This isn't the post I envisioned while I was running. I didn't get far enough to have time to let my mind wander to a place of even being able to plan my post. This post might come out of a different place than my previous posts--caution!
So, this training stuff is hard. Working so hard for a goal that is now, 2 weeks away, continues to force my gaze and focus UP, and OUT. So emotional stuff that goes on at the same time as training, let's call that stuff life, is never easy either! I love people deeply. Sometimes, I hurt them unintentionally. Sometimes, I do more harm than good, and sometimes what I thought was this great thing, isn't so great.
It's like training. I thought that today I'd be ready to run a nice easy 12 miles. I had taken Wednesday completely off from running. Thursday was an active rest day where I rode my bike 6 miles and then lifted a bit. Friday was indoor cycling and I was free of ankle/knee pain. Yesterday I was at school from 8AM until 9:45PM...that's a loooooong time! I spent a good majority of that time on my feet on concrete working in the concession stand, and by the end of that my ankle had started to feel tired and sore. I also got a text from Beth that B-man was sick and she couldn't ride with me in the morning. Well, I sent out a lot of text-pleas and got nothing in return. So, I spent the drive home in the rain planning my run and mentally preparing. I envisioned the trail, where the the water was and what it would be like for me to be out there alone.
This morning I was planning on sleeping in (till 7AM) and then getting up and ready. But, like I've already mentioned, it's all related, so I was feeling overwhelmed and uneasy. About .15 of the run, I felt a tinge in my ankle. I felt the tightness and stiffness and then it hit my knee. I knew I should stop, but I kept going because stopping is really hard. It's like admitting defeat or that I'm not going to be able to do it. I kept going and the pain would go away, then I would feel it again. And it's not muscular, it's joint-stuff -how scientific...So on the trail the debate is going back in forth in my head do I keep going, or do I stop? Do I forge through, or is that unwise? Will it hurt me more later to keep going now? Do I keep the END in mind and take care of myself now, or just go because I wanted to be able to run today? Are you beginning to see the greater picture and how all this STUFF is related???
At 1.68, I turned around. I ran 3.11 and walked the rest .50 mile home. It's soooooooo hard for me not to feel like an absolute failure! I wanted to be on the trail, I want to be healthy, and more than that, I want to be able to give myself grace in this moment. I want to be able to believe it, ya know?
I hope this isn't just downer ramblings to you today!
It's beautiful outside, I'm hoping for some JG time and maybe a nice leisurely bike ride:)
Happy Birthday Sam!!
Happy Saturday!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
That's alotta Muha's!
Pick-up-your-pictures-at-school-day!!! That's right, I didn't cut them up and write on the back and give it to all besties...so, if you want one, just lemme know because I've got 4 years worth of teacher HOTT school pics! :)
I feel like it's been awhile since I've chatted with ya'll! The last connection was via a landmark 20-miler-and well, oh blah de-oh blah dah, life goes on:) This week I have been feeling quite OLD! My physiological age could have been near 40+ if you judged this based on my walking capability or sound effects when sitting (aka plopping) down or getting up. Needless to say, I was SORE! My joints hurt, my bones hurt, and I was tiiiiired! Sunday was a slow mover for me, I took a brief nap and hoped my right ankle/knee got to feeling better soon. Monday, well let's just say I tried to run.....and I basically would start out running and then stop when I felt pain in my ankle/knee. Then, it went away, I would start out again, then stop, then start, etc. I only did this for 2 miles.
Well, yesterday I thought the ankle was feeling better and so I hit the road again for an 8 miler. I know, my training/pain avoidance wasn't on allstar-level at this point. I shouldn't have ran 8 miles, but I wanted to hit the road and the weather was beautiful, and I couldn't resist. So I ran in and out of pain for the whole time and went pretty quick. The first 2 miles were around 8:50 min/mile pace and then I slowed where every mile after that was under 9:30ish min/mile pace. I got done, readily applied some ice to my ankle and after a chat with the G-man decided to rest. G-man coaches and has coached Cross Country/Track and Field at the school were I work for 30+ years and knows his stuff! The man is an excellent coach, and he told me very confidently that I needed to take 2-3 days off to rest my ankle completely before the race so I'm able to finish and finish strong! I heeded his advice and NO running, NO cross training, NOTHING on this fine Wednesday. The weather was awesome, so NP and I enjoyed a Sprite (him) Vitamin Water (me) on my driveway in camping chairs after work. Ahh, the life of a teacher....:)
Guess what came in the mail today........................
That's right! My official race-day apparel that I ordered on Monday! Super excited to try it out on a long run and see how it feels! I hope all is well because I'd love to wear it and feel good on race day in that!
Back to So You Think You Can Dance and early to bed tonight!! :)
Guh' night all:)
I feel like it's been awhile since I've chatted with ya'll! The last connection was via a landmark 20-miler-and well, oh blah de-oh blah dah, life goes on:) This week I have been feeling quite OLD! My physiological age could have been near 40+ if you judged this based on my walking capability or sound effects when sitting (aka plopping) down or getting up. Needless to say, I was SORE! My joints hurt, my bones hurt, and I was tiiiiired! Sunday was a slow mover for me, I took a brief nap and hoped my right ankle/knee got to feeling better soon. Monday, well let's just say I tried to run.....and I basically would start out running and then stop when I felt pain in my ankle/knee. Then, it went away, I would start out again, then stop, then start, etc. I only did this for 2 miles.
Well, yesterday I thought the ankle was feeling better and so I hit the road again for an 8 miler. I know, my training/pain avoidance wasn't on allstar-level at this point. I shouldn't have ran 8 miles, but I wanted to hit the road and the weather was beautiful, and I couldn't resist. So I ran in and out of pain for the whole time and went pretty quick. The first 2 miles were around 8:50 min/mile pace and then I slowed where every mile after that was under 9:30ish min/mile pace. I got done, readily applied some ice to my ankle and after a chat with the G-man decided to rest. G-man coaches and has coached Cross Country/Track and Field at the school were I work for 30+ years and knows his stuff! The man is an excellent coach, and he told me very confidently that I needed to take 2-3 days off to rest my ankle completely before the race so I'm able to finish and finish strong! I heeded his advice and NO running, NO cross training, NOTHING on this fine Wednesday. The weather was awesome, so NP and I enjoyed a Sprite (him) Vitamin Water (me) on my driveway in camping chairs after work. Ahh, the life of a teacher....:)
Guess what came in the mail today........................
That's right! My official race-day apparel that I ordered on Monday! Super excited to try it out on a long run and see how it feels! I hope all is well because I'd love to wear it and feel good on race day in that!
Back to So You Think You Can Dance and early to bed tonight!! :)
Guh' night all:)
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Konza, Second City AND 20 miles!
Whoa-nelly! I've got LOTS to report--hold on to your hats!
KONZA
First off, the BEST class field trip ever! I hoped to impart my love for the outdoors with physical activity and took 2 of my classes to Konza Prairie Reserve to hike the 4 mile loop. We had originally hoped to hike 6 mile route, but the timing and our pace as a class wasn't allowing this to happen and be back at school by 2! So, alas, we still had a great time and enjoyed the great outdoors thanks to some really adventurous Sophomore boys and geckos/grasshoppers/bugs/anything living that they found and thrust in the face of any female within the vicinity of them. Ahh....boys will be boys?! Needless to say, I moved from RIGHT behind them to towards the middle/back of the pack. Check out some fun pics below:
Started off my day of activity after spinning this morning with a Passion-fruit flavored Coconut water as an effort to stay ahead of dehydration! It is a task for someone like me that sweats--well, A LOT is an understatment at times;)
Great view with a super fun student Shug/Doodie or Kam-Bam:) Depends on what you'd like to call her! So cute!
Lunch break, we all brought lunch and popped-a-squat! The boys claimed not to be hungry and wanted to play in the nature...as I heard one of them mention later, "I've got nature all over my legs..."
Back on the trail, cute hats/sunglasses or maybe it was their "official hiking gear."
I loved the color contrast of greens/tans/yellow colors against and blue sky with big white fluffy clouds
One of my roads/trails ahead.
No one else wanted me to take their picture, so K-dawg was all about it...I was all about photog-ing our random finds--like this well that is only used under supervision and permission and stuff..
Check out what came in the mail for me yesterday!!
My official confirmation ticket to the CHICAGO MARATHON! whoop whoop!! I read it immediately and will probably 7 more times before heading to Chicago:)
SECOND CITY
That's right, in typical Chicago fashion, I went to SECOND CITY last night! My friend John asked me to go with him, and it was AWESOME! :)
Jenny and I had to pose for a quick pic in our matching shirts before I headed out the door:) That's right, I DID wear the shirt to the show, I had to represent the Chi-town experience! One of the cast members was from Chicago, so just like the red-head in the latest Sonic commercials (I'm like your little tator-tot) I look at these people and feel like their my friends from Chicago!
Sweet hook-up:
So John is a Friend of McCain and he got an invite on his seats for a little smoozing action in the Director's Lounge! I was extremely excited to meet some folks and enjoy FREE refreshments which was a bottle of water for me and John and a little Pepperidge Farm cookie;) Super funny! Good times had by all!
Onto this morning's JAUNT!
As I looked down at these feet, I was trying to give them a little pep-talk. Like, "here we go fellas, got 20 miles ahead of us, you got this? slow and steady, don't quit on me, ok?! You can do it!"
This is my friend for these long runs, unfortunately I did not apply enough today do the immediate upper area of under arm, and wow, let's just say: PAIN and screaming out bloody murder in the shower!
Not exactly sure what was happening here. Looks like I was still dancing to Miley's latest hit: Party in the USA when NP was at my house ready to hit the road, and JG took a pic!
Brrr this morning! Wowza, it was 48 degrees according to my computer when we started out. Def could see my breath! That long sleeved was awesome to wear at the start, light weight and warm, had to be shed though around mile 7.
So the journey this morning found my legs, body, and mind fatigued from a really intense week! This was the climax of the training week, so as of today I've logged 40 miles THIS WEEK! That's a lot, and when the alarm went off this morning, my body was not super excited for the trek! I have had some issues this week with my right knee and ankle and I got them re-aligned from my favorite Chiro here in town on Friday, but this morning I was hurting around mile 6 and then again really intensely around mile 13! I considered stopping because I felt like I was just slinging my right knee thru ankle/foot along for the ride. I felt very gimpy and NOT good! I was getting discouraged and just announced to NP that I was going to pray. So, I did. And I asked God for grace to finish the run. I asked God to take away the pain and allow me to finish this moring. I kept asking for other things and lifted up people and it was a really great opportunity to connect with Him this morning. The pain went away. It wasn't even a dull ache, it was gone and I was moving forward and feeling good. The motto today was: slow and steady. My pace stayed right around 10 min/mile. I was in the 9:4o's ish and the 10:11's sometimes. My goal was to finish under 3:20 and made it: 3:19!
Can still put my arms up! We got done in the middle of the trail with still about 1.5 left before we got to my house.
There's more miles to log, but from here on out, it's TAPER time! I say now that I'm ready to take it easy, but we'll see how I do when I really do run less and less. It'll be different that's for sure--don't worry, I'll keep you posted;)
This afternoon I slept for awhile and will do MORE of it very soon!
Happy weekend!
Love-Shelb
KONZA
First off, the BEST class field trip ever! I hoped to impart my love for the outdoors with physical activity and took 2 of my classes to Konza Prairie Reserve to hike the 4 mile loop. We had originally hoped to hike 6 mile route, but the timing and our pace as a class wasn't allowing this to happen and be back at school by 2! So, alas, we still had a great time and enjoyed the great outdoors thanks to some really adventurous Sophomore boys and geckos/grasshoppers/bugs/anything living that they found and thrust in the face of any female within the vicinity of them. Ahh....boys will be boys?! Needless to say, I moved from RIGHT behind them to towards the middle/back of the pack. Check out some fun pics below:
Started off my day of activity after spinning this morning with a Passion-fruit flavored Coconut water as an effort to stay ahead of dehydration! It is a task for someone like me that sweats--well, A LOT is an understatment at times;)
Great view with a super fun student Shug/Doodie or Kam-Bam:) Depends on what you'd like to call her! So cute!
Lunch break, we all brought lunch and popped-a-squat! The boys claimed not to be hungry and wanted to play in the nature...as I heard one of them mention later, "I've got nature all over my legs..."
Back on the trail, cute hats/sunglasses or maybe it was their "official hiking gear."
I loved the color contrast of greens/tans/yellow colors against and blue sky with big white fluffy clouds
One of my roads/trails ahead.
No one else wanted me to take their picture, so K-dawg was all about it...I was all about photog-ing our random finds--like this well that is only used under supervision and permission and stuff..Check out what came in the mail for me yesterday!!
My official confirmation ticket to the CHICAGO MARATHON! whoop whoop!! I read it immediately and will probably 7 more times before heading to Chicago:)SECOND CITY
That's right, in typical Chicago fashion, I went to SECOND CITY last night! My friend John asked me to go with him, and it was AWESOME! :)
Jenny and I had to pose for a quick pic in our matching shirts before I headed out the door:) That's right, I DID wear the shirt to the show, I had to represent the Chi-town experience! One of the cast members was from Chicago, so just like the red-head in the latest Sonic commercials (I'm like your little tator-tot) I look at these people and feel like their my friends from Chicago!
Sweet hook-up:
So John is a Friend of McCain and he got an invite on his seats for a little smoozing action in the Director's Lounge! I was extremely excited to meet some folks and enjoy FREE refreshments which was a bottle of water for me and John and a little Pepperidge Farm cookie;) Super funny! Good times had by all!Onto this morning's JAUNT!
As I looked down at these feet, I was trying to give them a little pep-talk. Like, "here we go fellas, got 20 miles ahead of us, you got this? slow and steady, don't quit on me, ok?! You can do it!"
This is my friend for these long runs, unfortunately I did not apply enough today do the immediate upper area of under arm, and wow, let's just say: PAIN and screaming out bloody murder in the shower!
Not exactly sure what was happening here. Looks like I was still dancing to Miley's latest hit: Party in the USA when NP was at my house ready to hit the road, and JG took a pic!
Brrr this morning! Wowza, it was 48 degrees according to my computer when we started out. Def could see my breath! That long sleeved was awesome to wear at the start, light weight and warm, had to be shed though around mile 7.So the journey this morning found my legs, body, and mind fatigued from a really intense week! This was the climax of the training week, so as of today I've logged 40 miles THIS WEEK! That's a lot, and when the alarm went off this morning, my body was not super excited for the trek! I have had some issues this week with my right knee and ankle and I got them re-aligned from my favorite Chiro here in town on Friday, but this morning I was hurting around mile 6 and then again really intensely around mile 13! I considered stopping because I felt like I was just slinging my right knee thru ankle/foot along for the ride. I felt very gimpy and NOT good! I was getting discouraged and just announced to NP that I was going to pray. So, I did. And I asked God for grace to finish the run. I asked God to take away the pain and allow me to finish this moring. I kept asking for other things and lifted up people and it was a really great opportunity to connect with Him this morning. The pain went away. It wasn't even a dull ache, it was gone and I was moving forward and feeling good. The motto today was: slow and steady. My pace stayed right around 10 min/mile. I was in the 9:4o's ish and the 10:11's sometimes. My goal was to finish under 3:20 and made it: 3:19!
Can still put my arms up! We got done in the middle of the trail with still about 1.5 left before we got to my house.
There's more miles to log, but from here on out, it's TAPER time! I say now that I'm ready to take it easy, but we'll see how I do when I really do run less and less. It'll be different that's for sure--don't worry, I'll keep you posted;)This afternoon I slept for awhile and will do MORE of it very soon!
Happy weekend!
Love-Shelb
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