Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Yakety Yak

I truly believe that it is only a matter of time before I have a barf inducing run.  Not that I am excited about this…but the nausea seems to be hitting me on these fast runs!

Today I had speed work on the schedule – 10 x 2:00 fast with 2:00 of recovery in between.  My chance to run was after work today, but as the clock ticked toward the end of the day there were some nasty looking clouds in the sky.  I shut my computer down and took off just in case the heavens decided to open up anytime soon.  I felt not too bad on the warm up and the first few intervals went not too bad.  Somewhere around interval #3 I got a bit of a stitch in my abdomen.  I probably noticed it more on the easy bits than on the hard ones though.

To keep my head in the game I’d try to pump up each interval.  “YEAH!!  Interval #6!!!  Woo hoo!!!!!!”  It helped me keep track and it did keep me motivated.  I cranked some half decent intervals out.  By interval #7 I developed a pain in my shoulder blade (nothing unusual, happens on fast runs from time to time).  And queue the nausea…  Yuck…  But I still keep running fast, just a bit more walking on my recovery to bring my heart rate down.

After interval #8 I am close to the YMCA so I detour there for a stop at their water fountain.  As I leave there is a guy walking out who drops his sunglasses.  I get his attention but I don’t bend down to grab his glasses for two reasons - #1) There would have been a good chance that we would have head butted if we both bent down.  I suppose it could have been the start to a cute romantic comedy, but I chose to avoid the potential knock out…  #2) It would not have been graceful, and I may not have been able to stand back up properly!  Anyhow, this guy looks at me with a very concerned look as he grabs his glasses.  “Oh my gawd, are you okay?” he asks me.  I must have looked like I was about to keel over!  I told him that I was in the middle of speed work and that it wasn’t always fun.

Two more intervals left to go…  #9 went really well but I was so tired by #10!  No energy left in my legs at all.  It was hard to believe that two minutes could feel so long…  Finally it was up, then it was a quick cool down run back to the office.  I can say without a doubt that this week’s speed session went a lot better than last week’s!

17 comments:

Marit C-L said...

GREAT job on the workout - NICE job! Side stitches are always awful... I try to exhale and blow out as much air as possible, but always come across sounding like some pathetic, underpowered steam engine. :) And THEN I start thinking of The Little Engine That Could and "I think I can I think I can I think I can..."

:)

Way to go!

Melanie Tait said...

That is a totally cute way to meet someone. I hope you ended up exchanging phone numbers :)

Missy said...

I'm fine I'm irontraining, thanks buddy! OH, I know that feeling. My thing is I get an uncontrollable urge to pee and it WILL let go if I push long and hard enough on a run. Isn't that nice, aren't you glad you asked?

TNTcoach Ken said...

That's when we needed you to have your camera!

joyRuN said...

That's an excellent idea of pumping yourself up for each interval!

Maybe you should've keeled over into that dude's arms :)

Wes said...

coach sez if I don't barf this weekend on my 5K, not to come home :-)

Love the blog header!! Ironman, here we come!!

Keith said...

Intervals. On the downtown bike path near the Y. (bows down in admiration.) Normally that's so crowded you can't even walk without dodging slower walkers. To say nothing about the runners, bikers, skaters, skateboarders, and the drunks.

Marlene said...

Haha, you know you're working hard when a random stranger asked if you are okay!

Awesome job getting through that workout. 10 intervals is a LOT!

(I always get the stitch, nausea AND shoulder pain during a hard workout. What's up with that!)

Julie said...

Hahahahaha! Geesh, when a complete stranger looks at you horrified, you KNOW you are giving it your all -- you had "workout face" happening!! Right on!! :) :)

Meg said...

Oooh speed work. Try to add some bananas into your diet if you don't eat many already. They help with the stitches. Apples tend to make you cramp up more.

This post reminded me of hill spints that I had to do for soccer. I even got the burning sensation in my nose reading it. ahahhaa

Good on you for givin' er! You rock! And I bet that guy totally thinks you're hard core awesome.

RunToTheFinish said...

where can i get your motiviation to follow through with speedwork...I talk big and never do it

kristen said...

I sometimes get that shoulder blade pain too...not fun.
Good work on the intervals!

Jess said...

Ahhh, yes, the puke-threshold. Some people actually guage their speedworks based on how close to vomitting they come.

Rainmaker said...

Puke runs are where it's at. Dry-puking is even more fun, especially during a tough track workout.

Lindsay said...

nice job on the 200's! it doesn't matter how short/long the interval is, once the number of repeats gets over like, 3, i'm mentally challenged.

so i take it sunglass boy didn't ask for your number. bummer! ;)

Aron said...

fun times :) running yourself into puke threshold... we are a crazy bunch right? great job :)

RoadBunner said...

I always wonder what people think of me when I'm doing speed work. I'll sprint by them and then be gasping for air (sometimes walking) another second. I think they think I'm trying to pass them and can't keep up the effort.