Nail in the Coffin

Week 32 and 33: October 6 - October 19

Run: 0 km
Bike: 0 km
Swim: 4500 m

This was supposed to be the big marathon week-end. For months I've had all the logistics in place and been excited as my marathon goal started to look attainable. Unfortunately bacteria got in the way, and I've been approaching marathon week-end with a combination of depression, at not being able to run; and excitement at spending a week-end with friends, without the burden of having to run. Even as my lungs continued to fill with phlegm, I still entertained the notion of doing a run or walking with my Mom. That dream crashed (literally) after I arrived in Vancouver and promptly opened a steel door onto my big toe. Someone out there really doesn't want me to run.

Needless to say, any dream of walking or running was gone and I was left to limp the weekend away. Thankfully, I got to do this in the company of some friends who had recently abandoned the Yukon for Vancouver and our new Ward. In the last two weeks, Tony and I have become the proud parents of a 16 year old. Most people decide to start their parenting with a baby, but we went straight for the teenager. While our good friends Beth and George are exploring the wonders of China, their daughter Lusia is our Ward. As a brave parent, I immediately stuck Lusia on a plane and dragged her to Victoria. Jenn, Julie and I spent the weekend hanging around Victoria: shopping, eating, and watching others suffer.

One of the poor souls I got to watch suffer through the marathon was my own Mother, who I had successfully convinced to do a marathon with me. It was nice to take on the role of supporter, when for the last year I have been a support-sucker instead of a support-giver. I also got to see the front-runners speed through the 1/2 and full marathon; and tried to feel inspired by people whose marathon speeds exceed my fastest sprint.

As you can see, the weeks weren't a total disaster and I did manage to get to the pool three times for my Master's swim class. Thus far, swim class has been a lesson in humility as I routinely get run over in the pool. I'd like to think bad lungs were partly to blame, but I have a bad feeling it's just horrendous technique.

Sierra posted this on Oct 20, 2008 from the outside | | permanent link

White Flag

Week 31: September 28 - October 5

Run: 0 km
Bike: 0 km
Swim: 0 km

The white flag is waving, the towel is in the ring, my hands are up and I'm screaming "Uncle". This is all to say - I give up! I have done nothing this week - I have not ridden a bike, I have not gone for a jog and I have yet to dip my toe in the pool. I have spent the entire week wallowing in self pity as my lungs continue to produce phlegm at an unreasonable rate. Any fantasies I had about doing the Victoria marathon has dissipated and I'm not even sure I'll be able to walk it with Mom. The idea of doing Seattle at the end of November is even starting to look impossible.

During all the training runs and interval sets of the summer, I couldn't imagine how much I would miss running. I go to bed every night hoping that my lungs will feel strong and clean when I wake up, so I can do a small tour of the Millenium trail. Every week I re-visit the calendar to check if I've got enough time before Seattle, or Las Vegas or Honolulu, or any other pre-January 1 marathon. All I want is to get back on my feet - or more precisely get my feet back into my running shoes. I've been trying to figure out what I am missing, since during every workout I can't wait to be finished. What I've discovered is it isn't the act of running that I enjoy, it's the moments after the run that I love. It's being exhausted after powering through a long run, it's feeling the muscles in my legs before I go to sleep, it's that non-stop hunger that I know is caused by my body begging for more calories. Right after a run, my muscles are warm enough to do a proper Downward Dog (my least favorite yoga stretch) and a warm shower feels like the most luxurious spa.

I want to run....who would have thought?

Sierra posted this on Oct 07, 2008 from the livingroom | | permanent link