Sick Day

Perhaps my training has finally caught up to me, or maybe my body is just exhausted from hitting higher mileage last week. Yesterday I started to feel that nagging feeling in my throat and my head felt a little foggy, and this morning I woke up sick. So much so that not only did I bag my planned run, I also called in sick for work for the first time. I took a DayQuil then crawled back in bed and slept through the afternoon. Is it weird that I felt guilty for not going to work? I did, but I also figured that it was in everyone's best interest if I rested up so this cold doesn't have a chance to get worse and really lay me out. I'm probably going to skip tomorrow's planned run for the same reason. I'm still hoping to get some time in on the trails on Sunday, but I have to see how I feel and see what others have planned. I did manage to keep up with my usual runs this week, but thanks to this cold throwing off my weekend plans it looks like it's going to be a drop-down week for mileage. I'm just taking it as my body's way of telling me to ease up a bit and get more sleep!

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While I know I'm still just in training for my first big events of this year, I couldn't help but start thinking ahead. As I mentioned before, the first quarter of the year I'm dedicating to trail running and ultras, culminating with AR 50 in early April. Immediately after that, however (and after some recovery, of course), I'll be switching gears to focus on the multisport world of triathlon. My big goal race is Vineman 70.3 mid-July, which will be my first half Ironman and my longest tri distance to date. I figured it might be smart, however, to get a couple more shorter races under my belt in the months leading up to Vineman, so I scoped out the net and found my key training races: the Auburn Sprint Triathlon on May 22 and then the Sacramento International Triathlon, a local olympic distance race on June 18. Timing-wise these races work out perfectly. The sprint will kick off the season for me with just a few weeks of training under my belt, so I'll be able to see just how much work I have to do! Coming off AR 50 I know I'll still have a good deal of fitness to work with, and I'm also hoping to incorporate some swimming and cycling as cross-training during the month before the 50. As for the Sac Triathlon, it takes place exactly a month before Vineman and will be my first race attempting the olympic distance. I know this is all a few months down the road, but I'm sure time will fly so better to get things laid out now!

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Switching topics, a huge bonus of working at a running store, as you might have guessed, is having access to free stuff to test out. Yesterday we were teched by a rep from SCOTT, a brand we just brought in, about their performance shoes and I have to say I was pretty impressed and couldn't wait to get my hands on some to test out! Well, lucky me I snagged a pair of the amazing T2s : ) The highlight of this shoe is a slight rocker bottom that helps aid natural running motion from heel or midfoot strike to toe-off. I'm excited to try them out and I'll be back with a full review soon!

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I got an email today that registration for the 2011 Chicago Marathon opens on February 1st. Chicago is a big race on my wish list, and another state, so I was planning on running it this year if I don't get into New York. The problem, however, is that I won't know about NY until April at least. Anyone know how fast Chicago sells out? Or anyone have any suggestions? I need a goal race for fall, and these would both give me a chance to take mini-vactions, too : )

Happy TGIF!