Marathon?

Ever did something that you regretted but at the same time you are glad you did?  Well that is how I am feeling right now.  I have filled out an application to be part of a one year marathon challenge. Julie at Fatty Must Run, is in the process of starting a one year training program for a marathon.  So what, you say?  Ok, well here is the catch...you have to have a BMI of 25 or more in order to be even considered.

I subscribed to her blog about a month ago and when I read the entry from 4/22 that discusses the challenge, I read it and thought to myself, "That's nice. Crazy but nice."  She wanted us to share the challenge with friends. So being an abiding reader, I went to the Active Community forums and posted a new thread.  Then went to my Facebook and shared it with my friends on Facebook.  I made it known that I was not interested but someone out there might be.  DONE!

But I kept going back to that post and rereading it. And every time I read it, the shock value of it lessened just a bit.  On Friday, I decided to submit my application.  Yikes!  Ever since then I have been on this crazy roller coaster of "gosh I hope I am picked" and "I hope I don't get picked so that I have an excuse to not do it."

There is a huge side of me that wants to be picked.  Somehow I have rationalized that if I am picked that not only will I get a training plan but I would also get super powers.  With these super powers I would be able to train for a marathon and actually run one.  I fantasize about spending my mornings training on the trails. These super powers would give me the ability to cook healthy meals, organize my day to fit in all the training that I would need and my super powers would rub off on my family and they would love the new meal plans and help more around the house so that I would have more time to train.  Man the more I think about these super powers, the greater they become.

Then there is this tiny part of me called fear.  Fear tells me that I am not ready.  That I will lose my enthusiasm early into my training and I will have to hide from everyone out of shame.  Fears says my family will look at me and say, "See we told you, you are trying to do too much."  Fear says that this will just end up in failure and when I think about that failure, it is an infinite thing.  It reaches into all areas of my life.  My home would become messy, I would eat horrible food everyday, stop running and just sit on the couch each day and regret quitting and never forgiving myself for doing so. Fear is horrible and never nice.

I don't let myself stay in that head space for long...too sad.  So I fall back on "Where there is faith, there is no fear."  And faith is belief.  So I have decided to Believe.  My mantra will be She Believed she could, so she did. I'll remind myself that I have walked 20 miles three days in a row, if I can do that, then I can run 26.2 miles in one day.  I will believe that I can do this and remind myself it is not just saying yes and then the next day going out to run 26.2 miles.  No, it means I will start out small and build up miles over time. It is the same concept as couch to 5K and I believe in that concept.

When I received my application, it came with a note about the timeline for training.  She set out dates to run certain types of races. When I compare that to what I have already signed up for, I realize that I am already doing that part.  I am already building my mileage over the next few months.  I am doing a 5K this coming weekend and will sign up for more between now and August.  In September and October I am doing two 10Ks and in December I am doing a half marathon.  All of a sudden this huge task of running a marathon seems attainable.

So the big goal of doing a marathon will be at the back of my mind but I will focus on the task at hand and when it is done, I will check it off and move to the next.  So I will run a marathon, 5K at a time.

Juno Bra from Moving Comfort Review

A few weeks ago, I went to a Girls Day Out at Fit Tri Run in Galveston.  If you are ever in Galveston, visit them.  They are on the strand, an area of Old Galveston that has a bunch of quaint shops and restaurants.  I bought two Juno bras during my visit.  I wanted to give them both a good work out before I wrote a review.   They couldn't just take one workout and one washing.  No, they need to take a beating and keep on ticking...wait that is the Energizer Bunny....scratch that.  Let me precede this review with the following.     I do not receive these products for free or at a discount. I am just a normal consumer who buys things out of necessity and I like to share my opinions on it.  Ask my husband, I always give him my opinion. :)

If you are fluffy or just blessed with large bubbies, Moving Comfort has a bra for you.  I am both living large and large breasted.  I discovered there is nothing worse than trying to learn on how to run without being knocked around by my breast friends.  But it is not just that, when they have their own mind, they can really cause some balance issues.  I know people that are very critical about what they put in their hands because what they carry in their hands can throw there rhythm off. Well it is the same with bubbies.  When you leave them unsupported you may find yourself expending more energy to keep balanced than you do moving forward and you may not even realize it.  You have probably done this from the beginning and don't know the difference.  I didn't.  But now that I have seen the light, I will not go back into the darkness.

I am really impressed at the variety of bras they offer.  My first test drive with them was my Maia underwire high impact bra.  It is a back closure and the shoulder straps are adjustable.  My only gripe about them is the lack of variety in color. So these bras come in blah blah blah..I mean black, white and tan.  Sure if your are anti-fluffy and well endowed, the colors are endless with their other styles.  But once you add a layer of fluffy, all of a sudden they, Moving Comfort, seem to think that the layer of fluffiness has somehow smothered your desire for fashion and color.  But barring the lack of color it is a very comfortable bra that offers great comfort and support, without feeling like an underwire bra.

So when I arrived at TriFitRun, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the Juno bra comes in a variety of colors for a variety of sizes.   The bra offers great support.  It is a racerback with a back closure, which can make it a bit difficult to put on but once it is on, you will feel locked and loaded.  Your breastfriends are not going anywhere during your run...you have complete control of them. Not only do you have a sense of control but you also have a sense of better posture which helps with your breathing during a run...especially when you are gasping for air because you took off too fast. (Who said that?)

But here is one of the best features of Moving Comfort. If you aren't privileged enough to live near a place to get fitted, Moving Comfort has a superb online guide to help you.  It is called THE FITTING ROOM.  This tool will teach you so much about athletic bras.  If you were not a bra guru before you used it, you will be afterwards.

So I give the Juno two shoelaces up for comfort and style.  And I give the Fitting Room two laces up for ease of use and information.

Boston Marathon...I will finish the race

  Tax day.  If you asked me yesterday in the morning what I would have journaled about, I would have said about my dread of the tax day.  But by the end of the day, my focused had changed.  No longer was I worried about taxes.  Now I wondered about the Boston Marathon and all those people injured.  Or worst... those that were killed.  I have feared running...can I finish, did I train enough, am I going to be the last one in?  But never, never in a million years would I have thought "Am I going to die?"

And I still won't.  I am a fighter I am an American and we know no fear but fear of The Lord.  NO other shall control me.  So tomorrow I will run for Boston. I will do my best to represent...no matter how slow or how short...I will run the race that is set before me.

No one will take that from us.  Let the media speak of fear but we speak of hope and strength.   I will run today with Boston on my mind.

C25K W1D2 Becky Look at her Butt

I woke up this morning tired. So tired that it was 11 am before I actually opened my eyes.  Woman Problem Alert! (if your a guy...skip to the next paragraph).  That first day of my monthly is tortuous.  I am lethargic and can barely get out of bed.  It reminds me of the days of chemo.  When I took chemo I would get hooked up on Friday and carried a fanny pack full of toxic meds until Sunday morning. Then on Sunday morning I would drive to my doctor's office and get unplugged and someone else would have to drive home. I don't know what it was about being unhooked but the moment the needle was pulled from my port in my chest, all my energy was gone and I would just sleep for three days.  Well that is how my  first day of my monthly feels. I feel zapped and have a difficult time getting out of bed.  So at 11 am today, my eyes opened for the first time. I performed my daily ritual of reading my emails

Hey guys, we are back.  Ok where was I?  Oh yes, I was reading my emails when I received a notice that a blog I found the other day, had a new post.  Her blog is The Fat Girls Guide to  Running"  She started to go for a run today when some stranger slapped her bootie and stopped her run.  So I asked myself, "What would Jesus do?"....kidding.  Unfortunately, my mind's first thought is "what would the flesh, aka I, do?" Well, I would slap his bum and say "right back at ya" and smile.  I am always looking for the shock factor. So I left a comment on her blog and jumped out of bed.

I decided I was going to go out and run for the both of us and I was going to do it boldly...enter the return to the 80s fashion.  You see, last night on my way home from Bible Study, I stopped at Target.  I needed new running attire and I am quite fond of the C9 by Champion collection that Target carries.  So, last night I bought me another pair of running carpi's and three bright colored shirts.

The shirts are not as flattering as I had hoped but they serve their purpose (cover the boobs and wick). The bonus is that they are bright and they stand out. There is no hiding or blending in with the scenery in these tops. You could see me from a mile away and it wasn't because of my size.   :) As a matter of fact, my daughter started her run about 10 minutes after mine and she said she could see my bright orange shirt in the distance. (I love it!)

As I went through my C25K intervals and listened to my music, her blog post kept going through my head.  And as I thought about it, I was more aware of my jiggling of my bootie. I don't wear compression shorts or pants, well at least not today.  So I felt each jolt of the cheeks as they bobbed up down and side to side with each stride, especially during the running intervals.  I tried to imagine what it looked like from behind.  However, my concentration was interrupted by a song on my running playlist, I Got it From My Momma.  And all of a sudden it didn't matter what it looked like.  I owned it and it was mine.  

I have my mother's hour glass figure.  My mother is a beautiful lady.  She has big beautiful brown eyes and a radiant smile and an hourglass figure.  She is not secure in her own skin and worries what others think about it.  The funny thing is that when I think of my mother, I don't think in terms of size.  If I think about her physically, I think about her brown eyes, smile and her hourglass figure.  I happen to think hourglass is a very flattering shape and I feel blessed that I got it from my momma.   Well, that thought was interrupted by Sir Mix Alots Baby got Back.  And I just love the beginning.."Oh my God Becky, look at her butt, its so big..she looks like one of those rap star's girlfriends..."  I don't care who is near me or how winded I am , I join in with a loud nasal voice and mimic them. And when he says, "I like big butts and I cannot lie.." for some reason I just take off and run.  There is something motivational about someone singing a praise to the big bottom girls.  

When I hear the praise, I no longer focus on the jiggle but focus on the fact that I love my bootie. Big or small, it is mine. So let it jiggle, let it sway, honey, I was made this way.  

So thank you Sir Mix Alot.  Yes, I do have a big butt and I cannot lie.  Thank you for reminding me that being big bottomed is more than okay.  So embrace it, shake it, Baby Got Back!

Are those sirens behind me? W1D1 Couch to 5K

Are you kidding me?  W1 D1 has been on my mind and a thorn in my side for weeks.  I was so hyped up to start running when I bought the new bra (video review of it later this week) and then I had to put on the brakes because of a heel spur.  Thankfully that is a thing of the past. 

So I was a bit upset with myself for not getting up this morning and doing my first run.  I was tired, I hadn't decided which app to use and my preferable headset was broken....need I say more?  So what to my surprise happened at lunch time?   You guessed it, I got my arse out there and did my personal best.  

My husband was home today and he kept repeating, as I dressed for my run, "Remember take it slow.  Don't over do it." over and over again he said it.  To which I finally responded..."This is COUCH to 5K. It is a program developed with the assumption that I have been sitting on my lazy A** all this time!  If I am worse off than a person sitting on the couch all day then lets call it One Foot In The Coffin to 5K!"  So I get a little dramatic.  It is who I am.  Even my IPad is engraved with "Let me be the musical that I am!" (actually I should write in all caps because I am so dramatic.)

Where was I?  Oh yes, my run.  I had perfect spring weather with low humidity.  However, my husband was right about being careful.  Apparently I didn't tie my shoes properly and during my first run interval, I almost tripped  so I had to pull over and retie all my laces.  Oh and always check which way the wind is blowing if you have a choice in direction when going for your run. You see, I wear a long white tech shirt that billows in  the wind.  And when the wind is to my back, it serves as a sail and I feel like the wind is urging me to go faster as it pushes me forward.  But, oh but, when I am facing the wind...well it just mocks me and I feel as if I am dragging a parachute behind me.

I have learned to listen to my body during my runs.Thank goodness I remembered that from the last time. So I knew when I was going too fast or when I could afford to "speed" up.  Ok Ok so I never passed the guy in front of me that seemed to be on a casual stroll but today I felt like a Kenyan!

Run the Red Carpet

I am in my last days of treating my heel and plantar fasciitis.  I must say, I have a new appreciation for stretching and doing the maintenance when it comes to physical activities.  But I am really anxious to start running again.  I want to be out in the sun. Well that's not the only reason.  It gets hot in my little town.  But not only hot, it also gets really humid.  I had hoped that I could get out there while it was still cool and low humidity and allow my body to acclimate to the increasing heat and humidity while I increased my mileage.

I am also contemplating joining a running clinic.  TriFit Galveston runs a clinic for different levels of runners.  My sister started last year and fell in love with running.  Are you getting a little anxious?  Did you just tell yourself "Oh I am not ready for that."  or "Running in front of people? No sir, I will stick to my treadmill in my basement where I can run in secret?"  Well if you did STOP IT!  If you desire to run, don't do it in the dark, it is nothing to be ashamed of desiring.  It is something to be proud of.  Most people that don't run, don't run because they think they can't.  The fact that your are even contemplating running means you already have more confidence than they do.  So put on your running shoes and get out there!

No?  Nothing? Still not doing it? Ok, then do me a favor.  Find the next 5K in your area and don't sign up.  Mark it on your calendar.  Get up that morning and go cheer on the runners. Sit on the side lines and cheer on the runner that runs like a gazelle with their fit "runner's" body.  Cheer on the preteen that is running their tenth 5K and just loves getting out there.  Cheer on the mom that runs most days with their child in a stroller. Cheer on the senior that has ran their whole life and never stopped. Cheer on the senior that discovered running a few months ago and are running their first 5K. But most importantly, cheer on the gal that is fluffy, like me.  The girl that can't buy clothes from the regular clothing section of most stores.  She shops Lane Bryant, not only for their cute styles but because they have styles she can actually fit into.  Cheer her on!  What am I saying?  There will not be just one gal that meets that criteria. There will be several gals just like her, just like you, just like me.  They are beautiful and they are strong and they are free.

 She isn't worried about people laughing at her or judging her.  She doesn't have time for that nonsense.  She is in awe of the strength in her body.  She has pushed it and it responded.  She rewards herself with a run down the red carpet.  Only this isn't just any red carpet.  This carpet comes in many colors and forms.  Sometimes it is a trail through the woods but most of the time it is a gray path that winds through the streets.  Her attire is not a little black dress and heels. No, she is dressed in fitted running shoes, wicking top and bottom and a number across her chest.  Oh how she loves her fans.  They line up for miles (3.1 to be exact) to cheer her to the finish.  She can hear them yelling, "we are proud of you" and "you can do it"!  She is the star and they are her fans and nothing else feels as good as this moment for her.

So if you are in your basement or guest room or living room and running on a treadmill, get out there and run with the other runners.  Go run your red carpet.  You are a star and stars are meant to shine, not flicker in the dark.  So if you aren't ready or don't believe me, be a cheerleader at the next 5K, you'll be glad that you did.

Out for repairs

Well it looks like the start of my new running adventures is suspended for repairs.  I went to see my doctor yesterday because I was experiencing discomfort in my right heel.  It felt as if I was stepping on a small pebble in one area of my heel.   It was not constant and it seemed to be at it's worse in the AM.  If you haven't guessed it, based on the symptoms, it is plantar fasciitis and a heel spur.  I have to admit, I have heard the term before and knew it was an injury but that is all I knew. But apparently, my running friends knew what it was based on my symptoms. 

Side note:  If you don't have any local running friends...find some.  Don't be discouraged by your size. You will find that runners are the nicest people and full of encouragement.  Two of my best friends are runners/triathletes/duathletes.

Dianne and Kelly are amazing people both off and on the course.  When I did Couch to 5K for the first time a few years ago (yes I have done it more than once), I saw them the day before my first 5K.  I had so many questions.  Should I carb up the night before?  Should I take energy bars with me?  How much water should I expect to drink?  Should I take Gatorade instead of water?  You would think I was running a marathon.  But at the time, it was a marathon to me.  Remember I was going from the couch to running.  But these two are actually marathon runners, triathletes, duathletes.  And they answered my questions with as much seriousness and concern as they would if I was in fact running a marathon.  They never giggled or said, 'Rozette it is just a 5K".  They just answered the questions and encouraged me on my run.  Dianne even offered to run back and run with me on the day of the race.   Good people and I guarantee you that if you find some runners around you and befriend them, they will be awesome also. 

Ok, where was I?  Oh yes, my  injury.  Ok, the information I am sharing is from my doctor.  I am NOT a doctor or physical therapist.  I am a fluffy runner sharing what was shared with me.  According to my doctor, this injury can be caused by sudden increase of activity; such as running, sudden increase in weight gain, flat feet,  poor stretching of calves and family tendency.  I am positive for running, flat feet, poor stretching and family tendency.  Apparently, the feeling of it worse in the morning than through out the day is a classic symptom.  Unlike many injuries that are caused by a pulled muscle.  This is actually a constricted muscle or ligament, which is why it is more painful in the morning.  The plantar fascia is a thick material, not sure if ligament, that stretches from the heel of the foot towards the toes.   If a part of the fascia experiences strain due to any of the reasons listed above, it can aggravate the fascia at the point where it is attached to the heel bone.  She explained that while we sleep, we point our toes and this constricts the ligament.  Then when we wake up and try to walk on it, the ligament is tight and painful to stretch, especially when it is inflamed. She noted that doing the towel exercise while still in bed will decrease the discomfort I may feel when I get out of bed.    So the doctor gave me a set of exercises to do and told me to take an anti-inflammatory.  My drug of choice is Alleve gel caps. She said if I do these exercises twice a day for a two weeks, I should be able to get back to running/jogging/walking/wogging. 

Towel curls:
Place towel on the floor and curl it toward you, using only the toes of your injured foot.  Resistance can be increased with weight on the end of the towel.  Relax, then repeat the towel curl.  Repeat 20 times, 2 times a day.

Shin curls:
Run your injured foot slowly up an down the shin of the other leg as you try to grab the shin with your toes. (Do this one sitting down). A similar exercise can done curing your toes around a tin can.  Repeat 20 times, 2 times a day.

Ice roll
Freeze a bottle of water or tin can.  Place the frozen item on the floor and roll your injured foot over it.  Do this for about 15 minutes then place the bottle back in your freezer for your next treatment.  Repeat 2 times a day.

Stretches
Stand at arm's length from a counter or table with your back knee locked and your front knee bent.  Slowly lean toward the table, pressing forward until a moderate stretch is felt in the cal muscles of your straight leg.  Hold 15 seconds. Keep both heels on the floor, bend the knee of your straight leg until a moderate stretch is felt in your Achilles tendon.  (Tendons attach muscles to bones; the Achilles tendon attached the muscles of the calf to the heel pull in your muscles and tendon, but no pain.  Changing legs and stretch the other leg.  Repeat 20 times, 2 times a day.

Towel Stretch (done before you get out of bed)
Take a towel or other material and wrap it around the middle of your toes.  (Keep your leg straight and toes pointed up.)  Pull your toes toward you by pulling the ends of the towels.  You should feel it in the bottom of your foot and back of your leg.

I should be able to return to running after two weeks. She emphasized that I MUST do them twice a day everyday.  So I will.  Here's to a speedy recovery.