Round 1:
Today’s Goal: 3 miles
Actual Distance: 3.2 miles
Time: 30:51
Weather: Sunny; not too humid; 82 degrees
Time of Day: 12 Noon
Notes: Energy was low after yesterday’s migraine; ran the distance with two momentary stops to drink water and blow my nose.

Round 2:
Actual Distance: 4.1 miles
Time: 40:00
Weather: Mostly sunny; 80 degrees.
Time of Day: 6:00 PM
Notes: Energy was pretty good; legs sore from the earlier run; ran the distance with two or three momentary stops to drink water and blow my nose.

Total Distance for the Day: 7.3 miles

Tomorrow’s Goal: REST DAY

I am usually wiped out the day after a migraine. I refer to it as “migraine hangover.” No energy. A dull headache. Nausea. Sensitivity to light… a lot of the aspects of the migraine that are dying down.

Typically, I can’t find the motivation to do much on these days. Just getting out of bed is an effort. Sometimes I can go for a walk. After I had a migraine last week while at the shore, I managed to walk 7.5 miles along the boardwalk. But I didn’t run. And I was not happy.

Today I was determine to win back some of the running miles the migraine stole from me yesterday. I was really dragging my wagon in the morning. But I ate well and psyched myself up to run at lunchtime. I was hoping to do 5 miles and just punch the migraine right in the face (or the ass, since it was on the way out). But my time was limited due to meetings. So, I managed to squeeze in a 3 mile run. Correct that: a 3.2 mile run.

The minimum mileage I ever settle for is 3.1 miles. That’s a 5K! Running 3.1 has a great psychological effect on me! While I’m out there I think, This is great! I only have an hour and I’m running a 5K race! That psyches me up. I remember how good I felt completing past races. I hear people cheering. It becomes nearly as satisfying as actually running a race. All that’s missing is a free t-shirt at the end!

So I ran a little more than a 5K at lunch and my time was exactly 30 minutes. In my current physical condition and with a migraine handicap, I’ll take that time!

I had a crazy idea while running at lunchtime. (As if hearing people cheering while running alone on a country road isn’t crazy enough.) I had the idea to run again after work. I know some people who often run twice in a day, but I’ve never done it. Recently, I had read an article about the benefits of running twice in one day. http://www.runnersworld.com/running-tips/pros-and-cons-running-twice-day The article inspired me. Today it looked like I would have the chance to run with that inspiration. (Pardon the pun.)

My day worked out such that I had the time to do a run after work and, surprisingly, I had the energy. These migraines I get usually start to wear off after 24 to 36 hours. I think pushing through my first run and then eating a good lunch (salad with grilled chicken) helped me shake off most of the lingering migraine symptoms. When I ran at 6 PM I felt good. My legs were sore, but my energy level felt good. I set out to do at least 3.1 miles again. (The imaginary crowds cheered like wild goons!) Again my solitary-5K time was 30 minutes on the nose. So, I decide to “go the extra mile” and run to 4.1. (Again, pardon the pun and the worn out cliche.) I even finished with the last 2 tenths being uphill. (Oh, what a friggin hero.)

Today, I fought back and feel like I achieved something. I ran twice. I did a double. Take THAT, migraine! I just “dropped a deuce” on ya! (No apologies for that one.)