Popping Iron (or: Yes, I'll stop diagnosing myself and see a doctor)

Holy Toledo, it's been a week since my last post.  The thing is, I've been feeling really tired in the evening and haven't had the focus to write.  I also had a couple episodes of feeling so dizzy when I stood up that I thought I might faint (no, I am not pregnant).  Somehow the idea that maybe I'm anemic came to mind.  I looked up the symptoms and being tired, dizzy and leg cramps were all noted.  Some of the symptoms I don't have are a rapid heartbeat (especially with exercise), shortness of breath and headache, difficulty concentrating (wait, didn't I just say I haven't had the focus to blog?), pale skin (how can you tell, it's summer) and insomnia.  So many subjective symptoms.  I hardly ever eat red meat, though I do eat a lot of black beans and I think they have iron.  Another thing I learned is you can be iron deficient for reasons other than an iron deficiency (like a b12 deficiency).  Interesting.  Anyway, I took an iron pill leftover from my pregnancy but have since decided I should probably go to the doctor to see if I'm really anemic before I start supplementing on my own.  No more popping iron for me.

The good news is, it hasn't stopped me from getting my exercise in.  My eating is another story.  But let's stick with the good news.  Last Thursday I did my 25 minutes on the bike followed by chest/triceps/core.  On Friday I did a 25 minute treadmill run.  It was Friday so I was particularly tired.  Fortunately there were two chatty women next to me talking about their school-aged kids/teachers/friends/etc drama.  Is it eavesdropping if you have no choice but to listen?  I can't wear headphones on the treadmill.  Anyway, between their stories and House Hunters International the run went by fairly quick.  Notice I said quick, but not easy.  I had to really push myself.  After the run I did back/biceps/core and looked forward to the weekend. 

Saturday Miguel had to work and I happily kept a low profile with the kids, soaking up having little to do.  That evening we had some neighbor friends over for dinner and I ate grilled chicken and potato salad with little concern for calories, fat or points.  On Sunday I did a run starting at my front door.  I had to get back to take the kids to a birthday pool party so I planned to do an hour run, about 5 miles.  I did a loop and when I was about 2/3 of the way I realized this was going to be more than 5 miles.  In the end I ran 6.25 miles in 1:06, a 10:33 pace - totally respectable.  I was, however, very excited to run over 6 miles and feel pretty good afterward. 

Back at home I had a quick shower and took the kids to the pool party.  It was a great time and the kids were totally exhausted after all the pool fun.  I had some birthday party food, including cake!  I love me some birthday cake.

Monday was back to the gym routine.  I did 25 minutes on the upright bike followed by legs/shoulders/core work.  I was pressed for time so I had to push myself as hard as I could to get through the workout quickly.  In the 51 minutes I spent at the gym I burned 400 calories; not bad, right? 

I forgot to mention that my "official" training (for the Livermore Grape Stomp 1/2 Marathon) has started.  In case you forgot...

Week	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat	Sun
1 (8/27 – 9/2)	Bike + strength	4 m AM run	Rest	3 m run + strength	Bike + strength	Rest	8 m run
2 (9/3 – 9/9)	Bike + strength	4 m AM run	Rest	Yosemite	Yosemite	Yosemite	6 m run
3 (9/10 – 9/16)	Bike + strength	4.5 m AM run	Rest	3 m run + strength	Bike + strength	Rest	9 m run
4 (9/17-9/23)	Bike + strength	4.5 m AM run	Rest	3 m run + strength	Bike + strength	Rest	10 m run
5 (9/24 – 9/30)	Bike + strength	5 m AM run	Rest	3 m run + strength	Bike + strength	Rest	9 m run
6 (10/1-10/7)	Bike + strength	5 m AM run	Rest	3 m run + strength	Bike + strength	Rest	11 m run (?)
7 (10/8-10/14)	Bike + strength	5 m AM run	Rest	3 m run + strength	Bike + strength	Rest	12 m run
8 (10/15-10/21)	Bike + strength	4 m AM run	Rest	2 m run	Bike + strength	Rest	Half Marathon

As you can see, this Tuesday morning called for a 4 mile morning run.  My alarm went off yesterday at 5:15am.  I'd laid out all my running gear the night before but it still took more than 10 minutes to talk myself out of bed.  I've not been much of a morning runner.  I feel so stiff and everything feels just a bit harder than usual.  But I did get out of bed and did the 4 miles in about 43 minutes, a 10:48 pace.  Slower than the 6 mile run despite being flatter.  I need a morning run pace handicap.  Running before dawn is a bit scary too.  I stayed on what is normally a really busy street but at 5:30am not too many cars out.  When a man came running toward me from across the street I realized how vulnerable I was.  Fortunately he was just out for a run too.  Maybe I need a concealed weapons permit.  Or maybe a self defense course and some pepper spray is a more reasonable plan.

Today, Wednesday, is my day off from the gym. And normally from work too but I have gotten very behind on some data entering stuff so I had to go in today to work on it.  I spent the whole friggin' day entering data into the computer and only got half done.  Told you I was behind.  Let's hope this teaches me a lesson and I don't get behind again. 

We are about to enter party planning mode for Myra's 2nd birthday and then I've got to get ready for the Yosemite backpacking trip a week from today.  Someone told me the 10 lakes trail is "steep at first, but don't get too freaked out, it levels off some."  Too late; I'm freaked out.  So I looked up a description of the trail. 

Ten Lakes trail, in the backcountry of Yosemite, climbs 2,500 feet over the course of 6.5 miles of rugged terrain, then descends into the valley that nestles these remote lakes. The elevation rise is unrelenting, but the scenery is spectacular, ranging from thick pine forest, to rock shelves, marshy meadow, to steep climbs beside running falls.

Uhhhh...maybe I should have read this before I signed up for trip.  I don't doubt I can do it, it's a question of how long it will take me.  I hope I don't hold people up and embarrass myself to boot.  And what about bears?!  I need to stop thinking about all of this, stat.  I know at least one of you is an avid backpacker, do you think I'll survive? 

Ok, it's 9:45pm and I think I'll hit the hay.  Night all!

p.s.  I didn't mention the banana chocolate-chip bread I made or the homemade lemon gelato I also made.  I have eaten quite a bit of both.  Ahhh, I feel better somehow :)