Running plans screwed over...

Hiya,

On Saturday I ran 14K and on Monday I ran a recovery 3K. The plan was to run 5K yesterday, but migraine and a general bad feeling caused me to postpone it until today. No covid (I think), I just can get these bouts of not feeling 100%. My sleep isn't too good either due to certain circumstances, which of course doesn't help.

Unfortunately the migraine has not magically disappeared today and my body battery (Garmin) did not even reach 60 when I woke. To top it off my head spins around whenever I move (low blood pressure or balance disorder which is in the family), so I think I will have to cancel my running today as well.

The grand plan was to (finally) run 16.1K this weekend, but with how I am feeling now, combined with the predicted rain the whole weekend causes me to fear that my grand plan will not come to pass. Things might still change, but how it looks at the moment, I will have to postpone my 16.1K until a later date.

Not too cheerful cheers, Evy

[Devon_straggler Graduate10]

Sorry to hear that Evy. But your fitness is still there, and although it's disappointing when you have a certain timescale in mind to achieve something, it'll probably only be another few days or a week delay to get to your milestone run in. Plus if the weather is awful this weekend it's a nice excuse - if you're going to run a milestone run, it should at least be in reasonable weather! Hope you feel better soon x

[Hidden in reply to Devon_straggler]

Yeah, if it is raining the whole day, I would not run anyways. I am not the healthiest chick on the block and I am not cut out for running in rain. It always leaves me feeling dreadful physically. So rain = no running.

The weekend after this weekend I will be able to run in another place. I was planning to keep the running slow and easy to just enjoy the foresty environment. Maybe I will shift my 16.1K to that weekend / week, but maybe again not as I want to enjoy my runs there and not feel any pressure.

I'll see...

[Hidden]

Hey Evy,

These things happen and are beyond our control. The most important thing is to look after yourself.

If your body is politely saying take a break then enjoy the break, relax and recover fully 👍

You will read my post shortly no doubt. I had a shocker...

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Now you mention it, I just went and read your post. Ack... one of them bad runs! I'll react there still too, but it appears none of us can skip out of having a bad run once in a while. But don't let it get you down, your next run will probably be a good one again!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

Take it easy, after a day or two resting you'll come back better than ever.

[Hidden in reply to Yesletsgo]

Thanks, don't feel in a good place to run now anyways. So I better skip my run today. I just have to learn to cope with the negative feeling of disappointing myself. Or rather, I have to learn to just accept it and not be disappointed!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Or, instead of feeling disappointed take a deep breath and congratulate yourself on avoiding further illness/injury by doing what you have to do (not what you ought or might like to do)😬

[Hidden in reply to Yesletsgo]

Good idea... I should congratulate myself on not running when my migraine is acting up. If I would run, I'd just have a bad run (and be disappointed in the run) plus I'd feel physically even worse and end up not being able to do anything anymore afterwards. Well done me!

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Exactly! Now put your feet up and feel smug for the rest of the day! You've got this 😁

[Mormor1 Graduate10]

Disappointed for you Ever, I get the low body battery scores too...poor sleeper.. But so chuffed when I get over 70. Your run will happen and all the times it didn't will fade.

[Hidden in reply to Mormor1]

I do find that body battery a weird lil thing though. It's as if it knows me better than I know myself! When I am at our chalet at the coast, I often get a higher body battery than at home. I guess I sleep much better there? Or it is the healthy air doing me good!

And whenever my body battery starts of low - like today - even if I don't immediately feel it in the morning, mostly I do feel myself 'fade' during the day. And lots of things go less well than normally. Strange thing this body battery!

[Mormor1 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Very strange....I think it's a mixture of body stress and sleep....I won't start the day with a planned run if it's below 50.....

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

That body battery is a real mystery isn't it. Quite eerily correct too I have found. When I feel a bit "naff" my body battery confirms my "naffness".

To be honest, I have only run on a charged battery. If I'm feeling rotten or tired I find its better to recharge.

[over61andstilltrying Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Hello BlackScorpion, Please could you explain what this body battery numbers are. I have no idea.

[Hidden in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Hi,

If you have a garmin watch it calculates your body battery based presumably on rest, activity levels, sleep, heart rate and stress etc

As seen below my current battery level is at 55 /100. The lower it is the more tired I feel.

If I drink alcohol of a night it somehow knows this and when I wake it will be at around 75 / 80 rather than 100.

[over61andstilltrying Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply. I have a Garmin Forerunner 35, but I haven't seen this. Perhaps it is only available on higher spec models.

[Hidden in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Ah! Maybe yes. You would know if you had it i think as its on the main screen when you open the phone app. Mine is the Forerunner 245 which keeps telling me my runs are unproductive. Grrr!

[over61andstilltrying Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I have never installed the phone app, but I have Garmin Connect on my computer. I wonder whether I would receive added stats if I installed the phone app. I should compare notes with my son, as I know he has the same running watch and uses the app on his phone.

[Hidden in reply to over61andstilltrying]

I've just had a quick Google and it doesn't look like the Forerunner 35 has the body battery feature. Sorry.

[over61andstilltrying Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Aw thank you. I am not sure that I want my phone to tell me that my run was unproductive! I don't think that elevation is part of the VO2 max calculation. I'm in hilly Derbyshire. I have developed the habit of being happy with my watch when it declares encouraging news, but not taking too much notice if the newsies not encouraging. 😊🏃🏻‍♀️

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

100?? I never had 100 before... I once just touched 90 and was happy like a kid waking up at Christmas 😂. When I have had a good sleep, I am around 80, but most days I start around 60 / 70.

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

That’s really disappointing for you, but a wise decision to postpone. It will happen when you’re ready, it’s just a minor setback! I’m not a fan of setting out for a run in the rain, especially if it’s windy as well! Hope you feel better soon and get that plan back on track 👍

[Hidden in reply to Jools2020]

Indeed, if it starts raining during a run, ok. Depending on how hard it rains, I might go back or continue. But starting in rain is a big no no for me. I guess it also has something to do with being warmed up (I do a little warm-up routine, but it doesn't warm me up the way a run does) or not yet warmed up. Rain feels a lot different in those 2 circumstances.

But indeed, the run will happen when it happens. No point in being disappointed, it's not as if someone is waiting for me or so, haha.

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I have only rarely set out when it was raining. However if it rains on me during a run, I'll continue. When I'm properly warmed up I hardly notice the rain unless it splatters my spectacles.

[Ian5K Graduate10]

I avoid the rain too, especially in winter. It’s bad enough when the chill factor makes it feel like sub-zero temps without dealing with any wet outer clothes too.

If it rains during a run, so be it, but beforehand I’ll be checking the weather out.

Bummer about the migraines. It sounds like vertigo as well. Hope you’re better to run this weekend. 🙂

[Hidden in reply to Ian5K]

The migraine feels better today (I seem to feel better in general), but I can't run today just in case I do can run tomorrow. If I do can run tomorrow, I don't think I'll go for the 16.1K though. I think after how I felt (which I am starting to think might be sugar-induced -cough-) I better keep it calm.

Vertigo (that was the name, d'oh) is in the family, both my parents suffer from it and take meds for it, so wouldn't surprise me if in time I also get it more often. But I have a low blood pressure too.

[Beatlesforever Graduate10]

Oh no, sorry to hear that. Your 16k will be waiting for you when you're feeling better. Hope it all improves soon 🤗

[Hidden in reply to Beatlesforever]

Thanks, I seem to feel better today. But I might postpone my 16K anyhow. What with the weather predicted for this weekend and with the fact my body was so off for 2 days, I might better take it easy.

[Beatlesforever Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Better safe than sorry!

[nowster Graduate10]

Sounds like you're run down and need to recharge your battery.

Garmin's stress meter often gives me an indication that something's wrong many hours before I start feeling the effects of an illness.

I also have postural hypotension (POTS): bend down, do something, stand up quickly, fall over.

[Hidden in reply to nowster]

I didn't know that had a name, I also often get dizzy / have to sit down when I do something bending down. I sometimes have it after having sat down and standing up too. Now yesterday it was a sort of vertigo. Saw the room twist and turn when turning my head. But it appears to be over now. I suspect I had a bit too much sugar on Tuesday, I can get really weird from too much sugar...

[over61andstilltrying Graduate10]

Aw .... Sending virtual hugs 🤗🤗🤗. My physios were frequently telling me to listen to my body and you are doing just that. So well done to you, even if it doesn't feel like well done at the moment. I am also a migraine sufferer. They are very infrequent, but when they come, there is absolutely no way that I could run. The details are not at all pleasant.Here are some flowers for you 🌹🌸🌺🌼🌻🌷💐I do hope that you are feeling better soon.

My watch is a Garmin Forerunner 35 which doesn't show the body battery information. Sounds fascinating and I see folk seem positive about the accuracy of the information.

[Hidden in reply to over61andstilltrying]

Thanks for the flowers!

With me my migraine is normally only at that period of the month (hormone induced migraine). But I fear I might have gone overboard on sugar on Tuesday and that it caused 2 days of sugar-migraine. I can react weirdly on too much sugar. I am feeling better today, but will still keep it calm for a few days. So no 16K this weekend!

Yes, the Garmin body battery is a really weird lil thing! I have heard more people say it's very accurate (while the sleep-tracking is not accurate at all). I have a VivoActive 4S, more of a smartwatch than a sports watch, though I don't use the 'smart' functions. I wear my watch just as a watch, which happens to tell my heartrate, stress, sleep, etc. And it can track my activities.

[Doris8 Graduate10]

Oh sorry to hear about that your not feeling very well. Your health is more important and you won’t loose your fitness very quickly. Weather. It looking very promising here either storm coming in. Your run will still be there . Stay positive take care 🙂

[Hidden in reply to Doris8]

Thanks and yeah, whether I do my 16K tomorrow or in a months' time, it will happen when it will happen. Noone is waiting for me to do it (except me - would like to 'get it over with'). Going to listen to my body for a bit...

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Evy you’ll get there! Sorry you’re not feeling so great, but don’t run if you’re feeling rubbish and the weather’s bad. You deserve to run your first 10 miles feeling brill in the sun. I reckon you’ll do it next weekend, you’ll smash it, and everything leading up to it will make sense! Hope you perk up soon 😊.

[Hidden in reply to Frenc]

Thanks, seem to feel better today. I am fearing I might have brought it on to myself with a sugar rush. Ate a tad too many cookies and chocolate on Tuesday and I can feel really ill when having had too much sugar. So I think / hope that the sugar has left my body now and that all will get better again.

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Hidden]

Ah that’s good to hear - does your workplace have lots of people bringing sugary things in? The ladies where I work are terrible, there’s always cake and chocolate lying around 🤣. I was meant to do a run this morning but my shin is acting up so will rest it. So annoying when we can’t do what we planned. Have a great Friday. 😊😊😊

[Hidden in reply to Frenc]

Yessss... at the office it's really terrible! There is always someone having a birthday or someone just bringing in cookies 'because it's Friday' or so. Luckily we have stronger Covid regulations now and we're only allowed to go to the office 1 day a week now until end of the year. So now it's only 1 day of sugary goodness and I am going to try to stay away from them from now on (oh how often I have said this already...). I am really sugar-addicted, but I feel so much better physically without sugar. But the craving... oh the craving...

Tuesday I had 4 cookies from a birthday at work, plus 2 chocolate balls (I have a bunch of little chocolate balls in my drawer at work), plus chocolate at home (birthday present from friends), plus another cookie when I came home, plus a cookie as desert and I honestly can't remember if I had something else more. I think you can say I had a few cookies too much.

Now I have cut back heavily on the sugar for 2 days. Not completely cold turkey though, I still take 1 small piece of chocolate after dinner (we have too much chocolate at home and it's going to be even more after Christmas and it has to goooo) and 1 cookie or cupcake when watching tv. Those are the 2 things I still allow myself during the day, but nothing else anymore sugary. I wonder how long I'll be able to keep this up, hahaa.

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Hidden]

That sounds really familiar! All the ladies I work with love baking so there’s always something lying around. I’m quite good at saying no, but if I say yes, I just want more! I love ice cream too, it doesn’t matter how cold it is out, that’s one of my downfalls 🥱. Also Belgium is known for its gorgeous chocolate, it must be SO difficult just to have a little bit. Anyway, keep up the good work Evy, maybe like running, no sugar on consecutive days 🤣 for both of us.

[Hidden in reply to Frenc]

Haha yes, no sugar on consecutive days, good idea! And just like with running: if your body says enough, it's enough! Hmm... problem... my body NEVER says enough to sugar 😜

[DylanTheRabbit Graduate10]

Ah sorry to hear you're feeling rubbish! I hope it passes soon 💐

[Hidden in reply to DylanTheRabbit]

Thanks and I think it is better today, though I will take it easy still a few days and probably will forego my 16K this weekend...

[DylanTheRabbit Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, you'll keep your fitness for a few weeks. Sounds like you've got a nice run in the woods coming up, something to look forward to.

[Hidden in reply to DylanTheRabbit]

Yes indeed! I am wondering whether to try my 16K in the woods or to just keep it slow and short (as in 5K - 7K - 10K). Will have to have a really good thinking and decide what to do.

[DylanTheRabbit Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

If you feel good on the day it could be a nice place for your record, but only if you feel good on the day.

[linda9389 Graduate10]

Aww sorry to hear this. I suffer from migraines too, and they can totaly spoil a run. Your first ten miles willl be such a big achievement. Do wait until you can really enjoy it! What difference will another week make in the grand scheme of things? Make it a run to remember for all the right reasons, not horrible ones. Feel much better very soon.

[Hidden in reply to linda9389]

Thanks, tomorrow does promise to give a little bit of sun though - just saw it on the predictions. Am going to run tomorrow, but I'll see how I feel. Maybe 3K, maybe 5K, maybe 10K, maybe more? My body will let me know!

[linda9389 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Good plan, no pressure 😊

[Sulley101 Graduate10]

Sorry to hear you are under the weather. It’s disappointing and frustrating when you’ve set your heart on achieving a goal by a certain time. I hope you feel better soon and able to smash that 16.1k! 😁

[Hidden in reply to Sulley101]

Thanks, feeling better in the meanwhile. I think I went a bit overboard with sugar (yes I can get physically really bad when I overdose on sugar). If tomorrow's weather is nice, I am going for a run, don't know what distance yet. My body will decide! 😆

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Your body deciding is absolutely the best way. Please don't let that stubborn streak take over 🤔👍

[Hedgehogs123 Graduate10]

Sounds awful, sounds like you need to stay indoors, wrapped up warm and just be kind to yourself and not worry if you can't get out. Hope you feel better soon.

[Hidden in reply to Hedgehogs123]

Thanks, I am feeling better today though. Will see how I feel tomorrow if I go out or not 😊