Me Monday

This was another one of those very uneventful weeks.  Still sick about half the week, by Wednesday I started feeling a bit better.
I had about two days of feeling like I was getting over it and then I just started feeling overly exhausted, to the point that I literally don't wake up unless someone wakes me.

Then Saturday, I noticed this huge bump on my neck, I hate it and feel very self conscious about it.
I have an appointment with the Doctor today, to get that figured out.  I've never had thyroid problems, but that is a guess, as well as it could be an infection from the walking pneumonia I have been dealing with.
The good news is I have been a bit too tired to get to overly concerned at this point.  So keep your fingers crossed that it isn't a bit deal and will go away soon and my energy will come back!

BLOGGING
I did remove Intense Debate and convert my blog back to Mobile friendly.  I am really bummed about it, it was my favorite comment system.  I absolutely hated that by doing so, removed all past comments.  Please know I did not delete them, the system did.  I think I replied back to everyone before I made the switch.


Because of my very uneventful week, or lets just say past few weeks.  I don't have any fabulous news to talk about.
However, because I haven't been running in weeks *sad face*, and seriously hope I can feel up to getting back into it this week, I thought I'd share some random facts about me and running, hopefully I can come up with most that you haven't heard me mention before!

RANDOM RUNNING "ME" FACTS

* Years ago, I tore the cartilage in one knee while sitting at a desk at work when I used to fold up my legs underneath me to sit.  Because of that, that piece of cartilage flaps around and occasionally will get caught under my knee cap which makes my leg give out.  I can't walk again until I lift my knee cap and work it out again.  (I've only had it happen in a race once.) The better I build up the muscles in my knee's, the less likely it is to happen....  As I have been getting back into running this past year, it has happened way too many times, LOL

* I only display my 26.2 marathon medals and my one and only first place adult 5k finish medal.  I keep all others, in a box or in a scrap book, even all my first and second place ribbons from years past are only in scrapbooks.  Not that I don't think any race distance is a reward, because I do.  I just have this thing about my own reward wall, being more of a marathon wall and it helps declutter it in a way:)

*  I've run 39 marathons, in 32 different states and I will be devastated if I can't knock off several more states this year on my list.  It' already killing me that I had to pass on spring marathons.

* When I picked each of the races I wanted to run in each state.  I researched these two things; races that allow for up to a 5:30 finish time, (in case anything bad happens and I need the extra time.) Races in awesome locations, near National Parks or points of interest I always wanted to visit. 
From my original choice of races, I have not changed my mind... yet...:)

* When I made my 50 states and D.C. goal I determined the following criteria for myself.  1. I must finish under the races time limit, or it wouldn't count. 2. I must run a different marathon for each state, even if it crosses state boarders, it only counts for the state it started and/or finished in.

* I only ever lost one toenail, and that was my own fault for running in shoes that were too small.  Ever since I corrected that, and buy then a 1/2 size larger, I have never lost one since.

* I once was an idiot the day before a marathon and wore a new pair of shoes to walk around in, I had open blisters on the backs of my heels that were horrible and painful and I couldn't even stand to wear a shoe the night before the race.  Thanks to my dad, his superb moleskin skills and some spray glue. I managed to run the marathon and thanks to him, had zero pain, and they didn't get any worse the entire race!

* The marathon I trained the hardest for, and had a great chance of getting close to the 4 hours, I came down with bronchial pneumonia, finally the day before the race my hemoglobin levels tipped just above the (I won't die point) and my Dr. gave me inhalers and permission to run.  (He's a runner too:)
It was a tough race, especially since the last 8 miles were all pretty much steep uphill and I didn't have good lungs.  But I made it, unfortunately no where near 4 hours:(  But that's okay, it was a finish!  It taught me a lot, and because of it helped me learn how to push through pain better than anything else could have!

* I hate flat marathon courses (Yes, I know that makes me weird.)  I find them to be boring and to be honest they mess with my mind far worse than any hill could.  But if I am stuck with a flat course, I will embrace it and find things to enjoy from it anyway:)

* I love aspects of each race I have ever run, even the bad ones, and the ones that hurt the most.  I never look back after a race and say, that was miserable I wish I hadn't of done it.  I may say I had miserable moments, but no matter what happens, I own it and love all the good and bad!

* It only occurred to me about a month ago, that I should have saved a awesome special location for when I hit marathon state 50.  Because of the possibility of family and friends coming to watch me finish that one.  With the states I have left, I don't feel I have quite as many amazing destinations to choose from, right now I am leaning toward saving Cap Cod for the last.  Although Oregon is also a beautiful possibility:)

* When I finish my 50 states goal, I would like to take a year to train specifically to see if I can qualify for Boston.

25 comments :

  1. Yuck, I'm sorry you've been feeling sick :( I hope the doctor's appointment goes well. I enjoyed learning more about you :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, I am really ready for the energy to come back and to get over it all!!

      Delete
  2. Good luck at the doctor's. Fingers crossed it's nothing serious.

    I've only lost one toenail too, but it was a soccer collision that happened before I started training for my half. It took forever for it to fall off.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks!
      Oh ya, mine took months to fall off, of course I glued it back down because I was afraid if it came off too early it would cause too much pain, I think that's why it took so long to come off, LOL

      Delete
  3. I hope things turn out okay at your dr appt. Just reading that thing about your knee made me cringe!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL, if that made you cringe then walking up a set of stairs next to me would really make you cringe, it's unavoidably loud, and I could never sneak up on someone with this knee, LOL

      Delete
  4. P.S, I love how simple the new commenting system is!

    ReplyDelete
  5. You are so close to your 50 state goal - more than halfway there :) You'll have to let me know when you make it to Wisconsin (if you haven't already) - there are plenty of great races in this state!

    The cartilage flap sounds all too familiar to me. When I was in high school I tore cartilage playing soccer and tennis and finally my knee just gave out one day when I was walking in a parking lot. It completely locked and I ended up having to get surgery to fix the issue. Fingers crossed strengthening your knee will be enough to fix the issue for you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I definitely will! Actually Wisconsin is one of those states I have about 2 I can't pick between, guess it will depend on the time of year:) I may have to hit you up when I am making the choice and you can offer your opinion on which is better:)
      Oh no, ya it's common for people, so I am told. I could have the surgery to have it removed, and eventually I will have to. But because of the location the surgeons have said it's better I wait as there will be a little risk with it:)

      Delete
  6. :( I hope your doctor appointment goes well! Your knee story makes me never want to sit like that again! Ha I do that all the time! I even did it when I was in school lol. Guess that won't be happening anymore haha. Your marathon wall sounds awesome! I am the same way with my medals. I have my high school and college medals tucked away and just have all my road race ones out. I love that story of your being sick and running that marathon, not the you being sick ha but you're tough for pushing through that! I tried to run through pneumonia in a mile race and my hs coach ended up pulling me out because I was coughing so bad. That's incredible that you ran a whole marathon with that! Oregon and Cape Cod are great choices! I've never been to Cape Cod, but I absolutely loved Oregon :) I know you could qualify for Boston if you took some time to train specifically for it. It's in you! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I used to sit like that all the time, years of it and never had a problem. One day I was at work and had been sitting like that for a while and I turned to grab something and I literally felt and heard it tear. It took a few months of no running and a few Dr's... It's healed, but sometimes it does get caught, so ya if you sit like that it's always a possibility, I hope it doesn't happen to you though!
      I end up having to run sick more than healthy it sometimes feels, but ya that one taught me how to be tough, LOL
      Oregon is one state I haven't visited, and oddly it's not that far away crazy as it sounds:) I think either would be a great last location to run!
      Thanks, you know your right, I really think if I take the time it's definitely possible, and although now is not the right time, I am looking forward to getting to that point:)

      Delete
  7. I love your list of goals and especially running a marathon in every state. You certainly can qualify for Boston if you came close to four hours. It takes alot of dedication but I think most anyone can do it. Since I started this running hobby so late, my goal is to run all the marathon majors. This year I check two off the list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!
      I think your goal to run all the majors is awesome! I've done NYC and Marine Corps, so when you get to those, you're going to love them!!!!!!

      Delete
  8. I hope the doctor's appointment goes well. I'll be thinking good thoughts for you!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I agree that the good, or the bad, or whatever race day brings makes each one a unique experience. It's part of why I'm addicted to it. I seriously hope you feel better soon and hope you get good news about your neck. I hope you get back to running and knock the next few marathons off your list. I absolutely believe you can qualify for Boston!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I feel the same way, if you can embrace the good and bad, it really can make for a great running career!
      Thank you, I hope I do too!

      Delete
  10. Hope you feel better and that the doctor appointment goes well! Love reading these random facts about you! So cool that you have a goal to run a marathon in all 50 states and that you have already done 32!

    ReplyDelete
  11. So sorry you are feeling so sick! I hope your doctor's appointment goes well, positive vibes your way. I can't believe how many marathons you've run! So cool! And I love that you find something good in every race even if it's a bad one. I try to do the same!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sue!
      Yes, definitely finding something good in every race is the key to loving every aspect of the sport:)

      Delete
  12. I hope you are feeling better today! Wow you've really run an impressive number of races! You are so close to your goal.

    ReplyDelete
  13. That's amazing that you've ran 39 marathons!! And I thought my 4 was impressive...haha!! ;)
    I've heard people say they hate flat courses. I just don't understand that! The last half I ran (Ky derby) was almost completely flat. Because of that I will run it every year from now on!! I hope the doc has good news for you girl!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your 4 are impressive!!! Heck, I think even 1 is, we are all at different points:)
      LOL, ya maybe it has something to do with being from Utah, but ya it's possible to hate them and I do haha...

      Delete

Thank you for visiting my blog! I love my readers, feel free to share your comments and opinions!