Saturday was a dreary and rainy day, so I didn’t want to do my 11 mile run.  I would wait and do that Sunday.  It would be sunny, but slightly chilly.  Instead on Saturday, I went for a quick 2 mile run, just to do something.  As I started running, my right ankle starting to hurt.  I hadn’t even gone half a mile when it started.  I almost decided to turn around, but I did not.

After I got home, it still hurt, which was unusual.  I had felt this same pain before, and had even pointed it out to Larry, who is an expert runner, back in February.  Usually the pain went away after I was running for a bit, or at the latest, once I was done running.   It is now Sunday, and it still hurts.  I’m not sure if it really hurts, or if I’m just thinking that it does, and psychologically making it hurt.  The pain could very well be psychosomatic.  I could just be worried about being in pain and not being able to run my marathon.  Especially with a $50 race fee that isn’t refundable (another reason why I hate  money - it makes me worry about things).  Nevertheless, I went out today and bought an ankle brace, which I will start wearing while I run for extra support.  I also bought Salonpas which a woman at church recommended.  They are Japanese and they “relieve aches and pains in the muscles and joints, particularly those associated with backache, arthritis, strains, bruises and sprains.”  In Japanese, the pain or stiffness in your neck or shoulders is called katakori. I currently have them on my neck and shoulders, and it feels GREAT!  I got 40 pads that stick on for only $4!

But anyway, I’ve been icing my ankle on and off for two days now, and elevating it when I can.  I took the day off today, and also plan on resting tomorrow, too.  I will go back to running on Tuesday, to allow myself with enough time to rest.  Shauna said that if I’m up to 10 miles already, I should be ok taking a week off on my long run.  I have four weeks left until my half marathon, and I think that’s plenty of time to get up to 12, and then work my way down again before the big day of 13.1.  They say if you can do 12 in training, you can do 13 in a race.  But I feel like if I can do 10 in training, then I can do 13 in a race.  After 10 miles, another 3 would be nothing!  Especially if the race is pretty flat, as I hear this one is.

So now, I’m using a heating pad to see if that makes it feel any better.  I’ve been trying to do some research on what to do, and even IF my ankle is sprained.  I can walk on it just fine, it just feels weird.  I’m not even sure if it hurts or not, it just doesn’t feel right.  I will elevate it tonight while I sleep, and I’ll wear my ankle brace all day tomorrow.

Here’s hoping that it will be in perfect condition when I wake up tomorrow.

I had wanted to do a meat cleanse for the month of April, and in fact, I started it a few days early!  The last meat I’ve had has been on Saturday, so I figured Sunday was a good day to start because it’s the beginning of the week.

I have decided that fish will be allowed, because people are concerned about my not getting enough protein.  I thought this was an actual concern, but then I realized that I have TVP (texturized vegetable protein).  I did a google search, and according to this site, 1/4 cup TVP (which makes about 1/2 cup wet and is the perfect amount for me) is 59 calories, and has 11g of protein.  I did some research, and I need between 70 and 90g of protein because I am an “athlete”.  That’s a big difference, but I keep finding different numbers on different sites.

I get 18g from my 3/4 cup egg whites.  My protein burgers have 13g.  I have Kashi Go Lean cereal that has 11g!  I’m looking for a yogurt that has high protein, such as Better Whey which has 15-17 grams of protein!  However, they only sell it at Whole Foods near here, and that’s about an hour away.  Perhaps if I do get a chance to go, I’ll try to stock up!

Anyway, I’m giving up meat until May 9th - the day of my half marathon.  Should be an interested experiment.

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Yesterday was a 3 mile run, and it was raining all day so I had to do it on the treadmill.  I did the whole 3 miles without stopping once.  It was great!  But really, it was very hard, and the gym was very hot, and I was sweating, and I was tired and wanted to stop.  It wasn’t really that I was tired or sore, but I just wanted to stop because I was bored.  Today is a rest day, and I forgot to wear my pedometer when I went to my practicum, and also when I went to pick up trash.  So today will be a stepless day on my exercise calendar.

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Jeanne called me and joined Niles and I in our trash pick up afternoon.  Niles also brought along his friend Jackie.  On our way up the street, we found Chris (who hangs with us for Lost).  We got to the house we really wanted to clean (it’s vacant, and a mess), and a girl across the street yelled out her window, “You guys are doing a great job.  Thank you!”  And I yelled “Come and help!!”  And she did.  Then, a friend of Niles’ or Chris’ drove by, then called Niles to find out if we needed help.  Yes.  His name was John, and he came back, and even helped us after Niles and Chris had both left.  It was a good day for picking up trash, and I think we filled about 12 bags.  At the busiest time, there were seven of us!

Today is a five mile run.  Yesterday was a rest day, and Monday I did 3 miles.  Actually it was only 2.81 because for some reason, my 3 mile route that I mapped turned out to be only 2.81 according to my iPhone.  Close enough.

I’m doing my 5 miles to end up at the library.  I’m going to help them with work, and then I have my Friends meeting at 5:30.  I’ll be stinky at the library, and sweaty and stuff, but I’m alright with that.  I gave my mom my Friends info, and my bottle of water for when I’m done.  I had a hard time figuring out my trip, because I wanted to end at the library, and I also wanted to have it be fairly flat.

I spent both Monday and Tuesday at City Hall helping out Trevor in the IT department, but he’s going on vacation starting tomorrow.  I’ll see if my dad needs any help in his office while Trevor is gone.

I walked to Larry’s last night to watch the City Council meeting, and it was a 1.5 mile walk that I went “the long way” and made it over 2 miles.  I took a lot of nice pictures on my walk, and I even SAW THREE DEER!  It was absolutely amazing, and I would never have seen them if I hadn’t been walking.  I even said an aloud, “Thank You” to Mother Earth.  I also saw so much trash.  It makes me extremely sad.  I am going this afternoon to the DPW to get some orange cones so I can pick up trash on a busy road and not worry about getting hit by cars.  The area on Pearl St is VERY hilly, and I don’t want to fall in the road and get run over!  They also said they would give me some reflective vests for my friends and I.  Will I wear those?  Only if I’m picking up trash at night (not likely).

Now, I just need some friends to help me.  I plan on picking up trash on Thursday, Friday, AND Saturday afternoons.  I’m recruiting my parents on Saturday.  Please let me know if you are available.