Road Warrior Blog

20 December 2007

Stomach flu versus running streak.

Posted by Matt Stargardt under: Matt Stargardt .

I officially have 10 days left before I can check my goal of running at least 3 miles for every day of 2007.   I can honestly say I will be glad when I can take a day off guilt free.  After 355 consecutive runs this week was a definite challenge. The funny thing is the biggest obstacles never come from the places you would expect. 

Sunday after a trip to the clinic confirmed that the “Crank-o-matic” Jack had another double ear infection, I took the day off Monday to stay home with him.  The pharmacist did warn us that milk would not sit well with the antibiotic.  Try to tell that to 16 month old.  So anyway, after my wife left for work, Dad was in charge of the house.  Jack gets up shows me two signs “milk” and “please”. Over and Over.  So I oblige him with at least two sippy cups of milk.  What follows is like a scene out of a movie.  A white fountain appears from the mouth of my son, covering everything in a 3 foot radius.  Crap. I can handle this.  All I need is a plan.  First, get the boy clean, then change myself, then attempt to rescue the couch.  Scotch guard don’t fail me now.  Part 1 goes fine, boy bathed and redressed.  Part 2 goes fine as I change in old sweats.  Part 3 presents a challenge.  In my attempt to travel downstairs to get an extra towel, my right foot slips on the top stair, allowing me to turn this experience into a impromptu bone density test.  As Jack and I tumble towards the ground, I hold him tight as I bounce down every stair.  The boy squeals with delight, with that “hey that was fun” look.  I just hurt. 

So needless to say Monday left me limping on Tuesday night’s 9 miler and Wednesday morning’s 5 miler. 

So by Wednesday Afternoon, I’m dragging.  The kind of dragging that feels like you been run over.  By 5:00 I’m not feeling well and by 6:00 I’m laying flat on my bathroom floor and I can see where this is heading.   Now it is in moments like this where you realize that running streaks are not healthy.  Normal people would just be thinking about surviving, feeling better, who to call to cover them at work.   My first thought is….”My run tomorrow is going to really suck.”  The night does not pass well.  At 3:00 am my wife joins me in my misery.  Nothing is worse than two parents sick at once, because children don’t ever take a day off.  I call for a sub at school and drag myself in to leave plans and drop off the boy at daycare.  I then crawl back into bed until 1:00 in the afternoon.  I start to feel better by mid afternoon,  my wife is still dragging. By 8:30 the kids are asleep and I think I am well enough to get it done.  I head to the treadmill to  pound it out.  My back, butt and left calf ache from Monday’s slide down the stairs and  lingering symptoms of the stomach flu ensure that this run will not be enjoyable. 3 miles on the dot and I shut the machine down.  #355 done.

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