Seriously. When I went to the Expo to pick up my packet for the race Sunday I actually teared up with excitement. I know I won't do great in comparison to others...but it's about me doing my best. I didn't really realize how excited I was until I looked up at all the choices and found the "half marathon" line! Crazy, I know! And of course I keep vacillating back and forth between excitement and horror! lol! What was I thinking?   Keeps running through my mind as I realize the race is upon me! But thinking back offers a little bit of comfort. I was so scared right before that first 5K...and now I shrug that distance off. I run more than that on my daily runs now. I think these feelings are true when we face new experiences. It's the unknown that scares us! But after some experience then the unknown becomes the known and many times becomes common place. Then it can become drudgery. I've seen this in many different areas including the church world. We ...

Sometimes we just have to face the truth and be very realistic...it helps us deal and survive! I am not going to win the half marathon. I will finish it though  that is determined! I won't look back and I will complete the course that is laid out. Sports minded people (like me) can be very competitive. This attitude has helped me compete against myself to improve myself, but it can be destructive if it's not kept in check. So for me I have to redefine winning. And that means taking a realistic look at where I am. I am 50 years old (or young). I rarely sleep more than 6 hours at night and even more rare is to get a chunk of sleep more than 3 or 4 hours long. (this is because I am a caregiver to my son who has a TBI) I have to train in the two hour slot when the aid is here or not run at all each day. As many do - I face tough emotional battles and frustrations with life. And I am just overall tired today! lol! I've had to work through two or three injuries during half-mar...

That's right - rain and wind is th forecast for Sunday morning's race! Yikes! I was ready for mild and beautiful! No luck this year. It looks like my first half marathon will be wet and cold! But you know us runners - I'll be running anyway! You just never know when you sign up what the weather will be like. That's one reason I never let the weather discourage me from my training runs. I have found that this is true with life as well. We really do not know what a day may bring - but we gotta keep running anyway! One Saturday morning when life was good and I was working toward my goals and plans, I got the parent's dreaded phone call, my son had been in a terrible wreck and he'd been medi-flighted to a hospital...Job had no idea that one morning when he got out of bed that he would lose literally everything   that day - including his children. More recently tsunamis, tornadoes and earthquakes have hit unsuspecting locations. We really do not know what a day ...

My emotions are so back and forth about the my first half marathon! I have only 5 days! Yeah! ... and Yikes! I am going to have to gut this one out! I am confident that my training thus far will get me through the race. I don't have to do anything but finish! After all I am a half a century old doing my first half marathon! It still is somewhat overwhelming just to think about now and then. Life can hand us many challenges. It's easy to be overwhelmed when situations don't go as planned or tragedy strikes. All we can do is trust that our training will help us gut it out. We know the Lord is our strength - and we can do all things through Christ and those are easy to hold on to during our everyday activities. But then when the big ones come along we must trust that we have been prepare by staying in His word. Life brings us variety. Some trials are like sprints, over with quick. Others are more like marathons where we must learn endurance, steadfastness and strength to...

Okay, so now on to the mental part of running. This is my toughest challenge yet to be sure. I only got in 10.5 miles on Friday. There were lots of factors that caused limitations. I just ran and didn't calculate until I got home and was pretty disappointed really. I hope to run light this week. I think that was one problem Friday is that I put in longer miles and ran more days. The half is this coming Sunday and I'm having thoughts of ditching! Is that crazy or what? I know I can walk it and set a PR! And the main thing is not how well I do - but just that I finish it. If I crawl or roll across the finish line at midnight that's fine - I will have finished it...and that's what matters. Isn't this the same as life with faith? We just have to be finishers, not always come-in-firsters! We gotta finish what we started. For many it's too easy when things get tough or too challenging to just want to ditch it all and throw out our faith. Even though that's re...

As usual the day before my long runs, more challenging runs, or race day the day before is full of stress and usually very little sleep. I haven't figured out how everything knows to come crashing in 24 hours before a huge day but it does. So in its usual fashion yesterday was full of all kinds of emotional and other crazy stuff. Today is the last chance I get to try for a really long run before the half marathon on May 1. And add to that the uncertainty of new shoes and man, what a crazy combination! But I will put them on here in a  bit and head on out the door...because that's what runners do. We run anyway! We're are geared kinda like the energizer bunny... we just keep going, and going, and going... lo l! I find I need running to alleviate my stress! So with my heart heavy, my mind full and a brand new pair of Brooks I head out the door this morning to hopefully log the most miles I have ever done. Why? All so I can at least feel a little more prepared for the half t...

I got my Brooks a day early! I was like a kid at Christmas, quickly pulling them out of the box. Then I had to put them on to see if they would really feel like running shoes; and of course they did. I looked a little funny running around the house. But I was so excited I did not even care, and besides who's gonna see me anyway? In all the excitement I finally realized that they had come a day earlier than they were supposed to. Then it hit me that Thursday is my day off so I can get all my errands done. I have to wait another whole day, til Friday, before I get to put them to the real test! I think my feet literally started itching! But when I do get to try them out Friday, it'll be my long run. Hopefully it will be my longest run yet and a real confidence booster. My half is one week from Sunday and I am getting a little anxious...did I mention I hate waiting? Waiting can be a fine art you know; and patience, I've heard, is a virtue. I do agree that they must both be ...

J. was so cool! I talked to him at Brooks Sports yesterday about my running shoes order. It was one of those things that just has to be cleared up. When  I ordered my shoes I clicked submit and it said "You're order has not been processed please correct the indicated field." I made the correction and clicked submit again...and it didn't go through until the fourth time. Yeah! Got my shoes ordered. Then I checked my email and had a notice from the bank that my account was overdrawn! I was like What the.....? So when I called to talk to a Brooks rep J. answered the phone. We discussed how the process works and how soon the extra charges would go away and my account would be squared away. He also told me I should get my shoes by Thursday (tomorrow)! I said, "Yeah, that's just in time for my long run!" And then we started talking about running. He is training for his first half marathon too! It was like an instant camaraderie...and it centered around run...

I'm not too sure if I run because I'm crazy or I'm crazy because I run! But I am pretty sure it is either one or the other. As you know from some of my last entries my shoes were hurting my feet. And my first half marathon is now less than two weeks away. I was frantically trying to find some shoes (Brooks of course) within my budget...which is very small. I couldn't sleep, eat or work until I ordered the shoes. Finally I found some on the Brooks website. I needed GTS 8s, but had tried on GTS 11s and knew they would work. The 8s are of course all gone in my size as they are an older version. After hours of searching I found some GS 9s or 10s (can't remember which right now) for only $65. That's not bad for running shoes. The thing is that since they are outdated ones they didn't have my all too common size in any of the "cool" colors all they had was the black ones. I really wanted blue. But hey - for 65 bucks who can complain if they work righ...

I am totally stressing out over the shoe issue. I keep telling myself I will run this if I have to carry two or three pairs and change them throughout the course! I'm pulling out my retired Brooks tomorrow to see if they will work. I am hoping that switching back and forth between the two pairs of shoes will be enough break to get me through. I try to do one race a month and as it happens I will do the half marathon on Sunday and then a 5K on Saturday following. Well, the logistics of that one are still up in the air and I may pull out another 10K but it depends on who is with me for that one. My family is doing it for my son. It's a fund raiser for a local rehab facility. I am going to try to take my son to the race to see how he does. Initially I was going to push him in it but it looks like they don't allow wheelchairs on the course. I keep juggling my thoughts and money around in my head trying to figure out how to get new shoes and compete in the half that is actua...

I read this book called, "The Brain that Changes Itself." Actually I was reading it to help my son who has a TB I. But the doctor pointed out how addicting running can be. There's some sort of chemical that the body makes and it can give this sense of euphoria, especially after a good run or race. Running is literally physically addictive. I know I'm addicted. Since yesterday when my shoes began hurting my feet and I cut my run short trying to avoid injury, all I have done is try to figure out how to get some shoes by Monday! lol! It's on my mind about every second.. where I can find the money for new running shoes (will be going with Brooks this time!) and how to get them as quickly as I can since the half is only two weeks from tomorrow! It's frustrating because of the setback...but challenging which at least makes it interesting! Life can be challenging and we cannot call it quits at the sound of every struggle. Otherwis...

I completely didn't reach my goal of running 11+ miles today. There were many contributing factors. For one I started some cross training yesterday which caused my thighs to be pretty sore and tight starting out this morning.. no worries though, right? I can run through that! The the weather turned crazy on us. The wind was blowing like crazy with gusts up to 50 miles an hour. It was wild and cold this morning! I had decided to run a 5.5 mile loop double - out one way then double back and do it the other way. I chose to run the uphill direction first so that on the second half I'd have more downhill...however, the wind was in my face after I turned around and even downhill was a super challenging full-body workout! I am so sore - even my arms were tired from working it! I cold feel my toenail coming off as it's been in bad shape for quite some time. But I ignored that right? It's minor details that are better left unattended while running. But my foot had this pain ...

Naproxen really is my new best friend providing it keeps the pain at bay today so I can get another 5.5 miles in. All I hope is for improvement! I have taken it for a couple of days and used the heating pad! I can move and get up and down without as much of a sharp pain so I'm gonna try my run this morning. I can still get most of my weekly miles in if I can do another 5.5 and then the 11 or so on Friday. It's very frustrating to not be able to do what you want to do. Or to sort of be able to do it only with sharp pain! sheesh! I like the wisdom that I at least think I have gained from getting older, but my body is giving me fits! So I guess no matter what stage we are in life there are advantages and disadvantages. I wouldn't want to trade what little wisdom I've accrued for the agility I had in my youth! lol! One of our family Thanksgiving traditions used to be that my brother and I would take on all the teen agers in football. We had played together for hours a...

That's what my running was yesterday! I had this glitch in my back that had been gone for a few days. Only it would have a little twinge now and then. And I had forgotten to take my naproxen for ...oh.. how ever many days (that's the trouble of course I keep forgetting!). So about a little more than half a mile into my 5.5 mile run it decided to "glitch" again! I was so mad... but determined! I thought about going back but I just don't keep that in my vocabulary. So I pushed forward. My thinking was it is not a run related injury so it shouldn't hurt it more - even though it might irritate it somewhat. And that it did! A little more than half way through it got a little better - but it was one of my toughest runs so far. I still only did the loop 7 minutes longer than the first time I did that loop. And I was going the other way which is more uphill. So I didn't feel too bad about my time. I think I am feeling the time crunch with the half coming up in ...

My first half is now less than three weeks away! Three weeks from today I will wake up having completed my first half marathon and continue training for my next one! I cannot wait for that feeling! One thing that I am kind of sad about is that no one will be going with me. Actually my sister and nephew went down to Louisiana for my first 5K ever - then they came back in a month and my nephew ran a 5K with me. And now my family does one 5K a year for my sister who has a brain tumor (It's for the Brain Tumor Foundation). Other than that I always go alone. I don't have anyone on the sidelines cheering me on... But it's not that I really need it. I am an independent person and I will run and enjoy my successes no matter what...so it's not necessary. lol - if it was I wouldn't run at all! IF other's participation or encouragement was needed there really would not be a half marathon coming up. But you know - even though I made it unnecessary in my emotions...I s...

Yep - they emailed me the packet information and that is my assigned bib number! The race is only 3 weeks from today now!! I am excited. I am also anticipating a great running week this week. I'll start tomorrow with my 5 and a halfer then do a couple 3-4 mile runs and finish up on Friday with 11... that's the plan anyway! I am really excited because there is really no way to fail from here. It's my first so no matter what it'll be a new PR! lol! It will give me something to shoot for in training for the Chicago half this fall... I'm not sure - but I think I am a runner now! I've always wondered when I would know - and now I know. I am definitely a runner! I am not an elite runner - I'm a real slow - pretty much over the hill - just keep moving runner - but I am a runner! It's cool when we know our identity and where we stand with it. I think that in our Christian lives this gives us much trouble. We either set expectations too high for where we a...

So.. my first half marathon is only three weeks away! I am excited...and scared too. I think I am just getting some of the nervous jitters. I wish I had the money to do a couple more 10K's before the big day! I know I can do it.. I've done 10 twice now and this week I will do 11, and hopefully 13 the next. Then it's the easy training the week of the race. I will probably pretty much run it like a normal week. My normal week is a couple of medium runs, maybe a short one and the long one at the end before the two day weekend where I can relax and recover. I don't see any reason to do it any differently just because it's a race. I am only competing against myself anyway! And first races are always a new PR! So I can't lose even if I walk the thing.. which I am certain I will not do! I basically will be very excited and a little nervous but realistically it's only about the distance and I've been working up to it nicely anyway. Maybe it's like the b...

Have I said it a hundred times yet - I hate days off!!! But this week had to be an easy week with the little catch thingy in my back. Next week I should be back to my normal pace. I hope to cross the 11 mile mark. Since I moved I am having to recalculate and plan all my routes. I ran one yesterday that is exactly 5.5 miles. It's a big loop. So I figure my long run next week I will run it and then double back so that I do it twice. I am kinda excited about that since I have only a few weeks left until the half marathon! That puts me in safe range I think! Then the next week I'll run 13  - or that's the plan anyway. Sometimes it feels like there is so many things to do just to run a few miles in the morning. You know, I have to eat right or I will run out of steam before I get to the end of the block. That's taken some tricky figuring for me too! Then there's the issue of hydration- a definite gotta do it right! And then I have to do some sort of cross training to...

i don't even remember where I read it and all it said was something like you cannot run fast if you do not strengthen your core and upper body with cross training.   It hit me like crazy! It was the motivation I needed! Today will be a medium run of 5.5 miles and then next week should be back to normal. However, I will be adding more bike riding as cross training PLUS - Jillian Michaels super fat burner- metabolism booster workouts on the days I don't run. I know I am slow - and I am old. But sometimes I feel so heavy when I am running. That one statement kicked me in the butt. I am motivated to make some necessary changes in my diet - starting TODAY! And to start some extra workouts to boost muscle building. I don't have to stay slow. Isn't it funny how some little statement can change your mind even though you've been thinking about it all along? I guess it was like offering me a challenge. And once I see a challenge I am free to compete - even with myself! ...

Okay so the back injury seems to have worked itself out mostly. Still little twinges here and there but mostly good to go. I still plan on making this week an easy week. That gives me two weeks to hit it real hard and then a medium tapering off week before the half marathon. (remember planning is everything!) I started running when I was 48. I just passed my 2 year begin-aversary so you can figure that out! Yeah, I'm the big 5-0! I have to listen to my body more than I really want to. It is serious wisdom to slow down to avoid injury. When I was younger I would push and go for everything and many times be all but proud that I injured myself doing so! - I know - pretty dumb really. As I have aged I realize the wisdom of doing the max for today and no more. It is not worth it to sit out for any length of time to nurse an injury - especially one that could be avoided! So I still go full blast, give it my best and do the absolute maximum for every single training day and race. I no...

So - I had to take a brief break - and I hated every minute of it! I was so tied up with moving and all the chores that go with it that I literally didn't have time to run. (That's because I only have two hours each week day to take care of all my business plus get a run in - and it didn't balance out!) Plus somehow in the move I pinched a little something in my back and have been nursing it since last Thursday. Talk about poor timing! Sheesh! I'm like - the half marathon is only a month away I cannot afford an injury now! But today I am headed back out the door. I will be very careful as to not aggravate the back thing - whatever it is. I have to sort of reset some goals now. But my goal now is to get in four short runs this rest of this week and then pick the miles up more next week. That only gives me two weeks until the big race! I have to keep telling myself that this half is just training for the Chicago half.. that helps me not get too discouraged. There are...

So I pretty well spent the last few days packing and moving. Now I am trying to get unpacked. The trouble is that I have this catch in my back! It's not a muscle as it doesn't hurt all the time or if I lift stuff - only when I walk or move my leg a certain way...I'm pretty sure something is pinched off somewhere! It's digging at my mind since my first half marathon is one month from today! I didn't run but one day last week since I was so involved in moving and getting things switched over and now is not the time in training to take a week off!! My head is fighting me like crazy. What am I afraid of? failure... How do I talk myself out of it? First - I will do all I can do but nothing more to keep form injuring myself further. Second - this first half marathon is kind of a practice run so if I have to walk run it I will get it done. (this gripes me heavily as I want to know my real time so I know how to work to prepare for the Chicago half which has a time limit...

I really had no idea this was all so mental and that so much strategy would have to be employed. It's only a month until my first half-marathon then I have time to tweak my performance before the Chicago half coming up in September. In between, one of my friends wants me to run the 10K in Eureka Springs! That sounds fun! But I am mentally overwhelmed trying to figure out how all this fits together in a complete picture of training. It's more planning than I ever dreamed when I signed up for that first 5K two years ago in June! How many times do we take on ministry obligations and not realize how much planning is needed? We know that word, and love to study. But then we sign up to teach a small Bible study or Sunday School only to realize it really has to be planned out, at least for it to be meaningful! Even my morning devotions are planned in my life. I am a planner - an organizer! It has to be set as a goal and all the small steps measured out and timed - this ensures s...