Well, caught in the limbo between "not a big deal" and "potentially life-changing". Which, as you know, is a huge variance. At this point, I have no diagnostics. I wish they were easier and/or quicker. I hate the parade of specialists. I also hate the process of ruling out everything else under the sun before you pinpoint that yes, you are more susceptible to autoimmune disorders and whatever you are experiencing is probably related.
So before I even start...
Yes, I am doing yoga. No, I don't need a new mattress. No, I didn't herniate a disc in my back. No, I didn't do this to myself by running too much.
Symptom Log:
July 8: Wake up in the early a.m. with back pain/discomfort. Too severe to comfortably go back to sleep. Thought it odd.
July 9-14: Nighttime back pain gets worse, to the point where I am not sleeping at all during the night. Up, down, pacing, stretching, yoga poses, crying, cursing from about midnight to 7am every day. Feel crazed with pain and exhaustion. Pain shakes off during the mid-morning hours, and aside from being tired and worried, lead a fairly normal day. Sunset feels like a death sentence.
July 15: Start to feel some leg weakness, walking to work gets harder. Skin on legs and torso feels tingly, itchy.
July 16: See rheumatologist. Do full blood panel, urine, and back x-rays.
July 17: Feel like my lower half has less feeling than my upper half. Can feel the dividing line of sensation/strength somewhere around my belly button.
July 18-23 (present): Nighttime back pain has stopped. Loss of sensation in legs and lower half is as strong as ever. Tingly fingers, tingly skin on legs/torso. Altered walking gait. General discomfort.
Of course I'm googling like crazy. I've narrowed it down to some self-diagnoses, but haven't confirmed any. Have not heard from my rheumatologist, which makes me question the inflammatory nature. I would imagine that I'm headed to a neurologist. I'm scared, but trying not to jump to wild conclusions. Although I'll punch the next person who asks me, maybe I did herniate a disc and pinch a nerve. But in my experience, if it looks like autoimmune disease, walks like autoimmune disease, and smells like autoimmune disease, why would it not be the first guess? My rheumatologist told me once that there's really no benefit in piling on the diagnoses, unless it alters the treatment plan. Makes sense to me, especially with the nature of health insurance these days. However, I think one benefit is mental... knowing what I'm dealing with, knowing where my fight lies.
Seriously, what next? I'm starting to feel like Calamity Jane, here. Trying to balance Type I and Type II error in my sensitivity to health changes is a serious mental game. Friends tell me that it's fine, that I have every right to freak out, but I feel like I'm starting to bog down the environment with my issues.
Have a good week. Be nice to your friends who are working their way through hardships.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Monday, June 24, 2013
ITBS, part III
Well, it's been a while since my last update in March, but I must say that nothing has been happening. Nothing. Because I'm on the couch again with IT Band syndrome, a miserable, miserable running/cycling injury that involves an inflamed band of connective tissue that runs between the hip and the outside of the knee. I had a bout with it 2 years ago that ended in me having a PM flare and increasing my Prednisone dosage. Not this time, though. Or so far, anyway. My bloodwork has been normal, so I've got no choice but to heal this thing the old fashioned way: rest, stretching, strengthening, and massage. It's exhausting. I'm a little overwhelmed with the attentiveness to the daily rehab routine. It would be so much easier to just run for miles and miles in the heat, up hills, through poison ivy and chiggers. God, do I miss that...
Saturday, March 30, 2013
A DNS and A DNF
The last day of March 2013 is one I'm happy to see. I've had better weeks than the last 2 months' worth. I ended up not starting the Little Rock marathon, where I was supposed to be a pace group leader (which is one of the most fun things I've ever done). I came down with some kind of cold/flu the week prior, and as usual, held my breath to see how that whole thing would turn out. The last few illnesses that I've had have turned out to be severe and rather lengthy. Upon getting over my initial disappointment at giving up my job at Little Rock, I soon began to worry about carrying on with obligations past that, such as my big annual work conference (NIRSA), and another trail event that I had really been looking forward to.
In hindsight, I'm not sure that I could have finished the LR marathon. I have been noting some signs of inflammation in the last few months. For those wondering, here is what I feel: 1) My period stops. Too much information, but I've noticed that when I'm getting a regular period, I'm generally healthy. When it stops, there is something wrong in my body. It has been this way since I initially got sick. I didn't get a period for a year when I had my first PM onset. It was a welcome return when it finally started again. I haven't gotten a period in 3 or 4 months now, and started worrying that inflammation was coming when I first noticed. 2) Of course, this correlates with winter, but I have been getting Reynaud's symptoms in my hands and feet more than I do when all is well. 3) My eyebrows/eyelashes had filled in a bit during the last year, but have been thinning out again in the last few months. 4) The skin on my lips, hands, and feet feels constantly dry and tight (again, this correlates with winter, but it's more than what I feel is a regular winter dryness symptom). 5) I'm prone to nagging injuries, primarily IT band syndrome on my left side. My body can't repair itself from normal wear-and-tear situations. The IT band has been like a palpable thermometer for me over the last few years... it seems vulnerable to increased inflammation and lets me know when things are running hot.
So, I didn't start Little Rock, but I did start 3 Days of Syllamo, which is a 3-day stage race in north-central Arkansas. My favorite trails in the state. The weekend was warm, which was a factor. But I really dragged. I ended up dropping about 10 miles in on the 2nd day with IT band pain, but also because I was generally really having trouble moving quickly. Legs were churning, but nothing was happening. Two weeks later, I am feeling fine on a day-to-day basis, but I have been resting, working in the pool, and trying to draw back to the basics of attentive self-care. I'm not sure what would happen next if turns out that this is a flare. Running a few miles today to see what it feels like.
So... a little bit worried. Then again, I worry alot. :-) Just holding here for a bit to see what shakes out.
In hindsight, I'm not sure that I could have finished the LR marathon. I have been noting some signs of inflammation in the last few months. For those wondering, here is what I feel: 1) My period stops. Too much information, but I've noticed that when I'm getting a regular period, I'm generally healthy. When it stops, there is something wrong in my body. It has been this way since I initially got sick. I didn't get a period for a year when I had my first PM onset. It was a welcome return when it finally started again. I haven't gotten a period in 3 or 4 months now, and started worrying that inflammation was coming when I first noticed. 2) Of course, this correlates with winter, but I have been getting Reynaud's symptoms in my hands and feet more than I do when all is well. 3) My eyebrows/eyelashes had filled in a bit during the last year, but have been thinning out again in the last few months. 4) The skin on my lips, hands, and feet feels constantly dry and tight (again, this correlates with winter, but it's more than what I feel is a regular winter dryness symptom). 5) I'm prone to nagging injuries, primarily IT band syndrome on my left side. My body can't repair itself from normal wear-and-tear situations. The IT band has been like a palpable thermometer for me over the last few years... it seems vulnerable to increased inflammation and lets me know when things are running hot.
So, I didn't start Little Rock, but I did start 3 Days of Syllamo, which is a 3-day stage race in north-central Arkansas. My favorite trails in the state. The weekend was warm, which was a factor. But I really dragged. I ended up dropping about 10 miles in on the 2nd day with IT band pain, but also because I was generally really having trouble moving quickly. Legs were churning, but nothing was happening. Two weeks later, I am feeling fine on a day-to-day basis, but I have been resting, working in the pool, and trying to draw back to the basics of attentive self-care. I'm not sure what would happen next if turns out that this is a flare. Running a few miles today to see what it feels like.
So... a little bit worried. Then again, I worry alot. :-) Just holding here for a bit to see what shakes out.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
White Rock
At the risk of evoking eyerolls from my more seasoned bretheren, I'm sometimes reminded that I'm getting older. When doing an event for the 3rd, 5th, or nth time, I realize that a year has flown by even though it felt as if I were just there. The annual events are ticking off, like miles in an effortless marathon. I swear, I just ran White Rock 2012. And yet there we were again a couple of weeks ago, at the Brannon Mountain Church about 40 miles east of Fayetteville, on a cool but sunny first Saturday in February. Whenever someone asks me what I'm doing this weekend and I reply, "running White Rock", the initial glimmer of recognition involves the massive marathon held in Dallas every December. This run is the delightful opposite. It's motto has always been "no fees, no frills, no wimps", which has ironically been printed on event t-shirts in past years (frill alert).
White Rock is close to home, which is a refreshing change from the runs requiring a 3:45am departure ahead of a 3 hour drive. This year I had some friends from Memphis who came all the way over just for the event. Not used to herding an entire household out of the door in the morning, we came screeching up to the start in my subcompact Honda just as RD PoDog was yelling "Go!". As we joined the jolly but small starting line, I saw that I knew about 2/3 of the field, and was instantly bombarded by friends congratulating me for making it. I ran to the first aid station in full conversation with several folks that reinforced the feeling of "home" that I often get in this situation. Running countless miles with others over the years has a way of turning the whole into far greater than the sum of the parts, and I am often touched at the sense of family that I feel in the presence of the running peers that I have gotten to know. Back to that first aid station... I stopped for what felt like a full 10 minutes to re-organize myself since I didn't have a chance to do it pre-race. A little embarrassing, but overall added to the relaxed tone of the day. I have a couple of events in March that have a little more pressure on them, so I enjoyed a true fun run.
I wish that I had a good picture of the scene at the top. I am not good at remembering the mile-by-mile details of runs, but I do recall thinking that the course (still a temporary course due to closures on the original) doesn't seem to be "up" on the way out and "down" on the way back at all. In fact, I swear that I walked more uphills on the way in. Don't you like my non-scientific course profile? Anyway, upon getting to the "top", I was beckoned in by friends from Fayetteville who were working the turnaround aid station. I had seen these guys no less than 12 hours earlier at happy hour, then the after happy hour, and... you get the idea. I saw my Athens-Big Fork running companion already plopped into a camp chair, beer in hand. After exchanging a knowing look that his race was done (me), and a look-who's-smarter thumbs-up (him), I wrote my name on the list at the overlook, said goodbye to my friends, and turned around.
No fees and no frills, but good times and better friends. See you next year.
http://www.arkansasoutside.com/19th-white-rock-classic-50k/
http://endurancebuzz.com/2013/02/21/white-rock-classic-2013-results-tom-brennan-and-katie-helms-lead-the-dash-up-and-down-white-rock-mountain/
White Rock is close to home, which is a refreshing change from the runs requiring a 3:45am departure ahead of a 3 hour drive. This year I had some friends from Memphis who came all the way over just for the event. Not used to herding an entire household out of the door in the morning, we came screeching up to the start in my subcompact Honda just as RD PoDog was yelling "Go!". As we joined the jolly but small starting line, I saw that I knew about 2/3 of the field, and was instantly bombarded by friends congratulating me for making it. I ran to the first aid station in full conversation with several folks that reinforced the feeling of "home" that I often get in this situation. Running countless miles with others over the years has a way of turning the whole into far greater than the sum of the parts, and I am often touched at the sense of family that I feel in the presence of the running peers that I have gotten to know. Back to that first aid station... I stopped for what felt like a full 10 minutes to re-organize myself since I didn't have a chance to do it pre-race. A little embarrassing, but overall added to the relaxed tone of the day. I have a couple of events in March that have a little more pressure on them, so I enjoyed a true fun run.
I wish that I had a good picture of the scene at the top. I am not good at remembering the mile-by-mile details of runs, but I do recall thinking that the course (still a temporary course due to closures on the original) doesn't seem to be "up" on the way out and "down" on the way back at all. In fact, I swear that I walked more uphills on the way in. Don't you like my non-scientific course profile? Anyway, upon getting to the "top", I was beckoned in by friends from Fayetteville who were working the turnaround aid station. I had seen these guys no less than 12 hours earlier at happy hour, then the after happy hour, and... you get the idea. I saw my Athens-Big Fork running companion already plopped into a camp chair, beer in hand. After exchanging a knowing look that his race was done (me), and a look-who's-smarter thumbs-up (him), I wrote my name on the list at the overlook, said goodbye to my friends, and turned around.
The run on in was fairly solitary, and I was ready to call it a day by the time I hit the last aid station. Charile and Lou were making human arches for runners exiting their station, and again, I found myself regretting not having my camera. I gave them both a big hug. Arkansas ultras are what they are because of those two special people. I was happy to be done. The last mile is a flat open stretch of dirt road... doesn't it always seem to be that way? I finished 12-15 minutes slower than last year, but that was ok. I was trying to be slower and not thrash myself ahead of the LR marathon and 3 Days of Syllamo, which are starting to loom large in my near horizon.
No fees and no frills, but good times and better friends. See you next year. http://www.arkansasoutside.com/19th-white-rock-classic-50k/
http://endurancebuzz.com/2013/02/21/white-rock-classic-2013-results-tom-brennan-and-katie-helms-lead-the-dash-up-and-down-white-rock-mountain/
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Athens-Big Fork 2013
Happy New Year. The first Saturday in January has been, for me, an occasion to head down to the Big Fork community center, just east of Mena in the western Arkansas Ouachitas for a trail run that heads south on an old postal trail over 8 distinct mountain ridges, then turns around and comes back.
This year's run was actually my 5th consecutive... it seems to have become somewhat of a rite on my calendar. The weather this year was perfect. Last year we had thick fog that turned into actual clouds at the top of the peaks, it was incredibly beautiful. This year's race day was cold, overcast, and perfect. There was still quite a bit of snow visible from a foot of Christmas day snow 2 weeks ago, especially on the northern hillsides. It made for some beautiful vistas when looking across the valleys. I started the run with a friend from Fayetteville, and we ran together for about 90% of the day. We found ourselves mixed in with a group of folks (obviously not from around here) who first asked about crew access points (none), kept taking wrong turns from which we called them back (although most people run bonus miles at some point or another), and delicately tiptoed through every creek crossing (there are about 30, all calf-deep thanks to the recent snow). We separated from them at the Blaylock Creek aid station, 5 hills in and the fun run turnaround. I think they eventually settled in at some point during the back half, and figured out that the rawness and simplicity of this run compliments the challenge. This event definitely does a good job of breaking down the often overdone business of running into its most basic elements: nature, terrain, perceptiveness, and toughness. Forget about the fancy stuff, it's just you and the trail today.
JP and I enjoyed a nice section after the Blaylock Creek aid station, and noted that hills 6, 7, and 8 were all pretty tough, especially 6. I used to think that 15 was the worst, but I've changed my mind. 6 had recently been bulldozed to create a fireline for some forest fires that occurred in the area a month ago. 6 was also the most difficult coming back down (which is 10 inbound), and it was there that I realized my downhill running has gotten worse. I kept the brakes on, and was very tentative in picking my way down on the technical sections. Where did that come from? Gotta work on that. We cruised into the turnaround with a large pack of marathoners, probably at the heart of mid-pack. I have a love/hate relationshp with the Texarkana crew that mans the turnaround... love their raucous joviality, hate that they are already enjoying their beers at 11am while I have 8 more hills to climb. The back half does a good job of breaking everybody up, and I anticipated picking off some inbound runners with the large and tenuous provision that we could keep the wheels on and keep a steady pace. Steady climbing, cautious descending, repeat. I felt strong all the way through the Tatur aid station with about 4 miles to go. I was anticipating running the last hill, because it's one of the easiest (there are only a few truly runnable hills), but I couldn't seem to find the gas pedal again once I left the aid station. Not that I didn't have energy... I wasn't bonking. I just didn't have the control or footwork to pick my way around one more rock, one more root, one more ankle-wrapping thorny ivy. The bottoms of my feet felt bruised, I was kicking everything in my path, and I was just tired of trail. Once I got to the trailhead and back onto the gravel road, however, I was running with plenty of strength, which is refreshing if you can make it to that point and feel that way. Apparently I surpassed my threshold for gnarly trail, but was fine with everything else. I finished in 6:25, 17 minutes off of my PR (last year). I think that I could have been a good deal faster with some better downhill running.
The most pleasant part of the run was that my two very common issues (stomach bloating and leg cramping) never happened. What did I do? I drank Gu Brew, Gatorade, and Heed, took 3 S Caps throughout the run, and ate your run-of-the-mill aid station food (potato chips, oatmeal pies, gu, peanut butter crackers). Maybe it was the ideal temperature. Regardless, I felt great, and other than the downhill skill deficiencies, I had a strong run. I dread it during the few days prior, can't believe it's that time again when I'm finally climbing those first few hills, and then enjoy it immensely once I get onto some of the higher hillsides and soak up the sense of place. See you next year.
 |
| Big Fork Community Center. The running water (new this year) was a nice perk. |
This year's run was actually my 5th consecutive... it seems to have become somewhat of a rite on my calendar. The weather this year was perfect. Last year we had thick fog that turned into actual clouds at the top of the peaks, it was incredibly beautiful. This year's race day was cold, overcast, and perfect. There was still quite a bit of snow visible from a foot of Christmas day snow 2 weeks ago, especially on the northern hillsides. It made for some beautiful vistas when looking across the valleys. I started the run with a friend from Fayetteville, and we ran together for about 90% of the day. We found ourselves mixed in with a group of folks (obviously not from around here) who first asked about crew access points (none), kept taking wrong turns from which we called them back (although most people run bonus miles at some point or another), and delicately tiptoed through every creek crossing (there are about 30, all calf-deep thanks to the recent snow). We separated from them at the Blaylock Creek aid station, 5 hills in and the fun run turnaround. I think they eventually settled in at some point during the back half, and figured out that the rawness and simplicity of this run compliments the challenge. This event definitely does a good job of breaking down the often overdone business of running into its most basic elements: nature, terrain, perceptiveness, and toughness. Forget about the fancy stuff, it's just you and the trail today.
JP and I enjoyed a nice section after the Blaylock Creek aid station, and noted that hills 6, 7, and 8 were all pretty tough, especially 6. I used to think that 15 was the worst, but I've changed my mind. 6 had recently been bulldozed to create a fireline for some forest fires that occurred in the area a month ago. 6 was also the most difficult coming back down (which is 10 inbound), and it was there that I realized my downhill running has gotten worse. I kept the brakes on, and was very tentative in picking my way down on the technical sections. Where did that come from? Gotta work on that. We cruised into the turnaround with a large pack of marathoners, probably at the heart of mid-pack. I have a love/hate relationshp with the Texarkana crew that mans the turnaround... love their raucous joviality, hate that they are already enjoying their beers at 11am while I have 8 more hills to climb. The back half does a good job of breaking everybody up, and I anticipated picking off some inbound runners with the large and tenuous provision that we could keep the wheels on and keep a steady pace. Steady climbing, cautious descending, repeat. I felt strong all the way through the Tatur aid station with about 4 miles to go. I was anticipating running the last hill, because it's one of the easiest (there are only a few truly runnable hills), but I couldn't seem to find the gas pedal again once I left the aid station. Not that I didn't have energy... I wasn't bonking. I just didn't have the control or footwork to pick my way around one more rock, one more root, one more ankle-wrapping thorny ivy. The bottoms of my feet felt bruised, I was kicking everything in my path, and I was just tired of trail. Once I got to the trailhead and back onto the gravel road, however, I was running with plenty of strength, which is refreshing if you can make it to that point and feel that way. Apparently I surpassed my threshold for gnarly trail, but was fine with everything else. I finished in 6:25, 17 minutes off of my PR (last year). I think that I could have been a good deal faster with some better downhill running.
 |
| No-frills finish line |
 |
| Done, sitting at the finish chatting, drinking a Modelo, and waiting for runners. |
The most pleasant part of the run was that my two very common issues (stomach bloating and leg cramping) never happened. What did I do? I drank Gu Brew, Gatorade, and Heed, took 3 S Caps throughout the run, and ate your run-of-the-mill aid station food (potato chips, oatmeal pies, gu, peanut butter crackers). Maybe it was the ideal temperature. Regardless, I felt great, and other than the downhill skill deficiencies, I had a strong run. I dread it during the few days prior, can't believe it's that time again when I'm finally climbing those first few hills, and then enjoy it immensely once I get onto some of the higher hillsides and soak up the sense of place. See you next year.
 |
Monday, December 10, 2012
Recent race reports
Had back-to-back events the past 2 weekends, first the Memphis marathon, and then a low-key trail event in west central AR, on the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail.
Memphis: First of all, I tend to gush about this event, and for several reasons. It was my very first marathon back in 2007. My parents always come out and take great care of me, and by now I know exactly where they will be on the course. This year they told me that they were rushing out of the McDonald's as I came by near mile 11, and had hurriedly stuffed their McMuffins into their pockets because they thought it would piss me off to see them enjoying breakfast while I felt like vomiting. I have made great friends in the running community over the years, and since this is a running-themed weekend, they can usually all be found together and in good spirits at the cool-kid runner's bar, Bosco's in midtown. It feels like homecoming to me, all of my favorite things coming together at once. And aside from the sentimental stuff, the event itself is great. I've been around enough events to provide an experienced critique, and I would stack Memphis up among the best events in the country. As the event gets bigger, the crowds on the course have also gotten better. I don't perceive as many dead or lonely spots on the course as I did the first couple of years that I did the event. I love running through downtown/midtown... those areas are authentic "Memphis", and I feel immersed in the essence of home. The Redbirds stadium finish around the warning track is absolutely fantastic. I have never seen a better finish other than Boston, which isn't a fair comparison.
On to my race... I would have been happy with a 3:35, thrilled with anything under that, and ok with anything under a 3:37. However, it was 60 degrees at the start and 70/sunny at the finish, and I struggle in warm conditions. I floated along according to plan just behind the 3:30 pace group for about 18 miles with fairly easy effort. I saw my parents at mile 8, went through the zoo and museum grounds in miles 8-10, up Poplar avenue to meet my parents again during the McDonald's incident. The half peels off at mile 13, and the full runners loop around downtown again. Going up Beale twice is just fantastic. I can't help but smile and enjoy the "there is nowhere else I'd rather be right now" feeling. By this time, the clouds had burned off and the temperature/sun combination was becoming a factor. I started to feel the twinge of calf cramps somewhere in the Cooper/Young district, which is around 17/18. I had figured that there was a high probability of this happening, it is a common problem with me during warm runs. At that point, I had to stop and regroup every time I felt a clinch, which was happening every 5-10 minutes or so. My splits slowed to ~9:00-9:30 in those miles... there was only one more mile that I managed to run in 8:00 without a cramp, either mile 23 or 24. I don't think there was anything I could have done differently... my energy, hydration, and attitude were good, I just had to be cautious and pull up whenever I felt the familiar clinch. I finished in 3:40, which I wouldn't have been happy with under normal conditions, but was a good effort in the situation. I think I would have gone alot closer to 3:30 with 30 degrees shaved off, but catching the right temperature is pretty tough these days.
LoVit trail marathon: This was the 3rd year in a row that I went down to the Lake Ouachita Vista trail for an organized fun run. The event is part of the Arkansas ultra-trail series, and draws 50 or 75 folks. The trail is excellent... one of my favorites in the state. I love the eastern side of the Ouachitas, and this particular trail is between Mt. Ida and Hot Springs. It's very run-able, there are only a few sections that are rocky/technical or steep. If I complained about the Memphis weather a week prior, this day's weather was a doozy. Humidity was 90% ahead of a front that would be coming through that night, and again, the sun burned off the clouds once it got ahead of the treetops. I tried to stay with my hydration, and thought I did a decent job through the run. I only carried one handheld, but it was plenty. My first bottle I prepared with a Gu Brew tablet, and after that relied on Gatorade and S-caps. I made sure that I finished off my bottle completely at every aid station, which was uncomfortable and sloshy for a few miles until I absorbed it, but it seemed to work. I had a bit of stomach bloating, and a few leg cramp twinges, but nothing that felt horrible or slowed me down too much. Not anything like the previous weekend where I had full-blown calf cramps. I noticed a little bit of muscle fatigue after Memphis, and a little bit of IT soreness that I will need to watch over the next few weeks. I never walked more than a few steps at a time, mostly as I snacked coming away from aid stations. Still, I finished 15 minutes off of last year's time. The frontrunners reported being off by 8 or so minutes as well, so it was a warm day for everyone.
I like the variety on this course... the vast majority of it is very smooth, leaf-carpeted trail that allows for some consistent running. However, you get one significant climb up Hickory Nut mountain, and then a rock-strewn descent that really focuses you. Throw in some connections on utility roads, and you can enjoy striding it out for some variety. Note to self... The back half of the course is re-rounted to get the correct distance. The turnaround is actually around 14 miles, so RD Phil cuts a couple of miles off of the back half. I hit the summit in 2:25, and figured I had about 2 hours for the return trip. I overestimate the course re-route every time and think that the end is so much closer than it really is. I was expecting the road to begin around each bend, especially because I was using last year's time as a marker for where I thought I should be. About the time that I thought I should be approaching the road according to the 4:33 I ran last year, I saw the sign that read "Denby Point trailhead: 3." As in, 3 miles? Dang! Another false summit, and it was becoming clear that I was significantly off of my time. At least the trail is smooth at that point, so no concentrating on faceplant avoidance. I was happy with the rhythm that I kept for the last several miles, even though I was feeling the temperature. It was good to get back onto the trail, I hadn't done much off-road since the summer.
Down to 5 mgs of Prednisone, starting at the first of December. Positive so far, although I need to take care of myself the next couple of weeks and make sure that there's nothing nagging. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to do Athens-Big Fork again in January. I've had 2 good (really good) runs in a row there, and I'm scared of being due for a nasty suffer-fest. I'll probably go, there's no good excuse not to unless I have an injury. It's a beautiful trail and a great event, but it is far more difficult than your average long run. Must find a way to turn dread into excitement.
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| Thursday night carb-loading at Bosco's |
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| Limping through mile 22 |
On to my race... I would have been happy with a 3:35, thrilled with anything under that, and ok with anything under a 3:37. However, it was 60 degrees at the start and 70/sunny at the finish, and I struggle in warm conditions. I floated along according to plan just behind the 3:30 pace group for about 18 miles with fairly easy effort. I saw my parents at mile 8, went through the zoo and museum grounds in miles 8-10, up Poplar avenue to meet my parents again during the McDonald's incident. The half peels off at mile 13, and the full runners loop around downtown again. Going up Beale twice is just fantastic. I can't help but smile and enjoy the "there is nowhere else I'd rather be right now" feeling. By this time, the clouds had burned off and the temperature/sun combination was becoming a factor. I started to feel the twinge of calf cramps somewhere in the Cooper/Young district, which is around 17/18. I had figured that there was a high probability of this happening, it is a common problem with me during warm runs. At that point, I had to stop and regroup every time I felt a clinch, which was happening every 5-10 minutes or so. My splits slowed to ~9:00-9:30 in those miles... there was only one more mile that I managed to run in 8:00 without a cramp, either mile 23 or 24. I don't think there was anything I could have done differently... my energy, hydration, and attitude were good, I just had to be cautious and pull up whenever I felt the familiar clinch. I finished in 3:40, which I wouldn't have been happy with under normal conditions, but was a good effort in the situation. I think I would have gone alot closer to 3:30 with 30 degrees shaved off, but catching the right temperature is pretty tough these days.
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| Heading through the hashers. Yes, that's Elvis in the red. |
LoVit trail marathon: This was the 3rd year in a row that I went down to the Lake Ouachita Vista trail for an organized fun run. The event is part of the Arkansas ultra-trail series, and draws 50 or 75 folks. The trail is excellent... one of my favorites in the state. I love the eastern side of the Ouachitas, and this particular trail is between Mt. Ida and Hot Springs. It's very run-able, there are only a few sections that are rocky/technical or steep. If I complained about the Memphis weather a week prior, this day's weather was a doozy. Humidity was 90% ahead of a front that would be coming through that night, and again, the sun burned off the clouds once it got ahead of the treetops. I tried to stay with my hydration, and thought I did a decent job through the run. I only carried one handheld, but it was plenty. My first bottle I prepared with a Gu Brew tablet, and after that relied on Gatorade and S-caps. I made sure that I finished off my bottle completely at every aid station, which was uncomfortable and sloshy for a few miles until I absorbed it, but it seemed to work. I had a bit of stomach bloating, and a few leg cramp twinges, but nothing that felt horrible or slowed me down too much. Not anything like the previous weekend where I had full-blown calf cramps. I noticed a little bit of muscle fatigue after Memphis, and a little bit of IT soreness that I will need to watch over the next few weeks. I never walked more than a few steps at a time, mostly as I snacked coming away from aid stations. Still, I finished 15 minutes off of last year's time. The frontrunners reported being off by 8 or so minutes as well, so it was a warm day for everyone.
I like the variety on this course... the vast majority of it is very smooth, leaf-carpeted trail that allows for some consistent running. However, you get one significant climb up Hickory Nut mountain, and then a rock-strewn descent that really focuses you. Throw in some connections on utility roads, and you can enjoy striding it out for some variety. Note to self... The back half of the course is re-rounted to get the correct distance. The turnaround is actually around 14 miles, so RD Phil cuts a couple of miles off of the back half. I hit the summit in 2:25, and figured I had about 2 hours for the return trip. I overestimate the course re-route every time and think that the end is so much closer than it really is. I was expecting the road to begin around each bend, especially because I was using last year's time as a marker for where I thought I should be. About the time that I thought I should be approaching the road according to the 4:33 I ran last year, I saw the sign that read "Denby Point trailhead: 3." As in, 3 miles? Dang! Another false summit, and it was becoming clear that I was significantly off of my time. At least the trail is smooth at that point, so no concentrating on faceplant avoidance. I was happy with the rhythm that I kept for the last several miles, even though I was feeling the temperature. It was good to get back onto the trail, I hadn't done much off-road since the summer.
Down to 5 mgs of Prednisone, starting at the first of December. Positive so far, although I need to take care of myself the next couple of weeks and make sure that there's nothing nagging. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to do Athens-Big Fork again in January. I've had 2 good (really good) runs in a row there, and I'm scared of being due for a nasty suffer-fest. I'll probably go, there's no good excuse not to unless I have an injury. It's a beautiful trail and a great event, but it is far more difficult than your average long run. Must find a way to turn dread into excitement.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Today's revelation
Got home from the pharmacy (I'm a pretty frequent customer), and looked at my packages. Did some quick math. I take $7 worth of pills every day, only about $1 of which comes out of my pocket. That's not even close to a fraction of what some treatments for this disease cost. One of my big fears involves insurance (more specifically, lack of). My work is switching insurance providers soon and my doc advised me to stockpile a bit of medication in case there was a battle for approval. Yikes! I'm not really worried about my current situation, I'm optimistic that things will continue on as usual. And I'm riding the tide of some fairly good recent years. I'm more impressed with the gravity of a chronic illness that has no FDA-approved treatments. Which isn't good if the insurance company (any insurance company) is looking for a reason for denial.
When I was a child, I tried some claims to get the cost of wigs covered, since I had alopecia growing up and had to spend my childhood and teen years bald. Can you imagine growing up like that? As a girl? It sucked, and I wore wigs in an attempt to have a somewhat "normal" look. But insurance said that they were cosmetic and denied coverage. Right. Like wigs are attractive enough to be remotely cosmetic. Did I think they were attractive? They looked fake, got tangled, and itched like hell. Believe me, I wasn't wearing them to look pretty. I wore them to avoid complete freakishness during some very sensitive growing-up years.
So, I guess those are my thoughts on insurance. I'm afraid of it, I don't fully understand it, and it really intimidates me.
That's all, folks. On the other hand, I am running the Memphis marathon in just over 2 weeks. I am not ready, I have been sick with some sort of cold or sinus infection or respiratory infection since August. It's come and gone, and I have run when I could, but it hasn't been consistent. Still, I love the event and am looking forward to it. My latest "cold" seems to be moving out right on time, and I am feeling pretty good at the moment. Happy trails.
When I was a child, I tried some claims to get the cost of wigs covered, since I had alopecia growing up and had to spend my childhood and teen years bald. Can you imagine growing up like that? As a girl? It sucked, and I wore wigs in an attempt to have a somewhat "normal" look. But insurance said that they were cosmetic and denied coverage. Right. Like wigs are attractive enough to be remotely cosmetic. Did I think they were attractive? They looked fake, got tangled, and itched like hell. Believe me, I wasn't wearing them to look pretty. I wore them to avoid complete freakishness during some very sensitive growing-up years.
So, I guess those are my thoughts on insurance. I'm afraid of it, I don't fully understand it, and it really intimidates me.
That's all, folks. On the other hand, I am running the Memphis marathon in just over 2 weeks. I am not ready, I have been sick with some sort of cold or sinus infection or respiratory infection since August. It's come and gone, and I have run when I could, but it hasn't been consistent. Still, I love the event and am looking forward to it. My latest "cold" seems to be moving out right on time, and I am feeling pretty good at the moment. Happy trails.
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