I have learned that when I get water in my ears while swimming, I get dizzy and nauseous. So I started wearing ear plugs. I bought some Nike Silicone Ear Plugs at the local sporting goods store. They were about four dollars for four of them. I started using them, and they worked okay. They wouldn’t always seal the best. If I took them out to talk to someone, and then put them back in, they never sealed very well.
After I had used both sets to the point they didn’t work very well anymore, I went to buy another pair. But the sporting good store seemed to have put their swimming stuff away for the winter. But I found some silicone putty type ear plugs at Target. They had several different types. One was Mack’s Pillow Soft Original Silicone Putty Earplugs. I had read a mention of these in a review of the Nike ear plugs. So I decided to try them.
The Mack’s Pillow Soft Original Silicone Putty Earplugs are softer, and stickier. They seemed to seal better. Thought after using them a few times, they didn’t seem to seal as well. Unfortunately, the Mack’s Pillow Soft Original Silicone Putty Earplugs stuck to the little yellow instruction sheet that was in the plastic box. I ended up throwing them away since they had paper stuck to them.
I found that the local sporting good store did in fact still have the Nike Silicone Ear Plugs. They had just moved the swimming stuff back to a corner of the store. I bought some more of the Nike ear plugs. They seemed to be stiffer than the first ones I bought. And they aren’t seeming to seal well at all. So I have bought some more of the Mack’s ear plugs. I will try them again, and see how they work. I will throw away the little piece of paper this time though.
I ran the Las Vegas Marathon in 2006 and 2007. I missed last year because I decided I just couldn’t afford it while trying to pay for my wife’s college tuition. I was also scheduled to run the 2008 ING New York City Marathon, but ended up cancelling out of that because of the costs involved.
But this year I am planning to return to Las Vegas. I signed up for the half marathon with plans of running with friends. I always have the option up bumping up to the full marathon later if I want to.
The previous times I ran in Las Vegas, I ran with the Running Elvises (Elvi). But the race was owned by Devine then. Now the race is own by Elite Racing, and is the Las Vegas Rock N Roll Marathon. I have not heard if they are promoting the Running Elvises or not. I may email Bob Babbitt who was the lead Elvis and see if he is planning to run as Elvis. So I am not sure if I will run dressed as Elvis or not. I may run as Elvis even if there aren’t a contingent of other Running Elvises. Or maybe I will wear my LVM21 jersey. We’ll see. It will be fun whatever the case.
I have a cold! Or at least I am getting over one. Wednesday night’s workout was awesome. 1.5 miles in the pool, followed by 60 minutes of spinning on the fluid trainer. Thursday night’s run was okay, with 8 miles of running.
But I woke up Friday morning all stuffed up. I cold my wife’s cold that she brought home from the high school kids she has been teaching. I am guessing my intense workout schedule combined with not enough rest had me right on the edge, and totally susceptible. Oh well. I called in sick from work. I didn’t swim or go to karate Friday night. I was really looking forward to my Friday night swim too after how well my Wednesday night swim had gone. I was scheduled for a 13 mile run @ 7:53 pace on Saturday. I pushed this off, and did 60 minutes of easy spinning on the trainer while watching TV.
Sunday came, and I felt better, but I was still not wanting to run. I was nervous that a hard run would push the cold down into my lungs. I did 60 minutes of easy spinning in the afternoon, and then another 60 minutes of moderate spinning in the evening.
Today is Monday. I am scheduled for 400m intervals either tonight, or tomorrow night. I am much less stuffy, but still coughing. I think the intervals would have me pegged at anaerobic for too long, and might exacerbate the cold. So my plan is to either do some easy running tonight, or put it off until tomorrow, and see how I feel tomorrow night. Right now I am leaning to running tonight, and wearing my heart rate monitor, and run but keep my heart rate between 140-150 which would be comfortable aerobic for me. Not sure what pace that would be. Maybe a 9:00-10:00 minute/mile pace. I still have plenty of time till the Boston Marathon, so this is just a bump in the road. I would rather have it happen now, than 8 or 9 weeks from now.
Hopefully I will be able to go swimming Wednesday night. I hope I will be able to breathe better by then.