Marathon Training: A love/hate relationship

After being sidelined with an injury for way too long, I have finally been able to get out and get my sweat on!  Well, living in Florida, you walk outside and you get your sweat on...Just saying.


I certainly have a love/hate (mostly love) relationship with training for a Marathon.  I am currently training for my 2nd and 3rd marathon.  M2 with be ING NYC and 3 will be a 1/2 Full Combo being the Disney Goofy and a 1/2.  I will get into details on both races/runs at a later date.


I made a list of this I love and hate about the whole training process.  You also have to remember, I have not ran in 4 months before training began.

Love...Running

Hate...Finding new muscles

Love...Sweating

Hate...Sweating in the Florida Heat

Hate...Early wake up calls..sometimes as early as 3:30 am

Hate...Leaving as my roommate is coming home as I have found her on the stairs before

Love...a toned body

Love..knowing I could outrun anyone in distance

Hate..Soreness

Hate...Ice Bathes

Love...Knowing I could kick anyone harder than most

Love...Eating whatever and not gain weight

Hate...New blisters and having the most sensitive feet ever

Love..A shiny new medal

Hate...Sweat in my eyes

What do you love/hate about training for a marathon?

Thyroid Disorders...Here is my story

Morgan over at Redheadrunning asked if I was going to discuss what they are going to do about my overactive thyroid and I believe that is a great idea!  Thank you!  This is not something I even thought about discussing but it is something I live with daily and does not effect my everyday life, so to speak.

Here is my history to start you off with a background.

I was first diagnosed with Graves Disease when I was a freshman in high school.  This means my thyroid produces excessive hormones.  My parents just thought I was a moody teenager but fortunately there was more to that story.  Not only was I bitchy, but I wasn't getting my period or it was very irregular, I was always warm, exhausted and taking naps. 
Since the thyroid produces too much, it needs to be reduced.  I started with tapazole medicine, but after a while it is easier to treat it with radioactive iodine, or at least in my case.  I had to get my thyroid radioactive iodined twice because the first time did not "kill it".   Once it is killed, I was put on synthroid to add the thyroid hormones back into my body to regulate it.  It takes a while to adjust medicine to see exactly where your body should be at.  I have been at doses from 125 micrograms to currently 150 micrograms.
This is can be measured easily with a blood test, testing for TSH, thyroid stimulating Hormone.
For a while, my dosage was not changes, for years actually and just recently my doctor has to increase my dosage because my levels were not high enough.  When I found out my levels were low, everything made sense!!  I thought everything had to do with work and being back from Spring break.  I was exhausted, cold, and honestly, I do not remember what else.  My Doctor increased my meds and we were set to go.
Now, my levels are too high and we are trying to figure out a method to get myself back to "normal".  We are about to try alternating between the 137 and 150 microgram to level everything out.    I really hope this works because that is the last thing I need to worry about.  It is frustrating but luckily can be controlled with medicine, a tiny pill that I take every morning with water, an hour before I eat.

Have you had any "disorders"?  I now have low iron...This should be a fun journey...

June Go for the Goal

As it is now June, I sit here wondering where May has gone.  This month has flown by!  As life should be getting a little easier as school is letting out next week I am very excited to get started on the following May goals!

Goal 1: Portfolio

I need to made a teaching portfolio when I go in for interviews this summer.  That is my goal this month because as of June 28, open hiring occurs in Hillsborough county.

Goal 2: Try new classes at the gym

With more time for ME, it gives me the opportunity to try classes I have always wanted to try.  This also includes crossfit which I have a groupon for,

Goal 3: Triathlon

I have a triathlon June 16 which I have done NO training for.  My goal is to decide if I want to do it still (I do) and enjoy myself and not kill myself on a bike in an open road.

Goal 4: Save Money

This is for real!  I am working a summer job so hopefully most of it will go towards saving or paying off student loans.  

Goal 5: Blog

I want to blog more regularly now that life should settle down.  let's decide on at least three posts per week.  I like that :)

Goal 6:  Not obsess over my weight

I went to the doctor about a bunch of issues I have been having and my thyroid levels are high and my iron is low.  I have more tests to do so until we know what is going on, no obsessing.  Since elevated TSH means faster metabolism, most people loose weight, I do not.  This has always been an issue.  I balloon up because it also makes you hungrier.

Good luck to all who have made June goals!

Share your with me as well!!

May Goals Recap

Here you can find the goals I made for May.  May certainly flew by as I was consumed with work this month and going through way too many emotions with it.  I finally have a free minute or two to go through my May goals and recap on them!

Thanks for sticking with me guys:)

Goal 1: Get a haircut

Success!!!! It was so nice to get a haircut.  Goodbye dead ends and soft hair!  This makes it so much easier to want to do my hair when it is so soft!

Goal 2: RUn 6 miles

Check!! It was not a full run, but a run walk of 7.5 which I will take.  Marathon training began and I am all over that (after this crazy week).

Goal 3: Loose Weight

Epic Fail!! This afternoon I received the results of my blood test and my thyroid is overactive.  Most people would loose weight because their metabolism is faster but I am known to gain weight because you are also hungrier.  Now that we are trying to work out meds, this should and WILL change!

Goal 4: Tone it up

Not at all :( But I have drank the drinks they recommend

Goal 5: Veganesque

This is simply not for me.  I am so picky that it simply was not possible.  I do plan to incorporate a more vegetarian diet though and try to cut out dairy which I do not normally eat anyway.  

Goal 6: Resume

Check!!!

I am happy with the goals I completed this month.  Now to come up with my goals for next month!!

How did you do on your May goals?  What do you have planned for June?