wished you good luck for it! I guess I was thinking this Friday was phase 2 or something. I blame it on the headache!!!

Brandy - Wow.. cool RR. I had to snicker that every leg was short, but I guess I'd be more grumpy if I was in a relay and every leg was longer than expected

RiL: This potential blood donation was the last date that I was comfy using before GR. I feel that I've got a good base training-wise, and knew that the donation would certainly force me to cut back a little, but as my body has objected and put me into plan B, it's all good. I'll actually wait until December to donate again, as I have another HM on Turkey day.
 
On other topics, you have some SHARP looking kidlets. The baby isn't yours, right? Cute photo with the grab-my-toes pose!

lublub eet!
 
Prae - small correction. I'm not training for a full. Hell will likely freeze over first. I am, however, increasing my LR's for half training. It seems with every HM I've done, even with training runs at 10/11/and maybe a 12 miler, I always end up bonking at the 10/11/12 mark on the course on race day. Every time. So, my logic is that if I train my body for longer distances, on race day my mind will be logical and tell my body that the distance is less than what I've been training at, and hopefully my muscles won't bonk. Whether the plan works or not, remains to be seen.
 
Qod: Uh.. I am so not qualified to answer this question. I have never come near 45 miles a week, nor do I expect to.
 
Clarebear - Go ahead and go for it. Mid-race if you feel the cards aren't falling where you want them to, just back off and enjoy the run for what it is. 
 
Okay.. while the headache is slooooooowly subsiding, (and AC is slowly being restored to the office) I need to find some grub! Later 'Mater!

amichel · Aug 22, 2011

Hello out there. Crazy busy weekend here, but mostly good stuff. Slept through my alarm this morning though. Heading to campus for a meeting soon. Have a good one!

Monday Madness, 8/22/2011

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