Oh Everest, My Everest

This is me trying to blog with a microwavable calzone from Trader Joe's in one hand. Midterms are hitting me hard this week. The LA marathon exacted a high toll last week, leaving me wondering if I had a stress fracture in my hip. Turns out it was just a nasty case of bursitis... which I didn't figure out until Thursday afternoon when I could walk again (with a limp) for more than 10 seconds at a time. The next few days spent cooped up in my apartment studying and doing homework finally allowed the limp to go away too. Just in time for me to sprint across campus today and be 10 minutes late for my first midterm!

I'm not even sure what is going on with my sleep schedule either. All I know is that I'm not getting enough of it, and the little I do get is not happening at the right times. I'm reminded of a time in college when a friend told me about the uberman sleep schedule wherein one takes short naps at regular intervals instead of sleeping straight through the night. Somehow, this schedule reminds me of eating several small meals throughout the day routine (as opposed to the traditional 3 large meals), but I know it's not as healthy. It's really just a way to get through exam time. It completely robs me of the ability to do any exercise and I can go 12-24 hours without eating and not even notice--as long as I keep pumping sugar into my system semi-regularly so that my brain can function and then binge on carbs at least once a day. Cherry cider, ice cream and that big pot of spaghetti I made two days ago have been my steady companions.

Anyway, I'm not sure why I'm going on about this, but my calzone is almost gone now and it will be time to hit the books again soon. This is all to say that I really wish I could just sleep through one (delicious, savory, wonderfully long) night and go for a run when I wake up, but... well, fat chance that will happen anytime this week.

Labels: exams, irregular sleep schedule, LA marathon, uberman sleep schedule

Clock Time: 6:31:18
Chip Time: 6:28:08
Average Pace: 14:48.5
Split10K: 1:19:05
Half: 2:50:05
Split30K: 4:19:36

Labels: GU, hips, LA marathon, salt peanuts, swollen hands

First of all, I'm going to LA where I can perhaps go to llama school and be crescent fresh.



Second, I don't have to bring my stupid running tights or gloves! LA is going to be the perfect 72 degrees with a nice, mild breeze. (!!)

So you don't feel too left out, here's a virtual flyby:



Oh, and legless dogs.

Labels: crescent fresh, great weather, LA marathon, legless dogs, llama school

I was cruising 43 things for some motivation and eventually found my way to the ironman site. I learned some interesting facts there:

Your mind can improve your exercise results, says two recent studies. Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that women who believed they had a high tolerance for muscle pain reported less discomfort during cycling tests than women who claimed a low threshold.

In a Harvard University study, when hotel maids were told their work met the Surgeon General's recommendations for an active lifestyle, the women experienced decreases in blood pressure, body fat, waist-to-hip ratio and body mass index a month later. But the control group, who didn't receive the information, saw no such health improvements.

My right calf was making an awful popping sound on Monday so I decided not to run on it for a few days. Luckily it has not popped since Monday. Maybe my efforts to "think my calf into relaxing" helped? Could be that I just needed a little rest, too. Perhaps I'll go on a final 2-miler at marathon pace before I get on the plane and make sure to stretch better than I did after the 10-mile challenge. That ought to do it.

Clearly, as the article suggests, if I just think good thoughts about running the marathon, it will be a quick and painless experience! Right? Right??

Labels: body part making bad sounds, calf, LA marathon, taper

I just registered for the 23rd annual Los Angeles Marathon so that I can't change my mind anymore. There's no turning back!

Also, my first two marathons make a palindrome. 32-23... it's obviously a sign.

Labels: hysteria, LA marathon