BONK!

Well, today I experienced something I never thought I would.

I totally bonked!

Of course, I've heard about bonking (i.e. "hitting the wall") but this is something that happens to marathon and ultra- runners.  My longest run ever was 14 miles.

However, after today, when a marathoner talks about what it was like to hit the wall, I can nod my head, pat her on the shoulder and say - "I know exactly what you mean!"

From Runner'sWorld.com - Full article HERE

Q - So, how did I bonk on an slow 5 mile run?

A -  severe glycogen depletion.

Q - How does one suffer glycogen depletion on a 5 mile run?

A - extreme calorie restriction!

You see, I have been trying to lose this pesky 10-15 lbs of excess body weight for about a year now.  But I have two things working against me:

1. I love to run hard.
2. I love to eat.

I discovered a while back that not eating enough calories severely impacts my training.  In a calorie deficit, my times and distance would suffer.   So, now that I have decided to just run easy this summer (no speed work or tempo runs) I thought that this would be the perfect time to "diet" off that weight.

However, my second problem is that I really love food - and after 6+ years of pretty much constantly counting calories, I've gotten sick of that.  Then I was struck by a stroke of brilliance <- sarcasm font!

 I would stop counting calories and just limit myself to one meal a day.  

They call it "intermittent fasting".  This way I can eat a nice, tasty, FULL meal everyday, and not have to count calories - and still lose weight!  Win/Win!!

I started this diet on Monday - and had no problem with Monday and Tuesday's treadmill runs.  But today I am 4 days in.  I woke up hungry.  By the time I ran at 6:30 pm, I had gone 21 hours without food.

And the heat index was 101!

The run started out fine.  Great, even!  But things slowly began to disintegrate - and by the end of mile 4,  I had completely run out of energy.  I couldn't run another step.  My brain was foggy.  I tried to talk to my husband, but I couldn't think of the words - and what I did say sounded slurred.  I felt as if my head was about to explode, and it took all my concentration just to get my legs to walk because they felt almost as if they were no longer under my control.  I was extremely lightheaded, and all I could think about was lying down in the cool grass, curling up in a ball, and going to sleep.  Not all these things happened at once, there was a progression, but I can't remember exactly what happened when.

My husband went on ahead, and I managed to walk another mile (very slowly) before he picked me up in our vehicle.  Thank God I had a Kind Bar in the car... I downed that sucker like a one-year-old eats birthday cake!

My son Levi (now 7) eating his first birthday cake!

So... Now I have to figure out how to avoid this in the future.  I probably just need to eat a couple hundred cals. before my run.  Or run after dinner.  I just can't let this happen again!  Losing weight is so not worth this!

Q- Have you ever bonked?

Q- Have you ever googled "bonking"?  Apparently it has ...um... several different meanings (lol!)

Summer Roller Coaster Ride!

This has been a roller coaster week of emotions - probably for two reasons.

1. I'm trying to diet.  I've gained 4 lbs over the past couple of months - not a lot, but I can tell it is affecting my running.  Plus, I keep imagining how much faster I could be if I dropped 10-15 lbs!  Anyway, I am trying to be smart.  I've upped my daily allowance of calories from 1200 to 1500 and I eat 2,000 on run days.  If I get really hungry, I eat more.  I'm not trying to crash diet or anything, but I probably shouldn't be doing this during a 5k training cycle.  I just feel tired all the time!  It hasn't really affected my training, but in my normal living I just want to sit on the sofa all day.  This leads to the house getting messy... which leads to me feeling worthless... which leads to depression.  UGH!  
2. My husband has gotten official word that he is being furloughed.  This means that starting in July - until the new fiscal year in October - he will only be working 4 days a week.  This has really depressed me because It means that we will be unable to go on vacations, eat out, go to the movies, go to the water park, SHOP etc all summer long!  I know I should be grateful that we won't have to worry about the bills or food.  There are a lot of people being affected by this government-wide furlough who will be living on credit cards.  And it is temporary.  And we still have the beach.  So, basically I am getting depressed about a First World Problem.  "I can't have any fun!"  Waa-Waa.  O.K. - nevermind!

However, my runs this week have been terrific!

 Monday, my husband and I took the kids to a local beach and while they played in the water (with their adult sister) we tried out a newly opened running trail (Amelia Island Trail).  It was so much fun to run some place new and unfamiliar!  We had no idea what to expect, but it was quite nice (although it did cross quite a few roads)  We ran 6 miles easy and just chatted and had fun.  This is something we almost never do, since most of my runs are at a pace that makes it difficult for me to converse easily.

Tuesday, I did 1200 meter repeats at my 5k race pace.  It was hot and miserably humid - and I tried to give myself an out ("shouldn't I run slower in this heat?")  But Brian was there to push me - and I finished up averaging even faster than race pace!  This is the absolute BEST thing about running with my husband - he is an awesome motivator!  Sometimes I feel bad because I just slow him down.  And, the poor guy often has to run downwind from me!  But, the one advantage I offer is discipline!  We are out there - 3 times a week - no matter what!  He often starts out a run kind of whiny (don't tell him I said that!) but ends up thanking me at the end.

Thursday, Brian was back out there - pacing me and pushing me - and I finished my 4 mile tempo run at goal pace!  This is me rockin' my CW-X compression shorts!  I do love those things and am working on a review out soon.

HILL REPEATS?  This is all we got, folks!

And on a final, downer note, my Daughter-in-law miscarried.  I have been hurting for her because I know how it feels.  Sometimes, when there is a loss, be it baby or job or whatever, it is just so hard to stay positive and trust God.  But, when faced with a situation that we have no control over, that is all we CAN do.  I need to remind myself of this.
I am not alone.
We are not forgotten.
The problems we have can always be made to look trivial, because there is always someone worse off.  But God doesn't compare his kids.  He just meets us where we are and teaches us to lean on him and let him carry the burden - no matter how big or small!