Good News/Bad News

GOOD NEWS:
I went to the gym and ran 2.6 miles with Mike. We kept a great pace throughout the first half of the run. My upper thigh was still bothering me, but my doctor said it was mostly muscular and running may hurt but would not cause more damage. YAY!! My goal of running a marathon is so important to me. This week of not being able to run or work out bothered me more than I thought it would. I knew I felt strongly about my goal to run the marathon, but I learned this week just how important it really is. I love running. I wish I found this sport years ago! I am also planning to run the 5K tomorrow at Lamarque. Even if I run slower, it's good to get the blood flowing to the injury. Lyndsey from work is coming to the race too. Lyndsey has been running in her free time (between nursing school and working!) This will be her first race so I'm very excited for her! I think her friend is coming too. Her name is Kim too...(hi Kim!!!)

BAD NEWS:
Now my leg is killing me. I'll ice it and take something for it. Probably rest for a bit. I also had a reaction to the tetanus. My arm is bruised, hot and sore. It feels much better today. I felt a little flu-ish the last couple of days too. I think it's from the shot. I'll be glad to be able to sit again. The machines I use for upper body have these little seats. The pressure is right where the dog bit me, so I haven't done any upper body all week. I can feel my muscles turning to fat as I type these words! LOL....kidding, of course.

Lastly, thank you to all who tell me they've been reading my blog. I see the visits being logged in but no comments, so I didn't think anyone was reading this. It's nice to hear that you are! Thank you again!

Sunday's 5K

I know I said I was done talking about the dog bite, but I'm not. Today is Wednesday and I'd hoped to have run 7 miles yesterday, but I couldn't. Between my butt/leg area still hurting and the tetanus shot, I thought it was best to rest. Sunday's race is important to me because I was planning on the longest run yet. 14.5 miles, I believe. 5.7 to the race, 3.2 race, 5.7 return trip from the race. (so 14.6 total) The marathon is so close, only 45 days!! I really wanted to be getting some distance in. I will meet the runner's club on Friday morning and test it out then. My doctor said I won't hurt it worse, it'll just be painful for a while. While I don't really think this will set me back, it's VERY frustrating to be halted in my tracks. No pun intended for once. The dog gets out of quarentine on Tuesday. I will be changing my route. I'll admit this irritates me. It's close to my house, very public and I like seeing the same people now and then. That route also has a few small hills, some grass patches I have to run across and is curvy, so I love it.

I was supposed to start swimming lessons last Monday at the YMCA. Swimming laps is great for upper body and endurance. It's also good to know how to swim....LOL. The heater was broken anyway, so I would have had to wait until this Monday. It's been a somewhat mild winter here this year, but it's still cold. When I got home Saturday after the dog incident, I went out and jumped into the pool. I didn't know my sweet, lovable husband had TURNED OFF THE SOLAR HEATER! Yeah....that was a good time. He figured no one had been swimming so why have it running. Haha!! I think the water was about 60 degrees. It pulled me out of the shock from the dog attack.

Tell me some stuff....

I have some questions for you seasoned runners. If you have a few minutes, please leave your answers in the comment box! Thank you SO much...


1. Do you take anything with you when you run? If yes, how do you carry it?

2. What was the scariest think you've had happen to you on a run?

3. What was the best thing?

4. How do you keep from getting abrasions, from clothing, for example?

5. What's the best advice anyone ever gave you about running?

6. Why did you start running?

7. What is your next goal for running?

8. What do you personally feel is more important, distance or speed?

9. Do you like to run in the rain?

10. What do you eat/drink before a race?

I'll give my answers later. I can't wait to get some responses back!!!!!

Thank you in advance!!!
Kim

Last Of The Dog Bite News, I Swear.....

I had to get a tetanus shot today. I tried to talk the nurse into giving it to me on my butt since it was already hurting, but she just laughed. So now my butt hurts from the dog, my big toe hurts from running, my arm hurts from the shot. It's about 6 inches by 5 inches big. I have a picture....I'll try to post it. I originally planned on running 7 miles tomorrow. I'm curious to see what this bite will feel like while running....I'll have to play it by ear.

Ok, done with that bologna! Back to the good stuff...

So, I realized running 10.8 miles felt great and my legs were fine. I had a little bit of calf soreness, but that's it. I think overall, I did very well. I'm curious to know how people keep hydrated on long runs. I don't like to carry things while I'm running but I need to drink. I think I'll make the next post more like a questionaire.........

Toenail Necklace

Yes people, your read that correctly. I found an AWESOME blog by a runner named Scott Dunlap. He has this picture on his blog. HAHA!!! Those of you who know me well, know I like my toes to be beautiful and painted 24/7. You also know that I'd FREAK if I lost one of my little beauties. You also know I'd probably not save the disgusting thing....LOL. One more thing you know, if you know me well...I have a sense of humor and this toenail necklace is RIGHT UP MY ALLEY! Funny thing is, is the big toe on my right foot is hurting and the base is a little discolored. Yeah, I'm worried now.....but the necklace maker takes donations. I wonder if he'd like my pretty little pink tonail????????

Dog Bite Update

Now that I've had the nerve to look at the bite, I see it's more on my leg that it felt like. I think the dog TRIED to latch onto my behind, but my "buns of steel" were ROCK SOLID, not allowing a good grip when she tried to eat me. Ha! Anyway, it's more of a scratch with a black bruise. It's about 5 inches in diameter, and yes, it hurts to sit down. I'll have Bobby take a picture of it and if it's not too inappropriate, I'll post it. She ran away after she bit me.

A man who came to help said my screams probably scared HER....LOL. He said he heard me screaming from his house, which was about 50 feet through the woods. I guess I have "lungs of steel" too. Knowing I could scream like that after running 10.8 miles makes me happy in a freaky kind of way....lol.

The animal control officer called last night to update us on what was happening to the dog. 6 weeks ago, she had 9 puppies. 2 weeks ago, she found a way to get out the backdoor into the lanai and her puppies followed her. 7 of them fell into the pool. No one was home at the time so all 7 were drowned. I'm so sad to hear this. Within a few days the dog got out and chased a child, biting him. When the animal control officer went to the house, they told him what happened to her 7 puppies. He told me that the 2 puppies she still had were too young to be without their mother so with the promise of keeping the dog from escaping again, he let her stay. The day this dog bit me, no one was home. When the police officer went to the house the dog tried to attack him too. Animal control had to take her in this time. The 2 puppies were out also but he could only catch one. He searched for 3 hours for the last puppy, he's going back sometime today to get it. He wants to keep the puppies with their mother while she's in quarantine for 10 days waiting for the rabies test. He told me the dog never had any vaccinations, but seems very healthy. I won't worry about it for now. I think the dog was just freaking out over losing 7 of her puppies. That just breaks my heart. I think I'd bite someone too if it were me.