Rx: Ironman

A Lesson From One of the Cats

Someday, I will post pictures. My cats are hilarious. I'm usually more of a dog person. I like the idea of having a full time running partner who's always excited to go however far I want to. In the meantime, I'm perfectly happy with my cats that fetch (seriously!), greet us at the door, love their bellies scratched, dig through the garbage, and drink from the toilet (we try to keep the seat closed to avoid that last one). Steve and I joke that we've been training them to be dogs since they were babies. I think it has worked.

The other day when I got home from work, I turned on the lights and sat on the couch for a second. Ella the Cat fell asleep sitting up with her head under the lampshade. I looked over and realized that I know exactly how she feels right now. I am craving sunlight and warmth. There are only four days total per month when I get to see the sun. Lately I get into work before the sun comes up and leave well after it has set. I have thought for a long time that I get some component of Seasonal Affective Disorder. The other day, I looked the symptoms up on the internet. They are:

1. A change in appetite, especially a craving for sweet or starchy foods
- check. Chocolate has become my new best friend.

2. Weight gain
- unfortunately, yes

3. A heavy feeling in the arms or legs
? not really sure on this one. I don't think so...

4. A drop in energy level
- double check. I can barely muster up the energy to turn on the TV in the evenings, much less get in a good workout.

5. Fatigue
- Check. I know I'm busy, but I just seem to be so much more tired than normal. I've had my thyroid and hemoglobin tested, so I don't think it's anything easily explainable.

6. A tendency to oversleep
- I can't get out of bed in the morning. The only thing that gets me out of bed is promising myself that I can take a nap when I get home in the evening.

7. Difficulty concentrating
- My mind is always racing, so I don't know if I'd notice.

8. Irritability
- Check.

10. Avoidance of social situations
- It's hard to tell if I'm avoiding them or if I just truly don't have time for many social activities right now because of my work commitments.

I don't really feel depressed. I just don't have any energy. I don't feel very ironmanish right now since I can barely get off the couch.

I have been getting these symptoms every year for at least the last 10 years, but they don't usually get too bad until January or February. They seem to be early this year, maybe because of my work schedule? I know that come March and April, everything will warm up, the sun will stick around longer, and everything will be back to normal. I'll be back on my bike outside, I can wear a single layer of clothes on my runs (it's going to be highs in the 20s today - brr!), and it won't be long until I'm swimming outside again. The freckles on my face will explode like they do every year, and my pasty white complexion will become a little less pasty.

I'm not sweating all this too much yet. I still have plenty of time to be increasing my base workouts before IM training officially starts back. I just need need to find a little M-O-T-I-V-A-T-I-O-N...