phewwww (that's me letting out a BIG exhale)
It's been a while since I've posted so let me update you quickly on how it's been: a big mix of good and bad. Since the whole myshinsfeelliketheyarescreaming episode, I took to doing 50 minutes of the eliptical and elipticalstairsteppercraziness (I love that machine) after my yoga class Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Which felt great (p.s. love getting back to yoga!).
My dad recieved a call from a good runner friend who had terrible shin splints in high school and cured them forever with orthapedic inserts. So for my last two runs (last night and tonight) I ran with my dad's pair to see if anything changed. The results are inconclusive at this point (I have some pain but it doesn't feel as bad) but I'm hopeful... I'll keep you updated.
These last two runs have been glorious. We've established that I love running at night. Check. But I had forgotten how great it is to run with music (I haven't since probably mid March). I had ALSO forgotten just how good it is to run when you can't deal with the world anymore. The stars aligned and all three elements were present. I've created an awesome running mix that includes everything from tribal beats to Christian to musicals to pop to oldies to country to R&B to acapella. All I need is a prominent beat. Honestly "Unwritten" plays right next to "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" followed by "Troublemaker." Anyone who knows me knows such a playlist pretty much sums up my tastes. Of course on nights like tonight I skip "Somebody Like You" and "Perfect Day" in favor of "Shut Up" and "Hate Every Beautiful Day" which only makes me run harder. I knew it was time for a late night run when I was so lost in my own head that I didn't even know which way was up. The combination of stress + PMS + being homesick for Gordon = major need for endorphins. I still don't feel great but I certainly feel better.
Last night I lasted about 15 minutes before needing to stop (I'd like to justify myself to you (and by you, I mean me) by saying that I went out really fast-- I had a lot of anxious energy pent up) and then walked for a couple minutes and ran another 7, walked 2, and ran another 5. Not impressive, but... ready for this? ...
...running felt good for the first time in a LONG time. So I'll take my stop and go pace.
Tonight I ran around each circle in my neighborhood at a really decent pace and arrived back home without looking at my time (once I look the first time, I count every passing second. Excruciating). I was literally smiling as I ran up to my driveway, thinking "I made it the whole way without stopping and I feel like I could keep going!" Well, turns out it had only been 20 minutes, so I stretched for 3 minutes (acknowledging some pain in my knee and shin) and talked myself fairly easily to run for another 20. I'm so glad I did. My pace slowed down a bit-- at one point I think I probably looked like a waddling penguin (embarrassed, I quickly picked up the pace!) but it felt like a great workout (and it was full of uphills and downhills!). The last song that played as I headed home was "Fire Burning" which naturally made me smile and run with a spring in my step, thinking of my WE staff.
For those of you looking for encouragement and not a downer-blog, here's something: You can do it. Honestly. If I can run for 40 minutes carrying around a few pounds of lard you can do whatever it is that you're up against. I have this quote on the wallpaper of my phone that reads "If you hear a voice within you saying "You are not a painter, then by all means paint... and the voice will be silenced" -Vincent Van Gough. Own that. I think it's unbelievably motivating to realize the power we have to shape the people we are. I believe in a Creator who designed us uniquely and is ultimately sovereign so I'm not an advocate of self-help salvation, but in some ways we really do control our destiny. God gave us free will and the brains, bodies, hearts, and souls to perceive what is good and the recources to chase that. How cool is that?
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Casper Relay Marathon
Saturday morning I headed over to my cousins' house to meet up with my Aunt Illene and my two cousins AJ, 15, and Philip, 13. After loitering in the kitchen for a while-- filling water bottles, snacking on cookies, munching some potato chips, and chatting-- we said goodbye to the parents and hopped in the car. Armed with his driver's permit, AJ took the steering wheel and we headed north towards Casper, Wyoming. Four hours worth of Illene's favorite game "Name This Band" later, we arrived in Casper, met up with Illene's friend Mary Beth (the first leg of our relay and the woman who began this whole adventure), checked into our hotel and headed back for a pre-race pasta dinner. There we met a man from Atlanta who's goal is to run a marathon in all 50 states. He began five years ago and has run 25 so far. He plans to run 9 this year alone. I racked his brain for advice for a first time marathoner (such as myself) and he told me to make sure I was having fun. "Get your mileage in and don't worry about speed." He recommended not running more than 4 times a week lest it feel like work. After we'd had our fill of salad, bread, pasta, chicken, sausage, and fruit we headed to our hotel to watch I Am Legend (great movie!) and wento bed at 10pm.
I woke up at 5:30 Sunday morning, put on my underarmour shorts, black running shorts, my triple sports bra (strap em down!) and my bright pink Girls On The Run shirt-- in honor of Illene. (The back reads "So I run like a girl... got a problem with that?") I stood in front of the mirror for a minute or two, debating whether or not to put on makeup-- ended up siding with vanity and put a little on, grabbed my water bottle, popped a few IB profen (shin splints) and headed to the car. We found our way to the convention center-- which looked like a giant pizza hut on top of a hill-- and met up with Mary Beth. As we pinned our numbers on our shirts and our "relay" signs on our backs, I was surprised by how calm I was. I'd been telling myself this was just another training run and apparently my self-delusion was working. We saw Mary Beth off at the start and drove to her 3 mile point on the course to cheer her on. Then we headed to my exchange point at mile 6.5. It was only when I began to stretch (yes Dad- I stretched before my run) did I feel a pang of nerves. I got positioned and soon enough saw MB in her baby blue running down the hill. We exchanged a double hand high five and off I went!
That run was the first time since I've been home that I've run alone and so I was nervous about my pace but luckily ever since I started swimming I've had a solid awareness of pacing. All along the way my cardio vasular was decent (my one major hill was a little rough, but still fine) so that was encouraging. The only thing that went wrong was my feet. Around mile 2.5 they started to go numb and then by mile 3 I felt like there was a sharp rock stuck in my right shoe. I stopped to walk three times (once for a swig of water and twice because of the pain in my foot) which wasn't ideal but so it goes. The course was really pretty-- most of my part was running on a path along the Platte. I was so thankful to be the second leg because it was already really warm by that time (and we all know how I feel about running in the heat).
I didn't get an actual split of my time but I figure I ran about 10 minute miles with walking and all. Our team placed 7th out of 19 teams and ran the whole thing in 3:55:11... an average of about 9 minute miles. After we rested up, took some pictures and ate (I didn't mention the FEAST they had at the finish line for us), we headed back to the hotel for some hot tubbing and swimming. Then we showered and headed towards Greeley for a family reunion. The whole experience was a lot of fun and it was great to have a little experience running in a race. I'm glad I didn't take it too seriously cause it wouldn't have been worth the stress but I do have a lot of work to do between now and October. I'm pretty nervous about how my body will hold up (my shins hurt as I type this... two days later) but all in all I'm excited.
I'm gonna run that marathon gosh darn it.
I woke up at 5:30 Sunday morning, put on my underarmour shorts, black running shorts, my triple sports bra (strap em down!) and my bright pink Girls On The Run shirt-- in honor of Illene. (The back reads "So I run like a girl... got a problem with that?") I stood in front of the mirror for a minute or two, debating whether or not to put on makeup-- ended up siding with vanity and put a little on, grabbed my water bottle, popped a few IB profen (shin splints) and headed to the car. We found our way to the convention center-- which looked like a giant pizza hut on top of a hill-- and met up with Mary Beth. As we pinned our numbers on our shirts and our "relay" signs on our backs, I was surprised by how calm I was. I'd been telling myself this was just another training run and apparently my self-delusion was working. We saw Mary Beth off at the start and drove to her 3 mile point on the course to cheer her on. Then we headed to my exchange point at mile 6.5. It was only when I began to stretch (yes Dad- I stretched before my run) did I feel a pang of nerves. I got positioned and soon enough saw MB in her baby blue running down the hill. We exchanged a double hand high five and off I went!
That run was the first time since I've been home that I've run alone and so I was nervous about my pace but luckily ever since I started swimming I've had a solid awareness of pacing. All along the way my cardio vasular was decent (my one major hill was a little rough, but still fine) so that was encouraging. The only thing that went wrong was my feet. Around mile 2.5 they started to go numb and then by mile 3 I felt like there was a sharp rock stuck in my right shoe. I stopped to walk three times (once for a swig of water and twice because of the pain in my foot) which wasn't ideal but so it goes. The course was really pretty-- most of my part was running on a path along the Platte. I was so thankful to be the second leg because it was already really warm by that time (and we all know how I feel about running in the heat).
I didn't get an actual split of my time but I figure I ran about 10 minute miles with walking and all. Our team placed 7th out of 19 teams and ran the whole thing in 3:55:11... an average of about 9 minute miles. After we rested up, took some pictures and ate (I didn't mention the FEAST they had at the finish line for us), we headed back to the hotel for some hot tubbing and swimming. Then we showered and headed towards Greeley for a family reunion. The whole experience was a lot of fun and it was great to have a little experience running in a race. I'm glad I didn't take it too seriously cause it wouldn't have been worth the stress but I do have a lot of work to do between now and October. I'm pretty nervous about how my body will hold up (my shins hurt as I type this... two days later) but all in all I'm excited.
I'm gonna run that marathon gosh darn it.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
ahhh Shin Splints
Dear Friends,
I have an unfortunate update: my shin splints have returned. Apparently it was the 1.5-2 weeks off of running during finals and my road trip home, and not my new shoes that made them disappear.
This morning we began the four mile square that surrounds my house (Dry Creek-Quebec-County Line-Holly) and I was feeling decently optimistic. It's a hilly route but given my success the other day and the cool weather this morning I was prepared to conquer the darn thing. With my very first steps my shins were screaming at me (I had been aware of their stiffness/sorness the previous two days just walking around) but as I continued on the pain became more dull and less sharp so I thought I'd be fine. When we stopped to stretch about a mile in, however, I was in quite a bit of pain. I'm used to training with pain (thanks to my high school swim coach) so I'm not a good judge of when I should push it and when I should stop. Thankfully my dad is a much better judge of such things, so we walked home with me wincing and limping a bit, and discussed our two options: going to a orthepedic or exploring Newton running. We'll pursue both.
To make up for my lame-o run, I headed over to Lone Tree Rec Center and did an eliptical, weights, and ab work out. Thankfully the eliptical doesn't hurt at all so that might be the best option to maintain leg strength/adjust to altitude/build cardio endurance without aggrevating my shins.
Hopefully two days off of running will be enough rest to get me through my leg of the marathon relay Sunday. We'll see.
I have an unfortunate update: my shin splints have returned. Apparently it was the 1.5-2 weeks off of running during finals and my road trip home, and not my new shoes that made them disappear.
This morning we began the four mile square that surrounds my house (Dry Creek-Quebec-County Line-Holly) and I was feeling decently optimistic. It's a hilly route but given my success the other day and the cool weather this morning I was prepared to conquer the darn thing. With my very first steps my shins were screaming at me (I had been aware of their stiffness/sorness the previous two days just walking around) but as I continued on the pain became more dull and less sharp so I thought I'd be fine. When we stopped to stretch about a mile in, however, I was in quite a bit of pain. I'm used to training with pain (thanks to my high school swim coach) so I'm not a good judge of when I should push it and when I should stop. Thankfully my dad is a much better judge of such things, so we walked home with me wincing and limping a bit, and discussed our two options: going to a orthepedic or exploring Newton running. We'll pursue both.
To make up for my lame-o run, I headed over to Lone Tree Rec Center and did an eliptical, weights, and ab work out. Thankfully the eliptical doesn't hurt at all so that might be the best option to maintain leg strength/adjust to altitude/build cardio endurance without aggrevating my shins.
Hopefully two days off of running will be enough rest to get me through my leg of the marathon relay Sunday. We'll see.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
4 miles. Check.
Friday Dad and I went for a late afternoon run. Poor choice. I hadn't had lunch, it was over 90 degrees outside, and I still can't breathe here. Needless to say, I didn't last long. We ended up walking the entire second half our three mile loop and I had a near asthma attack (sheesh, that is a scary feeling when you breathe in but can't get enough oxygen... my heart goes out to all your asthmatics!). Lesson learned: don't run in 90 degree weather on an empty stomach without being adjusted to the altitude.
Last night was a different story. We left the house at 10pm to accommodate for our late dinner and the Bachelorette (which my entire family ended up watching!) and went for a 4 mile run on the paths behind my neighborhood. As we started out, Dad asked me if I preferred a large hill at the beginning and a gradual decline from there on out, or a gradual incline the whole way and a steep decline at the end. Is that a legitimate question? Obviously, I chose the former.
Psalm 119:105 says "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." I remember hearing once that the lamp the Psalmist refers to would have only provided enough light for a step or two, and that is how our walk with the Lord ought to be-- taken by faith, and not by sight. I was thinking about that as we ran last night only by the ambient light of interior house lights and distant street lights. I struggle to keep running in broad daylight, when I can see the path clearly ahead of me and can easily calculate how far I've left to run. But at night, as we run without even the light of the moon, I am only able to see a few feet ahead of me, and poorly at that. Ironically, it's easier to keep going when all I can focus on is the next step. I think the Lord knows that. He knows we couldn't handle to see the whole picture, so he reveals things little by little, piece by piece, giving us just enough information or insight to act in obedience. We'd be overwhelmed otherwise.
Although I strongly prefer running at night, it still wasn't easy. As I wrote in my first blog post, one of my motivations to train for this marathon is to regain the discipline I lost when I quit swimming. Last night was further confirmation of the weak state of my mind. With virtually every step I wanted to quit... not for any legitimate reason... but simply because it was hard. The temptation to stop was at points overwhelming but I overcame that by reciting this phrase-- "beautiful legs, beautiful body." Sounds ridiculous, right? But it worked. Whenever I wanted to stop I said that phrase over and over and over (making it my virtual companion for the last two miles). The inspiration for the phrase came from my dear friend Amelia who gave me marathon advice a few months ago. She told me that after all the months of training that my legs would be beautiful. For some strange reason, that stuck with me. The second part is one of my deepest motivations for running at all... I want my body to be in beautiful shape.
Anyway, I made it the whole way. It was a good feeling to finally accomplish something I promised myself I would (too frequently over the last few months have I given into temptation to take the easy way out). I'm slowly on the path toward regaining mental discipline
One of my favorite standby phrases is "Rise up and do the next thing faithfully." Reciting that over and over narrows my focus and allows me to continue on in the midst of stress or anxiety and to continue on after failure. It's my hope that whatever situation you find yourself in today and always, that you would find encouragement in that the Lord only ever asks us to rise up and do the next thing faithfully.
Last night was a different story. We left the house at 10pm to accommodate for our late dinner and the Bachelorette (which my entire family ended up watching!) and went for a 4 mile run on the paths behind my neighborhood. As we started out, Dad asked me if I preferred a large hill at the beginning and a gradual decline from there on out, or a gradual incline the whole way and a steep decline at the end. Is that a legitimate question? Obviously, I chose the former.
Psalm 119:105 says "Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." I remember hearing once that the lamp the Psalmist refers to would have only provided enough light for a step or two, and that is how our walk with the Lord ought to be-- taken by faith, and not by sight. I was thinking about that as we ran last night only by the ambient light of interior house lights and distant street lights. I struggle to keep running in broad daylight, when I can see the path clearly ahead of me and can easily calculate how far I've left to run. But at night, as we run without even the light of the moon, I am only able to see a few feet ahead of me, and poorly at that. Ironically, it's easier to keep going when all I can focus on is the next step. I think the Lord knows that. He knows we couldn't handle to see the whole picture, so he reveals things little by little, piece by piece, giving us just enough information or insight to act in obedience. We'd be overwhelmed otherwise.
Although I strongly prefer running at night, it still wasn't easy. As I wrote in my first blog post, one of my motivations to train for this marathon is to regain the discipline I lost when I quit swimming. Last night was further confirmation of the weak state of my mind. With virtually every step I wanted to quit... not for any legitimate reason... but simply because it was hard. The temptation to stop was at points overwhelming but I overcame that by reciting this phrase-- "beautiful legs, beautiful body." Sounds ridiculous, right? But it worked. Whenever I wanted to stop I said that phrase over and over and over (making it my virtual companion for the last two miles). The inspiration for the phrase came from my dear friend Amelia who gave me marathon advice a few months ago. She told me that after all the months of training that my legs would be beautiful. For some strange reason, that stuck with me. The second part is one of my deepest motivations for running at all... I want my body to be in beautiful shape.
Anyway, I made it the whole way. It was a good feeling to finally accomplish something I promised myself I would (too frequently over the last few months have I given into temptation to take the easy way out). I'm slowly on the path toward regaining mental discipline
One of my favorite standby phrases is "Rise up and do the next thing faithfully." Reciting that over and over narrows my focus and allows me to continue on in the midst of stress or anxiety and to continue on after failure. It's my hope that whatever situation you find yourself in today and always, that you would find encouragement in that the Lord only ever asks us to rise up and do the next thing faithfully.
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