It seems like training lasts forever and then before you know it the race is around the corner!
Training has been going well. While I have not been sticking to my trianing plan 100%, I feel confident in my training. I’ve been for the most part hitting all the long runs or the multple day runs.
As a reminder, I am training for the Bethlehem Running Festival which consists of 3 days, 4 events totalling 26.2 miles. I’ve done this event a few times and am excited to do it again. I wasn’t planning to do this but got talked into it by my son and his girfriend to do it with them. How could I say no?!
Todays run was 11 miles. It was hot today. I’ve been having some very minor low calcium symptoms .
Dancing muscles as I call them. Technical term is muscle spams.
I’ve had a few other very minor symptoms. I had blood work done Thursday and my levels were just at the low level. My doctor plans to up my Yorvipath dosage, but since it’s a daily injection I need to wait for new pen. The pen has 3 different dose levels and my current one is already the max for the pen
So in order to make sure that I didn’t have any issues, I put some powdered calcium in an extra water bottle that I took on the run. My thought was to just see if I needed it. Well since it was in the mid 80’s, I needed it. I didn’t wait till I felt like I needed it, I drank it preemptively which I’m glad I did. When I got home I did show minor symptoms but nothing to worry about.
The run was hard. I took it easy and tried to be consistent. The heat made the run not as enjoyable as it has been but you can’t pick your wheather. I feel like I am ready for this event, but we shall see.
After stretching, I made a protein calcium packed smoothie.
I am starting to form ideas of how I want to run this event. More on that this week. As its tine for some rest
I can’t believe how much Yorvipath is making a difference. Not just in my running, but my day to day life as well.
While I love what this is doing for my running, I am not just taking this to be able to run. That is just a bonus. Living with untreated PTH loss (aka Hypoparathyroidism) was like living with one hand tied behind my back. Some days both.
As I told my family, I made it look easier than it actually was because what was the point otherwise. The constant worry if my calcium would crash. The self monitoring. The leg cramps. The cramping of hands.
So even if I wasn’t running, I would happily take it. The running is just a bonus.
Training has been going well. I even hit 20 miles for the week. Runs have felt good. Legs have felt good. To be honest, I am waiting for the shoe to drop it has been going so well.
I have also been working on controlling my pace. Thinking about which of the fall races will to be my goal race. Consistency will be the key.
My goal is not perfection, but to follow the plan as best I can.
Sorry that I didn’t update sooner. My keyboard died and I needed to get a new one:)
First world problems. I know.
Anyway 2 weeks on Yorvipath. I’ve gone for blood work twice. They have both been good. Corrected calcium levels were in the mid 9’s. For those not versed in calcium levels, anything under 8.5 is low. But I have to say it is more than just calcium numbers. I feel like my body is working again. Probably because Yorvipath is actually replacing the hormone my body is missing.
I am still in the beginning stage. I am adjusting dosages while lowering daily pill intact. Exciting stuff is that I am no longer taking any calcitrol and still in the 9’s!!!!! I am lowering my dosage of calcium supplements. The goal is to stop them too. I am down to 2 doses a day. More blood work to follow. More adjustments to follow, but it is already worth it.
Right now the biggest side effect I have is bruising from blood work and redness around injection sites. You inject in either belly or thighs and rotate sites. I have also had some leg pain, but not sure if that is from just all I’ve been recently doing. Monitoring.
So now……
WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING?
Well the first week, I admit, I took it very easy. I did not work out. I also had a busy week with school, so I didn’t have a lot of extra time anyway. Then after a week an half, I started at it.
One night I wanted to just run. So I did!
I felt winded. I felt like I pushed myself, but what I didn’t feel was the Hypopara symptoms.
Then I went for a 4 mile walk/run with a friend. I followed that with going and getting ten forty bags of mulch and doing some gardening. IN THE HEAT! I hydrated. I took breaks. I did all the things anyone would do and I felt like I could do it!
Then the next day I went for a three mile run on my own. I tested out a running vest. I ran pretty much the whole thing except for walking to drink as still figuring out the vest thing. No symptoms.
Then I did some more gardening and mulching.
Then the next morning I did more.
All the while not feeling ANY symptoms of low calcium.
After seeing my Hypopara Endocrinologist, we talked about how I’ve been been more syptomatic with low calcium symptoms. Yes, there was the crash after my last 10 mile run, but there I’ve also been having “normal” low calcium symptoms on a regular basis. Things like muscle cramps, tingles, and muscle spasms.
These are just things you get used to.
Here’s the thing….. You forget that these are not normal. They are just your normal.
In talking with my doctor, we don’t see any reason for the changes. My only thought is that I may have been under stress but even then.
I’ve run more marathon’s with Hypopara than with out at this point. Even with all my marathon training and Hat Trick training, my calcium has not been this bad. The only thought I’ve had is that I did used to run with powdered calcium in my water. Although I haven’t done that in years.
I’m going to try again. While it really is never a good thing to try something new on race day, I will be adding powdered calcium to my water. I will still have my regular doses with me, but I’ve got to figure out dosing.
Again, there is no way to measure calcium levels in real time. My doctor did say that it is better to go too hight than too low.
We also talked about my last crash and while she said it was smart to go home to where my meds were to make sure to take care because if it continued to go lower instead of regulating that it could cause a cardiac event…. And that based on my account and documented photos, it was a “severe crash.”
Now being she is the medical profession, she did caution about running Brooklyn. That being said, she also said as long as I did it smartly it should be ok since I’ve completed two other 10 miles runs in training. I also said, that I would be smart and if I end up having to walk a bunch, I will.
I will get to the start.
I will get to the finish.
I will be smart.
I will probably be very slow.
I do not anticipate that I will meet any A goal that I once floated at the start of my training.
The upside…… I am still moving.
Plus I have the hope of now getting on the therapy replacement plan and then it will be game on.
Maybe the secret isn’t being the best of the best.
Maybe the secret isn’t running harder or faster.
Maybe the secret isn’t anything other than…..
Just to keep plugging along. To keep moving. To not give up. To just keep moving.
Down to 6 weeks till Brooklyn.
It’s not exciting or fancy, but I am plugging along.
That is what I’m doing.
It’s not bold or exciting, It’s just getting runs, biking and cross training.
It’s just not giving up.
Just plugging along. Doing my thing. I’ve been “following” a training plan, but I’ve been following my way. Maybe doing a indoor bike run instead of mid week run. Changing up runs, but getting them done.
Sunday, I went for my long run. Normally a long run would be done at a much slower pace, but I had a plan. I would walk the first mile. Then I would do 5 miles at what I might think of doing at the half and then slow for last mile. For the most part, I stuck to the plan.
Mission accomplished.
Here is the thing though, I needed to remind myself to control my pace…. And I did. I ran the paces that I wanted. The only change I made was was the last mile. Instead of walking it, I ran like it was the finish and then walked the last quarter mile.
The best part of this run is that I felt like I could keep going. So there is that.
There is something to be said about waiting until you are ready to do something to actually start. There was no dread today. There was no, “I’ve go to go out for a run today,” said with dread.
None of it.
Today was a “I am going to go out for my run as soon as I’m done with my coffee” kind of day.
I can tell it has been a hot minute since I’ve seriously run as I couldn’t find my Garmin. Still can’t. Still looking, but I also didn’t let that deter me or stop me from getting out the door.
I was excited. It was a perfect day for running. The not too hot. Not too cold kind of day. No jacket required. At least for me as I always run hot.
My NYC Half training plan stated with a 3 mile run and that’s what I did. I didn’t watch pace, but did keep it as a conversational pace which I 100% did as I was on the phone the whole time! I walked when I got out of breath, but for the most part stayed at a stead pace.
Not too shabby if I do say so myself!
In all seriousness….. Not too shabby. I have not been doing anything unless you count testing and eating Christmas cookies. I’ve done a few walks, but have not run since I really don’t know when. Hopefully this is the beginning of a good training cycle.
I’ve got a plan loaded into Training Peaks. I am doing the Hal Higdon Novice 1, because let’s face it…..I am starting from scratch.
One day at a time…. One run at a time…. One workout at a time.
This is what it feels like to have fire again:)
This is what it is like to remember to show up for yourself.
One week in and 17 more to go, but training seems to be falling into place. Just so happens that a woman in my running circle is also planning to run NY. We are off similar ages and abilities. In talking to her, I explained the 80/20 plan that I am doing. She decided that is a good fit for her and the beautiful thing is that it seems like are fitness level and training zones are compatible, so it’s a go. We are doing slightly different plans, but we can make it work.
I forgot how good it was to run with people. I haven’t really done it in a long time even pre-covid. When people are training seriously even if they say “I will run whatever you are running,” it doesn’t always work out. They aren’t getting the training they need. You feel bad for holding them back or maybe worse run too fast which is worse than running too slow. So finding a training partner for a marathon where you can do many runs together is nice. Even better when you really like the person:)
So week one went well. I will say that holding back is harder than it sounds. All your life you are told to give it all you’ve got. ….To push yourself to the limits…..If you don’t push yourself who will. ……. I’m sure you can think of others that you’ve told yourself. It is always…. GO….GO…. GO.
Now it is…. Slow down. Don’t push it. Slow and steady. It’s harder than it sounds. More times than you would think this past week, it was “we are running too fast.” We need to slow down. We are breathing too hard. Now don’t get me wrong, with the heat and humidity in Jersey this past week slow and steady still was hard. The heart rate spiked a few times. Sweat happened. It was not “easy.”
Here is the thing though….. After this first week of running, there was not a run that when it ended I didn’t think that I could do more. I could run further. I could run faster. I also was able to recover from these runs which is key.
So as I dig deeper into this training, I really need to find out if the zone that my garmin is saying are the right zones. I also would love it if my heart rate didn’t seem to jump up quickly. To keep myself where I needed to be and bring my heart rate down, I would walk until I got back into the zone. So I need to work on this. It will come.
As I do this, I am also in the marathon of fundraising. It’s kind of like doing 2 marathons at once. I’m working on collecting auction items which after this last year you can imagine is not easy task, but onward I go. I’ve gotten some good ones already. (If you know of any, I’m all ears).
So onward I go….. Slow, Steady, and moving foward.
I’ve had a few people tell me that there is no shame in stopping now. While I know that to be true, I’m also not at that point. A prudent man might say, this is not your year. But I’m not a prudent man, I’m a hardcore badass unicorn who knows that she hasn’t reached her limits. This is just another speedbump in a road filled with them.
Exhibit A
Yesterday I went out for my long run. I knew it would be hard. I expected it to be hard. It was and I was filled with many doubts along the way. That being said, I was not expecting this. I went out planning to keep a very conservative pace which I did. I was averaging 13:30 paces which was mix of walking and running. I stopped to stretch along the way because it was just hard. The beginning was worse which I chalked it up to the normal aches and pains of being Hypopara. I was wrong.
I ended up walking the last mile because I was in pain. A lot. Hubby asked why I didn’t call someone to pick me up. To be honest the thought had crossed my mind, but I really wanted to hit 13 which was down from my original 15 I was going for. It was bad but not excruciating. Manageable and I thought, “I’ll be ok once I get home and stretch.” The excruciating part came after I got home, sat down and took off my shoes. I couldn’t get up I was in so much pain. I thought….. let me shower and that will help.
I had to shower sitting down and then soaked in some Epsom salt. When I went to stand up, I couldn’t. I literally slithered out of the tub and dressed on the floor. Not my best moment. Then again, maybe it was. I managed to get up and sit on the bed and call my podiatrist to get an ASAP appointment. Although painful, I was able to tiptoe to my car to make the drive.
There may have been some tears on the phone with a friend. I kept saying I didn’t do anything different. I was being conservative. I was being smart. I’ve only got 4 weeks to go. Boo Hoo. I was also nervous because it was BOTH FEET. One foot, you can hobble around on. This was not that and even having PF before, I never experience this level of pain. It made me nervous it was more.
Thankfully, by the time I got to the podiatrist office about an hour later, I could put pressure on my feet but it was still painful. At least now it was a respectable 6 and not an off the chart pain. I’ve also got a pretty good tolerance for pain which made me nervous.
X-ray shows all is good. Ultrasound image showed swelling in Plantar Fasciitis. Doc said normal is 2. Mine was 3.8. So after some discussion and promise from me not to do ANY running (as if I could) for the next week until I go back, he gave me cortisone shots in both feet followed by adding some cushioning and wrapping. He said swim or bike, but rest feet. NO bare feet around house and shoes while teaching my preschool gymnastics classes.
So here I am. Being a good girl. staying off my feet. Today I am still sore, but it’s a moderate pain. I’ve already ordered some PF supplies, soaked, rolled and tomorrow plan to go for my very first acupuncture session.
Normally at this point in a marathon training cycle, I say trust in the training to get you there. Not this time. What I need to do now is trust in myself. Trust that I know what my body can do even on hard days. Trust that I know it will be difficult, but knowing that I can do hard things. Trust no matter what the outcome that it is enough.
If I wanted to be brutally honest, I would say that I am running a marathon that I have no business running. I’m under trained. I’m out of shape. I’ve got plantar fasciitis. Then there is the whole hypopara thing. This will not be the great come back that I envisioned at the beginning of this training cycle. This will not be the hypopara PR that I was shooting for.
All that being said, this will still be amazing experience. Running as part of the Sandy Hook Promise Team. Spending time with the team. Sharing the cause. This will also be a feat of determination. Mind not just matter, but my body. Pushing. Asking more from it than it willingly will want to give, but can. That is true for every marathon runner. No matter where you are, what your goals, or even your health. Running a marathon proves that yourselve that you can do anything you put your mind to.
I’ve started training for NYC Marathon. I had been thinking that I was pretraining, but then I actually looked and yup, I’m training. I am following the Jeff Galloway “To Finish” Program and it’s actually a 26 week program. In looking at the calendar if I do my math correctly, I believe that puts me at week 3 of training. Oops, time to play catch up:)
Training for a marathon is a long process, yet at the same time it goes quickly.
I’m going to be very upfront in how things are going and I’m sure it won’t all be rainbows and sunshine. That being said, I am so lucky to be given this opportunity and remind myself that I am not doing this for me, but for Sandy Hook Promise.
Anyhoo…. Even with the “To Finish” program, I know that I will be giving it all I’ve got.
I went out for a run. I was just shy of 5 miles at 4.7, but it happens. I used the ratio of 3 minutes run to 45 seconds walk. It seemed like a good ratio, but I’m still feeling it out. I will say that I liked it. I tried to keep my run part around 11 and walk not at a Sunday stroll nor a power walk, but somewhere in between. It seemed to be a good balance as my overall pace was 11:17.
As I was running though, I was trying to connect my body to where my mind is which is harder than you think. In my mind, I still am so much faster. My body disagrees. Besides that I also have to reconcile that with the run/walk method there will be times that I’m out for my run where I’m going to be walking and people will see. That’s a mental thing, but one that I will deal with too.
Here is the thing….. I can only do what I can do. Yes, running is very much a mental sport, but in the end you can only do what your body will allow. I’ve also got to use this training time to know when to add more calcium and magnesium. When I was training for Chicago, I had a doctor who kept my calcium levels in the mid normal range which may have made things better for running, but overall was not good for my health as it left too much calcium in urine (not good for kidneys). So I’ve learned more this last year and I’ve also got my specialist that is keeping my calcium at just below normal. That is good overall, but I do need to adjust more now on running days. It will also be a training exercise to know how much is enough and how much is too much.
Yesterday was not enough. It didn’t help that the night before I fell asleep and forgot to take my calcium and magnesium. I also should have added more calez during run and realized that a Epsom salt bath afterwards might not have been as indulgent as I thought it would have been.
This is what happens when your don’t hit the right balance. Your muscles dance which isn’t as fun as it sounds….
It is true that the body can only do so much. It can only do what it can do and no more. That is a fact. BUT what if it can’t reach it’s full potential because the mind doesn’t believe. If the mind opts out before the body is ready, it will take the body with it. It is in control.
Training teaches us to push through, push past, and to work through the pain.
It is just as important to train mentally as it is physically. The Ying and the Yang of training. The body can only do what the body can do, but with the mind on board that is where the magic can happen.
I went out for a run tonight. I knew that if I didn’t get my run in today that it wouldn’t happen. I wanted this run. I want to get back to running on a more consistent basis. I pushed myself to get out the door when truthfully I was very comfy on the couch watching Tanked. If I win the lottery, I am so having them make me a huge tank in my new house. (Dreaming the dream).
Anywho….
I made myself get out the door. In the back of my mind, I wanted to get at least 5 miles in if not 6. I told myself that I would settle for 3 to get myself out the door. Suited up for a night run and out the door I went. One of the beautiful things about night running is that I have no idea what pace I’m running because I can’t see my watch. So I was running by feel. There was no over thinking. Just running.
On my run, I was thinking about things and just running to run. I felt good on the run . I think it would classify as a conversational pace running night if I had anyone to chat with. I was just enjoying the big beautiful moon and what might be considered perfect running temperatures. No thinking. No over analyzing. Just running.
Here’s the thing though…. I ended up with beautiful negative splits.
11:57, 11:50, 11:28, 11:06, 10:58
5 miles that I just enjoyed.
So the lesson that I took from tonight is that although I know that the body can only do what the body can do. I also know that sometimes my mind hold me back. Sometimes I over think. Sometimes I worry too much. Sometimes it’s ok to just run.
I may see some more “naked” no watching the watch runs in my future.
The Accidentally Running Mama 