I somehow completed the 7 day cycle I started last week after feeling burnt out and I really need a day off. I’m pretty beaten at this point, here is my list of issues (gosh, its only week 4 too) … 1) middle back is sore, I think I pulled a muscle the other day when adjusting the stilleto during running. It got to feeling better, but got worse again yesterday after I was crawling under my desk at work. I actually thought i’d need an extra day off due to the pain, but it subsided and I got through todays run. 2) my legs are just tired, really tired, 3) My skin is all tore up around my waist from the fuel belt on Sunday, and last week … it really bothers me. 4) I’m terribly dehydrated from running in the heat day after day after day, 5) my allergies are bothering me

Thats just a small list, and I don’t feel like listing every little ache and pain, because there are too many. Overall i’m just tired again … I got up early every day since Sunday … (5 on sunday, 5 on monday, 4:40 on Tuesday, 4:30 wednesday and 4:50 this morning …) I need sleep. I can’t wait to sleep in a bit tomorrow and over the weekend.

Enough about my aches and pains I guess, resting today and tomorrow should heal me up a bit I hope. I was happy to read on the local running site www.neparunner.com that in the luzerne county triple crown (after two races), my name is actually listed as #9 in the male open category … exciting! Here is the link (not sure how long it will be available though … .. Yep, I know I won’t place, however I will be eligible for the raffle to win a gift certificate or some local Yankees tickets, thats good stuff. It has helped motivate me to heal a bit for next Wednesdays’ race … its only a 3 miler, so its a real easy distance for me if I run it smart. At the way i’ve been training, 3 miles is just a warmup.

I’ve hopefully been doing better eating as well (although still not faithful writing down my food) … I stopped going to the cafeteria here at work for ‘soup and salad’ and began bringing a sandwich again … I didn’t realize that although I was eating a salad, which is healthy, I was using Ranch dressing (at 27G of fat per little packet) … OUCH! I was also eating those heavy cream soups, which have to be full of fat as well … I hope the change in my diet has made the difference, we’ll find out tomorrow when I weigh in I guess.

Looks like the weather will be nice this weekend for the 16 + 8 mile runs, temps expected to only be in the mid 70’s, that will be relief from the heat i’ve dealt with this week. Its been a constant process of coming home dripping, I mean absolutely dripping in sweat … its terrible.

One other interesting thing to note is my trip to the doctor on Tuesday … it appears I am officially an allergy sufferer. I never really had an issue with allergies up until now, but it explains why I am constantly having nose and ear problems … it turned out that I don’t have an ear infection, but do have fluid in my ears, a puffy nose and post-nasal drip … I guess when you let it go and don’t deal with it, it can cause an infection, which makes sense. The doctor put my on Allegra, it seems to be helping somewhat, but I have to keep the fluids going as well.

Thats about it for now. Off to rest and relax to get prepared for the weekend.