Finding My Chi

Last week: 19 miles

Saturday: 5 miles, easy

Weather: Perfect!

Saturday morning met with a new doctor. We talked about different things that may be causing an irregular heart beat. The cause can be as simple as the multi vitamin I'm taking - I checked out very healthy for my age, but nonetheless, I'm getting a CBC and wearing a heart monitor for a week. So we will see.

I spent the afternoon with my family - our town's annual Pet Parade…Look at those wacky photo-bombers!

Around 6:30, I had the house to myself, which hasn't happened in as-far-as-I-can-remember.

I went for an easy, peaceful run around 7 pm. It was cool, sunny and gorgeous. Read and relaxed the rest of the night in a quiet house. Ahhh, I needed that. 

My husband lovingly says I don't know how to "do nothing" because it's "not productive". But, as much as running is an active form of meditation for me, relaxing should be as well. I need to do a little more sitting on the patio, chilling.

Happy Monday! Hope you all had a great weekend.

Dialing Back

Coming off a disappointing run at the Boston Marathon, sick with a horrible cough, my first thoughts were that maybe I didn't train hard enough. So when I recovered, I was all set to kick it up a notch, until my high hamstring decided to do the same thing.

(So that's three things on Danny Dreyer's blog Eight Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Run list:
1. Not warming up and starting off too fast
2. Thinking you have to go faster than you should
3. Running too many days in a row
4. Running too far on new terrain
5. Running through non-productive pain or injury
6. Incorrect fueling and/or dehydration
7. Wrong shoes
8. Being too serious)

I had to see my chiropractor, who I love - a runner herself - so she could fix me up lickity-split. Thought I would go in, get taped, get some stretches, etc. 

But wouldn't you know it. She detected an irregular heart beat.

I have to say, I'm not messing around with this heart stuff. Especially after doing lots of reading on how marathon training/running can stress your heart (googling md stuff can scare the bejezus out of you). 

And as my mom lovingly reminds me, I'm no spring chicken.

On a positive note, I did have an EKG last November and everything was fine. I, myself, was feeling this irregular beat before I would fall asleep. My doctor said it was mostly likely stress, dehydration, too much coffee. Ok, fine, that's manageable.

But until I get a second opinion, I've dialed it way back. Walking Dexter and running slow and low miles. I'm keeping a positive outlook that everything is normal, nothing to worry about.

We had a long, restful weekend, got out early one morning and went to my "happy trail" to walk the dog.

Still Sick. Sun, Please Shine Down on Me

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Yes, it's true. I'm still sick. No voice, coughing like crazy and tired.

Day 8 of not running.

Sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I had a moment to peruse my blog and MAN, someone needs a sunshine make over. It has been a long winter!

I got a fragrance ad in the mail – bright, happy, orange.

So I posted this picture of Tory Burch on my fridge – golden blond hair, glowing skin . . . looking healthy and sun-kissed (I don't even care how much that photo was retouched, I like it) unlike me, pasty white, coughing, feeling completely out of shape.

When I'm better, I'll work on some muscle tone too . . .  geeze. Those running pictures of me are most unflattering – one may think it's my first day going out for a jog.

Rest is best to shake being sick, but getting a little restless. You can bet I'm thinking of the next race . . .