Thursday, December 3, 2015

Well, That Run Sucked

Tuesday I ran after volleyball. It was the worst run I've had in months.
Take this post with a grain of salt...I'm officially tapering.
I met Elizabeth straight from practice so I didn't stop home. I had my running bag with me, but after being away all weekend I'd emptied it out to clean things, so I was missing my headband, my phone armband, and my good running socks.

During practice, I was jogging around gathering volleyballs and felt a sharp twinge in my left knee. Then, I got a weird, achy feeling in that butt cheek.

I was wearing a pair of shorts that are kind of loose for practice, so when I got to the park with Elizabeth and realized I didn't have my armband, I had to fit my phone into my back pocket. It bounced and jiggled and basically pulled my shorts down the entire run. So I was mooning traffic for half the run. I knew this wasn't going to be a good one.
If you Google-image search "worst run ever", a bunch of race pictures come up of people who look totally fine...I'd hate to somehow find my picture with that tag!
I have a persistent knot in my back that started aching; we were going to do 5 miles and I decided to see how I felt after three.

My calves were rocks by mile two.

Then, as we were nearing mile three, I started getting sharp, shooting pains in my inner-right ankle. (I think I was overcompensating for the knot and the achy butt cheek and the bouncing phone, and ended up running with some weird gait that cause ankle pain.)

So we called it at 2.8 miles. I couldn't even finish three. I know this was just a bad day with myriad factors I can work around next tine, but taper makes me hyper-paranoid and now I can't stop thinking about every single ache and twinge!
It was also one of those runs that made me step back and go, oh right, things out of my control may happen and then this race won't...so it's time to walk on eggshells and not get cocky!

This week we have our second volleyball game, and then I'm traveling for work Friday, so I may not run again until the weekend. Maybe that's a good thing. But I don't want to taper too drastically!

Wednesday, to take my mind off it, I cooked the giant eggplant a student brought me. (Those of you who follow me on Instagram saw the picture of it on my desk. My principal - whose daughter is in my homeroom and plays on the volleyball team - got it from a friend but doesn't eat eggplant, so her daughter brought it to school for me. The kids spent all day touching it and carrying it around like a baby. Middle schoolers are weird.)
My kids' reactions were priceless, but to be fair, it is a weird thing to see on a teacher's desk!
I used this recipe (whose author, I just realized, is named Ali too. Weird) and made eggplant parmesan.
I've never made it before, and it was a hit! Matt and I are both super happy with it. It takes a ton of work, but it makes a lot and it's so yummy!
Oh hey blurry crazy-face!
Plus, all that cheese is a great comfort food while I'm emotionally crazy tapering.

Please tell me everything is going to be okay! I have 10 days before the marathon and I'm freaking out!

Thoughts on my new blog layout? I want it to look more centered, but not cluttered!
ABK

16 comments:

  1. I like the layout! It is definitely not cluttered.

    I need to read this post today. You are making me feel better about my aches and pains and ravenous appetite... and I'm only running the half! Should I really be this hungry!?

    Your eggplant parm. looks delicious. I haven't had that in quite awhile!

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    1. I'm glad I'm not the only one suffering taper madness! We're in this together!!

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  2. A. You're fine. Just tapering.
    B. Great cooking without a kitchen--maybe you don't need one after all.
    C. Breathe.

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    1. I'm really learning to work around the handicap of not having a kitchen...I'm almost getting used to not having one!

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  3. Holy crap that eggplant is ENORMOUS!!! I freaking love eggplant parm, YUMMMM! You are going to be FINE, lady - tapering is a funny thing. You feel like total crap and then no matter how terrible you sleep the night before the race BOOM. Magic. You feel awesome. YOU GOT THIS!!!!! Relax and enjoy this time!

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    1. The eggplant was unreal...literally the size of my head! I've never seen one so big.

      Taper is super strange...I'm hoping it pays off and I feel GREAT on race day!

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  4. What brilliant timing! I've got a race this weekend and I'm feeling all kinds of weird about it. It is a 10k and not a goal race for me but I've been struggling with taper crazy symptoms for some reason. Er, I'm actually pretty sure the reason is I've got a bunch of deadlines and my puppy just got spayed and has a huge cone and is super sad and frustrated and Wes is out of town for work all week and ahhhh...

    Lol. My point is this post reminded me that we all do this and it always ends up being just fine. Would you feel better if you make a point to get in some extra stretches with a yoga class? I don't like shelling out for classes too often, so I'm a big fan of Yoga with Adrienne on YouTube. I often do video yoga if I'm not feeling the running. For me it's like a complete 180 both physically and mentally.

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    1. Oooh, poor cone-head puppy! It's so funny to watch them when they have a cone on but I always feel bad, too; they don't understand why it's on there!

      It's funny how taper gets into our heads but usually ends up fine. It's for the greater good! I did do some yoga and stretching and I think that helped a lot.

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  5. You are fine....good to go for race day!! I love the new outlook....especially the list of what you are reading now....I like seeing what others are reading!!!

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    1. I had that list for awhile but it was hidden on the right side under a lot of other stuff...I think it's easier to see now! I'm glad you like it!

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  6. The eggplant looks delish! I've always only roasted my eggplant. Sometimes it's bitter and sometimes it's not so I only make it if i'm feeling lucky.

    I know you will survive your taper crazies and rock this marathon!!

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    1. I took the advice of all the online recipe blogs and "sweated" my eggplant first; it worked wonders and it wasn't bitter at all! Honestly, I could hardly taste the eggplant with all the yummy cheese and sauce.

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  7. Oh no, I definitely know what you're talking about with regards to the phone dragging your shorts down. I've been there before and it's no bueno!

    I agree with you and everyone else, this is just the taper crazies! You are going to be absolutely fine leading into race day. I can't wait to see you cross the finish line!

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    1. It's funny how ONE thing can become really distracting and throw off your entire run. I just couldn't find a rhythm and my entire run suffered from that dang stupid phone!

      I'm SO glad you'll be at the race...but I'm honestly a little intimidated. I don't want to let you guys down!

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  8. Taper Madness is such a real thing - friends that don't run, just don't get it! I read via Bloglovin...so it's always simple and centered. Race day will be amazing - have fun!!!

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    1. It's so true, non-running friends just don't get the total mental anguish. I've been whining and shouting and experiencing weird mood swings at home; luckily Matt is really decent about it all!

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