Maxed Out

Lack of posting again due to stress-induced neurosis. The last couple of weeks have been a build up of emotional/physical stress that I think finally broke yesterday morning when I woke up to run. I had a 20 miler on Sunday and it felt great. I took Monday off from running, and even though I physically feel alright as in no muscle soreness or fatigue, I feel like a lump.

Yesterday, I woke up for my 4:30 a.m. 6 miler and decided that it wasn't happening. I had a tight chest and lots of crap in my throat/nose. In fact, I was so "lumpish" (yes that's my new adjective for my mood) that I decided I needed a day off from work. I ended up getting the 6 miles in (you would have thought my dog had never been outside before-that's how excited she was), but my groin was tight the whole way and overall I just wanted to get through it.

As I sit and ponder why my mood is so off, I've realized it comes down to two things: running and work. According to about.com (http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/overtraining/a/aa062499a.htm), over training can lead to irritability (check), lowered immunity (check), down feelings (check), constant tiredness (check) and a slew of other symptoms, most of which I am suffering.

Work is also a cause for stress as we are approaching the end of the school year and everyone is getting on edge. Testing is over and the kids think we are done. The weather is nice and not only the students, but teachers as well, would rather be outside. Throw in a few feelings of betrayal, lack of being appreciated, and probably pity, and you can see that this stress along with overtraining has pushed me to be as my title states, maxed out. Burnt out. Stressed out. Done.

Today I woke up and shut my alarm clock off. I did not run. I feel guilt being in the middle of marathon training but I think I need a few days off. I will take tomorrow and Friday off as well before a couple of runs over the weekend. Maybe it will help with my feeling of BLAH.

So, enough of my pity party.

I read another book last week entitled, Alex Van Helsing - Vampire Rising. It was not really my favorite, but was on the Texas Lone Star list and I am using it in my book clubs at school. The kids are liking it for a couple of reasons such as it is a shorter book, includes vampires, and the protagonist is a boy. I will give the book credit for being a great introduction to the stories of Dracula and Mary Shelley's, Frankenstein which many will be asked to read in highschool.

I'm trying to stay positive and think ahead to summer reading, so I printed off teenread.com's list of must read books (http://www.teenreads.com/features/ultimate-reading-list.asp). I have the list printed and will go through and highlight which ones I think I should add to my library at school.