Reset Button

• On: 08/29/2009 19:46:40

Don’t you wish you could snap your fingers and snap out of your bad mood?  I am not necessarily in a bad mood just “off”, ya know?  It started on Wednesday morning.  It was pouring rain all week.  Not drizzling rain, but PISSING rain.  I drove 50 minutes south to meet up with Coach Dave for another gut busting track workout. Actually the same as last week – the real honest truth:  would I be faster than the previous week?  I was determined.  I woke up at  5am, ate my pre-race meal, and started to drive down.  It rained so hard I could barely see the road.  We had so much standing water.  But, Dave knows me all too well – he knew I would not call.  Would not even think about the weather.   I would be there.  Come hell  or high water.  Apparently, I was facing both that morning.  6.55am on the track.  7am start.  Here rolls Coach Dave – these are the workouts that make the difference.  At least I didn't have to shovel the track this morning!

With the rain brought the 100% humidity and lack of any oxygen in the air.  When I was warming up, I was already struggling.  Within 200 meters of my 800m on the track we both knew it was going to be a long practice.  I was soaking wet, running through puddles and for some reason, not 100%.  I grimaced thru the entire set.  Making a joke that I needed a straw to get the oxygen of the air!  Mixed 400s, 200s, 800s and shifting different paces and even negative splitting all of them.  It was ugly.  At times I could barely see Lane 1.  But,  I willed myself around that track.   And, I was faster in much worst conditions in less than 7 days.  That is progress.  And, at the end of each cycle, I just want to see progress.  I think that is what we all want too sometimes.

But, there was no hiding I was not 100%.  I did not feel sick, but rather just trashed to the max.  I took Monday and Tuesday SUPER easy but the weekend prior was that huge weekend up in Madison + 14 mile run on Sunday with speed.  I guess it was still in my legs.  So, when I went to swim OW on Wednesday night, I was like floating in the lake, much to my dismay!  I was swimming like a grandma – AGAIN IN THE RAIN!

Then, on Thursday I got up and did an easy 6 mile run on the grass – and it was pouring so hard that I (again!) was drenched and it was 5.45am and there I was – running circles in a grassy park as to avoid hard pavement.  And, with each step in the soccer field, I sunk further and further into the grass.  It was SO wet!  I was supposed to do a hard bike ride that day, but I was trashed and tired of being wet and cold, so I moved the bike to Friday AM.

Friday AM we awoke to temps in the mid 50s and more rain.  I decided to pass on the OW swim (BOO HOO!!) moreso due to bad water (ecoli) than the cold.  I could care less it was cold outside..the water is still in the 70s.  SO, I was in the pool again at 5.45am and PISSY with Emily that we were in the pool instead of the lovely OW – a pure sign summer is over in Chicago.  Then, I rushed home, met the basement guys (we are having our floors re-done) and got the kids breakfast, set up and I headed down to the basement to do my hill repeats on the Computrainer.  I couldn’t go outside b/c I had the kids and I had to get downtown to work the Chicago Expo booth all day/evening.  The workout went well and I felt great…but, the basement guys assumed I had another way out of the basement (our workout room is separate than the living area) so they laid fresh, wet concrete down…and when I got off the bike (THEY thought I was nuts) I was cemented in!  So, I had to step in fresh cement to get out.  AHH!

I had a great time at the Chicago Tri Expo.  A lot of familiar faces and friends and athletes down there – I sold Recovery Socks and had a fun time chit chatting with everyone all day!  I could get used to that.  I had a twinge of sadness that I wanted to race.  It was cold and the water was choppy – ah, dreamy!  But, alas, I am saving myself for my ½ Ironman next weekend.  Good girl.  Boring girl.  Lame ass.

Got home after 10.30pm (way past Miss Daisy’s bedtime) and I decided to sleep in this morning.  Jerome was up at 5am to head downtown to work the Expo and Morgan was at a sleepover and Graham was still asleep!  Shhhhhhh….and, for some reason I felt like I got hit by a truck!  I was trashed.  And, not from standing on concrete all day – but like a COLD!  Grrrrrr.  I laid there until 7.40am!  Oh my gosh!  Then, I came downstairs and still felt awful.  Got sucked into Ted Kennedy’s funeral and started to work on my computer. 

And, as a matter of fact, that is how I continued to feel all day.  I am SO tired.  I had the chills all day.  I was so hungry…for junk food.  I even made myself pumpkin (homemade) waffles with eggs for dinner…NOW you know I need comfort when I eat that for dinner!  Nevermind the PB Twix stick, Rolos, 3 mini Hostess Donuts (I told you…), PB homemade cookie….I mean, seriously??!  I sent an SOS message to Elizabeth because Jerome was downtown and not accessible and she said, “You even have that crap in the house?”  Oh no….I actually got in the car and went to get a salad at my local café for lunch and then stopped at Walgreens for a padded envelope (don’t ask) and saw the Hostess Donuts and the PB cookie at the café…well, let’s just say it is a slippery slope!

OH!  And, the kicker?  My parents called and wanted the kids @ 12noon for the day – until bedtime.  Oh great , I thought, I can go and do my long/hard run.  Dropped the kids off and started to head home and progressively felt worse.  I think I was being cursed.  I mean, here I am.  NO KIDS from 12noon – 8pm and SOLO and I feel like crap.  Blah!

I came home convinced if I ate something (healthy) that I would feel good and head out on my run.  Well, it didn’t happen and all I wanted to do was lay on the couch!  I played on FB and worked on schedules all day.  I put my PJs back on, tired to eat some good food but instead made Green tea, ate junk food and watched really bad TV.  I knew it was a bad scene when I had HOARDERS on the flat screen TV, FB on my computer and I was surrounded by Rolo wrappers.  I had hit rock bottom.

I just needed to get up and brush my teeth.  I really started to feel sorry for myself. I really wanted to go out for dinner!  I needed a good meal but here I was.  In my PJs, pathetic and Jerome downtown and not home until 9pm.  BOO HOO for myself.

So, I continued to do my work so that Sunday would be a lighter load and made pumpkin waffles + eggs and watched more bad TV and read TIME magazine and STAR and paid bills.

Pathetic, eh?

My mom called at 7pm and said they were ready to meet – I called Jerome to pick up the kids and they all rolled in at 9pm.  I was in the same place when they left earlier today.  Still being a lazy ass.

But, apparently, I NEEDED IT.  I am fighting a cold, but winning.  The change in the weather and running hard day in and out in this crap took its toll.  Let’s hope I can sleep this off and get out of my PJs tomorrow.  But, I think my “reset” day ended up being just what I needed today.  I sure hope so.

I don't think I could stand myself like this another day!