February was supposed to be my “peak month” of training for the Los Angeles Marathon. However, I can’t seem to catch a break with marathon training during the last two cycles, and I found myself sick from the second through almost the fourth week of February. More on that later.
Miles Run: 267 miles
Range of Paces: 6:27-12:30-untimed
Rest Days: 4
Longest Run: 20.2 miles
Shortest Run: 4 miles
Races:
USA Womens Half Marathon in Key West Recap
Redondo Beach Super Bowl Sunday 10K (44:02)
Surf City Marathon Recap
Thoughts:
Whew, February started off so well. I ran the first 20 miles of the Surf City Marathon at a 7:37 pace and was slowly dropping down the pace. I often wonder, should I have just finished the marathon? And I don’t know. On one hand, I could have run under 3:25 that day and I felt good. On the other hand, how long would it have taken me to recover? Would I have gotten even sicker than I did?
Shortly after Surf City, I began having stomach issues. My stomach did not feel great. I wouldn’t have random stomach pains and issues. Those lasted two weeks and during that time, I decided to go to the doctor since “it’s not normal.” They did a bunch of lab tests, and I’m supposed to get the results later this week. I thought I was getting better about two weeks later. During my stomach issues, I ran the Redondo Beach 10k and surprised myself with a decent run at a 7-minute pace. That night I started to get more severe stomach pain, but it seemed to die down. After two weeks, I began getting full body aches. They were so achy I thought I broke a bone in my shin. It hurt. The next four days were the same, and I would usually wake up decent, and it would hit around 10 am, leaving me fatigued and just laying around the house. I hadn’t tested positive for anything, and I also hadn’t had any sort of fever.
Finally, at my second doctor’s appointment, my doctor let me know I likely had the latest strain of COVID. I can’t remember the last time I got pretty sick in two years. Maybe as a child? And I got sick in November and then again in February. Is it because I work back in an office? Am I just more susceptible to disease? I will admit it’s frustrating.
Now, I don’t feel 100%. I feel congested, and while I’m hoping it clears up by the Los Angeles Marathon on March 17th, I don’t have high hopes considering none of my congestion has cleared up in less than 6 weeks. So we will see. I am staying positive. My last twenty-miler did go well, so that was a good confidence booster.
Now we are in the windy season for the desert, which makes running feel exhausting at some points.
As far as swimming, I got in more than I thought, especially with almost two weeks off. I’ve found swimming to be super relaxing after work, so I enjoy doing it when the timing works out.
Posts from the Month:
Shoe Reviews:
New Balance FuelCell Super Comp Elite v4
Gear Review:
Core Body Temperature Sensor Review
Questions for you:
How was your month of training?
What is your goal race?
my training for the first 2 months of 2024 has been haphazard at best….the freezing cold weather here, and my hatred of treadmills and indoor tracks hasn’t helped…..I’ve been on the bike trainer, and have braved the cold a but that feels horrible it’s like running surrounded by a quilt….i have a half marathon in May, a full at the end of August, and I’m thinking either full or half at the start of October…..so, there’s time….and for some reason I’ve gained weight!….gotta fix that,,,,,I guess my winter weight ..