The hangover

What now?

It’s been a week and a half since I last ran, which really isn’t that long at all, and yet, I feel kind of lost, like I have an emptiness in my belly… or legs, I should say. I see Facebook posts of girlfriends preparing for their next running adventures, I read blogs all about running, and magazines all about running, but I’m not running.

I don’t have a plan and I planned it that way. I’ve been training almost non-stop now for more than two years (aside from a couple months where I was recovering from injury) and I’ve felt for quite some time that I’ve needed a break from training. So, while my favourite running chicks were planning this run and that run, I purposely stayed quiet, I was not going to jump into anything new. I wanted a break and by golly I was going to get that break.

But now, I feel lost. It’s been a long time since I haven’t had a race in my sights. And my legs are aching to get out there, they want to run, but my brain and my social life desperately need the rest.

So, what now?

Clockwise from top: Goodlife Toronto Half, May 2011; Police Challenge (Brother-Sister 10k showdown) June 2011; Run for Water Marathon, May 2011; Portland Marathon, October, 2010.

TONIGHT’S AJ:

• 5 p.m. BG before: 7.3
• Temp. basal: -100 per cent (1 hour)
• Distance: 4 sets of 4 in the deep end with 1 long jog in between each set
• Time: 45 minutes
• 6:30 p.m. BG after: 5.4
• Temp. basal: +50 per cent (1 hour)

Tonight’s aqua jogging with my most favourite ironchickie helped. After reading on the blog a few weeks ago about how I had done a few back-to-back all deep end laps in my last solo AJ session, she decided that’s what we’d be doing tonight. No wimping out. And you know, with that sweet New Zealand accent of hers, you just can’t say no – no matter if your legs are fatigued, or you’re gulping back Slurpee sized germ water, or your head’s going under, you keep going.

I’ve had a few people question whether aqua jogging can really be considered a sufficient exercise, some have even rolled their eyes at me, figuring it’s just a little walking here and there. Granted, if you don’t put the effort in, it can be a pretty slack endeavor. But tonight, both ironchickie (who’s like a super duper Ironman champion) and I were huffing and puffing between our non-stop chitter chatter fest.

I say proof is in the huff 😀