A Quick Post Before Today’s Race

Today is the Leprechaun Chase 10k and I have to admit, I’m a little nervous.  I think it’s because I don’t want to be last. But then again, I don’t really care because I know I’ll be having fun and no one else really cares who’s last. But still, I didn’t sleep very well last night thinking about that and several things I needed to get done before the race.

I got most of the things done that I needed to except do a walk on the treadmill.  I was planning to do a two mile walk, but was afraid I wouldn’t be able to help myself and start running and I know I need to save my legs for the race.  They’re a bit sore from the running I’ve done this week to get to my goal of 15 miles for the week.

My mileage for this past week:

Mon.  – 2 miles
Tue.  –  4.04 (my long run!) the first time without walk breaks.
Thu. –   3.10
*Sat. –  6.20 (after today’s race)
Tot. –   15.34 miles

I feel awesome about this!  Me, running over 15 miles in a week!  I never would have thought it possible.

Well, I better get going.  I have a few more things to do before meeting my daughter to carpool to the race at 1:00.  Packet pickup is at 2:00 and the race director advises everyone get there early because the race starts promptly at 4:00.  I’ll let you know how I did.

Wish me Luck!

I Just Felt Like Running Virtual 5k Results

About a month ago I signed up to participate in the 'I Just Felt Like Running' Virtual 5k organized by Jeff at Detroit Runner. It was just the motivation I needed to get me back into my running shoes and back on my mission to become a runner to improve my health.

When I talk about improving my health, I mean specifically improving the health of my lungs. Any other health benefits I receive will be a fabulous plus. I have exercise-induced and allergy-induced asthma.  Running is supposed to be the best treatment for Asthma. The problem is, it can be hell (and it kinda has been for me) to get the lungs conditioned and increase their capacity.

Anyway, I had to get back into running slowly. After all, I had just begun running last June and my longest distance, without walking, was a 5k. A very slow 5k (39:39 I believe it was). 

 I had to push myself to make it a mile without walking. It took a few weeks, but I did it. Then I aimed for a mile and a half before taking a walk break and increased my distance each time I jumped on the treadmill. 



Before the race - I made my own bib



The beginning of the race



I'm happy to say I ran the entire 3.1 miles this past Thursday. But, it was slower than my first 5k race at 44:42. I wanted to improve on that time before submitting my Virtual 5k race results so I ran it again today completing it in 42:19. It's still slower than my first 5k, but I'm so happy that I not only ran 3.1 miles without walking twice this week, but I made an improvement on my speed. Things can only get better!



The finish - I added my time to my race bib



This week's milage:

Tues - 3.10 (had walking breaks)

Thur - 3.10

Fri - 2.25

Sat - 3.1

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Total 11.55 miles - I had a goal of 15 miles but had to take Monday off to work on my taxes (which I'm not done with yet).



I clean up pretty well after the race

Thank you Jeff for hosting this race. It's just what the doctor didn't order but very much approved of!





Keeping Track of my Mileage and a New Form of Cross Trainng.

I've run 4 days this past week. I haven't done that since last fall when I was running every Wednesday with my running group, running a few days a week on my own and running with my sister helping her get into running.

Last Sunday was a nice day in the mid 40's so I was able to run at the lake a slow 3.5 miles. It included having to retrace my steps to find one of my Nike light weight runnng gloves. Even though it was in the 40's, it can be a bit breezy at the lake, expecially running across the dam, which I have to do twice so I started out with gloves and an ear band which I quickly removed. It felt great to be outside. For me running outside is much more diffcult than running on a treadmill but I definitely prefer it.

The rest of my runs were on the treadmill since the weather dipped into the 20's and 30's. Tuesday I ran 3.36, Thursday was 3.55 and Saturday was 3.5. My total for last week was a whopping 13.91 miles! I can hear you all snickering! Most of you run that and more in one day. But I know you're also cheering me on. You know how tough it is as a beginner runner and your words of support and encouragement mean a lot to me and I want to thank all of you for that. Next week I have a goal of 15 miles. I also will start back with my running group next Wednesday.

Today I didn't do much, at least I haven't since 2 this afternoon. Last night all 5 granddaughters spent the night. Their ages are 12, 10, 8, 5 and 2. Five giggling, high-pitched voiced balls of endless energy. They turn the stereo up high, dance and sing to every song, color me endless pictures that I have to put on my fridge, scatter toys, books, colors and pencils up and down the stairs, ride their blankets down the stairs (which I have now forbidden as it leaves lint on the carpet that is difficult to vacuum), bicker over what movie to watch and who is sleeping where.

Last night I managed to get them to bed early - 11:15! The 2 yo wet my bed (no pullups!) and I had to change her and rearrange where we slept. I finally got up a 6:30 for some quiet time - they ALL woke up at 7:00. Today was a flurry of activty until they went home at 2:00. It's always a whirlwind from the time they hit my door until I close the door behind them as they leave. But I love every minute of it.

I think today qualifies as cross training, don't you?

I took a nap this afternoon and this evening I have the academy awards on as I read blogs and drink a well deserved glass of wine. I hope you have a nice relaxing evening too.

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!