Today finally did me in. I jogged over to Cedar High and ran a tiny part of the course. I tried kicking in on the backwards 300 on the track just like in the race and I just about killed myself. I was so dizzy and sick that I had to lay on the grass for a few minutes, then walk around before I could start jogging back to my apartment. My back felt like it was on fire and I had to stretch for a minute to pop it. The worst part is the pace I was going for those 300 meters--6:30/mile.
I was furious! I couldn't believe that running 300 meters at that pace killed me when that pace is much slower than my old 3200 meter pace. I am SO incredibly sick of feeling dizzy and sick all the time! I haven't felt normal since the Dixie Track Invite back in April. A couple weeks ago, I finally posted in detail about the health problems I've been having, but today I decided I'm done ignoring it and that if I want to race again, I need to face this problem head on and do what the doc told me to. I'm going to meet with a dietician this week to see what other changes I can make to keep my blood sugar in check. I am going to start doing core work again so that my back stays strong and in place. I chose a race that is several months away and I am going to create a training plan, ease back into my training, and have some success. I decided that even though I have all these issues, I am still way too young to say that my best racing years are already behind me.
Here's to several more years of improving, and a lifetime of running! I love it too much to let any of this crap stop me. | 