An update since the last posting and then into title/subject of the posting. Did not get in the 16 miler Saturday. Phone call after call early Saturday AM reminding us of Christmas activities for the day. Big one - my daughters best friend was back in town. Her family moved to Virgina 6 months ago, and they were back to visit. So, a last minute party get together for 8, six year old girls. It went well and friends got to be just that again for 2-3 hours. Also, my wife and I decided to attend her work Christmas Party. We usually go, however, this year the party was an hour drive out and what should have been hour back. However, a major accident made it 1:45 minute drive back. Our favorite babysitter scored over that one.
Anyway, with everything going on I was only able to get in 6 miles Saturday. Which was uneventful, but I got it in. Sunday is my Running Sabbath (wink to Fat Guy Running who has Friday as his). So, that left today for a long one.
Perfect because my wife and I are home all week. Got up today and started running when I felt like it. Instead of when my schedule would let me. Problem is, I did not feel great this AM. In fact, I did not feel real good most of yesterday as well. Just off. Headache, fatigue and just did not have an appetite as well. Sunday, yesterday, was busy though. Church in the AM and then our family put together lots of Christmas treat boxes to give to friends while Caroling last night.
We do this every year. We typically have 10-12 families we serenade on the front porch and hold captive with Jingle Bells, Silent Night and We wish You A Merry Christmas. Many of our friends moved this past year as I have noted in past posts. So, we included some new folks to visit. The kids had a blast doing this. They all got lots of hugs and a few gifts themselves in return. Especially from the older friends we visited. Fun time for everyone and excellent way for our kids to learn and feel the Christmas Spirit.
Anyway, running. Yesterday and last night I did NOT eat well, and my wife reminded me how little I ate Saturday as well. I left the house this AM, not feeling 100% and I guess really low on Carbs. Plus, I am guessing too much salt consumed of late as well. The first 2 miles felt slow and sluggish. Then it picked up. However, at about Mile 4 I started to notice a strong ammonia smell in my sweat. Mainly from my now soaked Seattle Sounders (MLS Soccer team) baseball cap I was wearing. I was really sweating more than normal as well for Mile 4. I had my Camelbak on filled with 24 ounces of Gatorade - my usual hydration drink. I had some strong running portions of the run from Miles 4-8. Pushed it. However, I did hit a wall type feeling shortly after 8. Very sluggish and the persistent smell of ammonia from my now very sweaty soaked Cap.
I made it home fine, however, I did not do 16 miles. I decided to cut back and head for the house. Just was not going well. I got in 13.3 by the time I got home. Walked in and my oldest (10 year old) greeted me with Dad you smell like pee pee!! "Thanks, I know, son." Got my post run chocolate milk and banana. Walked upstairs and just shortly after my wife started in on just how smelly I was - I nearly fainted. Literally!
Just a big wave of dizziness similar to my post Disney Half drama, but it did not last as long. Drank down the chocolate milk, and got some water quick. Ate half the banana and drank down another big glass of water. Felt better after 3-4 minutes, maybe longer. Rested for the next 40-50 minutes with my feet elevated. The whole time noticed how much salty granular dried sweat I had along my hairline just below where my Cap was.
The cause of it all? - diet? I have been reading online this ammonia or pee pee odor in my sweat is due to amino acids (protein) being burned as fuel and not Carbs or Fat. Need to eat better. Plus, the salty Smoked Almonds I chowed down Sunday did not help either. I will consult my running Nephew who is a Physician, but I am sure he will say the same as my inhouse Doc. "Eat Papa Eat." However, eat the right food.
Anyone else out there ever have this problem?
Oh, cartoon above - saw this a few days ago. Funny! Felt like this today after mile 8.
Rest of the week, only two maybe three shorty 5-6 milers. Remember this is supposed to be recovery month :) ?
Meg Runs, hope things are okay?! Also, great to hear from everyone else. Jerbear glad you are back! Happy Trails - why do you make my life so complicated with these fantastic trail running pix! I think I need to break up my road running with some trails soon! Tara, great to hear from ya as well. Puddle Thumper (excellent blogging nickname by the way) enjoy the new kitty's - how fun. RocksandRoots hope you are feeling better. Running Fat Guy, great times! You will do well for the LA Marathon at these paces.
Merry Christmas to everyone who reads my blog and have a great week!
Cheers!!!
8 comments:
Wow, glad youre ok. Merry Christmas!
That was so interesting about your "smell!" I was surprised to hear about the amino acids. Eat well my friend, this is the time of year when it's super challenging but for you, it sounds like it's imperative! Glad to hear your family is fine and you're all enjoying the week!
I'm off to TWO treatments tomorrow so I'll keep you posted, I'm sure it'll be fine!! Thanks for the thoughts!
Merry Days!
Take care of yourself Slomo - you are lucky to have a running Dr nephew, so consult him about it. I have heard of bodybuilders having this issue in hard workouts, which might lend to the too much protein being burned theory. Glad you are able to immerse yourself with the family this week - Merry Christmas!
I had this exact thing happen to me a couple of years ago after a TOUGH rowing workout. The tunnel just kept getting longer and longer until I heard the "klunk" as my head hit the floor. The solution was downing (shot gunning) a 12 ounce Lipton Brisk (non-diet). You are correct in your assessment that it is brought on by lack of carbs. You were carrying Gatorade, so I am a little suprised that that didn't recharge your bateries (you're not doing your Gatorade half strength are you?).
Now that you know the feelinig, next time don't continue to push. What probably happened is by continuing to push, you drove your body to a state where it was looking for the easiest fuel to use toprovide it's anticipated energy need. As strange as it seems, breakdown of protein occurs when your body (liver - where most glycogen is stored) senses it is running out of glucose to stoke the fire. That's why it's so important to fuel with a high carb source during a long or hard run (not half strength Gatorade). One sure way to stop the reaction is to stop your excercise, or to slow the pace down. Way down. Give you systems a chance to register the fact that all this sweet goop just entered the stomach and it can go back to normal aerobic metabolism. No doubt the chocolate milk helped - but more Gatorade, or even something like a Snapple would have helped more.
Glad to hear it all worked out!
Thanks for the info about your sister's training. I've received a couple addditional notes that seem to stress the same.
I'll pass along my Surf City bib number so we can try to cross paths in February. It will be nice to finally meet.
lesson learned. I've had the dizzies once or twice after a run because of fueling issues and it was no fun!
eating a balanced diet is better for you and for your running. I'd be surprised if you had too much salt in your diet though. I find as a runner, a sweaty runner ;-), that I need to take more salt in because I sweat it out.
The caroling sounds like a fun family tradition. :-)
"You smell like peepee." Classic. Hope you are feeling better and that you've figured out the mystery of the dizziness. Take care. That's always scary.
Merry Christmas to you too! I hope your holiday is great and your family is well. :) I don't have any advice on your newfound "aroma" but I stink like the dickins also, soooo perhaps I will follow your research as it comes up on your blog.
"Dad, you smell like pee pee." I love it! Kids come up with the craziest things. While I have never experienced the ammonia smell; I do need to eat better! I'm glad that you are feeling better and you figured out what was wrong.
Glad you got in a run, something is better then nothing!
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