Finally back on the Road

I finally gave myself the bill of good health. The cold is finally done with. This morning I ran my two mile hill course at my average time. Maybe a second or two faster and it felt amazing. It was 33 degrees and it felt like 25 degrees. The chill, the sun shining on me, the cold breeze here and there along with the beautiful clear blue sky made this morning the best since awhile. Glad my body can pick up where it left off. Back on course.

Foot in Mouth

After writing a post about making time for running is easy; I went through a week that I worked so many hours and unpredictable schedule that I could not fit running in at all. On top of that I have a cold that I can not shake. I was close to recovery, but went clubbing last night and the smoke put me back to being extremely stuffy. I road about 12 miles on a bike yesterday in the cold and it felt amazing so if the weather is fare in the morning I am going to try to run and see if I can breath or not. Wish me luck!

Top 8 Excuses Not to Run:

    8. Not the right gear.

    7. No where to run.

    6. No one to run with.

    5. Inclement weather.

    4. No endurance.

    3. Past and current injuries.

    2. Fear

    1. TIME

Excuses Become Reasons:

8. When I first started out I was wearing shoes that were falling apart. I did not buy my first expensive pair until I knew I had fallen in love with running. The shoes are the most important part for running. Socks and a sports bras are next. Socks prevent blisters and the later is pretty much self explaining. After I decided that running would be part of my life, I purchased some special running socks and shorts.

My point is if you're just starting out shorts, t-shirts, layers for colder weather, socks and shoes can be low-end until you feel ready to take it a step further.

 

7. When I was in college I had a great gym with a track in it and a treadmill to run on. All colleges have gyms to run in so college students should never use this excuse of not having a place to run.

Another place was a community park that had a walk way I could run on. All parks are safer than the road and usually have a track that is a mile long.

I do not have a membership to a gym anymore and do not want to use too much gas money to run so I found solutions. I have a treadmill in my house and I currently walk about 100 meters to the neighborhood next door to run. I drove the roads and found out its 2 miles one time through. It's hilly and gives me a good hard run to train on. When I want to do more miles I know each time around builds up my mileage by 2s.

The most I have done has been 3 rounds for a 10k.

Point: Gyms for college students, all the rest of us can be creative and go to parks and safe neighborhoods. If you own a treadmill dust it off and jump on.

 

6. Personally I run well alone, but sometimes it is nice to run with others for support or to push myself. To work out schedules is hard, but it is possible. My running partner and I run once a month and it's great to see how strong we are from one time to the next. Training alone and showing off every once in a while gives us a reason to push ourselves until next time through competition.

Either find someone who can work the runs in the same time as you or do as I do. If running alone set goals for yourself. I set a 10 mile mark for each week currently. Keeps me motivated.

 

5. Inclement weather is solved through a treadmill if you own one or belong to a gym. I never ran in the rain yet, but either I make it up on the next day I run or I do strength training.

The cold is not a good excuse, because of being able to layer and running warms your body naturally.

 

4. No endurance occurs when you try to increase you workouts and your body is not use to the level or intensity. Through patients and practice this will improve. When you see the improvement through hard work and pushing yourself it feels great.

Most everyone can not just go out and run a marathon. They have to build up to it. For starters it might be wise to walk and run a mile. Then work up to more running and less walking until you can do a full mile without stopping. Add miles on the same way.

 

3. I have 2 injuries that I did not let slow me down even though they seem to be determined to do. One is from about five years ago from a head on collision; I was in with my mom. My hip was jammed and I have a muscle spasm that will never really go away.

The second injury is from a slip and slide accident which left me with chondromalacia (this is where my cartilage has been smashed and the shock absorption does not work anymore) and beginning stages of arthritis in my knees. I re-injured my knee and then the other one a year later playing Ultimate Frisbee. I had to wear a knee brace and was in tears when sitting, standing, walking, laying down, and all positions.

Both of these injuries are just fading memories. The running has strengthened the muscles and relaxed them. Consult your doctor and make sure your injuries could be helped with movement and try it.

 

2. Fear is overcame by getting out there and jumping. Facing your fear can help you grow. The benefits of getting past the fear to run for whatever reason out shines reasons to hide and not try.

 

1. Time. I hear this too much. I am fed up. If someone can say my past week is not as busy as your daily normal routine, then you can use this excuse maybe. I have ran 11 miles this past week.
   

 

My schedule from 11/6 to 11/12

Sunday: Work at my retail job from 11:30 to 6:30. After working from 5 pm to 2 am babysitting the night before.

Monday: Took a day of rest and finished the blog I started and made worksheets for my mentoring in math. Also, a dentist appointment that took 3 hours.

Tuesday: Cleaned all the floors in the house which takes about 2 hours all together. Went bowling with a friend.

Wednesday: Retail work from 10:30 to 4 and then went straight to mentoring that took an hour drive one way to mentor for an hour and half.

Thursday: Ran 4.2 miles and babysat a 3 year old from 12:20 to 8.

Friday: Subbed at a preschool from 9 to 1. Babysat from 2 to 6. Ran 4.5 miles and did a massive strength training session.

Saturday: Worked retail from 9 to 3. Ran 2.3 miles. Went to a Family Christmas party.

 

I went over my goal. If you want to make time for something you do. Think about those mornings you just sat in bed or watched tv for an hour or two. My 11 miles and workouts all equaled up about 4 hours, which is not that many hours out of a 168 hour week with more than 84 hours being awake.

 

I also know a mother who is in college who does 4 milers and college students who do miles on miles who keep up there grades.

 

Now, its up to you take your excuses and make them into reasons.

35 degrees with a nice breeze

Running 4 plus miles on a hilly course in the cold makes you realize how alive you are. Do not let the cold stop you.

Currently:

    I am running about ten miles a week in 3 to 5 days that range from 2 to 4.5 mile runs. I can now run a 5k straight through and now training for a 10k (6.21 miles). Part of this training is sprinting, hills, and constant paces for long distances. I am working on getting my 5k faster with the aid of my new watch that has lap storage, workout recall by date, average/best time display, on-the-fly recall, and elapsed time counter through a chronograph mode. The watch has other functions, but those are the ones that will help me improve my times.

    I am heading towards my goal to one day being able to run a marathon straight through. I will keep you updated on my journey.

Race #3- November 26, 2009:

    Starting off Thanksgiving with a race made me extremely happy. The race was in Canton at Boiling Park. My goal for this race was to run the whole thing without stopping. In my training, the Tuesday before, I ran a full 5k on my hilly course. The park was the flattest course in North Georgia so I knew I could do it.

Race Day:

    This race I did not have a pacing partner. Since I looped around the same areas where my parents and sister were they helped me stay motivated. The first mile was on gravel and the second was on the road covered in speed bumps. Then the final mile was on the gravel again. The gravel killed my knees and hip.

    Finishing my first mile in about 8:51 minutes I still felt strong. I found out the races that looped did not help with my time, because people loop back around you and you see how far away from the beginning you are. Mentally this can slow someone down, but I never stopped running. Closing in on my last mile at 20:51 minutes passed I still haven't walked and still felt good. A touch of nausea set in, but it didn't feel threatening. My breathing was steady so I knew I would be alright, because there was one slight incline coming up, but nothing too strenuous. By the last half mile I looped around and noticed seeing all the people behind me now made me have a kick of adrenaline. I picked up my pace once again. Coming to about the last hundred meters my mom walked towards me and yelled, "Your still under 30 minutes! Beat it!" I sprinted it and the furthest sprint I made in a race.

    My time was 29:13. This was my slowest time, but I met my goal and still sprinted it out at the end. It felt great! Also, to my surprise there were only two people in my age category and I ended up winning the first place trophy.

Pacing Partners- Women vs. Men:

    During the first race I picked people to stick behind at the beginning. The people I chose were a dad and a daughter duo. After I had to walk, I lost them. For a mile I ran as an individual in passing and being passed.

    I found it interesting how it worked when I passed a guy, who always felt that they had to sprint ahead of me to stay in front. In closing around the last mile of the race I ended up trying to out run this group of women, which worked for a short while and then I had to walk. With their steady pace they passed me again and I sprinted to get ahead. At the end of the race I noticed that the mentality of a guy in heat of competition was not going to improve my race time.

    By the second race I picked a 3^rd grader to pace with. Her mother told me that she could run about eight minute miles and stay steady through out the whole race. I thought that I would not have a problem with doing that, but once again I was wrong. By the start of the second loop she pushed on and I started to walk. That is when my new "pacing partner" emerged. At the end of the race I found them both and told them good job.

    My 2^nd "pacing partner," who was 33 years old, and I talked about how great it felt to find someone to pace with. Then her father (in his 60s), who trailed behind me at first then passed me when I walked, but I passed him before the finish line told me, "That my shirt made him mad and he was determined to not let me beat him, because I was a young girl and what my shirt said."I was wearing my Ultimate Frisbee shirt that had the team name on it: Nonads.

    Conclusion so far is women appreciate each other and every age plus the different genders for the inspiration and motivation during the race. Men use all these factors for competition and drive.

    Note: There are always people who do not fit the conclusions drawn. So, find your racing personality and use if for your advantage.

    

    

Race #2- November 14, 2009:

    This race I had trained only 4.5 miles the week before due to work hours. Then the five days leading up to the race I felt sick and lead to no running prior.

 

Race Day:

    The race was at West Forsyth High School. That morning I took 2 bites of cereal and felt really sick instantly. I decided that I could still run the race, so I went. The race started once around the track and then it looped around the school. This was repeated twice.

    After the first rotation I noticed I went too fast and had to walk. At one turn I picked to start running again. Lucky for me this woman in a pink long sleeve warm gear shirt on ended up running pass me at the same time I started. So, she became my "pacing partner." I knew this was going to work, because women draw together unlike men who compete.

    After a while nausea crept back up and I thought about slowing down or walking could help. Then my "pacing partner" was still holding strong and Katy Perry's song "Waking Up in Vegas" came on. I got a new wind in me.

    Closing in to the end we both broke out in a sprint. The race officials started yelling, "It's a race! It's a race!" I ended up out sprinting her.

    I finished the race in 29:05, which I was still proud of. Being sick and still pulling out with a good run with only walking once was good.

Post Script:

If anyone wants to try Australian treats go to the Marietta square! Go to the Australian Bakery Café! If you want someone to go with you…take me!

First Race:

    Running 2 miles was possible and at this point I thought I ran 3 miles (I was wrong) at least once. After eating lunch with my mom and her co-workers I saw a sign for a 5k (3.12 miles) race. The mere thought excited me. I signed up on active.com and registered for the Make-A-Wish Foundation 5k race in Marietta town square on October 17, 2009.

 

Race Day:

5:45 am wake up call to get to the race at 7:00 am for registration. For one thing I hate mornings and the reason I decided to run this race was to show where I stood, which made me nervous. So, I was a little grumpy. The goal I set for myself was to finish the race in 25 to 30 minutes.

    There were about 600 people there. All ages: babies in strollers all the way up to people in their 60s. That was inspiring and even the dogs in the race inspired me too.

    During the race I watched other people, different people's shoes, and the birds. Also, I focused on pacing myself and the cold with the wind chill kept my mind occupied for a bit. My hands were the worst part. It was in the low 40s at 8:00 am when the race started.

    I thought the race course was going to be flat, but I was wrong. There were 4 or 5 hills of different lengths and inclines. I walked a couple of times and at the end as I walked towards the last 100 meters my mom started waving her arms and yelled, "Come on! Your almost there!" The adrenaline kicked in and I sprinted it out to the finish line.

    My time was 28:51. Met my goal and felt amazing!

New Shoes:

    The Rebox DMX Lites I was using were from 8^th grade. So, being 9 years old, the padding in the outsoles were falling out and the heels were worn out of line from wear. I bought blue Duck Tape and fixed my shoes.

    At this point, working at a sports store that sold technical running shoes, I researched about shoes and tried them all on. I decided I wanted the Mizuno Creations, but I liked the Mizuno Wave Riders as much and they were cheaper.

    After a two mile run that caused me much pain I knew I had to get the new shoes. Luckily that day the 1063s from New Balances were on sale so I bought them.

My Birthday:

    It's my 7^th month of my new hobby of running and I started working a job and having two other jobs, which were on an on call system. Plus, two volunteer jobs. This was when morning runs came important and they happened every other day, unless I had two days open and two days of work. Even sometimes afternoons had to be used. If it rained though I took a day off, because I did not want to use the treadmill yet since I felt so dizzy when I used it.

    October 4^th, 2009 was my 23^rd birthday and I could now run 2 miles straight in the neighborhood next door to me. For my birthday my mom gave me, The Complete Book of Running for Women: Everything You Need to Know About Training, Nutrition, Injury Prevention, Motivation, Racing, and Much, Much More by Claire Kowalchick. Read it girls!

    This book taught me that I did not have to cut out sugars. My body will shape itself the way it needs to be for optimum results in running. Plus, I learnt that I will stop the sweets and sleep better on my own, because of my training. From this point I used the Wii Fit for my strength training and work on my flexibility with its yoga system.

Discipline:

    Going out every other day and running was not that hard, but one day I assumed it might be. Also, to make running easier for me I thought it would be a good idea to cut out simple sugars for a week. I did this a couple of times and I found that the next time it is easier than the last time.

 

My Decision to Start Running :

Feeling Unstoppable:

Its fall semester of my last year of being an undergrad student at Appalachian State University and I just got back from a summer in Australia. This was going to be a great year and leaving with a blast; just as I did when I started there with a 3.92 GPA after my first semester there. I transferred there after my first two years spent at Young Harris College.

    My two year plan after my graduation was to enter the Peace Corps, but a sickness changed my plans.

 

The Fall:

    My energy started being zapped and my love of playing sports seemed gone. My normal state of being changed from happy to paranoid and sad, which no one noticed the change because they barely knew me. These changes really appeared to me the week of Halloween. I would be watching scary movies and after a while I felt like a character off the series of Final Destination.

    One day, on my route to school in the morning, I fished tailed three times; twice almost in a ditch and the third time towards an 18 wheeler. I made it to campus and while I was walking through the parking garage a car started to back up right as I got behind it. I slapped the back window and yelled. They stopped. These types of events were not constant, but happened enough to make me nervous and stressed.

 

Vulnerable?

    Near mid-November my heart started to have palpitations. I would lie down to relax or even be dead asleep and be woken up by an over awareness of my heart beating accompanied by a horrible sense of doom. I would curl up and lie there until it stopped.

    The end results of this, before going home for break, was my grades dropping and I missed many Ultimate Frisbee practices, which I adored then. Also, a group of friends I just started hanging out with dropped me, because of my emotional state. Finally, it came time to go home for the holidays.

 

My Christmas Break:

    At arriving home, after a five hour drive, my mom could tell how sick I was, but I did not have a temperature. At this point she took me to the doctor for a physical, pap smear, and to get blood work done to try to figure out what was wrong with me. After all the results the only indicator of me being sick was that my white blood cell count was 80% higher than it should have been.

    From here I wore a heart monitor for 24 hours, which ended up not showing anything even while the palpitations occurred. From here I spent Christmas Eve in the hospital to get my head x-rayed. All that was found was all my chronic allergies in my head were cleared up. That was good news, but left the mystery still unsolved.

    This and all the other news was unnerving, because my energy was still low. The doctors gave me some antibiotics and they helped with my heart and with my white blood cell count. The heart palpitations were still a mystery so my doctor sent me to get an ECG. The results came back to reveal that I had a Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, which means the wall in between the two top halves of my heart has a sagging muscle from a weaken valve, which leads to blood leaking back into my heart.

    To be safe I was sent to the Cardiovascular Specialist. I had a week until my appointment and during the first day I worried, because my Nana died from a brain aneurysm that busted.

    After the first day I became eerily calm about it and all my family and friends seemed to worry for me. By the time of the appointment I felt good bit better. After the doctor looked over my paper work he laughed and did not understand why I was there. At this point he said that the extra muscle could have been there since I was born and not to worry about it. The title is miss-leading too. He believed that my heart palpitations were the results of too much caffeine and stress.

So, from here I thought about what kept me happy and calm. I decided being outside for one and walking. The results were my decision to run.

 

Avoiding the Sickness:

    After returning to school I started running in the school's gym and also at Valley Cruseis Park. I was happy to accomplish a mile when I made it. Plus the running I did strength training for my upper and lower body. Yoga matt and my exercise ball became my best friends. When I ran in the park I would do my strength training on the grass. Sometimes I would climb the trees, swing on the juggle gym, and one day decided to jump into the river. That was not the best idea, because it was no where warm enough to do so.

    From my exercising and more time spent outside, even if it meant lying next to the river studying, I felt stronger and better than ever. At the end of the semester I graduated with a 3.01 GPA after it fell down to 2.95 from the semester before. I graduated and went home.