This week I have a renewed determination to do this thing right. Overall, I had a pretty good week last week and only had a couple of times where I slipped up and fell off the low sodium diet wagon. So I reported it to a running group (Coach Jenny Hadfield's Challenge Group). I'm trying to build circles of accountability so that I am not so likely to do stupid stuff -- or at least not repeat them over and over... lol. I got chewed out for eating one little can of ravioli last week. At first I was like "If that's all  I did I'm doing so much better!" But they didn't let it go - in a good sort of way. A whole conversation opened up about sodium and how much is in our foods. There are some types of foods that have sodium naturally. And there is added salt. Somehow I thought that "table" salt wasn't as bad as the sodium found in prepackaged foods. So I've been shakin' that shaker all over my foods. I was also making some other mistakes....

Is it a sin that I want to just throw on my running shoes, tie them up and go out for a run? It sure seems like my body is fighting that this week. I've "been good" in that I have taken it easy and I've eaten right (mostly). I learned early on that there is a lot more mental work needed to be a runner than I ever imagined. But complicate that process with a chronic condition and boy do I have to think a lot! Right now one of the most difficult mental challenges I'm facing is trying to schedule my workouts and runs. Since I never know how cooperative my body is going to be on any given day, it's hard to say that I'm going to do my "long run" today. Yesterday I figured I still wanted to get 20 miles this week and I had two days to do it. I needed 6 miles to get to 20.  I headed out for a run thinking I'd try for 4 which would leave just 2 to finish off on Saturday. My butt was dragging the whole way so I only got 3. And for now, I just have t...

One of the most important things I have learned over the last few months is to listen to my body. I have found this very difficult since I got so used to "Push! Push! Push!" But when I began to feel ill when I ran I learned that my body did not always respond to the pushing. Last year when I started having chest pains and retaining water my body started dragging behind. Almost every run was more like dragging a huge, heavy bag of wet tators behind me. It took everything I had to just pick one foot up one at a time and keep my body moving forward. I can't say I have adjusted well to the changes I had to make and I didn't start out really listening to my body very well. But over the last few weeks my running has improved and my stamina has increased. I really have to say some of that is due to making the necessary adjustments and really tuning in to what my body is saying. I find this very frustrating! Why do I find it frustrating? Because I want to just go run or w...

Yesterday I ran my 15th half marathon. But it was only my second one since the congestive heart failure diagnosis. I reached the start line with tons of questions and super nervous about the race. I just never know on any given day what my body is going to give me. I'm learning to listen to my body and it is making a huge difference in my running and training. The race went surprisingly well - actually I'm just as surprised today! I just felt so good. Now I will admit I had some chest discomfort along the way. But I slowed down and let my body get a feel for what was going on each time. I never felt like I couldn't catch my breath, any more than normal for beating down 13.1 miles. But my head went a hundred miles an hour all along the course. I didn't push it from the start and tried to find a comfortable pace that felt like I wasn't trying to do too much. The first couple of miles I forced myself to take walk breaks since that's how I've been training...

When I first started running I really thought it was all physical. As I continued training and increasing my mileage I learned that there is a lot of mental activity that keeps you in the running game. As I turn my thoughts to training for another full marathon (something I never thought I'd even say again) I'm finding there's a lot involved. My life has so many more complicated issues than it had 3 years ago! One thing I'm already learning is that I have a tendency to just jump - and think later. But this is different - and pretty hard on me. I have to make a lot of purposeful preparations just to get ready  to train. I have to get okays from multiple doctors - specifically the cardiologist. I have to work on getting my diet right and my body ready. You'd think I've been running for 6 years and should be in shape, huh? No - I have let so many things go; I'm ashamed. One of my goals for right now is to get some form of exercise in every day. I'd like...

Part of getting ready to start training for a full marathon is getting all my proverbial ducks in a row. A lot still rests on seeing the cardiologist and getting his approval of course. But today I went to have me knee checked about. It's been bothering me for some time. Fortunately it's not anything serious, I just have to baby it for awhile. Mostly, he said it's wear and tear translated means I'm old! But my kneecap is a little too tight - it's not moving correctly. Basically - it's runner's knee. So, treatment means doing some strengthening exercises, icing after workouts, wearing a light brace and taking anti-inflammatory meds. He offered a couple different types of shots - I was like "No!" I don't do shots in a joint! According to the exercises I have to do them until certain criteria is met. I'm a member of a great Facebook running group and they are helping to keep me in line. I've promised them that I'll do the exercises...

That's it! I've decided to train for another full marathon and I'm inviting you along on the journey. For a while I thought I'd be happy just saying I'd done one. But I'm itching to try another now. This week I'll be completing my 15th half marathon and there's just something in me that makes me want to do another full. Maybe it's because so many think I can't. Just recently I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Yep - you read that right. So far I have been okayed to run. My cardiologist said I can run as long as I have my blood pressure under control. My primary care told me I can run carefully- as long as I don't over-do it and as long as I walk if I am having any issues. So using great wisdom - I push forward. I have a half this weekend and then another in April. I'm becoming "okay" with doing them even if I have to walk a lot for my health's sake. It still gripes me a lot though. Since I've always been a...