For several months now I have been been feeling lethargic, and growing more so lately. I have no motivation to do anything that requires too much exertion. Though I train at the gym about five days a week, I can’t manage to move very quickly or for very long. It’s a big bummer, more so I think, because this fatigue affects me mentally. I feel weak. And I hate that. Hate it!
I decided recently to research premenopausal symptoms, as I have the joy of going through that the past six months or so. And while I did not find the term lethargy in my research, I did come across the terms “extreme fatigue” and “crashing fatigue,” as common symptoms. Aha! I guess that makes me feel a little better. At least there’s an apparent reason to my lethargy. But the more I throw the terms around in my mind, the more “CRUSHING fatigue” seems to fit my what I’m experiencing -- it’s crushing my physical and mental well-being, it crushes my spirit.
This past Sunday evening, I decided to get out and just force myself to put in some trail miles. I took a little run along West Ridge to Top of the World, which isn’t exactly flat. And I must say, I felt pretty miserable in the beginning. Actually, I never really felt “good” in the sense of feeling physically or mentally strong. Once I decided that it did not matter what time I finished, that it was okay to finish in the dark however, I did enjoy the coastal scenes, the gentle off-shore breezes and little evidences of wildlife like bunnies scurrying across the road and stink bugs sticking their heads in the dirt. I hiked some, and I ran some. My legs felt like heavy awkward boards when I ran. They felt a little lighter when I hiked. I guess it would be prudent to take on something with not so much elevation during this “crushing fatigue” period. But I can’t help it. I’m just an elevation junkie.
