Training for a Belt Buckle

Yesterday was a VVLD (Very, Very, Long Day) as I took a train from Aversa, Italy, to Rome, then another train to the Rome Airport.  I flew from Rome to New York City and then on to Utah.  It was almost 1:00 AM before I got home and I hadn't slept much.  I think I was pretty tired because I took a hot bath to relax me because I hurt so bad and woke up when my head went under water.

Went to work and got in 5 hours before coming home at noon and sleeping again.

Tonight I went out to dinner with Leslie, Harold, Paul and Julie.  Leslie and I did some talking about upcoming races and that started me doing some serious thinking.  I was on track last May to be ready for a 50 miler this fall, but lost a lot of training with my hysterectomy and recovery and then didn't get in as much mileage as I wanted to while in Italy.  I 'could' finish the OV 50 miler, but I don't think I am ready for it and I don't think that my body is in a state where I would enjoy the challenge at all.  I rolled out my legs tonight and the IT band from the hip to the knee on both legs is so inflamed I couldn't put full weight on the roller.

Given the state of my current physical and mental status, I have decided to not sign up for the OV 50 miler in the end of October and let St. George be my last big race of the year.  I am a little disappointed because this was going to be my year for a 50 miler, but I would rather put it off a year than get myself injured or lose my enjoyment of training because I push myself to do one when I am not really ready.

My stomach was a little more settled today and I woke up really early (could it be because I fell asleep before 8 p.m.?), so headed to the treadmill at the gym.  Did 5.5 miles in an hour, did some stretching and came home.  My weight was 146 the first day home from Italy, but after working out this morning I was back down to 142.6.

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Later - ran 4.6 miles up the Little Cottonwood Trail and back and headed down the road.  A nice lady drove by and picked me up and even took me to her house, let me pet her dog, cracked my back and fed me dinner.  What a nice way to end a long day.

Walked to work this morning.

I read another blog this morning which mentioned milk intolerance and it has made me start thinking that maybe adjusting my schedule for Europe kicked my lactose intolerance in (I haven't had it in years).  I am going to buy some lactaid on the way home from work and see if it helps - because I really don't want to spend St. George Marathon rushing to bathrooms like I did when I had food poisoning last year.

I was talking with the HR Director for the City of St George this week and she promised me good weather if I wouldn't mess up her database for her (took a few threats to get that promise out of her).

FYI:: Leslie, Kevin and I are planning to run near the Cliff Bar Pace Team 5:15 group (if there is one) - so look for us there!

Ran a paved path next to Trax with Leslie this morning.  It was a beautiful morning out.  The knees are still a little tender, but I will ice and massage all week to keep the ITBands happy. I am a little concerned about Leslie though - she saw penguins on our run.....