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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Showing posts with label Run:). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Run:). Show all posts
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Happy Heat Wave
As the whole world knows the Midwest has been engulfed by an unusually horrendous heat /humidity wave for about a week now. As a runner, this is always a challenge. Well dumb me, who totally knows better, ran last Sun 7/17/11, when according to the local meteorologist, Minnesota was had a heat index the SAME as the Amazon jungle!! Altho I knew it was hot and humid, I didn't get myself out the door until 10am-bad choice! I work 6.5 days a week, and so Sunday is my only full day off,well you get the picture. Sunday is also the only possible day that I can work in a long run. So as I was working my mileage back up after being injured, I was determined to suck it up and pound out a few extra miles. To top it off I am very fair skinned,so the sun is also an issue.
Because I was so excited to run again,after a short day before, I wore my VFFs and chose a gravel road run that is somewhat shady . I wasn't expecting to break a speed record,mind you, but I was hoping for a decent pace. It was so humid it was hard to breathe and no breeze.
The first 3 miles were great and gorgeous as I ran down into a into a woods and past a small lake, enjoying the pelicans along the way. As I ran out of the woods up into the farm field area,it was slightly hotter. I was ok-I can do this-no big deal.After all I am a Minnesotan (actually an Illinois transplant).
As any Minnesotan will tell you, we are accustomed to accepting all weather as a challenge.I run all year-all through the winter...many blogs for many another day.I will just add though,that I do not own a treadmill and run in -10-15 below 0 and who knows what wind chills, and run in sheet metal screws through the ice and feet of snow....like I said food for other blogs.
So back to the heat. I can do this. Just relax and take it slow. I was well hydrated and only planning on about 8 miles. No big deal. As I progressed uphill and rounded the curve at about mile 3 I noticed I was slowing down. It was hot and blazing sun. I saw the marker for about mile 3.5 and thought, ok I will turn around there and do 7. After turning around, I am on my way back-yea!! Psychologically that was a triumph in itself. Ok slowing now, 5mile and coming back now downhill and into the shade!!! SHADE....like a long tall cold drink of water...Right next to the lake ( a wildlife lake,not sparkly clean on a hot day...in a marsh...) and the thought crossed my mind..I could actually drink that water...NO ICK.. like I said not sparkly clean. It occurred to me that if I was thinking of drinking mirky water, I was probably getting close to being overheated. Here I was 2
miles from home in the SHADE ,and what did I do ??? I STOPPED!!!!!!!! Now you have to realize in 30 YEARS yes count them -I am old(54)-in 30 years,in ALL weather,ALL terrain, I have NEVER stopped in the middle of a run before!! NEVER!!! Not even when I have gotten injured! NEVER,not one time!!!
I stopped in the shade,walked in a few circles, and then started running again..slowly... about 1/2 mile later I stopped AGAIN!! I actually blame this all on the Smiley Collective...because I suddenly realized...hey running smiley means it's ok to stop!!! WOW !What a revelation! As I pondered this, I decided to walk briskly-hey-this will work-walk 1/2 mile, run 1/2 mile...so that was the last 2 miles of my heat run. And guess what ??? IT WAS OK!!! I was still smiling!!
Plunging my feet into the lake after returning home, and letting my body recover from the heat, I felt like running smiley was taking over my life!! Sounds dumb ,yes... but it has overflowed into all of my daily activities!! Running smiley was definately restructuring my runs.
Now it is Wednesday.It is still extremely,abnormally hot and humid. Although I have AC at work, we do not have AC at home. We live in the woods, on a lake, and normally it is comfortable. But this week has been extreme. Sleeping has been rough.
Monday, ran at 7am 5.3 miles -very hot and humid-but last mile barefoot!! Tuesday ran at 7am same and today Wednesday a breeze yea!!, I ran 2.5 m and ran 2 miles barefoot (on chip and seal road).. I felt fantastic!!! I even was slightly faster today...slightly...my barefootin WAS faster!!I am so excited!! I can run smiley and barefoot in the heat!!
Proof positive that running smiley breaks barriers.....and stopping to smile is ok :))
pps/ Do not run in heat if you are not an experienced,seasoned runner and stay very well hydrated.
Because I was so excited to run again,after a short day before, I wore my VFFs and chose a gravel road run that is somewhat shady . I wasn't expecting to break a speed record,mind you, but I was hoping for a decent pace. It was so humid it was hard to breathe and no breeze.
The first 3 miles were great and gorgeous as I ran down into a into a woods and past a small lake, enjoying the pelicans along the way. As I ran out of the woods up into the farm field area,it was slightly hotter. I was ok-I can do this-no big deal.After all I am a Minnesotan (actually an Illinois transplant).
As any Minnesotan will tell you, we are accustomed to accepting all weather as a challenge.I run all year-all through the winter...many blogs for many another day.I will just add though,that I do not own a treadmill and run in -10-15 below 0 and who knows what wind chills, and run in sheet metal screws through the ice and feet of snow....like I said food for other blogs.
So back to the heat. I can do this. Just relax and take it slow. I was well hydrated and only planning on about 8 miles. No big deal. As I progressed uphill and rounded the curve at about mile 3 I noticed I was slowing down. It was hot and blazing sun. I saw the marker for about mile 3.5 and thought, ok I will turn around there and do 7. After turning around, I am on my way back-yea!! Psychologically that was a triumph in itself. Ok slowing now, 5mile and coming back now downhill and into the shade!!! SHADE....like a long tall cold drink of water...Right next to the lake ( a wildlife lake,not sparkly clean on a hot day...in a marsh...) and the thought crossed my mind..I could actually drink that water...NO ICK.. like I said not sparkly clean. It occurred to me that if I was thinking of drinking mirky water, I was probably getting close to being overheated. Here I was 2
miles from home in the SHADE ,and what did I do ??? I STOPPED!!!!!!!! Now you have to realize in 30 YEARS yes count them -I am old(54)-in 30 years,in ALL weather,ALL terrain, I have NEVER stopped in the middle of a run before!! NEVER!!! Not even when I have gotten injured! NEVER,not one time!!!
I stopped in the shade,walked in a few circles, and then started running again..slowly... about 1/2 mile later I stopped AGAIN!! I actually blame this all on the Smiley Collective...because I suddenly realized...hey running smiley means it's ok to stop!!! WOW !What a revelation! As I pondered this, I decided to walk briskly-hey-this will work-walk 1/2 mile, run 1/2 mile...so that was the last 2 miles of my heat run. And guess what ??? IT WAS OK!!! I was still smiling!!
Plunging my feet into the lake after returning home, and letting my body recover from the heat, I felt like running smiley was taking over my life!! Sounds dumb ,yes... but it has overflowed into all of my daily activities!! Running smiley was definately restructuring my runs.
Now it is Wednesday.It is still extremely,abnormally hot and humid. Although I have AC at work, we do not have AC at home. We live in the woods, on a lake, and normally it is comfortable. But this week has been extreme. Sleeping has been rough.
Monday, ran at 7am 5.3 miles -very hot and humid-but last mile barefoot!! Tuesday ran at 7am same and today Wednesday a breeze yea!!, I ran 2.5 m and ran 2 miles barefoot (on chip and seal road).. I felt fantastic!!! I even was slightly faster today...slightly...my barefootin WAS faster!!I am so excited!! I can run smiley and barefoot in the heat!!
Proof positive that running smiley breaks barriers.....and stopping to smile is ok :))
pps/ Do not run in heat if you are not an experienced,seasoned runner and stay very well hydrated.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
:)) running again
Yea!! After my whole week off, I am back to running again! So far, so good! I am still running minimalist shoes before I transition back to VFFs and then barefoot,after my injuries. Maybe I should go straight to barefoot,but I am trying go gradual and smart.
Since I am back on the road again, after a solid week of heavy duty core work,I have noticed renewed strength as I run.So funny today to read an article on "What is the most important muscle to strengthen as a runner ?"
No, not your calves...even as a bf runner...but your CORE! It is true!! Strong consistent core strength empowers your running. You do have to be consistent,tho. And, I don't mean sit ups. I mean hard core pilates,yoga ,ballet core work. The best overall training DVD for this I have found is "The Bar Method,Dancer's Body" DVD. It gives perfect core strength, develops balance and strengthens back muscles to really kick in and support strength in your running. But, you have to keep at it!!This DVD is especially great for woman runners who do not want to develop heavy muscle. It really sculpts your body!! I am 54 and I could really notice a difference!!
So, my week off of running turned out to be a blessing in more ways than one. My core strength really girded up the healing process and made my back on the road experience that much stronger!!
So far 18.3 miles this week!! I am still training for a 1/2 marathon...so here I go!!
Since I am back on the road again, after a solid week of heavy duty core work,I have noticed renewed strength as I run.So funny today to read an article on "What is the most important muscle to strengthen as a runner ?"
No, not your calves...even as a bf runner...but your CORE! It is true!! Strong consistent core strength empowers your running. You do have to be consistent,tho. And, I don't mean sit ups. I mean hard core pilates,yoga ,ballet core work. The best overall training DVD for this I have found is "The Bar Method,Dancer's Body" DVD. It gives perfect core strength, develops balance and strengthens back muscles to really kick in and support strength in your running. But, you have to keep at it!!This DVD is especially great for woman runners who do not want to develop heavy muscle. It really sculpts your body!! I am 54 and I could really notice a difference!!
So, my week off of running turned out to be a blessing in more ways than one. My core strength really girded up the healing process and made my back on the road experience that much stronger!!
So far 18.3 miles this week!! I am still training for a 1/2 marathon...so here I go!!
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