Now normally I would consider that a positive outcome to running. You can do more with your family, keep a cleaner house, more energy for other hobbies, and yes, more energy for running. Gone are the days where I sleep for two hours after I get off of work. Wake up feeling dazed and confused and go buy some fast food to feed my family. Then, I would succumb to the drunken feeling from the carbs and fatty foods and go back to sleep.
No, those lazy hazy days are over for me. I rarely take a nap, unless I stayed up all night on the computer and had to wake up at the crack of dawn. Gone are the days when Whataburger was a delicious meal. No, now I love lighter things and I love that I am not left feeling drugged after eating them. I love that I have energy to do all my favorite things.
Unless....I have a bummed ankle and can't do much walking. Then it just drives me crazy. I can't just sit anymore. So I try to do housework, since I can't run...but that requires moving about. I can't craft because my craft room is in the bonus room, which is upstairs. I can't run because I can't really walk yet. So I am left to my computer and TV. Hopefully I can become a street walker this weekend and do some trick or treating.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Nike Human Race 10K I did it!!
Oh my gosh what a rush. I woke up today and for the first time in a long time, I was scared to run. I knew that the Human Race was today and I had to log in a 6.2 mile run. You see I signed up for the 10K when I graduated from C25K. I even wrote an essay for Nike stating why I should be an ambassador. I didn't get one of the positions and I was glad. Over the last few weeks I have not been training as hard as I thought I should. And I was really relieved that they did not pick me. I didn't want that responsibility.
So I took off today and headed for the trail. Our trail is exactly 6.2 miles. It heads up to the ocean and then back to a park. My neighborhood is on the trail and I am smack dab in the middle. So I took off and headed North to the water.
I am so excited..so many things to share. So let me end this post with the letter I sent Nike on 07/28/2009. My reasons for being an ambassador:
It would seem crazy that I would even consider running the Nike Human Race 10K. I am not your typical lean athlete that you see running the Boston Marathon or gracing the covers of running magazines or advertisements. I am a middle aged, overweight, small business owner who has just discovered her running legs. Running has become my drug of choice for relieving stress. Being a small business owner, a soccer mom and a wife can be stressful. But in April I discovered Nike+ and the Couch to 5K training program and my whole world changed.
All of a sudden I was replacing my scrapbooking magazines for running magazines. I started to trade pancakes and eggs with yogurt and cereal. When I looked in the mirror I didn’t see an overweight defeated woman but a strong powerful Athena. Running had replaced lying on the couch. And loads of energy had replaced hours of feeling sluggish. Yes, running had changed me.
I found empowerment in all the small goals I accomplished. And they were small. First run 6o seconds at a time, then 90 seconds, What a rush when I could run a whole 10 minutes. I cried at the gym the first time I ran for twenty minutes straight and ran my first mile. My family stood around my treadmill as tears streamed down my face. I felt a huge sense of accomplishment and yes, dare I say I became a PR seeker. I found myself looking forward to hearing Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong or Joan Benoit Samuelson tell me that I had done well.
On July 18th, I participated in my first 5K. My goal that day was not to cross the finish line in first place. My goal was to just finish. And finish I did. I was second to last in my age group but that did not matter. What mattered was that I did it. I had a testimony of how this fluffy gal who couldn’t run to the end of her own block had just completed a 5K. I was proof that you can do it. You just have to try.
So on October 24th I want to run the Human Race 10K for all us fluffy girls. I hear them on different forums discussing the fear, embarrassment and shame the feel about themselves. They feel like they will be the only fluffy one in the race. They can’t relate to any of the runners they see in magazines or advertisements. My goal is to show them that they can do it. That I am right here, running the race for them and with them. I want to run to say “Yes YOU CAN!” From where you are standing right now, no matter where in the world, no matter what size, you can take one step forward and start running.
So I took off today and headed for the trail. Our trail is exactly 6.2 miles. It heads up to the ocean and then back to a park. My neighborhood is on the trail and I am smack dab in the middle. So I took off and headed North to the water.
I am so excited..so many things to share. So let me end this post with the letter I sent Nike on 07/28/2009. My reasons for being an ambassador:
It would seem crazy that I would even consider running the Nike Human Race 10K. I am not your typical lean athlete that you see running the Boston Marathon or gracing the covers of running magazines or advertisements. I am a middle aged, overweight, small business owner who has just discovered her running legs. Running has become my drug of choice for relieving stress. Being a small business owner, a soccer mom and a wife can be stressful. But in April I discovered Nike+ and the Couch to 5K training program and my whole world changed.
All of a sudden I was replacing my scrapbooking magazines for running magazines. I started to trade pancakes and eggs with yogurt and cereal. When I looked in the mirror I didn’t see an overweight defeated woman but a strong powerful Athena. Running had replaced lying on the couch. And loads of energy had replaced hours of feeling sluggish. Yes, running had changed me.
I found empowerment in all the small goals I accomplished. And they were small. First run 6o seconds at a time, then 90 seconds, What a rush when I could run a whole 10 minutes. I cried at the gym the first time I ran for twenty minutes straight and ran my first mile. My family stood around my treadmill as tears streamed down my face. I felt a huge sense of accomplishment and yes, dare I say I became a PR seeker. I found myself looking forward to hearing Tiger Woods, Lance Armstrong or Joan Benoit Samuelson tell me that I had done well.
On July 18th, I participated in my first 5K. My goal that day was not to cross the finish line in first place. My goal was to just finish. And finish I did. I was second to last in my age group but that did not matter. What mattered was that I did it. I had a testimony of how this fluffy gal who couldn’t run to the end of her own block had just completed a 5K. I was proof that you can do it. You just have to try.
So on October 24th I want to run the Human Race 10K for all us fluffy girls. I hear them on different forums discussing the fear, embarrassment and shame the feel about themselves. They feel like they will be the only fluffy one in the race. They can’t relate to any of the runners they see in magazines or advertisements. My goal is to show them that they can do it. That I am right here, running the race for them and with them. I want to run to say “Yes YOU CAN!” From where you are standing right now, no matter where in the world, no matter what size, you can take one step forward and start running.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Just do it!!
I didn't run yesterday. You know, life just happens. You wake up, you don't quite "feel" like running. You work, you eat lunch and think, "Hey I should do just a quick 10 minutes." But you don't. Then you get home from work, wander into the kitchen, grab a bite to eat, check your emails and well you just don't "feel" like working out and then you go to bed. And you tell yourself, "Eh, I'll do it in the morning." Then morning comes and you hit the snooze button and say you will do it at lunch...but that is where you were yesterday.
Well that is how Monday started out for me. Then I had to go to a Mom In Touch meeting this morning so I knew I was not going to go running before the meeting. Then I am slapped in the face with a mom, sitting on a towel at the meeting because she is still sweating. She had just run before the meeting and was still in her work out clothes. And yes I will admit it, I was jealous. She did what I kept putting off. It was my first time at the meeting so I made small talk about running. And I got the impression that she thought I couldn't run. But that could have been me reflecting, because I felt bad for not running.
In any case, I got back home from the meeting and started to work and then about 2PM I decided to leave my desk and take a break. I went into the kitchen and started to look around. Then I pulled the ole switcharoo on myself. Before I could talk myself out of it, I threw on my running clothes and headed out the door. I didn't give myself time to talk myself out of it. I always try to keep all my running apparel and gadgets readily available so that I can do a quick change. So I did what my husband tells me to do every time I don't want to do something. Bring the body and the mind will follow.
My run was uneventful except for the fact that initially I didn't want to do it. It's a mental game folks. And sometimes you have to trick yourself into doing it. I did and it worked. Talk to any athlete and they will tell you that many times and I do mean many, they don't feel like working out but they do it anyway. Remember when your kids were small and they didn't want to try something. You would tell them to do it for 5 minutes and if they didn't like it, they could stop? Pretend you are a child, go out there and do it for 5 minutes. If you aren't feeling it, turn around and come home.
Well that is how Monday started out for me. Then I had to go to a Mom In Touch meeting this morning so I knew I was not going to go running before the meeting. Then I am slapped in the face with a mom, sitting on a towel at the meeting because she is still sweating. She had just run before the meeting and was still in her work out clothes. And yes I will admit it, I was jealous. She did what I kept putting off. It was my first time at the meeting so I made small talk about running. And I got the impression that she thought I couldn't run. But that could have been me reflecting, because I felt bad for not running.
In any case, I got back home from the meeting and started to work and then about 2PM I decided to leave my desk and take a break. I went into the kitchen and started to look around. Then I pulled the ole switcharoo on myself. Before I could talk myself out of it, I threw on my running clothes and headed out the door. I didn't give myself time to talk myself out of it. I always try to keep all my running apparel and gadgets readily available so that I can do a quick change. So I did what my husband tells me to do every time I don't want to do something. Bring the body and the mind will follow.
My run was uneventful except for the fact that initially I didn't want to do it. It's a mental game folks. And sometimes you have to trick yourself into doing it. I did and it worked. Talk to any athlete and they will tell you that many times and I do mean many, they don't feel like working out but they do it anyway. Remember when your kids were small and they didn't want to try something. You would tell them to do it for 5 minutes and if they didn't like it, they could stop? Pretend you are a child, go out there and do it for 5 minutes. If you aren't feeling it, turn around and come home.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Community
Have you every woke up to a perfect day? I did this morning. We had a rare day of low humidity, clear skies and cool temperatures. Let me define cool. It had not reached 80 degrees. Nuff said. So my run today was very freeing. I was free of exhaustive heat, high humidity and mosquitoes.
And can I just give a shout out to the men that work for the city and cut the grass at our city parks and along the trail? They are always so considerate to runners. If you run by them, while they are mowing or weed eating, they will stop their machines and wait for you to run or walk by them. I don't care if you are male, female, young or old. They will stop. I really appreciate that. I have bad allergies and try not to run on Tuesdays because that is their normal day to do the parks. But sometimes the rain prevents them from mowing on Tuesday and our schedules collide. Such was the case this week. So here ya go lawn men...Cheers for being so considerate!! You rock!!
It was a great day to run because I wasn't try to run from mosquitoes so I was able to focus on other things. I mainly focused on you guys. If you have never heard me say it before, when I run sometimes I think of you guys. All of you come to mind, Kris, Christina, Jen, Rebekah, Tina, Mr. And Mrs F, GoIrish, CarrieN, Bsrmm( i never get that one right), Libby and everyone else that logs into the sites that I visit. I think about how your last run went and what the weather is like on your runs. I do a little comparison. No snow here and no hills to conquer. I just have flat trails and great weather.
Last night at Bible study we talked about the church and aspects of church, such as community, accountability, encouragement and unity. And all of those traits ring true in our daily threads. We all encourage eachother when we have good runs, or when we can't seem to get out to run or just had, what we felt, is a bad run. We check in with eachother on Facebook or Twitter when we haven't seen someone in a while. We all seek to become more fit and to be more than what we already are. We check in daily in our thread to see how everyone is doing. Yes, what we have is community.
Now, you may not have the same belief system as I do or have any belief system but the good advice still rings true. If you haven't found a community of friends to share your running experience go out and get some. Go online to weightwatchers.com or active.com and make some friends. Or you can go to meetup.com and find some local running buddies. In either case, don't do this alone. You were built for community. You will find that as you run, you will do so much better when you aren't alone. Even if your running buddies are thousands of miles away.
Happy Running!
And can I just give a shout out to the men that work for the city and cut the grass at our city parks and along the trail? They are always so considerate to runners. If you run by them, while they are mowing or weed eating, they will stop their machines and wait for you to run or walk by them. I don't care if you are male, female, young or old. They will stop. I really appreciate that. I have bad allergies and try not to run on Tuesdays because that is their normal day to do the parks. But sometimes the rain prevents them from mowing on Tuesday and our schedules collide. Such was the case this week. So here ya go lawn men...Cheers for being so considerate!! You rock!!
It was a great day to run because I wasn't try to run from mosquitoes so I was able to focus on other things. I mainly focused on you guys. If you have never heard me say it before, when I run sometimes I think of you guys. All of you come to mind, Kris, Christina, Jen, Rebekah, Tina, Mr. And Mrs F, GoIrish, CarrieN, Bsrmm( i never get that one right), Libby and everyone else that logs into the sites that I visit. I think about how your last run went and what the weather is like on your runs. I do a little comparison. No snow here and no hills to conquer. I just have flat trails and great weather.
Last night at Bible study we talked about the church and aspects of church, such as community, accountability, encouragement and unity. And all of those traits ring true in our daily threads. We all encourage eachother when we have good runs, or when we can't seem to get out to run or just had, what we felt, is a bad run. We check in with eachother on Facebook or Twitter when we haven't seen someone in a while. We all seek to become more fit and to be more than what we already are. We check in daily in our thread to see how everyone is doing. Yes, what we have is community.
Now, you may not have the same belief system as I do or have any belief system but the good advice still rings true. If you haven't found a community of friends to share your running experience go out and get some. Go online to weightwatchers.com or active.com and make some friends. Or you can go to meetup.com and find some local running buddies. In either case, don't do this alone. You were built for community. You will find that as you run, you will do so much better when you aren't alone. Even if your running buddies are thousands of miles away.
Happy Running!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Hot and Steamy VS Cold and Wet
Someone posed the question, do you prefer to run when it is hot and steamy or when it is cold and wet. I have decided I prefer cold and wet. I ran today in a muggy 94 degrees and it was not fun. The humidity just seemed to weigh me down. And the mosquitoes, oh my goodness, they were so bad. You know my feeling about them...hey if they suck enough blood, maybe it will show on the scale as a drop in weight. I'm kidding.
We really didn't run today. It was really just a fast walk, which for me is a regular walk. But it felt good to get out and I am not going to become a running snob. I can go for walks and not feel defeated or less than. And when I see someone walking, I am not going to think less than them either. They are out there doing their thing. Good for them. It is better than my years sitting couped up in my house just watching TV or scrapbooking. Now, I am not saying to throw away your TV or stop your hobbies. Just do them in moderation if they require you to sit for hours at a time.
So, as I write this, I am listening to my playlist at playlist.com. It is all my running music. If you are ever in a rut and don't feel like running, surround yourself with running things. Have your playlist playing at work. If you can change your screen saver or desktop to something customized, change it to something inspiring. Have your workout clothes laid out somewhere visible. And if all else fails, go buy something cute to wear when you run. Nothing inspires me more than a cute Tee or pants. Heck in can be shoelaces or a headband. Check in with your running friends. If you don't have any, make some.
Happy Running!
We really didn't run today. It was really just a fast walk, which for me is a regular walk. But it felt good to get out and I am not going to become a running snob. I can go for walks and not feel defeated or less than. And when I see someone walking, I am not going to think less than them either. They are out there doing their thing. Good for them. It is better than my years sitting couped up in my house just watching TV or scrapbooking. Now, I am not saying to throw away your TV or stop your hobbies. Just do them in moderation if they require you to sit for hours at a time.
So, as I write this, I am listening to my playlist at playlist.com. It is all my running music. If you are ever in a rut and don't feel like running, surround yourself with running things. Have your playlist playing at work. If you can change your screen saver or desktop to something customized, change it to something inspiring. Have your workout clothes laid out somewhere visible. And if all else fails, go buy something cute to wear when you run. Nothing inspires me more than a cute Tee or pants. Heck in can be shoelaces or a headband. Check in with your running friends. If you don't have any, make some.
Happy Running!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
I hear voices in my head
I went for my first run in a week. It rained yesterday and I couldn't bring myself to run on the dreadmill. So I just jumped into running. It rained so hard yesterday that parts of the trail still had huge puddles that you couldn't jump. What a rush to run through the puddles!! I felt like I was in a Nike commercial to "Just Do It".
But I realized tonight, as I was reviewing my run from this morning, I remembered the little voice that I had during the run. You may know him. He is a Debbie Downer...hmm he may actually be a she. But he/she usually shows up about minute three of my runs. And he nudges me on my shoulder and says, "Hey, I want to walk to now." "Can we stop now?" Gosh, he just won't shut up.
So this is what normal run can sound like. I will begin at minute 3 of the run. "Excuse me, I am tired. Can we stop?" I say, "No, not yet, we will stop in about 3 minutes." He seems satisfied for awhile. I start thinking about the song I am listening to or the rabbit that just crossed the path when he nudges me again, "Hey I thought you said we were going to stop." I say, "Oh yeah, I forgot...hmmm...lets go up to the skateboard park and then we'll stop". And when we get to the park he asks me again and so on and so on.
My husband was a runner in his younger days. He mentioned that he constantly wanted to stop but wouldn't. I thought he was just crazy. When my mind use to tell me to stop, I stop. Who knows better than my mind what is good for my body? But now I know what he means. Running is just as much mental as it is physical. There are many times that my mind will try to limit what my body can do. I can't give in to the mind. I have to do what is good for the body.
But I realized tonight, as I was reviewing my run from this morning, I remembered the little voice that I had during the run. You may know him. He is a Debbie Downer...hmm he may actually be a she. But he/she usually shows up about minute three of my runs. And he nudges me on my shoulder and says, "Hey, I want to walk to now." "Can we stop now?" Gosh, he just won't shut up.
So this is what normal run can sound like. I will begin at minute 3 of the run. "Excuse me, I am tired. Can we stop?" I say, "No, not yet, we will stop in about 3 minutes." He seems satisfied for awhile. I start thinking about the song I am listening to or the rabbit that just crossed the path when he nudges me again, "Hey I thought you said we were going to stop." I say, "Oh yeah, I forgot...hmmm...lets go up to the skateboard park and then we'll stop". And when we get to the park he asks me again and so on and so on.
My husband was a runner in his younger days. He mentioned that he constantly wanted to stop but wouldn't. I thought he was just crazy. When my mind use to tell me to stop, I stop. Who knows better than my mind what is good for my body? But now I know what he means. Running is just as much mental as it is physical. There are many times that my mind will try to limit what my body can do. I can't give in to the mind. I have to do what is good for the body.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
I will be a street walker in 24 hours!
I can't wait. Tomorrow is Friday and that means I get to test my ankle. Tomorrow I will try just walking a mile or so. If all seems good, then Saturday morning I am going for a run. I'll make sure to take my phone just in case. I don't want to get injured on the trail and then not have a way to call someone to come get me.
Send some good vibes my way!!
Send some good vibes my way!!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
I am bored
I can't wait until I can get out and run or anything. I hate being injured. I really hate that I was not injured while running. I was walking to my car. Say, what? Yeah, you heard me right.
Anyway, I don't even trust my ankle to bike or even go up my stairs at home. I originally figured that since I can't run, maybe I would do some scrapbooking. However, my studio is in the bonus room, which is upstairs. I can't get up the stairs, so I am stuck on the ground floor with my sicko family.
I think I will try walking on Friday and if it goes okay then I will run on Saturday morning. Praying for a cool front to come through so that it isn't so hot and humid.
Happy running!
Anyway, I don't even trust my ankle to bike or even go up my stairs at home. I originally figured that since I can't run, maybe I would do some scrapbooking. However, my studio is in the bonus room, which is upstairs. I can't get up the stairs, so I am stuck on the ground floor with my sicko family.
I think I will try walking on Friday and if it goes okay then I will run on Saturday morning. Praying for a cool front to come through so that it isn't so hot and humid.
Happy running!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
We Boob Troop, Why don't you?
So this weekend I ran in the Race for the Cure in Houston. Let me just start out by saying if you have not signed up for one in your area, leave my blog and go find one in your area and sign up. Here, I'll even make it easy for you: Click this Race for the Cure and find one in your area.
I don't care if you are a runner, a walker or just starting out. Sign up for the race. You wanna know why? Not just because I am a survivor, though that is a good selfish reason. Sign up because so many people run, walk or wog. There is no way you will feel out of place. There were over 30,000 people at the event here in Houston. That's right, 30K. Most people never run 5Ks except this one. They had a group of friends from work, church, school or some other organized group that said "hey you want to run with me in the Race for the Cure?" And they said, yes.
Now did they run? Well most of them walked, and I mean most of them. Why is that great? Because you won't feel pressured to run the whole thing. So you get the experience of a first 5K without the pressure of running the whole thing. Now, I am not going to get on my soap box about how your goal for the first 5K is to just finish. But you know how I feel.
So what better way to get the first 5K under your belt than to do one that is so unique and big that there is no way you will feel out of place. You know why? Because you will see all walks of life out there. Young kids, teenagers, moms, survivors, those still fighting, old men, old women, pink hair, no hair, size 2, size 22, tall, short, running, walking, skipping, walking with their dog, running with funny hats...you name it. There is no way you will feel "different".
Look I am fluffy. I totally can relate to being embarrassed by running in public. I have been there. I have been the one tugging at my shirt when someone past by or letting out a huge sigh when I thought I was alone on the trail and someone passes me or someone drives by me and they have to slow down to make a turn and in the back of my head I am thinking they are slowing down to get a better look at the fluffy gal that is running. Again, read my older posts.... don't worry about that. But if you still want to, then sign up for the Race for the Cure. You will never feel more accepted and loved than you will at this.
Every bridge you run under, every turn you make, heck every 10 yards, there are people cheering you on. There is loud music playing and people just having a good time. When you get your race bib, memorize your number. Every once and a while, turn the Ipod down and listen to them chant your number, "Go 264! You're doing great 264! You are amazing 264!" I even gave some of them my princess wave ( you know closed hand, just a slight twist of the wrist).
Now with 30K of people, it can take up to 30 to 45 minutes before you even pass the starting line from the time the gun goes off. That is okay. If you have a chip, then as soon as you touch the mat that runs across the starting line, your personal time will start counting. Then when you cross the finish line, it will calculate your personal time.
Oh and if you think it is too hard. There is so much activity going on around you, bands playing, people handing out goodies, different organizations performing, that you will forget you are running and just have fun....and running should be fun.
So on a personal note: my Nike+ failed me again and found myself running in silence at the end of the race. Of my team of 12, I was the last one in. I was about 7 minutes behind the person before me....so what? My finish time was 54:19. I finished in 3135 place out of 4142 competetive runners. And I am proud of it!! The longest time for the run? 2 hours and 24 minutes for the competitive runners. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!
Look, I am not trying to tell you what to do, well actually I am. If you are just starting C25K or any running program or maybe you are about to finish, sign up for a 5K. If you can sign up for the Race for the Cure, please do so. This race is unique because it attracts more than just runners and even avid walkers. It attracts all different levels of fitness or lack of fitness and you are guaranteed to feel comfortable and welcome.
If you sign up for one, let me know when you will be running and I will make sure to cheer you one and see how you did.
Race for the Cure and so should you
I can't even begin to tell you what today meant for me. I went and ran with 30,000 other fabulous people. Yeah you got that right, 30K. My Nike plus failed me.....again. I was so upset. at mile 2.64, it just froze on me.
I will do a race post in a few hours. I need some sleep and rest.
I will do a race post in a few hours. I need some sleep and rest.
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