Back to school

It is that time again in Tennessee!  The time of year when you hear adult glee and youthful misery, that’s right, friends, back to school time.  I’m one of the lucky ones.  My children enjoy school so it isn’t a knock-down-drag-out fight to get them up and ready.  Whew!  Actually, it is me that has had the problem and I’ve had to go back to school.

Last week I successfully completed my longest run to date, eight miles.  In all honesty that morning when I was on my way to meet my run group I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to get it done.  I had never run that far at one time before and I was more than a little nervous and intimidated by the number.  Coach greeted me upon my arrival and asked me if I was ready.  Well, as ready as I’ll ever be. He told me not to worry, I had this.  I said a silent prayer to myself that he was right, that I had this.  Sure didn’t feel like I had this.  C, P and a few of my running buddies arrived and also expressed their apprehension.  Oh boy, this is going to be fun. 

Off we went and you know what?  Those 8 miles were hard but manageable!  I was really happy with myself.   We runners are a pretty close bunch and we praise, build up and encourage each other so you know we were all happy and patting one another on the back at the end.  Too bad no one was whispering in my ear what I was going to “enjoy” a few days later.

Oh!

Saturday afternoon after my run I felt great!  A little tired and sore here and there but great.  Sunday I felt great and enjoyed a rest day with my children.  Then along came Monday or as I sometimes call it, MOANDAY.  Did I ever MOAN!  I got up and went running that morning at half past crazy dark thirty as usual.  I was a little stiff but nothing I couldn’t handle.  Then the day went on.  I was in absolute agony.  I hurt from my hip down to my toes, especially on my right side.  I was almost in tears by the end of the day and it was all I could do to walk into the drugstore to get something that might give me some relief.  I felt 100 years old.  A long soak in an Epsom salt bath and some Tylenol later I felt like I could at least walk but barely.  I was terribly upset!  Had I injured myself?  I can’t be injured!  Am I going to feel like this until October?  I can’t feel like this until October!  Waaaaaa!  I was next to tears as I hobbled (literally) to bed that night at 7:58pm. 

BFFs

I was still hurting although not as much Tuesday morning so I decided to pass on my early morning run.  Maybe I needed an extra rest day?  During the day P and I decided since the weather had finally cooled a little we would meet to run after work.  Part of me really wanted to say no and rest but you know me, I’m nothing if not committed and I thought I would give it a try, take it slow and walk it if I needed to.  That afternoon when P and I got together guess what she had to say?  She also had been in agony Monday, suffering from exactly the same aliments.  After talking to other runner friends and research (this is the back to school part!) we discovered we had met up close and personal, DOMS, delayed onset muscle soreness.  Let me tell you something, DOMS is a beast!  Thankfully it is normal and we survived it.  Well, I survived it thanks so a few new BFFs.

Marty Moose says no runner should be without these!

I am happy that I didn’t give up after DOMS slapped me around Monday.  I know what to expect and look for the next time I go way beyond my normal threshold.  Thankfully, that will not be this weekend.  Our training schedule is taking a step back so we have 7 miles for our long run Saturday.  Can you believe I’m excited about doing 7 miles?  I have really gone and lost my mind.  A little knowledge, a few new BFFs and courage will see me through the rest of this training program and onward.  I’m ready to make a move or possibly move like Jagger.