Two Trials

1 X 2 mile (5:40 pace), 4 X 1 mile (5:36 pace).  I’d wanted to do the workout differently with fewer intervals and longer segments, but I wasn’t feeling it today.  Maddie started to feel sick toward the end of the workout, so the whole cool down and post-run stretch were minimal to non-existent.  Fortunately, she felt a little better after some Zofran and a little TLC.

The last few days have been pretty challenging for us as a family.  Really since Thursday’s treatment, Maddie hasn’t felt well.  She’s had low energy, hasn’t slept well, and has had little interest in doing anything.  It has been truly heartbreaking for Brad and me to watch her struggle and for us to feel like we can’t do anything to make her feel better.  Many times in the last few days she has said,”I’m just never going to feel better.”  I feel like this time has been one of the low points for all of us since her diagnosis.  Brad and I keep supporting her and try as best we can to make her as comfortable as possible and lift her spirits.

She’s on steroids for a short burst right now and I’m guessing the dexamethasone is to blame for her altered sleep pattern.  When I got home from work on Saturday night at close to midnight, I stopped by her room to turn off her light and she was wide awake.  I tried to convince her to go back to sleep.  Over the next 4 hours, she cried for Brad or me about every hour.  Finally, at 4am Maddie and I went downstairs; I put on a video hoping she might fall back to sleep, but to no avail.

I was supposed to do a long run on Sunday morning in Falmouth, but, with only a couple of hours of sleep, I knew it wasn’t to be.  Sunday was another tough day, but luckily she slept well through the night.  I took advantage of her good sleep to catch up from the night before.  Since I had missed my long run on Sunday, I decided to do it today before I had to be at work at 11am.  Maddie happily watched Toy Story and a Dora video, while I cranked out 22 miles on the treadmill.  The run actually felt great, and I was relieved to get in a good, long effort.

Tempo run – 1X8 mile at marathon pace with 2 mile warm-up and 2 mile cool-down.  The run felt great.  After the first couple of miles, I was able to get into a rhythm and the miles clicked away quickly.  My legs felt great afterward; hopefully, they’ll respond well to tomorrow’s long run.  

A medium, long run this morning.   I actually felt great this morning; I guess the day off yesterday while we were at Maddie’s treatment was a good thing.  The 13 miles passed  pretty quickly and effortlessly.  Still logging many miles on the treadmill, since Maddie is mostly home with me and I’m too whimpy to venture out at 4:30 or 5am to get in a run in the dark and cold before Brad is off to farm chores.  When I was done with the run, I asked Maddie, thinking it was lunchtime, what she wanted for lunch.  I looked at the clock, and it was only 8:45am.  We both laughed; we figured that turkey sandwich would need to wait a little while.

An easy afternoon 5-miler after this morning’s speed workout.  I always like to stretch the legs out a bit and get the blood moving after a hard morning effort.

Speed session 2X3mile of on/off 800s (5:30/6:00 min. per mile pace).  A good, tough workout; Maddie cheered in between helping Dora on her many adventures.  The training is really coming along nicely.  Workouts are getting harder, but I seem to be able to adjust and answer the increased intensity.  Still have lots of time before the Trials, and I’m encouraged by the progress.   And it’s still snowing here.  I’m beginning to think that we’ll need snowshoes to run the Trials.

A beautiful, cold morning.  Roads were very icy.  I slid and slipped through the 10 miles, but luckily no major spills.

22 miles with 8 miles at marathon pace.  Time for the long run and the weather outside was frightful – cold, blowing snow around “0″ with the windchill.  I decided 22 miles on the treadmill sounded like a good time (not!).   The run went pretty well, and I was pleased with the tempo segment.  I turned off my iPod for the final 4 miles, and watched the last few minutes of Rachel Ray’s cooking show.  She was making a London Broil type pot roast dish, which under normal circumstances would have looked pretty good.  After 20 miles with 8 miles at MP, it only made me want to vomit!  Oh well, I got through it with enough time for a quick shower and a stop for a sandwich and my post long run workout recovery drink of chocolate milk.  Then, I ran to school to pick Maddie up.

I had intended to do my long run today, but Maddie wasn’t feeling well.  We ended up having to make a quick trip to the ER (Thanks to Dr. Tim and Jane at Miles!) for some IV antibiotics.  I was nervous that we may have to stay in the hospital, but her white blood count and ANC had responded nicely and her levels where up at a stable range.  I guess those “little soldiers” got to work over the weekend; they mounted a strong fight against a pesky ear infection.  So, my long run turned into a 6 mile easy day.

An uninspired runnning day.  Not sure why, so I decided to take it easy and get some rest.