The Gift of Running

One of the greatest gifts I got this year was the gift of running. It has changed my life in more positive ways than I probably even know. I know that Mark's excited about the changes in me and I don't just mean my body, although he's happy about that. ;) He likes the fact that:

• I've stopped whining (not all whining, just whining when I run)
• I like to do more things like the Warrior Dash and get muddy
• I go outside for hours at a time and he has full control of the t.v. remote
• I have more energy and so I clean and cook more
• I feel good about myself and he doesn't have to constantly tell me I'm cool
• I'm not such a weanie, I don't have to ask him to lift stuff for me any more or open the attic

Of course, every good gift can have it's downsides. He doesn't like the fact that I can run circles around him, that when I "playfully" punch him in the arm it actually hurts, or that I'm constantly telling him that he should run.

But seriously, running is the gift I gave myself this year and it has paid off way more than I ever thought it would. I love running. It has become one of my favorite pastimes. It has brought fun and friends and has given me a positive passion. Thanks, running, you're the bomb!

Running with the Husband

Mark and I have run together a lot. Most of it has been with me whining, about him running in front of me, expecting me to go too fast, too far or whatever else popped into my weak little mind. Mark has the athlete mentality and it has been a painful godsend. I would not be the runner I am today if he hadn't been willing to put up with all my complaints and continue to push me beyond what I thought I was capable of. Now it's my turn!

For the past three weeks Mark's been training for a 15K we're doing in January, Too Cold to Hold. I believe registration is still open, so you should totally join us! Last week I started joining Mark on his runs and I must say, it is so fun to be be in better shape than he is. :D I bounce around and bob my head, play with him, grab his butt and knock him as I pass him by. It's a blast! I love being better than him in something. He's one of those really annoying people that are good at so many things. Finally! I am a runner and he isn't. Now before I get too cocky, I'd better be aware of the fact that once he does get in shape he will be much better than I am at this thing. He will be faster and stronger and he will pass me by without a backward glance.

I don't know how he puts up with me being such a smart alec when we run together. In fact, he's a really good sport about it. He just smiles as I run ahead or bob around, laughs when I do my Rocky Balboa moves and altogether ignores me pushing him around. I wonder if he's just biding his time, remembering all my misdeeds and lying in wait until that glorious day when he can crush me to the ground...hmmmm.

11 miles

I ran 11 miles on Monday. I have to admit it was an act of will to even go. Last week was crazy with us having a Christmas party at our house and I volunteered to make dinner for everyone. All 17 people! I'm pretty used to a family of four and, honestly had no idea how to cook for 17. Mark kept rolling his eyes at me as I made the giant crock of potato soup. "Are you making for the entire neighborhood?" I ended up with a HUGE pot of leftovers.
I started out feeling pretty slow on my run, but I didn't care. I was just determined to finish. I hate running on a stomach with food in it, so I was pretty hungry by the time I left for my run. In fact, I was really looking forward to my little Cliff Shots at mile 5.

I don't know what it is, but I love my long runs. They end up being so much more fun than my short ones. I think it's because the run is so long I don't really have to think much about the actual run. I end up thinking about life, things I want to do or get done, I even put a book on cd on my ipod and listened to that, which was cool. There's something about getting outside and just running. It's become my place of peace, my getaway. A time that's just for me where I can have fun, be alone and just be...

Three Mile Timed Run

My most awesome running coach, asked us to do timed 3 mile runs. Oh, how I dreaded it. I thought running fast for 1 mile was hard, how in the world was I going to do it for 3?? He recommended we do it on a nice day so I looked at the week's forcast. Wednesday was going to be 73; it can't get much better than that. I planned my day around my run, made sure I ate 2 hours before, wrote times down my arm so I had some idea of my pace, sent out a FB post so everyone could be crossing their fingers with me, dressed in shorts and a T-shirt...I was ready. I walked up to the starting line and I'm off. First mile felt really good. I didn't feel like I was pushing too hard, 2nd mile tougher - especially since the P.E. class at McMillan was doing sprints and I had to dodge a couple of students, 3rd mile - just glad to be almost done and the last 1/4 mile I was feeling like I would throw up! I finished at a 27:41 which isn't terrible with 25-35 mph winds. :) I'm just proud that I did it. Afterwards, the P.E. teachers asked me about my run. I actually stopped and talked to them about my time and felt very important having a running coach, needing to do a timed run and all. It made me sound like a runner...I guess I really am!

The Training Begins

I signed up for my marathon, "Aaaaaaaahhhh???!!!"

Well, there were just no more excuses. I had my marathon training program in hand, I got my amazing running coach, Aaron,  and all I had left was to pick a race. I'm learning that there is a big difference between saying I'm going to train for a marathon and actually signing up for a race. I got online today to try to find a race and I found the Big "D" Texas Marathon. It's on April 10th and, interestingly enough, is 18 weeks away - the exact number of weeks for my training schedule. Hmmm...Meant to be?

The task of looking for the marathon, filling out the entry form and paying for it changes everything. All of a sudden, I'm committed (panic begins)! I have to actually run the training program now. I can't slack off because I have a marathon coming up and it's going to be really hard; I'd better be ready! In fact, I'm feeling a little sick to my stomach...

Today was my first long run of the training program. I ran 8 miles (the program calls for 10) but I have been feeling really tired and I have a LOT going on this week and I thought I'd better shorten my run just a little so that I can make it through to next week. As I returned from my run I started thinking about the fact that I'm supposed to run 12 next week and it's good that I'm wrapping my mind around it now. I'd better make sure I'm mentally prepared to do that. 8 miles felt pretty easy, surely 12 next week will be fine. I mean, I did run a half in November. ;) This is what I'm telling myself to sell myself on the fact that next week's 12 miles will be no problem.

Deep breath in, exhale, deep breath in, exhale...It's okay, Sam. You can do this. Don't worry, don't stress, just relax and enjoy the ride.

Beginning to Break Through the Barriers

Something incredible happened in my run yesterday. I broke through a mental barrier. Actually, I think it broke the day before when I did my "disappointing timed run", of which I am now NO longer disappointed! Because I went for a 5 mile run yesterday in 13 mph winds and I could tell I was working harder than I normally do, but I was loving it! Normally, I would have slowed down and made it easy; instead I embraced the work and my attitude for the whole run was positive. I don't think I've ever had a run like that before. Now, I'm really excited about speed work. (did I say excited? that may be an exaggeration) I know it's going to be hard and painful, but yesterday gave me hope for come pretty cool paybacks.

Have you ever had a mental block in your workout? Something you just couldn't seem to get past? Finally, you pressed into it and something amazing happened? I'd love to hear about it so we can all learn how to get the most out of our workouts and ways to overcome the mental barrier.

Mine came when I submitted myself to someone else, my amazing running coach Aaron, and I was forced to do something I had previously been unwilling to do no matter how much Mark tried to tell me to work on my speed. Let's be honest, our spouses aren't usually the best place to get accountability. Mark deserves his props though, I wouldn't be where I am today without him pushing me beyond my comfort zone. The difference is we used to have huge arguments during our runs, ending with me stopping and I think I would pick fights so I could quit running. I don't know how Mark stood me. I was a whiny baby for sure! Fortunately, with Aaron there's no whining and crying, just mental angst when he gives me a timed run or fear over what my next timed run is going to be. And when he starts mentioning intervals and tempo runs my insides get tied up into little knots. I know it's going to suck and I'm going to have to push through pain and discomfort. But I don't whine. Not out loud anyway!

No where to go but up! Or down as it may be...

I did my timed run! I asked my husband to go with me and time me and then to hang around after it so I could do 2 more miles. He kindly agreed, and I was surprised because I know how he feels about standing around with nothing to do for 20 minutes.

My goal was to hit a 7:40 which meant 1:55 each time around the track. My husband stood at the start with the stop watch and would call out my time as I came around each time.

1st time around, "1:45, 46, 47" And I'm thinking, 'Sweet!' I'm doing even faster than I thought I could do.'

2nd time around, "3:40,41,42" And I'm thinking, 'What's 1:45 + 1:55?" And I CANNOT do the higher math in my head!

3rd time around he doesn't even shout times he just says, "You're slowing down, you can do this, pick it up!" and then I hear that he's shouting numbers, but my brain doesn't register what a number is. The only thing I can hear is my wheezing as I try to breathe!

Final lap I'm dying. I know I'm slowing way down and I keep trying to pick it up, but I'm feeling like air has been sucked out of the universe and everytime I open my mouth all I get is emptiness.

Mark moves down the track to cheer me on, "Come on! You can do it! Pick up your pace, you're almost done!" Somehow I find the energy to speed up a bit because I can see the end in sight and the sooner I'm crossing the finish line the sooner I can stop! I'm thinking, 'How's he going to see where to stop the watch from there? Is my time going to be accurate?' I make a big finish and drop my hands to my knees to try and get some oxygen! 8:10 he says is my time. Dang! I really wanted to finish somewhere in the 7's. Anywhere in the 7's. I would have been happy to do 7:59 just so I could start it with a 7!

Mark kindly asks me if I want to do my 2 miles now and I look at him like he's insane! "No way!" He smiles, "I didn't think so."

My teammates have all been really encouraging me about my run. One reminds me I'm much older than they are. Another tells me I'm amazing and that they were surprised I was able to do an 8:10. I'm feeling really warm and fuzzy now.Oh well, no where to go but down.

Ask and you shall receive...

I have been praying for a running coach. Mark, my husband, keeps telling me I need to run faster and I really want to stuff his mouth with a sock when he says that. I like being slow. I like the fact that I can run for 10 miles and not even hardly feel winded. I LIKE not pressing forward and pushing on. Or I did until I ran my 1/2 marathon in November and then I was bummed all week because I didn't have any goals to work toward. All of a sudden my running was boring! So, I had a choice, I could stick to my guns and just be slow and probably quit running or I could come up with some new goals and get my butt running faster and longer. My new goals are to begin increasing my speed and hitting a marathon in the spring. Soooo exciting. Less than 1% of the american population have run a marathon. I like the idea of being elite. It keeps me running.

This past weekend, I hung out with some amazing people. People, who like me, like to run. I mean really like it! Personally, I think they're all a little crazy because when I met them for our morning run it was freezing and they were all wearing shorts. (I prefer to think they're crazy rather than I'm weak because I came out in under amour, sweats, 3 layers of shirts, a jacket, a neck gaiter and hat and mittens!) Obviously, it's the 4 of them that are crazy rather than me. Out of our weekend Aaron, a pastor from Iowa, offered to coach the rest of us: Kim - a marathoner and pastor's wife from Indiana, Melissa - Aaron's wife (she's also run a marathon), Mark - my husband a former semi-pro soccer player gone soft (love you, honey) and me - a brand new runner this year. I'm definitely the weakest link in this chain, but I don't really care. My competitive nature will push me to try to keep up and that's exactly what I need!

My first bit of homework from Aaron is to go out and do a timed mile. This means I run for 1 mile at a steady pace and when I'm done my goal is to feel completely spent. This is close to impossible to do, but you've got to start somewhere. Kim and Melissa both finished in the 7's so I've GOT to try to hit that! I started out thinking I'd try for an 8, but after hearing their times I quickly adjusted my goals. I don't want to be a weenie! I'm sure Mark is thinking, "I told you so!", but he has wisely refrained from saying it out loud. I've heard that socks don't taste very good.