Running Through Life: April 2009

Wednesday Track Workouts

Track workouts are back. Most of my summer team is being handed off to the Fall TNT coach next weekend. I am going to be so lonely.

Wednesday will be a get together with somemembers of the spring team. I just plann on running 3 or 4 miles as maintenance for the indy half marathon.

Nice and slow.

Saturday was my first run since the Illinois marathon. My legs feel fine. I am still tired, but starting to think that is vitamin and stress related. I had coaching duties for TNT so out to Lake of the Woods I went.

Got and and said hi to my one team member that showed and she was off on her walking way. About 15 minutes later, alumni Randy was coming up the trail so off I went with him - jogging and walking. 6.28 miles later and we were done. Legs were tired, but no pain.

Now it is just maintenance running until the Indy half.

2:05 here I come.

After marathon healing

All healed.

Well maybe not. Legs just feel tired but walking is ok. Stairs are still an issue - why didI buy a 2 story farmhouse?

No track practice tonite. My summer team just doesn't get into my plyometrics, intervals or speedwork.

I might try running tonite. I might not.

WARNING! WARNING! Non running related info.

One of the Universities vet med classes is coming out to the farm tonite for a demostration on acupuncture for larger animals. They will be using one of my goats and a horse that one of the students board at my place. Should be pretty cool. I'll have pics and video later.

Non related running info over. Resume normally running reading.

Next event for me is the Indy half marathon in 3 weeks. Hope for a PR there as well. Last year 2:16:49. Cutting a good 8 minutes would be nice. I'll have to see how the legs feel.

Pictures of some great people

The following are some pictures of TNT runners from the inaugural Illinois marathon. I have met some wonderful people through TNT and I am sure to meet more as I continue to caoch, mentor and participate in events. The people below are the kind that make this world go round. They are extraordinary in their caring and giving to others. They always there to lend a hand or to give helpful word.

I am honored to have met you and run with you.

Congratulations to all!!!

Hyponatremia

Apparently several runners frm the Illinois marathon complained of muscles cramps yesterday, including yours truly. And as most point out that this can occur because of dehydration. Though I doubted this and sugested HYPONATREMIA. Huh?

Well, thanks to our TNT head coach Maria, I knew what this was and suggested it as a cause.

(Disclaimer - I am not a doctor, I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night - this is just my opinion)

Basically, hyponatremia is an indication of low salt (sodium) levels in your body. The brain cannot handle this and lethargy, disorientation, cramping may occur. Death if it is not treated.

Per Mayo Clinic - Hyponatremia occurs when the sodium in your blood is diluted by excess water. Hyponatremia may result from medical conditions that impair excretion of water from your body, or by a significant increase in water consumption, such as by athletes competing in marathons and other high-endurance events.

Hyponatremia symptoms may include:

Nausea and vomiting
Headache
Confusion
Lethargy
Fatigue
Appetite loss
Restlessness and irritability
Muscle weakness, spasms or cramps
Seizures
Decreased consciousness or coma

Now I know many of you probably already believe that I suffer from confusion or decreased consciousness, but I did get the muscle cramps like many others. One site mentioned that the muscle may tremor or ripple. That is what it felt like to me - you could feel the calf muscle move down my leg, like a ripple.

Since the aid stations were handing out bottles of water, many of us probably drank more than normally during our marathon. And with normal marathon sweating, out goes the salt.

Why bottles of water? Well, FEMA donated them as they were left over from some tragedy and due to expire in June of 2009. Yes, water bottle have expiration dates.

Illinois marathon

Is in the books.

My attempt was great considering the calf tremors and pain the last 9 miles or so. My calves would just ripple and then pain would set in. It was weird. Never had anything like that happen before. But the pain was intense enough that I had to stop running and walk.

But I finished. I even PR'd by almost 4 miuntes. And I was only off my slow estimate time by 7 minutes. It was still good.

Ate afterward with friends. Ally son put me in a hot tub type bathtub to soak and have the water jets soothe my aching muscles. Only half the jets worked, but they were the half on my side. She did leave me to sleep in the tub though. Hmmmh!!!

She took me to dinner later, let me drinks a few beers and back to the hotel for sleep. She was good.

Inaugural Illinois Marathon

IS THIS WEEKEND.

right now weather is predicted to be 39 - 60 degrees (Fahrenheit to my Canadian bloggers)

well, that was the prediction at 6:30 this morning.

now it is -

The field is full. I think they capped it at 1500 marathoners, 2500 halfers, but I really have no idea.

Ok, I know what all of you want. You want to know my prediction times. Well, you gotta wait. They are coming. I am told patience is a virtue. Be virtuous. I have other items first.

First, and most importantly, I will be running with my TNT friends. Yes, I am a Team in Training alumni. I will be wearing my purple shirt. TNT is a wonderful group of people that raise funds to help battle blood cancers. When you see the purple, yell and scream. Let them know you appreciate what they have done.

Secondly, I have started a new blog to write about what might be becoming an obsession for me. Boston. Not the city, but the marathon. I am having fantasies about running it. Now, I could raise money and get in without running a qualified time. But isn't that cheating?

To qualify correctly, I need to run a 3:30 marathon. My PB is a 4:55 in Anchorage last June. Anchorage is a tough course. It is a hilly course. I think Saturday I will run faster. To check out this new blog go to Boston Will Be My Be-atch.

Alright, here is what you want. My prediction.

First history -

Air Force marathon - 2005 - 5:47:12

Chicago marathon - 2005 - 5:30:59

Mayor's marathon - 2008 - 4:55:05

2005, no training, I just kind of went for it. @008, I trained two days a week, but not very hard. This year my training was mostly two days a week. A really hard speed session and my long runs.

Drumroll......

4:15 - 4:45

Yea, I 30 minute spread. Which means I 4:30 is what I am looking at. A 4:15 would really be awesome. Fantastic. Freakin. Boston here I come (after dropping another hour)

A 4:30 should be very doable.

A 4:45 - ok, disappointment would be on my face here. But it would still be a PR.

4:29:59 or better.

See ya on the 50 yard line of Memorial Stadium.

Running Through Life

Running and life - both moving you forward and yet you always seem to return home.

Wednesday Track Workouts

First run since...

After marathon healing

Pictures of some great people

Hyponatremia

Illinois marathon

Inaugural Illinois Marathon

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