now I get it

I am TIRED.

Who would have thought that 'overload' workouts take a few days to really sink in...? It makes complete sense, really, but I haven't been thinking about it. It's been one day at a time. But after today, now I realize that although I need to take training one day at a time, I NEED TO KEEP THE BIG PICTURE in mind AT ALL TIMES.  I mean, really, I just kept going, adding little townie spins, a yoga class, NIA!, and other seemingly 'unloaded' movement because I felt so darn good during my workouts and I was recovering really quickly. Then, then, today I woke up and it, my body, especially my butt[?!], was like "BAM. You are not invincible"

[and again I find myself breaking my own rule: no blogging about specifics of training, but I promise, this post has a point beyond me ranting about my body]

My run this morning was HARD. I looked at the schedule last night and thought 'No problem. I've got this one in the bag... " but a HALF MILE into my WARM UP [which is downhill from my apartment to the lake, btw] I was already counting down how much further I had to go, never mind how much more I had to pick up the pace. 

S***.  

By mile 2 I wanted to slow down.

By mile 3 I wanted to quit.

By mile 3.5 I really wanted to quit...

But by the time I hit mile 4, I thought "I can do this, I'm on the backside of this workout now. DIG"

Of course it certainly did NOT help that the backside of my run was DIRECTLY INTO THE GUSTING 30-40 mile an hour winds [according to www.weather.com, anyhow]. And of course the second half of the run had to be faster than the first...yeah, I so did not plan that loop right, AT ALL. 

I finished. Barely. I shuffled home as my cooldown [now UPHILL] at a pace I am too embarrassed to post. 

I learned today that overload workouts take a few days to sink in. I learned today that although I seem to be recovering well and quickly, things can change, literally over night...and because of these things, I learned today that despite the fact that each workout is a discrete challenge and task, I need to keep the big picture in mind.

On a completely unrelated note:I am finding myself excited about things...and in no particular order, they are:

1. my solo sunrise ride tomorrow am wearing my NEW SHOES!! Yes they, in all of their ruby red iridescent glory, greatly increase my 'flash factor' but I think I'm ok with that. They are pretty hot... at least everyone at the shop thinks so...unless, of course, they were lying... And in that case, I bet they'll snicker when I walk in there wearing them...oh, they would never!

2. brunch with TC tomorrow, post ride, at the foodwhole: I find talking with her refreshing and encouraging. We haven't known each other long but we've fallen into a fast friendship....seriously, if i had a sister, I'd hope it was someone like her. 
3. buying a new little digital camera for my trip
4. my trip! to spain! and morocco!
5. my new riding buddy, KH. Lady, you've been putting the time in so GOOD LUCK this weekend at Eagleman! Rock it!
6. the sugar ant traps I purchased this morning.
[Lord, I hope they work. I woke up this morning, walked to the kitchen, and saw hundreds, literally, of ants crawling all over my trashbag. I followed the trail around my kitchen, down the hall, and to the steps leading up to my bedroom. GROSS. So there I was standing in the kitchen, fresh out of bed in my underware, killing ants. I realized it was a futile effort because more kept coming, plus those little suckers started biting me. SO GROSS. I didn't know what to do. I pulled out the lysol spray [EVIL, I KNOW... especially since I have a cat] and started spraying ALL OVER the baseboards and steps, and just about anywhere else I saw them. I wanted to drown those little suckers...pinche hormigas... so I've got a crazy as sin neighbor who thinks her other neighbors are the gestapo and now I have a sugar ant infestation AND I DONT EVEN HAVE ANY SUGAR IN MY HOUSE. UGH. I've been thinking maybe its time to move?]

I like having things to be excited about. It helps me to not sweat the small stuff and to keep the big picture in mind, at all times....and you know, I love taking pictures... especially big ones.