Well, it happened in May, and yesterday it happened again. I fell while running. I just must learn to pick up my feet, or either get a walker.
The good news is that I fell in a picturesque area--going through a covered bridge in Vermont. It was the MAD Vermont Marathon, and the course was pretty. The good weather was a bonus; it stayed overcast most of the day.
I was happy to celebrate as my friend Carol finished her third completion of the states. And it was my 41st on my second time.
I enjoyed seeing so many friends and felt good through the end.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
Hyponatremia back again! Ugh!
Maybe it was because I explained my past troubles with hyponatremia the night before the race, but I was hit once again with this condition. During the last few miles of the Boy's Ranch Marathon in Live Oak, FL, I knew I was in trouble and took more electrolyte capsules. I also tried more gels, but the last one just wouldn't go down. I felt as if I needed both salt and sugar. I was reduced to walking only. After I finished, I tried so hard to celebrate the 50th marathon of fellow marathoner Mellody Hughes, but just couldn't think of eating cake. After a few minutes, I had to lie down. I went to my car and reclined the seat.
I sort of dozed for a few minutes until the race director came over to see about me. When I raised up, I knew what was next. At least I had time to warn her to move away before I threw up. Of course, this made me feel better. After a few more minutes of resting and more water, I felt all right to drive. I went straight to the nearest store and bought salt & vinegar potato chips. A couple of miles later, I pulled into a rest area where I nibbled on the chips, drank more water, and eventually slept for about a half hour.
When I woke up I felt fine and was able to drive home (about 3 hours).
Since then, I've had a light cold and cough that just won't go away completely, which is making me feel fatigued. So it's hard to get excited about another race right away. Nevertheless, I'm doing Garden Spot in PA two weeks from yesterday. Then the Potomac River Run on May 5, the Delaware Marathon on May 12, and Fargo, ND, on May 18. Three in quick succession.
Then I'll need to find something in June. I need at least one a month or I might have to actually--TRAIN! Egads!
I sort of dozed for a few minutes until the race director came over to see about me. When I raised up, I knew what was next. At least I had time to warn her to move away before I threw up. Of course, this made me feel better. After a few more minutes of resting and more water, I felt all right to drive. I went straight to the nearest store and bought salt & vinegar potato chips. A couple of miles later, I pulled into a rest area where I nibbled on the chips, drank more water, and eventually slept for about a half hour.
When I woke up I felt fine and was able to drive home (about 3 hours).
Since then, I've had a light cold and cough that just won't go away completely, which is making me feel fatigued. So it's hard to get excited about another race right away. Nevertheless, I'm doing Garden Spot in PA two weeks from yesterday. Then the Potomac River Run on May 5, the Delaware Marathon on May 12, and Fargo, ND, on May 18. Three in quick succession.
Then I'll need to find something in June. I need at least one a month or I might have to actually--TRAIN! Egads!
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Miles of driving, no medal
I drove up to Pine Mountain, GA, last Saturday and met some friends for a nice dinner Saturday evening. I got up Sunday morning to run the Callaway Gardens Marathon. I was in the hotel dining room for oatmeal and coffee by six o'clock, and planned to drive to the race site by 6:30. The drive time was only five minutes, and since it's a small race, I didn't want to stand in the cold for long before the 7:00 early start. Back in my room after breakfast, I started to feel a bit lightheaded and my stomach was unsettled.
What to do? I had to make a quick decision because 7:00 was fast approaching. I just couldn't imagine running, or even walking, feeling the way I did. I decided I'd lie down for a few minutes and see if felt better in time for the regular 8:00 start. Of course, if I did that, I'd have the pressure of making the six hour cutoff.
I woke up again at 8:30, so that decision was made. I went back to sleep for another hour, waking up around 9:30. This after having gone to bed very early the night before. I still don't know what it was, but it must have been some minor bug to make me sleep that much. So, another 8-hour drive home with no medal.
The curious thing is that this has happened twice before in the last couple of years. As I was driving, I wondered if it could have been some emotional, psychosomatic thing. But with the early start, I would have had seven hours to complete the event, and the weather seemed nice. Good friends were there to provide great company. So, I ruled that out.
I still don't know it was, but I hope it doesn't happen again. Being somewhat of a miser, I hate spending the entry fee, hotel room, and gasoline and not do the marathon. Hope this week goes better in Tallahassee.
What to do? I had to make a quick decision because 7:00 was fast approaching. I just couldn't imagine running, or even walking, feeling the way I did. I decided I'd lie down for a few minutes and see if felt better in time for the regular 8:00 start. Of course, if I did that, I'd have the pressure of making the six hour cutoff.
I woke up again at 8:30, so that decision was made. I went back to sleep for another hour, waking up around 9:30. This after having gone to bed very early the night before. I still don't know what it was, but it must have been some minor bug to make me sleep that much. So, another 8-hour drive home with no medal.
The curious thing is that this has happened twice before in the last couple of years. As I was driving, I wondered if it could have been some emotional, psychosomatic thing. But with the early start, I would have had seven hours to complete the event, and the weather seemed nice. Good friends were there to provide great company. So, I ruled that out.
I still don't know it was, but I hope it doesn't happen again. Being somewhat of a miser, I hate spending the entry fee, hotel room, and gasoline and not do the marathon. Hope this week goes better in Tallahassee.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Toe socks worked great
After power-walking First Light in Mobile on Jan. 13, I had sore muscles so bad, and also bad blisters--AGAIN!
So, the next week in Ocala, I did two things different than in Mobile. I tried Injinji toe socks for the first time. I have had these for about a year, but kept hesitating to actually run in them. I put them on first, then my regular Balega's on top of the thin, toe socks. No blisters! My feel overall didn't hurt nearly as much as they usually do.
Second, I went back to the alternating walk/run segments. My beeper was set at 40/40, but it's battery was dead. I used my watch, which happened to be set at 40/30. That ratio worked very well. So well that I stayed steady during the second half and even had a negative split. Two out of my three potty stops were in the first half, so that could account for the negative split. But I did maintain a steady pace, and felt as if I speeded up for the last three miles.
I'm doing Callaway Gardens, GA, this weekend and I plan to repeat the same plan as Ocala. Meanwhile, if you're troubled by blisters, I suggest you give toe socks a try.
So, the next week in Ocala, I did two things different than in Mobile. I tried Injinji toe socks for the first time. I have had these for about a year, but kept hesitating to actually run in them. I put them on first, then my regular Balega's on top of the thin, toe socks. No blisters! My feel overall didn't hurt nearly as much as they usually do.
Second, I went back to the alternating walk/run segments. My beeper was set at 40/40, but it's battery was dead. I used my watch, which happened to be set at 40/30. That ratio worked very well. So well that I stayed steady during the second half and even had a negative split. Two out of my three potty stops were in the first half, so that could account for the negative split. But I did maintain a steady pace, and felt as if I speeded up for the last three miles.
I'm doing Callaway Gardens, GA, this weekend and I plan to repeat the same plan as Ocala. Meanwhile, if you're troubled by blisters, I suggest you give toe socks a try.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Still working on 2nd read
Even though I haven't posted here in a long time, I have been working. I've published an SAT vocabulary book, SAT Words--Prioritized. and I'm working on an SAT grammar workbook and an SAT math workbook. I'm still running, up to 153 marathons to date.
In addition to all that, I'm still working on my memoir about my running life. I'm currently reading it for the second time to my critique group. I'm about half way now, and I hope to get it published by May.
My two running goals are: 1) finish the states for the 2nd time, and 2) complete 200 marathons. During the last year, my knees have bothered me for the first time. I'm starting to walk more, run less, and I've decided to avoid doubles, all in an effort to get my knees through more miles. These days, I'm looking for marathons with generous time limits.
And I seem to be unable to avoid blisters. Every time a method seems to work for several runs in a row, and I think I've found the answer, I have blisters again. I'm currently nursing three bad blisters that developed during First Light Marathon in Mobile, AL, this last weekend. Perhaps I'm just doomed.
Here at the beginning of a new year, I'm going to make another commitment to post to this blog more often. We'll see how that works out.
In addition to all that, I'm still working on my memoir about my running life. I'm currently reading it for the second time to my critique group. I'm about half way now, and I hope to get it published by May.
My two running goals are: 1) finish the states for the 2nd time, and 2) complete 200 marathons. During the last year, my knees have bothered me for the first time. I'm starting to walk more, run less, and I've decided to avoid doubles, all in an effort to get my knees through more miles. These days, I'm looking for marathons with generous time limits.
And I seem to be unable to avoid blisters. Every time a method seems to work for several runs in a row, and I think I've found the answer, I have blisters again. I'm currently nursing three bad blisters that developed during First Light Marathon in Mobile, AL, this last weekend. Perhaps I'm just doomed.
Here at the beginning of a new year, I'm going to make another commitment to post to this blog more often. We'll see how that works out.
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