Columbus Day = My Lifesaver

So, yesterday didn't work out. I was planning to run the Phoenix Race for the Cure with my sister Sunday morning. Unfortunately, the night before, we stayed up late with her friends playing Settlers of Catan (a board game) eating cookies and having a drink or two. BAD idea before a race. Joann woke up feeling sick to her stomach and I felt a little dizzy. My guess is that since we knew it was only 3 miles we could do it on lack of sleep, sugar highs, etc.

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. Get plenty of sleep and eat well before a race. No matter the distance. Basically, we showed you what not to do.

I was tired that whole day too. What a bummer. But I did get to hang out with my sister and her family. So, at least there was an upside. :)

Fast forward to today. I get up at 6 (okay 6:15, darn that snooze button!), get ready and head off to work. I get to work and see that no one is in the parking lot. Okay weird, I think, but think nothing more of it. I go in, sign in, and de-arm the workroom. I get to my desk and start entering worksheets. After a while, I look up and see an email attached to the top of my desk, highlighted. Thinking it's a note my boss left me about turning off the lights in the repository or something like that, I semi-ignore it, but then become too curious. I pull it down and it's a note about the holidays for the building. And guess what day is on that list? Columbus Day, October 11th. Off to the right it says no student work, sorry. Sorry? That's it? That's all you have to say to me? The building arms up every hour, on the hour, on holidays. So, basically, I had to get out of there at 8:00 or else it was going to go off. And it was almost 8.

Luckily for me, someone else set it off at 7:45 and that gave me time to gather my stuff together. However, before I could get out of there, the maintenance man came in and told me I should probably leave. How embarrassing. I really wish my bosses told me on Thursday that I wouldn't have to wake up early on Monday to come in to work. Would have been really helpful. UGH.

 Anyway, I decided that Columbus Day is my lifesaver because I didn't have to work. And that means I had time for something else. Running! I had 5 hours to kill before classes so I decided to get a 6 miler in before I went to school. And it worked out perfectly because by the time I got home I was already completely awake (no sleeping in for me today!) and I got home early enough that it wasn't too hot. I was dying for time for a run like this and I'm so grateful for this day!

I decided to run down to the U of A, lap around Old Main and come back home for a total distance of 6 miles. But, I was so happy that I finally had some time to run a good distance, I added a few more streets to make it a total of 7.2 miles!

Miles: 7.20
Time: 1 Hour and 23 Minutes
Avg Pace: 11'33"

I felt really good...mentally. However, physically was a different story. Around mile 4, the left side of my chest began to hurt so badly! It became hard to breathe and I had to take a few walking breaks. I stretched a little to see if that would do the trick, but nothing. I am full of mysterious pains lately. Hopefully this one won't come back. It really hindered by running and hurt for about half an hour after I cooled down. Otherwise, this run was awesome!!

I got home and enjoyed a bowl of Moroccan Chickpea Bisque with dill weed and olive oil and a side of warm wheat tortilla. Tasty! I would have taken a picture, but I was so hungry and it was so good! Next time I'll snap a quick photo before I scarf it down. :)

My Ragnar Relay team update will have to wait for another post. We have a team and a theme!