First official long run

I guess I should be happy since the first official long run of the training season is done.

It was painful.

The night before I had called C to tell her that if I wasn't there, don't wait for me. I was experiencing a sudden onset of nausea and thought I was in for a long night. I had heard too many nasty stories of 24 hour stomach bugs. Maybe it was my body's way of trying to get out of it since I had a solid night of sleep - dead to the world.

In the morning I was still feeling nauseated, but still able to run. Plus I didn't want to not go and then feel fine later in the day. I would rather go and quit the run early if needed. Too many times I have felt icky before a run just to have it disappear a few miles in.

Near the end of the first hour I was already thinking.... boy, I wish this was the end of the 2nd hour. NOT a good sign. A quarter of the way into the next 1.5 hours I was already thinking about telling the cousins and Tom to just go on. It was one of times where every time I looked at my Garmin I thought "Only ONE minute has gone by?????".

I managed not to bail as we ran by the vehicles... at that point I was able to think... I CAN do 45 more minutes. But not long after I told the others to just go. Of course I forgot that they are all Garmin sluts. So, not long after they slowed their pace down in order for me to catch up. Don't go thinking that they are kind and sensitive running friends because they are not. Nope, they don't care about me, they just care about my Garmin. The were lost with out me and my Garmin. Fortunately my slow, slow pace eventually made them give up and they went on their way.

I did finish, a little shy of 2:15, but only by 2.5 minutes, so that is just fine considering how rotten I felt.

Blood and the Olympics

Today is one of those days that I have so much to say that I don't know where to begin!

So, let's begin with a topic that is always interesting... blood.

I gave blood for the first time this week. (pat on the back) However, after today's run I have decided that I will not give blood during training season (I can't say "racing" season with a straight face). I thought it would probably impact my running because I remember running with some of my fellow morning runners and them saying they were struggling because they gave blood. However, I read up on the issue (no surprise to those who know me well). I learned that it can take 3-4 weeks for your body blood haemoglobin levels to return to normal. I was thinking it would be a couple of days. I have a hard time maintaining my iron levels under normal circumstances, I can only guess how hard it will be for me to recover after giving a pint (of blood, not beer - in my dreams). I was actually a little surprised I was able to give blood since in the past my iron levels were too low. However, this week I was taking an iron supplement in addition to my multi-vitamin. Now, I am sure that iron is a nice little mineral as minerals go, but I am sure those of you who have taken an iron supplemental can support my testimony that it is not NOT nice to other vitally important and daily bodily functions. So, although I believe it is the right thing to do, I will not be giving blood until October.

So, on to more cheery subjects. Did you watch the Women's Downhill on the Olympics last night? OMG. OMG. You could use this race alone to develop an updated montage for the ABC Wide World of Sports' catch phrase, "Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport… the thrill of victory… and the agony of defeat… the human drama of athletic competition… This is ABC's Wide World of Sports!" (I looked hard for the original video montage, with no success).

The course was very hard and icey after being slushy all week and then freezing the night before making for some spectacular crashes which they only can be at 60mph. Amazingly, they all walked away and afterwards they reported that none of them were seriously injured.

Particularly sad was the women from Italy(?) who is the second skier in the montage. She wipes out within 25 feet of the starting gate. Wow.... you gotta feel for her. And adding insult to injury, she had to be wearing an ALL WHITE ski suit. Now, any woman can tell you that an all white, skin tight outfit is NOT flattering, even if you are an Olympic athlete. You look more like a dough boy (or in this case - girl) not a hard trained, rock hard Olympic athlete. Obviously it was a man who came up with the design.

Take the time to watch the video... if you can without say OH! or OUCH! it is a good indication that you have serious issues and you should pick up the phone right now and get some therapy!