Sweat Bath in the Redwoods 15

We had grand plans for Wednesday.  Wonderful, yet elaborate plans to run the most gorgeous stretch of our local coastline: the Lost Coast Trail.  Late Tuesday night, one running buddy sent an email about a job interview he received, unfortunately it was on Wednesday and he’d spend all day just driving there for the meeting.  Matt and I have a single car, and the 25 mile run would be extended to 50 if we couldn’t find an expensive shuttle. 

Our disappointment quickly blossomed from a road run at home to a 22-mile run on our favorite trails at Humboldt Redwoods S.P.  So by 10am, we were out on the River Trail in the super humid forest.  The trail wove between some moderately sized giants, swirling up and down while overlooking the Eel River.  At various spots along the trail, hikers had shed clothing, leaving large piles on the trail marker signs and stuffed into holes in stumps.  They made no effort to hide their things at all.  Somehow, my conscience prevailed and I passed by without stealing a really beautiful Nike DriFit shirt in my size (Matt found a similar one in his size too!!) that hung on a mileage marker.

Then we began our eastern approach to Grasshopper Peak.  We have only done this particular trail once, and we quickly remembered why.  It gains 3,000 ft. over 5.8 miles and is gentle enough of an incline the whole way that there is never a flat spot but just steep enough that I’m unable to keep running.  Frustration quickly grew as the trail that wasn’t visually that steep completely wrecked me.  The 80F temperatures and 75F dew point equated to 93% humidity and something that I really wasn’t acclimated to handle.  Sweat poured from everywhere, Matt joked that I looked like I swam across the river.  He also stopped once to inspect his pack.  His back was so saturated (he doesn’t sweat as much as I do so for him, a drenching day is rare) that he wondered if his pack bladder sprung a leak.  Turns out the moisture was coming from outside his pack.

In just an eight mile stretch, I drank 1.5 liters of water and was still thirsty.  Then it dawned on me. I’m not really training for anything long at the moment, so I don’t have to keep going through this suffering.  My legs were dragging, my chest hurt from the heavy breathing.  We turned around about 7.5 miles into our run, and about 2/3 of the way up Grasshopper Peak.

Immediately it was apparent why we were struggling on the terrain.  Our descent jammed our toes to the front of our shoes as we moved along the steep hill.  It is rare for me to cut a run short, but I definitely needed it, and I don’t beat myself up over it.  We walked/ran back the way we came and when we reached the final bridge over the Eel River to the Women’s Club Grove, we swam across the river instead.  The water felt incredible.  Families were set up on the river’s rocky banks; enjoying their picnics and watching us swim across fully clothed.  I kicked along in my gaiters and blue Cascadias, forgetting all about the horrible run I had just had.  Salt washed from my parched skin.  I was refreshed.

The rest of the week would feel much like this run did.  I can tell that I’m still far from recovered from the flu I had a month ago.  It does not appear to be over-training this time.  How do I know?  Well, I haven’t been able to smell ANYTHING since the first day of my 101F fever on June 20, in fact, the only thing I can detect is the persistent scent of cigarette smoke (you know, even when I’m not enjoying my pack-a-day treat).  I got through the week by taking a full rest day between each of my running days.  The run days felt incredible, and the rest days I was completely wrecked and napped on the couch.  I will likely take the same approach to this week, forgetting about the training plan entirely.  If this week doesn’t show some improvement, I will see the doctor and probably take a more extensive rest period (starting with a full week of no exercise, something I haven’t done in a very long time).  I want to completely kick whatever it is I have before I head into true marathon training.  This seems the best approach to me.  

 

Have you ever lost your sense of smell?  Did it take a long time to come back?  What was the cause?

I can still taste things, but smell is gone completely except for the cigarette smoke smell.  My online searches point to a deep and serious sinus infection, so a visit to the doctor for a more badass antibiotic may be the key.