Like a bad tequila that requires a lemon wedge and a beer, I chased last night's 24 hr Zyrtec with my steroid nasal spray, two cups of coffee and a puff of my inhaler. Judging by the gurgling noise my sinuses were making last night, the Zyrtec didn't help much anyway. It reminded me of the noise kids make when they're trying to suck up the last remnants of a cherry slurpee.
Once all the medications hit my blood stream I started having second guesses about today's "marathon pace" 7 mile run. In reality I started second guessing being out of bed at all. I drank a protein shake to cushion the medicine feeling a little bit- which didn't help at all.
When I did my first marathon pace (M-pace) run a couple weeks ago, I actually had a hard time running slow enough. I was supposed to be averaging a 7:58 mile, and after a few 7 min miles I managed to slow down enough for my total average to be 7:27. Easy peasy.
With my allergies going nuts, no doubt fueled by yesterday's long bike ride through the gorgeous hills of the south county, feeling drowsy from the Zyrtec, and feeling jittery from my inhaler (and probably the coffee), I figured I wouldn't have any problem going "slow enough". I was right.
Even for my warm-up mile I just wanted to stop and go home. This was going to go badly. I can understand canceling a run due to a cold or flu or something, but it's hard to forgo a workout simply because of allergies. I mean, allergies last for weeks, sometimes months...and sometimes all year. As much as I want to just lay around in bed all week (it's Spring Break after all), it's just not a good idea.
8:08 was my first mile. Not bad considering I also use the first mile to get warmed up a bit. I cruised along, haunted by the deep nausea in my belly and my urge to just close my eyes and go to sleep. I had my sunglasses on despite the lack of sun this morning, to soothe my eyes a bit. Usually I smile and say good morning to people I see on the trail, but I really wasn't feeling it today.
The trail was crowded-much more than usual. It was like running in a race. But just when my spirits were at their lowest, someone coming in the other direction put his fist in the air and yelled "Yay Boston!" referring to my Boston running shirt I had on. I smiled and said good morning to him and his little group. I felt slightly more uplifted. However, my nausea intensified. 8:08 for my second mile. Yeesh.
When I ran this pace two weeks ago, I winced as I hit a 7:07 (oops), cringed when I hit a 7:14 after thinking I had slowed significantly, and then laughed when I hit a 6:59 near the end (I mean, really?). Today I wondered if I'd be able to hit a 7:58 at all. I was tired and nauseas and just wanted to be curled up in bed sleeping.
I went around the mass of runners on the trail and pushed a little harder. 7:52. That's better. Although I was still shocked at the effort it was requiring from me. I turned around at 3.5 miles and headed home. I noticed some fly fishermen all lined up in a grassy area practicing their casts on the lawn with little plastic circles. Then as I went a little further, there was a group of them in waders in the casting pond standing in a huddle talking. In the next fenced area there appeared to be a dog obedience class going on. Wow, I guess it's spring. Everyone is out and about today.
I felt a little better and pushed on. 7:47. See, there we go. The nausea was back. My pace crept up again. I leaned forward slightly to increase my forward momentum a bit.
Across the creek a group did some sort of dance with sticks on the basketball court. Onto the wooden bridge with the chain link fence, down the little hill and into the dark tunnel under the freeway. The quiet enveloped me and I wanted to shut my eyes. Out into the daylight and past the new condos that have been under construction since I moved here. Under another dark bridge and past the car wash, with the obnoxious barking dogs on the other side of the creek. Up the ramp to the road, and right at the railroad tracks. Left at the school, down the street, and my Garmin beeped. 7 miles. I walked. I felt overheated despite the cool air. My face felt puffy and swollen. 7:59 average. I'll take it.
I get the sense that sometimes the medication is worse than initial problem. Zyrtec might be one of these cases. My ears are still stuffed up and I'm still sleepy. There's a pile of dishes in my sink and studying that needs to be done. But for now I'm just going to close my eyes for a second. It is Spring Break after all.
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