Sunshine and Sickies

The weather here has been great! This past weekend it got up into the low 60's with lots of sun. Yesterday and today the temps have been in the mid to upper 50's and more sunshine. A lot of the snow and ice have melted. Great running weather!

My plan was to get outside and run as much as possible but ... you guessed it. I got sick. Last week my boss had a horrific cold but she came into work anyway. By mid day Thursday it got me. I was miserable by 5:00 and didn't make it into work Friday.  I had the usual cold symptoms but started running a fever of 100* but kept it down by taking Tylenol. I went to the doctor yesterday and found out I have a sinus infection, ear infection and bronchitis. She put me on a very strong (and very expensive) antibiotic that I take one a day for five days. We want to keep it from turning into pneumonia like it did last year.

So, I haven't done any running since last Wednesday. I was doing pretty well at increasing my mileage. I did go for a few short walks around my neighborhood on Sunday and today, so I at least got to enjoy the great weather a little.

My mileage for last week was:
   Monday - 3.4
   Wednesday - 4.13

I'm sure I'll be feeling well enough to run again by next week. I hope all of you are healthy and manage to side-step the sickies.

Volunteering is Invigorating

Yesterday I was a volunteer for the running club I belong to. It was a members only race called the Chiller Challenge, a 2 mile fun run, 1 mile kid run and a USTAF certified 8k. I had volunteered on the 2nd but hadn't heard anything back from the Volunteer Coordinator telling me what my job would be. When I got there he didn't have me on the list, but found a job for me - at the water station!

Luckily I came pretty much prepared with my heavy coat, two pair of gloves, one pair of mittens, an ear band and hat. Unfortunately, I didn't get my snow boots out. All I had on my feet were my regular Reeboks and socks. My feet got cold! So did my face and hands. Once I removed one pair of gloves and put on the mittens, my hands got warm. But it was a little tricky juggling those cups of water in the palm of my hand so the runners could just grab them as they ran by me.

After a while I started doing a bit of a jig, hopping around from one foot to the other trying to get my feet warm. Several of the runners commented that they liked my little 'water dance'! It did help to warm up a bit. Even though the temperature was in the mid twenties at the time, I was at that water station for about an hour and half standing in slushy snow. I was cold -- but I had a great time!

After the race there was a chili feed, medals were awarded and there was a drawing. I didn't win anything from the drawing but had a good time talking and joking with the other members.

On the running side - Last week I ran/walked three days for a weekly total of just over 9 miles. Tonight I ran 2 miles before walking a quarter mile then ran another 1.15 miles. I'm definitely low mileage compared to everyone else, but for me - it's a big deal! All last summer when I was running I didn't bother to really track my mileage. This time around I thought I'd keep track.

Oh yeah, I registered for a 10k on March 12th. It's the Leprechaun Chase and sounds like a blast!

Back in the Running Shoes Again!

Well, it’s been over two months since my last post and I haven't run much since mid-November. It just got too cold to run outside when all I had was one long sleeve cotton shirt and capris. Since I just started running last spring/summer, I didn't have the proper winter running gear and that stuff, as I found out, can be pretty pricey! And so are doctors!

Part of my reason for not running was because I was out of commission for a while, from just before Thanksgiving through New Years and a while after, with asthma/bronchitis/strep throat (and a few other medical things) and taking prednisone and antibiotics. I was told by my doctor not to run in the cold because it would exacerbate the lung problems.

However, I have kept up on reading everyone's blogs. I read about how you are all running in the freezing temperatures and loving it. I've seen the pictures of you happily running while it's snowing and I'm envious! I want to run outside all bundled up with the snow falling softly on and around me and hear nothing but my own breathing and footsteps.

But, I have to confess, once I was feeling better, I found it difficult to get going again and became a slug. I would occasionally jump on my treadmill and do a 30 minute walk/run session but just couldn’t get motivated to pick up my routine. That was my other reason for not running – lack of motivation.

Last night I was reading blogs and thought I would see what Michelle at Running With Attitude had been up to. She mentioned that Jeff at Detroit Runner (a blog I hadn't seen before) is putting on a virtual 5k. This peaked my interest so I clicked the link to his blog and read the details of his ‘I just felt like Running’ 5k race. I thought to myself  ‘I can do this. I’ve run a 5k before.’ I suddenly got the urge to get back into a running routine!

So this morning I took my first step to get back into the saddle of running and put on my running shoes. I hopped on the treadmill and did a slow paced 30 minute run/walk and an hour long exercise session with my sister. I have plenty of time to work back up to running 3.1 miles non-stop for the March 5th race day. Luckily, I haven’t lost all of the fitness I had achieved during the summer. It will be tough to do all my running inside, but now I have a goal and motivation.

The next time it snows, I think I’ll go for a nice walk and enjoy the snowflakes falling on and around me and listen to the quietness of my footsteps.

A Marathon, A Celebrity and A Race For The Cure

I should have titled this 'Running is great but it makes me very tired' because that's exactly what my problem is these days. I'm exhausted all the time now. But that's for another post because I'd better get to the topics of this post before I get too tired and save it as a draft, again.

The Omaha Marathon was held on September 26th and I participated as a volunteer while my daughters and their friends were runners. D1 and a few friends ran the 10k while D2 and a few other friends ran the half.

Since I had never been anywhere near a marathon race before, I felt I wanted to experience it from the beginning so I volunteered to stuff the race packets, hand out the packets then help with food prep at the finish line. Of course, I signed up as a volunteer before the girls decided to run in it. But, I did enjoy participating in it on the other side. It made me appreciate the hard work that goes into organizing a marathon and I got to meet a lot of great people.

The morning of the marathon was quite chilly and the excitement about the whole event was awesome. I was with the girls and their friends as they found their way into the crowd at the starting line and watched as the massive line of runners slowley made their way under the banner and down the road. I continued watching as they made their way across the railroad tracks, under the interstate and  disappeared between the buidings going through downtown. I couldn't help but wish I was running with them.

After losing sight of most of the runners, I reported to my post at the food prep section right near the finish line. I cut oranges and bagels for about an hour while keepng my eye out for the first runner to come through. I knew that D1 would be the first of my girls to cross the line since she was running the 10k and I estimated how long it would take her based on her time running the Corporate Cup.

I finally decided it would be best for me to stop cutting up food before I cut off one of my fingers because I couldn't keep my eyes off the finish line. Since I had volunteer credentials, I was able to find a great place to stand just a few feet behind the line and see the runners come around the last turn into the finishing stretch and straight across the finish line.

After what seemed like eternity, but quite close to the time I expected, D1 came around the last turn, down the stretch and across the line where she received her medal from one of the Marine's. Since I'm not a photographer (D1 is) and all I had was her phone camera, I managed to get a great picture of her coming across the line ( I keep forgetting to have her send it to me).

I was able to get D1 into the area where I was and we saw the rest of the group come in that ran the 10k. D2's husband, mother-in-law and 2 yo daughter arrived but couldn't get into the same area, so I took his camera to get a picture of her as she ran across the finish line.

We had estimated when D2 would be coming through and we were quite surprised when she came in a little sooner. It was awesome seeing her and her friend N (one of her boot camp clients) run around the last turn and down the stretch side-by-side. They crossed the finish line toghether, holding hands. I got tears in my eyes watching them. They hugged when they stopped then got their medals. It was both girls first half-marathon! I was afraid I wouldn't get the picture because I was so nervous waiting for her, but the picture was awesome!

                                                                       D2 is the blonde

D2's husband and 2 yo daughter congratulating her

All of the girls did a great job. D1's time was 1 hr and 12 minutes. She took five minutes off her last 10k time two weeks prior! D2's time was 2 hours 9 minutes - awesome for her first half! Her friend N was 1 second behind her.

Now for the celebrity! Jeff Galloway was in town for the Marathon. The Omaha Running Club held a few events for him. I went to a reception at one of the art galleries and talked to him. I told him about running my first 10k, using the run/walk method he advocates, by running 5 min/ walk 1 min. He asked what my pace is and I told him around 13 (yeah, I'm slow). He suggested I do 3/1 to begin then going to 4/1 and finish at 5/1. That way I start out slow and don't get tired in the beginning and will have enough to finish faster. He also spoke at the pasta dinner the night before the race. It was pretty interesting meeting him. He's a nice guy, has some great stories about his running career and great advice.

October 3rd was the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 5k that I participated in with my girls and their friends. We had the option of purchasing a timing chip or not and we all got the chip. This race was huge! (I thought so anyway). There were around 20,000 people - runners and walkers. It was a see of pink (except for me, I wore red!)

The people with the chips were suppose to line up at the front. And we were just a few rows back from the starting line! I knew I was in trouble. I knew I would have to start out way faster than I wanted or should or I would get trampled.

I thought I was going to lose a lung before I was able to get far enough to the side to safely slow down. I was intending to run with D1 and W (she had the timer as I forgot Little Red) and I was way ahead of them. I had run well over five minutes before I was able to slow down and find them. Then W noticed that she hadn't started the timer! I suggested we walk for a minute then start the timer.

We did 4/1 intervals but I was already tired and was having some difficulty breathing. I had used my inhaler on the way to the race and noticed that it didn't have much in it so I didn't get the full amount of medication.

After a few about a mile and half I told D1 and W to go ahead because I just didn't have it in me. I was really struggling. I just kept doing the run/walk intervals even though I wasn't able to time it. What I did was count the seams in the concrete - I would run and count 20 or 30 seams (depending on how I was feeling) and walk for 10 or 12. I wanted to be sure I ran longer than I walked and that I only walked for very short periods.

Finally, when I was about two blocks from the last turn before the final stretch, as I began running I told myself I wasn't going to stop until I crossed the finish line. When I came around that corner I saw that it was a longer stretch than I had thought. I wasn't sure I would make it but I kept going. I tried to kick it at the end and managed to speed up just a little. All of the girls were waiting for me just beyond the line, standing in single file with their hands up and gave me a high-five as I came through. It was a great feeling!

                                                         J, Me, D1, D2, N, JF, W - after the race

Unfortunatlely, when I stopped running the coughing kicked in something fierce. I could barely breath or talk. I used my inhaler but it was completely empty. I had to just keep coughing and trying to keep myself calm and slow my breathing. At one point I had thought about going over to the medical tent and asking if they had an emergency inhaler but the coughing finally subsided and I did fine.

There was a pink ambulance parked not far from the finish line and some volunteers were handing markers to everyone to sign or write messages to people they know that survived or died from breast cancer. I found a place on the back corner and crouched down to write. When I was finished I turned around to find a camera man filming me. My daughters joked that I was a camera magnet. I didn't see if it made the news because I didn't catch which TV station he was from.

There was a lot of food and give aways. One of the local Medical affiliates gave away tulip bulbs in little pink satiny bags. They're pink tulips. We're suppose to plant them this fall, which I haven't yet so I better get them planted tomorrow!

This running and racing really is addicting! I can't wait to get off work to go run. But, for some reason I'm extremely tired all the time. In fact, I had a tough time pushing myself to run this week. I had a docor appointment on Monday and had some blood drawn for tests. I should find out the results next week. I think my hemoglobin is low again.

Anyway, that's what I've been up to and why I'm not blogging much. I can't stay awake and I'm dying to get to bed now! Good night and happy running!

My 10k Race That Made Me a TV Star!

A week ago I ran The Omaha Corporate Cup 10k. It was my second race and my first 10k. The morning was pretty chilly, we had to wear light jackets and gloves. There were around 4,000 runners. The elite runners got to run an hour before the rest of us. The seeded runners, of course, were in the front, then the regular runners (I'm not sure what we are categorized as) and the walkers at the back. Being in a race is very exciting, whether it's a small crowd or large. My first race was just over one hundred people, very small but the excitement was just as great as this one.

D2 and her friend N are faster runners and, even though they were several rows behind us, passed D1, W and me before we even crossed the starting line, which took us a minute or two to get across due to the large crowd. It's a good thing we had chips on the back of our bibs.

D1, W and I had decided earlier to use the Jeff Galloway method of running - to run/walk from the beginning, not to wait until getting tired before walking. D1 and W had originally thought they would run one mile/walk one mile but I thought that would make us tired too soon, after all, we're new to this running and racing stuff. So we decided to run 5 minutes and walk one minute.

Well, after about a mile or so at that ratio we were getting a bit fatigued and started using 5/2. After a few intervals at that ratio and getting a little rested, we decided to use what Galloway had actually suggested, a 4/1 ratio which worked pretty good for almost the rest of the race.

At one point I used my inhaler even though I had used it about two hours prior to the race. This caused the girls to get a little concerned about me so I had to assure them I was fine, just needed a little boost from the inhaler.

Sometime between the fourth and fifth miles I felt I needed to take an extra minute of walking (which the other two were glad I did as they were feeling it too) but then resumed our 4/1 ratio for about the next mile then we just ignored our timers and ran until we needed to walk but always tried to keep the walking short.

Finally I told the girls to go ahead, that I was just going to go at a slower pace and would be fine. They reluctantly left me and would occasionally look back to see how I was doing. I just kept running some then walking some, always making sure I ran more than walked. The last mile was up hill, not steep but a steady incline.

I lost sight of the girls as they turned the final corner towards the finish line. I wanted to be sure I ran the last half mile and that I came around that corner running. I was so happy after turning the corner because from there it went downhill! I could see D1 and W going across the finish line.

As I was running toward the finish I kept looking around for D2 and the rest of the family but couldn't find them. I picked up my pace a little and just before hitting the finish line I heard my granddaughter shout 'Go Gramma!'. I turned to my left and could see everyone standing at the finish line and I raised my arms in the air as I ran across the finish! I was so happy I had completed the race and I wasn't last!

When I stopped running my legs felt like wet noodles and almost buckled. I started walking toward my family, stumbled and almost fell on my face. D2 came over to me and gave me a high five then gave me a big hug. When I got to the side with the rest of the family I got big hugs from all of them. They said how proud they were of me for funning the race. The grandkids thought I was awesome!

As I was going across the finish I also noticed someone with a camera standing with my family and following me as I crossed and as I was getting high-fived and hugged. When I got to where everyone was standing I noticed it was a reporter. She had been interviewing D2 when she said 'here comes my mom. She has asthma'. Apparently the reporter asked her what made her decide to run this race.

The Corporate Cup is sponsored by the American Lung Association, so when D2 mentioned that I had asthma the reporter zoomed in on me. When I got over to where everyone was standing, and after hugging everyone, I needed to sit so I sat down on the curb and leaned against a light pole. She knelt down in front of me and started asking me questions. One was 'you have asthma and ran in this race. Would you tell other people with asthma and other lung diseases that they could do this too?' I told her yes, that I trained with the Omaha Running Club and ran my first 5k on Labor Day and this is my first 10k. Its hard work, but well worth it!

Then the reporter went back to D2 and asked her why she decided to run this race. D2 told her 'I had been doing a little running for a while but never felt I could run a race, but when my mom, who has asthma, asked me to run a 5k with her, I thought if she could run a race having asthma, than I certainly could run it too'. I felt so proud of her and had tears in my eyes.

Well, my part of the interview was aired on the evening news, but unfortunately they cut out my daughter's interview. I got quite a few positive comments and congratulations from friends and co-workers that saw that clip. Some of the comments were 'You're a TV star'.

There was a time during the race when I questioned my decision to run a 10k having just begun running and only ran one 5k. I felt I might have bit off more than I could chew but I never once felt like quitting. My race time was 1:21:22. I don't remember what my pace was calculated to be. The only thing I really care about is that I did it. As tired as I was when I finished, I felt awesome for the rest of the day.

Finally, my first 5k report

I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since I ran my very first 5k and I haven't even told you all about it! There are a few reasons though, one is my computer still had some problems and another is I'm so tired all the time and don't know if it's due to the running or something else.

Anyway, my first 5k was on Labor Day. I was excited and a bit nervous. I met my daughters at the event. My youngest daughter (D2, the personal trainer) brought 6 of her boot campers and her 11 year old daughter and her friend (they both ran it too). My oldest daughter (D1) brought her sister-in-law (W). We had a nice sized group! I introduced them to several of the women in my running group.

I met up with a friend (F) I met in the training sessions and met her husband and son. Her son participates in Ironman Triathlons. It's really great that he supports her and gives her training tips. She and I had planned to run the 5k together. I teased her telling her when we got close to the finish line I was going to kick it and leave her in the dust. We all got a good laugh at that - she's almost 6 feet tall and I'm five feet! But, we're both slow and can pace each other.

The girls of course ran ahead of me and I ran with F. She and I kept each other paced and motivated. The race was small (about 120 women and kids) and the course was an out and back, so I got to see many of the people from the training group and my daughters and granddaughter as they were on their way back. It was pretty awesome to give the girls high fives as we passed each other! And the words of encouragement from them and the other women made it fun, inspiring and motivating.

Then, when F and I had less than a mile to go I started feeling nauseous and very tired.  F kept talking to me and tried to keep my mind off of how I was feeling. Twice I said I just couldn't keep going and tried to stop but both times she grabbed my arm and pulled me along. I told her she didn't have to worry (as if she ever was) because there was no way I would be able to 'kick it' at the end. At that point I started thinking to myself 'why am I doing this'!

Finally, as we came around the last curve, we could see the people lined up along the trail by the finish line and could hear them yelling for us to run faster. I saw my son-in-law standing with his camera taking pictures and I remember giving him two thumbs up but feeling very tired. F and I just kept our normal pace until one of the guys I knew yelled 'hurry, go faster or the little girl behind you is going to beat you'. I looked back and saw this little eight year old girl and her mom not far behind us.

I don't know how I managed to do it, but I just started sprinting! I yelled and motioned at F to 'hurry, go faster'. I could hear my family and friends yelling 'go, go, go'! Just as I was about to cross the finish line that little girl passed me on my right, her mom was right next to me and F was suddenly on my left. That little girl beat me by one second! Her mom and I crossed at the same time and F was just one second behind me. It was very exciting! Suddenly, I was feeling pumped and couldn't wait to do it again!

It's crazy the adrenaline rush I got after putting my body through the hardest workout it has ever done and wondering why I was doing it. About a week before the race I ran 3 miles in 40 minutes. I ran the 5k in 39:59 - 1/10th of a mile longer and one second faster. The improvement I have made in the past month is amazing!

I'm still helping my sister with the running program that I did. We run together twice a week. I'm also trying to run with my oldest daughter, but her business (she's a photographer) and her husband's long hours make it difficult for her. We've had to bring her three daughters on their bikes. It's not difficult with the two oldest girls because they can ride rings around u, but the 5 yo is still using training wheels and didn't like having to ride so far and being left behind by her sisters.

Tomorrow D1, D2, W and I are running the Corporate Cup 10k. D2 will leave us in the dust of course. D1, W and I have a plan to run it using the Jeff Galloway run/walk program.  At first the plan was to run 1 mile and walk 1 mile. But after thinking about it, that would take us way too long to complete the race if we walked every other mile. So we've decided to change it to run 10 min/walk 1 min or maybe 5/1. I have it all programmed in Little Red so we can make the decision when we get there. I just hope it doesn't rain (it's been raining all day today).

I've been having some leg pain the past several weeks and it has gotten a little worse. The pain actually starts right in the middle of my left buttock and goes down to the middle of the back of the thigh. I also get pain on the outside of my right knee. I'm trying to be sure to stretch well, even used my Yoga for Athletes video. I've taken Ibuprofen which helped but cause very bad heartburn. Today I started using Aleve, just once so far, but it hasn't helped yet. I hope it doesn't hurt tomorrow and that I don't make it worse. If anyone has any tips on how to treat this pain, please let me know.

I've rambled enough for one post and need to get my running gear together for tomorrow. I'll be sure to report on the 10k much sooner than I did for the 5k.

Three Miles, a Sick Computer and a 5k

A few weeks ago my personal computer got infected with a virus. One day I was reading my email and just surfing the net when suddenly I got a pop up Windows Security Alert from a yellow shield that mysteriously appeared in the system tray. It said my computer was infected. Then a bunch of alerts keep popping up giving different warning signs.

Anyway, it took a long time and help from volunteer professionals at bleepingcomputer.com to clean up my computer. I found out it was a rogue security program that got downloaded to my computer somehow.

During this time I used my work laptop to read some of my favorite blogs and even commented on a few. But I really don't like to use it for my personal stuff much so I didn't post anything on my blog. Now that my computer is feeling much better I can try to catch up on the last few weeks.

For week nine of my training the intervals were 9/1, which I managed to do, at least for some of the intervals. That week another runner in the group brought her four month old baby in his stroller. She was struggling to push the stroller up a hill while holding him (because he was fussing) so I stopped to help. She asked if I would push the stroller as I ran. I now have complete admiration for women that run while pushing a stroller! That thing wasn't easy to push empty. It has to be a challenge to push with a baby or larger child in it.

Week 10 is when we began running for 30 minutes without walking. I have to admit I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do it. During the group run, my lungs and legs actually felt pretty good. I noticed that I was running a bit faster than I usually do. Quite a few of the other runners noticed and commented on how much I had improved. But for some reason, when I reached 15 minutes I decided I should stop and walk! I don't know why. I actually felt as though I could have kept going but just stopped.

Another beginning runner (F) was running with me and I noticed she seemed to be struggling and had stopped when I did. She was keeping track of our distance with her Nike Plus and said we had run 3/4 of a mile. We walked for about five minutes then ran another 3/4 mile. By then my legs were feeling pretty tired and I found myself struggling and couldn't keep going. I was a bit upset with myself for stopping when I was feeling good.

I ran once more between weeks 10 and 11 at the lake. I had such a difficult time with my lungs but managed to run for over 16 minutes before walking. After getting home I realized I had forgotten to use my inhaler before going running. No wonder I felt like I couldn't catch my breath!

Week 11, which was last Wednesday, we were scheduled for another 30 minutes non-stop. Since it was the first Wednesday of September, it was potluck night. We gathered at a member's house, got all the great food together, and then took off for our run. I ran with the F from week 10.

This time we were both feeling good. My lungs had never felt better (I remembered to use my inhaler about 40 minutes before the run) and my legs didn't feel tired at all. When I announced that we had less than a minute left before the five minute cool down walk, she said that we had run for 2 1/4 miles and asked if I felt good enough to go an additional 3/4 mile for a total of 3 miles! I just wish we would have thought to run the additional .1 to make it a 5k.

Let me tell you - that last 1/4 mile, we were huffing and puffing but didn't stop. We ran 3 miles without stopping! When we did stop my legs felt like jello. I had a bit of a wobble in my walk for a while as we walked back to the house, but man did I feel great!

I can't believe I ran 3 miles! Compared to most of you, 3 miles isn't much. But I also know that all of you had to start at the beginning. I'm sure you all felt just as elated the first time you ran a significant milestone without stopping. And I'm sure you're all celebrating the success of my milestone with me.

Yesterday I ran at the lake hoping I could run the 3 miles again, but wasn't able to. My right thigh started hurting. The pain ran down my thigh to the outside of the knee. Since tomorrow I run my first 5k, I made sure to take it easy and took a few ibuprofen. Now I'm a little afraid it might start hurting during the run.

Today (my 55th birthday) I picked up my race packet. I'm excited and a bit scared (don't know why) at the same time. No matter what happens or what my time is, even if I come in dead last, I'll be successful just for the fact that I did it!