Wow, I can't believe three weeks of training is over already! So far, training is flying by. Before I know it, I'll be in Toronto at the starting line for my race.
Friday I found out my grandpa is in the hospital. He needed emergency open heart surgery so I decided I needed to fit a hospital visit into my day Saturday. I run my long runs every Saturday so needless to say, yesterday was a busy day. I got up a little earlier than normal and finished my long run of six miles in just under an hour. Unbelievable! I had to double-check my route when I got home just to make sure I ran the correct route. Right now I'm giving all the credit to Shot Bloks. I will never run more than 45 minutes without them after yesterday. After my run my husband and I were off to Lansing for the afternoon. We had evening plans too so the whole day was shot.
Today I finished three miles on my normal three mile route. I haven't run that route since being attacked by the red-winged blackbird. I was a little jumpy but apparently the birds didn't see me as a threat today. I prayed that my grandpa would find peace and be able to go home soon. The hospital is making him restless. I asked God to give him strength and patience (something my grandpa definitely lacks) so he could recover quickly.
I'm starting to understand how running, and especially training for a major event, can take over a person's life. I never understood how people could get so wrapped up in training but after completing three weeks of my own training program, I already get it. I will never again call someone crazy for training for a race or triathlon because I'm one of the "crazy" ones now! For the next two months, training will become a more time consuming priority for me and I will be one of those people that says "I can't do XYZ, I have to train in the morning". I'm okay with making sacrifies because I know I will accomplish something huge at the end of all this.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Day 16
Last Saturday (Day 13) I ran five miles for the first time ever. The weather was cooler and there was a breeze in the morning when I ran. My mind was clear and I just enjoyed "being" that morning. I prayed but not for any particular reason. I thanked God for nature, the color green and for life. My prayers were fitting: I ran on a trail through the woods for a good portion of my run. I finished my run cramp-free in about 53 minutes. Not bad for my first five mile run! It is also reassuring to know I'm running on pace at between 10:00 and 10:30 per mile.
Sunday (Day 14) I ran an easy 2.5 mile run. There was nothing profound about it. To be honest, I wasn't too keen on running Sunday so I had to make myself get off the couch and go outside. I was really glad when it was over.
Today I'll be running 3.5 miles and I'm searching deep for motivation. I didn't sleep well Sunday night or last night and I'm so tired today I can barely concentrate on work. I'm going to run right after work today so I can't make excuses later for not wanting to run. Hopefully tonight I'll get some decent sleep and get back on track for Thursday's run.
Sunday (Day 14) I ran an easy 2.5 mile run. There was nothing profound about it. To be honest, I wasn't too keen on running Sunday so I had to make myself get off the couch and go outside. I was really glad when it was over.
Today I'll be running 3.5 miles and I'm searching deep for motivation. I didn't sleep well Sunday night or last night and I'm so tired today I can barely concentrate on work. I'm going to run right after work today so I can't make excuses later for not wanting to run. Hopefully tonight I'll get some decent sleep and get back on track for Thursday's run.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Day 12
This week has been busy and I haven't had much time to blog so I'm going to try to catch up today.
Tuesday, (Day 9) I ran a fairly painless three miles along my normal three mile route. It was warm so I was running slightly slower than usual and just enjoying my evening run. I was minding my own business when about two and a half miles into my run, I was dive-bombed by a red-winged blackbird! It swooped and caught my ponytail at least twice before I figured out what was going on. Apparently it didn't think I was minding my own business! I screamed, loudly I might add, and took off into a dead sprint. This all took place near a popular fishing pond so of course everyone who was fishing heard my frantic screams and watched me sprint away flailing my arms as I tried to escape my avian attacker. Needless to say, the last quarter mile of my run was not very enjoyable as I was struggling to slow my heart rate and recover from my unexpected speed work. I remember nothing else about Tuesday's run.
Yesterday's run was nice. It was cooler outside, breezy and the clouds were beautiful. I ran another three miles but I chose a different route because, honestly, I am a little nervous about running my normal route past the fishing pond and the red-winged blackbirds that live there. I will probably wait a while before running that route again. I was experiencing some pain in my right knee during yesterday's run. The pain subsided after about one mile but I'm going to keep a close eye on it. Today, I don't have any knee pain but my back hurts like crazy but I don't know if it's from running or if I slept in a weird position. It feels like I have a giant knot on the right side of my back near the bottom of my ribcage. I guess I'll also have to keep an eye on my back too. Running five miles tomorrow could be interesting if my back still hurts.
Tuesday, (Day 9) I ran a fairly painless three miles along my normal three mile route. It was warm so I was running slightly slower than usual and just enjoying my evening run. I was minding my own business when about two and a half miles into my run, I was dive-bombed by a red-winged blackbird! It swooped and caught my ponytail at least twice before I figured out what was going on. Apparently it didn't think I was minding my own business! I screamed, loudly I might add, and took off into a dead sprint. This all took place near a popular fishing pond so of course everyone who was fishing heard my frantic screams and watched me sprint away flailing my arms as I tried to escape my avian attacker. Needless to say, the last quarter mile of my run was not very enjoyable as I was struggling to slow my heart rate and recover from my unexpected speed work. I remember nothing else about Tuesday's run.
Yesterday's run was nice. It was cooler outside, breezy and the clouds were beautiful. I ran another three miles but I chose a different route because, honestly, I am a little nervous about running my normal route past the fishing pond and the red-winged blackbirds that live there. I will probably wait a while before running that route again. I was experiencing some pain in my right knee during yesterday's run. The pain subsided after about one mile but I'm going to keep a close eye on it. Today, I don't have any knee pain but my back hurts like crazy but I don't know if it's from running or if I slept in a weird position. It feels like I have a giant knot on the right side of my back near the bottom of my ribcage. I guess I'll also have to keep an eye on my back too. Running five miles tomorrow could be interesting if my back still hurts.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Day 7
Yesterday I ran my first of many weekly long runs of my 12 week training program. I ran four miles for the first time in about five years. I have to admit the distance intimidated me when I was mapping my route. I didn't realize how far four miles really is until I saw it on a map! I started my run slow because I knew I would get tired. I also started later than normal at 11:45 a.m. and the sun was high and hot so I wanted to be careful not to overexert or overheat myself.
My brother was the subject of most of my prayers yesterday. I prayed that God would help him realize how special he is and that He would help him find his path. Toward the last half of my run my prayer switched focus to "God please help me finish" and "God please help my legs find the strength they need to get me home." Very few times have I actually heard God speak to me but yesterday I did. I heard three things yesterday during my prayers; "I am with you", "I will not leave you" and "you will finish." Maybe I heard Him because I was actually listening or maybe I heard Him because my prayers were desperate. Either way, it was an awesome feeling to communicate with God.
I was surprised at how good I felt after finishing my run yesterday. I was very tired but I also felt a sense of accomplishment and inner peace. I will still be intimidated by my long runs because each week for the next nine weeks I will add one mile to my long run. However, after yesterday, I know "I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." ~ Philippians 4:13
My brother was the subject of most of my prayers yesterday. I prayed that God would help him realize how special he is and that He would help him find his path. Toward the last half of my run my prayer switched focus to "God please help me finish" and "God please help my legs find the strength they need to get me home." Very few times have I actually heard God speak to me but yesterday I did. I heard three things yesterday during my prayers; "I am with you", "I will not leave you" and "you will finish." Maybe I heard Him because I was actually listening or maybe I heard Him because my prayers were desperate. Either way, it was an awesome feeling to communicate with God.
I was surprised at how good I felt after finishing my run yesterday. I was very tired but I also felt a sense of accomplishment and inner peace. I will still be intimidated by my long runs because each week for the next nine weeks I will add one mile to my long run. However, after yesterday, I know "I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." ~ Philippians 4:13
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Day 4
Tonight was supposed to be a fairly easy running night. I ran 2.5 miles but about a half a mile into my run, I got a cramp in my side right under my ribcage, in the place that makes it painful to take in a full breath. For a few moments I was pretty irritated since 2.5 miles should be an easy "short" run by now. Then I realized something.....
I will be running much longer distances than this in the near future. I will most likely cramp up again and there is nothing I can do about it except breathe deep and keep running. I prayed that God would find strength for me, re-focused my energy, ran through the pain and finished my run tonight. I'm tired and my time was not good but I didn't quit.
As I mentioned before, I will need to keep my faith front and center through this training process. I'm going to add to this by also committing to praying while I run. I run alone most of the time and the only things I have to occupy my mind are the same sights I see every day and the rhythmic sound of my feet hitting the ground. I can't think of a better way to spend my alone time than to pray.
I will be running much longer distances than this in the near future. I will most likely cramp up again and there is nothing I can do about it except breathe deep and keep running. I prayed that God would find strength for me, re-focused my energy, ran through the pain and finished my run tonight. I'm tired and my time was not good but I didn't quit.
As I mentioned before, I will need to keep my faith front and center through this training process. I'm going to add to this by also committing to praying while I run. I run alone most of the time and the only things I have to occupy my mind are the same sights I see every day and the rhythmic sound of my feet hitting the ground. I can't think of a better way to spend my alone time than to pray.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Day 2
Yesterday "officially" marked the first day of my half marathon training. It was a rest day and I used it accordingly. I'm finishing a very special knitted baby blanket for a good friend and my deadline is July 18th. I also reserved a place to stay in Toronto for the half marathon. Today was an active training (running) day. I ran 3 miles in about 32 minutes. Not fast, but I'm okay with that. It was sunny, breezy and 75 degrees; all in all, a beautiful summer evening.
I'm facing a lot of unknowns right now. I don't know what it will feel like to complete a half marathon. I don't know how my body will respond to training. I don't know what the weather will be like on September 27th. I don't know what made me decide to do this. However, all of these questions will be answered by September 28th. I'm okay with the unknowns.
There are also a lot of things I do know. I know God gave me a strong, athletic body and there are many people in this world who are not capable of doing what I am doing. I know I can do this because I am determined and maybe a little stubborn. I know my goal is simply to finish the half marathon, not to be the fastest. I know this will be difficult. I know this is the right thing to do, right now, at this time in my life. I know I need to keep my faith front and center.
I will not give up.
I'm facing a lot of unknowns right now. I don't know what it will feel like to complete a half marathon. I don't know how my body will respond to training. I don't know what the weather will be like on September 27th. I don't know what made me decide to do this. However, all of these questions will be answered by September 28th. I'm okay with the unknowns.
There are also a lot of things I do know. I know God gave me a strong, athletic body and there are many people in this world who are not capable of doing what I am doing. I know I can do this because I am determined and maybe a little stubborn. I know my goal is simply to finish the half marathon, not to be the fastest. I know this will be difficult. I know this is the right thing to do, right now, at this time in my life. I know I need to keep my faith front and center.
I will not give up.
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