...in more ways than one.
This weekend was a real challenge for my lungs.
It started on Friday morning around
3 a.m. when I woke up and realized the “cold” that had been residing in my head had now migrated down into my chest.
I can deal with a head cold, but restrict my air ways, and I get upset.
I went ahead and met
Holly at
4:15 for a 14 mile run, though, and made it through it.
Barely.
It probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do, but I could have stayed in the bed and not been able to breath, or went on with the 14 miler and not been able to breathe.
The latter actually seemed more appealing.
The run went great – Holly ran her longest run to date as part of her Country Music Marathon training, and she was strong and fast as usual!
When I got home I watched the clock and called the doc as soon as the office opened.
I got a nice shot in butt, an antibiotic, some Allegra-d, and an albuterol inhaler to help me get back on track.
Saturday morning rolled around, and I deemed the shot a success, so I got dressed and ready to head to Chickasaw Trace MTB park. Holly and I made the trip for the beginner ride they had scheduled. If you say “beginner” and “mountain bike” in the same sentence, we are THERE. We met Angela and Mandy and got some great tips and experience on the trails there. I wanted to go for another lap, but time was limited. We had P.F. Chang’s and the Grand Ole Opry to get to. Our P.F. Chang’s meal was like $20 cheaper than normal thanks to the free appetizer and the $10 gift card that I got at RNRAZ. Sweet! We saw Mark Chestnutt, John Conlee, Jake Owens, Joe Diffie, and others at the Opry. I heart the Opry. After the Opry we went to The Stage, and I am SO not used to partying like that anymore. We left just before midnight, and I felt like I had been out all night long.
I wanted to take it easy on Sunday, but swim class was cancelled last week so I felt like I really needed to go. You know, to make sure I’m getting my money’s worth and all. So I made the hour and 15 minute trip with my new freestyle snorkel in tow. This snorkel is now required at swim class, unfortunately. I nearly drowned each time down the pool – getting water up my nose, then getting it in the snorkel and inhaling it. It was bad. As if I wasn’t already having a hard enough time breathing this weekend. Someone asked the coach the question, “What is the purpose of the snorkel?” She replied, “To help you relax, get all zen-like and really concentrate on your stroke.” HA! I started to throw it across the swimming pool. There was nothing zen-like about my state with that thing on. I’m going to get a nose clip before I have to wear it again; most people had one on and said it would help.
I have a big week of training coming up…I can smell the sand and the salt and the numbers 70.3 and 140.6. I’m also finally trying to get 2008 race schedule together. Hope to have that worked out and posted soon.
Many congrats to
Michele,
David, Heather, H.J., Tim, and Lee who rocked the Mercedes Marathon in Birmingham Saturday!!