Thursday, July 29, 2010

Runner's Trots

WARNING WARNING So if you don't like poop talk stop reading!

Only my 2nd blog and I'm about to get graphic and gross...deal...its part of the plan! So for a while now when I run I've been getting gassy and feeling like I gotta poop. (I warned you) This only happens on days when I don't go before I run. I'm pretty common with when I go thanks to a Pro-Biotic I take but some days it just doesn't happen and when it doesn't on the days I run...ouchie, yucky and sucky! Either 1/2 way into my run I'll have to stop and go or it holds off until I get home but the crappy part (pun intended) is it throws me off all day and I don't feel right. So I asked a fellow weight watcher and runner about it because sometimes there is blood in there and cuz it sucks. She says I have what is called Runners Trots.

Runners Trots "An estimated 20-50% of distance runners have "runner's trots" with a range of symptoms from cramping and nausea to bouts of flatulence and diarrhea. This can occur during or after their exercise. The reasons are not known for sure and symptoms include Cramping, nausea, flatulence, diarrhea during or after exercise. This may produce painful cramping and the compulsory need to defecate." Yep...that's me! I have done further reading because like I said earlier that sometimes there is blood in there however based on my findings it seems nothing to worry about but it could be nothing or something as small as hemorrhoids or something as bad as cancer. So I've decided that once I get back from Minnesota that I'll just go ahead an schedule a trip to the doctor because I want to be on the safe side. I'll keep you posted but I really do believe its nothing or hemorrhoids lol...I'm soooo lucky.

Today's run: From Nike+ I ran 8.01 mi on 7/29/2010 at 6:39 AM with a pace of 9:45. Here is my breakdown of each mile: 1-9:37, 2-9:44, 3-9:51, 4-9:37, 5-9:51, 6-9:51, 7-10:05 and last mile was at 9:23. I ran a route in my neighborhood so it was all sidewalk/roadway running. I think I would have had a better time with this run but I was so worried about making my 8am appointment (Pippin to the groomer) that my head was too much into it. Normally when i run I have a blank mind, that's what I love about it. But today I was thinking about how I had to hurry and finish and run the dog in and then hopefully shower in time for my other appointment I had at 9am. All in all I was able to make everything and I'm feeling the better for it but for future run if I have a time limit I need to get outta bed when my alarm goes off and not hit the snooze button 4 times. Oh and no Runners Trots today thankfully!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

I was running...said in your best Forrest Gump

As the headline said I've always talked about doing a 1/2 marathon or a full heck I've even talked of doing the Steamboat 15K but I always followed it with "first I need to lose 20lbs". And of course i would never lose those 20lbs. But at the first of the year i needed to change my life and lose the weight i was so unhappy and very depressed and today i stand 30lbs lighter thanks to Weight Watchers.

My running started when my X boyfriend gave me a Nike+. I decided to do Nike's training for a 5k and in those 12 weeks i lost over 15lbs and found a sport that i really enjoy. Running is the one time a day where its just me and the road and nothing on my mind, I love that feeling of being free of emotions and just having to use my own drive to push each step forward. I never imagined at the start that I would be able to run 5 miles but after those 12 weeks i was up to 7 miles and today i can do 8! My first mile when i started was at a 13 mile pace today I'm at about 9:30 as an average but I can get to 9 minute miles if i push myself. I had planned to take a break over the summer from running and then at the end of it start running for a 10k, which i can already do but i wanted to do it better. Then Jana a girl I met through the Weight Watchers boards had asked me to run the Mankato 1/2 marathon with her since she lives there and I am from Minnesota. I said yes. So that's how I got here.

Once again I am going to train with Nike and it begins Sunday with a 5 mile run. I'll be in Minnesota but there is this awesome dirt running trail by my parents house so I'm really looking forward to the runs i have while there. Monday I have 2 miles and Tuesday I have another 5 all of which I'll still be in Minnesota. Thursday is my first long run (I'll do one a week) and that is at 8 miles and then another 5 next Saturday. I will still be teaching my RPM classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday until it gets to be to much for me to handle. I'll average about 26 miles a week over the next 12 weeks. I've purchased my first pair of really nice, good running shoes. I went to a runners store, Running Central, got professionally fitted and walked out with the Nike Lunarglides. I've already booked my hotel in Mankato, I believe my sister is going to go and I'm still waiting to hear if my cousin Andrea will be there, I really hope so because I'm going to need all the support I can get. last thing to do is officially register for the race...I know that should have been the first but I haven't done it yet, will probably do that once I get back from Minnesota.

So there is my first blog on my road to the Mankato 1/2 marathon. I'll try to post each day i run but I promise to check in at least once a week. I hope you enjoy my ramblings and thanks for tagging along on my run.