Under the Full Moon

Last night was the Lunar Eclipse Full Moon Hash and I ran the entire thing! It felt awesome, I regained my place at the front of the pack and just frollicked about! I'm back fishes!

"Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by those who were not smart enough to know they were impossible"

Slow start

Recovering from minor surgery has taken longer than I would like. The bouncing from running has hurt more than I care to endure, so instead, I have been taking up alternative forms of cardio including channel surfing, web browsing, window shopping and other various things that one can do without exerting much effort. I braved the stair stepper, the stationary bike, and attempted the elliptical (which did not go so well), but nothing feeds the spirit like running.

I jogged as much as I could at hash on Friday night, which was awful. I tried again on Sunday, which was less terrible, not yet comfortable, but doable, so I did. Then yesterday I went to the gym at the worst possible time, the only cardio machine open was a single treadmill. I hopped on to do what I could and just like any other encounter with the treadmill, I went all out. It felt good! I did 1.3 mi in 10:36 with the first mile in 7:24.

I didn't feel great, and I'm passing on the half marathon this weekend, but I'm back in the game!!

"There's something incredible about setting a goal beyond your current abilities, where some people are afraid of failure, I'm excited to see if I can meet the challenge" ~ Susan Lacke

Pick up the Pace

So I've got the distance, Twenty-Six point Two miles doesn't scare me anymore. But as with any race, now that I got the distance, how do I get the TIME?!? I will not, nay, CANNOT run a 5 hour marathon in Boston! My head is not so far in the clouds that I think that I can get to a 3:30:00 in the next 5 months, but I don't think a 4:30.... 4:15 is too far of a reach. But how..........

"All limitations are self imposed"

Out of the Game

Here I was moping about because I had minor surgery and its been almost 2 weeks since I have been on trail. I was thinking about how I feel like I don't qualify as a runner anymore and I should probably pack up my numbers and delete my blog (okay, I get a little dramatic when I'm moping) and then I had a thought I think it DOES make me a runner that I am so bummed that I can't run! I have been tired and grouchy and all my joints hurt. I haven't been sleeping well and my resting heart rate is creeping back up (it was 55 yesterday). Seems like it might be a little unrealistic that I will have to start over from scratch when I am able to start back up again, but it sure feels that way. I can feel the fat piling on my hips and my muscles atrophying!! I can't even weight lift or swim in the mean time. I could probably go bike, but its the sitting that hurts the most. So here I go moping along...

I had a nurse last week tell me that there is no benefit to running because walking burns the same calories, it seemed futile to attempt to have her believe any different. Then she referred me to my Primary Care Doctor because my resting heart rate was 44.

Then yesterday, while selling snacks to raise money for the charity, a chaplain comes over and asks me why I run and proceeds to tell me that one day I am going to have to stop running from what hurts and face life. He said that long distance runners lack spirit because the run from their problems and only run as an alternate form of therapy because they can't face the truth. He said that they are junkies like all the other addicts, addicted to endorphins.

Then I had an old guy telling me (almost in tears) how when he was in the Army he was on the post Ten Miler team and it was the highlight of his life. Running gave him purpose and that in the last six years since he got cancer and can't run, his life lacks purpose and drive.

Then today, I got a package in the mail from Brandon from the Respite Center with a bunch of information from the Boston Marathon and the Respite Center. It got me all pumped up and I wish I could be running now.......

"Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must, just never give up" ~ Dean Karnazes

Open Mouth, Insert Asic

Perhaps I spoke out of turn, Runner's World. Perhaps you do know more than me about running. Doesn't mean I'm going to take all the advise....

I have decided perhaps I shouldn't write my letter to the editor because, although I have survived the last month's runs, I am not without consequence. My hips have been killing me since last weekend. Standing, sitting, walking, whatever. Running is murder. I tried to go on a run yesterday and broke down. There are new pains in my injured knee that scare me.

You win this round, Runner's World, but round two will be mine!!

"If you aren't going all the way, why go at all?"

the daily mile challenge

For 2013, I have made a challenge with myself. Every single day, all 365 of 2013, I will run at least one mile. Be it on trail, treadmill, or whatever, be it fast, slow, or a recovery jog, I am challenging myself to run 365 miles next year, spread 1 mile over each day.

Challenge Accepted!

2 Marathons, 1 Week!

 

Yesterday I ran the Fort Bliss Marathon, I did the Galloway method and walked a minute at each mile, starting at mile 4, I ended up cutting 40 minutes off of last week's Marine Corps Marathon for a time of 5:15! I felt great. Today I am sore, what I would expect is  an appropriate amount for running two marathons in one week.
I won the gold medal for females for my age group. I don't think it counts because I was only one of two females to even finish the marathon and I was the only one in my age group...



8mm finished in 4:22!! Almost 50 minutes quicker than the San Fran Marathon, this was his second, he did the Galloway method too!



Marathons are getting easier!!
So many benefits...
I feel thinner
My legs feel stronger
I am officially a marathoner!

"I don't stop when I'm tired, I stop when I'm finished"