Natural remedies

I had an intense headache when I left work tonight and shuffled the couple of blocks home through the dark, post-rainy-day mist.

It was a stressful, 10-hour day, complete with a few of the best headache-inducing incidents possible at work: having my computer crash multiple times, getting hung up on and not drinking enough water.

Every part of me yearned to walk in my door, throw my bags down, kick off my shoes and commence a full-on night of zoning out, complete with a large dose of ibuprofen, a nice tall glass/es of pinot grigio and a lame Netflix selection.

But no.

Another part of me wanted to go running and I knew that if I did, the headache would disappear on its own. I told myself that wallowing in the pain and calories would only lead to guilt later. Plus, due to work and traveling this weekend (check later this week for a post on Boston), it had been way too long since my last run.

So I set out for the East Side in the breezy, deliciously warm and humid evening and had myself a nice 4.6 mile run.

The headache was a distant memory before I clocked mile #2. Then I was flying up Caroline Street at race pace and keeping my breathing steady and strong, slowing down to a jog at intervals when I got tired rather than walking.

I ended it by taking on the same hill that served as the course finale at the Firecracker 4 in July. Compared to almost three months ago, my endurance was much greater. I ran the hill without stopping and did not come close to hyperventilating at the top, unlike last time.

It sure helped that tonight was about 25 degrees cooler than at that race, but I felt the difference nonetheless. I've done this hill since July 4th too, in other night-time summer runs, but not at the same steady pace and not without stopping.

With mission accomplished, I jogged home and flopped on the floor for awhile, pretending to stretch.

Then, I poured myself a nice tall glass of wine.