Running Journal ~ 4th Saturday

Today marks the fourth week of "official" training. My team met at the Ruston Way waterfront to practice. That is a beautiful place to exert yourself. I could have stayed all day... Anyway, started out with cramps in my legs again, even with a bit of stretching and rolling my ankles around to loosen the muscles up prior to setting out. A couple of theories prevail as to the cause of these FRUSTRATING cramps. One, not enough potassium in my system. Two, dehydration (quite possible though not always present) A little dehydrated today because I didn't drink enough yesterday. We ran out of bottled water at work and so I was parched most of the day. Three, lack of calcium. Four, blood rushing to muscles because it's demanded by the exertion, but muscles not used to it being there in such quantity, so...tension. And five, (my theory) I start out walking too fast and tense up those particular muscles because of it, instead of using the quad muscles like I should, hence cramping. I shall try to rectify all possibilities in hopes that it will QUITE SOON! =0) It's very hard to run when your foot feels like a dead weight. Almost took a tumble because of it (not lifting my foot high enough to clear the ground), but God is good and karate paid off with a quick reaction and recovery. Got to what I thought was my turn around point (the 20 minute mark), bid adieu to Captain Meg, and headed back, only to run into Coach Eileen and Tammy. They told me I was supposed to turn around in another 3 minutes because I was supposed to do 50 minutes, not 40 like I thought! Oops. So i walked with them a few more minutes and then Tammy and I turned around and headed back (again). Tammy is training to walk the Portland Marathon. She walks at a slower pace than I do normally, but that allowed my muscles to stop cramping!!!!!!! No complaints here. I did some "high stepping" and other stuff to keep my legs happy as we walked the 20 minutes back to the starting point. It seemed a lot farther to go back than to go out, and at the slower pace I got to enjoy the scenery more ~ wishing the whole time that I had my camera with me! It's in my blood I think. Bitten by the shutterbug. Alas, no camera so I just have to enjoy the beauty while it's there. There were a lot of divers out this morning suiting up as we walked by. I kept wanting to ask what they were diving for, but just kept walking instead. Perhaps there is buried treasure under our coast line. =0)
Well, It's WAY past my bed time and my battery won't last much longer, so buenas noches everyone.
P.s. If you would like to help me with my fundraising goal of $1500 check out the link on the right. It should take you right to my fundraising page and you can donate online. I learned this past Wednesday at our fundraising clinic that $36 dollars pays for one chemo treatment for someone! WOW! That's like dinner for two with desert at the Olive Garden. Amazing. I don't remember the other figures, but know that whatever amount you want to give will be a HUGE blessing to someone. You might just save their life. =0) Okay really, good night.
eryn