No no no no NO TO THE TENTH POWER

What you don't know is that I was the last Ziemnik standing.

Everyone in my family has been sick with a nasty, nasty stomach virus. One you don't wish on your worst enemy.

So I've been washing my hands until they literally bleed, lysoling everything I could, and trying SO HARD to stay healthy, because I am really excited for the trail race this Sunday.

I went to bed, after setting up my bike in the basement so I'd be ready to hit it at 5:30am.

And then, I woke up at 1am. And I knew.

I was no longer the last Ziemnik standing.

I've managed to keep down half a can of ginger ale and 2 saltines. Knock on wood--I hope it stays that way. But now I'm already thinking...if I can't make it down the stairs without being dizzy, how on earth am I going to run a very challenging trail half marathon in 4 days when it's 21 degrees out? Ugh.

Matt told me not to think about it--that tomorrow I might feel 100% better.

I dunno. I just want to stop feeling like I want to curl up in a ball under a rock.

So now I'm sitting downstairs, watching 24, and staring at my bike that never got used this morning.

Sigh.

So yeah...

...about that "cold?"

Um, well, the 7 mile run in the snow that I just didn't have my mojo for on Sunday but did anyway threw me over the edge. Oops.

Stayed home Monday, went to the doctor, and finally had to admit it. Full blown sinus-infection. Poop. On some antibiotics now, though, and feeling much better after 3 forced rest days!

Arg.

Anyhoo, had a fantabulous run outside this lovely chilly evening, and completely negative split it out the WAZOO, so I feel like things are settling back in. Yay!

I'll be hitting the pool after school tomorrow since I have to go in early to lead a review session in the morning, and then I've got a run and a nice long indoor ride planned for this weekend. Along with MASSIVE BUCKEYE CONSTRUCTION. If I do say so myself, I make DAMN GOOD BUCKEYES.

Sunday I'll be chillin' with JenC and some other tri pals for some Christmas fun! Can't wait to see my chicas!

Happy training, everyone!

Finally...

I'm starting to feel like me again!

Man. Whatever the heck this bug was that I caught was ROTTEN. I guess it could have been worse--I wasn't throwing up--but it reminded me of when I got Mono freshman year of college, and my throat was so swollen that I was snoring so loudly that poor DaisyDuc had to carry her mattress into another room to sleep in one night.

(Seriously. Poor Daisy couldn't sleep a wink and didn't want to wake me up. I woke up and looked down to see my bunk mate gone--mattress and all!)

My throat is much better and I'm feeling a lot more like me, but I won't be doing any training today. Or, tomorrow. That will be almost a whole week off. Which led me to my previous post's ruminations.

From what I have been discussing with those who know this stuff, it seems that (big surprise here) I'm freaking out a bit for not much reason. I need to remember the consistent work I've done since January. The speedwork, tempo runs, and various long runs in the 10-12 mile range as well as a 13 and 14 mile run already. And this weekend, provided I continue to feel better, I'll do 12-14 again. So that will mean I will have ALREADY RAN THREE HALF MARATHONS. I have covered this distance three times. Each time having a successful negative split.

My mileage has been lower than I'd like, but I've also been swimming and cycling a teensy bit, so that should help a bit. I've seen lots of my triathlon friends greatly improve their race times from adding cycling to their routine, so I'm not going to worry about it for now.

I also have a history of my head being my biggest enemy on race day. I know I am capable of doing well on the 18th, and I think I need to make mental training just as high of a priority as I will my next two weeks of runs.

So here's the plan:

A Goal: run a 1:50 half. Follow pacers for first 11 miles, then dig deep for the last 2 on my own when they turn off on the marathon course. Then grill out and drink beer with TriShannon.

B Goal: Stick with pacers for first few miles, and run the rest on my own. Go 1:54 or less. Then grill out and drink beer with TriShannon.

C Goal: Stick with pacers for first few miles, run the rest on my own and decided just to finish, high-fiving as many people as I can along the way. Finish. Then grill out and drink beer with TriShannon.

If I don't give it a shot, I'll kick myself. I've put in a great deal of time and consistent training for a while now, as well as sort of already running "three half marathons" in training. I need to go for this. I can go for this.

First task: get 100% better.

Next task: kick butt.

This rots.

Still not myself.

Fever is gone after 2 days, but still not 100%. HAVE to go to school today and sludge through. Ugh. Am visiting doc later.

May have to reasses my half mary goals. Ugh. I hate to do that, but I'm going to miss my 14 miles with 6 at race pace this weekend, and I don't know if I can squeeze it in next week after school with these AP tests looming over my head. And I missed my splits last weekend, although I know it's probably because I was starting to get this nastiness.

To top it all off, work is nuts. Next week, I'll most likely be going in early, working through lunch with kids, and staying later.

Maybe instead of a 5 minute PR, I just shoot for a PR.

It just is frustrating because I feel like I was trucking along and doing SO well. Maybe my body will surprise me here, but I don't know. This is supposed to be fun, and I want it to be fun. TriShannon will be here and that's fun. Maybe I shouldn't try to do too much here. A small PR's just as good as a big one, and there's always half mary's I can try later.

This week rots.

I've got a fever....

...and the only thing that will cure it is more cowbell.

Actually, I don't know if cowbell will help. But I'm willing to try.

Like, I really have a fever. 101.2.

My quest to not miss ANY days before the AP test has failed miserably.

I feel like poop.

Ugh.

(If you're wondering why I'm up at 2:41 am, it's because a) I feel like I was hit by a truck and b) I'm trying to type up sub plans. Good times.)

The funny part is I ran 5 miles last night, and was all, "Man, I feel pretty sore from Monday's ride! What the heck is wrong with me? I'm such a pansy!"

OR I'M RUNNING WITH A FREAKING FEVER.

Sigh.

This BETTER BE GONE BY TOMORROW. I don't have time for this nonsense.