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!

An Accidental Longer Run and a Run With My Sister

Last Monday I did day 3 of week 7 of my training program, three intervals of 7/3. I walked up to the lake and headed straight across the dam. Halfway across Little Red (garmin) notified me it was time to start running the first interval. I was feeling good, my breathing was really good and I managed to keep my mind on things other than the run.

Well, at a certain area around the lake I started thinking that Little Red (LR) should have notified me by now that it's time for the three minute walk or will be very soon. I'm starting to get a bit tired; my legs feel like they need a break and my breathing is getting a bit labored.

When I run, I don't like to look to see how much time I have left. It makes me feel like 'I still have so-and-so many minutes to go and I don't think I can make it'. It’s psychological, I know, but it makes it harder for me to motivate myself to keep going. I like feeling surprised when I hear the beeps telling me the running part is over and I can walk.

Anyway, I quickly glanced at LR and noticed 20 seconds. Yes! I can hang in there for 20 more seconds. But, no beeps come from LR. By now I'm at an area of the trail that I know for sure takes me longer than 7 minutes to run to so I take a good look at the time and saw 5:47! I stopped running and stopped the timer.

I didn't know what happened. Did the timer stop for a while and suddenly start again? Did I not hear the beeps telling me to walk then run again? Did I select one of the longer workouts by mistake? I was pretty tired by then and needed a walk break so I made a mental note of where I stopped, did a short walk further along the trail and back to the stopping point and started the timer again. At the end of the 5:47 time I heard LR beep indicating the 3 minute walk. Man, was I happy for that walk. I did the last interval without any glitches and went back home to upload the data into the Garmin Training Center.

After analyzing the data from that run I noticed that I had run for almost 13 minutes without stopping! That's huge for me. I felt amazed and pretty good about myself.

What I think happened is that I didn't hear the beeps because I wore a sweat band under the garmin. I had read on a blog that some people do that because it always gets so sweaty under the garmin and the moisture seeps into the holes on the bottom of the device and causes corrosion. So, until I find a thinner sweat band that won't muffle the beeping sounds, I won't be wearing anything under LR.

On Wednesday with the running group we began the 8/1 intervals. Unfortunately, the temperature was 98 degrees with a heat index around 112 at 6:00 P.M! It was decided that we wouldn't run, so we walked the 5k distance. It was so hot!

Yesterday, I got out to run at 10:00 A.M but the temp was already in the mid 80's. The first interval actually went pretty good. But, during the second interval I just didn't have it in me. I stopped within the first two minutes and walked for a minute then tried running again but just couldn't do it. I walked the rest of the time then just went back home.

Now to my sister. She's four years older than me and we're both 5 foot nothing. I weigh 114 lbs, but she has battled her weight for years and is dangerously overweight. She heard about me running and commented that she would like to learn to run.

So, this morning she and I began the training program starting with week one - run 1 minute/walk 4 minutes doing 6 intervals for a total of 30 minutes. Of course, the more intervals we did, the more difficult it felt for her but she did great. She did better than I did when I first started! I'm so excited to help her get physically active and improve her health. And I'm so proud of her for recognizing that she needs to do it and taking that first step on her own.
Something I noticed about myself during today’s run with my sister is that I barely broke a sweat! I probably wouldn't have if it hadn't been almost 70 degrees. It was a great confirmation that my fitness ability and lung capacity are indeed improving. And I've noticed a change in the definition of my calves and thighs as well.
This running stuff is hard work - but well worth the effort!

Running Improvement and Need a Road ID Bracelet

I'm still participating in the training program through the running club on Wednesday evenings and doing pretty good. I struggled some in weeks 4 (run 4/walk 1) and 5 (5/1). I'm not sure if it was the heat (it's been in the upper 80's & lower 90's) or if it was because my legs weren't feeling strong enough. In fact, I noticed that the first couple of intervals I would struggle with my breathing, but then my lungs would feel like they opened up making it easier to breathe, but my legs would feel like they didn't have the strength to keep going.

On week 6 day 1, I did great! I didn't have to walk at all during the 6 minute run intervals and I felt pretty good about myself. The second day of week 6 I ran at the lake in the middle of the day (not smart!) in 80 something degrees. I was actually done pretty well until the last interval. I was feeling pretty tired and was running up a hill that was steeper than I was used to and I hadn't run in that area before. I kept saying to myself 'you can do it, you can do it', when suddenly I just stopped! It surprised me. It was as if someone had put their hand on my chest and held me back. I walked for several minutes and tried to run more but just didn't have it in me to do it. I didn't even attempt to run day 3.

Last Wednesday was day 1 of week 7 (7/3). We did our training at one of the member's home and had a potluck. She lives in an awesome area that is hilly and a big wooded area. We actually did part of our run on trails through the woods. It was my first experience at trail running. I have to admit that ALL of the hills were VERY steep so some of us didn't run up most of them. It was a great workout but I didn't get the full 7 minutes of running because it was so hilly and I'm not at that level yet.

But this morning (I got smarter and went earlier when it was just 74 degrees) I did day 2 at the lake and ran each interval without stopping! My last interval was on the hill that I had stopped so suddenly last week. I think I've got that hill licked. Now I can't wait to run day 3!

Next Wednesday begins week 8 (8/2) and I feel pretty confident I can do it.

I never thought I'd see the day that I would be able to run 7 minutes without stopping. I know it doesn’t sound like much to most of you but to a person that has never been athletic or run since childhood, with asthma to boot, running for 7 minutes straight is a huge accomplishment!

During week 5 I developed bronchitis - again. Because I've started running, it aggravates my lungs and will continue to do so for quite a while. So my doctor gave me a steroid shot and I'm just about finished with my second round of antibiotics in a month. I don't want the bronchitis to get worse and develop into pneumonia again.

When I run I wear a SPIbelt to hold my cell phone, identification and inhaler. I was always planning to get one of those Road ID bracelets but haven't yet. So, in the meantime what I did was made a copy of my driver’s license and carried it, folded, in my SPIbelt. Well, a few weeks ago as I was doing my cool down walk, my phone rang. I pulled it out of the belt but didn't zip it back up. I walked home while talking to my friend on the phone.

Once I got home I took off my shoes, removed the belt and took everything out of it as I usually do. But, the copy of my driver’s license wasn't there. I realized I must have lost it when pulling my phone out of the belt or it fell out because I didn't zip it back up. I hastily slipped on a pair of flip flops and headed out the door to retrace my steps searching the ground along the way for a piece of paper the size of a driver’s license that was folded in quarters.

Now, I always take a short cut to the lake, which these days is becoming overgrown with weeds. Imagine trying to find a postage stamp in weeds that are knee high while wearing flip flops. I climbed the hill to the dike, crossed the dike and got half way around the lake to the area where I pulled my phone out of my belt. There it was. Someone had picked it up then ripped it into a hundred little pieces. I got on my hands and knees and picked up every little piece of paper I could see. When I got home I put it back together just to be sure I had gotten at least all of the pieces that might have my information on it. I got every piece of that paper!

It was so important to me to find that paper because several years ago someone had gotten hold of my checking account number and drivers license and wrote checks against my account. I didn't want that to happen again.

This is why I MUST get one of those Road ID bracelets.

Making Habits is Difficult

"We first make our habits, and then our habits make us." 

          - John Dryden

I haven't blogged for a few weeks because I really haven't had much to blog about and because I was putting in a lot of hours working. I have been participating in the training program I mentioned in my last post and it's been great. However, for some reason, maybe because I was working so much, or maybe I'm just a slug (to be honest, I'm sure it's both,) I didn't run at all in between the training days.

I did pretty good though during those training sessions. But, they did start out running one minute and walking four and each week adds a minute of running and decreases the minutes of walking. Last week the intervals were three/two, it was hot and I was having a little bit of difficulty with the breathing part at first but still completed the training.

Once a month the women's running group gets together for a run and pot luck dinner at a member’s house. Last week we did our training group at one of the member’s house that lives at a lake, so we ran around the lake and afterwards ate great food, drank wine and had great conversations. I didn't drink any wine, I felt like I needed to stick to just water. It was a great time.

I had the workouts set up on my Garmin, so I had to announce to everyone when to run and when to walk. I also scheduled the workouts for Wednesday (training with the group), Friday and Monday. I know I have to run throughout the week if I want to be able to keep up with the group and run the 5k on September 6th.

However, I didn't run Friday. I left work early feeling sick, almost like bronchitis was starting up again. I got home and slept and took it easy all night. So, I did my run this evening. I feel so much better. It was tiring and a bit warm (it was 86 degrees) but there was a nice breeze as I ran and walked around the lake.

Next Wednesday, the training intervals are run for four minutes, walk one. I've never been able to run longer than 'almost' four minutes. I'm a little concerned about being able to do it. I know that I have to run more between the training sessions. I know that I have to make it a habit, and so far, I haven't been able to do that. I don't know why.

I came across the quote above just a few minutes before writing this blog and it really hit home. I must make running a habit if I'm going to succeed at running the 5K in September, if I'm going to succeed at being a runner.

I really want to succeed.

Get Back on Track

It's been about three weeks since my last post. I haven't run or even attempted to run or do any type of exercise, unless you count mowing my grass yesterday (after a week and a half) as exercise. I even cheated on that; I bought a new self-propelled mower so that was pretty easy.

I'm not sure why, but after being out of town for three days for my brother-in-law's funeral then immediately flying to Orlando for a work conference for another five days, I felt totally exhausted. The evening I got back I was in bed by 6:00 P.M., just an hour after walking through my door. The next three days were pretty much the same, in bed very early. I didn't even have the motivation to read my favorite blogs.

This past week was different; I didn't get home until after 8:00 every night. Work has been very hectic and stressful. I'm not liking my job much right now. I haven't been able to take much time off for the past year and it's getting to me. Getting time off for the funeral was difficult.

Anyway, I haven't been able to run with the running group for the last three Wednesdays. That was a real bummer because it was really getting me motivated to run more. So, once again, I've slipped back into my couch potato life - but only temporarily.

This morning I planned to get out early and walk for a few miles but Mother Nature had other plans. It rained all day. I know I could have jumped on the treadmill but decided to get caught up on reading blogs. I'm glad I did. Reading about everyone's running and racing has helped give me a nice little kick in the butt.

The rain has stopped and it looks like the dark clouds are moving out so I'm going to put my painted toes into my running shoes and get out at least for a walk. Heck, I'm feeling better already, I may just break out into a slow run!

Oh yeah, my running group is starting a Step Into Running training program for women and children this Wednesday and I'm definitely participating in it. It lasts for 11 weeks and helps to prepare the participants to run the Go Girl Run 5K on Labor Day. That will be my first 5K!

The motivation is coming back!