Saturday, April 23, 2011 By: Kate

One Week Until the Race

Today I ran 8 miles on the treadmill and feel just great!  It took 1 hr. and 36 min.  Endorphins are wonderful things.  I can always make myself feel better by burning some calories.  In this case, a LOT of calories! 

1,317 calories according to the machine. 

The Thanksgiving Point half marathon is exactly one week away and I am excited/nervous.  I have never done anything like this before and I am afraid I'll mess it up somehow. 

  • What if I take a wrong turn at some point?  Goofy to worry about, I know.  The route will probably be well marked.  
  • What if I go so slow that the aid/water stations pack up and go home before I finish? 
  • What if it rains?
  • What if I get shin splints?
  • What if I can't breathe when it is over?
Most of those questions are facetious, but that last question has been on my mind a lot, lately.  I have discovered I have EIA.  That stands for exercise induced asthma.  If I run too far, or in too cold of weather, I have an asthma attack AFTER running (not during).  It is weird.  I can run and run... and run for just about forever at a nice slow 5 mile/hour pace.  But when I stop, or if I push it faster, holy cow!  I cough and wheeze like a chain smoker!  I didn't today, because I chose to run on a treadmill in the hot and slightly humid cardio room at the gym.  That is gentle on my lungs.  Though you should have seen me at the end, I was SOAKED!  When I came home for my cool down before showering, you could see white salt residue all over me from sweating so much.  Hee, hee!  It makes me happy to sweat.  I am so weird.

If the asthma turns out to be a problem after this first race, I'll go to the doctor for an inhaler in order to be prepared for the next race!

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