A Bad Run & A Lesson In Dehydration

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I had a horrible run yesterday. I set out to do 11 miles and ended up walking almost the entire last 3 miles of it. It would be easy to blame it on the heat (already past 80 degrees when we started at 7:30 am) but that wasn't it. The Greenway was packed with runners, each pushing forward through air so thick it literally felt like it was pushing you back. No, for me, if was a combination of factors that included: 

  • Barely drinking any water the day before the run
  • Not eating a proper meal the night before the run
  • Heading out too fast in the initial miles
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Facebook: What if we posted what's REALLY going on?

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Do you Facebook? If the answer is yes, how much thought do you put into a post before you hit the SEND button? 

I read a book recently that discussed how people--especially teenagers--use Facebook to craft a carefully vetted persona. The person representing them on FB is just that--a representation, usually of who they wish they were versus the real thing. They use great care when listing what bands they like, who they saw at the local hang-out, or what they're doing while on vacation. There's also a lot of plotting that goes into whose wall they post on or who they mention in a post and don't even get me started on the pictures. It's amazing how there's not one bad picture of any of us floating out there on Facebook. If there is, we untag that puppy faster than you can say, "Unlike." 

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Can I Put My Hair Care Items In Your Suitcase?

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I'm a bad packer. No news there. But what I realized this morning as I was standing in the shower, already berating myself for the overpacking I know is to come, is that the longer the duration of my trip, the better packer I appear to be. This is because the majority of my packing woes come from personal care items. I'm not a clothes horse and I can get by with one or two pairs of shoes so on long trips I do pretty well. But I fill three tote bags with hair and body care items whether I go on a 3-week trip or an overnight jaunt. Doesn't matter. I need the exact same amount of stuff. 

Here's just a little sample of what it takes to get me through a 24-hour period:

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Allergy Testing

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Given that I live in the pollen capital of the world AND I insist on living with cats, I receive a weekly allergy shot so that I'm able to...wait, what is it again? Oh yes. Breathe. 

Tuesday I went in for my annual evaluation. That's where they take a magic marker and number 1-50 on your back then inject you with small doses of allergens to see what you test positive for. Prick, prick, prick... it's like Chinese water torture. No one needle hurts but 50 tiny needles kind of sets your teeth on edge. 

Here are the results: I should never be around dogs or cats. Ever. They're my worst allergies. No surprise there. Also no surprise that my allergist has given up on me.

"Still ignoring my advice about pets in the house?" he asked. 

"Yup," I answered.

"Okay then. Moving on."

What was unexpected was that I tested strongly allergic to beef and pork. You don't usually test strongly for foods you don't eat but hey--now I have another reason to stay vegetarian. Beef makes me sneeze. 

I also had mild reactions to dairy and peanuts. I wish I had the willpower to give up dairy. I gave it up the summer I trained for the Chicago marathon and I've never felt better. Clear head, clear sinus', even pollen season didn't bother me as much. I'm toying with the idea of once again trying to go without, at least until my marathon is over. 

Add in the other standard allergies of trees, grasses, molds, and dust mites, and it's a wonder I'm able to get out of bed in the mornings. On the bright side, my allergist encouraged me to try going 2 weeks between shots to see how I do. I think I'll do just fine.

Until I hug a cat and eat some cheese, that is.

Cheers,

Dena