Training Log Archive: lyds101

So much sleep and still knacked.

No race for me today - just some running about the course to cheer for my pals. Need to be fit to be a cross country spectator so it seems.

It's an odd feeling before I start any run at the moment - like the really not wanting to is overwhelming. Purely because I know how hard it's inevitably going to be. Regardless of the pace, my HR is at 180. And if there's hills involved... we don't even speak about that at the moment haha.

Everyone is well supportive of me at the moment. I spoke to Louise Mercer who had experienced similar problems, Kirstin Maxwell, Steph Pennycook... all these top girls. It's clearly not so unheard of. Anyway, they are all proof that it doesn't write you off completely: just for a wee while, and then you're back, even stronger and fitter and faster than before. I can't wait. :)

In other news, Alex won today. Was so cool to watch him pure control his race, looking comfortable. Very pleased for him :)

Was quite tough trying to run from one side to the other to catch up with him - I was breathing heavily very quickly, but wanted to be in the right place so bad I kept pushing on!! Anyway. A decent day out and despite being gutted not running, actually was nice to chill out. I'm doing lots of chilling at the moment. But hey, if it's what's needed then let's go.

<3 <3

Tomorrow I will wake up and see how I feel. I'd like to run so hopefully will. Will see if some of the gals would be up for coming with me.

C • :) 1

easy spin with steph

yoga and core with Steph pre breakfast and study date at a press coffee. felt a bit more lively this morning! again seeing huge peaks and troughs in terms of fatigue. very very evident.

nice and sunny

went round the meadows then up the usual Blackford loop, up through morningside and home.

Legs still not feeling in a good way going up any sort of hill, be it the links or the hill challenge of turning left at Blackford. I had to stop a fair few times to catch my breath.

It's all sort of beginning to make a lot of sense. The reasons as for why I blow up big time in every race. Even the bloody mole hills of inclines at Liverpool wrote me off. Thinking back to Braemar for example, that hill race was absolutely exhausting. How I felt the day after was unbelievable - I could barely find the energy to be in the right place to cheer for Alex. Like I'm no mountain goat but I'm not that bad at hills - I think this anemia really began ages ago. The feeling of having to pause mid-run because it was too hard. The feeling of being knackered all the time. I thought it was just me having the wrong mindset, the desperation to sleep in the day - "that obviously can't happen Lydia." Reading a book and my eyes just falling closed. That even happened a lot last year. I am so glad this is being sorted. It's not normal to feel this way at all.

My whole track season this year is a prime example. So my season opener at BUCS: 5.09. 29 seconds down on my PB. Regardless of how fast or slow any race went out, I was deed come 600 to go. My legs were so so so heavy and sprinting was not a thing. I just accepted each shite race like it should have been that way, despite the hard effort I continued to put in. My fastest 1500 was 5.03 at the East District Champs - yet again, miles off par. What is odd is that I was (and hopefully still am) so fit. Almost equal to my fittest ever. Therefore if it turns out I can run 503 with next to no haemoglobin and minimal iron stores, then this season has merely been an altitude training camp - primarily from which I need to desperately recover, and also that once the levels are back up to normal again, I will be flying.

Also another thought. How glad I am that I never drove my car after having run up Blencathra that fateful day.

Tired was an understatement.

Been up and down throughout today. Big highs and big crashes. First rest day where I did nothing in ages. Am meeting steph at the gym in the morning so hope to feel more awake!!!!!!!!!1

well then

after a day out and about in Glasgow, I fancied a run. Or thought I should seeing as I sacked it off in the morning before I went. I know exactly why I didn’t feel up to it in the morning... anyway, should have listened to my head. it wasn’t so good. I was knackered and just not feeling it at all. Like it wasn’t nice to be out but equally I just couldn’t move. Brunstfield links feels like a mountain (Blencathra in particular.)

It’s clear that despite feeling decent on Tuesday evening, with my pals, a bit of placebo initially hit in firmly. Then taking a step back, nothing has changed as yet. I still fell asleep in front of the telly at 930pm last night. Could hardly raise my game this morning and am now sat trying to study in a coffee shop and my eyes are as heavy as the weights Alex manages to squat at the moment (lol).

I’m holding on. Hoping!

Just went to the doctors to pick up my blood test results from last week.

Looks like my iron levels are very, very low. I've been looking further into this, this morning and explains so much.

Basically:

"loss of endurance and power"
"Inadequate iron in the body can impair aerobic metabolism by decreasing the delivery of oxygen to tissues and reducing the capacity of muscles to use oxygen for the oxidative production of energy."

No wonder I fall asleep in front of the TV all time and can barely find enough energy to run a 400m rep. I wonder how long this has been a problem - the last bloods I had done did not record my ferratin levels as they were focused on my endocrine function.

Anyway, looks like I'm going to be popping pills like there is no tomorrow from this afternoon :)
If it means I'll be back to my normal self I am going to be so so so happy.

I've also now looked further into the second page of numbers haha... looks like I dont have enough red blood cells carrying oxygen as well.
My haemoglobin count was 89, and mean red blood cell volume 74 - both of which the doctor has flagged up.

Easy 'un round the meadows with Will and Ciara. Good chats - well needed! Even bumped into Alex, Sasha and Johnny on the way home. Smiling all the way right.

Well happy.

chilled 30 mins on the bike in the gym. quite sweaty, nice. ew.

11.65km

Some weights, core and stretching with steph followed by the sauna. dreamy.

easy jog across town to the gym

big gains

lol

My heed was hurting; I wanted some fresh air! Fairly chilled & enjoyed it - no run tomorrow.