Tag Archive | running

Listening to My Body

May18

Yesterday was race day.

When I started training for the Brooklyn Half, I thought realistically that a 2:45 was not out of range with enough training. My last two prior half marathons have been just under 3 hours. So it was not unreasonable to think with push and training, it could happen. It was a reasonable A goal.

As you know, training had been going well right up until I hit a few speed bumps with my calcium. I missed some runs due to not feeling up to it and then there was the whole fiasco of the calcium crash.

In speaking to my doctor, she was advising on the side of caution. She thought it would be prudent not to run. In talking though, she said if I didn’t push and did a lot of walking that would be for the best.

That was the plan…..

So how did it go……. Here’s the recap

I prepared the night before. Carefully not only laying out my clothes, but also getting all calcium/meds ready to go. Taking extra just in case. I decided to go back to adding powdered calcium to my water. Thinking that I would take plain water at water stops which worked well. On top of that, I took a dose of my calcitriol/calcium at 4:00 am before leaving for city. I also upped my normal calcitirol dose at this time.

The morning of the race started off with alarm not going off leaving me 20 minutes to get ready which is why it is good to have everything ready to go. Nothing was forgotten.

Get into the city to find that the parking that NYRR said was available was not in deed available. That provided some added stress as we were parking at the finish line near Coney Island and then needed to take train to Prospect Park for the Start. We were lucky to find a small lot that actually was very reasonable at $20. Dawn was right when she said, “they could have charged double and we would gladly have paid.”

Then off to the trains to go to Prospect start. Get to the Corral for our 8:20 start time. Before the race started, I took my normal dose of calcium/calcitriol. Then go to start my watch and realize that for some reason my Garmin did NOT charge!!!!!!!

Now I wasn’t running for time. I was planning to listen to my doctor, but I’m still a runner and like my tracking. I also thought it would be good to keep me in check as I do tend to start off too fast in big races. I also run faster than I can maintain or should be, but it was what it was.

I was running all on feel.

It was strange not to have a watch to watch. Although out of habit, I looked at the blank screen several times during the race. I took off at what I felt was a comfortable pace. I was feeling good. Then at the 5k water stop, I saw the 2:45 pace group and realized thats not where I should be.

I had to remind myself that my goal this race what not so much a time, but to keep my levels in the zone. I also realized that the conditions were very similar to the day I had the big crash. It was HOT. It was HUMID. The heat is not my friend. I was sweating.

With exercise everyone burns through calcium, but their bodies usually replenish by taking from bones. No worries though because this is a normal process and is actually good for bone health. For those of us with Hypoparathyroidism, this does not happen. There is no calcium regulation. So as our body burns up the calcium through sweat and heavy exercise, it must be manual added with our supplements and meds. Downside is that we just have to make educated guesses when to add.

Yesterday I hit it right – with the added meds and I do think the added calcium in the water. My doctor said it takes about 20 minutes for the meds to hit which is why it is important to add before feeling low. So thats what I did.

So I ran by feel. I walked a lot. I reminded myself that I did a lot of walking in training. When I walked, I power walked. When I ran, I ran by feel.

As you can see I did start off too fast. I adjusted. There were times that I thought I could/should run and push myself. I reminded myself that I needed to finish a smart race. A race that was more about being smart. I had no idea what time I was going to finish, but honestly this was my B goal.

It was a good day. A day to prove that I can do hard things.

Running Smart

May14

I’ve run smart races.

I’ve run races not smart.

It is much better to run them smart.

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.

It Will Be What it will Be

May4

Yesterday I met up with a running buddy for our last 10 miler before Brooklyn. Two weeks to go. Training has been going ok, but as I’ve mentioned I’ve been having some low calcium issues. Nothing to write home about, but I know I’ve been low. When you know you know.

So Dawn and I set off. We had no plan or pace, but we kept each other in check…. Kept from running too fast, too slow or too much walking. We met at a park and got looped back around mile 6. I have been adding calcium/cacitriol at this point. I could tell that it was time as I was getting a few finger tingles, but nothing too bad. Took my pills and refilled water and off we went.

I started lopping back to the park only for Dawn to question. I had gotten confused and then was sad to realize that we had more miles because we would have gotten bak at 8 not 10. Oops…. My bad.

We change it up and get back to the park at 9.75 and we get it to 10 in the park. All is good although I’m happy to be done, but nothing too bad.

We take the required picture:)

Then we head off to our cars to get water and at this point I’m thinking I want to take some more calcium. I had been feeling tingles in hands during end of run and now was feeling it in my upper arms.

As we are talking, I get my pills. I start with 1 calcium. I immediately rethink and decide to take 1 more and some more calcitiol which I might not have needed but I was pretty sure a crash was coming.

I was right.

Apparently I said to Dawn, “It’s coming.”

She thought, “What’s coming?”

Then she saw.

Both hands and arms were full on tetany. I thought best option would be to get home. I asked Dawn to drive me as we were only a few minutes away and thought maybe just to add some more calcium. Plus I would be home:)

While she may not have been calm on the inside, she remained cool, calm and collected. As we got to my house, I used voice command to call hubby who came out to get me. When I got inside, I sat took some more calcium and slowly…. Slowly……. My body released.

I texted with doctor…. Continued to add some extra calcium for remaining of the day and all is well.

In retrospect…..

It was much warmer than I realized. I even got some color from the sun. Heat is not my friend.

I had been dealing with low calcium symptoms during the week and probably started in a deficient.

Again – it was hotter than I realized

Those without Hypopara (my friends and spouse included) might have been shocked by what happened. I was not. Although it was worse than the last crash.

It is what it is.

Funny not funny during the run, Dawn and I spoke of my last crash. I had said to her that wouldn’t it be nice to have a monitoring device that could tell you when your levels were off like a diabetic.

Yup…. Wouldn’t it be nice

We also talked about making sure that I could easily get to my pills without having to worry about opening something.

Anyway this did put things in perspective. Yes, I will rethink race day. I will take into account weather. I will make sure to have levels in check prior to race day. I will make sure to put info on back of race bib and will make sure to know where medical tents are.

Most of all, I will not let this stop me. I will just make sure to be smart.

Perfect timing, I already had an appointment for a Hypopara study that I am participating in. I am doing my 24 hour urine collection today followed by some testing tomorrow. I will also get to see my Dr who I will discuss what I need to do.

Even When It’s Hard

Apr29

Last week I’ve been dealing with low calcium symptoms. Nothing major, but knowing that I needed to dial it back a bit.

I skipped a couple workouts. I just couldn’t seem to get to where I should push it. Cramping, muscle spasms and such. Didn’t help that I also forgot my pills at work one day . I was a hot mess.

Muscle spams

Nothing major, but it went on for a bit. Here is the thing, you have to listen to your body. My body was saying slow it down. Besides this close to the haf, it wan’t going to make or break me.

Sunday I went out for my long run. I procrastinated and procrastinated until it was time to go…. I just wasn’t feeling it, but thought it was just that pre run don’t want to go.

So off I went.

Around mile 5 I took a 250 mg calcium. Usually on long runs I do this around mile 6. By mile 6 I decided to take another 250 and my calcitriol as I was feeling tingly fingers. I knew at this point I could no longer push it running, but I really wanted to get the miles in.

So I got them in,

Done in is done and that is all that mattered. I am glad that I got it done and glad I didn’t push it. By time I got home I needed to add some more calcium.

I was toast…. But as someone said

10 miles is 10 miles.

Made sure to rest, recover and take my calcium

Two days later, I am back on track on back on my training schedule. Yesterday was rest day.

Just like I say, I need to train for the weather; I also need to train where I’m at. I could have calcium issues on race day and this will also help me to be prepared.

Don’t Forget

Mar21

I can do hard things. I’ve done hard things.

Today’s Facebook memories from 9 years ago were filled with NYC Half Marathon.

A sub 2 half…. Right under the wire at 1:58:59

This was a race that I worked with amazing coach to achieve. This was a race I trained hard for.

It was hard.

It wasn’t easy.

I wasn’t sure that I would be able to do it.

Yet, I did.

Now mind you this was 9 years ago…. 8 months before my thyroid surgery that left me Hypopara.

Here’s the thing though….. I know due to getting older, the whole Hypopara thing, and the extra pounds that I am no longer chasing the sub w half.

I get that. I really do, but what was hard and impossible then became reachable and possible. That doesn’t mean that I can’t still do hard things. It’s just that I think I forgot it.

This was a good reminder. Not just for my running and fitness, but for life in general.

Mar17

Yesterday was the NYC Half.

I did not run it this year, but happily tracked several friends who did. It’s nice to be on the support team only tracking. Although I must say for a half, the NYC half is a great race. This year they had excitement of running over the Brooklyn Bridge. To to say that made me a little jealous.

That being said, even if I was scheduled to run it I would have been sidelined as I ended up having a stomach bug. You can run through a lot, but a stomach bug isn’t one…. At least not for me. I didn’t even make it out for my 6 mile run as I was passed out on the couch all day.

After sleeping all day, then going to be for a solid 10 hours, I woke up feeling better. I took the day off of work. My appetite wasn’t total back but did have energy even though I had some symptoms of low calcium this morning. It was a good day to catch up on cleaning out and up in a way you can only do when on one is home to get in your way… LOL

Anywho…. Back to the running……

I’ve been thinking and looking at my last few half marathon times. They have all been in right around 3 hours.

So the question is can I do better? Do I want to push to do better? And if so, I need to keep going with my training.

Hmmmmmm

Time will tell……

And then the question is, what do I want to do?

Jan26

Some might say that I have been doing this for a long time without reaching some of my goals.

Maybe that’s true.

Maybe it’s not.

My goals have changed along the way. My thoughts of what is necessary has changed. What and where I want to be has changed. I know my body has changed and what it can do too. Always moving forward though. Maybe no longer reaching for that golden ring, but happy with the consolation prize. Bobbing and weaving, even when the finish line keeps moving.

So maybe it’s not about reaching the goal, but continuing to reach for it without giving up.

Tomorrow starts my 16 week training plan for the Brooklyn Half. As of now I do not have a goal for the race other than to run it well. To me that will mean to go into this event trained by following my training plan. To continue with the cross training to hopefully also go into this race injury free.

At the 8 week mark, I will access where I am with my training and adjust training for the goal.

So here we go……

Last time I ran Brooklyn in 2015, I ran it in 2:14:47. That’s not happening or anything even close to that. That being said, my last half was 2:59:18. So, honestly, I am starting my training with 3 hours in mind.

Never giving up…. Never baking down…. Still moving….

What more can I ask for?

Setting Goals

Jan2

Yes it is that time of year for goal setting. That being said, I would be doing all this if it was June. I am ready. So here we are……. One week in.

What a difference a week makes.

  1. Working on my diet. Healthy smoothies in the morning. More water. More salads. Less processed foods. It’s a work in progress with progress being the key word. Small changes that can be sustained.
  2. Downloaded a 12 week wall pilates program on an app (Reverse Health). For the $30 fee, I feel like it will be worth it. My goal is to carve the 20 minutes out a day. So far. So good, but its been 3 days:)
  3. Started doing some running again. Even ran a New Years Day 5K with friends. This lead me to another goal…. In June there is a Downtown Run into Summer 5K. MY GOAL NOW IS TO RUN THIS RACE WELL….whatever that means. Not time, but the way I feel. Although to be honest I would like to run it in under 35 minutes. I ran the Bethlehem Running Festival 5K in 40.17. So I think while a reach/stretch goal, it is not a crazy goal.

I have been reading a GREAT book by a running coach that I was very lucky to work with. The book is Running Past 50, Your Guide to Running Longevity and Success by Caolan MacMahon. (You can find it on Amazon and I highly recommend it). This book has been motivating me…..for me because I am lucky enough to know Caolan and have worked with her it really hits home. She was my running coach who got me through 2 marathons, a 50K and my one and only sub 2 half marathon. She is an amazing coach and her book speaks the truths coach’s need to say to thir athletes.

The below passage really spoke to me and I hear the truth of her words….

“But it takes time and willingness to develop a habit, which will also include breaking a habit. Habits can, of course, be “good” or “bad.” In this case, you want to develop a good habit, running , while breaking a bad habit, inactivity.”

This paragraph goes on with more information and really spoke to me. So much so that I have it bookmarked.

I have developed bad habits. Not just eating more processed and sugary foods than I should, but coming home from work and immediately sitting on the couch with my dog and a coffee. While this isn’t a bad thing, the timing is a bad habit because once your on the coach it is harder to motivate to do what needs to be done. So what I’ve been trying to do is inside of doing this to go for a walk after work or as in today do my wall pilates which today focused on abs.

So here is to making better choices in the new year. Here is to making healthy habits while replacing the bad ones.

Since this post is long enough, I will explain later how I plan to hold myself accountable.

Happy New Year!

Balance not Perfection

Dec30

I’ve been overweight for years now. I’ve talked about it before. The difference is that before the weight did not effect my life. My doctor never was concerned about it as it was consistent. At the time my high BMI was just that a high BMI. All my other numbers were good. There was no effect on my health.

I was what you would call a healthy fat.

My doctor even would comment that she was not concerned. Although being a doctor she would comment on the BMI, but then just shrug her shoulders.

This last appointment was different. I have now entered into the “unhealthy” fat stage. My cholesterol did lower, but part of that was my good cholesterol going down. She was also concerned about some other liver numbers, so she sent me for a liver ultrasound which backed up her thought of a fatty liver and she is concerned due to family history that I could also become diabetic. The ultrasound also found that I have gallstones.

This was my wake up call. That and the fact that I also gained another 15 pounds. I’ve also been experiencing more aches and pains. Lastly I realized that while my cardio is strong and I can go out to run pretty much without thought, I have lost flexibility and strength.

Time to change the game.

I admit the liver thing has been a wake up call. I’ve already started setting myself up for some success with healthier

Yes that is a cinnamon roll! I am going for balance not perfection!

So this is my goal. I am putting my health first. I even got a 2025 planner. My goal is to to add workouts (not just running) into it. With work and my night class starting mid January, I can’t just let things go unplanned. When I’ve done that the thing that without fail that always gets put last is workouts.

So here is to a healthier happy New Year. My initial goal is 15 pounds which will take me to where I was last year. From there we will see where things go.

What are your goals?

Bringing My A Game

Oct20

The weekend is over. The races are done….. I’m still running on the high of the weekend. I couldn’t have asked for better weather and a better outcome.

Today was the last race of the Quadruple Play Marathon Challenge. I have to say that I wasn’t sure how the day was going to go since my left foot started hurting so much during the 10K yesterday.

After yesterday’s race, I soaked in jacuzzi tub with epsom salt. I rolled my foot. I used different creams and over the counter pain meds. Still I didn’t know what would happen today.

I went to ben early again last night. Probable in bed my 9:30 and asleep by 10. This after snoozing on the couch. Thankfully I woke up again on my own because my alarm didn’t go off. I got up a little later than I would have wanted, but it all came together. I got to the starting line with 20 minutes to spare.

The Bethlehem Running Festival does not have corrals. You pick where to start. I picked the back of the pack. I started between the 2:45 & 3:00 pacer. I knew I wasn’t at 2:45 but thought that was a good option.

The hills of Bethlehem Pa are no joke. Per my Garmin the elevation for today 373. I trained hills, but not Bethlehem hills. So my goal today was to watch my pace and be steady. I also did not walk downhills or flat parts of the course. I did walk, but so did the 3:00 pacer I was stealthily following from a distance.

As I’ve said before, I try not to add extra calcium when running but incorporate it into my running. Before starting, I took my morning dose of calcium and calcitrol a little earlier than usual. Then at mile 6 I took 250 mg calcium (half my afternoon dosage). Then at mile 8 I took the other half with my calcitrol. I also made sure to fuel and drink electrolytes. It seemed to work.

So I ran…..and ran…. And ran some more.

My foot had some discomfort today, but actually much less than yesterday which I don’t get. I will take it though!

Towards the end around mile 11, I realized that I would be close to a 3 hour half. I continued to be smart, but I did push at the end. I’m glad I did because I came in right under at 2:58:18.

I saw the pacer at the finish line area. She was running alone for a good deal of the race. As I said, I kept her in my site but did not run with her at all. I thanked her for pacing me even if she didn’t know it. Pacers are awesome.

More to come, but this is enough for now:)