Race Recap: Hula Hustle 10K - My first DNF

Race Day: Saturday, April 13, 2013
Location: Ned Houk Park, Clovis, NM

This race was a local fundraiser for the March of Dimes. I had registered a week or two prior, but on race day I just wasn't feeling the run. I kept saying that I should probably just pick up my packet and bib and then just sit out the race. I was familiar with the course as I had run/walked it several times during training. It included some of the only hills in town (I hate hills!) and a section of cracked, dry rutted dirt road. I knew that I would be walking up the hills running the flats and downhills, but when it came to the dirt road I knew way ahead of time that I would have trouble. I don't do well on trails of any kind unless they are flat and fairly well groomed with packed rocks/pebbles. This section was not like that. 

Let me preface this by saying that at my half marathons I typically use KT Tape to stabilize my ankles because they are so weak from spraining them so many times when I was a kid. On the day of the race I had forgotten to grab my ankle supports that I was going to use since it was only a 10K. First bad choice. Second bad choice was to try to run on this short section of  "trail." I should have known better. Just over half way down the section I rolled my right ankle. I was able to maintain minimal weight bearing on it, but I also had to think of the fact that in 2 weeks I'd be doing the Oklahoma City Memorial Half Marathon. It was almost an immediate decision to take the DNF because I didn't want to worsen the injury. 

I hobbled back to the start, told the time keeper that I would be taking a DNF...and because it was a local event she had to ask what a DNF was. I explained the concept of "Did Not Finish" and the reason that I was taking the DNF. I then hobbled back to our club's meeting area to ice and elevate my foot while I waited for the rest of the group to finish.

You'd think that I'd be upset with my first DNF but I'm not. I knew it would happen someday and I was just glad it wasn't at a major race, especially with my first full marathons happening this summer. If I was to DNF at one of those I would be totally devastated. At least I started the race so as the saying goes...DLF>DNF>DNS (for those unfamiliar with this it means "Dead Last Finish beats Did Not Finish beats Did Not Start). I had multiple DNS's last spring and summer due to an exacerbation of my bipolar symptoms...actually 9 half marathon DNS's. At least I don't have a DNS in 2013 yet. I would have been a DLF once I saw the field at the 10K but if I could've I would have continued, but I have OKC to prep for so healing for that race was my priority. My DNF is of little consequence at this point. Such is the life of a runner!! :)

Spring Mix(ed) Bipolar Episode

You'd think that after an exhilarating weekend racing a Spartan race with the Weeple Army that I'd be on a pretty good high or at least a good mood the week following, however that has not been the case. During that past week I've held in a lot of anger issues, been ill with a recurring cold/allergies/or whatever the hell it is, plus my mood/motivation has dropped to near nothing and I'm doing some unhealthy obsessing.

I'm not sure what's going on...is it just a mood swing or my annual spring depression setting in? All I know is that I'm just not happy with basically everything. It would be easy enough to blame everything on the bipolar but that's just not true, sure it's got a big influence in things but life is just biting the big one overall. Last week when I was feeling this way, but to a lesser extent, I was able to go get some exercise and get the endorphins to kick in beating back the poor mood/depression. This time around it's just hard to get out of bed, let alone go out for a run or even a walk. I have a 10K this afternoon and truthfully, I just may play drop out, get the shirt and man some drinks/fruit for our run/walk club. I just don't have the energy to deal with anything right now.

To top it off the old man's dad and step-mom called yesterday let us know that they'd be here early in the week. They're nice people and at least they did let us know they were coming whereas the old man thinks that his brother got no warning at all. I'm just not in the mood for visitors. All I feel like doing is sitting on my ass or sleeping. I'm still taking my meds, 3 weeks in a row now, but I just don't give a damn about anything.

This is especially not good since I have the Oklahoma City Half Marathon in 2 weeks with my longest run being 8 miles last week. I need to bump up to 10 miles at least before next weekend, luckily I graded down from the full marathon. Then there's the old man whose training has consisted of walking on the treadmill 3-5 miles at a time. I told him that I'd run the half with him (thus the downgrade) since it's his first road race but I don't know if I can go that slow. I'm by no means fast or anything, but I would like to finish around 3 hours give or take, at his pace he'll be lucky to finish before they sweep the course. Yeah, that's one of the things I'm angry about...

At least I have one thing that I'm looking forward to this weekend, the MTV Movie Awards with the Pitch Perfect cast reunion. I actually cleared off space on the DVR to record their 3 minute opening performance. I don't remember when the last time I watched the MTV Movie Awards but between the cast reunion (and my continued obsession with Skylar Astin...I mean really, what the hell is that all about?? He's freakin' 11 days older than my own son! Dude does have a voice that could met the polar ice caps though...) and Rebel Wilson hosting the show should be a hoot.

Other obsessions have cropped up again and have me thinking about racing in specific states just for the hell of it. Really, I seem to be the most content when I'm away from town whether it be with my racing friends or alone. Between the obsessions and the depressed moods most psychiatrists would say that I'm having a mixed episode which in fact is likely. Hell, if I actually drank, which I rarely do now, I'd love to get totally wasted and just pass out. Not to worry though, I'm not suicidal or having any suicidal thinking...I'm just fed up with everything.

Sorry for this downer of a post...it's just where I am now and this blog is a place that I can put everything into words. I do have an appointment with my psychiatrist in just over a week and the plan was/is to switch me over to Abilify in place of my Welbutrin, but considering I'll be running OKC within a few days I won't be making the switch until a little later...well actually probably a couple of weeks later because I have Military Spartan Sprint in Colorado the following weekend. Oh the joys of medication management and running. Later.

runDisney Dopey Challenge is Official

This post is in follow up to yesterday's post about one of the very recent runDisney rumors...the Dopey Challenge.

Is Dopey the only one nutty enough to do this Challenge?
Or are you too?!

I just woke up from a 3+ hour nap (haven't slept more than 3 hours the past 2 nights) to find out that runDisney had made an official news announcement at 3pm EST. Yes, the Challenge is ON! It will involve the Family 5K, the new Minnie Mouse 10K, the WDW Half Marathon and the WDW Full Marathon. Participants who finish at the races in the allotted time will receive a total of 6 medals...one for each of the races, Goofy Challenge and Dopey Challenge. So much for what I predicted about the medal situation!

Registration opens on Tuesday, April 9th at noon EST. You must register for the Dopey Challenge specifically to get the Dopey Challenge medal.

Register at:
http://www.active.com/running/lake-buena-vista-fl/walt-disney-world%EF%BF%BD-marathon-weekend-2014

runDisney Event page for the WDW Marathon/Goofy/Dumbo Weekend:
http://www.rundisney.com/disneyworld-marathon/

Disney Parks Blog Post about the Dopey Challenge: 
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/03/rundisney-introduces-new-race-new-challenge-new-medals-to-walt-disney-world-marathon-weekend/

runDisney YouTube video about the Dopey Challenge (also on the Disney Parks blog post):
http://youtu.be/E6v0AtMJwnE

I'm just making a wild guess that this will sell out within days if not hours!! Just like the Dumbo Double Dare in Disneyland did...wow, that was a lot of "D's"!! lol!

Now we just have to see if the Disneyland - Paris rumor is true as well...