A Run...And a Runny Nose

I FINALLY managed to get a short run in last Thursday after work.

Color me excited!!

It felt so good to be on the treadmill and just moving. I could feel stress start to instantly melt away.
If I hadn't been so crunched for time I would have run longer than 20 minutes, but alas, my life stops for nothing lately.

However, my running high was short lived. Boo! The next morning I woke up and I sounded like Barry White (sexy, right?). The cold I had been fighting finally won. My nose was stuffy and running and my chest was all congested. I dosed myself with a ton of Mucinex, Zicam and Emergen-cee (plus tissues and cough drops) and went to work. By the end of the day (right before my show- because the show must go on!) I started to feel a bit better, but definitely not close to 100%. I was able to do the show because, thankfully, my character's voice is in a higher register than my actual speaking voice so no one could tell I was sick. As soon as the show was over, I went home and climbed into bed. I was hoping that if I slept as much as possible before work the next morning, I would get better. NO SUCH LUCK.

I awoke Saturday morning even worse than the day before- Barry White was back for another performance. Needless to say, no work for this sick kid. I spent the entire day in bed, Netflix on the television, medicine on the side table, and going in and out of consciousness. I think I slept about 14 hours total. It was so nice. I woke up about an hour before I had to be at the theatre and felt a tiny bit better.

I really felt the best on Sunday. I was excited because my voice was almost back to normal and I wasn't coughing as much. However, I woke up this morning and I think the cold is trying to beat me again. My coughing started up again last night (but whether that's because I changed the type of Mucinex I was taking or what, I don't know). I wasn't exactly Barry White this morning, more like Elaine Stritch (points if you get that reference, double points if it made you laugh).

I'm hoping to get a lot of rest this week so I will be better by Christmas. I am going to do another 20 minute run on Wednesday, though I don't want to push myself too much if everything is settling in my chest (no bueno for my lungs).

Anyone have any home remedies they use that work pretty well? I'm up for trying anything!

Ready...Set....GO!

I'm really getting into this running thing now (and I blame Kurt and Chelsea haha). I think I've decided what 5k I'm going to run as well. It's the Christopher Martin's Christmas Run for Children in New Haven. It's a flat trail as far as I can tell, which for me, being a beginner, is sweet. But the best part is if you donate an unwrapped gift for children, the entry fee is $5. I believe almost all of the proceeds go to charity to help get toys for less fortunate kids.
If anyone else wishes to join, let me know! The more the merrier!

Also, I came across this article, which I thought would be interesting to share. It's about Running in the Winter, which is what I will be doing. Basically, it advises not to overdress too much because the running will heat up your body naturally, no matter how cold out it is (which is good to know because my race is on December 12th, and considering it SNOWED here yesterday.... there's a good chance it's going to be freezing come December). So, I have to invest in some winter running clothes and gear. First on my list is an arm band to hold my ipod touch. (Considering how many times I've dropped it off the treadmill, this is a necessity for me.) I also have heard good things about arm warmers (kind of like leg warmers, but for your arms) and would like to invest in some. Or I will probably need a long-sleeve, moisture-wicking shirt like this one and running leggings.

I've gotten my body used to going the entire 5k distance, so when I actually do run, my body will be used to how far it needs to go. I just have to continue to work on my running endurance- being able to run longer periods of time without stopping. As it stands, I'm still able to run a 5k in 49minutes, which I've been told, isn't half bad for a beginning runner. I'm hoping to go out either next week or the week after and so some running outside to start getting my lungs used to the colder air and my body used to running on actual ground, as opposed to the treadmill.

I finished week 4 of my training on Sunday, and did an extra run last night, just for the hell of it. I'm not nearly as sore as I expected, especially after running over 6 miles in 2 days. My right knee was a little tight last night, and it audibly pops when I go up the stairs, but there's no actual pain associated with it. I've been using Icy Hot and that helped relieve the tight feeling, bu the popping still persists. I've done some looking up on runner's injuries, and haven't found anything that fits what I have. So long as my knee doesn't physically hurt, the popping noise should be ok.

I plan on starting Week 5 either tonight or tomorrow. This means, I'm half way done with my training- only 4 weeks to go after this. Holler!!