Day 169: Running in the Dark

Day 169:

Running in the quickly fading light is what I ended up doing tonight.  I don't know about you, but I enjoy running in the evening more than running in the morning.  In the evening, I don't have to worry about being done in time to shower and get to work or being done in time to drive someone to school. 

In the morning, I have to drag myself out of bed. Running in the morning feels like a chore that I "have to do."  I don't want running to ever be a chore.  I want to always enjoy running.

The only problem with running in the evening is that I sometimes run out of light.  So, as long as I remember to get out before the light fades, I will continue to enjoy my evening runs.  Sure wish more races were in the evening.

Running at sunset,
Lisa

Day 166: Goals?

Day 166:  Goals?

I spent last weekend basking in the glorious triumph of having my butt kicked by two hills and a suspension bridge in my first 5k race.  The original plan was to take two days off and then start running again.  My sinuses had different ideas. 

 So, today was my first run in a week. Wow, a whole week has gone by without me running at all and I don't think it was just because of my sinuses.  I realized this week that I met my initial goal of running a 5k without ever setting any new goals. 

 

What kind of goal should I set?  Do I focus on distance?  Speed?  Weight loss?  Running consistently and pain free?  What kind of a time limit should I set for meeting my goal? 

 

With all these questions running through my head, I did the only sensible thing - perused Facebook.  Since starting my journey started last fall, I have found and joined some pretty fabulous Facebook pages about running, but it was a fitness page that gave me the answers I was searching for. 

 

The Facebook page Get Fit With Blake issued a plank challenge for the month of May that I took on along with my running.  I printed the calendar and have it hanging on the fridge.  Every day, I hold the plank for the specified amount of time and then cross off that day on the calendar. 

 

I thought, if this works for core strengthening exercises, why wouldn't it work for running?  Not wanting to wait for June to start a running plan, I issued myself a 30-Day Running Challenge. 

 

But again, what is the goal other than running?

 

Long term:  I want to lose about 60 pounds and drop two dress sizes, plus run a 10k by this time next year.  Now, losing weight is very difficult and the only time I was successful, I had to workout six times a week for 45-60 mins. a day. 

 

Applying this formula to running, I set some short term goals.  For the next 30 days, I will run six times a week.  Some of the runs are short, some are long, and once a week I focus on speed.  Finally, I will schedule my next 5k race before the 30 day challenge ends. 

 

This morning, I ran two and a half miles of the hardest part of last weeks 5k.  I was not going to let those hills get the best of me!  

 

Day one down 29 more to go! 

Lisa 

Day 159: Race Day!

Day 159:

Race Day dawned beautiful and cool this morning.  I woke up with a stuffy nose for the third day in a row.  Butterflies floated in my stomach and fought each other even more after arriving at registration.  It looked like there would be 75-100 runners.  Less than 50 of us made it to the starting line.  My bib number was 92 and the highest number I saw was 150. 

The race started and by the end of the first mile, I was in last place.  By the time I got to the water station,  I could no longer see the rest of the runners.  Two steep hills and a bridge later, I finally reached the turn around point.  It was nice watching the others runners go past and give hi-fives.

The way back was hard and I needed to walk three times for a short distance.  But just as I was running out of steam, I see a bright yellow poster up ahead that says. "Go Lisa!"  Standing there are both my boys and two of their friends cheering me on.  That was great!  Just what I needed at just the right moment. 

The four of them ran with me until the finish line was in sight.  That's when I saw my Daisy, my running buddy and another friend with a sign.  Daisy took a few pictures of me running with my cheerleaders, then ran the rest of the way in cheering me on.  It was awesome! 

I knew through the entire race that I would be last by quite a bit.  There just weren't enough runners and the walkers went an entirely different direction for me to have any hope of keeping up with someone.  But the point of the race wasn't for me to place or win any medals, it was for me to finish. 
 
I have worked hard over the last several months to be able to run this race.  Thank you to all those who stood by me and cheered me on to the finish line. 

Oh, by the way, my time was 48:17.  Now, I have a record to break and a new race to plan for.  Hmmm, I wonder what it will be?

Running to finish,
Lisa

PS. I have tried all afternoon to post the race pictures here with no luck so visit my facebook page to see them.  https://www.facebook.com/lisa.s.butler.9?ref=tn_tnmn

Day 156: Buddies

Day 156:

Tonight I walked/ran with Daisy, my running buddy.  We went a total of 3.49 miles.  Granted we walked about half of it, but when we ran, we really ran.  Daisy thought she would be able to walk fast while I jogged.  That didn't happen. 

I decided tonight that I would try to lengthen my stride.  Daisy mentioned an article she read this afternoon that talked about how lengthening your stride was better and helped prevent injuries.  (I didn't know that.)  So, I thought I would try it out and therefore Daisy had to run with me. 

Now the fun didn't stop there.  Since she had to run, she pushed me to run harder and I was left gasping like a fish.  And I did it!  She clocked me at around a 12 minute mile!  Granted I couldn't breathe, but wow!  That's the fastest I've ever run!

Thanks Daisy!

I am finding out that it really pays to run with a buddy.  Lately, this seems to be a topic God has been trying to pound into my head.  Life is better with a friend. 

Ecclesiastes 4:10

"If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble." 

 

I know that I have a lot of friends.  According to Facebook, I have 414 friends, but how many of them would be there to pick me up if I fell?  Yes, they may "Like" my posts and a few of them might leave a comment, but how many would pick up the phone to learn what's going on beyond the post?  How many of these "friends" would come over and talk? 

 

My Ecclesiastes 4:10 friends is a much smaller number.  So, during the rough times I need to learn to leave a post on Facebook, then call an Ecclesiastes 4:10 friend to share what is really going on. 

 

The real question is: Do you have an Ecclesiastes 4:10 friend?

 

I do.  They're the ones pushing me during my runs, telling me to breathe when I panic, handing me Kleenex while I grieve, and laughing at my lame jokes. 

 

Thanks Friends!

Lisa 

Day 153: Pressing On

Day 153:

Well, I ran 2 miles on Wednesday night and then about a mile and a half tonight.  My race is next Saturday and thanks to all the encouragement from friends, I think I'm ready.  Sort of. 

As I have mentioned, this journey in running has not been easy.  Lately, the emotional struggles have been the most difficult.  This week though, my two boys have provided the lessons I needed to move past my fears. 

Both boys run track and after several cancelled meets due to rain, they were more than ready for race day.  My oldest runs the 400 and the 4 by 4.  He has never been fast, but was setting personal records (PR) during every meet.  My youngest runs the 400, 4 by 4, and the mile and was also setting PR's at every meet. 

That is until Thursday.  On Thursday, my oldest (a high schooler) was competing in his third track meet of the week and so while still running a decent time didn't set any new records.  He wasn't upset.  He knew he ran well and he knew that after three meets, he was tired.  

Same day, my youngest (a junior higher) was competing in his second meet of the week and ran the mile 30 seconds slower than his PR.   He came home upset.  He declared, once again, that he was NEVER running the mile again.  He wanted to run the 800 instead.  He didn't understand why his coach kept insisting that he run the mile since he obviously is not any good at it.  (His PR in the mile is 6:22.  My PR is 14:34.  I know why his coach wants him to run the mile.  He's good.)

Like a good mom, I spent several hours trying to talk to him.  I reminded him that he has only done three races AND shaved a whole minute off his time between the first two.  What I wasn't expecting after this meltdown was our run today.

Today, he wanted to run with me.  He wanted to practice his sprints and get an extra run in before track practice starts again this week.  Yes, he is still upset about having to run the mile, but he is excited about running with his mom.  He is excited about watching his mom run her first race.  And if you push the subject, he is excited about having to run. 

So, what's the lesson you ask?  Simple my dear Grasshopper.  Setbacks happen.  Disappointments happen.  What matters is what you do about those setbacks and disappointments.  I can shrug them off as a bad day like my oldest and just bask in the satisfaction of completing a race.  I can get upset and stomp my feet and declare that I am never ever running again.  (Mine and my youngest's default setting.)  Or I can do what my youngest and I did today and get up and just run. 

Tonight, I am working on letting those bad days, those bad runs, roll off my back so I can get up tomorrow and run again. 

Running again and always,
Lisa

Day 146: Fear

Day 146:

I ran about 2 miles today and one second faster than Tuesday (still hanging out in the 15 minute mile range though).  Running was easier today.  I think that I could have pushed a little harder though.   Maybe run farther or run faster. 

Maybe.

So, what is holding me back?

Fear.

I am afraid of re-injuring my joints.  I am afraid of not being able to run my first race in May.  I am afraid of not being able to run the full 3.2 miles on race day.  I am afraid of running 3.2 miles before race day (reference the first fear and Journal entry Day 1).  I am afraid of coming in last at the race.  I am afraid no one will cheer me on.  I am afraid everyone will go home before I finish the race.  I am afraid...

This is something I was not prepared for when I took up running.  Years ago, I vowed that I would not be afraid; no one or nothing will ever have that kind of power over me again.  Now, I am afraid.  Not scared enough to stop running, but scared enough to not put forth my best foot.

So, how does one move past this fear?   In the past, I used knowledge.  I learned everything I could about the things I was afraid of.  This time knowledge is not going to work.  This time, I need people. I need a team of people running with me, cheering me on, and pushing me forward.

I need a team and I am afraid to ask for one.  Afraid of hearing the word, "no."  Afraid of not being good enough of a runner to keep up with the group.  Afraid of being left behind when everyone excels and I don't. 

Wow, there's that fear again!

Maybe tomorrow I will start to assemble my team.  I need them.  I need to face my fears.  As you run today, say a prayer for me.  "God help me to face my fears and run the race before me."

Hoping to run without fear,
Lisa

Day 141: I'm Back!

Day 141:

Wow!  I can't believe that it has been over three months since I have written anything.  A lot has happened during that time; some good, some bad. Let's start with some of the good. 

In my last post, I mentioned needing an MRI on my ankle.  Everything came back swollen, but good.  No surgery.  I then returned to physical therapy and continued to work my butt off.  However, I was still pretty upset by my lack of progress.  So, my therapist and I started looking for other ways to improve my ankle strength and support my high arch.  It turns out that a different insole and a little Kinesio taping was all I needed.  My last physical therapy session was on March 21st.  Hooray!

Now, for the tough stuff that has made writing difficult.  After writing my last blog post, I cried.  I was scared and depressed about the possibility of surgery.  Then I was upset by my lack of progress.  Just as a solution was found and I began to feel hopeful about running again, a true tragedy struck my family.  Both my sons lost friends and classmates in a tragic car accident that killed four teens about a month ago.  Just as I was beginning to feel confident in my running and ready to write again, I found my family and myself consumed by grief. 

Yesterday, the grief was renewed with the tragic events at the Boston Marathon just days after the one month anniversary of so much loss in my family.  My heart breaks for those who lost loved ones yesterday and it breaks again for those who were injured.  I know there will be stories of triumph over tragedy and I hope that many of those injured take on the challenge of learning to run despite missing limbs. 

With all that said, I did run today in honor of those injured.  It was cold and rain threatened during the entire run.  I started out tired from lack of sleep and sore from my run on Sunday.  So, it was a short run of only a mile and a half as well as a slow run averaging almost 16 mins. a mile.  But that's OK because today I ran.

That's really what this is all about: running.  Learning to run the race God has set before you (me), running it well and finishing it well. 

My race has only just begun!
Lisa