onepinkfuzzy

****SUNDAY UPDATE AT THE END OF THE POST****

Yup, I'm sick. Instead of running the 21 miles with my trail running group tomorrow morning (a run that will take me into the backcountry and a run that I'd need to carry all my water for), I'm going to do loops - probably 7 or 8 miles per outing - giving me the opportunity to bail if I get really sick while out there, and also giving me the opportunity of having an aid station. I'm a little worried about doing a long run while sick, but I figure I'll "take it easy" on this long run (as much as running 21 miles while sick can be considered taking it easy). This also allows me to sleep in a little (no having to be anywhere at a certain time), hopefully giving me a little better chance of completing the entire chunk of miles. It's so hard to be limited to only getting long runs every other weekend - the weekends I don't have my son. I only have tomorrow's run and one more before ZG. That's worrisome. I HAVE to run tomorrow, even though I know I'm "supposed to" rest. Oh well. At least I'm trying to be somewhat smart about it (as much as running 21 miles while sick is smart).

Here's a piece titled "Possibility" that I am donating to the Child & Family Resource Center for an upcoming auction. When I get more details on the auction, I'll post them here. The retail price is $40...

****SUNDAY UPDATE****
So Barb and I headed out to the Cactus Forest trail system at the base of the Rincon Mountains on the east side of Tucson. As you can see by the link, there are scads of trails in the area, making it a fanTAStic place to create loops to one's heart's content, without running on the same trail twice. The trails are not technical, the terrain is gently rolling - in other words, a newbie trail runner's paradise. Barb loved it!

This is us at the beginning of the run:

I decided when I woke up that I really didn't feel like I should run at all. I was really sick. But then I also decided that, eh, I could run 7 miles (the first loop of the scheduled 3). If at the end of 7 miles, I was feeling fine, then I'd head out for more - at least 3 more, hopefully another 7. Just sort of work my way into it with no pressure. So many times in the past I've woken up sick and stayed in bed, only to think later, "Maybe I wasn't that sick. Maybe I was just being lazy or underestimating myself." So I decided I wasn't going to do that this time. I only had 2 days left for long runs before tapering for ZG (on weekends I don't have Ash), and this was one of them. It was crucial!

We headed out on the first loop, and it was beautiful. Perfect running weather. Some sun, mostly clouds, grassy knolls covered in flowers everywhere, a cute cowboy we kept running into (a lot of horse folk ride out there). It was gorgeous! About 5 miles into it, I started getting really cold. And my throat hurt like hell. And my head wanted to explode. I decided that I was going to have to take a personal day at some point in the next few weeks, once I'm healthy, in order to get this long run in. I needed to call it quits.

I'm slightly embarressed to say that I actually whined out loud for a bit. "Unh-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-," I would moan. Barb did great with me. I had to walk a decent amount toward the end. It started sprinkling on us, and by the time we reached the car, it was raining. Perfect timing.

I was exHAUSTed. I was surprised to see that we ended up runnign 8.8 miles, instead of 7. I'm still not sure exactly how that happened. I could barely lift my legs into the car and drive home. I was shivering violently. I managed to get myself in the shower and the hot water helped a little. I started shivering again once I was out of the shower. I tried to eat a little, but it made my stomach so upset, so I laid down on the couch and ended up falling asleep. Me! Falling asleep in the middle of the day! Unheard of!

Chris brought me soup later, which helped. I still feel really crappy; I'm not sure I'm going into work tomorrow. I now know that when I feel sick in the morning and think I should stay in bed, I really should stay in bed. I won't doubt myself in the future!