Sunday, March 3, 2013

Funk...

No, not a misspelling by this, at times foul mouthed mother of 3. I am in a bit of a funk. 

I didn't race the Woodlands half this weekend as planned. I am having a hard time hitting anything other than easy paced runs due to the vile pollen that lingers in this part of the world during February/March. It is killing me. It was the same this time last year, of course I had no idea then why all of a sudden I couldn't crawl round 10 miles without desperately wanting to walk (it was my 1st real time running here during this time of year). A year on and I've learned a thing or two but not how to defeat these seasonal allergies. 

So that's part one of the funk. Part two is a bit more personal. I have mentioned it a few times now, my 'stomach' and the trouble it has been giving me for quite some time now. Well, it hasn't improved any, in fact I'd say it worse than it's ever been. It is frustrating the sh*t out of me - pun intended. I have to stop 3/4 times every run and every time there is quite a bit of blood. TMI? The pit stops have been going on for ages now, the blood thing has got worse. 
So I made an appointment and have the pleasure of going for a colonoscopy on Friday. I don't really care too much about the procedure, the most disturbing part is I don't get to eat for the entire day before or the morning of - like I asked the nurse 'emmmm is that even possible?' she assured me I wont starve but I'm not convinced I wont keel over. Oh well, need to get this thing sorted out. My stomach is sore and achy virtually all the time to varying degrees. It's worst whilst I run and afterwards, I get to around 5 miles and just want the run to be over - this is stealing my running joy.
The bottom (pun not intended) line is if I can't get some kind of resolution to this I will have to throw myself into some other activity. I can't keep going like this, it's simply not worth it for me. Running is...was my joy and now it is just a big pain in the arse (ok, last one promise). The good news is that there are triathlons, and I can swim and ride a bike so I have somewhere to go if I need it. I am hoping this will be something that can be fixed. I've never had any health problems before, I come from a family that has had very few health problems, we're lucky like that and we seem to live forever so I am finding this very frustrating. Pain has become my norm during runs and after and having taken a step back I realise that this should not be the case.

I hope this doesn't sound too depressing a post, I'm just a very matter of fact type of gal and whilst I want nothing more than to get into Chicago (going to have to wait with all the other to see if I get a spot through the lottery for the last 15,000 spots) and blow my PR out of the water, it's not going to be possible unless I can sort this thing out.

Oh, you know what else is great? The fact we have a HUGE health insurance deductible so will have to pay for the procedure entirely out of pocket, talk about adding insult to injury! Oh how I miss you NHS!!!! (but not the HUGE taxes we pay to fund it ;)).

In other news I find myself volunteering to be my 6 year olds football (soccer) coach for this season at the Y. How do I get myself into these things?! I'm actually really looking forward to it, just have to keep my somewhat competitive nature on tight reigns, 'they are only 6, they are only 6'! I went to a 'soccer clinic' at the Y on Saturday and the guy taking it said 'you're the one that runs all the time aren't you?' 'emmmm, yes, yes I am'. It felt like a  bit of a confession.
My kids sporting activities start to ramp up from this point on, 1st we have 2 kids in soccer and then summer swim league starts and I'll have 2 doing that also. Exciting! That means having to get up and have my long run done by 6:30am on Saturdays and some of my long runs are 28 miles! Thank you to Doug Storey for accommodating my high milage through the summer request, we'll see how it goes tummy permitting. You see, I am not all doom and gloom, I am hoping I can find an end to the trouble I'm having. 

I have wondered if it's diet related but nothings changed, but then things haven't been good for a long time.....part of me wonders about the porridge (oatmeal) I eat every morning. I rediscovered it maybe around a year ago having not had any for YEARS and am now addicted to the stuff. I know that we can crave things that we are in fact intolerant to. Maybe I'll cut out the porridge and therefore the milk and see if that helps any. 

I just want to be able to run and not feel discomfort, well the effort type of discomfort is my friend this other kind....is not.

Hubbie is also away for another 3 week trip which means I am bound entirely to my 2 hour time limit at the Y but that's fine with me at the moment, I don't have any desire to go any longer. I do take imodium for all runs over 15 miles, I am tempted to use it on all my runs but don't think that's a good idea but it does still offer some relief. 

So it's back to over the bridge and back, over the bridge and back, oh how I love that bridge. I actually do, it represents freedom for me AND thank goodness it's tree lined so I have hiding places :s

Hopefully I'll be saying goodbye to the funk soon and be back to working hard and enjoying it.

Some completely unrelated photos to show it's not all doom and gloom!


 4th place in 1st ever science fair, he's the handsome one on the left (I am living in a never ending 'Wonder Years' episode) ;)



 This child was born to be a gymnast, we may have found her thing!



I ran over that bridge a few times during my 50k, never saw any naked children. Apologies Texas, stupid naked Europeans.


8 comments:

  1. We all go though stages like that when we don't have energy to run properly... I'm normally like that over december, by then I'm tired from a long year of running and I need the break...

    So plan you breaks to keep the motivation up, in the 16 weeks build up to a marathon have at least 2 weeks off (on in a row). Then you work to them and put in the hard mile and earn that rest. knowing that you will be stronger and nore motivated to hit the miles again after the break.

    Good luck.

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    1. I feel all I've done is rest and recover since the marathon! I am ready to go again, just need to sort out tummy!

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  2. I wonder if you've got some internal hemorrhoids. I had them a year and a half ago, and it was not fun at all. It caused some bleeding. Anyway, I hope you get that all figured out. Hopefully the pollen will ease up a bit so you can get out there to run!

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    1. ding ding ding, we have a winner :D good diagnosis Dr Smith, I was hoping that's all it was. phew :)

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  3. Good luck with the colonoscopy. I just had one a week and a half ago. The day before is the worst part, but you will survive. I had some lemon jello and sports drink at breakfast time, some plain chicken broth and more sports drink at lunch and lots of water. The good news is that once you have to drink that nasty Miralax stuff, you definitely do not feel like eating any more. That night is no fun, but it is important to follow directions so that the test can be done accurately. I hope they are able to help you figure out a solution. I definitely know how frustrating it is!! Good luck and i hope you are feeling out of your funk soon.

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    1. Thought about you on Thursday, that required more will power than most anything else I've ever done! I still wanted to eat even whilst drinking that entire bottle of YUCH! I fantasised about food ALL day :D

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  4. Ugh, I wish I had something super motivational and uplifting to say to you. Unfortunately, all I can muster is to tell you THAT SUCKS and I really hope things start to turn your way soon. You aren't alone, and maybe there's comfort in knowing we all hit rough patches occassionally. Hang tough, girl!

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    1. Thanks dude, I feel happier after my trip to the dr's, hopefully helped to sort me out a little! AND who knew it was possible to not eat for an entire day and not faint?! :)

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