Thoughts on: Marathon (Taper), Menstrual (Cycle and PMS), and Moving (to North Carolina)

PMS= PreMenstrual Syndrome AND PreMarathon Syndrome

Okay, this post will be one of those posts where I just write.  And write.  And let whatever words come as they come.  Who knows where this will end up.  I think that there is a definite peace that can come from just writing in stream of consciousness form.  I almost always finish with a clear mind.

First thing on my mind is menstrual cycles.  Yep, all 5 to 6 of the men that read this blog can probably bet that they won't find much to relate to today.  Sorry Dudes.

First off, I'm one of those crazy women that actually likes her period.  I know that many of you have a form of birth control that actually stops your period so that you never ever have to worry about it again.  Yikes!  Not sure why that freaks me out but it does.  But no judging you by any means. I know some of you do it for reasons that involve health, painful cramping, etc.  It just isn't for me.  Something about starting my period every month or so that feels like a reset of sorts.  Hard to explain unless you just get it.

The "normal" woman has a cycle of approximately 28 days or so.  Not me, I'm a regular 35 days to every cycle.  Aren't you so glad you know this about me?  Thought so. And my next period is supposed to be on RACE weekend!  Yay! I'm thrilled about this.  In all seriousness though, some women claim to actually run faster and stronger while on their period.  So, fingers crossed that this is the case with me.  I intend for it to be so.

So, here's the thing.  I'm convinced that even though I have a longer cycle than most women, I still start that dreaded PMS (and in this case PMS is Pre Menstrual Syndrome AND Pre Marathon Syndrome) the same time as they do...oh, say around the third week or day 21.  But the fun part for me and certainly my family is that my PMS starts around day 21 and goes until day 35.  So I have a minimum of 2 weeks for PMS. Let me tell you, PMS in my 30's is an entirely different thing than PMS in my 20's.  Good Grief, Help us all now if it gets worse in my 40's!

PMS symptoms for me can include but are not limited to:

• Irrational thinking
• Being overly critical of myself
• Tired
• Finding the need to eat anything and everything that is within sight.  This includes mostly CRAP:  pizza, candy, crackers, chips and salsa, etc. etc.  
• After eating said crap, going on to bitching and moaning about the fact that I ate all of that CRAP.  
• Taking things people say to me and twisting them into the worst possible meaning.  
• Finding myself overly annoyed by things that are just normal parts of life with kids:  toothpaste on the counter, shoes all over the floor, spilled water, etc. etc.  

Now let's add to this PMS business the fact that I'm in week two of Marathon Taper.  Ah, what kind of sick joke is this?  Ha!  I swore that I didn't think I'd experience any of this taper madness business that I read about.  The tears flowing this morning over my broken treadmill as I tried to fit in my measly 4 whopping miles (measly and whopping...can you even use those in a sentence together like this?  I just did so yes, yes, I can) told me that this was more than just PMS.  Taper Madness is definitely setting in. Going from almost a month of 60 to 65 mile weeks to 45 and now 36 mile weeks has definitely left me lacking in those happy endorphins.  Or whatever.  I don't even know what this taper madness is all about but it is real.  I'm itching to run more, overly emotional, overly critical, tired, starving (but yet NOT burning the calories to warrant that appetite), etc. etc.

So, the next 12 days should be a hoot.  Hormones and Marathon Taper Emotions.  My husband is one lucky dude.  

In all seriousness, Yes, I'm feeling a little on the emotional side.  However, I'm still happy, excited and optimistic about this training cycle, upcoming marathon, and OH, Did I mention that we move ACROSS the COUNTRY in a month?  Just a small thing to add to Taper and PMS.  Ha!  

Marathon Taper + PMS + Preparing to Move to North Carolina on March 24th = LOADS OF FUN!  

As I went out on my run this morning with my son in the jogger stroller and tears in my eyes at being frustrated by my jacked up treadmill, I found so many things to be thankful for and take JOY in.  So glad things happened just as they did because I'm certainly feeling happy now.  A PERSPECTIVE SHIFT that has left me feeling full of GRATITUDE.  Disclaimer:  This may be due to a swing in moods and I might be back to crying again before I push publish on this sucker. So, I better get to listing the good stuff while it is here.   

Thankful for:

• Sunshine and blue skies AGAIN!  This has been the best Portland winter in FOREVER!
• Time to have a fun conversation with my son on my run this morning.  It was an easy 4 miles and every bit of it was enjoyable.  My son shared jokes with me and we chatted about all sorts of special things.  Really, it was a highlight of the year for me.  
• Healthy food.  Just made a big blender full of spinach, fruit, kale, chia sees, flax seeds, etc.  
• A good coach who has guided me so wisely through this training cycle and reminded me of the need to breath deeply and focus on the positive during this last stretch.  
• A girlfriend that had my son over for a play date this morning.  So nice to have a short break to myself.  
• The outlet to write and express my feelings as they come.
• Learning. Lots of that going on right now!  
• New Adventures coming with this move to North Carolina.  As scary as it is, it is equally EXCITING.  

Alright ladies, do share:

1.  How does your cycle affect your running performance?  Do you find that you run faster or stronger during your period?  

2.  If you've trained for a marathon, do you experience "Taper Madness"?  

3.  Do you have PMS symptoms or are you one of those LUCKY ladies that sails on through life without even the slightest change?  

Amanda

PMS in My 30's, Training With Kids, and Never Trust a Quiet House

I'm convinced that I shouldn't be allowed to make big decisions on at least 3 or 4 days of every month.  Women in their 30's with PMS are a dangerous and unpredictable phenomenon that should NOT be taken lightly!  I already feel sorry for my husband once our daughters approach the teenage years. And can someone please tell me why it is that women who spend a lot of time together end up having darn near the same cycle?  What is that? And why does this woman hormone thing seem to just get worse with age?  I woke up this morning thinking that I was going to delete my blog.  Not just a post or two but the whole thing.  No more Runninghood.  Yup.  Why?  Hmmm, good question.  Irrational hormonal behavior during this time cannot be explained.  There is no rhyme or reason.  It just is.  And it usually takes me at least 2 or 3 days of swinging around on my hormones, seeing my emotions spill all over the floor and changing my moods as quickly as I change outfits before a party before I realize that I'm wrapped up in PMS.  Gosh, being a woman is so awesome.  So, I'm not going to delete my blog today.  Maybe tomorrow.  We'll see how irrational I get.  Ha!  Instead, I'm going to write a list of random things that come flowing out of my head.  I think that this type of writing helps myself and my family.  It helps me because I process well with writing and connecting with people and I usually feel better afterwards.  And it helps my family because...well, when I feel better, everyone feels better.  Win win.

• Just finished 10 miles in 1:19.  Had no choice but to do it on the treadmill today and honestly, it worked better for this workout than it would have if I were outside in my hilly neighborhood.  Went something like this:  2 miles @8:20; 2 miles 8:06; 2 miles 7:54; 2 miles 7:42; 2 miles 7:30 at a 1% incline.  
• Happy to be done with my run today.  It was hard work for me and I realize how far I am from marathon shape.  However, I am going to try to snap out of the negative thinking of how much harder my paces feel now compared to last spring, etc. and focus on celebrating that I am nailing the workouts my coach is giving me.  I need to trust the plan.  
• Someone asked me the other day if I thought the treadmill was easier than the road.  It depends what day you ask me.  Today the treadmill felt way harder for me.  
• What did my kids do while I ran? They played with shovels, dug holes in the front yard, and buried grass seed with the neighbors (my treadmill looks out to the front yard from my garage).  They were dreams all day!  LOVED it.  My oldest played teacher with the two younger ones and I actually got a lot of quiet time. This was much better than yesterday when I found myself with a peaceful house.  My daughters were quietly reading on the floor next to me and my son was using the bathroom.  I found myself so relaxed that I was dosing off into a little power nap.  I should know by now...NEVER TRUST QUIET if my son is awake.   Love him.  I do, I do.  He will be successful someday, I'm certain of this.  For now, he is a beautiful boy of a handful.  

And now, this is where I pretend that I've been back here in my room/bathroom showering the whole time instead of leaving my husband with the kids as soon as he walked in the door. Yup, I'm supposed to be be back here getting ready to head out for some family memory making instead of wasting my time  writing a blog post that didn't need to be written and that nobody will read anyway since it is Friday evening during the holidays when everyone is getting ready for fancy parties and last minute shopping...yaddi yaddi ya.  But I feel better to have let my fingers move across my keyboard a little so that counts for something, right?  As for the PMS?  Well, it's still here.  

Happy Friday! 

Amanda