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July 20, 2005
Confessions of a blog avoider
In the past (almost) year since I joined this blogging community, I've posted nearly every day about my own training. But, I admit, I don't always read everyone else's blogs. At first it was because I got busy with school and didn't have time to read them (and that was back when there were only a handful of us!), but I have to admit that reading about other people's workouts always makes me feel like I'm not training right or doing enough. I have always compared myself to others--whether in running, school or just random life stuff--and I realize that there will be always someone who does more. Depending on what kind of mood I'm in, I may or may not obsess about how far below I fall under this "standard." So, for the past six months or so, I've generally been avoiding reading blogs. (But during school, Audrey filled me in on everyone's life events, even before she had a blog herself.) But I've been looking for some support and motivation this summer, so I'm back in the loop--or at least partially!
Anyway--back to the subject at hand, today's run. As I predicted last night, I was still feeling the effects of the track workout and being dehydrated from that. Before I went to bed last night, I noticed that I was getting cramps in my leg muscles a lot--which was likely another symptom of being dehydrated. According to the weather gods, it wasn't quite as humid out today, but it felt pretty stifling this morning. I had wanted to do about 7 or 8 miles, knowing I would be slow. But after about 15 minutes, I knew it was stupid to keep pushing my body when I felt awful. Drinking Gatorade helped some, but every time I stopped at a light I wondered how I would get started again. I was already over one bridge when I made the decision to cut the run shorter, though, so it couldn't have been that short. I ended up at about 50 minutes--minus some walking on the Brooklyn Bridge coming back, I was totally dying--but it was so slow that I'm calling it 5.
I felt really bad when I came home, because I've been cutting my runs short and just generally feeling like crap, mostly because of the weather. During the day today I realized that I still felt funny--my vision wasn't quite right--and that happens when I'm really dehydrated. I was sick of drinking water though. I got a Jamba Juice with my lunch, and that seemed to hit the spot. I'm not a big smoothie person because I don't like any fruit with seeds and because I just get sick of drinking them. But the little baby JJ is a good size for me.
By the end of the day, I felt a little better but I was very sleepy. (I've had a few nights of too little sleep.) I considered skipping the gym to go home and nap, but since I had only run 5 painful miles in the morning I gave it a whirl. I was going to run on the treadmill, but I realized my body is telling me something for a reason. So I biked for awhile and watched the news. I was really sweaty when I finished (the gym is not too cool) but felt better, in a weird way. After that I was able to get some quality lifting in, which helped my mood.
And that's today's recap. I'm beat. Just gotta check the results of the Nike Run Hit Wonder tonight in Central Park...
Posted by becky at July 20, 2005 8:39 PM
Comments
A) I somehow feel like a loser b/c I was reading everyone's blogs and reporting to you! Oh wow, I am laughing out loud as I write that, but I seriously do. :)
B) That's cool you'll be reading along. And hey, I am only swimming b/c you motivated me to get my butt to the pool and explained what a pull boey was so I COULD actually swim even with my leg injury. I am not sure I would be doing the tri if you hadn't basically held my hand for that. So you motivated me!! Thank you!!
Posted by: Audrey at July 20, 2005 10:44 PM
I know it's hard not to compare, but girl, you do a lot of working out/running too! I'm definitely inspired by your hard work and consistency. :)
Posted by: Leilani at July 22, 2005 3:18 PM