Just want to share what a complete inspiration all of my wonderful running friends have been.
After over a year achilles hell, I was finally able to complete 2 races and actually did ok. On Oct 07/12 I ran the TC 10 mile race and ran the exact same time as the year before -to the second!!-couldn't do that twice! And on 10/27/12 I ran the Team Ortho Monster Dash 1/2 marathon. (also same time as last yr-only off by seconds)
I know to most of you these would seem like very small accomplishments. To me they are absolutely gigantic hurdles. After last Nov when my achilles said -no more- I was very very scared I may never run again,especially any more than 1-2 miles. I now know that this was just one more go around the mountain of life. Not that everything is perfect-there is the twingy knee thing-blah blah blah-BUT I am moving forward!!!
I am so excited as a matter of fact that I am really seriously planning on my first ultra 50K next spring, or for sure fall if the training timing doesn't work out. Because of my flower shop schedule-timing is a huge factor.
So as I move forward and start planning, I asked myself the inevitable WHY??? I am almost 56 yrs old and pretty sure I really don't have to prove anything to myself or anyone else for that matter.
So my reasons are simple.
1) Because I really believe I can finish-not sure how long it will take-but I KNOW I can finish.
2) Because 56 isn't old
3) Because 57 is older
4) Because when I told my daughter I was thinking of this-she didn't freak out but said -"you want to do it because you can"
5) Because WHY NOT!!!
If not now -when-
6) And because-I am always have been one tough broad......
And also because I truly believe age is a state of mind and a healthy body is an incredible gift to cherish. I have spent 31 years running to stay healthy and fit. But I think the next 31 should be about continuing to challenge my mind as well.
Thanks again all of you for the encouragement .....happy trails!
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Another try ,that turned into a tribute
Back at it...
Well I decided to give it another try,this blog writing thing. Now we are easing out of our busy season at the flower shops,so time for some internal refelection or maybe some external ranting.
After 6,count them ,6 months of achilles struggles I am bound and determined to conquer this setback one way or another. I have been faithfully keeping up core work all winter when I couldn't run and gradually trying to get back into running. The spring was looking pretty good.I have been able to do some barefoot runs since March.In Minnesota that is triumphant. But every time I think I am getting back to my real running,my achilles rebels. It is like some evil twin badgering me over and over. I have never realized so completely how much a running injury can change a person's life. As most of you know from my whining on facebook, I pretty much wear my heart on my sleeve,which is not necessarily a good thing.
This year was supposed to be my marathon year. I had a goal.I was determined to reach it. God had other plans;and apparently still does. I will be the first to admit I am independant and rebellious by nature. This is not good .Oh yea,and stubborn.About the only thing stubborness does is make me a consistant runner when I am healthy.When you are injured ,it is a definite liabilty.
Refocus,refocus,refocus.Ok so now I am refocusing. I have already admitted this will not be my marathon year. Once spring sprang and all of my running friends were training and then racing,I admitted out loud,ok-I won't be able to do a marathon this year unless the heavens part I recieve a miraculous healing. But even after that I still wasn't humbled enough.
As I struggle to make sense of this injury my heart breaks for friends with more serious problems.
This spring our community has experienced several of these life changing moments. This includes and 8 year old boy who was healthy last spring ,being diagnosed with brain cancer and then passing away last month.
It's all about perspective.I read about all of my running friends on facebook who accomplish miraculous feats of grandeur,and I want that too. We all do. But each of us have our individual struggles. I think of Nora,Kate, Angie and many more and realize that what life really is .. is overcoming the day by day struggles that will not change or heal or ever go away.
You are all so very dear to me.And although we may never meet in person, I treasure each of you in a very personal way.
The truth is ,that every time you can get out that door and go for a run,you are overcoming obstacles in your daily life. Every run may not be smiley,but it IS an accomplishment,no matter how big or small.
We all want to be Jason and Shelly. We all want to be Shacky and Vanessa. That is why we love and respect them do dearly. But few of us will ever get their opportunities.
I am so touched and thrilled by Chris' first ultra, excited for Krista's upcoming ultra and SO excited and proud that Trisha is diving in head first for her first ultra.Go for it!! Each one of you !!
Embrace whatever you can with all you 've got!!! Do it for the rest of us!!!
The rest of us really do live vicariously through you !! We really do!
And you are all such a great encouragement and inspriation when one of us is down. Thank you ,to each of you .
And yes,I am running an ultra-hoping for next year. My friend Renee Bjork has inspired me.I will right there with you in spirit Renee,Trish and Krista!! Give it all you 've got girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well I decided to give it another try,this blog writing thing. Now we are easing out of our busy season at the flower shops,so time for some internal refelection or maybe some external ranting.
After 6,count them ,6 months of achilles struggles I am bound and determined to conquer this setback one way or another. I have been faithfully keeping up core work all winter when I couldn't run and gradually trying to get back into running. The spring was looking pretty good.I have been able to do some barefoot runs since March.In Minnesota that is triumphant. But every time I think I am getting back to my real running,my achilles rebels. It is like some evil twin badgering me over and over. I have never realized so completely how much a running injury can change a person's life. As most of you know from my whining on facebook, I pretty much wear my heart on my sleeve,which is not necessarily a good thing.
This year was supposed to be my marathon year. I had a goal.I was determined to reach it. God had other plans;and apparently still does. I will be the first to admit I am independant and rebellious by nature. This is not good .Oh yea,and stubborn.About the only thing stubborness does is make me a consistant runner when I am healthy.When you are injured ,it is a definite liabilty.
Refocus,refocus,refocus.Ok so now I am refocusing. I have already admitted this will not be my marathon year. Once spring sprang and all of my running friends were training and then racing,I admitted out loud,ok-I won't be able to do a marathon this year unless the heavens part I recieve a miraculous healing. But even after that I still wasn't humbled enough.
As I struggle to make sense of this injury my heart breaks for friends with more serious problems.
This spring our community has experienced several of these life changing moments. This includes and 8 year old boy who was healthy last spring ,being diagnosed with brain cancer and then passing away last month.
It's all about perspective.I read about all of my running friends on facebook who accomplish miraculous feats of grandeur,and I want that too. We all do. But each of us have our individual struggles. I think of Nora,Kate, Angie and many more and realize that what life really is .. is overcoming the day by day struggles that will not change or heal or ever go away.
You are all so very dear to me.And although we may never meet in person, I treasure each of you in a very personal way.
The truth is ,that every time you can get out that door and go for a run,you are overcoming obstacles in your daily life. Every run may not be smiley,but it IS an accomplishment,no matter how big or small.
We all want to be Jason and Shelly. We all want to be Shacky and Vanessa. That is why we love and respect them do dearly. But few of us will ever get their opportunities.
I am so touched and thrilled by Chris' first ultra, excited for Krista's upcoming ultra and SO excited and proud that Trisha is diving in head first for her first ultra.Go for it!! Each one of you !!
Embrace whatever you can with all you 've got!!! Do it for the rest of us!!!
The rest of us really do live vicariously through you !! We really do!
And you are all such a great encouragement and inspriation when one of us is down. Thank you ,to each of you .
And yes,I am running an ultra-hoping for next year. My friend Renee Bjork has inspired me.I will right there with you in spirit Renee,Trish and Krista!! Give it all you 've got girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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