The first seven days of the #RWrunstreak went great for me.
As in…I ran everyday. (Some of those days, as you can see, were only a mile, but a mile is a mile.)
Three of those runs were the awesome, runner’s-high eliciting runs. I finished them and wanted to hug everyone I knew and start marathon training immediately.
Since I ran two great runs back-to-back this weekend, today was going to be another one-miler day along with another workout.
My body had other plans for me.
Since discovering probiotics a few months ago, my life has been happily devoid of the stomach issues that plagued me for years. No longer was I planning my days around when I thought my stomach might upset me and trying to be near a bathroom. I’d finally learned exactly what didn’t work for me (dairy, corn, super-spicy food, entree salads, raw bell peppers, Starbucks coffee, iced coffee) and cut it out.
I learned much better to manage stress and try really hard to not let it get to me, no matter how many items might be on my to-do list.
I’ve been feeling so awesome lately that I’ve started breaking my own rules. I’ve been living on the edge and having gateway salads (veggie sides and chicken on top of greens) and iced coffee, telling myself if it bothered my stomach it would be worth it. Or that I’d be fine with my probiotics.
Not okay. I had my favorite chicken avocado salad from Pret yesterday, and I spent a good portion of the morning with my stomach feeling no kinds of ok and then most of the afternoon feeling really weak from probably being dehydrated as a result. Apparently an entree salad is living on the edge for my stomach. Noted. Walking half a mile home from work to walk Bailey at lunch and then walking back took every fiber (omg no, not the fiber) of my being, but I had a 5pm call I was trying to stick it out for.
Needless to say, I didn’t make it out for a run. Not even a mile. I’m still going to continue the challenge (I guess it’s no longer a streak if I broke it?), but I know myself, and I know hanging on after I’ve missed one day will be harder. But onward and upward.
Also, back to not eating/drinking the stuff that I know will make me sick. This also includes not reading blogs with pictures of iced coffee, because I immediately have a Pavlovian response of finding the nearest iced coffee. Which means my buddy Tina’s blog is definitely out. Sorry, friend.
Tonight, snuggling with this dude was far better for my health than any workout. And some of my mama’s meatballs (I almost always have a batch in my freezer) over whole wheat pasta.
If you’re doing the Run Streak, how’s it going? (I have to say that while I’ve been enjoying the idea of the streak, I absolutely see reasons not to, too, and read a great post about that last week.)
Hope you’re feeling better! I recently discovered that broccoli and I don’t get along, which makes me totally sad as it’s one of my favorite veggies. Sigh. I know it’s not worth it to indulge (can you even “indulge” in something lame like broccoli??) as I always pay for it later, but all too often, I forget exactly HOW miserable it makes me feel and end up eating it anyway. It’s a vicious cycle!!
@Katrina @ ‘Sota is Sexy: I know–that’s how I feel about salad–like I’m “cheating” if I have it. Lame. Well, an entree salad. Weirdly enough, side salads are fine.
Sorry that you broke the run streak, but I kind of agree with the post that you included. I can barely run 3 days per week, especially if one or two are either hard or long or both. So, I would never even think about the streak, despite that it seems like a fun idea.
Hope you feel better soon!
What a cute little pup!
I wanted to join the RW Running Streak…but I’d rather not risk hurting myself. I feel like my body gets mad at me when I don’t give it a couple of days off a week lol.
Hope you’re feeling better! I know just how you feel. I have been having SERIOUS stomach issues as of late. I’m talking curled up on the floor rocking back and forth, crying hysterically. How did you realize what the culprits were? I’ve been trying but I can’t seem to find a pattern(EXCEPT for yogurt–BOO!)but it still happens without yogurt occasionally.
I tried to join you in your running steak but also didn’t make it out today. Mostly because my body is exhausted from anxiety and nervousness. I accepted a job today and have to quit my current job at a tiny office and I feel awful…
BUT back to the grind tomorrow…or wednesday…i hope.
@Katherine: aw, you feel better too! It took a while to realize what the culprits were, but I can tell what the culprits are if my stomach has been otherwise okay and then it gets upset.
I broke it too 🙁
I have a foot injury right now so running still hurts if I do it too many days in a row. I am having to stick with at least 30 minutes of nonbearing exercise most days. T
I know exactly what you’re going through. I thought probiotics and digestive enzymes had cured me and I went back to eating “Whatever I want”. This past week has been a rude awakening and it’s back to being careful. I love salads and it makes me so sad that I can’t even think of eating them. Boo!
So sorry you had to miss a day. I felt horrible last week and could barely squeeze a mile in so I know how yucky you must have felt. Keep going though, pretend like it didn’t happen, and see if you can get the rest of the days in. We can do this!
looking at it another way- you walked a mile on your lunch break. can that count?
hope you’re feeling better!
@Angela: True. And half a mile to work and half a mile home. Exercise, sure, but still not the same 🙂
You have managed to streak far longer than I ever have – I think I’ve done like 3 days 🙂
Sorry about the tummy troubles!
I’m so glad my post helped you to break the streak when you realized it just wasn’t worth the havoc on your body *and* it helped you to see that you needed to make a few changes to get your tummy troubles back under control. Hang in there, ok? I hope you feel MUCH better VERY VERY soon!!
@Jess: Even from the beginning, I was going to break the streak if I had to…but I did really enjoy your post too :)and thanks!
I’m happy to eat those Pret salads for you. YUM! Sorry friend though. I hope your stomach issues subside with better choices.
Yum. Loved that chicken avocado. It looks delicious.
Better to listen to your body than end up passed out somewhere just to keep up a running streak! And it’s awesome that you are going to keep it up anyway. My knees don’t even let me run 2 days in a row without protesting!
haha, yes, Tina’s blog always makes me want iced coffee.
Ha, we’re Pret salad buddies 🙂 Chicken avocado is my favorite too.
Have you ever tried drinking Kombucha? The real (raw) kind is supposed to be very good if you have stomach/digestive issues.
I’m new here and am just so impressed by your weight loss story and your running too…you are so much speedier than I am. What a shame salad doesn’t sit well with you – that’s so annoying!!! But thank you for a really inspirational blog – I’m loving reading along!
I am literally on a 14 year running streak!! The only time I ever take a day off is when I am broken (stress fractured), and that’s been a looooong time. I feel like running tempers my neurotic self!! This week I’ve gone lighter on the miles due to extreme heat, but I’m still loving it:)
Hope you’re feeling better–that salad, though, looks worth every bite…