Sucky Training Run 8-21-07

The good part - not raining, 7-minute 1/2 mile. The bad part - everything else. Tried to run with a stomachache and headache, was able to get myself through the longest 7 minutes of my running career so far. Then with "the runs" approaching (I MUST be the universe's joke of the week) I tried to at least walk the rest of my planned route. I made it through 1 1/2 miles (including the 7-minute 1/2 mile) before I had to give up and come in. Bathroom, a swig of Pepto-Bismol, and I guess I'll live to run another day.

It sucks. I had such high hopes for today. On my last training day (Friday 8/17) I was running 12 minutes at a time with gas still left in the tank, and I had every intention of getting to 14 minutes tonight. I'm positive I could have done it too...but running seems not to be on my body's schedule for tonight. Once again, I don't think when they talk about tapering before a race that this is what it's supposed to feel like.

I've read, of course, that improvement in running is not linear...sometimes it is two steps forward and one step back. I was just kind of hoping it wouldn't happen to me. Now the question is how do I keep it from freaking me out as far as Saturday's race is concerned. I couldn't even WALK 3 miles tonight, let alone run it.

I feel bad giving myself permission to have an off day tonight because of the last couple nights when I didn't run at all...hence the 1 1/2 miles of torturous stomach-churning motion. I know that if I'm not feeling well, then that's just the way it is...but still it irritates me that I can't pull a "mind-over-matter" on my body and just push through. I want to be the bionic woman...or at least just be able to tell my body what to do and have it do it.

I guess I'm human after all. =)

Better luck tomorrow...