Gifts that money can't buy are often the nicest gifts: breakfast in bed, a special dessert, a nice dinner, a sweet treat. If you are looking for a simple, yet special, gift for your running buddy, teammate, or active friend, enjoy making one of these recipes for a sports food that will be sure to please any hungry athlete!
Read on at Active.com...
Friday, December 4, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
A Runner Who Can’t Run
This is not a happy, chipper note.
So what does a woman do who has been told, “Do not run.” What is left when your only personal solace is the few minutes or an hour that you get a couple of times a week, with shoes gently slapping the pavement or dirt, and eyes turned skyward with the rising or setting of the sun, has been taken away from you? What does a woman do when she is told to go to physical therapy but can’t find one who understands athletes and is geographically close enough and who takes her insurance? For more than six weeks now I’ve been waiting for a diagnosis and last night it came in: Some people aren’t meant to run, Leah. It was a cruddy thing to hear, but hoping to persevere, I called the only physical therapist near my office, who is also an athlete.
We talked, discussed, shared and then scheduled a time for me to come in, only to discover that he doesn’t take Blue Shield HMOs. Oh…I held back my tears and said, “Thanks anyway.” To which he replied, “Good luck.” And that’s that. Good luck. With all the insurance and resources, it’s left to “luck” to heal me – to make me whole enough to run again. Well, luck hasn’t always been on my side and since I am not omniscient enough to know God’s plan, I think I’m at a standstill. My doctor said to give it six months. But what do I do until then? What happens after six months with no PT and muscles that have atrophied? What happens if it’s not better? What then, I ask?
What other sport besides running accepts all shapes, sizes and abilities, is social and allows you to chat and get to know people while exercising? Cycling? Nope. Swimming? Nope. I’m a runner who can’t run. My despair and frustration runneth over.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Writing from Sunny Down Under
No, I'm not in Australia. I'm...down...under. I've got the running blues. In part, I think, to the amount of time I have to work ...which leaves me with such a small amount to work-out. Thus, everything suffers. My knees, quads, hams and butt suffer. My abs, arms and stomach suffer. My mental anguish suffers the most. Still, the sun is shining inside this gloomy head. Why? Well, maybe it's the little, tinsy glass of champagne I'm having tonight celebrating my husband's homecoming from auto sales...but I'm certain it is also this internal sense of optimism I'm feeling.
Well, today ladies and gentlemen, I'm a dreamer. I dream of coming in under 5 at CIM (ha!). I dream of running pain and nausea-free (mostly!). I dream of touching people through Fit for the Holidays and helping them make their dreams come true. Tonight, my friends, spend some time feeling good about what is possible and worrying less about what didn't work today. (Okay, this is where everyone breaks out in song, holds hands and cries.) I'm with ya!
My body is filled with anxious excitement. Wow! There are so many things going on at once. Fit for the Holidays, Fit Business Awards, FRR, Nike Women's, family, sleep (well, maybe not so much of that). Could life be any more stupendous and exhausting? Is there a cliff to jump off of? Add the tiredness, nausea and a painful knee and I should be looking like a cross between a looney chicken and a feverish muskrat. But I'm not. I may be down under with my training, but I'm flying high with the possibility off growth. Isn't that what it's all about? If I was a super fast, strong runner what would I have to gain? If I could do all that I wanted, what would I be left with? I'll tell you what I'd be left with, no dreams!
Well, today ladies and gentlemen, I'm a dreamer. I dream of coming in under 5 at CIM (ha!). I dream of running pain and nausea-free (mostly!). I dream of touching people through Fit for the Holidays and helping them make their dreams come true. Tonight, my friends, spend some time feeling good about what is possible and worrying less about what didn't work today. (Okay, this is where everyone breaks out in song, holds hands and cries.) I'm with ya!
**Be on the lookout for more information on Fit For the Holidays. We'd love our Blog followers and readers to join in. More info will be on the Wellness Task Force and FRR websites soon!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Good reasons to run trails: Blood, Sweat and Beers
Trail running might just be my new found sport of choice. I haven't even been in to road running (not races anyway) that long and here I am switchin' it up already... but if you did it, you'd be hooked too!! It is interesting, an incredible workout and set in beautiful scenery. Last month I scarcely knew about it but when an email appeared reading "Blood, Sweat and Beers - It's Dirty Fun," my interest was piqued to say the least.For the more adventurous, Blood, Sweat and Beers is an inaugural trail run designed to introduce people to running trails, set against the American River Canyon and two cold brews await each runner at the finish line. SOLD! This is how I came to run my first trail run alongside my boyfriend, Christopher. It opened both of our eyes to whole new side of running.
I know many people for whom pounding pavement is monotonous and boring. Christopher, for one, has heard me preach the health benefits of vigorous physical activity and he watched me get fit as I trained for Parkway yet he has no motivation to run roads with me. I can't really blame him; some days I downright hate running too.
His hesitation isn't about not knowing how to run. It's not (entirely) that he's worried about his self-image. It's that he finds it boring. I think (because what would this blog be without my two cents?), it's also that running roads, even with headphones, doesn't provide enough distraction from the pain or fatigue. This is why when Chris and I have run together before, he's done after one mile! He could go on but finds no compelling reason to.Sunday, he ran 5.7 miles, the longest run in his life!
Why did trails do the trick when roads didn't? Trail running is like a game that keeps you on your toes--dodge the tree, watch this rock, leap over that crevice. It's more engaging so it keeps your mind off bodily ailments and it's so much more fun! Of course, celebratory beers at the finish are great incentives too.
Personally, I found trail running to be a much different, better workout. My abs and hip flexers felt particularly sore after Sunday but I didn't notice as much soreness in my legs like I do after paved runs. However, my glutes were killing me -- check out the course profile below and note the climb at miles 3 and 5!
I treated them as hill training for Nike Women's (San Francisco hills) and discovered that... I need to train more.One last plus about trail running: It's known in the world of running to be a better total body workout while it's easier on the body. Dirt and gravel are both softer than pavement which is better for feet and joints.
There are so many reasons to try trail running! I highly recommend whether you prefer to exercise in solitude, can't stand running under normal circumstances, like the wilderness, are prone to injury, or thrive on challenges. If you don't want to take advice from just me, then take it from pros: Get Off the Road and Onto the Trail. Check out Active.com Running tips on running trails.
*This race, I remembered to smile and wave for the camera.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Fit to Tri?
By Leah
So my good friends over at Total Body Fitness (TBF) sent me a notice inviting me to join them on one of their practice Tri sessions. Since I want to do the Luna Bar Triathlon in late August, I figured I better give this practice one a try. My eldest daughter had babysitting duty and cheerfully agreed to cook dinner for her sister and herself while I headed straight from work to the TBF event out at Lake Natoma yesterday.
It’s been almost a year (end of August will be one year) since I even thought about putting together a bag of gear to complete a tri. Let’s see…what did Coach Dan say last year? Checklist for a tri:
Coach Dan claims that the smaller the race, the longer the warm up one will need. I pedaled off telling myself not to push it on the bike, just to spin. Anyone who rides the Natoma loop knows the switchbacks, tight curves and rolling hills along the way. (Okay, funny side note. I started out riding on the wrong side of the road. I’ve been running so much lately (you’re supposed to run facing traffic) and not on my bike, so I was riding into oncoming traffic. Oops.) My quads began to burn (probably from the early morning track session with Coach Kristen from Folsom Road Runners) and I changed my foot position while pedaling to use more hams and butt. I turned around near mile 3 and headed back thinking, “I can totally do this!” I kept telling myself to spin and save my legs for the run. In the past, the bike-run transition has been the hardest for me. I swear I can hear my legs shouting, “Hey, wait. What are you doing? I was just in my cycling rhythm. Now you want me to run? Make up your mind.” I put my striking bike (it’s an orange FELT and I totally dig it) up on the rack via the seat, leaving the front wheel dangling, and slipped on my wetsuit and headed to the water to acclimate and warm up. Instantly, the cold water made my toes cramp. Swimming with a cramp isn’t good, but I can generally learn to relax my toes enough to keep swimming. The water was cold, but with the wetsuit the only really shocking sensations were on my face and feet. Brrrr.
Coach Dan started the race a few minutes later with a course description and the rules of the game. Look for three pink inner tubes in the water and do two laps around them if you want to complete the .5 mile course. Standing on the shore it was easy to see the pink circles, not so much when swimming. He kicked off the race by shouting, “Go!” and that was it. We all took off. I relied nearly 100% on the swimmers in front of me to guide me to the pink buoys. They were so low in the water that I couldn't really see them with people splashing in front of me. I tried to draft (the only legal place to draft in a tri), but ended up passing those I was drafting off of. One guy (at least I think it was a guy, hard to tell when swimming your heart out) and I kept bumping into each other. He took me on a turn and I had to kick it up to catch up to him. The second lap seemed to go even faster. Maybe I was in my groove. After the final turn I headed toward shore. A TBF coach was standing there waving her arms trying to direct us into the landing spot. Fifteen feet out, my right calf cramped worse than it ever had before. Cramped isn’t really the right word. It became a solid brick and wouldn’t let go. I stopped dead in the water and sank. Grabbing my calf and rubbing it, I tried to half crawl, half dog paddle to more shallow ground. The coach was yelling, “Here. Come in here. Less rocks over here.” I told her, “It’s not the rocks. I have a cramp and can’t move.” Oh, the pain. At that point, three swimmers passed me and headed toward their bikes. There wasn’t anything I could do but sit there and try and work through it. Calm, Leah. Be calm. Eventually, I hobbled up and over to my Felt sitting patiently waiting for me. Perhaps my bike was thinking, “Hello…Leah. All these other bikes are going out to play. Where have you been?” Poor bike.
Helmet. Check. Cleats. Check. Sunglasses. Check. And off we went, my bike and I. Twelve miles of blind turns, smooth straightaways, bumpy bridges and sloping hills. I geared up and down through all of them trying to stay in “spinning” mode. My calf was killing me. I pushed my heel down to try and stretch the calf muscle on several occasions. It continued to scream and I continued to fight back. All was well. My top speed was just over 20 MPH and I was averaging around 16 MPH. Not too bad considering I have only ridden my bike 4 times since February. Then came the long, unexpected hill. I geared down trying to spin. Slowly, slowly my bike turned over now going 8.7 miles an hour. If anyone could catch me, it would be now. I made a mental note to myself, “Leah, you don’t do hills. It’s okay. You’re not a powerhouse, but you are going to finish.” Finally it was over and I was able to double my speed again. Only three men passed me during the ride. This means I kicked their butt in the water (whoo hoo!) but they slammed me on the bike. The last guy passed me just before the shortest, but steepest hill of the ride. I was easily going 2-3 MPH and hoping to not fall over. But, I knew it was only 20 feet of climbing (if that) and could work through it. This last guy, Ed, who passed me crashed on the downhill side of that climb. I wanted to tell him, “That’s what you get for passing me (ha ha),” but I didn’t. Instead I stopped and offered to help. He was pretty shaken and bloody, but okay. After a minute and when I knew he could stand and wasn’t going to pass out, I told him I would ride ahead and let Coach Dan know he was injured and to watch for him. Poor Ed.
Next transition. The run. While putting on my shoes Coach Dan ambled over and said, “Leah make the first lap hard, second medium, and last easy.” I stared back. Big, blank eyes…and pointed to myself, “Are you talking to me?” He shook his head. “You mean you don’t want me to lope along and just hope to finish?” He laughed not understanding that I was serious. So, being the good student I am, I sprinted at the start. Whoo, feeling good. This was great! Yeah, for about one-eighth of a mile. Then all of a sudden, and I swear this happened, my legs opened up and said, “Are you crazy, girl?” and then refused to go any further. It was the oddest sensation. Maybe you could compare it to a car that decides to break down. One second you’re racing along at 65 MPH, then you hear a CLUNK, then a SPUTTER, and slowly, slowly you glide to stop. My lungs seemed to agree. Breathing quite heavily, I had to stop and walk. I told my legs to be quiet and stop complaining. Totally bonking at this point, I ran-walked several times through that first mile. The second was a little better. A TBF coach met me at the start of lap 2 and handed me some cold water. Yum! I finished it and shoved it into my shirt pocket so as not to litter. This lap I still walked twice, but did a little better. Lap three rolled around, I took another sip of water, stored the cup and started to run.
The only point I walked was on a short uphill. I just didn’t want to burst my lungs again. But it was probably around 20 seconds of walking, maybe less. I jogged the rest of the way in, feeling tired and sore, but absolutely empowered. I had done it! Even last year I could only complete 2 of the 3 laps on the practice tri. This year, I did all three. Perhaps it was the track workout that morning that had my legs all warmed up? I am quite certain that although I jogged the last mile, it was the fastest of the three since I didn’t really walk much. My finish time for the half-mile swim, 12-mile bike and 3-mile run was 1 hour 39 minutes. Several folks came in behind me, but I have a feeling that most of the crew didn’t do the sprint distance. Perhaps they did only a quarter-mile swim and 2 of the 3 mile run. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. I had completed the race – well, practice race. Later, I could barely walk as my calf felt like it was hit by a sledgehammer and my left hip tightened up. I shed just a couple of tears when my darling hubby, Tom, tried to work through the knots for me. This morning I was still hobbling, wobbling around, but feeling good on the inside.
So, I may not be fit to win, place or show in a Tri. But I’m fit to try. So are you! We are fit to try together. For more info on TBF click here. For more info on Folsom Road Runners, click here. Both groups strive to encourage the non-athlete to become one—at any age, at any pace. You can Tri too!
So my good friends over at Total Body Fitness (TBF) sent me a notice inviting me to join them on one of their practice Tri sessions. Since I want to do the Luna Bar Triathlon in late August, I figured I better give this practice one a try. My eldest daughter had babysitting duty and cheerfully agreed to cook dinner for her sister and herself while I headed straight from work to the TBF event out at Lake Natoma yesterday.
It’s been almost a year (end of August will be one year) since I even thought about putting together a bag of gear to complete a tri. Let’s see…what did Coach Dan say last year? Checklist for a tri:
- Bike (you’d think I’d remember, but…)
- Helmet (almost left the house yesterday w/o this)
- Cleats (these too)
- Sunglasses (thank goodness they caught my eye by the night table)
- Running shoes
- Socks (I still wear them, at least on the run)
- Hat (for the run)
- Swimsuit or tri clothes (I chose Tri shorts and top)
- Swim cap
- Goggles
- Wetsuit (if avail and/or necessary – the water is still cold out there)
- Towel (to lay your gear down on and wipe your feet after the water
- Inhaler (goodness knows my lungs would collapse if I didn’t have it)
- Water bottle (yesterday I put a Nuun tablet and Endurance powder in it.) The water bottle should be ready to go on your bike, b/c you don’t want to forget it when you’re on the bike trail.
- There are probably other items that I’m forgetting.
Coach Dan claims that the smaller the race, the longer the warm up one will need. I pedaled off telling myself not to push it on the bike, just to spin. Anyone who rides the Natoma loop knows the switchbacks, tight curves and rolling hills along the way. (Okay, funny side note. I started out riding on the wrong side of the road. I’ve been running so much lately (you’re supposed to run facing traffic) and not on my bike, so I was riding into oncoming traffic. Oops.) My quads began to burn (probably from the early morning track session with Coach Kristen from Folsom Road Runners) and I changed my foot position while pedaling to use more hams and butt. I turned around near mile 3 and headed back thinking, “I can totally do this!” I kept telling myself to spin and save my legs for the run. In the past, the bike-run transition has been the hardest for me. I swear I can hear my legs shouting, “Hey, wait. What are you doing? I was just in my cycling rhythm. Now you want me to run? Make up your mind.” I put my striking bike (it’s an orange FELT and I totally dig it) up on the rack via the seat, leaving the front wheel dangling, and slipped on my wetsuit and headed to the water to acclimate and warm up. Instantly, the cold water made my toes cramp. Swimming with a cramp isn’t good, but I can generally learn to relax my toes enough to keep swimming. The water was cold, but with the wetsuit the only really shocking sensations were on my face and feet. Brrrr.
Coach Dan started the race a few minutes later with a course description and the rules of the game. Look for three pink inner tubes in the water and do two laps around them if you want to complete the .5 mile course. Standing on the shore it was easy to see the pink circles, not so much when swimming. He kicked off the race by shouting, “Go!” and that was it. We all took off. I relied nearly 100% on the swimmers in front of me to guide me to the pink buoys. They were so low in the water that I couldn't really see them with people splashing in front of me. I tried to draft (the only legal place to draft in a tri), but ended up passing those I was drafting off of. One guy (at least I think it was a guy, hard to tell when swimming your heart out) and I kept bumping into each other. He took me on a turn and I had to kick it up to catch up to him. The second lap seemed to go even faster. Maybe I was in my groove. After the final turn I headed toward shore. A TBF coach was standing there waving her arms trying to direct us into the landing spot. Fifteen feet out, my right calf cramped worse than it ever had before. Cramped isn’t really the right word. It became a solid brick and wouldn’t let go. I stopped dead in the water and sank. Grabbing my calf and rubbing it, I tried to half crawl, half dog paddle to more shallow ground. The coach was yelling, “Here. Come in here. Less rocks over here.” I told her, “It’s not the rocks. I have a cramp and can’t move.” Oh, the pain. At that point, three swimmers passed me and headed toward their bikes. There wasn’t anything I could do but sit there and try and work through it. Calm, Leah. Be calm. Eventually, I hobbled up and over to my Felt sitting patiently waiting for me. Perhaps my bike was thinking, “Hello…Leah. All these other bikes are going out to play. Where have you been?” Poor bike.
Helmet. Check. Cleats. Check. Sunglasses. Check. And off we went, my bike and I. Twelve miles of blind turns, smooth straightaways, bumpy bridges and sloping hills. I geared up and down through all of them trying to stay in “spinning” mode. My calf was killing me. I pushed my heel down to try and stretch the calf muscle on several occasions. It continued to scream and I continued to fight back. All was well. My top speed was just over 20 MPH and I was averaging around 16 MPH. Not too bad considering I have only ridden my bike 4 times since February. Then came the long, unexpected hill. I geared down trying to spin. Slowly, slowly my bike turned over now going 8.7 miles an hour. If anyone could catch me, it would be now. I made a mental note to myself, “Leah, you don’t do hills. It’s okay. You’re not a powerhouse, but you are going to finish.” Finally it was over and I was able to double my speed again. Only three men passed me during the ride. This means I kicked their butt in the water (whoo hoo!) but they slammed me on the bike. The last guy passed me just before the shortest, but steepest hill of the ride. I was easily going 2-3 MPH and hoping to not fall over. But, I knew it was only 20 feet of climbing (if that) and could work through it. This last guy, Ed, who passed me crashed on the downhill side of that climb. I wanted to tell him, “That’s what you get for passing me (ha ha),” but I didn’t. Instead I stopped and offered to help. He was pretty shaken and bloody, but okay. After a minute and when I knew he could stand and wasn’t going to pass out, I told him I would ride ahead and let Coach Dan know he was injured and to watch for him. Poor Ed.
Next transition. The run. While putting on my shoes Coach Dan ambled over and said, “Leah make the first lap hard, second medium, and last easy.” I stared back. Big, blank eyes…and pointed to myself, “Are you talking to me?” He shook his head. “You mean you don’t want me to lope along and just hope to finish?” He laughed not understanding that I was serious. So, being the good student I am, I sprinted at the start. Whoo, feeling good. This was great! Yeah, for about one-eighth of a mile. Then all of a sudden, and I swear this happened, my legs opened up and said, “Are you crazy, girl?” and then refused to go any further. It was the oddest sensation. Maybe you could compare it to a car that decides to break down. One second you’re racing along at 65 MPH, then you hear a CLUNK, then a SPUTTER, and slowly, slowly you glide to stop. My lungs seemed to agree. Breathing quite heavily, I had to stop and walk. I told my legs to be quiet and stop complaining. Totally bonking at this point, I ran-walked several times through that first mile. The second was a little better. A TBF coach met me at the start of lap 2 and handed me some cold water. Yum! I finished it and shoved it into my shirt pocket so as not to litter. This lap I still walked twice, but did a little better. Lap three rolled around, I took another sip of water, stored the cup and started to run.
The only point I walked was on a short uphill. I just didn’t want to burst my lungs again. But it was probably around 20 seconds of walking, maybe less. I jogged the rest of the way in, feeling tired and sore, but absolutely empowered. I had done it! Even last year I could only complete 2 of the 3 laps on the practice tri. This year, I did all three. Perhaps it was the track workout that morning that had my legs all warmed up? I am quite certain that although I jogged the last mile, it was the fastest of the three since I didn’t really walk much. My finish time for the half-mile swim, 12-mile bike and 3-mile run was 1 hour 39 minutes. Several folks came in behind me, but I have a feeling that most of the crew didn’t do the sprint distance. Perhaps they did only a quarter-mile swim and 2 of the 3 mile run. Anyway, it doesn’t matter. I had completed the race – well, practice race. Later, I could barely walk as my calf felt like it was hit by a sledgehammer and my left hip tightened up. I shed just a couple of tears when my darling hubby, Tom, tried to work through the knots for me. This morning I was still hobbling, wobbling around, but feeling good on the inside.
So, I may not be fit to win, place or show in a Tri. But I’m fit to try. So are you! We are fit to try together. For more info on TBF click here. For more info on Folsom Road Runners, click here. Both groups strive to encourage the non-athlete to become one—at any age, at any pace. You can Tri too!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
The Office
By Leah
In this ever-hectic pace of running the Wellness Task Force, I have found myself doing the opposite of what I encourage others to do: step out and exercise. For nearly a month I shrugged this personal health responsibility partially because of time (I was working 15-17 hour days for most of May and June) and partially because of my lungs (bronchial asthma issues). Still, if I had a full staff (wouldn’t that be great!) and healthy lungs, I am sure that I would have found some other excuse to not run. Why? I don’t know. Mentally, I wanted to run (at least I think I did); physically, I was exhausted. However, a new dawn has risen for this ol’ bird. A dawning called, “The Office.” Don’t get confused, I’m no Michael Scott (aka Steve Carrell). I’m not that witty or clueless... I stray…the office is my new sanctuary. It is officially the site for the Wellness Task Force that can be visited on any occasion without having to knock on the front door of my house. This transition has caused great confusion, some agony, and a brilliant passage into a new phase of activity.
Prior to this week I could work 24 hours a day; I didn’t, but I could have. I generally turned on my computer by 7:00 a.m. and worked until 11:30 or so at night – taking a 20 min break for lunch, a few minutes to pick up baby girl from preschool and deliver the happy teenager to volleyball practice, and an hour or so for dinner, plus the occasional moment to squeeze my kids. What heartache. Not only was I addicted to work, but it left my heart breaking each time my four-year-old inquired, “Mom, can you play with me now? Or, are you still working?” Hug, kiss, squeeze…work. On top of that, my workouts were pushed and pulled during an occasional extended lunch hour or early Saturday mornings. It certainly wasn’t the lifestyle I advocate for every day and I’m not very proud of it. Proud of my work outcomes, yes. Proud of my family and personal outcomes, no. So, what changed? The office!
In May I took money out of my tax savings and rented an office for the Task Force. (Yes, I’m hoping to get reimbursed at some point.) I paid for a year in advance thus guaranteeing myself that I would have to move – and stay – out of my home office (at least for the most part). Though still not completely moved in (how much can one Task Force accumulate??), I have now been working behind my “official office” desk for almost a week. The first two days I actually, physically moaned around the house in the evening. I swear it was the oddest sense of work withdrawal. I felt so disconnected and I tossed and turned with a notebook next to my bed to write down all the things I needed to get done the next day. I was just used to everyone being able to reach me 24 hours a day and I felt...dispossessed. I still wasn’t spending a lot of time with my kids because I was restless, but I wasn’t about to pick up baby girl and bring her back to the office. Can you imagine the stack of toys I’d need to bring to occupy her? However, few days have passed and things are calming down (or at least I am calming down).
Three days this week I’ve risen between 4:30 a.m and 5:00 a.m. to eat and go for a run or do a track workout with my team, Folsom Road Runners. Three days! This morning I ran 6 miles. I haven’t run six miles in more than a month! Each time I have arrived back home in time to shower, play with my daughter, and get to the office by 8:00 or 8:30. Each night I have closed down my computer by 5:45 and picked up my daughter from preschool. I then have had the remainder of the evening to hang with the kids, clean house, and…that’s right…sleep! Who would have thought? To be completely honest, I have come back once on the weekend and once around 9:00 p.m. during the week to finish a few things, but that’s not nearly what it used to be. I imagine that during this busy season (January – November) I will be pulling some weekend work hours to cover what needs to be done, but I am thrilled with my progress. I am on the three step plan: 1) Workout while everyone’s asleep, 2) Work, 3) Be with family (not necessarily always in that order). I am hoping to stick to it. Certainly I already feel better. More rested, stronger, and happier. The question is, will the Task Force allow me to maintain this routine? Or will I need to move a cot into the office? That remains to be seen.
In this ever-hectic pace of running the Wellness Task Force, I have found myself doing the opposite of what I encourage others to do: step out and exercise. For nearly a month I shrugged this personal health responsibility partially because of time (I was working 15-17 hour days for most of May and June) and partially because of my lungs (bronchial asthma issues). Still, if I had a full staff (wouldn’t that be great!) and healthy lungs, I am sure that I would have found some other excuse to not run. Why? I don’t know. Mentally, I wanted to run (at least I think I did); physically, I was exhausted. However, a new dawn has risen for this ol’ bird. A dawning called, “The Office.” Don’t get confused, I’m no Michael Scott (aka Steve Carrell). I’m not that witty or clueless... I stray…the office is my new sanctuary. It is officially the site for the Wellness Task Force that can be visited on any occasion without having to knock on the front door of my house. This transition has caused great confusion, some agony, and a brilliant passage into a new phase of activity.
Prior to this week I could work 24 hours a day; I didn’t, but I could have. I generally turned on my computer by 7:00 a.m. and worked until 11:30 or so at night – taking a 20 min break for lunch, a few minutes to pick up baby girl from preschool and deliver the happy teenager to volleyball practice, and an hour or so for dinner, plus the occasional moment to squeeze my kids. What heartache. Not only was I addicted to work, but it left my heart breaking each time my four-year-old inquired, “Mom, can you play with me now? Or, are you still working?” Hug, kiss, squeeze…work. On top of that, my workouts were pushed and pulled during an occasional extended lunch hour or early Saturday mornings. It certainly wasn’t the lifestyle I advocate for every day and I’m not very proud of it. Proud of my work outcomes, yes. Proud of my family and personal outcomes, no. So, what changed? The office!
In May I took money out of my tax savings and rented an office for the Task Force. (Yes, I’m hoping to get reimbursed at some point.) I paid for a year in advance thus guaranteeing myself that I would have to move – and stay – out of my home office (at least for the most part). Though still not completely moved in (how much can one Task Force accumulate??), I have now been working behind my “official office” desk for almost a week. The first two days I actually, physically moaned around the house in the evening. I swear it was the oddest sense of work withdrawal. I felt so disconnected and I tossed and turned with a notebook next to my bed to write down all the things I needed to get done the next day. I was just used to everyone being able to reach me 24 hours a day and I felt...dispossessed. I still wasn’t spending a lot of time with my kids because I was restless, but I wasn’t about to pick up baby girl and bring her back to the office. Can you imagine the stack of toys I’d need to bring to occupy her? However, few days have passed and things are calming down (or at least I am calming down).
Three days this week I’ve risen between 4:30 a.m and 5:00 a.m. to eat and go for a run or do a track workout with my team, Folsom Road Runners. Three days! This morning I ran 6 miles. I haven’t run six miles in more than a month! Each time I have arrived back home in time to shower, play with my daughter, and get to the office by 8:00 or 8:30. Each night I have closed down my computer by 5:45 and picked up my daughter from preschool. I then have had the remainder of the evening to hang with the kids, clean house, and…that’s right…sleep! Who would have thought? To be completely honest, I have come back once on the weekend and once around 9:00 p.m. during the week to finish a few things, but that’s not nearly what it used to be. I imagine that during this busy season (January – November) I will be pulling some weekend work hours to cover what needs to be done, but I am thrilled with my progress. I am on the three step plan: 1) Workout while everyone’s asleep, 2) Work, 3) Be with family (not necessarily always in that order). I am hoping to stick to it. Certainly I already feel better. More rested, stronger, and happier. The question is, will the Task Force allow me to maintain this routine? Or will I need to move a cot into the office? That remains to be seen.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Why not?
By Leah
Have you ever felt the mix of exhaustion and elation? Ecstasy and defeat? What about the thrill of the chase? Being chased? How about that complete and utter satisfaction of finishing something, even though it didn’t turn out quite like you wanted? If you like this undulation of misery and joy, you should join us for Wednesday morning track drills. Coach Kristen promises it will make us faster, I think it just helps me sleep better.
There’s nothing quite like reaching a goal, however small. Sometimes the goal is to simply run one more time around the track. Other times it’s simply finishing the task, even at a slug’s pace. When it’s done, it’s done. I know professional racers (and their coaches) may balk at this attitude, but for me, just having enough air in my lungs to finish a drill feels amazing. I may hack and wheeze and totally gross everybody out (sorry about that, too), but I’ve done it. It plagues me to read in my Running Times magazine an article that talks about the women’s runners not making any waves this year. Sheesh, they finished Boston in something like, 2:39. What a horrible race (that’s what the author portrayed)! 2:39! Who are they kidding? I wasn’t even half way through my marathon at 2:39. Okay, so I’m not 88 pounds and emaciated looking, but I finished the race. How many people have done that? How many want to, but are afraid they would be laughed at?
Coach Kristen and the “team” have inspired such a running fancy that you can’t help but feel good, even when you’re not. The goal is always to do the best we can, but this 37-year-old body wasn’t meant to run 2:39 marathons. I am not even sure it was meant to run! But I do it. I do it because cancer and diabetes are rampant in my family. I do it because I want to inspire my children. I want people to know you don’t have to be the best to do your best and feel good about it. And, now that I’m running…well…jogging…guess what? I’m happier! I sleep better. I can EAT MORE! And on the days I don’t exercise, I feel crummy. How cool is that? I wish I could do everything. I want to swim, bike, run, and jump out of airplanes. I want to tour Italy on a cruiser, drinking wine along the way. I want to hike Mt. Shasta and climb Yosemite. Why not? Because I can’t win, place or show? Look, this old dog has learned something new: When you don’t play, life just slips away. How many weeks and months have you spent on your computer? Or at your desk? There are some pretty neat kids outside your window asking you to come play with them. I think you should consider shutting things down and joining us a time or two (perhaps next Wednesday morning, bright and early (6:00 a.m.) at Folsom Middle School). Don’t let your week slip by without asking yourself, “Why not?”
Have you ever felt the mix of exhaustion and elation? Ecstasy and defeat? What about the thrill of the chase? Being chased? How about that complete and utter satisfaction of finishing something, even though it didn’t turn out quite like you wanted? If you like this undulation of misery and joy, you should join us for Wednesday morning track drills. Coach Kristen promises it will make us faster, I think it just helps me sleep better.
There’s nothing quite like reaching a goal, however small. Sometimes the goal is to simply run one more time around the track. Other times it’s simply finishing the task, even at a slug’s pace. When it’s done, it’s done. I know professional racers (and their coaches) may balk at this attitude, but for me, just having enough air in my lungs to finish a drill feels amazing. I may hack and wheeze and totally gross everybody out (sorry about that, too), but I’ve done it. It plagues me to read in my Running Times magazine an article that talks about the women’s runners not making any waves this year. Sheesh, they finished Boston in something like, 2:39. What a horrible race (that’s what the author portrayed)! 2:39! Who are they kidding? I wasn’t even half way through my marathon at 2:39. Okay, so I’m not 88 pounds and emaciated looking, but I finished the race. How many people have done that? How many want to, but are afraid they would be laughed at?
Coach Kristen and the “team” have inspired such a running fancy that you can’t help but feel good, even when you’re not. The goal is always to do the best we can, but this 37-year-old body wasn’t meant to run 2:39 marathons. I am not even sure it was meant to run! But I do it. I do it because cancer and diabetes are rampant in my family. I do it because I want to inspire my children. I want people to know you don’t have to be the best to do your best and feel good about it. And, now that I’m running…well…jogging…guess what? I’m happier! I sleep better. I can EAT MORE! And on the days I don’t exercise, I feel crummy. How cool is that? I wish I could do everything. I want to swim, bike, run, and jump out of airplanes. I want to tour Italy on a cruiser, drinking wine along the way. I want to hike Mt. Shasta and climb Yosemite. Why not? Because I can’t win, place or show? Look, this old dog has learned something new: When you don’t play, life just slips away. How many weeks and months have you spent on your computer? Or at your desk? There are some pretty neat kids outside your window asking you to come play with them. I think you should consider shutting things down and joining us a time or two (perhaps next Wednesday morning, bright and early (6:00 a.m.) at Folsom Middle School). Don’t let your week slip by without asking yourself, “Why not?”
Friday, June 5, 2009
Running with the Ultramarathon Man
By Whitney
Okay, so we didn't actually run with him but we snapped a photo in motion!
Ultramarathon Man Dean Karnazes was honored at the State Capitol on May 11 as the '09 California Fitness Hero. Assemblymember Torlakson and Senator Padilla presented the 2009 California Fitness Month Resolution to Dean on the Assembly and Senate floors. Afterward, Dean joined us and guests for a healthy bite, interviews, silly photos and autographs. Read more about Dean's Capitol visit in the Sacramento Bee.
He even congratulated me on my first half marathon accomplishment! Congratulations from a professional runner?--Not just any professional runner, but an extreme athlete with a new mantra for our youth: No Child Left Inside. Plop that cherry righhhht on top of my Parkway cake, thank you very much.
Karnazes can run 200 miles, and does it for charity. He races around the North Pole and can run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days. The list goes on... Learn more about Dean at www.ultramarathonman.com. Thanks, Dean, for being our May Fitness Month representative!
Okay, so we didn't actually run with him but we snapped a photo in motion!
Ultramarathon Man Dean Karnazes was honored at the State Capitol on May 11 as the '09 California Fitness Hero. Assemblymember Torlakson and Senator Padilla presented the 2009 California Fitness Month Resolution to Dean on the Assembly and Senate floors. Afterward, Dean joined us and guests for a healthy bite, interviews, silly photos and autographs. Read more about Dean's Capitol visit in the Sacramento Bee.
He even congratulated me on my first half marathon accomplishment! Congratulations from a professional runner?--Not just any professional runner, but an extreme athlete with a new mantra for our youth: No Child Left Inside. Plop that cherry righhhht on top of my Parkway cake, thank you very much.
Karnazes can run 200 miles, and does it for charity. He races around the North Pole and can run 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days. The list goes on... Learn more about Dean at www.ultramarathonman.com. Thanks, Dean, for being our May Fitness Month representative!
Folsom Road Runners Picnic Day
The beauty of joining a running club isn't just that you get great coaching and a supportive team of runners... if you're really lucky, like me and Leah, you'll make great friends, too!We hung out with our fellow Folsom Road Runners, their spouses and tykes at a picnic in a Folsom park last month. Good food, good drink, good people.
In the month since the Parkway Half, I've been found like this
(menu in hand, not necessarily of the healthiest kind) and this
(that's called workin' it for the Task Force!) What I haven't been seen doing is running, even though I just moved to downtown Sacramento and McKinley Park (AKA runner's central) is down the block from me. Where are the excuses?So, as I continue to eat, work and contemplate/stall training for the California International Marathon, I miss the Folsom Road Runner's dearly. FRRs, will you accept me on the hopeful chance that I make the early morning drive for a Saturday long run? I really hope so.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Nike Ladies Night Out
Fleet Feet Sacramento has monthly events exclusively for female runners, amateur athletes, and workout enthusiasts. Leah and I try to attend when we can. They're a blast! Can't you tell? That's us at Diva Night in April!Come check it out for yourself...
Nike Ladies Night Out
Friday, May 22: 7:30pm to 9:30pm
The Nike Ladies Night Out will be your last chance to register for the Nike Women's Fitness Festival at the pre-registration price.
Ladies Night Out features:
- Nike Specials
- Wine and Appetizers
- Nike Women's Marathon Entry Auction (Proceeds Benefit WEAVE)
- Free Massage
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
My First Half Marathon
By Whitney
On May 2nd, three months of training culminated in my first half marathon, the American River Parkway Half Marathon.
13.1 miles in 2 hours, 8 minutes and 16 seconds. I wish I could say it was non-stop but I did hit the port-o-potty once. I wish I could say I was humble about it but wait, LOOK, LOOK! THAT'S ME CROSSING THE FINISH LINE!! I'll admit pride over this one. It wasn't easy but, I must say, it wasn't as terrible as I'd imagined it to be when I set this goal back in February.
The first five miles of the race rocked. I was so thankful for the drizzle rather than heat, to keep me cool and breathing deeply. Adrenaline kept me bouncing along nicely from the Start line (speakers blasting "Let's Get it Started") until I caught up with Leah and the Folsom Road Runners and then onward to try to catch up with friends ahead. At about mile 5.2 the race winner was already headed back! He ran a 5:18/mile pace. Unfathomable. So it was difficult to think I had 8 more miles as he strode by and yet, I noticed my pace had quickened.
As I approached the halfway point, I saw my best friend Jen waving to me from the path below and it assured me that I wasn't totally lost in this sea of people. Then unexpectedly, I saw a not-so-secret admirer at the turnaround cheering me on. Support lends an absolutely incredible energy, not to be taken for granted! Just after I turned, I smiled and waved to Leah and other FRRs. The unity propelled me forward... to the port-o-potty at mile 7. My 15 second pause just had me thinking, "Hurry, get going again!" When I did, my steps felt heavier. And then between mile 8 and 9 it all set in. Nine to 11 felt like... being an ancy kid in the backseat of a seemingly endless road trip home... "Are we there yet???"
I must give kudos to the Parkway Half for it's motivational quotes posted along the way. Somewhere in my challenging phase of the race, I read, "You're almost there! There's an incredibly attractive person waiting at the finish line for you. Hey, it could happen." I remember thinking, "There are a lot of attractive people here.... Is this Britney Spears on my iPod? Next song! Yes, What A Feeling is much better.... Oh dear god, is that a camera? Are they going to take my picture? Maybe if I look the other way I'll be invisibFLASHFLASHFLASH."
Seriously!? That's just great. NOTE TO SELF: Next time wear sunglasses, increase stride as approach camera, smile, even wave! but try to look more like the yellow shirt guy, not like how you feel! Regardless, this gig is recorded... JPG, PR, whatever. It's memorialized. And don't I look happy about it?
Somehow the finish line came to into sight and I really pushed myself (with slight feeling of sickness) for the last few hundred feet through the confusing series of flags... "Which one of these lines is the real end?"... until I heard my name announced!! Accomplished.
The aftermath? High-fives, smiles and cheers of course! Leah and I
posed with our FRR coach Kristen, her daughter Chelsea (who also finished her first half!) and Noah (Leah spoke of Noah's encouraging character in her blog below).
Check out those medals!!
Then I went to refuel with the crew below. Eggs Benedict and celebratory Bloody's... water in between. Hoppy Brewing Company
had a live bluegrass band playing in celebration of the Kentucky Derby. It was so fun! The positive vibe kept going until after food intake, I could have fallen asleep at the table despite the electric banjo and pint-induced whoopers!
So, my legs felt like steel rods the next day. Especially going up and down stairs. And I slept a lot that Sunday after. And I ate a lot on Sunday... and Monday. [GRIN.] But by god, I ran for 13.1 miles! That's an entire 10 miles more than any run in my life, prior to February 2009. The endurance of the human body amazes me.
Race lessons learned:
Thank you to my team of inspiring, supportive and loved ones: Jennifer, Vanessa, Mandy, Jessica, Leah, Kristen, Noah, Chelsea (and other Folsom Road Runners), Alexis, Marty, Christopher, and Ronelle.
On May 2nd, three months of training culminated in my first half marathon, the American River Parkway Half Marathon.
13.1 miles in 2 hours, 8 minutes and 16 seconds. I wish I could say it was non-stop but I did hit the port-o-potty once. I wish I could say I was humble about it but wait, LOOK, LOOK! THAT'S ME CROSSING THE FINISH LINE!! I'll admit pride over this one. It wasn't easy but, I must say, it wasn't as terrible as I'd imagined it to be when I set this goal back in February.The first five miles of the race rocked. I was so thankful for the drizzle rather than heat, to keep me cool and breathing deeply. Adrenaline kept me bouncing along nicely from the Start line (speakers blasting "Let's Get it Started") until I caught up with Leah and the Folsom Road Runners and then onward to try to catch up with friends ahead. At about mile 5.2 the race winner was already headed back! He ran a 5:18/mile pace. Unfathomable. So it was difficult to think I had 8 more miles as he strode by and yet, I noticed my pace had quickened.
As I approached the halfway point, I saw my best friend Jen waving to me from the path below and it assured me that I wasn't totally lost in this sea of people. Then unexpectedly, I saw a not-so-secret admirer at the turnaround cheering me on. Support lends an absolutely incredible energy, not to be taken for granted! Just after I turned, I smiled and waved to Leah and other FRRs. The unity propelled me forward... to the port-o-potty at mile 7. My 15 second pause just had me thinking, "Hurry, get going again!" When I did, my steps felt heavier. And then between mile 8 and 9 it all set in. Nine to 11 felt like... being an ancy kid in the backseat of a seemingly endless road trip home... "Are we there yet???"
I must give kudos to the Parkway Half for it's motivational quotes posted along the way. Somewhere in my challenging phase of the race, I read, "You're almost there! There's an incredibly attractive person waiting at the finish line for you. Hey, it could happen." I remember thinking, "There are a lot of attractive people here.... Is this Britney Spears on my iPod? Next song! Yes, What A Feeling is much better.... Oh dear god, is that a camera? Are they going to take my picture? Maybe if I look the other way I'll be invisibFLASHFLASHFLASH."
Somehow the finish line came to into sight and I really pushed myself (with slight feeling of sickness) for the last few hundred feet through the confusing series of flags... "Which one of these lines is the real end?"... until I heard my name announced!! Accomplished.
The aftermath? High-fives, smiles and cheers of course! Leah and I
posed with our FRR coach Kristen, her daughter Chelsea (who also finished her first half!) and Noah (Leah spoke of Noah's encouraging character in her blog below).Check out those medals!!
Then I went to refuel with the crew below. Eggs Benedict and celebratory Bloody's... water in between. Hoppy Brewing Company
had a live bluegrass band playing in celebration of the Kentucky Derby. It was so fun! The positive vibe kept going until after food intake, I could have fallen asleep at the table despite the electric banjo and pint-induced whoopers!So, my legs felt like steel rods the next day. Especially going up and down stairs. And I slept a lot that Sunday after. And I ate a lot on Sunday... and Monday. [GRIN.] But by god, I ran for 13.1 miles! That's an entire 10 miles more than any run in my life, prior to February 2009. The endurance of the human body amazes me.
Race lessons learned:
- No need to run the actual race with a cumbersome water bottle attached to my hand. I hadn't realized there are so many aid stations along the race way!
- Again, be on the lookout for cameras... and highly consider sunglasses no matter the weather conditions to hide those drained eyes.
- Take off the entire sticker on my bib so I don't appear to be the obvious novice that I am. (Although it still didn't manage to hide my identity in the photos!!)
- Take a before/after photo. I know my body changed but it changed in a small way, through such a healthy, gradual process that I didn't really notice. It would have been interesting (and added to the feeling of accomplishment) to picture the difference.
- Don't be afraid of bikers on the trails after all.
- Running in the morning gets the deed done. It also left me feeling motivated and productive the whole day.
- Running with a group gets the deed done more often. I was much more likely to get out the door because others were counting on me to be there. (Well, I was probably running late but I was there.)
- Form. Hands moving forward and backward, not swinging side to side. Some other photos from the race appear as if I'm hitting my right hand to my left shoulder. Imagine that for a laugh.
- Wrapping my brain around the prospect of a full marathon. I would like to be able to say, "I did that" and I realize this is the time in my life which affords me the time and physical ability to train. But is it really necessary to put my body through that? It doesn't seem to me to fit the "everything in moderation" wellness mantra. Must think more on it.
- Toning. I did a core work out once during my training. One time. The 11th mile in this race, I could feel the weight of my upper body on my legs and I was wishing I had the core strength to pull me upward and lighten my steps. Who am I kidding? My real motivation may be the encroaching swimsuit season.
Thank you to my team of inspiring, supportive and loved ones: Jennifer, Vanessa, Mandy, Jessica, Leah, Kristen, Noah, Chelsea (and other Folsom Road Runners), Alexis, Marty, Christopher, and Ronelle.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Personal Record
Last Saturday Whitney and I ran (along with our fellow Folsom Road Runners) in the 3rd Annual Parkway Half Marathon. They touted all kinds of great bands, but I think the rain kept anyone with electrical equipment away. Instead we had bagpipes, instrumentals and I think a guitarist with his friend who played the tambourine. Interesting… Despite the availability in music, it was a great race.I don’t mind the rain. If you read my earlier blog about the Chairman’s Ride, you will know that rain does not dissuade me. Wind or heat, however, do! Anyway, I digress. It was perfect running weather yesterday. Warm enough to wear shorts and a short sleeve top, no wind, and a slight drizzle that kept me refreshed and my asthma – for the most part – at bay. My legs felt strong and my stomach was on course for a good run. This was the first race where I ran with someone other than just myself or my friend, Karen. It was fun to have a group of people to chat with before the race and, to my surprise, during the race as well.
I had assumed that Whitney, Coach Kristen, Chelsea and Noah would take off early in the race. They are all much stronger runners with a built-in stamina that I can only hope to develop as time passes. What really happened was this…
Whitney was nowhere to be found. The four of us (minus Whitney) headed over to the start line to await the sounding of the trumpets. We were squished between hundreds of others and when the race director announced a delay in the start, my claustrophobic tendencies set in. A few deep breaths later, I found my eyes wandering the outlining crowd looking for Whitney. I searched high and low, but she wasn’t to be found. Maybe she was still hanging out with friends and family who had come to cheer her on? Perhaps she was with some other friends who were running; I just hoped she wasn’t alone. When the director finally kicked off the race it took about a minute to actually cross the start line. Whitney was still missing in action. Around mile two (I think), out of the corner of my eye, a woman stepped into my space and I scooted over telling her she could move through to pass me. Well, she didn’t move so I turned and lo’ and behold…Whitney! I was very happy to see her and gave her a big squeeze. It didn’t take long (maybe a mile?) before she moved on past the rest of us and was lost again in the crowd. Whitney is much stronger than she realizes and I think she could have a pretty strong career in amateur running. Go Whitney!
Coach K, Noah, Chelsea and I were left alone again to chat, reflect or, if you were me, try to pretend your asthma wasn’t totally kicking your butt. I didn’t do a lot of talking. I concentrated on my hands and arms being in proper position (which, by the way, they generally aren’t – I swear I’m going to tape them into position next time) and checking off the miles as they passed. At mile five Coach instructed us to take our GU. Mmmm. If you haven’t had GU you should try it. Just kidding. It’s like eating frosting (or alien mucus) during a run – gross, but apparently a very efficient way to quickly fuel. I saw Coach and Noah checking their Garmin to keep track of our pace. My Nike+ Sportband ranged between 8.54 – 9.18 mm during those first few miles (not counting the time you slow down to eat GU or hydrate). I felt proud of our pace (assuming my watch was correct), but knew I was starting to slow down. I apologized to Chelsea (who was running next to me) and told her to keep going. Being the adorable teenager she is, she politely said to me that the pace was fine. What a great kid! By mile seven I wanted to stop and walk. The only thing that kept me moving was not wanting to let the team down. I just knew they were going to be too polite to let me drift off the back and it’s a great burden to feel like you’re keeping people from their potential. At mile nine I whispered to Chelsea that I was going to stop and walk for a minute and that she should continue on. Thankfully, she did. This was her first race and I wanted her to do all she could to make good time.
Here is where my emotional heart poured out. As the three of them continued to run away from me, my eyes welled and my heart sank. All I could think was, “I couldn’t do it. I can’t believe I couldn’t run the entire thing with them. I am so disappointed in myself.” What negative thinking! I was really beating myself up. I looked down at my Sportband and checked the time and promised myself to only walk for two minutes. When I looked up, I saw Noah walking on the trail. I knew right away he was waiting for me to catch up. Noah could have run this race blindfolded with me bouncing on his back, but he stopped to walk so that I wouldn’t be alone. What does that say about a person?
Of course, I felt terrible and tried to persuade him to run without me. This is what he said, “In ten years, no one will know if I PR’d [personal record] at the Parkway Half Marathon, but maybe [you] will remember that I stayed with you. I never leave a buddy behind.” Okay, that might not be verbatim, but it’s close. Though I yearned for him to not let me keep him back, I was also grateful to have him with me. When my two minutes were up, we started running again. After nine miles one might think that four would seem easy, but it wasn’t. I was tired and feeling a little dizzy and around mile 10 Noah lent me another GU which almost immediately took the dizziness away, but made my stomach lurch. Goodness, what I would have done for a clean bathroom and a quiet moment to myself! Of course, I didn’t share this during the run. Still, at mile 11 I stopped again to catch my breath (darn asthma), but this time for just one minute. I couldn’t let Noah walk for two minutes, so with a one-minute rest, we started to plod on.. By mile 12.5 I wanted to walk again and if it hadn’t been for Noah, I certainly would have. (Goodness! With only .6 miles to the finish I wanted to walk….) Instead of walking, this is what I listened to to keep me moving, “Leah, you’re looking strong. Do you want to sprint in this last mile? You’re looking good.” Noah…what a cheerleader! What a teammate! I knew he was lying, I was certain I looked like my husband did after stepping off the “Tea Cups” at Disneyland, drawn-faced, yellow and looking for a garbage can, but it was good to hear.
When the Finish line finally came into view, I mustered what I could and picked up the pace, all the while Noah giving me kudos. When another woman tried to pass me at the end, that competitive gene kicked in I pushed even harder crossing the finish line with my newest friend. I couldn’t breathe and I still thought I was going to give
back some of that GU I had consumed, but I was done. The clock read 2 hours 17 mins, but you can shave a minute from that because of the time it took to get across the start line. So, let’s say 2 hours 16 mins (unofficial, of course). That’s six minutes faster than my previous PR (2 hours 22 mins) at the Four Bridges Half Marathon (October 2008) and 34 mins faster than my time at last year’s Parkway Half. In the end, though it wasn’t exactly what I wanted (I wanted to run non-stop), I still felt good. This body wasn’t made to run, but it’s learning.So, as we head into Fitness Month (yes, May is officially Fitness Month in California thanks to Assemblymember Tom Torlakson) I would like to congratulate ALL OF YOU who PR’d this past month. Maybe you took your first walk, or your longest walk ever. Maybe you cut out the amount of sweets you’re consuming or decided to step into the aqua aerobics class at the local gym. Maybe you just completed your first 5K or even just signed up to walk/run your first 5K. Whatever it was, congratulations! A “Personal Record” is always worth recognizing in my book. And, thanks to those of you (and you know who you are) for helping me reach my PR for the month! I look forward to seeing what comes next.
Monday, April 6, 2009
We Do It Together
So, as usual, things are crazy with the Wellness Task Force. This is the time of year that I lose my husband and my kids to a desk full of requests, to do lists, and things to review and update. How it all gets done, I’m never quite sure. Certainly the training goes by the wayside – much to my chagrin I might add. Last week I ran twice and swam once. Forget the bike. I haven’t ridden in at least four weeks. How am I supposed to complete a half-Ironman in just four short months? I am completely overwhelmed.
Is there anyone out there that understands my pain??? There must be other working mothers/wives who have similar personal goals. Maybe you just want to finish your first 5k…or make it all the way around the block without stopping. I remember when those feats seemed equally as daunting as a half-Ironman. The first time I tried to run around the block I stopped four times! Yes, four. I’m not exaggerating. Maybe I could ride 10 or 20 miles, but I sure couldn’t run around the block. Everything is relative and I’m here to tell you…well, I suppose it’s more of a request…I’m here to request that you post your goals, share your athletic dreams with me. I could use your inspiration and I think we all have a story or two to tell. (Simply click on "comments" below and post your story.)
This weekend was the longest non-stop run I have completed since before the CIM last December. Seven miles. In a way 7 miles might as well be a million, but I know better now. I know I can run 15 w/o stopping when I train for it. I was thrilled to finally have run 7 miles without stopping. I mean, I had to STOP TALKING when we were running uphill because my heart rate was probably at a trillion bpm, but otherwise I was okay. In fact, I was great. I felt great. It felt great. Like conquering a beast inside me—a beast that said, “Maybe you’ll never run more than 4 miles non-stop again.”
I want to push my limits. I want to know how far I can go and for how long. Speed isn’t as important to me (I know it is to some of you out there), but completing my goals is very important. So, how with this crazy job of mine am I going to be able to meet my goals? I think you know the answer…we do it together.
Is there anyone out there that understands my pain??? There must be other working mothers/wives who have similar personal goals. Maybe you just want to finish your first 5k…or make it all the way around the block without stopping. I remember when those feats seemed equally as daunting as a half-Ironman. The first time I tried to run around the block I stopped four times! Yes, four. I’m not exaggerating. Maybe I could ride 10 or 20 miles, but I sure couldn’t run around the block. Everything is relative and I’m here to tell you…well, I suppose it’s more of a request…I’m here to request that you post your goals, share your athletic dreams with me. I could use your inspiration and I think we all have a story or two to tell. (Simply click on "comments" below and post your story.)
This weekend was the longest non-stop run I have completed since before the CIM last December. Seven miles. In a way 7 miles might as well be a million, but I know better now. I know I can run 15 w/o stopping when I train for it. I was thrilled to finally have run 7 miles without stopping. I mean, I had to STOP TALKING when we were running uphill because my heart rate was probably at a trillion bpm, but otherwise I was okay. In fact, I was great. I felt great. It felt great. Like conquering a beast inside me—a beast that said, “Maybe you’ll never run more than 4 miles non-stop again.”
I want to push my limits. I want to know how far I can go and for how long. Speed isn’t as important to me (I know it is to some of you out there), but completing my goals is very important. So, how with this crazy job of mine am I going to be able to meet my goals? I think you know the answer…we do it together.
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