Life Gets in the Way

It seems like whatever race season I pick, life gets in my way

I have a job that requires occasional late evening work. Usually I like this because I can use it to have flexibility with some other areas of mylife--a late evening can make a short Friday, for example.

Sometimes though, I end up on a stress project where you are working 12+ hour days, evenings and you hope and pray that your weekend stays free. This happened to me last month--right at peak marathon milage!

I did the best I could, but the lack of sleep, stress and long hours took their toll. I did my 16 miler--my Father In Law came to town--there was a weekend with no rest!

I couldnt' do my track workout with my group, so I did it on my own. I missed the rest of the runs that week due to work and more work, plus the needs of my family. I did my 18 miler which was pretty good, but had horrible leg cramps during the run.

I worked through the next week, staggering through the track workout on my own again. Once again I missed all my cross training and runs for that week, started getting sick too. The 20-22 miler was up for that week--I ran it by myself and suffered in the nearly 90 degree heat for the last 10 miles--I did 21 and walked the last 1.

I like running because I learn a lot about myself. This time I learned that I have to accept what I get and I can't always just push my way through training. I also learned that I really hate missing dinner with my husband and daughter in order to get my run done. I would fix dinner for them and then nearly be in tears as I headed out the door. I knew there was no way that I could do speedwork after dinner, so I did this--I hope I don't have to do it again.

I'm finally feeling better, just in time for my marathon. I guess what I want to say is that this happens--usually at the worst possible time--and that you do the best you can.

Run Proud

"He taught me to run high on my toes. I will always remember his words: run proud & remember you are alive."

I love StoryPeople by Brian Andreas. I get them emailed to me everyday. Now that I am a 'runner' and run marathons, this message had new meaning for me.

My Body is Calling--Am I Listening?

I have lost over 60 lbs. on various diets over about 15 years. Truthfully I lost and found many of those pounds many times over the years. I try to eat healthy, try to eat the correct amounts, try to adjust my intake for my activity level. You'd think after all this time, after this success, I would have this all down. However, I find that when my miles creep up, my weight does as well.

Last year I gained over 5 pounds as I trained for my first marathon. That doesn't seem like a huge number, but if you are a Weight Watchers Lifetime member, that can put you back into the place where you have to pay each month rather than it being free. There are significant health issues in my family that makes maintaining a healthy weight essential for me. Add that to the recent Runner's World article stating that 5 pounds equals 5 minutes on marathon times makes me realize that controlling my weight is more than just health, vanity or frugality--I need it to run faster! This seems to motivate me more than the other reasons--probably because I see the impact rather quickly.

I know what to eat, I know about how much to eat--so why do I overeat? I think it is because after all these years I have forgotten how to listen to my own hunger signals. I think that I am being strong when I don't eat when I'm hungry and weak if I eat. I am afraid that if I give myself the freedom to eat, I will never stop eating and my diet will consist of pasta, peanut butter and M&MS. I also find that because I have let myself get so hungry in the past, that I am actually afraid of my own hunger and try to "eat prevenatively" to avoid hunger. None of these extremes are good for me.

But is it really this simple--Wait until you are hungry, make healthy choices, and stop right before you are full? Why is it that running 10 miles is easier than putting my fork down before my plate is empty?

So this is what I am trying:

1. Ask myself if I am truly hungry before I eat--and wait to make sure I really am hungry rather than just thinking that I might be hungry.
2. Allow myself to eat if I am hungry. If this means eating lunch at 10:30, this is okay too.
3. Put down the fork and remind myself that food will be there later
4. Make the healthy choice when eating--peanut butter, pasta and M&Ms all do have a place in a healthy diet!
5. Eat the correct amount so that I am hungry in the morning, and before each meal.

I have learned to adjust my workouts for fatigue, sore muscles and my energy level. This involved listening to and trusting my body to tell me what it needed, but also knowing when to push a workout and when to back off. I can learn to trust my body for fuel as well. It will talk to me--I just need to stop and listen.

When will running get easier?

Someone on a marathoner message board asked that question--that got me thinking.

I always had a vision of myself as an experienced runner. I would be gliding effortlessly along the path/trail/road. My legs and arms moving gracefully, my breath even.

(Sound of record screeching) Nope that's sure not me--at least not all the time. I find that as I progress, I still work hard--not because I am working to run at the same pace, but because I want to continue to improve my running.

Saturday I had one of those endorphin runs. I got to the end of my run and discovered I had more in my tank than I thought and was able to maintain a faster than usual pace and still run hard at the end of the run. It was one of those runs that makes you believe you have made a break through--at least until tonight.

Tonight's run was hard. It was actually for 10 less minutes than the Saturday run. I ran out on a trail I hadn't run yet this year. My mile splits were not what I wanted them to be and I started making all kinds of excuses--"It's hot" , "I didn't wait long enough after dinner", "I'm just having a bad run", "This part of the trail is rocky (it actually was) and I need to be careful here". I had a whole list and I started to drop into my misery.

I turned around at 25 minutes and headed back. I started to think about my run and told myself that I knew every run wouldn't be an endorphin moment--they couldn't all be. Every great, fantastic run is built on the blocks of the not so great feeling runs around them. I decided to get all that I could out of my run. I told myself I need to work on my form--knees up, arms down, shoulders back and relaxed, head up. I fell into the rhythm of my run. When I wanted to slow I told myself to go on, to be faithful, to be strong.

I negative split the run by 1:30--that's a pretty huge margin for me! Maybe it wasn't a horrible run after all, or maybe it just stopped being one when I changed my attitude.

Athlete, Me?

How I see myself may not be the way that someone else does. To me I think an athlete is a professional individual who has a toned sculpted body competing on a high level or is good at what they do. Others may precive me as an athlete but my self image does catergize myself there. For instance do these marathon times, 5 hours 39 minutes, 5 hours 38 minutes, 5 hours 58 minutes, 5 hours 11 minutes, conjure up the imagine of an athlete? To me they don’t. They are the image of a back of the pack runner hoping to finish before they tear down the finish line. So, therefore, I don't consider myself as an athlete. I look at those times and see the determination of completing something that has been started. I do though think of myself as an active person who likes to do endurance events and put in the training required. I train hard for any improvement seen and to acheive goals set. These gains however aren’t from natural talent. Crosing the finish line is more about mental strength and fortitude rather than phyiscal ability. I am competitive but only with myself as a progression of my improvement. So I wonder I can run and bike and finish events entered but does that make me an athlete? Who decides what I am? I may be an ‘everyday’ athlete that inspires other that know me but not in the context of a ‘professional’ athlete. Being active and healthly is the most important part no matter if you consider yourself an athlete or not. Being out there is all that matters and that you are having fun. Again, I ask, me an athlete. Maybe my mindset will get there.

Running is a Simple Sport?

You read books about running and they say it is such a wonderful, simple sport because all you need is a good pair of shoes--and a good bra if you are female.

So how come I need so much stuff? Last Saturday I had (from head to toe)

• Running hat (protects head, absorbs sweat, keeps sun out of my eyes)
• Sunglasses (protects eyes from both Sun and flying insects)
• Running bra (absolutely essential)
• Heart Rate Monitor strap
• Garmin 305 GPS and sport watch
• Running shorts'
• Sport Glide and Vaseline for Toes, feet, bra straps
• Asics Kayano socks
• Asics Kayano shoes with SuperFeet insoles
• Sunscreen

I also carried:

• Camelbak FlashFlo (with 1 liter of Gu2O orange flavor)
• 1 Gu brand sports gel (plain flavor)
• Tissues
• 1 Bike bottle with ice and water (left in car for after the run)
• Blue Ice reusable cooler pack (left in car)
• 1 Can of Lactose Free Slimfast French Vanilla drink (left in car on blue ice pack for post-run)

All of this for a 10 mile run (1:37)

Admittedly, I would not need to get all of this ready if I ran out and back from my house. I drive to my favorite running trail because I like the gravel path, and the slant on my neighborhood streets aggravate my ITBS. I also like to run with my training group.

I always say I carry this stuff because I'm a mom, and I like to be prepared and find the feeling that I have what I need to be comforting. Still, I show up for my group runs and people don't have water, don't have gel, didn't eat breakfast, don't wear sunscreen. Most of my fellow group members are 15-20 years younger than I am--but should I be taking less, or should they be taking more?

In a way I envy them--not having the extra weight and all. But then I hear them talking about how tired they are for the rest of the day, and how they don't recover from their runs. This year I have been feeling pretty good after about an hour of rest after my long runs.

Maybe my stuff and I are just fine!

An Ode to a First Aid Kit

Today after my long run, I had to deal with a huge blister and a hole rubbed in my middle toe. I have also been taping my feet before every run with trainer's tape. I realize that my pre- and post-running first aid supplies have taken over the table next to my couch and there was no room for the usual remote, coaster and box of tissues!

Now you may say that a normal person would just put all of this stuff back in the medicine cabinet after being done with it. The problem is that the last thing you want to do after running over 10 miles and finally sitting down, is get up again!

So now, I have a first aid box that I keep under the couch. Here are its contents:

• Trainer's tape in 1.5 and 1 inch widths
• Small scissors for cutting the tape
• Body Glide
• Bottle of hydrogen peroxide
• Cotton balls
• Sterilized quilting pin for lancing blisters
• Tube of bacitraycin
• Box of band-aids
• Air Salonpas spray
• Jar of menthol ice gel
• Tube of foot cream with menthol

Now, anyone that comes to my house will not know that running has taken over my life... unless they happen to know me. ;-)