Final Chapter (hopefully)

Why hello again and thank you for reading this. I did indeed go for a run today!

3.5 K @ 7'28. You may see that this is reduced from 8'15 last week  and 8'20 on Monday. I am a little proud of that. I always find it so interesting how your actual physical well being affects things. I know it shouldn't be a surprise but it is to me. Just shows that you gotta take care of yourself. Before I ran today I checked my BP, I also checked it after I got back from my run and after my cool down. It was high normal, then normal then low-normal. So it seems I am good to go again and can close the Low blood pressure saga.

The actual run in itself felt really good. I find that I have a short stride so I tried to stretch out a bit and it felt good. As I finished up I felt so good I picked up the pace and did a bit of a dash.  Subsequently, I got a stitch. They always remind me of the one day I was on the cross country team in elementary school. Not one day when I was on the cross country team, the one day. I was 7, got a stitch, didn't know what the heck was happening and quit the team.

As a follow up to the last post, I did register for a race. On April 15, I will be running the 5K individual race in the Hustle for Hunger. The race raises money for the Daily Bread Food Bank. If you would care to donate, go here: http://www.giving.runningroom.com/hm/index.php then you can click on pledge an athlete on the bottom left of the page and search for me. My goal is to raise $50 from soliciting 5 dollars from 10 people. Of course more is welcome.

Guess what?! It's Heart Month. Heart and Stroke is a cause dear to my...wait for it...heart. Right now you can do a risk assessment and just for doing that Desjardins Financial Security will donate $1 to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. It only takes 10 minutes and you're helping others as well as yourself. Here's the link: https://ehealth.heartandstroke.ca/heartstroke/hsra/?LID=1&pgSrc=risk_MDW_panel_HSF_desjardins_en I did the assessment and have 10/16 positive risk factors (improve my heart health) and 6/17 negative risk factors (that reduce my heart health). After the survey they give you tips and tools that you can use. One of which for me was build a network that supports you. And that's you guys! I check every day to see how many hits my little blog gets and I love the support. Like I mentioned before I think about what I'm going to blog about while I run. I was not so keen to get out on this oh so grey day and the thought of sharing how my run went got me out there.

No Run

I was scheduled to run yesterday but my morning blood pressure check revealed that it was still too low. Raw deal. It does mean that all I want to do now is run. I was walking (very slowly) home from a friends' place and considered just legging it figuring I'd be home by the time I passed out and decided that this may not be the healthiest course of action and continued dragging my heels all the way home.  I think the meds are pretty much out of my system today and I will be able to pick it up again tomorrow after checking in with my doc. In the meantime, I've been looking at some races online that I'd like to do. It's always more motivating having a date to train for. I can't believe that there was a time when I had sworn I'd never do a race. I had also forgotten (until I watched too fat for 15, terrible TERRIBLE reality tv show) that I had toyed with the idea of doing a try-a-tri. I checked out the distances and to train for one in the summer seems realistic. I'm thinking of doing aother 5 k in April then the try tri in June. If you're interested lemme know.

This is also the first post that I've done on my phone so please forgive any mistakes until can fix them on my computer. I committed to blogging Monday, Wednesday and Fridays and don't want to fall off the wagon so soon.

Mishap

If you know me well, you know that I rarely complain about my life being boring. In fact, last night I was thinking about writing my autobiography and realised I'd have to publish it in volumes. Today, I decided that I would go for a jog before going over to belly dance with a 6 year old (her chosen activity, not mine). I was gonna do a simple 3.5 K in the snow. I did about 2 K before my body refused to let me do anything more. I had to stop, it wasn't the normal metaphorical "wall". I can push through it typically, but not today. I thought perhaps it was the extra layers I was wearing, that I was carrying supplies (ie scarves and a dvd...hey every gram counts) for belly dancing and the fact that my food consumption for the day was minimal.

One of my many medical conditions that leave physicians scratching their head and saying you're so young is my hypertension aka high blood pressure. I know I don't lead the healthiest lifestyle but I still confound drs. I've had it for 9 years now. Easily controlled by meds. This past week my doc tried me on a different med in the same family as the one I was previously on, just cheaper. And evidently, MORE EFFECTIVE.

After the initial 2 K I finished walking over to my best friend's (hi, I know you're reading). I felt kinda off, a little fuzzy in the head. I stood up and everything went black and there was kind of a whooshing sound. My God, I thought I was going to pass out. Throughout the variety show that is my medical history I have NEVER felt like that before. First time for everything eh? So after terrifying my best friend, her fiance and their children by looking near death (sorry about that!), I had to call my dad to come get me. Made a quick trip to Shoppers Drugmart to check my BP and found that the machine could not detect anything (twice) I used an at home machine, which just kept coming up with an Error message. Thinking the machine could be broken I got my dad to give er a test. Just fine. Damn (I mean, good for him. Bad for me). I also ruled out that it was my blood sugar. another first was calling my GP at home to see what to do. Stop taking the meds. Check back in a couple days. Got it.

For now, I shall lay in bed and elevate my legs.

I think, including the jog where I sprained my ankle terribly, that was the worst run I've ever had. The ankle sucked but until I actually injured myself it was a great run. This wasn't even that good of a run.

This URL Should be Changed

28 mins at a pace of 8’15

Listened to my genius mix of adult alternative.

Run Route

My URL should be MorganRunsOnceAMonth.blogspot.com. Hopefully I will change needing to re-name it. My relationship with exercise waxes and wanes. Currently it is waxing. Just not with regards to running. I did a sun salutation challenge for two weeks. Simply adding a sun salutation a day successfully was quite motivating. I got the idea from Esther Ekhart over at Yogatic on youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/yogatic. I did 15 instead of 10 repetitions. I initially found her looking for a yoga warm up and she won me over with her peculiar accent. I may expand the scope of the blog into my endeavours with fitness in general as yoga has snuck its way into my erractic exercise schedule.

But for today I shall discuss running. Since I did that this evening. When I head out for a jog I typically develop a mental outline of what I’d like to blog about. Today I had a million and one trains of thought. I settled on the fact that I was cold. Before I go out I typically check the temperature on my weathereye in my tray from http://www.theweathernetwork.com/ which I love, to almost an alarming degree. I really had to force myself to head out today and just checked the temperature on the icon in the try without opening the program. It was 0. When I run I typically wear one layer less than I would if I were heading out without any accessories other than my Lulu headband. I am not typically a hot person. I love running in the winter. I donned my long sleeve lulu tee, under a shortsleeve lulu tee and a pair of UnderArmor pants, my headband (which I like cuz it holds my earbuds in my ears nicely) ankle socks, sports bra and runners. That’s everything. Normally after about 3 minutes I warm up. This time I was COLD. My hands were freezing and I damned myself for not checking the windchill. Admittedly, when I did get home and see that it felt like -6 I would have only put on a hoodie to go out there as I never run in gloves because before today, my hands have never been cold on a run. I did find it rather distracting though, and when I wasn’t thinking about what I wanted to blog about I was thinking about my hands. I’m sure if I was a real runner not focussing on my run would have affected my pace or technique or whatnot. It took half my run for me to be comfortable.

HOLD ON! I just checked my Nike+ site to compare if my uncomfortable state had anything to do with my pace time (which if you look back, you will notice has significantly slowed). They have a new feature. It shows your pace time at each kilometre! I sure do like that!! Even if I was momentarily distracted and annoyed by the fact kilometre was spelled kilometer. Anyways, the sad truth is that my cold hands had no impact on my pace time.

Regardless, the (oh so obvious) lesson learned today is to check the windchill, not just the air temperature.

And now for a little weather lesson thanks to The Weather Network (http://www.theweathernetwork.com/glossary/windchill).

“Wind chill is the cooling our body feels when the impact of temperature and wind are combined. Normally, on a relatively calm day our body is able to provide some protection from the outside temperature by heating up a thin layer of air that lies close to the skin. This added insulation is known as a boundary layer. On windy days, however, this insulating layer gets taken away, leaving our skin more exposed to the outside temperature. It takes time and energy for our body to warm up another layer of air, and if this layer continually gets blown away, eventually our skin's temperature will fall and our body will feel colder.

The wind can also make our body feel colder through the evaporation of any existing moisture from our skin. Through this process more heat is drawn from our body.”

“…The first wind chill formula was based on experiments conducted in 1939 by two Antarctic explorers. Over time this formula was modified, but stayed based on the original experiments. In the year 2000, Canada decided to head a committee to develop a New Wind Chill formula. Spear headed by the Environment Canada branch of the federal government, more than 35 countries participated. It was agreed by all parties involved that the new formula and reporting methods for wind chill would be more accurate, easier to understand, and incorporate new scientific knowledge.

The new wind chill index is based on the loss of heat from the face only - the area of the body that is most exposed to severe winter weather conditions. After conducting some additional research it was decided that wind chill readings would be expressed in temperature like units so that it would be easier to comprehend.”

On the Road Again

Actually, I mostly run on the sidewalk (as previously discussed).

Sometimes something comes along and kicks your butt. That thing for me this time around was Crystal. Her friend wasn't able to make it to the Toronto Marathon 5K which she had registered for and Coco (Crystal, same person) asked me if I would be her companion on the race. I replied to the text in a very sleepy state that I would. When I awoke and was rational, I realized that I hadn't run in 5.5 months. NO PROOOOOBLEM (!). So I had to start running again then and there. Well not then and there, that day though.

It was interesting starting over. I've gained a substantial amount of weight. So it takes more effort and I am significantly slower. I did have a lot of moments where I was reminded of why I enjoyed running. The first run I literally kept begging my body to remember what running 5 Km felt like. I ran a lot in the 10 days leading up to the race to just get my body used to running the distance. It took its toll and I was sore but it was just a short term solution for the quickly impending race. My goal for the race was 40 minutes and to run the whole thing. Run, using the term loosely.

That's another thing, although I was reminded of how much I LOVE running (I have a growing affection for my 5AM sunrise run) it was frustrating. I am slower, MUCH slower, a whole minute slower in my pace time. In addition I've got my injury to consider. My body moves differently to compensate for my ankle and my hip has become an issue, especially on uphills (which again, I enjoy, or I should say enjoyed...). It gets really sore. It prolly doesn't help that I'm lugging around more weight either.

One thing that has not changed is my distaste for running in the rain and my fellow Ontarians will attest- It's been hella rainy of late. So, it was on race day too.  the race was pretty terrible. I was slower than my last race and I didn't do it in 40. The 2nd half was uphill and it really affected my hip. I did it though. I now have a benchmark again. In November I am aiming to do a 10K.

Why I enjoy getting up at 5AM

Thanks Coco for getting me started again.

Walk to Run

As a result of insomnia I was fortunate to experience a 5 AM outing. It made me realize I've really missed out this winter. It was -11 (-18 with the windchill) and it was a delight to be out there. So lovely and fresh. As long as you have the proper gear it's great. I looked like a marshmallow but it was worth it to be outside (seeing as I hate treadmills ever so much). I had on (from bottom to top) my Saucony runners (of course), sport socks, lululemon shorts, sweat pants, underarmor pants, lululemon short sleeved tee, cotton long sleeve tee, underarmor hoodie, cotton hoodie, scarf & to top it off my lululemon headband earmuffs. I was quite toasty. As for my lungs they held up decently well but I was not running for a sustained period of time. I won't know how that goes until next winter I guess cuz I certainly won't be running for any stretches before winter's end.

As for a bit of an update last week. I made it through week one of the walk to run. I dropped my phone TWICE while I was out. It's never tried to run away from home before, it must know that I am considering purchasing a new phone.

My doctor told me to get an air brace or summat for my ankle and to avoid road running. The brace I can do, the not road running I cannot. I feel it's an acceptable compromise.

Updateroo

As you may, but probably have not noticed. I haven't blogged about a run for a while. So, I shall update you.

December 12 I had a great run, my first real run in the snow this year. With lovely large fluffy flakes falling from the sky. Every time my foot fell there were puffs of the magical white stuff lifting up. Ideal running conditions for this gal.

December 13, OH December 13, this day is historically TERRIBLE for me. True story. Head out for a jog and I am killing it. KILLING IT. For me. I ran  1.5 k in a 6 and a half pace time I believe, so 45 seconds under my pace. It's cold, the air is fresh, there's a couple of inches of snow but I'm running on the road so it's all good. Then, I am on the freakin' ground. Go to get up, can't walk. Nope not happening. Again, because I am not always the safest runner I normally don't bring a phone with me, I did this time though. Thank goodness as it was 11pm and needed a ride home. The thing swelled up immediately but I could wiggle my toes. I googled sprain vs break and it seemed that it was just a sprain. I "R-I-C-E"'d it that evening and did not at all sleep well and decided at 5AM that I should prolly head to the hospital. X-rays were done on my ankle, just a sprain. JUST A SPRAIN. It killed (and not in the way that I killed it running earlier). I couldn't weight bare (bear?). It was upsetting. I also was not impressed that the intern that saw me also googled sprains and gave me medical advice from the same site that I had earlier reference myself. She informed me all would be well in 3 days. Fast forward 3 relatively painful days (keep in mind I endure the pain of pancreatitus, often unmedicated) and my ankle is the ugliest thing I have ever seen. Swollen and an unnatural purple. I can no longer move my toes and I still cannot walk unassisted. Off to the fracture clinic I go to see if my FOOT is broken cuz they only x-rayed my ankle. All is well though, no broken bones and I am sent on my way am told that unfortunately all I can do is suck it up, by a very kindly (although it doesn't seem it) x-ray tech.

Throughout these various hospital visits and over the week I was repeatedly informed that a sprain is worse than a break because there is nothing that they can do. This is the gospel truth (sing it with me!). It's TERRIBLE. Thank goodness it was winter so I could get away with jamming my over-inflated foot into a pair of cute winter boots.

So 3 weeks later and I head to a walk in so I can get medical clearance to work at my SOCIAL WORKER JOB where I largely sit at a desk and the doctor informs me that I have an unusual sprain in that I have, in fact, sprained 2 ligaments and I am not do do anything to it until the beginning of February. No running, no yoga. AWESOME (!). This means no race, no skiing. He did prescribe me some anti-inflammatories and some cream that contains chili peppers that MUST be washed off your hands before coming in contact with parts of your body, like your eye. I found this one out the hard way.

I've managed to keep myself lazy (not a difficult feat, some pun intended) but I miss it. I miss running. I miss running with my whole heart! My ankle is still wonky so I'm going to see my GP this week to discuss some physio. The ankle's still a bit swollen but as my 8 weeks have elapsed I have recently started my Nike+ walk to run program. It's depressing me. It is simple, but challenging at the same time (which it should not be). I miss running for a consecutive half hour. I run for one minute on this program. ONE. The distance is only one Kilometre. ONE. I realize that I have to work my way up again but it sucks. It effing sucks. Also, having completed the Running Room walk to run program twice, I think that I prefer that one. Because this Nike one is easier though, I am doing it because although when I walk my ankle is fine, it gets sore when I pick up the pace.

I am torn on the issue of sharing this walk to run program with you cuz I literally and metaphorically feel lame doing so. Hopefully it is a quick process though, I am doubling up right now and doing 2 sessions a day. Perhaps I will fill you in occasionally.