So I basically took the last 4 months months off. I was tired all the time; just feeling worn out. I finally got around to getting physical and complained to my doctor about it... my vitamin D levels were low and I have a sizeable cyst on the inside of my right knee (when I first noticed it all kinds of scary "tumor" thoughts ran through my head, but it still took me a couple of months to work up to talking to a doctor about it), testosterone levels low but in normal range...
I started taking 5000 units a day of vitamin D3, but I think the biggest problem was unrecognized stress surrounding my work situation: the mill where I was working was up for sale, and even though there was a potential buyer in negotiations the future there was rather uncertain. In the end the sale fell thruough and the owners of the mill decided to close and lay everyone off. It worked out OK, though - I was able to move directly to a new job - severed/laid off on a Friday, Dec 30, started the new job on Tuesday, Jan 3 ($5 less an hour, though...).
The new job has a few benefits, though, the first of which is no more ferry commute! This gives me an 'extra' hour to hour-and-a-half a day, which I have been using to run and cross-train in the mornings. The second thing, which I really just started appreciating today, is being able to breathe. My last job was at a pulp and paper mill where there was nasty chemical vapors(sulfuric acid, sulfur dioxide, chlorine dioxide...) and an unendung supply of very fine paper dust. I would wake up in the morning very congested with my sinuses feeling like they were stuffed with steel wool. Without the nose full of dust I am able to wake up breathing freely, and go through the day without a continuously dripping nose. I work an alternate work schedule which gives me a three-day weekend every other week. I work for the federal government, so I have every federal holiday off as well.
I am back to base building, though I have been doing some short (3-4 mile) tempo and progression runs as well. My goal is to work toward a mid-to-late summer marathon, another fall marathon and all the while building my mileage in order to complete the necessary 100 milers in 2013 and early 2014 (H.U.R.T. comes to mind...)
Less stress, more time to run (I am hoping to add a second run a couple days a week starting in April), actually being able to breathe.... It feels good to be able to run again and feel like I have the energy to move forward.
