Migraines Mondays & Temperate Tuesdays

BAD NEWS: I haven't been feeling too great for the last 24 hours or so. I had a MILD migraine (i.e. Level 3 migraine on my migraine scale). It is my regular monthly migraine (the one I get every month right before my visit from Mother Nature).

GOOD NEWS: I have officially pretty much reduced my migraines from 4 out of 7 days a week (i.e. 180 days a year ... i.e. 15 days a month ... i.e. every other day) to 1 day a month and I no longer have Excruciatingly-Painful-persistent-hot-flashes-can-not-stand-light-or-sound-nausea/vomiting-crying-from-pain-Need-to-go-to-the-Hospital-Migraines (i.e. Level 10 migraine on my migraine scale)

That being said, my little Level 3 did knock me off my workout plan yesterday, POOH!

I was totally lazy and ended up having Pizza for dinner and Publix Moose Tracks Ice Cream for dessert (i.e. creamy chocolate ice cream with scrumptious peanut butter cups and rich Moose Tracks Fudge) making yesterday a total Eating Healthy and Light FAIL!?!

But I did do something good!

While I lazily watched TV and Facebooked and toyed on the computer, I noted the price had gone considerably down on the Garmin Forerunner 305 (probably due to the Garmin Forerunner 310XT which is waterproof).

So, I went ahead and ordered it as my Christmas Present to Myself!?!

I do admit I am a bit of Stat-Lover! It keeps me motivated and getting out there regardless of the fact that they aren't the most impressive STATS ... they are MY STATS and I LOVE THEM!

I also promised myself I needed to start taking my paces more seriously and working on some speed is going to be my next FOCUS!

So, this morning I drowsily opened my eyes to check the time to see if I could squeeze in another 5 minutes before the alarm rang and WOULDN'T YOU KNOW IT: I WAS LATE!!!!

Alarm was set for 5:15 ... Alarm clock read 6:05! YIKES!

But instead of rolling over and getting another hour of sleep, I jumped up and rushed out the door!

Score 1 for me!

It was a beautiful TEMPERATE morning: 69° degrees with 93% humidity.

Today's run was a recovery run so I decide to keep it easy.

Mile 1: 0:12:19
Mile 2: 0:12:50
Mile 3: 0:13:25
Mile 4: 0:12:06
Extra: 0:05:18

I didn't get into it until another runner passed me as I started Mile 4 ... she wasn't the first one of the day ... but she made me realize I could run faster and that I was just being ... well ... LAZY!

I realized I need to focus more and push my body!

I haven't run a Great-Outstanding-Wanna-Puke run in ... well .... AGES!

I know that doesn't sound attractive but it's how I know I've run my all!

I realized haven't been pushing myself and just let myself run COMFORTABLY which is probably ABSOLUTELY why I have been slowing down the more I run!

Final stats:

Distance: 4.45
Time: 0:55:59
Pace: 12:35

Lesson learned: I can't just let my body decide my speed, I need to keep my head in the game!

Today I plan to do a DOUBLE-UP!

Don't worry it probably won't become a habit! But because I ran in the AM I am going to do some of my Strength Training to make up at least a little part of yesterday's workout ;)

Happy Tuesday!

My Weekend in 6 Chapters

Chapter One: My First 13.1

Saturday's run was scheduled to be a long one. My Half Marathon plan had it down at 9 miles, my concurrently running Full Marathon plan had it down at 14 miles and I had it down at 12 miles to be fair and split it down the middle. When I started running I had no doubt I would finish the 12 miles and within the first two miles I had already decided I would do the full 13.1.

I tossed it back and forth through out the run. Should I? Should I go for it? Would it be too much? What if I get hurt?

Ah, what the heck!

I went for it!

To my very pleased surprise I made it ... very near my race goal time ... 2:31:59 (I was shooting for 2:30:00)

Chapter 2: Week In Review

In Review - Week of November 2nd:

Half Marathon Training Week 12 of 12:
(Full Marathon Training Week 7 of 18:)

WORKOUT	DISTANCE	AVG Speed	TIMES
	30.04 Miles	5.09	5
	0 Miles	N/A	0
	0 Meters	N/A	0

Total Workout Time: 05:53:34
Total Running Time: 05:53:34

Haven't had much energy to Bike or do any weight training which brings us to:

Chapter 3: A very much needed restful weekend

After accomplishing that run ... the rest of the weekend felt like I had won a prize :) I rested and relaxed and even took a nap :)

I got to sleep about 10pm every night ... yeah, I know I am entering boring granny territory ... but boy do I feel much better after a few good nights of a FULL 8 Hours of sleep!?!

Chapter 4: 100 Push-Up Challenge

Last week I was invited to take on the 100 Push-Up Challenge (yet again) and I've decided to take it on again! :} Perseverance is key!

This time Lisa over at Chasin' Bunnies has gotten a group together to take on the challenge.

I will be starting this week at Week 2: Day 1: Level 3

Chapter 5: Eight Weeks left in 2009

Boy, this year has flown by... as the good one's always do!

So, I was looking at the calendar and I noticed there are 8 weeks left in this year ... not a full eight weeks but more 8 more Monday's ... and hence 8 more chances to weigh in.

So, I've decided to break my WEIGH-MY-SELF-EVERY-SINGLE-DAY-LIKE-AN-OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE habit and do it once a week and I've decided to follow Weight Watchers for the next 8 weeks and attempt to lose 10 pounds ( or 1.25 pounds per week over the next eight weeks).

I think it is quite do-able.

Chapter 6: 6 days till Race Day

It's SIX days away!

I'm so excited! Not so long ago it felt like I wouldn't make it but here I am in the Pre-Race Tapper :)

Unfortunately, today's run is up in the air ... I woke up with a Migraine (my regular monthly one that I can not avoid no mater how well I eat or how much I exercise or try to relax :\ I apologize for the TMI boys)

I have a 4 mile run which I can technically do tomorrow if worse comes to worse so I am not going to let that tension add to my migraine.

Wishing everyone a FABULOUS Monday!

Running Vac-ay Is Over

We are currently holding at a Level 0 - ALL CLEAR on the Migraine Threat Scale.

The running vac-ay is no over! HO-RAH!

Thankfully, my weight maintained stable over the 5 days (almost eerily so). No weight gain AT ALL ... even though I was comfort eating the ENTIRE 5 days. I kept looking for something to make me feel better and after Thursday's REBOUND HEADACHE from taking too much ADVIL (which is what almost forced me to go to the hospital) I turned to food (yes, I know, WRONG ANSWER!)

So it's been 5 whole run-free days.

Wednesday: A Planned Rest Day due to the Concert
Thursday: Migraine Forced No Run Day
Friday: Migraine Forced No Run Day
Saturday: Still had a mild migraine but was going to give a run a try but got majorly rained out
Sunday: Got caught up reading Club Deadby Charlaine Harris (Author of True Blood) ... Yes, I read the whole thing in one day! I was done by 6pm (I'm an English Major, Glad to see I've still got my reading chops!) which is my running window but it was cloudy so I started Dead to the World instead.

Half-Marathon Training Phase 2 is over and we are beginning Phase 3. Meaning that I've got 8 weeks (55 days) until my first Half-Marathon!

Today, I am scheduled for a Strength Training Day which I would much like to skip and make up my 6 miler from yesterday. But I know I probably shouldn't.

Considering this weeks schedule:

Monday: Cross/Strength Training
Tuesday: 4 Mile Run
Wednesday: 5 Mile Run
Thursday 3: Mile Run
Friday: Cross/Strength Training
Saturday: 45min Tempo/4 Mile Run
Sunday: 7 Mile Run

I think I will stick to the plan and push on ward!


In Review - Week of September 13th:
Half Marathon Training Week 4 of 12:

WORKOUT	DISTANCE	AVG Speed	TIMES
On the Run	4 Miles	5.32	1
On the Bike	0 Miles	N/A	0
In The Water	0 Meters	N/A	0
Strength Training	90 minutes	N/A	2

Total Running Time: 0:45:08
Total Training Time: 3:45:08

This weeks stats S.T.I.N.K.! I was so demoralized yesterday I even thought about bagging the Half-Marathon. I know this set back was due mostly to my migraine but I could have done more. Not to worry though I tossed that thought off the boat in a JIFFY!

ON WARD HO!

This set back will be double motivating to STICK to this weeks plan!?!?!

Wishing everyone a Happy Monday!

SWR and The 48 Hour Migraine

So the She Wants Revenge Concert was AWESOME!

Mr. Boyfriend, THE GRRLS and I had a wonderful time.

We started the evening at American's Backyard having drinks and catching up since not seeing each other for about a year.



Then we headed over to Revolution for the concert!

Kill Hannah was the opening band and performed a great show.

The next morning I woke up and had a minor headache. I wasn't surprised because we drank ALOT. But I thought "I'll take an Advil and it will be gone before the afternoon and I'll be able to get my run in"

BOY WAS I WRONG!

Let me begin by explain my Migraine Level Scale:

0 - No Migraine and A-OK
1 - Mild clogged feeling
2 - Uncomfortable clogged feeling; Feeling pain
3 - A headache
4 - Headache, waves of hot flashes, sensitivity to light
5 - Headache, persistent hot flashes, sensitivity to light, need lights dimmed
6 - Headache, persistent hot flashes, sensitivity to light and sound, waves of nausea
7 - Very Painful headache, persistent hot flashes, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea
8 - Excruciatingly Painful headache, persistent hot flashes, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea/vomiting
9 - Excruciatingly Painful headache, persistent hot flashes, can not stand light or sound, nausea/vomiting, crying from pain
10 - Need to go to the hospital

By the afternoon the headache had morphed into a full grown migraine (Level 7) and by the evening I was crying (Level 9) and getting dressed to go to the Hospital.

Thankfully, I was able to get it under control before that was necessary but the pain was EXCRUCIATING!

This afternoon I thought the same thing. I woke up with a moderate headache (Level 3).

Even Mr. Boyfriend wanted me to go for a run ... he knows that if I have a low level migraine (Below evel 3) I can usually kick it with a 3 mile run ... I think it's the endorphins but that's just a theory.

But the migraine was still too strong (Level 5).

It is now 48 hours later and I am still down from this migraine.

Currently holding at Level 3.

I'm down for the count and getting some rest.

I am hoping I will be better tomorrow.