Tag Archive | Encouragement

All By Myself…..

I’ve been bad.

I’ve been negligent.

I’ve fallen off the wagon.

I’ve eaten more cookies than one person has a right to eat.

I’m going to do better and get back into my routine. I miss my routine. I need it too.

This recently became very apparent when due to not having an outlet for daily stress, I just picked up and went for a 4 1/2 mile run. Wouldn’t be out of the ordinary, but not only was it pouring rain (not just rain, but pouring rain); it was also mid morning of Christmas Eve. I could and should have been doing other things. My body needed it and so did my mind. I played no music as I had my phone wrapped up for it’s protection and just ran with my on thoughts. I wonder how I processed things before I ran. Maybe I never did. Who knows? Although my sister did say that I have become more insightful this past year. I really do believe the running has helped.

Some people meditate.

Some people do Yoga.

I apparently Run.

All By Myself.

There is something to be said to taking time for yourself not just for exercise but to be alone with your thoughts. To carve out a part of the day, just for yourself. It’s not selfish either. Sometimes it makes or breaks your day. This is not to say that every run needs to be a meditative run if you will, but when you need time with your thoughts there is no better way that I know to work it out. Pounding the pavement doesn’t hurt either.

So I need to get back to my routine. Maybe even figuring out what that will be would be helpful.

The funny thing though is that once other people start to identify you as a runner, they will expect you to run. If they are a runner too, they might even expect you to run with them leading to more running. When my sister used to come to town from California, she would ask to go out to breakfast or visit the local downtown. Now she informs me that we need to go running as it’s my fault I talked her into signing up for a half. Not me? I would never do something like that.

Oh wait, I do that all the time.

And since I’ve already poured some kool aid for myself thinking that I might be in for the NYRR 9 plus 1 next year, it’s time to get myself on a schedule and out the door again. Besides now that both my body and mind are used to the running time, they don’t function as well without it.

Break time’s over.

Hang On Snoopy

Nov24

Well I did it! I finished my first Marathon. I finished exactly where I wanted to finish too. My goal was to finish around 4:45.

Here is the breakdown.

10K at 1:04:49, Pace 10:26.

Half Marathon Split at 2:19:37. Pace 10:39

Finish at 4:46:20. Pace 10:42

Don’t you love how my pace increased? Although, I will tell you, I went out and throughout the course tried to maintain a steady pace between 10 and 11 which my garmin reflects. I’ll be brutally honest. It was hard! It was long! And they are liar, liar pants on fire that it is a flat course. Yes, it starts off nice and flat, and there are some lovely hills to go down. The problem is all the hills to go up are on the end. They should flip the course and end with the flat part, but that’s just my opinion.

I’ll also be even more honest. Shhh, don’t tell anyone, but I walked a little at the end. I kept telling myself that my legs were not tired and would carry me through, but I still walked. I think I did that because I knew that I was going to be in my time zone. I also did it because, damn, my legs were jello!

Now, there is a lot to talk about with this race, but today I want to talk about the cheering fans.

I went down with a bunch of great moms from my local MRTT group. Most of us went by ourselves without any family. I, actually, have never had any family come to my races. It really never bothered me. I still get a kick out of all the cheering fans. I like to think that people who line up to cheer along a race cheer for us all and they really do. You’ve got the people reading your name on your bib, calling out your name and encouraging you all the way. It’s amazing and believe me there will be a whole post on these fans!

Yesterday though, something extraordinary happened. I was reaching a critical part of the race. It was the part where the people running the half marathon get to go to the right and those of us continuing know we have another 13 to go. It’s very disheartening and really a kick in the pants. I was having a dialogue with myself at the time to tell myself to keep going as the thought had popped into my mind to go to the right. Then I heard my name being called and I saw them. My sister who lives in California, my Mother who was screaming the loudest, and a family friend. They had signs and were cheering for me. How could I not finish now? It actually became my manta!

“Your if your sister can fly from California, you can finish this! They came to see you finish”

This is the thrill of finishing with a mother who can’t hold her excitement and brought roses too

There is a video of it that I posted on my FB page. You can see me trudging along, the surprise on my face, the smile that brightens it up, and the best part is the excitement my mother had. What you don’t see is how it lifted my spirits and really did help me to finish. I really don’t know if I could have done it without them!

To finish my first marathon was an amazing experience, but to finish with family there took it to the next level.

Looking Forward Not Back

Nov18

It’s funny the things that a person can find inspiration in. I was reading to my son before bed. We were reading Geronimo Stilton A Very Merry Christmas because you know it’s Christmas time already. (Yes, we have jumped the shark a little, but don’t worry I don’t have my decorations up yet). Anyway as I’m reading, this jumped out at me.

“I didn’t know if I could go on. I was exhausted. But I couldn’t give up now. I had to prove to myself.”

No I am not a mouse on an adventure in New York City, but these words jumped off the page at me. I thought immediately that this is probably how I am going to feel on Sunday. Hopefully I won’t feel this way till well after mile 20, but one never knows. I need to remember these words. When I think of the actually number of miles that I will be running on Sunday, it boggles my mind. So I try not to think of it. It’s just another long run with lots of people in a big city. I wonder why not only am I doing it, but why I’m paying good money to do it. It really is a strange concept but to know that I will be willingly pushing myself to the limit as never before is both exciting and scary.

I have been inspired by many Mama runners some that I know personally and some that I only know from what they share on their blogs. They push themselves inspiring me to push myself like never before. Because of them, I believe that I can do things that were unimaginable to me before. It’s a beautiful thing when instead of constantly telling yourself that you can’t do something that you start to asking yourself,

“Why Not?”

Honestly,

Why Not?

All my life, I was typecast. I allowed it to happen. I’m breaking the mold now. I’ve been doing it for a long time, but there has always been a part of me still stuck in the mold. This is my time to prove to myself not to anyone else but myself that I can do anything I want. Totally shattering the mold. I am no longer the “fat kid” who when I look at pictures really wasn’t that fat. I haven’t been that person in a long time even before I started on this journey, but I always carried a small part of her with me. A tinge of her doubts. She has made me the person that I am today and I owe this to her. I owe it to the strong determined woman that I am today. I will push myself like I’ve never pushed before all the while knowing that there is no reason I can’t do it.

I’ve also been told by a few people recently that my journey is inspiring them to start on their own personal journey as each journey is unique and personal. If you had ever told me that there would be a day that I would be inspiring other people, I would have flat out told you that you didn’t know what you were talking about. There was a time that I couldn’t even inspire myself but those days are gone. Long Gone. It’s not that I am some super athlete because I’m not. Not even close. It’s not because I am super knowledgeable about running because I’m still learning. But I think I make up for not being a “traditional athlete” with sheer determination. I’ve said it before, I can be one determined SOB.

Eye on the Prize.

Just Let The Legs Carry You…..

Nov9

I’ve got this little thing coming up in two weeks.

Just this little race that I recently signed up for.

This Philly Gore-Tex Marathon.

It is literally 2 weeks from today. Let’s just hope that by this time of night I am actually done running it and am soundly asleep!

I was talking to my friend who I am doing Philly with today. A couple of the women who were signed up to run it won’t be doing it now. Can’t really blame them at all seeing as they just both ran in the NYC Marathon. They both were amazing and rocked it! One even qualified for the Boston Marathon. They have more than earned their weekend at home and are most definitely excused even though they will be missed!

Me on the other hand, I’ve got no excuse. Yes, I haven’t been plotting this run out for a year, but I think (hope) I’m ready. I’ve been following my training plan and doing what needs to be done. Yet, the doubts still creep in. The “What was I thinking?” doubts. I don’t know why. I think it might be normal or at least normal for me. To be honest, I think my legs will hold out. It’s the feet and mind that worry me. Running really is a mental game. Many don’t realize it, but it is. The body will do what the mind tells it to do. If the mind tells it to give up, it will. If the mind tells it to keep going, it will. They key will be making sure my mind doesn’t give up.

I’ve got to work on my Manta.

My normal – “You’ve got this” won’t really work in this situation. How am I supposed to know that I’ve got this when I’ve never got this before. So that one is out.

I think I’m going to go with – “Don’t think and just let your legs carry you.”

In the whole scheme of things it really amazes me how far I have pushed my running in the last year. I didn’t run my first half until May and since then I’ve run two more and am getting ready to run my first marathon. It boggles my mind. If you had EVER asked me if I would ever run a marathon, I would have firmly told you that you were crazy. Whose the crazy one now? I guess me because I’m going to do it.

Part of me thinks that this might be my one and only marathon, but then there is the other part of me that knows this is just the beginning…….

Is it Really Just a Number? Why, yes. Yes it is!

Nov6

I bought new clothes today. I bought them because I needed too. As the season is changing, I realize that my wardrobe is not up to snuff. The reason being is that things that fit me last year don’t fit me as well this year. Luckily it’s because somehow they have gotten bigger not me. Besides having a “justifiable” reason to go shopping is always a good thing.

Now, I am by no means tooting my own horn.

Toot. Toot.

I will say that I often get asked not if I’ve lost weight, but how much weight have I lost. I’m not sure if people are just saying that because they know how hard I’ve been working or if they really think I’ve lost weight. Now if I lost a lot of weight this question would make me feel great, but the truth of the matter is that I really don’t like this question and here is the reason why. Since I’ve started my journey (and it’s been one), I have only lost 5 pounds. Yup, you heard that. When I started, I weighed 1X5 and now I weight 1X0 (Did you really think I was going to give you the number? Silly people). So when I am asked the question “How much weight did you loose,” it just reminds me that I haven’t really lost much. It used to make me sad, but I embrace it now. So now, when asked I reply, “only 5 pounds, but the rest shifted and I’ve gained more muscle.”

I am not exaggerating either. I may have only lost 5 pounds, but I have gone down 3 jean sizes. Yup, you heard me. I went from double digits down to single digits.

Exhibit A

Before

September 2013

This picture was taken at my first Sprint Triathlon before I was really bitten by the bug.

The I like running bug.

I am number 708.

So as to create a true before and after picture,

I give you

Exhibit B

Same outfit, same event one year later

September 2014

Now I would like to first of all say there are very few people who can pull off a Two Piece Tri-suit. I am, obviously, not one of them either before or after. I share these though to prove that the scale really doesn’t matter. What matters is how you feel, how your clothes fit, and how muscular you are. Patting myself on the back, I will admit that my arms are more toned now. My legs are more muscular too.

Exhibit A

Now, please don’t get me wrong I know I’m still a work in progress.

I see the love handles and the pouch.

But sometimes you have to look back to see how far you’ve come.

I will also tell you that when I first started that I obsessively weighed myself.

I very rarely get on the scale now.

I encourage you not to get on yours either.

(unless your doctor thinks you should).

To me the scale doesn’t tell the full story.

It doesn’t tell anything at all.

Except a number.

It doesn’t take into account percentage of body fat vs muscle.

It doesn’t take into account my cardiovascular health.

It doesn’t take into account, how much weight I can clean at the gym.

It doesn’t take into account how many miles I can run.

It’s just a number.

It no longer defines me.

Don’t let yours define you.

Can you step away from the scale?

The Runner’s Superbowl

Nov2

I’ve never really been a sports person. I never really got the excitement of watching people run around bases or down a field with a ball. I just don’t get it. Never having played sports in high school (probably because I couldn’t), I really never got into any of it. But today I might actually get why people so get excited about watching sports they are not participating in.

My sport of choice – Running.

Today was every runners Superbowl.

I sat here watching people that I don’t know cross the finish line of the New York City Marathon. Watching, cheering, and inspired. Not only was I watching on tv, I was even tracking several racers that I know too. I was nervous. I was excited. It wasn’t the elite runners that got me feeling this way either. Although I am in awe of them. I was on the edge of my seat waiting for members of my local Mom’s Run This Town (MRTT) group to finish. We had several moms running and a few husbands too. I don’t even know some of these people except in cyber world although I may have seen them in passing at a few events. Some of the Mom’s though I do know. Some I’ve run with, some I’ve baked cakes for, and some I’ve done races with. It didn’t matter if I knew them personally or not, we were a team today.

As I said before, I really have never been part of a team. I decided that I like it. Our local chapter of MRTT Facebook group was blowing up with excitement of us tracking them. I wasn’t alone in my excitement either. We were cheering for them from home even if they didn’t know it. We were concerned about how the weather would effect them. We were proud of them every step of the way. We wanted so badly for them to have a good race and cross the finish line. They all did.

I will let you in on a secret though. I would bet and bet a lot if one of these women had not crossed the finish line, that they would have been met with nothing but sincere condolences, virtual hugs, and words of encouragement. That’s what a team does for their teammates. Not until today, did I realize that I really had become part of a team. I am a MRTT Mama runner. Yes, running is an individual sport, but that does not mean that you are in this alone.

So my words of advice to you….

Find a local running group that you connect with. All running groups are not created equally, but with the right one you will be amazed at how far you can go. I firmly 100% believe that if I had not joined this group, I would not have come as far as I have in my running. I’ve made wonderful friends. Not just running friends, but real friends. I’ve been inspired by their passion, dedication, and bravery. Yes, there is bravery in running. You have to be brave to not only start running and sign up for a race, but also be brave to know when it is time to give your body a rest and pull from an event or even stop running until your body is ready. I, actually, think you have to be more brave to do the later. Either way, it is nice to have support of people who get the craziness of running.

You tell a friend, your feet hurt, you’ve got bad blisters or severe muscle pain from running, they will look at you like your crazy and tell you to stop running. But you tell your fellow running friends the same thing and they will give you words of encouragement and understanding that only another runner can give you. It’s a beautiful thing.

Yes, you can run, train, and go to events without the benefit of a running group; but why would you want to! Your running group may be an informal group too (some people you share your passion with or an online group you follow). But there really is nothing better than a group of like minded people sharing their passion that will help get you to the next level.

Do you belong to a Running Group and does it help motivate you?

You Knew It Was Coming

Nov1

I think in the back of my mind, I knew it was coming. I knew it was inevitable and I knew there would be no going back. If not, why would I run 20 miles. I did my 20. I was sore from my 20, but I survived my 20 and really within a day felt fine. Once I crossed that barrier, there was no going back. It was just fighting the inevitable and it was a logistics game.

I casually brought up the subject with Dear Hubby. Mentioning that friends were trying to get me to do run a marathon with them, but it was in Philly and I would have to sleep there the night before. I think part of me was hoping that it would be a problem for him, so as to have an excuse not to run one till next year. Just my luck, Dear Hubby was totally supportive and fine with it. Nope. No problem with me going to Philly and running 26.2 miles. Damn, that supportive husband of mine!

Now the only excuse left was that maybe I’m a big ole chicken who still doesn’t think that she has what it takes to cross the finish line and become part of the 1% of the population who has completed a marathon. I guess the only way to find out is to actually attempt it.

So I did it!

I signed up!!!

Not sure who was more excited, me or my cohort in crime. She called me and left me a very excited message about it. She is the excited one. I am the nervous one. But what’s done is done. I’ve signed up and if you no nothing about me, know that I am one determined SOB. Now that I’ve signed the dotted line, there is no going back. If I have to crawl accross the finish line, I just might. Eye on the prize. Eye on the prize. (which reminds me, Is there bling for this race? I will have to check into that!)

One of my many motto’s is

GO BIG

GO BOLD

GO HOME

Luckily, I’ve trained my @ss off for the Hat Trick. I did my 20 with a fair amount of hills. I’m in taper now! So it’s all easy training till the starting line.

Sent to me from my very exited friend whom I could not do any of this without

That’s what I’m going to try and do now.

Game on!

A Surprise Half Marathon

Oct6

Part 1

(As I think I might have a lot to say:)

Last week I was taking about my upcoming run schedule. I said that I had 13 to do on Sunday. Some friends said that I should come to the city (NYC) and run with them in a half marathon they were doing. I thought about it for like 2 seconds and thought it was a great idea. Of course, just because I thought it was a great idea didn’t mean that it was going to happen. I do have some people that I need to take care of. So as always with the life of a Mama runner, I had to do some scheduling. It was down to the wire, but it all worked out. While I was waiting for the scheduling to fall into place, I wasted no time in getting ready for the race.

The race was the Memorial Sloan Kettering Grete’s Great Gallop to raise money for Cancer Research. On the back of the Tech shirts given out:

Imagine A World Without Cancer

Chilling

We all decided that this was not going to be a run for time. This was just a training run for me and the other two ladies were not running for time anyway. Now since it was going to be a fun run, we thought we would take it up a notch and run in tutus! Now, some love the idea. Some hate it. I am in a group that think it is fabulous!! Unless you are a competitive runner, my question is; “Why Not?” Life is to short and complicated not to have fun when you can. We decided that we would do pink. Unless you live under a rock, you know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and pink is perfect. Plus, I have a dear friend who is just starting her Chemo for her breast cancer. I’ve actually been doing all my Charity Mile runs in her honer using Stand Up To Cancer. (If you don’t use that app, you should). I even bought my friend her own tutu and you may see us around town in them. One never knows.

Did we look Fabulous?

Of course!

We finished in style too

2:20:04

Am I happy?

You bet!

What made it so wonderful is when it was all over with and we were recovering from the run, A couple in boas came up to us. They wanted to take a picture with us. At first we thought it was just because they were being silly, but then the woman went onto say that she is from Canada and a 5 year Breast Cancer Survivor.

As the saying goes,

That’s what it’s all about!

She summed it up:

Hope.

Stay tuned for Part 2 tomorrow with more race thoughts and racing in the City for the first time!

Putting on My Rose Colored Glasses

Mar13

Now, I know that people run marathons, Triathlons, and everything in between for a variety of reasons. Some do it for the accomplishment. Some do it for the competitive nature even if they are only competing against themselves. Some do it, like me, just to say that they did it. And when I get my medal for crossing the finish line, I just might wear it all the time:)

I also think that some races are more competetive in nature. Now I’m not saying that the one I’m doing isn’t competetive because I’m sure it is. But the people that I’m meeting right now seem to be just as much a cheedleaders for other racers as themselves. Why do I say that you ask? I will, of course, share it with you.

Tonight, there was an open swim night for women in the Iron Girl (formally Danskin) Triathlon. My girlfriend and I have decided that we are most worried about the swim and are going to attend as many of them as we can squeeze in. We go. We meet another girlfriend there who is not a strong swimmer. Now I may not be swimming with proper form, do not keep my head low enough, and use too much energy when swimming; but I am a strong swimmer. I am not afraid of the water. Fingers crossed that actually makes a difference.

We go and get in the pool. Another woman whom we don’t know comes and joins our lane. She is even more afraid stating that she hasn’t swum in years. So we try and give her the pointers that we were given and we all go about our business. About a half an hour goes by. We keep checking in with each other. Commenting. Giving feedback to each other and encouragement.

The next lane over has a group of swimmers who are doing it right. Head in the right position. Looking like they are just gliding through the water not chopping it up like our group. We strike up a conversation. One woman is 67 and this will be here 11th race. Another, 46, is going on her 9th as is the third woman, 56. We find out that they race together and they are apparently the three musketeer. What do they then do? They come in our lanes to give us pointers, drills to improve our style, and hope that we can do it. They basically ended their swimming time to work with strangers who just happen to be in the same race with them.

Now, I know that not everyone will do such things. But so far with all the training events that I have been to, this is what it is. Women helping women. Women encouraging women. Because in the end, we really all just want to cross the finish line. Weather it be in a race or our daily life. And wouldn’t it be nice, if everyone could be like these ladies and give of themselves just to help.

The Accidentally Running Mama

Run, Bike, Swim and Have a Life!