My husband and I live in Southern California on a modest income. Cost of living here is high, and our three boys like to eat. So, you may be wondering, (and if you aren't I am going to tell you anyway) how we can afford to get our butts on a plane and visit Athens and run 26.2 miles there.
Let me tell you, Athens aside, running is NOT an inexpensive sport. People may try to convince you that it is, but they lie. Okay, if you are young and have no knee or foot or back issues. If you don't care about the future health of your body. If you don't mind looking like you were in a wet t-shirt contest after a three mile run. If you slather yourself with vaseline or Body Glide when you run, and if you never actually want to run a race - then I suppose it might be less expensive. Because then you can wear the same pair of cheap-o shoes for years on end, skip the dry-wicking shirts and non-chafing shorts, and just enjoy running the neighborhood without taking any vitamins or receiving any medals to hang. And admittedly, that was my running style for many years and running was a cheap sport.
Unfortunately now that I am older, I require much more maintenance and need to find a way to bankroll this so-called inexpensive hobby of mine.
Ironically, I cater on the side in order to pay for running. The other day, I made 300 snickerdoodles for a company luncheon, using a very large amount of butter. The next day I got a shiny new pair of Brooks Ravenna 2's and then ran 19 miles and burned 2000 calories. Last year, I catered a big party and then soon after paid for my marathon registration in Athens, Greece. Little bits and pieces at a time, but thankfully things keep coming up that help me to continue on.
I always tell people that I have three main passions in life (lets assume family is one too) - God, Running and Food. And then I say that the last two sort of cancel each other out which leaves the first and most important. But really, although I do love healthy eating and cooking, you will never catch me bad-mouthing a dark chocolate cupcake with salted caramel frosting. Or a buffet pasta dish with carmelized onions, rosemary and gorgonzola. Because that cupcake, and that pasta is going to help get me to the finish line in Greece.
And for that I am forever grateful!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
The Loyal Little Sister
I guess I should introduce myself as the “bad” of the good, bad, and the ugly. Sara really is the mastermind behind this whole marathon thing. Being the loyal little sister that I am, I agreed to put my body through the torture of running 26.2 miles.
My training really has no rhyme or reason to it as I am basically a follower. If Mom says she’s running 16 miles this weekend, then I guess I am, too. My longest run so far was at the Virginia Beach half marathon over Labor Day weekend. There were bands of all genres playing along the route to take my mind off the pain. It was so much fun that I am going to sign up for it again next year. I also ran into Bret Michaels (literally) so that was pretty exciting. What were his body guards doing anyway?
As a Soldier in the Army, we don’t really run more than 5-6 miles during mandatory physical training (PT) for an hour every morning from 0630-0730. Aside from that, I have virtually no self-discipline to do anything physically active. I have no discipline with my diet either. So far, my post run meals have been all-you-can-eat buffets. I do enjoy them, and I always get my money’s worth. : )
Since I was feeling like crap this weekend, I ran about 4 miles, turned around and went home. I’m planning on running 16 miles tomorrow. Whatever happens, I will blog to let you know what happens. Hopefully my Brooks Ghost 4s will be on my porch when I get home tonight…
My training really has no rhyme or reason to it as I am basically a follower. If Mom says she’s running 16 miles this weekend, then I guess I am, too. My longest run so far was at the Virginia Beach half marathon over Labor Day weekend. There were bands of all genres playing along the route to take my mind off the pain. It was so much fun that I am going to sign up for it again next year. I also ran into Bret Michaels (literally) so that was pretty exciting. What were his body guards doing anyway?
As a Soldier in the Army, we don’t really run more than 5-6 miles during mandatory physical training (PT) for an hour every morning from 0630-0730. Aside from that, I have virtually no self-discipline to do anything physically active. I have no discipline with my diet either. So far, my post run meals have been all-you-can-eat buffets. I do enjoy them, and I always get my money’s worth. : )
Since I was feeling like crap this weekend, I ran about 4 miles, turned around and went home. I’m planning on running 16 miles tomorrow. Whatever happens, I will blog to let you know what happens. Hopefully my Brooks Ghost 4s will be on my porch when I get home tonight…
Monday, September 26, 2011
A Family Thing
I am so glad that my mom finally joined me on this blog! One of the best things about Marathon training for me has been that I know I am not doing it alone. Even though my mom and sister don't live close, we are all in our own way preparing for the 26.2 miles.
My mom and I were talking about our training the other day, and she mentioned how the house just isn't going to be as clean while she is marathon training. Today, I returned the book The Paris Wife to the library that I only read half of...it was due early because it is a new bestseller and there is a waiting list. I also returned Water For Elephants to the library half read for the same reason. Marathon training takes a lot of time, and something has to give.
My husband and three boys have really stepped up to help and support me while I train. My long Saturday runs take the most time, and usually I need a long shower, and then a really long nap afterwards and I am useless for most of the day.
This last Saturday I ran 7 miles to a park with my dog. My husband and three kids were waiting at the park to take the dog and hand me a bottle of water. I handed off the dog without even stopping and then ran an additional 12 miles down to the ocean, for a whopping grand total of 19 miles! And the best part, was that playing on the rocks by the beach when I got there, were my boys and hubby. They had a banana and some gatorade there for me. I went in to the water to cool my muscles and of course all three boys joined in - we were all in our clothes and all soaking wet! It was so fun to play with them at the beach and I am terrible at "Playing" sometimes which is bad, but true. This way, I felt like I was doing necessary icing of muscles, and they felt like mom was swimming in the ocean with her clothes on. It was win, win.
After we left the beach we stopped at Starbucks for some more much-needed calcium and sugar (a pumpkin spice latte) and scones for the kids. I felt very blessed to have my family (and even my dog) to be along side me for my run!
So apart from the 19 miler (at about 9:50 a mile) I also ran 8 miles today (at a 9:15) and I feel great! I am still a little bummed that I will probably be significantly slower in Athens, but for now I am having fun. This is supposed to be a rest week for me so tomorrow I have to run 4 miles and then only 2 the day after that. Soon enough though I will be doing subsequent 18, 19 and 20 mile runs and then a shorter run and then the marathon! Time is flying!
Sunday, September 25, 2011
I will not be "de-feeted"
Ask any one of my children about a negative childhood memory, and they will come up with plenty. Like eyewitnesses to a crime, however, their recollections will vary as will the importance that they assign to each memory. If there is any consensus it's that none of them view with fondness the number of times I waved my feet at them and said'"please...", the nightly ritual of me begging for a foot rub and them averting their eyes, listing homework that needed to be done, and finally one of them negotiating a deal. Yes, sometimes when all else failed, I paid my children to rub my feet.
I don't remember a time when my feet didn't hurt. My children's father, my first husband was a gem and rubbed my feet almost everynight-I wasn't able to keep that in the divorce settlement.... So the chore fell to the girls and like I mentioned, it could be hit and miss with them (although their memories probably indicate otherwise).
My love of over 18 years, my second and last husband falls somewhere in between. Sometimes he unsolicitedly sits down, grabs some lotion and provides an hour of foot rubbing bliss. Other times he averts his eyes, fakes sleep, or negotiates a deal. Yes, sometimes I pay my husband to rub my feet.
So now that I am training for this bucket list event in Athens, I have needed foot attention more than ever. I did my part-I went to the podiatrist who looked at the X-rays and said, "Whoa, these are some messed up feet!" or something kind of like that. I convinced him that I was open to anything shy of amputation after the race if he would slap a band-aid on them for now. The band-aid turned out to be orthotics and Aleve, not too bad a combination really. But a bandaid only sticks so long; my feet are in agony after anything after 10 miles.
My daughter Sara has described one solution to the foot massage dilemma. I think I'll play the "I'm older and have more insurance" card-remember Kathy Bates in Fried Green Tomatoes? Starting tomorrow, I'm checking out the foot massage (really they exist!) parlors in my town. Let's hope they take Blue Cross!
I don't remember a time when my feet didn't hurt. My children's father, my first husband was a gem and rubbed my feet almost everynight-I wasn't able to keep that in the divorce settlement.... So the chore fell to the girls and like I mentioned, it could be hit and miss with them (although their memories probably indicate otherwise).
My love of over 18 years, my second and last husband falls somewhere in between. Sometimes he unsolicitedly sits down, grabs some lotion and provides an hour of foot rubbing bliss. Other times he averts his eyes, fakes sleep, or negotiates a deal. Yes, sometimes I pay my husband to rub my feet.
So now that I am training for this bucket list event in Athens, I have needed foot attention more than ever. I did my part-I went to the podiatrist who looked at the X-rays and said, "Whoa, these are some messed up feet!" or something kind of like that. I convinced him that I was open to anything shy of amputation after the race if he would slap a band-aid on them for now. The band-aid turned out to be orthotics and Aleve, not too bad a combination really. But a bandaid only sticks so long; my feet are in agony after anything after 10 miles.
My daughter Sara has described one solution to the foot massage dilemma. I think I'll play the "I'm older and have more insurance" card-remember Kathy Bates in Fried Green Tomatoes? Starting tomorrow, I'm checking out the foot massage (really they exist!) parlors in my town. Let's hope they take Blue Cross!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Poor Man's Massage
My marathon training schedule has me running three days, day off, two days, day off. The three days are not too bad - this week was 8 miles, 3 miles with sprints and then 9.2 miles. Each run is fine, but somehow you add them all up and I am SORE by that rest day! After the rest I get to run 5 miles easy and then my long run. Tomorrow is my long run which will hopefully be 17 miles.
The last few weeks I have been super sore in my upper shoulders and neck and a friend suggested I go get deep tissue massage - unfortunately there is no money in my running fund for massage as it all just went to new shoes. And by the way, the older you get, the more important it is to get new shoes often to help prevent injury and soreness.
So in case you are a runner and you are sore and you don't have money for deep tissue massage, here is what I did last night.
First, I used a golf ball in a sock and rolled the bottom of my foot down on it to give the bottom of my foot a nice deep massage.
Next, I used a tennis ball in a sock (a bigger sock) and put it on the wall behind my back and shoulders, and sort of rolled it around my back while pushing on the wall - does that make sense? I did realize at one point that I was in my room with the light on and the window open so the neighbors might see and think I was pretending to be a bear scratching my back on a tree. Because that is what you look like. But my shoulders got a great massage from that!
Lastly, I used a stick to roll the muscles in my calves and quads. Admittedly, I have a fancy "runner stick" now to roll those muscles - a birthday gift/hand me down from a friend. But before I had the fancy stick, I had a plain ol rolling pin which wasnt the best but did just fine.
After the massage I put ice on my shoulders and my hubby said I looked like a linebacker and wondered if I could possibly be comfortable but I felt deep massage sore and not plain old sore which felt great!
I think we are about 7 weeks out now. Things are getting serious and I hope I live to tell you about the long run tomorrow. Thanks for stopping in!
The last few weeks I have been super sore in my upper shoulders and neck and a friend suggested I go get deep tissue massage - unfortunately there is no money in my running fund for massage as it all just went to new shoes. And by the way, the older you get, the more important it is to get new shoes often to help prevent injury and soreness.
So in case you are a runner and you are sore and you don't have money for deep tissue massage, here is what I did last night.
First, I used a golf ball in a sock and rolled the bottom of my foot down on it to give the bottom of my foot a nice deep massage.
Next, I used a tennis ball in a sock (a bigger sock) and put it on the wall behind my back and shoulders, and sort of rolled it around my back while pushing on the wall - does that make sense? I did realize at one point that I was in my room with the light on and the window open so the neighbors might see and think I was pretending to be a bear scratching my back on a tree. Because that is what you look like. But my shoulders got a great massage from that!
Lastly, I used a stick to roll the muscles in my calves and quads. Admittedly, I have a fancy "runner stick" now to roll those muscles - a birthday gift/hand me down from a friend. But before I had the fancy stick, I had a plain ol rolling pin which wasnt the best but did just fine.
After the massage I put ice on my shoulders and my hubby said I looked like a linebacker and wondered if I could possibly be comfortable but I felt deep massage sore and not plain old sore which felt great!
I think we are about 7 weeks out now. Things are getting serious and I hope I live to tell you about the long run tomorrow. Thanks for stopping in!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Life and Planning
It takes a lot of time and planning to train for a marathon. And sometimes life just doesn't go along with the plan. For instance, last week my husband's schedule was not set. On Saturday I had planned to run a longish run, but he ended up needing to work. So I ran on Sunday, 9 miles and squeezed them in before church and Disneyland (we have passes...to Disneyland, not church). I get two hours of childcare at the Y, but once I drop off my four year old, get outside to run and then cool down, the most I can run is 10 miles in that time. So as a result of life's twists and turns including my middle son's 9th birthday falling on Wednesday, his hookie day and then his sleepover with five friends on Friday night, Marathon training took a bit of a hit. Not a terrible hit, mind you, but just some readjustments. I ended up mostly running 6 mile runs with a couple 9-10 mile runs. Today though, I did 16. Yay! This does bring up the planning bit again, though.
Back in the old days, when I was training for a 10K (6 miles), I really didnt need to do much planning. I could run a couple miles at a time, did not need to carry a meal with me or water or look for a bathroom. All of that is a bit more important when you get to marathon training distances of 10 miles or more. But now I am finding, that I need to do even MORE planning. For instance, if I am running 16 miles, but did not drink enough water the day before, or "carb up" in advance, then I have a harder time on the run. I also need to carve 3 hours out of my day instead of 2 once I am at the 16 plus stage of training. Soon enough it could be 4 hours out of my day.
I do not have enough pairs of "chafe free" shorts and shirts to get me through the week anymore. When every work out is 6 miles or more, the cheap gym clothes that I still possess from college days, just don't cut it. So instead of buying new clothes, I bought "Body Glide" which looks like a stick of deoderant only it costs 10 times more and you rub it all over including your underarms and anywhere else you dont want chafing. I have to say, I used it today and it works! Hooray for planning.
I did forget to have my hand held water bottle (since the belt one from the cheap-o mega store didnt work for me) ready. I couldnt find it and ended up borrowing my four year old's Optimus Prime Transformer Water Bottle. And to be honest, it worked for me. I felt like I kicked butt on todays run. Of course I now have a pain in my butt, and my knees, and feet. Ow.
Since this blog is really partly to journal my experience here is the nitty gritty of the last week - I ran 9 miles, then 10, then 6 with some sprints, then ran 3 uphill and then biked at the gym and read "The Paris Wife." My last long run was almost two weeks ago now and it was my 16 miler with mostly uphills and nearly a 12 minute mile. I walked a mile of that one. Today I ran the entire thing and did it in 10 minute miles so I figure that is pretty good. Granted, I am REALLY sore today, more so than usual. We will see how I feel tomorrow. Hopefully I can get my 17 mile run in next week, and then I think I get a rest week where my longest is only 10. Hard to believe 10 used to be the goal. Hope to hear from my mom and sis on this blog soon, I swear they exist!
Right now I am sitting with ice packs on my knees. Signing off for now. Did I mention that last night my house was full of LOUD 9 year olds? Hoping that might help get me ready for the jet lag I will have in Athens. :)
Back in the old days, when I was training for a 10K (6 miles), I really didnt need to do much planning. I could run a couple miles at a time, did not need to carry a meal with me or water or look for a bathroom. All of that is a bit more important when you get to marathon training distances of 10 miles or more. But now I am finding, that I need to do even MORE planning. For instance, if I am running 16 miles, but did not drink enough water the day before, or "carb up" in advance, then I have a harder time on the run. I also need to carve 3 hours out of my day instead of 2 once I am at the 16 plus stage of training. Soon enough it could be 4 hours out of my day.
I do not have enough pairs of "chafe free" shorts and shirts to get me through the week anymore. When every work out is 6 miles or more, the cheap gym clothes that I still possess from college days, just don't cut it. So instead of buying new clothes, I bought "Body Glide" which looks like a stick of deoderant only it costs 10 times more and you rub it all over including your underarms and anywhere else you dont want chafing. I have to say, I used it today and it works! Hooray for planning.
I did forget to have my hand held water bottle (since the belt one from the cheap-o mega store didnt work for me) ready. I couldnt find it and ended up borrowing my four year old's Optimus Prime Transformer Water Bottle. And to be honest, it worked for me. I felt like I kicked butt on todays run. Of course I now have a pain in my butt, and my knees, and feet. Ow.
Since this blog is really partly to journal my experience here is the nitty gritty of the last week - I ran 9 miles, then 10, then 6 with some sprints, then ran 3 uphill and then biked at the gym and read "The Paris Wife." My last long run was almost two weeks ago now and it was my 16 miler with mostly uphills and nearly a 12 minute mile. I walked a mile of that one. Today I ran the entire thing and did it in 10 minute miles so I figure that is pretty good. Granted, I am REALLY sore today, more so than usual. We will see how I feel tomorrow. Hopefully I can get my 17 mile run in next week, and then I think I get a rest week where my longest is only 10. Hard to believe 10 used to be the goal. Hope to hear from my mom and sis on this blog soon, I swear they exist!
Right now I am sitting with ice packs on my knees. Signing off for now. Did I mention that last night my house was full of LOUD 9 year olds? Hoping that might help get me ready for the jet lag I will have in Athens. :)
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Running Recipes and Retrospect
My mom was a runner for most of my childhood, and I know I have her to "thank" for my running habits now. As a youngish "tween" girl, she used to have me join her on runs, either on foot or on my bike. Usually I would whine, and cry, and yell and threaten to go home (pre-pubescent hormones and the obligatory be-mad-at-your-mother reflexes and all...). My mom valued health and wanted me to be active. I was naturally the kid who chain-read books on the couch all summer long - books like Nancy Drew, Encyclopedia Brown, and the Choose Your Own Adventure Series (I always read every ending first). In order to get me off the couch, she forced me to go running with her.
My primary role on these runs, of course, was to protect her in case a rabid dog, or a spider, or any other scary creature might come out at her while she was exercising. I guess her thought might have been similar to that of the airplane rule..you know...put on your own gas mask before you put one on your children. She probably figured if I was the one badly maimed in a dog attack, that she would be better able to take care of me after. Or something like that.
The funny thing is, now as a 36 year old woman, I was out running with my mom while visiting up north last month. Some very loud, barky dogs came running out at us, and I was happy to know that after all these years, my role is still very much intact.
Anyhow, the one thing that made running totally worth it for me (or maybe I should say remotely worth it...) were the post-run smoothies and the cold pasta salads that my mom would make when she was putting in the miles. A couple days ago, I had both a smoothie, and a pasta salad on the same day. My boys all love them and I smiled at the thought that even 25 years later, I can still enjoy foods from back then. When I was 11, I was completely unaware of a need to get carbs and protein into my body within 30 minutes of running. I didn't know about carb loading. Maybe my mom did, but all I knew is that the food was yummy and it made me feel good after expending all that energy driving my mother crazy (and running too).
Below are the two recipes I use that are most tied to the past for me. I have made some changes, but not too many. In later posts I will put other favorites I have discovered over the years. But for now, these are a nod to longevity and the memories that can come from a taste.
Smoothie THEN
1 frozen banana
1 container fruit yogurt
1 cup OJ
Blend and drink!
Smoothie UPDATED
1 frozen banana
1 cup Greek Yogurt, plain
1/2-1 cup frozen or fresh fruit - mangos, strawberries, blueberries, etc
3/4 cup OJ
(sometimes a scoop of vanilla protein powder)
Blend and drink!
PASTA SALAD
(the only difference is the type of pasta)
Whole wheat pasta noodles - rotini, spaghetti, whatever
chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots and green onion
low fat mozzerella sticks cut up
favorite Italian salad dressing added to taste (I like bernsteins from Costco)
cook pasta, rinse under cold water, mix with the rest and enjoy!
You can add any veggies you want - I added roasted eggplant and some parsley the other day and sometimes garbanzo beans too.
These are not scientific but are easy and good and have stood the test of time. Heres to passing on a healthy legacy to our kids!
My primary role on these runs, of course, was to protect her in case a rabid dog, or a spider, or any other scary creature might come out at her while she was exercising. I guess her thought might have been similar to that of the airplane rule..you know...put on your own gas mask before you put one on your children. She probably figured if I was the one badly maimed in a dog attack, that she would be better able to take care of me after. Or something like that.
The funny thing is, now as a 36 year old woman, I was out running with my mom while visiting up north last month. Some very loud, barky dogs came running out at us, and I was happy to know that after all these years, my role is still very much intact.
Anyhow, the one thing that made running totally worth it for me (or maybe I should say remotely worth it...) were the post-run smoothies and the cold pasta salads that my mom would make when she was putting in the miles. A couple days ago, I had both a smoothie, and a pasta salad on the same day. My boys all love them and I smiled at the thought that even 25 years later, I can still enjoy foods from back then. When I was 11, I was completely unaware of a need to get carbs and protein into my body within 30 minutes of running. I didn't know about carb loading. Maybe my mom did, but all I knew is that the food was yummy and it made me feel good after expending all that energy driving my mother crazy (and running too).
Below are the two recipes I use that are most tied to the past for me. I have made some changes, but not too many. In later posts I will put other favorites I have discovered over the years. But for now, these are a nod to longevity and the memories that can come from a taste.
Smoothie THEN
1 frozen banana
1 container fruit yogurt
1 cup OJ
Blend and drink!
Smoothie UPDATED
1 frozen banana
1 cup Greek Yogurt, plain
1/2-1 cup frozen or fresh fruit - mangos, strawberries, blueberries, etc
3/4 cup OJ
(sometimes a scoop of vanilla protein powder)
Blend and drink!
PASTA SALAD
(the only difference is the type of pasta)
Whole wheat pasta noodles - rotini, spaghetti, whatever
chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots and green onion
low fat mozzerella sticks cut up
favorite Italian salad dressing added to taste (I like bernsteins from Costco)
cook pasta, rinse under cold water, mix with the rest and enjoy!
You can add any veggies you want - I added roasted eggplant and some parsley the other day and sometimes garbanzo beans too.
These are not scientific but are easy and good and have stood the test of time. Heres to passing on a healthy legacy to our kids!
Monday, September 5, 2011
Sweet 16 and Lessons Learned
Well, my oh so sweet hubby changed his work schedule for me (went in at 9 am) so that I could get a long run in this week. Yay! The bad news, is that when, at mile 8, I was completely done running for the day, I felt guilty quitting when he so kindly stayed home so I could run.. Darn.
16 is a big number for me. In fact, when I turned 16 years old, my mom played "16 candles" on the cassette player (for those readers under the age of 20, just Google cassette player and if necessary also Google "16 candles"). She also had no lighter for my birthday candle so instead set a piece of paper on fire at the stove, almost burning down the house. Hmm, I think that was also the year she gave me a TV for my birthday, when I wanted a pair of shoes. I was not a gracious 16 year old, and did not receive the gift well. Turns out she didnt have any money for a gift but could get a credit card to an electronics store, hence the TV. As an adult I have had to grovel and seek forgiveness for that one...eek. Sometimes life's lessons require some time to be learned.
16 also happens to be the year I got my first boyfriend, took my SAT's, did NOT take my driving test and continued to mooch rides off my friends, and 16 is also the number of times I said "This really stinks..." while I ran this morning's run.
Well that last part might not be true. I think I said it more like 100 times.
I took off at 5:45 am and took the dog. Lesson #1. My dog has control issues and likes to exert his control over the situation by pooping on the sidewalk while I am running. This forces me to stop, spew out some unpleasant words*** his way, and clean up after him while he gets to rest and pee on the lamposts. (***FYI I do not swear, so when I talk about "swearing" just think phrases like phooey poo head dingo, dagnabbit, holy camoley, and "this really stinks...")
I had to go pee by 6:00 am. Really bad. Lesson #2. The public bathrooms in the park are still locked at 6:00 am.
I was trying out a new "butt water thingee" which I think is the name given by the author of a book my mom got me. Lesson #3. Do not buy the cheap-o "butt water thingees" from mega stores. They shift around and the water bottle hits you on the elbow. The water bottle sloshes around reminding you for 8 miles how bad you have to pee. They make you look like a complete dork. (okay well I dont think there is an option of NOT looking like a complete dork once you start getting into higher mileage...you have to run with a day's supply of food and water attached to your body somehow..you wear those breatheable and not stylish running hats, and you have embarrassing sweat spots in weird places...).
I was running up the hardest and longest hills I could find in the area, because I am now officially intimidated by the thought of those big fat Greek hills. Lesson #4. Ouchie Mama. Oh and running down hill didn't help my wobbly legs too much either. Guess that was Lesson #5?
The good news is that I finished the 16 miles in one piece, a little sore and a little sleepy. I was good and had a smoothie to finish the run. I had to walk part of the last 1.5 miles, so will probably try again with no walking. I don't have a goal to run the entire Athens Marathon since I dont know what those hills will do to me but I figure I will train to run if I can.
Kudos to my sis Naomi who ran her first half marathon this weekend to prepare for the Marathon! And to my mom who had a super long run over the weekend too. Mom got a Google account so you should be hearing from her soon!
Now it's time for a nap. All three of my boys are at a playdate at my saint of a friends so that I can sneak in a snooze. Yay!
16 is a big number for me. In fact, when I turned 16 years old, my mom played "16 candles" on the cassette player (for those readers under the age of 20, just Google cassette player and if necessary also Google "16 candles"). She also had no lighter for my birthday candle so instead set a piece of paper on fire at the stove, almost burning down the house. Hmm, I think that was also the year she gave me a TV for my birthday, when I wanted a pair of shoes. I was not a gracious 16 year old, and did not receive the gift well. Turns out she didnt have any money for a gift but could get a credit card to an electronics store, hence the TV. As an adult I have had to grovel and seek forgiveness for that one...eek. Sometimes life's lessons require some time to be learned.
16 also happens to be the year I got my first boyfriend, took my SAT's, did NOT take my driving test and continued to mooch rides off my friends, and 16 is also the number of times I said "This really stinks..." while I ran this morning's run.
Well that last part might not be true. I think I said it more like 100 times.
I took off at 5:45 am and took the dog. Lesson #1. My dog has control issues and likes to exert his control over the situation by pooping on the sidewalk while I am running. This forces me to stop, spew out some unpleasant words*** his way, and clean up after him while he gets to rest and pee on the lamposts. (***FYI I do not swear, so when I talk about "swearing" just think phrases like phooey poo head dingo, dagnabbit, holy camoley, and "this really stinks...")
I had to go pee by 6:00 am. Really bad. Lesson #2. The public bathrooms in the park are still locked at 6:00 am.
I was trying out a new "butt water thingee" which I think is the name given by the author of a book my mom got me. Lesson #3. Do not buy the cheap-o "butt water thingees" from mega stores. They shift around and the water bottle hits you on the elbow. The water bottle sloshes around reminding you for 8 miles how bad you have to pee. They make you look like a complete dork. (okay well I dont think there is an option of NOT looking like a complete dork once you start getting into higher mileage...you have to run with a day's supply of food and water attached to your body somehow..you wear those breatheable and not stylish running hats, and you have embarrassing sweat spots in weird places...).
I was running up the hardest and longest hills I could find in the area, because I am now officially intimidated by the thought of those big fat Greek hills. Lesson #4. Ouchie Mama. Oh and running down hill didn't help my wobbly legs too much either. Guess that was Lesson #5?
The good news is that I finished the 16 miles in one piece, a little sore and a little sleepy. I was good and had a smoothie to finish the run. I had to walk part of the last 1.5 miles, so will probably try again with no walking. I don't have a goal to run the entire Athens Marathon since I dont know what those hills will do to me but I figure I will train to run if I can.
Kudos to my sis Naomi who ran her first half marathon this weekend to prepare for the Marathon! And to my mom who had a super long run over the weekend too. Mom got a Google account so you should be hearing from her soon!
Now it's time for a nap. All three of my boys are at a playdate at my saint of a friends so that I can sneak in a snooze. Yay!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
No, I am not describing the three "Girls on the Run" here although if I were I better call myself ugly because my mom and sister are not "girls" to mess with. And, I am not a fan of conflict and would rather be the ugly one, than find myself offending my good "Hollyanna" mother or my "bad to the bone" sis who has fought in Iraq and trained cadets in boot camp. Hmm, I guess the title does mostly work, although I still dont know how the ugly part fits. Unless we are talking about how my abs have split down the middle after three pregnancies and resemble a butt more than a belly...and the stretch marks...
I digress.
The good, the bad and the ugly of marathon training. To date. I will probably come up with more as the date gets nearer and my mileage increases but here are some observations, experiences and opinions of the past 8 weeks. (BTW, I have completely lost count of what week I am on training - wise...life has not allowed me to follow my schedule to the tee, which my mother will tell you is a bit like slow torture for me. )
Good: My muscle tone is great
Bad: My quads will not squeeze themselves into any pair of pants that I own
Ugly: my belly has not improved with my running efforts!
Good: Chocolate Gu, lemon Gu
Bad: the fact that I talk about a substance called "Gu" and that there are other sort of normal people out there that also know what the heck I am talking about
Ugly, very Ugly: Mixed Berry Gu, which (I so noted on FB) tastes remarkably similar to the goopy icky flouride treatment I used to get as a kid at the dentists office. And really, marathon training is hard enough - there should be NO reminders of the dentist's office while training for a marathon. It should be a rule.
Good: Finishing my longest run to date, which will happen quite frequently now that I am upping my mileage each week - yay us!
Bad: 95 degree SO Cal days and the prospect of a 15 mile run
Ugly: Wondering how many skunks and cayotes I will have to fight as I leave the house before the sun rises...
Okay now some random ones, not set in that cute order..
Bad - hubby working around the clock and no one to watch the 4 year old while I attempt to run
Bad - needing to eat, drink and pee while running - this is why marathon training is crazy and unnatural
Bad - my obsession with fact finding, and the fun little forum I found on runners who have done the athens marathon in the past...and the fact that people run the Athens Marathon REALLY SLOWLY...because there are like, 1000 hills to climb. Great.
Ugly - chafing that didnt happen at 10 miles that suddenly happens at 14. Anything that is cotton is BAD, including unmentionables...FYI
Bad - apparently anything that is cotton, including unmentionables (see above)
Bad - that I am a pastor's wife and that I am mentioning chafing unmentionables in a blog.
Good - not too many people read this blog.
**Runners Log (wow that sounds really cheesy and Treky but I will come up with a better name later) - Ran 6 miles on the treadmill at the Y today with the three boys in child care. Simulated Hill Running and got the lactic acid goin...Drank a ton of water. Realized I am limited to two hour runs for the next two weeks due to hubby's work schedule and fact that I cannot leave my 4 year old at home alone.
I digress.
The good, the bad and the ugly of marathon training. To date. I will probably come up with more as the date gets nearer and my mileage increases but here are some observations, experiences and opinions of the past 8 weeks. (BTW, I have completely lost count of what week I am on training - wise...life has not allowed me to follow my schedule to the tee, which my mother will tell you is a bit like slow torture for me. )
Good: My muscle tone is great
Bad: My quads will not squeeze themselves into any pair of pants that I own
Ugly: my belly has not improved with my running efforts!
Good: Chocolate Gu, lemon Gu
Bad: the fact that I talk about a substance called "Gu" and that there are other sort of normal people out there that also know what the heck I am talking about
Ugly, very Ugly: Mixed Berry Gu, which (I so noted on FB) tastes remarkably similar to the goopy icky flouride treatment I used to get as a kid at the dentists office. And really, marathon training is hard enough - there should be NO reminders of the dentist's office while training for a marathon. It should be a rule.
Good: Finishing my longest run to date, which will happen quite frequently now that I am upping my mileage each week - yay us!
Bad: 95 degree SO Cal days and the prospect of a 15 mile run
Ugly: Wondering how many skunks and cayotes I will have to fight as I leave the house before the sun rises...
Okay now some random ones, not set in that cute order..
Bad - hubby working around the clock and no one to watch the 4 year old while I attempt to run
Bad - needing to eat, drink and pee while running - this is why marathon training is crazy and unnatural
Bad - my obsession with fact finding, and the fun little forum I found on runners who have done the athens marathon in the past...and the fact that people run the Athens Marathon REALLY SLOWLY...because there are like, 1000 hills to climb. Great.
Ugly - chafing that didnt happen at 10 miles that suddenly happens at 14. Anything that is cotton is BAD, including unmentionables...FYI
Bad - apparently anything that is cotton, including unmentionables (see above)
Bad - that I am a pastor's wife and that I am mentioning chafing unmentionables in a blog.
Good - not too many people read this blog.
**Runners Log (wow that sounds really cheesy and Treky but I will come up with a better name later) - Ran 6 miles on the treadmill at the Y today with the three boys in child care. Simulated Hill Running and got the lactic acid goin...Drank a ton of water. Realized I am limited to two hour runs for the next two weeks due to hubby's work schedule and fact that I cannot leave my 4 year old at home alone.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Every Race starts with a Step...
...And every blog must start with a word!! (or in this case a ...) So here we go, a few weeks late in getting started as I can be a procrastinator. My name is Sara, and I am a 36 year old (ahem...) Girl, planning to run my first marathon this November. My sister, Naomi is another of the "Girls" on the run (I wont list her age here in case she wants that private, but fyi she is my baby sister). Our mother, Holly, is the third "Girl" on the run who while is old enough to be our mother, definitely doesn't look it.
The purpose of this blog is to journal our journey, our trials and our triumphs as we trek our way towards our maiden marathon. Hopefully all three of us will participate in the blog, and possibly even annoy (or amuse) one another by our unique writing, and running styles along the way.
The marathon we have chosen as our first, is considered one of the most difficult in the world, but is also modeled after the original route, run 2501 years ago in the country of Greece. We are traveling to Athens from three locations: me from California, my sister from the East Coast, and our mom will be heading there from the Pacific Northwest. As we continue to add to this blog, we will fill you, the reader (ie, our hubbies and maybe our mothers, heehee) in on more details.
As of this blog entry, there are 72 days and 11 hours of torture...err, training left till our big day. My left big toe is sore and my neck is sore. I ran 6 miles at 9.30 pace in 90 degree heat today on shaded trails. Thought I was going to die. To date I have gained one pound which is to be expected after burning thousands and thousands of calories running five days a week. My longest run has been 14 miles. I wear Brooks Ravenna. I may be the only contributor to this blog but hopefully my sis and mom will chime in as well - I will just make things up about them until they feel they need to set the record straight. Thanks for checking in!
The purpose of this blog is to journal our journey, our trials and our triumphs as we trek our way towards our maiden marathon. Hopefully all three of us will participate in the blog, and possibly even annoy (or amuse) one another by our unique writing, and running styles along the way.
The marathon we have chosen as our first, is considered one of the most difficult in the world, but is also modeled after the original route, run 2501 years ago in the country of Greece. We are traveling to Athens from three locations: me from California, my sister from the East Coast, and our mom will be heading there from the Pacific Northwest. As we continue to add to this blog, we will fill you, the reader (ie, our hubbies and maybe our mothers, heehee) in on more details.
As of this blog entry, there are 72 days and 11 hours of torture...err, training left till our big day. My left big toe is sore and my neck is sore. I ran 6 miles at 9.30 pace in 90 degree heat today on shaded trails. Thought I was going to die. To date I have gained one pound which is to be expected after burning thousands and thousands of calories running five days a week. My longest run has been 14 miles. I wear Brooks Ravenna. I may be the only contributor to this blog but hopefully my sis and mom will chime in as well - I will just make things up about them until they feel they need to set the record straight. Thanks for checking in!
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