Forgotten post

I didn't realize I didn't finish this.  I started this last week.  Sorry!

My last post was really heavy.  My home life is in a difficult spot, but we will survive.  Chris is okay, he is working part time and has another round of dr appts coming up, we are pretty lucky his eyesight was the only thing affected by his stroke and one way or another, his heart will get better (they are talking pacemaker if the meds don't work). 

I'll keep my (2) readers updated on Chris, but this post is about running.  ; )

While Chris was in the hospital I started running again.  I couldn't handle not running while there was so much stress going on in my life. Chris was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday night and I went for a run on Thursday.  I didn't feel like I could go run after work, so I decided to go to the gym and run, but I got on the treadmill and decided that it wasn't going to work for me.  Thankfully all of my outside running stuff was still in my gym bag from our vacation (I took it just in case, but never ran on vacation). 

I went back to the locker room and grabbed my pepper spray (Everett is not the greatest town, and the mall, where my gym is, is in one of the worst areas), Garmin, and sunglasses.  I decided I was just going to run through some neighborhoods, however as soon as I left the mall parking lot I saw a sign for a trail, which I went down.  I will say, that trail is probably the sketchiest trail I've ever been on.  That run was the first in close to 3 and a half weeks. 

I went for another run that Saturday.  I felt a little bad, but I needed those runs badly.  Plus, Chris's Dad and brother had come into town on Friday night, so I figured they were at the hospital first thing.  I had to wait until I had someone to watch Maddox, so I didn't get out and run until 9am.  I got to the hospital at about 10, and Chris's Dad and brother had only been there about 20 min.  And waiting in the lobby was his Mom and step-dad.   Let me tell you, that was an interesting day.  Chris's Dad, brother, Mom and step-dad for 8 hours or more. 

Sunday I didn't know how far I should run.  My hip has been doing okay.  I've been icing it and taking ibuprofen (when needed, usually only once a day or less) and it doesn't bother me a lot.  I decided I'd try for 7 miles and see how I felt.  After no long runs for 3 weeks I figured I shouldn't try to go out and run 17 miles (which was what was on the schedule for marathon training).  7 miles turned out okay.  My hip didn't bother me much afterwards, or the next day.  Although I might have taken  more ibuprofen that day. 

Last week (this is actually 2 weeks ago) I ran on the trail in Everett again 2 times, one 3 miles and one 5 miles.  That trail is skeeeetchyyyy!  at the end of the trail, just before turning around I passed 3 people shooting up (drugs).  I won't go that far again.  I am very glad that I have had my pepper spray in my bag. 

I decided last (2) Saturday(s ago) that I would try to do a marathon pace run to see where I was at.  I didn't know how far I could go, but I decided on 5 miles.  My last one was 6 miles at a 8.49 min/mile, but that was 4 (5) weeks ago.  I was able to do 5 miles at a 8.42 min/mile, but I was dead, I don't know if I could have gone another mile.  I'm supposed to be up to 9 miles for my pace runs, but that's not happening, at least not yet.

On (2) Sunday(s ago), I again didn't know how far I should attempt to run.  I was supposed to run a half marathon, which I probably could have done, but I also would like to get up to marathon distance (with only 8 weeks or so left).  I decided I'd go for 8 miles, but was thinking maybe 12 miles and ended up with 11 miles.