Nice dark run today

I managed to get up early today and start my run in the dark before 7. I even stuck my blinking green clip-on light on my hat for it. This being my first run in the dark since last fall I was a little on edge. Not really, but there was a small part of my saying watch for pot holes, roots and cars more that I usually do. I had no issues with all three. About halfway through my run a turned off the light. It was light enough outside to continue safely without it, but my main reason was that a runner had been following me for blocks (I didn't see him) and it must have been driving him crazy. Fortunately for him he was running faster than I was and was able to pass me.

I had good radio this morning for my run as the sports station was doing a 24 hour Blazer broadcast for the start of the season tonight against the hated lakers and kobe. I really hope we win, but I wouldn't be too surprised or disappointed if we didn't. Anyway, go Blazers!

Two more different runs

I ran yesterday afternoon and this morning. Two completely different runs. Yesterday I ran in the afternoon which I rarely do, mostly because of my schedule. It was surprisingly warm out and I decided to run a totally different route just to try it out. It was sort of a variation on a run I had done in the past but didn't like so much as it went down a busy street. So to avoid the street I ran a bit further north past a track I used to go to that I can no longer get into cause they have it all locked down. It was a weird track too, more circular than a standard track. but anyway I digress. As it turned out the run was a bit shorter than I had thought. I was looking for something around 6+ and it turned out to be just over 5, so I'll need to figure out how to add a little bit to it. It also seemed a lot longer than that, the run just dragged on and on. Even the football game I was listening to didn't make the time pass quickly. I was totally pooped after it and for the last couple miles or so. I guess it could be the heat (though it wasn't that hot somewhere around 60). Or I could have just been a bit worn, though no real reason for that.

So this morning I went on a run I do quite often through East Moreland and the canyon. I have done this run hundreds of times and know every step it seems. The run was about two miles further than the previous one, but it seemed like it went so much quicker and I didn't drag at all, at least like the day before anyway.

So it got me thinking more about how things we do in patterns create a sort of muscle memory (be it physical or mental) and how this affects ms. So far it seems to me that this sort of repetition allows the brain to send its signals more smoothly through the de-mylenated areas. Why that is I have no idea, but that's my theory and I am sticking with it. I wonder how this effects perception of time passing?

Two days, two good runs

Wednesday and Thursday were cold days here in Portland, but dry. I donned the leggings for the first time this fall and headed out. Both days were somewhat slow (especially Wednesday when I nearly averaged nine minute miles) but I got in relatively good miles: seven and eight plus. My cardio still needs improvement to get ready for the race, but the big area was just my energy in general. About 3/4s of the way through both runs my legs started to tire, which I did expect. I found myself willing myself to keep going through miles that just weeks ago were coming easily. So all in all there is work to do.

I did figure out a new way to drag my ipod along that I thought was interesting and partially a "no duh, why didn't I ever do this before." I have a belt clip on my ipod and would clip it to my waistband. To do this and wear my water bottle belt, I would pull my shorts up high so that a couple inches of material was above the belt, then I would clip the ipod to this. The problem was that I would then look like a basketball player from the 70s wearing short shorts. This compounded as I ran and the shorts seemed to work themselves even higher. I'm not hugely into running fashion, but I don't want to look too dorky! So another solution has been needed. I tried clipping to the water belt, but the belt material was too slippery and my ipod would slide off. So yesterday I decided to just carry it in my hand which wasn't too bad as I have to do that with my radio if I take that. As I was doing this I checked my watch to see how much time had gone by and and idea hit me. Why not clip the ipod to the watchband. So I tried this and wrapped the extra cord around my wrist. It worked brilliantly. I modified it a bit and switched wrists and it worked even better. I think I finally have a good ipod solution.

Speaking of ipods, the Seattle marathon is ipod-friendly. Apparently some races will not allow any music devices in their races. Supposedly this is for safety, which I agree can be an issue if you are not paying attention. But if you keep the sound down and focus on your environment (watch for cars, kids, dogs, cracks, objects left out) you are fine. Some races also encourage racers to talk to each other. Now this I believe is a really good reason to not listen to music/ But if you don't have anyone to talk to, then what? Overall I am very glad Seattle allows ipods. This seems to be more and more of a trend with races these days. Go solidarity!

Hard time getting back into the swing of things

Since being sick basically put me out of commission for a couple of weeks I have been having a terribly hard time getting back into it. I think the biggest challenge has been having to run in the dark in the mornings. I'm not a big fan of that at all. I have a green blinking light that I wear on the back of my hat and an orange reflective running jacket. But it still feels sketchy, plus I worry about uneven sidewalks and all sorts of things not easily seen in the dark. Monday I couldn't get out of bed, just wanted to lay there. Yesterday I decided at 3:00 to not get up. The rebif had caused a monster fever that plagued me all night. Right after going to bed I had the worst chills. It was incredible, I just could not warm up. Later, my cough came back a bit and every time I would succumb my fever would explode. The fever issue with rebif is odd, sometimes I don't feel a thing, and others I do. I don't understand the inconsistency. I'll have to look for things in my diet that might be causing it.

I am just about ready to commit to the Seattle half-marathon on Nov 30th. I am pretty sure that in five weeks I can get back to where I was cardio-wise. My buddy in Seattle who I would stay with wants to go to a show the night before. I think I could do the half with limited sleep as long as I didn't drink the might before. I am still torn though. Paul really wants to go to the show (and so do I - Sea and Cake - but a big part says it is foolish to try. But maybe not.

Too soon for a long run

As if I didn't know this going into it.

But I still wanted to push myself a little and enjoy a nice long one. It was a beautiful cool morning as well, perfect weather for a fall run, so I couldn't resist. I told myself I would take it easy (which I did) and I told myself I would play it by ear (which I did also.) But sometimes when I do this I get to a point where I either am half way out (just as far to get back) or I feel like I might as well just keep going and add that little extra bit. So I did my normal route, but added all the little extra extensions. I even ended up by doing my canyon run who's days are nearing because of the mud, but it was ok. My friend Zak does a great job maintaining the Reed canyon area and an especially good job with the trails. There is only really one area that is going to have trouble with the upcoming rains and I imagine he will take care of it soon. Right now he has long strips of bark laying down to give the trail some substance. I admire his re-use efforts with the maintenance.

Throughout the run I felt fine, though I was getting a little tired towards the end. I wasn't to the point where I was getting clumsy with my run, like tripping over uneven sidewalks, so I stride was correct throughout and I was properly lifting my feet. But once I was done and throughout the afternoon, I was pooped. I kept thinking I needed a cup of coffee, but that didn't seem to do the trick (though the beer at dinner worked fine for other reasons.)

So today I am taking it easy. Though if I know me, if I get a chance to runthis afternoon, I'll probably take it!

Back on my feet

Well after a lengthy cold/flu/whatever I went back to running today. What a great feeling! Despite still feeling a little congested in my lungs, I figured it was time. I had questioned myself all week, "Is today the day I can run again?" and I kept saying, nope not yet. But no longer.

I was a little worried about how winded I would get, so I took it easy. I really concentrated on my breathing and keeping it nice and smooth. I didn't want to give in to the coughing and for the most part did ok. Hopefully with all the spitting I did nobody else will get sick. As long as they stay out of the gutters they should be ok.

I managed to go for almost a hour before ending up at the library to pick up season two of Northern Exposure. When I stopped, my breathing got sort of ragged and I kept feeling the urge to cough. This is what I was afraid of, but it didn't last very long and I think I ended up waiting long enough to go out. I noticed this afternoon that I really feel it in my muscles. It is amazing what two weeks off will do to your conditioning. I am feeling pretty much tired all over, but I have plans to go out again tomorrow, but not for long for sure.

Getting close to strapping on the shoes

Well I feel a lot better now. I have been getting a lot of sleep and haven't been pushing myself work wise. One thing to thank the economy for anyway. I still woke up this morning having to hack away, but it doesn't last for long. Right now my cold, flu, whatever seems to have moved to my sinuses and is nearing the end of its fruitful association with me (I am hoping anyway.)

I am really looking forward to running again, though living without the alarm clock has been nice. But I'll even welcome that with open arms. They say running can become an addiction. I am not so sure about that. In my past when I smoked, I would smoke when I was sick. But running (at least when it is bad) is out of the picture. I have read that running when you are feeling under the weather can be a good thing in moderation. I guess it depends on how hard you push yourself and what sort of weather you are running through. I did some hard runs right before I got sick, but the weather was ok. I at least wasn't running cold and wet.

I was disapointed to read that Japanese author Haruki Murakami was passed over for the Nobel prize for literature. I just read his book "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" and loved it. He also has a rich array of fiction that he WILL some day get his Nobel for. He deserves it. Better luck next year Haruki.

Lungs are still heavy

I am finding myself feeling a lot better, but I still think my lungs need a bit more rest before I send them out on the road. On the one hand I know it would be good to help clear them out, but not yet. Plus who wants to watch my hacking and spitting? Throw in a sweaty 42 year-old and we have a recipe for disaster.

It has been a good thing to give my body a rest though for this week. I was having that little twinge in my one knee (not even sure which one it was now) but that appears to have been recuperated by rest. My feet also seem to be a little less bothered by the numbness issues, though it is still there. I think the pounding does have an effect.

As for the healing powers of bee stings, I'm either going to have to call it a bust or say that I need more for anything to happen. I would have loved to have been able to convince myself that the bee venom worked miracles. I could have finally had a show I could do for cable access! I have always wanted some reason to be on. I would have to come up with a crazy bee outfit I suppose.

Last night was injection night. I was again worried how the rebif would react with my cold/flu symptoms. Well I may have found a solution. As I setup the injector and placed it on my planned site, I pressed the button. I felt nothing and thought, wow the hot compress really works. Then I realized, crap, I for got to take the cap off again. I popped it off and quickly jammed it in my stomach, hoping to get as much as I could. I did manage to get a partial injection and that seemed to mitigate the flu-like symptoms. Makes me wonder if I could get some half injections for when I was sick. I'll have to ask the doc about that.

Sick as a dog

Yuck, I feel like garbage and have for a few days now. I ran On Sunday and Monday and my breathing was really heavy both days, by Monday night I was down for the count. I think it might be a flu since I have flu-like symptoms. Oh wait, that's right, rebif gives me flu-like symptoms, great... Coughing all night (I need to get some cough suppressant or something), constant runny nose, fever (oh wait, the rebif again), sweats (uh, thanks rebif) and sneezing (a little). I know I am supposed to keep taking the rebif even when I am sick, but it is really tempting to skip it until I am better. I am sure that screws up the way it works, so I'll keep at it.

On a positive note, I have been trying a different strategy for reducing the pain of my injections. I had been icing the area beforehand. Sometimes this would work fine, sometimes not. I got a call from msLifelines and talked to them about my issue and she recommended using a warm compress instead. I had heard this, but the ice was just easier, so I kept at it. Well, so far I am a convert. The warmth works much better. I heat up a washcloth with hot water and apply it to the area. I do this twice before my alcohol swab, hand washing and injection. Apparently it is the rebif that actually causes the pain, not the shot. The warmth allows it to be dispersed better. Well I'll be. Lastly I massage the area to aide in dispersion.

I am not sure when I will run again, right now it feels like January. But I am sure I will get through this and feel better soon. Because it is so lung focused I am a bit concerned about running again. I think I'll start out with some short runs to get back into it (haven't we heard that before!)

Back twinge

I went out for a short canyon run and on my way there I pulled a muscle in the left side of my back, just out of the blue. I wasn't going fast or making any sort of adjustment, nothing out of the ordinary or different from a medium paced gate. I slowed down and walked for a bit and the spasm seemed to lesson, but I knew from experience in the past this was gonna bug me no matter what I did. Hurray, I was right! Its an odd feeling as it doesn't ache all the time and it is such a localized muscle that I only feel it in the one particular area.

I have never been a big fan of pain killers other than tylenol or acetaminophen, but I had some vicodin in the medicine cabinet. I settled down in the late evening to watch a taped football game and decided, what the heck, I'll take one. I can really see how they could become addictive if you were experiencing constant pain. It did do the trick, and regardless of how exciting the game was, I was pretty mellow! (Can I even say that with an exclamation point?)

I took yesterday off from running and I am doing the same today. I am going to do more ice and just take it easy. I am hoping to finish my miles for the week tomorrow, but I am not going to push it. RICE (well no elevation anyway, so RIC) will be my main diet.