Well I officially have 19 days until my next big race, The Silver Strand Half Marathon, on November 14, 2010. So just under three weeks until the race. The picture below is of Coronado Island, where the race will begin that Sunday morning at 7am. It will begin at Sunset Park on the Northern Part of the Island, and then set off south along the coast line 13.1 miles toward Imperial Beach at the Finish. It is a surprisingly, well maybe not so surprisingly flat course. I am super excited. The past three weeks of training have been side tracked by injuries, two weeks by an injured hip flexor muscle from over-extending my left leg during weighted reverse lunges. And well the third week is the subject of this post.

Now let me just give you the run down quickly on how this past week’s training has been interrupted by stress, lack of sleep, and general timing issues to get out and run. After the IOOV training the weekend prior, I was absolutely exhausted. I had also pulled my back out by lifting tables, boxes, chairs, and whatever else. So what did I do over the weekend? I proceeded to run long distance both days (get up at 430 am to be out the door at 5 am) to ensure time for at least an hour run on both Friday (the first day of the training) and also on Saturday (the second day of the training). Sunday, when I should have rested, I went for a five mile run and by mile 4, I had to walk because of the sharp pain in my back. I walked the entire way back to my apartment.

SO what did I do the next day? I got home from work and decided to…go to Yoga class..go idea right? Well yes, maybe…but afterward I said I feel great lets do more Sarah…so I hopped on the treadmill, ran three miles, came home then did a home gym dumbell and core workout for 45 minutes. Too much you say? Well WAIT until you hear about TUESDAY…which happens to be my Hell Cardio/Strength/Core class. BUT before that began, I ran INTERVALS on the Treadmill for 30 minutes, at starting at a 9:30 pace and increasing in speed. So needless to say by Wednesday…one would think I would be tired? Why yes I was tired…back still sore, yet I was having trouble sleeping…in fact, I was having trouble sleeping since the Thursday prior…On Wednesday I was given the day off…so you would have thought I would have slept in…I didn’t I was up at 6 ready to go…GO? Go where? I sat and did nothing for once…waited for the world to wake up I suppose…

Wednesday night I had trouble sleeping again….and this time could not sleep at all..I spent the night organizing my closet, did some laundry, cleaned the kitchen, organized my planner…I don’t remember what else I did. I knew something must be wrong with this picture…

Thursday I proceeded to go to work, exhausted with a full 10 hour day ahead of me, well okay okay 8 and a half. But it sure felt like ten hours. I made it through several meetings, 2 appts, facilitated one support group, and even had dinner with two great guys who are so supportive, Devin and Bruce.

Onto Friday…I was told to take the day off Friday. Which I had every intent on doing…of course I didn’t. I went into work in the morning for three hours anyway. Afterwards I went to see my doctor about the sleeping issue. He prescribed something to help me sleep. Thanks to him and the meds, so far so good…

Well, I guess the point being that last Fri-Tues I overdid it big time. Wed-Fri of this week I under-did it but with good reason for lack of sleep. The lesson being that I need to learn how to be better about stress management, and realizing that I am not superwoman. I also need to realize my limits and not push myself too hard either. So with 19 days to go, I plan on taking it easy, not trying to run every day, not trying to increase my speed overall, not trying to push my distance either. I will do what I can do that is it. If my highest mileage going in is 10 miles, I am okay with that…

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