Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

I wrote a letter about parting with my Fitbit Force:

 

Dear Force,

It is with great sadness that I have to say goodbye.  I lived in denial for many weeks, blaming the rash on wearing you too tight.  Telling myself everything would be okay.  However, the rash over-took both wrists and even blistered on the left, making me face the facts: You were just no good for me anymore.

While I waited for your return transportation to arrive, I spent so much time researching and deciding how to replace you.  The truth is, there is no replacement, but I reluctantly ordered a One.  This means that although I will receive $140 back for returning you, I have now wasted $100 on One.

Why is it a waste you ask?  Well, once Fitbit releases a product that can truly compare to you, my relationship with One will also end. . .only this time there will be no refund.  The $100 One will then join the dusty pile of outdated electronics on my computer desk and I will spend however-many-hundred dollars on the new product.  My relationship with One is necessary though because I truly cannot live without a Fitbit in my life.

We have had good times and bad times.  Since you arrived I have only left you at home one time, and that was because you didn't match my party dress (so sorry for that).  I will miss you greatly, Force, but I will always have the scar you left on my wrist as a reminder of our time together.   I hope you have a fabulous trip back to wherever it is that you are off to.  Know that you will be missed.



Force

One

 

So Close

I added another 1/4 mile to my run last night.  I am only a half mile away from 5K!  I am unbelievably excited about this!  I know that running outside really is going to be different though and I am actually scared of it now.  Scared?  Yes it sounds harsh, but there is no way I can go run 2.6 miles outside right now.  It will be pretty close to starting from scratch.  I need to start soon as Colour Me Rad 5K is only nine weeks away!

 

The good thing about Colour Me Rad is that it's not super serious and I'm going to want to slow down to get colour bombed anyway.  That doesn't mean that I wouldn't like to run 5K straight.  That would be the ultimate accomplishment!

 

 

 

Bad news.  Shin splint again, I think.  It's the other side this time.  I have just applied some KT Tape, and maybe it's in my head, but it feels better already.  Don't get me wrong, there is still pain, it just doesn't seem as bad.  I'm rocking some pink tape this time!  I plan to run tomorrow, so hopefully it helps.

 

I haven't weighed in recently, and I'll probably wait until next week now.  I have not been on my best behavior recently, but I am fairly confident that I can't possibly be gaining.

The Return (Again)

I know, I know. . .I don't post nearly enough but I can't tell you everything when there is nothing much to tell.

I reached a 2.35 mile jog again!  My first day back I ran for 30 minutes, but not the way I wanted to.  I had to split it into two 15's.  The next run I made the full 30.  The following run was a horrible first attempt at outdoor running!

I decided to walk/jog to my mom's because my daughter wanted to ride her bike there.  The shortest distance to get there is just under a mile.  The long way around is just over two.  Well, I quickly realized how hard it was and picked the short route.  Half way there I had an earache from the wind.  I didn't realize how windy it felt until I was out there!  We ended up getting a ride home because we stayed too long.  Let me just say that on Monday I went to the Running Room and bought a headband that covers my ears!  Not that I'll ever need it again, but I have it just-in-case.  I'm not giving up on outdoor running, I'm just gonna save it for a nicer day.

I returned to the treadmill yesterday and did a 2.35 mile jog.  It felt great to get there again.  Hopefully, I will get there again tomorrow.

I saw this post and immediately thought that it couldn't be closer to the truth.

 

This journey certainly has looked like the squiggle and it's not over yet!

(I originally published this about a week ago from my phone.  When I edited it to clean up the format a bit, it changed the date.  I do not recall that happening when I fixed up a post previously.)

 

Damage Done

It's time to get back.  Running was not possible due to the cold that I had but it really is time to get my ass in gear again.  I had stayed steady at 164 pounds until late in the week when we decided to go on an overnight trip to the US for grocery shopping.  I let all my cautions go out the window for two days and I did do some damage.  Five pounds!  How do you gain five pounds in two days?!?  You do that by eating a lot of (bad) food!  Day two (yesterday) was topped off by eating a lot more "bad" food at almost midnight so it probably wasn't a good idea to weigh myself this morning.

 

I will tell you this. . .eating that much "bad" food also leads to not feeling very well.  It's not like I ever eat "clean" but most of the time I am aware of what I am eating and limit the "bad" stuff.  I'm paying for my indiscretions with a headache and nausea.

 

I will return to running either this evening, or tomorrow, depending on how I feel.  I will aim for 30 minutes because I don't want to be set back too far.  If I don't feel well, I won't make 30, and I want to try my hardest to get there.

Running outside may soon be a possibility.  The thought of it brings on anxiety though.  I'm not sure why, other than a lot of things make me anxious.  I guess because I have to figure out the best place to go and run.  I'd like to run in the industrial area near my neighbourhood as there is not much traffic.  There are no sidewalks though and it's quite deserted in the evenings so then I worry about safety.   See, anxiety!

Out Sick Again

Okay, I figured out the constant need to eat all the time.  It's a cold.  I don't know why but when I'm getting a cold, I'm super hungry.  Maybe that's where "feed a cold, starve a fever" comes from.  

Another problem with this cold is that I have no energy (or lung capacity) to run.  I did manage a mile on Wednesday, and that was even before a cough had really developed.  Running is not happening again for a few more days at least. 

I received the best complement today and the person who said it probably wasn't even aware that it was a complement.  I was carrying a 5-gallon water jug (40 pounds) and she said "It amazes me that someone as small as you can carry that"! I'm "small". . .and strong(ish)!!!

Obstacles

The past few days I have been extremely hungry. . .or maybe I'm not hungry, but I can't stop eating.  I'm not sure what's going on.  I have tried snacking on higher protein options but still no relief (I am a protein addict and if I don't get enough I can feel it through my body).  I even caved in and ordered late night pizza!  I take comfort in knowing that it's a phase and that I am conscious of my indiscretions so I know I will never let it get out of my control.  I will not be that person ever again.  It's a bold statement, I know, but it's what I truly believe.

Something good that came from the week I wasn't running because I was sick. . .my shin splint is feeling somewhat better.  I haven't taped it again (yet), although I now own three rolls of KT Tape in different colours! (I found it on sale.) I am thinking "colourful" for Colour Me Rad!

I failed at my run again tonight.  I got a cramp in my side with about 11 minutes left and I couldn't shake it off.  I had to slow down to a brisk walk.  I was mad at myself for not finishing but I can't expect it to be "perfect" all the time.  Different days will bring different obstacle's.  I'm just in the process of making my way around a few.  I'm sure better days are ahead!

 

The Return

I was sick.  Not super sick, but sick enough to knock me down.  Gastroenteritis.  I came home from work early on Friday and slept like a rock.  There was no possible outcome that involved running.  Saturday I felt pretty good.  We even went to a friends' for an evening of self-sabotage.  Sunday I was sick again.  Lots of sleep.  Monday I went to work and survived quite well until the evening.  And yesterday, Tuesday, I finally felt decent again.  So tonight I ran.

 

After a week of not running I was worried, but figured I would push myself to run for 30 minutes, no giving up, just do it.  I'm not going to lie, it was rough at times.  When I was almost done, I decided I wasn't done.  I decided to push through to 2.35 miles again. . .and I succeeded!

 

 

I have to tell you, the last two evenings my legs were so restless!!!  Do you ever get that sort-of irritated feeling all over that can only be satisfied by moving around?  And it's so annoying!!!  I'm pretty sure it was my body saying "Hey, you!  You need to stretch these legs and go for a run!"  I never would have thought my body would tell me to run!