This is a hurried entry, written in my iPhone. I could not do my 4 mile run yesterday because of an early meeting and some preparation required. I headed out at lunch time today, running along the canals as slowly as possible. It really is a case of squeezing it in between other tasks. And tomorrow is long-run day so energies must be conserved. It is mild, clammy at times and so the breeze was most welcome; most refreshing. My allergy is really acting up. I am sneezing and tickly and my windpipe is a bit, teeny bit, sore when I run. I have just bought a nasal spray thing, hopefully this will work. Otherwise, it needs to rain or I will have to take an anti-histamine which won't suit me.
Tomorrow I only do 11 miles. A thing of nothing! I'm glad though. My legs have not yet forgotten last Sunday.

An Apple a Day...

I met my new Internist today. She was lovely, if very young, but I am realizing that it is I perhaps who is just getting older. This realization was compounded by the fact that I frequently couldn't remember the names or dosages of medications I'm on or procedures I have had. (I console myself with the fact that both lists are rather lengthy!) There was some pretty significant "brain-fog" this morning, I was lucky to be able to get any words out at all! Anyway, despite this, or perhaps because of this (?)she took a lot of time with me. I never felt rushed and even though she did not always have all the answers to my questions she promised to get them for me and she would like to see me again in three weeks just "to check in" after she has taken time to review my medical history and read through all those medical records I handed off to her! What I like most about this situation though is that both she and my new pulmonologist, although in different hospitals, are all part of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical group, so sharing of information back and forth between the two and any other specialists should be seamless. She has already promised to email the pulmonologist this afternoon to establish a relationship with him regarding my care. So, a good start to what I hope will be a wonderful, life-giving relationship!

In the meantime our family life continues to be chaotic with sick little ones and a sick hubby. Mae-Mae will have her fourth doctor's visit in five days this evening. As an aside I am so bemused by the fact that I haven't been sick (with viruses etc.)at all. If it wasn't for sarcoidosis I would be a picture of health! I've started the kiddos on a regime of mulit-vitamins and have upped the push for lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. There is always an up side to everything and I have decided that my up-side to visiting my Internist every month or so is that about 1 mile from her office is a Trader Joe's grocery store. For those of you not in the know, Trader Joes offers wonderful, often organic, fresh fruits and vegetables and all kinds of delightful healthy grocery items and snacks that are not readily available in a conventional grocery store, and best of all, their prices are extraordinarily competitive. After my appointment today I called hubby to give him the update and announced I was going to take an hour or two off for myself and wander around Trader Joes. "Oooo, can you get me some orange-flavored cranberries?" my fruit-and-nut-loving hubby asked. "My absolute pleasure!" I replied.

Up and Running

http://www.mycharity.ie/event/niamhandetty/

Friends, we're live, up and running in every sense of the word! The mycharity.ie link is active. It should be visible on the right hand side of the page, above the facebook link. Just click on the 'Donate Here' and work from there.  If you can't access it, please let me know and I will see what needs to be done.

I have two runs done since last I wrote here. Yesterday morning I did the four-mile run at a pace of 5:34 minutes per km. I needed to 'kick ass', if you'll pardon the expression, after the struggle of Sunday's run. I just needed to stride out there, reassure myself that I still had pace and strength. The pavement did not know what hit it! It probably wasn't the wisest training, but I enjoyed it. Sometimes, you must have a bit of fun too, let the wild side out.

This morning, then, I did the medium distance of seven miles in a pace of 06:04mins per km. It was a mixed pace run.  I started nice and easy, through the campus, using shorter strides to give the body a chance to warm up. I had to pause at a garage on the N11, grateful to the chap who allowed me to use the facilities there. Not to dwell on these matters, but it can be difficult to gauge one's needs. Without the garage facilities today, my run would have been very uncomfortable. Just saying ... it's all part of the training and I won't mention such indelicacies again.  Promise!

The Mount Merrion Avenue section was lovely, a nice gentle descent towards the sea and I am fooled into believing that I have fully recovered from Sunday's run. I turn left, continuing at a fairly comfortable pace on the level, running in the direction of the city. I am not so conscious of the sea this grey morning, but of all the cars.  They all seemed so big this morning, in and out of the schools along that section. Most people at junctions are quite gracious, almost encouraging, letting you cross in front of them.  I had to laugh though. I crossed at a junction, just before the lights went from red to green, and was 'vroomed at' by a waiting car.  I looked to see a little old lady, all stiff-permed, frowning at me.  Maybe, she just got confused, but it felt a little different. I smiled. To be fair, it can be a daunting task to take your Micra into traffic at that hour of the morning. A jogger, even a well-intentioned one, is just another obstacle.

At Nutley lane, where I have to climb slightly, I realise that Sunday is not quite yet out of my system. I could feel my legs tiring as I jogged past the RTE campus, turning left onto the N11 again. There was a slight temptation to stop, just cross the road to return to the car, shower and get on with work, all the more because it was raining. I soldiered on, getting slower and slightly stiffer. Foster's Avenue presented a slight climb again and it was all still a bit of a struggle, doable, the will is there and the breath is there, but the legs are getting heavy and the feet are 'slapping around' rather than striking and bouncing off the pavement.  Then, as if by magic, the heaviness seemed to pass and I got a second wind to come home, not quite sailing, but easily enough for the last mile and a half.  Interesting.

Undoubtedly, I have stepped into my challenge zone. I think that was the solemnity of Sunday. It happened as well at the two-to-three week stage of the training plan, when I realised the commitment ahead. I don't think I wrote about that, but I did ring running brother in Singapore, who reassured me.  Now, the training has moved up another level, a new level of commitment is required.  I remind myself that, emotionally, I have been here before; there is no need to ring anyone. The awe and anxiety eased.

And now,  I am just curious. I have never trained at this distance. How will this pan out? I am in unfamiliar territory.

Progress

Just a quick note of the tremendous achievement of today. In the midst of the ongoing chaos I need to pause and celebrate!

I have an appointment this week with an Internist who will be my primary care doctor and the following week with a pulmonologist who will be my specialty doctor and my link to cardiology, rheumatology, dermatology, neurology and any other "ologies" that want to poke at me.

My task tomorrow....make copies of my medical records, several inches thick, and imaging to mail to above pulmonologist for review before the first appointment which I am told will be for 1 hour. My goodness, a whole hour, but no need to worry, we will have plenty to talk about!

I wrote to a friend today that I feel like I am in constant crisis mode these days. Being finally reconnected to healthcare helps tremendously to help me return to that grounding that I have been craving.

This one is for the Yogis

Thanks Rhetorician. I have not had time to look up your link, but will do so over the next few days.

At least I am not stiff at all today, unlike my last 15 miles (17th of July) when it took me days to recover, some of my FB friends might recall. I shall take that as a good sign and one of hope.

In the meantime, I am going to do some cross-training this evening in the form of Yoga class. I was so high after last week's session of inversions that, in the course of my chat with Etty last week, I informed her of my resolve to be able to do handstands (without assistance of another person, though perhaps against the wall), by my 50th birthday. That should be just about enough time, I think. Our conversation reminded me of a poem we learned in school ... 'When I am old I shall wear Purple' by Jenny Joseph (http://labyrinth_3.tripod.com/page59.html). It prompted an adaptation and nothing would do me, during the week, until I had a go. Here is my adaptation, dedicated to my Yoga Teacher, Ger.

When I am an Old Woman, I shall do handstands

In lycra that squeezes, and doesn't suit my lumpy thighs.

And I shall bend my back into Cobras and  Bows

Make strong Bridges, and ask 'How much further now?'

I shall sit cross-legged in Lotus, a minor creak at the hips.

When I am tired, a Shoelace pose or Baddhakonasan will do,

Or, to make up for the extra Knee-to-Elbow round,

A little longer in Savasana than is the teacher's wont.

I shall bend over, step back, stretch up,

Hands down, wrapping shoulders, sliding forward and up again

Until the Sun salutes me back.

I shall do Downward Dog against the wall, and Chair,

And Warrior Poses, Trikonasana,

Pranayama, Bandhas, holding in or blowing out, locking, releasing,

Warming and balancing, my neck held soft.

But now we must sit at desks, shoulders hunched,

Drive cars with necks craned forward,

And curve our spines in soft sofas.

Our hips we strain, our toes we cramp, spirit battling to get out.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to do handstands.

Despite yesterday's daunting experience, I am already looking forward to tomorrow's run. Mad!

Phoenix Park and surrounds

I am solemn this evening. Normally, after my long run I am giddy with excitement and achievement. Not so this evening. I am in awe, not at myself, but at what lies ahead.  The last mile was tough and left me wondering will I really, really be able for this. It was a fifteen mile run which I did in 2hours 33 mins giving me a pace of 6:22mins per km.  Intriguingly, that is nearly a minute slower per kilometre on my last long run. How can there be such a difference? My route was slightly hillier than the Howth to Booterstown route but not that much.  I was more tired over all. I did delay the run to today because of the tiredness I felt yesterday. Yes, Dad was also staying, but that could have been negotiated.  I was dressed and all ready to go, but it was obvious as I hunched over my bagel on Saturday morning that the pep wasn't really in me. I gave into my profound urge to tidy instead, particularly to tackle the huge pile of ironing that was lurking in a corner of the apartment. The training programme is taking its toll on more than my legs; my sense of order is also under attack. I thought of you Etty as you unpack boxes, searching for the once familiar, and struggling to find new spaces for your household items.
Another night's sleep and I was more energised. We headed to the Phoenix Park. I was on the running turf of Rhetorician and also running past the workspace of a blog-reading cousin. I thought of you both.  Conscious that supporter no.1 also wanted some exercise, we figured that the Park was a good option. We parked on Kyber road. We both turned right onto Military Road, he walking and pausing to enjoy the sunshine to come back through Chesterfield Avenue.  I also trotted onto Military road, but always opting to take the paths that brought me as close as possible to the Park boundaries.  Phoenix Park is a beautiful amenity and I always saw it as vast and huge (and it is).  Today, when I needed to get in those 15 miles or 24 kilometres, it seemed smaller. I became aware of its limits, quite literally.  I knew I would have to leave it at some stage. Every time I had a choice, I took the path (not necessarily less travelled) but that led away from the centre. This brought me past many of the gates, I don't even know their names. I was surprised to see a school and convent just outside the wall, and later a primary school on the park grounds. I had forgotten the Ordinance Survey offices were there.  I saw some beautiful apartments or town houses at one entrance. I could hear a railway line, smell a restaurant and always had company, despite the fact that I was off the main thoroughfare. I was amused to pass the same couple, also running, three times. Clearly, we were of similar purpose and practically buddies by the third encounter. There were runners of all shapes out there.  Broad bottoms, wiggly bottoms, curvy, tight to invisible ones ... they were all out there. It was an unfamiliar Park for me. I didn't visit the usual landmarks such as the Papal Cross, the obelisk, the Aras. I didn't see the deer until back at the car and having my banana. I did pass within walking distance of the zoo and all the excited kiddies and their more reserved parents.  Usually, I am aware of the vast open space of the Park, today it was the boundaries or limits that became my focus.
I had done some homework prior to setting out and knew that it was going to take more than two rounds to reach 15 miles and so I left the Park at the North Circular Road, running straight in the direction of Phibsborough. It was only then I appreciated the peace and tranquility of the Park and I nearly turned back.  Still, I was afraid I would get bored and with that amount of miles was fearful that any excuse would draw me away from my intention. I turned right onto Phibsborough Road, leading me down to the River (unlike Bruce, I did not go into the River), but turned right again to run along the Quays until I passed Heuston Train Station on my left and turned back into the Park at the bottom of North Infirmary Road.  I needed 5 more miles so I cut through the pretty gardens and passed the playground, up the hill, to turn left at the Gardaí Headquarters and retrace my steps, round the boundaries of the Park, back to the car.
I didn't quite need to get back to Kyber Road to make my distance. At that stage, I was climbing slightly and feeling it.  My shoulders had tightened, as if I had been working at a desk all day and the muscles at the backs of my legs were pulling all the way to the small of back. I was singing 'Just one more mile' and other encouraging little remarks.  Once my phone app announced the 15, I stopped. I wasn't in the least tempted to keep running the short distance left to bring me back to the car. I rang no.1 and he came up to collect me, while I walked a while to try and loosen out.  Usually, I am all chat and 'wow'. Today, I was quiet.  Last Thursday I wrote, 'respect the distance'. Today, I am humbled by what lies ahead, even a bit overwhelmed.
Also, I thought I might be faster. No. 1 just looked at me when I admitted this and in his usual mild mannered, but purposeful way said, 'That's just vanity! Focus on finishing, that's enough!'  He's right, of course.