My official marathon training doesn't start until next month. I have just over a month of 'freedom' left. But I don't want to start from the beginning this season. Also, I want to perform better on this marathon than my first one. On top that, I'm a mentor for Team in Training this year. Which means I don't want to get my butt kicked on every team run this year. I'd like to at least be able to hold my own with my own mentees. I probably still will get my butt kicked. But still, why not try?
So I started a half marathon training program today. It's a program for 'intermediate' runners and includes tempo runs, speed work and strength training. Day one went ok. Weight lifting is boring and makes me tired. But, it'll be worth it to gain strength and eventually speed.
Kris and I signed up for another half marathon in July. It is 13 weeks out and my program is a 12 week program. So I almost have the timing right. :)
The half marathon is almost 6 hours away from where we live. We usually don't do 'destination runs' unless they are full marathons. But this one is ran at night!! How cool is that? It's in July in the CA inlands. So they HAVE to run it at night so people won't die in the desert heat. Cool.
The after party runs until mid-night and the medals? ...They glow in the dark! Oh yeah, Ima get me a glow in the dark medal!
Let's run!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Get On the Bus!
My legs were screaming at me to stop and rest. Suddenly, I realized I was walking funny. I mean, funnier. I looked down at my feet and saw I was walking on the outer edges of my feet! My souls were facing each other and I was walking with the outsides of my feet on the ground!
What was that about? I put my feet flat on the ground and kept walking. A few seconds later my feet had curled to the outside again! I flattened them out and tried it again. I didn’t understand why they were doing that. The bottoms of my feet didn’t hurt ... much. Or maybe it was just that I couldn’t really feel much from the waist down.
But I kept thinking the buses had to be near by. We had been walking through a wooded area and now were passing through a tunnel that was under a bridge. I was torn between trying to get to the buses as fast as possible and not letting my legs fall off in the process.
Finally, I gave in. We were walking through this tunnel and I just could’t go any more. I told Kris I had to stop for a second. I knew I shouldn’t sit on the ground. But I needed to get off my feet. So I had Kris carry me. Just kidding!
I just leaned on the side of the tunnel for a few seconds. I was embarrassed because everyone walking by could see me. I didn’t see anyone else stopping. I didn’t like being the only one. Kris, bless his heart, must have known what I was thinking because he said, “Don’t worry. They all only did the half.”
I got back on my feet and kept walking. We found ourselves exiting the wooded area right on to a sidewalk on perhaps Fulton St. It was weird how we were just in a nice little woods and then bam! we’re back on the busy streets of San Francisco.
We saw a bus!!! Yeah we made it! I thought. But not quite yet. There were busses lined up for a mile down the street. (That is not an exaggeration). It was important to get on the right one or else you risked being dropped off at a place no where near your hotel.
So we started walking down the street and I noticed these weren’t even the TNT buses. The good news is I could see the TNT buses were way up the street. So at least we were getting closer.
My walking was slowing down with every step. I was grimacing in pain with every footfall. I couldn’t wait to sit down. This trek to the bus was worse in some ways than the actual marathon. And I was getting colder and colder.
We got to the first TNT bus and I noticed there was a bus for certain hotels. As previously mentioned, there are thousands and thousands of TNT athletes. We basically descend on San Francisco like a massive purple swarm seeping into the city from all sides on Friday and fill most of the hotels with our peppy purple people for the weekend. We needed LOTS of buses.
I prayed that my bus would be one of the firsts. But alas God wanted me to know how tough I am (thanks for your faith in me God) and I could see a sign that indicated our bus was at the very end of the row. So I pointed my feet in that direction and kept walking.
At the third bus from the end Kris stopped. I thought, “What is he doing??? Doesn’t he know if I stop I might not be able to start up again? Oh my God can’t we just get on our bus???”
Kris started to turn like he we were going to get on that bus.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“This is our bus. See it says ‘Union Square’”
“But it doesn’t have our hotel listed. It doesn’t go to our hotel. Ours is at the very end.”
A look came over Kris’ face that I could only interpret as, ‘How am I going to get her to the end bus? It’s been a monumental feat to get her this far!’
“Let me check,” he said. Thankfully, he left me on the sidewalk while he talked to the driver. There was no way I was going to walk up the bus steps only to have to come back down them. I stayed on the sidewalk and contemplated getting a head start and heading for the end bus on my own.
Kris came back and said, “I’m sorry honey. Ours is the very end bus.” Then I think he muttered a couple four letter words. But actually that might have just been my brain cursing.
So we plodded to the very end bus and sure enough it had our hotel name on it. As it turned out, it was actually a benefit to us that we had the very end bus. But more on that later. I made it up the bus steps with Kris behind me.
As soon as I turned down the aisle I saw teammate Patti. I hadn’t seen her all day. On the training runs she would usually start out behind me. Then about mile one she’d pass me and become just a dot in the distance never to be seen again until the finish line.
I yelled, “Patti! Way to go girl!” only I think it came out “Ahyee! Whtey oh ga!” and just two rows down on the other side I see my running partner Cindy and her husband Larry.
“Oh! Cindy!!” I was so happy to see her. She looked like she was doing great! I bent down and gave her a big hug and kiss on the cheek. Her husband probably gagged at the smell of my funk. But after five months of training together I knew Cindy didn’t even notice!
We made our way to the back of the bus and sat down. Glory of glory it felt so good to sit!! Now that I was on the bus I was ready for it to go! But of course we had to wait. And that’s when the tremors started.
Now that I was sitting and I had no foil blanket or extra jacket, my body temperature kept dropping. I had been shivering. But now every once in awhile, I would just convulse for a second. It was freaky. I tried to keep talking to Kris to keep my mind off it but I would be in mid-sentence and I would jerk and tremor for a second. Kris did not like this any better than I did.
Finally the bus pulled away from the curb. This is where it was good to be at the end. It was good that I had to walk for the longest time possible and sit on the bus for the shortest time possible. Otherwise, I would have been shivering for a longer time.
Even though Kris tried to warm me up, I kept convulsing every few minutes on the ride back. And the ride seemed to take forever!! I remember thinking to myself, ‘Man! Why is it taking so long to get to the hotel??‘ Then I remembered well, we did run a long way!
The bus ride was hard. I was was so cold and fatigued. I really wondered how I was going to get off the bus and get up to our hotel room. Truly it was about a mile from the hotel curb to our room. It was a big hotel. I couldn’t imagine getting into an ice bath once back at the hotel. But I knew my recovery depended on it. I was enduring the chill as it was. I could endure a little more.
The highlight of the bus ride was when I heard people exclaim, “Oh! The painted ladies!”
Victorian house that were painted with three or more colors were referred to as “Painted Ladies”. There are many in San Francisco. However the most famous are the ones across from Alamo Park on Steiner St. I have always wanted to go see them. But of all the times I’ve visited San Francisco, I’ve never made it by.
So when I heard the murmurs I looked up the street and there they were. As charming as I always imagined them. Some day I’ll go back and savor them. But for now I had to be content with a brief glimpse.
What was that about? I put my feet flat on the ground and kept walking. A few seconds later my feet had curled to the outside again! I flattened them out and tried it again. I didn’t understand why they were doing that. The bottoms of my feet didn’t hurt ... much. Or maybe it was just that I couldn’t really feel much from the waist down.
But I kept thinking the buses had to be near by. We had been walking through a wooded area and now were passing through a tunnel that was under a bridge. I was torn between trying to get to the buses as fast as possible and not letting my legs fall off in the process.
Finally, I gave in. We were walking through this tunnel and I just could’t go any more. I told Kris I had to stop for a second. I knew I shouldn’t sit on the ground. But I needed to get off my feet. So I had Kris carry me. Just kidding!
I just leaned on the side of the tunnel for a few seconds. I was embarrassed because everyone walking by could see me. I didn’t see anyone else stopping. I didn’t like being the only one. Kris, bless his heart, must have known what I was thinking because he said, “Don’t worry. They all only did the half.”
I got back on my feet and kept walking. We found ourselves exiting the wooded area right on to a sidewalk on perhaps Fulton St. It was weird how we were just in a nice little woods and then bam! we’re back on the busy streets of San Francisco.
We saw a bus!!! Yeah we made it! I thought. But not quite yet. There were busses lined up for a mile down the street. (That is not an exaggeration). It was important to get on the right one or else you risked being dropped off at a place no where near your hotel.
So we started walking down the street and I noticed these weren’t even the TNT buses. The good news is I could see the TNT buses were way up the street. So at least we were getting closer.
My walking was slowing down with every step. I was grimacing in pain with every footfall. I couldn’t wait to sit down. This trek to the bus was worse in some ways than the actual marathon. And I was getting colder and colder.
We got to the first TNT bus and I noticed there was a bus for certain hotels. As previously mentioned, there are thousands and thousands of TNT athletes. We basically descend on San Francisco like a massive purple swarm seeping into the city from all sides on Friday and fill most of the hotels with our peppy purple people for the weekend. We needed LOTS of buses.
I prayed that my bus would be one of the firsts. But alas God wanted me to know how tough I am (thanks for your faith in me God) and I could see a sign that indicated our bus was at the very end of the row. So I pointed my feet in that direction and kept walking.
At the third bus from the end Kris stopped. I thought, “What is he doing??? Doesn’t he know if I stop I might not be able to start up again? Oh my God can’t we just get on our bus???”
Kris started to turn like he we were going to get on that bus.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“This is our bus. See it says ‘Union Square’”
“But it doesn’t have our hotel listed. It doesn’t go to our hotel. Ours is at the very end.”
A look came over Kris’ face that I could only interpret as, ‘How am I going to get her to the end bus? It’s been a monumental feat to get her this far!’
“Let me check,” he said. Thankfully, he left me on the sidewalk while he talked to the driver. There was no way I was going to walk up the bus steps only to have to come back down them. I stayed on the sidewalk and contemplated getting a head start and heading for the end bus on my own.
Kris came back and said, “I’m sorry honey. Ours is the very end bus.” Then I think he muttered a couple four letter words. But actually that might have just been my brain cursing.
So we plodded to the very end bus and sure enough it had our hotel name on it. As it turned out, it was actually a benefit to us that we had the very end bus. But more on that later. I made it up the bus steps with Kris behind me.
As soon as I turned down the aisle I saw teammate Patti. I hadn’t seen her all day. On the training runs she would usually start out behind me. Then about mile one she’d pass me and become just a dot in the distance never to be seen again until the finish line.
I yelled, “Patti! Way to go girl!” only I think it came out “Ahyee! Whtey oh ga!” and just two rows down on the other side I see my running partner Cindy and her husband Larry.
“Oh! Cindy!!” I was so happy to see her. She looked like she was doing great! I bent down and gave her a big hug and kiss on the cheek. Her husband probably gagged at the smell of my funk. But after five months of training together I knew Cindy didn’t even notice!
We made our way to the back of the bus and sat down. Glory of glory it felt so good to sit!! Now that I was on the bus I was ready for it to go! But of course we had to wait. And that’s when the tremors started.
Now that I was sitting and I had no foil blanket or extra jacket, my body temperature kept dropping. I had been shivering. But now every once in awhile, I would just convulse for a second. It was freaky. I tried to keep talking to Kris to keep my mind off it but I would be in mid-sentence and I would jerk and tremor for a second. Kris did not like this any better than I did.
Finally the bus pulled away from the curb. This is where it was good to be at the end. It was good that I had to walk for the longest time possible and sit on the bus for the shortest time possible. Otherwise, I would have been shivering for a longer time.
Even though Kris tried to warm me up, I kept convulsing every few minutes on the ride back. And the ride seemed to take forever!! I remember thinking to myself, ‘Man! Why is it taking so long to get to the hotel??‘ Then I remembered well, we did run a long way!
The bus ride was hard. I was was so cold and fatigued. I really wondered how I was going to get off the bus and get up to our hotel room. Truly it was about a mile from the hotel curb to our room. It was a big hotel. I couldn’t imagine getting into an ice bath once back at the hotel. But I knew my recovery depended on it. I was enduring the chill as it was. I could endure a little more.
The highlight of the bus ride was when I heard people exclaim, “Oh! The painted ladies!”
Victorian house that were painted with three or more colors were referred to as “Painted Ladies”. There are many in San Francisco. However the most famous are the ones across from Alamo Park on Steiner St. I have always wanted to go see them. But of all the times I’ve visited San Francisco, I’ve never made it by.
So when I heard the murmurs I looked up the street and there they were. As charming as I always imagined them. Some day I’ll go back and savor them. But for now I had to be content with a brief glimpse.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Kris' "Last" Marathon
Kris' sentiments right after completing the Napa Valley Marathon. Three days later he mused, "I wonder if I can run more than 26.2 miles. Maybe I'll try a 50K."
Thursday, March 10, 2011
March Book Review
Naked in Knightsbridge by Nicky SchmidtMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
As you read chapter one, you quickly realize you are watching a train wreck. The main character is one of those people who consistently make bad choices hoping to take short cuts in life. You can see the wreck coming and you hope beyond hope the character turns the train around before it crashes. But she doesn't.
The rest of the book is about what happens after the crash and involves a psychopath, a politician and an angel in disguise. It has twists and surprises all along the way. It is the most unusual 'Chick Lit' book I have read. I could not put it down.
View all my reviews
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Gear Herding
I bet there are a lot of us out there who would stay truer to our fitness plan if gathering, schleping and repacking our ‘stuff’ were easier. I feel like I have a pretty good system down now. And thought I'd share some ideas in case it might help.
Participating in multiple sports require a lot of gear and clothes. I hate the packing and unpacking of a gym bag and gathering all the gear each time. Also, the wet gear from swimming is messy and can get funky when left in the gym bag too long.
I use the same gym bag for all my sports. That way I can keep essentials in there at all times. For example, you need sweat proof sunblock whether you are running, riding or swimming outdoors. So in one pocket of my bag I always keep sunblock. I also keep a tube of anti-chaff lotion because I need that whether I'm running or riding. (I hate chub rub!)
Let's talk biking first.
Then when I come off from a ride, I hang my helmet on the handlebars and put my shoes in the helmet. That way they are always together; always in the same spot. I never have to hunt them down.
Clothes: most of us do laundry on the weekend and it consists of all the clothes from the week. So if I had 3 runs, 2 rides and 2 trips to the pool, all those 'outfits' should be in my laundry right?
So when I fold my clothes, instead of putting all my running shirts in a pile, running shorts in another, cycling jerseys in another, etc I stack them by outfit.
I put a cycling jersey, shorts, socks, headband, and gloves in one pile. Then I do the same for the next cycling outfit and my running outfits. So I have little 'packages'. I put the small items (socks, gloves and head band) in between the shorts and top so they don't fall out. That way you just grab an outfit all together and put it in your bag or just jump into them if you are riding/running from home.
I never waste time gathering everything for each ride. I did all the gathering when I did my laundry. Who cares if this causes you to wear the same outfits week after week? For me, it's about convenience not style. :)
So the theory is you don't have to spend time gathering stuff before each outing.
Let's talk swimming. This is the hardest for me because of the wet items. For me, the challenge is to keep the dry stuff dry and not let the wet stuff get funky while not wasting too much time handling my stuff.
So, for swimming I have two mesh bags. A small one for my shower items. And a larger one for my towel and suit.
If I shower at the gym, I have a set of toiletries that are for just the gym alone. So I have one set of shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, soap, moisturizer, etc etc that stays in my gym bag. That way I don't have to gather anything up. It's just always in my bag. In the small mesh bag I put the items I take to the shower with me that will end up wet: Shampoo, soap etc.
When I go to the shower I take the whole bag and hang it on the water handle for easy access (also you don't have to put the bottles on the gross floor if there are no shelves in there).
As I use the items I put them back in the bag. When I get done with the shower, I keep that wet bag out of my gym bag. More on that later.
The large bag by this time has my swimsuit in it. When I changed out of it for a shower, I put it in the large mesh bag and kept that out of my gym bag. When I was done with my towel I put it in the big mesh bag with the suit.
Here's how you keep everything dry. I have two D-rings on the outside of my gym bag. One clipped to each side of the shoulder strap where it joins with the bag. I clip the mesh bags to the d-rings. This way the wet stuff air dries without getting the inside of the bag (and its contents) wet.
If I don't go straight home, I just leave it this way so the items can air dry in the car or wherever.
When I get home, I have a little work to do. I hang the towel and suit up right away to air dry completely. I have another towel and suit standing by. I hang my wet stuff and grab the dry replacements and put them in my gym bag. That way, I am ready to go for my next swim. I don't have to gather anything. I do this as soon as I get home. I find if I think I’ll do it later, I don’t. So do it right away when you get home.
When I come back from my next swim I exchange the wet suit and towel for the now dry suit and towel from the previous swim. So I am always ready to go and I don't have to spend precious time gathering all my stuff.
It's pretty darn easy once you set the system up and are disciplined to hang you stuff and rotate items. It helped a lot to stay on track because I had a lot less hassle with gear.
Monday, February 21, 2011
The Long and Winding Road
“We have to find the TNT check in tent so they know I am off the course”.
The most important thing to remember when running with TNT: when you cross the finish line, grab your medal and check in.
There are thousands of TNT runners on the course and TNT has to account for every one of them. So as each runner comes in, we check in so a TNT staff person can record in the computer who’s in.
Those people whose names are left on the “Not in yet” list are search for by the coaches back on the course. If they do not find you they call out the National Guard. If you are found back at the hotel sipping a beer and you just forgot to check in the coaches will kill you. If you are found dead on the course, the coaches will cut you a break.
If you are found on the course crawling to the finish, the coaches will walk next to you cheering you on until you finish. They’re good like that.
I did not want to be killed by my coaches for not checking in. (Actually, I just didn’t want to put them through the hassle to have to look for me when I was already in). Coach April and Coach Jim knew I was in. But they might not be the coaches assigned to sweep the course for the missing runners. So I still risked death if I didn’t check in.
Luckily the check in tent was nearby. I checked in and was given a 26.2 pin that was sort of like a second medal. I planned to put it on my TNT hat. But by the time I got back home to Santa Maria, I couldn’t find it!
I asked the nice lady at the tent where the TNT busses were. She pointed behind me and said, “Just walk that way.”
Sounded like they were close.
Kris and I started walking in the general direction indicated and I didn’t see any signs for TNT busses or anything. But there seemed to be a stream of people headed in the same direction so we started following them.
I was super cold now and I couldn’t wait to get on the bus. I probably should have stopped at the finisher’s boutique so I could have bought a sweatshirt. But too late now.
My legs were really hurting now. I think it was because my body temperature was dropping fast and it was causing them to cramp. (Plus the fact that I had been running on them all day probably had something to do with it).
I wasn’t even sure we were heading the right way as we seemed to have walked a long way already and still saw no signs regarding the buses. As we walked past a building I saw some people bring out a wheel chair. Oh, someone must have told them I was coming! But alas, they settled an elderly lady in it instead. I would have to keep up on my own.
I remembered I had to keep asking Kris to slow down. I could only walk at a snails pace. And it hurt.
Finally, we saw a nice man holding a big sign stating: “TNT BUSES” with an arrow pointed to the right. Finally! I’d be able to sit in a nice warm bus! But as we turned right, we just saw a lovely trail through a wooded area. Surely the buses were just through there right?
The most important thing to remember when running with TNT: when you cross the finish line, grab your medal and check in.
There are thousands of TNT runners on the course and TNT has to account for every one of them. So as each runner comes in, we check in so a TNT staff person can record in the computer who’s in.
Those people whose names are left on the “Not in yet” list are search for by the coaches back on the course. If they do not find you they call out the National Guard. If you are found back at the hotel sipping a beer and you just forgot to check in the coaches will kill you. If you are found dead on the course, the coaches will cut you a break.
If you are found on the course crawling to the finish, the coaches will walk next to you cheering you on until you finish. They’re good like that.
I did not want to be killed by my coaches for not checking in. (Actually, I just didn’t want to put them through the hassle to have to look for me when I was already in). Coach April and Coach Jim knew I was in. But they might not be the coaches assigned to sweep the course for the missing runners. So I still risked death if I didn’t check in.
Luckily the check in tent was nearby. I checked in and was given a 26.2 pin that was sort of like a second medal. I planned to put it on my TNT hat. But by the time I got back home to Santa Maria, I couldn’t find it!
I asked the nice lady at the tent where the TNT busses were. She pointed behind me and said, “Just walk that way.”
Sounded like they were close.
Kris and I started walking in the general direction indicated and I didn’t see any signs for TNT busses or anything. But there seemed to be a stream of people headed in the same direction so we started following them.
I was super cold now and I couldn’t wait to get on the bus. I probably should have stopped at the finisher’s boutique so I could have bought a sweatshirt. But too late now.
My legs were really hurting now. I think it was because my body temperature was dropping fast and it was causing them to cramp. (Plus the fact that I had been running on them all day probably had something to do with it).
I wasn’t even sure we were heading the right way as we seemed to have walked a long way already and still saw no signs regarding the buses. As we walked past a building I saw some people bring out a wheel chair. Oh, someone must have told them I was coming! But alas, they settled an elderly lady in it instead. I would have to keep up on my own.
I remembered I had to keep asking Kris to slow down. I could only walk at a snails pace. And it hurt.
Finally, we saw a nice man holding a big sign stating: “TNT BUSES” with an arrow pointed to the right. Finally! I’d be able to sit in a nice warm bus! But as we turned right, we just saw a lovely trail through a wooded area. Surely the buses were just through there right?
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Crossing the Line
Right after you cross the finish line the first thing you get is your blue Tiffany’s box with your medal in it. I think they do that because they want to get it into your fists before your body realizes the marathon is over and starts shutting down.
I felt great as I came across the finish line and was ecstatic when I got my box. Then right behind the firemen were people handing out empty ‘swag’ bags. That was smart because as you work your way away from the finish line you go through several areas and pick up goodies.
So I tossed my Tiffany’s box in the bag and headed for the shirt tables to pick up my “Finisher”’s shirt. They were out of my size (XL) but I held up a large and it looked like it was going to fit. I didn’t occur to me at the time that it was probably because I had sweat out 10% of my body weight over the last 26.2 miles.
Next, my timing chip was clipped off my shoe and I headed for the next table. The foil blankets were all gone. I could have really used one. I was moving slower now than I was on the course, and it seemed to be raining harder than ever. My body temperature was dropping fast. I was starting to feel it.
But they still had bottles of Gatorade to hand out. The nice boy who handed me mine cracked the seal for me first which I thought was very kind of him. I didn’t feel like drinking anything yet. (Common. But I should have tried to drink as much as I could). So I dropped the bottle into my swag bag and red Gatorade promptly bled all over my beautiful blue Tiffany’s box! Ugh!
Next was the photo tents where you could pose in front of different back drops with your friends for posterity’s sake. Before the marathon I had planned the post-marathon pictures I wanted to take. One with me and my running partner Cindy. One with Kris and I together and one with Kris pretending to drag me out of the picture by my leg. Ha! Ha! But at that moment, all I wanted to do was find Kris and get to the bus back to the hotel.
Kris found his way to me and said, “So what do you want to do first?”
He knew I had a lot of things I wanted to do after the marathon:
Go to the stretching tent and get a professional post-run stretch
Go to the TNT tent and eat.
Go to the Nike tent and eat some more while hanging with the professional runners and get a massage.
Get my iPhone and necklace engraved
Visit the Finisher’s Boutique and buy up as much finisher’s gear as I could carry.
“I want to check in with TNT so they know I’m off the course and then find the buses.”
“What about the finisher’s boutique?”
“I just want to get back to the hotel.”
“Are you going to skip the Nike tent?”
“I just want to get back to the hotel.”
I think that’s when Kris realized I was hurting.
I felt great as I came across the finish line and was ecstatic when I got my box. Then right behind the firemen were people handing out empty ‘swag’ bags. That was smart because as you work your way away from the finish line you go through several areas and pick up goodies.
So I tossed my Tiffany’s box in the bag and headed for the shirt tables to pick up my “Finisher”’s shirt. They were out of my size (XL) but I held up a large and it looked like it was going to fit. I didn’t occur to me at the time that it was probably because I had sweat out 10% of my body weight over the last 26.2 miles.
Next, my timing chip was clipped off my shoe and I headed for the next table. The foil blankets were all gone. I could have really used one. I was moving slower now than I was on the course, and it seemed to be raining harder than ever. My body temperature was dropping fast. I was starting to feel it.
But they still had bottles of Gatorade to hand out. The nice boy who handed me mine cracked the seal for me first which I thought was very kind of him. I didn’t feel like drinking anything yet. (Common. But I should have tried to drink as much as I could). So I dropped the bottle into my swag bag and red Gatorade promptly bled all over my beautiful blue Tiffany’s box! Ugh!
Next was the photo tents where you could pose in front of different back drops with your friends for posterity’s sake. Before the marathon I had planned the post-marathon pictures I wanted to take. One with me and my running partner Cindy. One with Kris and I together and one with Kris pretending to drag me out of the picture by my leg. Ha! Ha! But at that moment, all I wanted to do was find Kris and get to the bus back to the hotel.
Kris found his way to me and said, “So what do you want to do first?”
He knew I had a lot of things I wanted to do after the marathon:
Go to the stretching tent and get a professional post-run stretch
Go to the TNT tent and eat.
Go to the Nike tent and eat some more while hanging with the professional runners and get a massage.
Get my iPhone and necklace engraved
Visit the Finisher’s Boutique and buy up as much finisher’s gear as I could carry.
“I want to check in with TNT so they know I’m off the course and then find the buses.”
“What about the finisher’s boutique?”
“I just want to get back to the hotel.”
“Are you going to skip the Nike tent?”
“I just want to get back to the hotel.”
I think that’s when Kris realized I was hurting.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Post Marathon Stories: The Aftermath
Kris asked me why I stopped blogging about the marathon after I crossed the finish line. After all, quite a bit happened afterwards.
I’m not exactly sure. I was still very much riding the post-marathon glee wave. But I just didn’t have the gumption. Maybe after ten posts covering the blow by blow of the actual event, I felt people needed a break. Or maybe I just didn’t want to revisit the memories of post-marathon pain. Which is a little like child birth. Hurts like hell. But you forget it quickly.
I’m not exactly sure. I was still very much riding the post-marathon glee wave. But I just didn’t have the gumption. Maybe after ten posts covering the blow by blow of the actual event, I felt people needed a break. Or maybe I just didn’t want to revisit the memories of post-marathon pain. Which is a little like child birth. Hurts like hell. But you forget it quickly.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Forgotten Marathon Moments #3: It Hurts When I Sleep
The other day I was at a reunion of sorts with the TNT teams. It was the first time I had seen my fellow runners and coaches since the marathon.
A couple of us were swapping post-marathon stories when Lauren said: “Oh, and it hurt so bad just to turn over in bed!”
“Yes!” we all cried. I had forgotten about that! After the marathon, I laid in bed on my back. That was fine until in the middle of the night my body finally said, “Ok, time to shift position.”
As I tried to turn over, I noticed first that my legs weren’t going to move on their own to help propel my body over. Then I realized that to move my legs at all was going to be painful. But my body couldn’t stand being on its back any more.
With a Herculean effort, I rolled my upper body to the left and used my hips to roll my legs over with me. UhAahhhhhhhhh! I moaned. (Luckily I didn’t wake up Kris).
Why am I doing another marathon?? I think it’s like childbirth. It hurts a lot, but you forget the pain quickly and the result brings you a lifetime of joy.
A couple of us were swapping post-marathon stories when Lauren said: “Oh, and it hurt so bad just to turn over in bed!”
“Yes!” we all cried. I had forgotten about that! After the marathon, I laid in bed on my back. That was fine until in the middle of the night my body finally said, “Ok, time to shift position.”
As I tried to turn over, I noticed first that my legs weren’t going to move on their own to help propel my body over. Then I realized that to move my legs at all was going to be painful. But my body couldn’t stand being on its back any more.
With a Herculean effort, I rolled my upper body to the left and used my hips to roll my legs over with me. UhAahhhhhhhhh! I moaned. (Luckily I didn’t wake up Kris).
Why am I doing another marathon?? I think it’s like childbirth. It hurts a lot, but you forget the pain quickly and the result brings you a lifetime of joy.
February Book Review - Heist Society by Ally Carter
Heist Society by Ally CarterMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Written for teens, I enjoyed it very much though I haven't been a teenage in a long long time. Heist Society is about a high school teen with a very unusual upbringing. She was brought up in the family business; Art theft.
She enrolls in an exclusive private high school to leave the life and get started on a fresh new path. But she doesn't make it through her first semester until she is forced back into the 'family' for one last job.
View all my reviews
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Repost from End Fat Talk's Facebook Page
Thought this was a great article about loving ourselves like we should! (I.e., at least as much as we love others). Enjoy!
"Not to get all cheeky with clichés like "you must love yourself before you can love others," but how many of us truly adore, admire and respect our bodies? Just the way they are? Flaws and all?
Only about 10 to 15 percent of women, according to body-image expert and author of "Love Your Body, Love Your Life," Sarah Maria, who also says it's truly shocking that the vast majority of the current American population is dissatisfied with their bodies.
"One of the most pervasive cultural myths that is adopted by women is that they should somehow be different from how they are," says Maria. "This belief is internalized, and they spend their lives trying to be someone, trying to be perfect or better in some way. This is projected onto their bodies, and creates nothing but perpetual suffering and addiction."
For most women, that suffering begins with their weight, age or specific body parts (breasts, hips, butts and thighs top the list). And it's not surprising that society, media, peer pressure and Hollywood play a significant role in promoting the idea of a "perfect body" or even a "better body." Studies even show that when women see images of people they think have the ideal bodies, they feel more dissatisfied and ashamed of their own.
"This false belief drives people to chase after an illusion that does not exists, all based on a delusion that something is wrong with them to begin with and they need to change the way they look," adds Maria.
So if 90 percent of women don't like their bodies, the question then becomes, why? How can we be so critical about the very body that allows us to do what we do every day? The strong legs that run, jump, walk, hike, climb or bike. The beautiful arms that multitask at work, plant in the garden, care for our homes and give others a much-needed embrace. And the powerful core that bears our children, keeps us strong and holds us upright everyday. Our bodies are really amazing machines when you think about it. We just tend not to.
Women who seem to love their bodies the most are those who accept themselves no matter what, according to Maria. "They aren't worried about pleasing other people, and they know they are perfect just as they are -- not because they are special or look a certain way, but rather, they are perfect simply because they exist."
It's this confidence, this gratitude, this sense of purpose that allows a woman to feel great in and about her body.
For the majority of us who may lack that self-esteem and positive body image, the good news is that it's possible to change simply by starting to focus on what we have versus what we don't have.
Maria says the first step is to recognize that you have a negative body image and be willing to change it. From there, it's an ongoing process of shifting your attention. For example, whenever you find yourself obsessing about your body or lamenting how it looks, shift the focus instead to the gift of your body. "Each and every body is a true miracle -- a living, breathing miracle. Simply becoming aware of this fact can make all the difference in the world."
Psychologist Robyn Silverman agrees.
In her book "Good Girls Don't Get Fat", Silverman talks about the importance of "assets" or the positive aspects of a woman's life. The more assets we have, the more likely we are to thrive despite the negative messages out there about our weight, size, shape and figure.
"Assets such as an encouraging support system (positive parents, peer groups, mentors), a strong sense of purpose, positive self talk, positive role models and involvement in constructive activities like sports, extracurriculars and volunteerism all go a long way towards shaping the way we think of ourselves," says Silverman.
Again, it goes back to focusing on what our bodies can do -- not how flabby our arms are, how big our butt is or what the scale says every morning. In fact, why not get rid of that scale? Most of the time, we don't like what it says anyway, so why start our day with that negativity? Instead, focus on how you feel each morning. Let the amount of energy you have and your outlook on the day be your guide to making any shifts in what you eat, how much you exercise and how you relate to others -- not some idealistic image of someone else.
In addition, here are other ways that Silverman says you can learn to love your body:
Speak up: If you have friends or family who are constantly talking about weight, size and appearance in a negative way... say something! Many peer groups get into a pattern of "fat talk" that is detrimental to everyone. When you bring it up and ask to make your gatherings into a "Fat Talk Free Zone," you may be surprised how much others are sick of the fat talk too. If your friends aren't interested in changing that focus, re-evaluate who you are hanging out with!
Be accountable: Take note of when you feel happy with your body and when you feel the most dissatisfied. If you are unhappy after watching certain shows or spending time with certain people, make the necessary adjustments.
Focus on health, strength, joy and energy rather than weight: Eat and engage in physical activity that makes you feel great rather than tired and drained.
Think positive thoughts.
Volunteer your time: There is nothing like getting a little perspective to help you realize how fortunate you are. Volunteering can get our minds off what's wrong with our bodies and focused on how we can be helpful to others. When we are helpful to others, we feel gratified and valuable. We stop evaluating our worth based on appearance and start evaluating it by the good we do in the world.
Be the role model young girls need: We need more women to show young girls that we are more than a sum of our parts. Show them that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. Imagine a young girl you love (a daughter, niece, etc.) standing by your side at all times. What are you saying about yourself? About others? Realize that you are part of this culture and by changing the way you speak and behave around weight and appearance, you may just influence someone else to develop positive body esteem. Set the example!
"Not to get all cheeky with clichés like "you must love yourself before you can love others," but how many of us truly adore, admire and respect our bodies? Just the way they are? Flaws and all?
Only about 10 to 15 percent of women, according to body-image expert and author of "Love Your Body, Love Your Life," Sarah Maria, who also says it's truly shocking that the vast majority of the current American population is dissatisfied with their bodies.
"One of the most pervasive cultural myths that is adopted by women is that they should somehow be different from how they are," says Maria. "This belief is internalized, and they spend their lives trying to be someone, trying to be perfect or better in some way. This is projected onto their bodies, and creates nothing but perpetual suffering and addiction."
For most women, that suffering begins with their weight, age or specific body parts (breasts, hips, butts and thighs top the list). And it's not surprising that society, media, peer pressure and Hollywood play a significant role in promoting the idea of a "perfect body" or even a "better body." Studies even show that when women see images of people they think have the ideal bodies, they feel more dissatisfied and ashamed of their own.
"This false belief drives people to chase after an illusion that does not exists, all based on a delusion that something is wrong with them to begin with and they need to change the way they look," adds Maria.
So if 90 percent of women don't like their bodies, the question then becomes, why? How can we be so critical about the very body that allows us to do what we do every day? The strong legs that run, jump, walk, hike, climb or bike. The beautiful arms that multitask at work, plant in the garden, care for our homes and give others a much-needed embrace. And the powerful core that bears our children, keeps us strong and holds us upright everyday. Our bodies are really amazing machines when you think about it. We just tend not to.
Women who seem to love their bodies the most are those who accept themselves no matter what, according to Maria. "They aren't worried about pleasing other people, and they know they are perfect just as they are -- not because they are special or look a certain way, but rather, they are perfect simply because they exist."
It's this confidence, this gratitude, this sense of purpose that allows a woman to feel great in and about her body.
For the majority of us who may lack that self-esteem and positive body image, the good news is that it's possible to change simply by starting to focus on what we have versus what we don't have.
Maria says the first step is to recognize that you have a negative body image and be willing to change it. From there, it's an ongoing process of shifting your attention. For example, whenever you find yourself obsessing about your body or lamenting how it looks, shift the focus instead to the gift of your body. "Each and every body is a true miracle -- a living, breathing miracle. Simply becoming aware of this fact can make all the difference in the world."
Psychologist Robyn Silverman agrees.
In her book "Good Girls Don't Get Fat", Silverman talks about the importance of "assets" or the positive aspects of a woman's life. The more assets we have, the more likely we are to thrive despite the negative messages out there about our weight, size, shape and figure.
"Assets such as an encouraging support system (positive parents, peer groups, mentors), a strong sense of purpose, positive self talk, positive role models and involvement in constructive activities like sports, extracurriculars and volunteerism all go a long way towards shaping the way we think of ourselves," says Silverman.
Again, it goes back to focusing on what our bodies can do -- not how flabby our arms are, how big our butt is or what the scale says every morning. In fact, why not get rid of that scale? Most of the time, we don't like what it says anyway, so why start our day with that negativity? Instead, focus on how you feel each morning. Let the amount of energy you have and your outlook on the day be your guide to making any shifts in what you eat, how much you exercise and how you relate to others -- not some idealistic image of someone else.
In addition, here are other ways that Silverman says you can learn to love your body:
Speak up: If you have friends or family who are constantly talking about weight, size and appearance in a negative way... say something! Many peer groups get into a pattern of "fat talk" that is detrimental to everyone. When you bring it up and ask to make your gatherings into a "Fat Talk Free Zone," you may be surprised how much others are sick of the fat talk too. If your friends aren't interested in changing that focus, re-evaluate who you are hanging out with!
Be accountable: Take note of when you feel happy with your body and when you feel the most dissatisfied. If you are unhappy after watching certain shows or spending time with certain people, make the necessary adjustments.
Focus on health, strength, joy and energy rather than weight: Eat and engage in physical activity that makes you feel great rather than tired and drained.
Think positive thoughts.
Volunteer your time: There is nothing like getting a little perspective to help you realize how fortunate you are. Volunteering can get our minds off what's wrong with our bodies and focused on how we can be helpful to others. When we are helpful to others, we feel gratified and valuable. We stop evaluating our worth based on appearance and start evaluating it by the good we do in the world.
Be the role model young girls need: We need more women to show young girls that we are more than a sum of our parts. Show them that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. Imagine a young girl you love (a daughter, niece, etc.) standing by your side at all times. What are you saying about yourself? About others? Realize that you are part of this culture and by changing the way you speak and behave around weight and appearance, you may just influence someone else to develop positive body esteem. Set the example!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
First Hill Run of the Season
Untitled by anjil1206 at Garmin Connect - Details
This was the first hill training run I've done this season. They were just little rollers. But they felt like they were kicking my butt! Glad I did them though, of course!
This was the first hill training run I've done this season. They were just little rollers. But they felt like they were kicking my butt! Glad I did them though, of course!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Heather Has a Heart Arrhythmia....The Good Kind!
So the vet has just told me the results of Molly's blood work (all is good there). And I say, "Hey, before you hang up, I have a quick question about Heather. Last night I gave her a hug and I heard her heart beat. It sounded like it was missing a beat."
I went on to describe how it would beat three times then it'd pause and then beat three times. And it was such a regular pattern that I thought it must not be anything immediate/serious. But wanted to run it past her.
She said, "Oh yes that's thiofalisanictropalopogusicasmic arrhythmia. It is very common in super fit animals and is absolutely ok."
Phew! (I should tell you I made up the word 'thiofalisanictropalopogusicasmic' because I didn't recognize the type of arrhythmia she called it. But it sounded big and important).
She went on to explain that in "super fit" (her exact phrase) animals the heart will slow down when the animal exhales and speeds up again when they inhale. So it sounds like they miss a heart beat. Absolutely a good thing!
I was so proud! One because we have such a fit dog. Two because when I told her, "I try very hard to pay attention to what's going on with my animals." She replied "Yeeeeeah, [pause] I don't have many clients who are in tuned to their dog's heart beat."
Ha! Maybe I'll finally get that nomination for Mommy of the Year?
I went on to describe how it would beat three times then it'd pause and then beat three times. And it was such a regular pattern that I thought it must not be anything immediate/serious. But wanted to run it past her.
She said, "Oh yes that's thiofalisanictropalopogusicasmic arrhythmia. It is very common in super fit animals and is absolutely ok."
Phew! (I should tell you I made up the word 'thiofalisanictropalopogusicasmic' because I didn't recognize the type of arrhythmia she called it. But it sounded big and important).
She went on to explain that in "super fit" (her exact phrase) animals the heart will slow down when the animal exhales and speeds up again when they inhale. So it sounds like they miss a heart beat. Absolutely a good thing!
I was so proud! One because we have such a fit dog. Two because when I told her, "I try very hard to pay attention to what's going on with my animals." She replied "Yeeeeeah, [pause] I don't have many clients who are in tuned to their dog's heart beat."
Monday, January 31, 2011
Go Ahead, Laugh at the Gadget Girl
As you know, I love my gadgets. You may remember I got a little bit of teasing from my fellow runners from the TNT NWM team because I always ran with my Nike+ AND my Garmin. But let me tell you, I was happy I had both tonight. Nike+ paused itself tonight at the .21 mile mark. Grrrrr!
But my faithful Garmin tracked the whole thing! Run saved! Woot! Woot!
But my faithful Garmin tracked the whole thing! Run saved! Woot! Woot!
Did it again
Untitled by anjil1206 at Garmin Connect - Details
Just a little slower than the last time I did this route.
Just a little slower than the last time I did this route.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Getting back to it.
Untitled by anjil1206 at Garmin Connect - Details
I had fast splits tonight. If I can keep the progress up I can shatter my 2010 marathon time. 9 months to marathon 2011!
I had fast splits tonight. If I can keep the progress up I can shatter my 2010 marathon time. 9 months to marathon 2011!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Impossible is Nothing
Impossible is just big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary.
IMPOSSIBLE is NOTHING!
I don't know where this quote originated. But I want to live it!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Forgotten Marathon Moments #2: The Safeway Mile
Different sponsors would sponsor a mile of the marathon course. Safeway’s mile was cool because they had employees holding inspirational signs and there were also signs on the payment. There were several different signs. But the one I remember most:
“You own this road: because of all the Friday nights and Saturday mornings you gave up.”
“Noooo shit.” I thought.
“You own this road: because of all the Friday nights and Saturday mornings you gave up.”
“Noooo shit.” I thought.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Running on Coffee only
Untitled by anjil1206 at Garmin Connect - Details
I took off on this run on nothing but my morning coffee. Not so good. I walked more than run and felt the dehydration. But at least I got the run in. :)
I took off on this run on nothing but my morning coffee. Not so good. I walked more than run and felt the dehydration. But at least I got the run in. :)
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Nike Women's Marathon 2010 / Team In Training LLS
As I mentioned last month, I'd be posting some other people's videos of the 2010 NWM. Here is my FAVORITE by a runner named Nicholas. It was his first marathon too. And he ran to raise funds for cancer research also.
Not only is he a great marathoner, but he can run and shoot video like a pro!! As I watched his video, I could feel Nick's spirit. You probably can too. You can tell he is a loving soul. I sure hope I see him at NWM 2011. Go Nick Go!!!!
Little bit of trivia on this video. Nick started the same early start as I did. Of course I don't know him and didn't know he was running but you can tell by his video, he was only about 20 -25 feet behind me in the starting corral. And.......you can see Kris (my husband) in the row of spectators on the right side of the screen (he's the tall guy holding the camera) at time stamp 1:38. How funny!!!
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