Even though my cardiologist appointment isn't until next week I have shifted my head to marathon training. I know I said I wasn't going to start until after the OKC half later this month, but I couldn't wait. Besides it gives me a little time to see how I'm going to handle it. My running buddies are not going to back me until I get the "okay" from my cardiologist next week - but I'm sure he's going to okay it.
I've learned so much over the last few weeks - about running, training, congestive heart failure, food consumption and myself. Today I had 6 miles scheduled according to the training plan I'm trying out right now. I'm not sure it's going to work for me but I'm checking it out. So I did 3 miles early this morning on the treadmill. It felt great! I had to stop though because I had quite a bit to get done. So then once my son's aide got here I went outside (in the heat) to do another 2-3 miles. I really did well so I ended up doing 4. It was too hot by the time I did the last mile. I will take water with me next time!
As I was running - and enjoying having a good running day, I did a lot of thinking. Today my body gave me a lot to work with. I felt like I could push it a little bit, but I chose not to. That's really hard for me since I am the type to always push the limits; every limit. I stay in trouble a lot because I am always pushing limits. But I didn't push today. I just took what my body gave me and tried to use it to the max. There can be a tricky balance that is hard to achieve between overdoing it and doing as much as you reasonably can.
I worked with a pastor one time who had this saying: Do what you can with what you've got. I am learning to apply this little piece of wisdom to my running. I have to learn how to do what I can every single run with whatever my body gives me that day. That may mean an average of a 12 min. mile on one day and walking an 15-18 min mile the next. Frustrating? Oh yeah! But it's an adjustment I have to be willing to make if I want to continue training and running.
So far CHF isn't stopping me- it is making me think. And it is making me be smarter in my exercising and running. I'm just stubborn enough to never give up...but I am also slightly apprehensive about my appointment next week. It's not that it will really change anything, really. I just don't want to have to fight off what the cardiologist might say about training because I will continue to the extent my body lets me. Today was a good day. Not only will I enjoy the good days- I'll use them as fuel on those days I have to pull back because I'm not doing as well. Forward motion continues.
I've learned so much over the last few weeks - about running, training, congestive heart failure, food consumption and myself. Today I had 6 miles scheduled according to the training plan I'm trying out right now. I'm not sure it's going to work for me but I'm checking it out. So I did 3 miles early this morning on the treadmill. It felt great! I had to stop though because I had quite a bit to get done. So then once my son's aide got here I went outside (in the heat) to do another 2-3 miles. I really did well so I ended up doing 4. It was too hot by the time I did the last mile. I will take water with me next time!
As I was running - and enjoying having a good running day, I did a lot of thinking. Today my body gave me a lot to work with. I felt like I could push it a little bit, but I chose not to. That's really hard for me since I am the type to always push the limits; every limit. I stay in trouble a lot because I am always pushing limits. But I didn't push today. I just took what my body gave me and tried to use it to the max. There can be a tricky balance that is hard to achieve between overdoing it and doing as much as you reasonably can.
I worked with a pastor one time who had this saying: Do what you can with what you've got. I am learning to apply this little piece of wisdom to my running. I have to learn how to do what I can every single run with whatever my body gives me that day. That may mean an average of a 12 min. mile on one day and walking an 15-18 min mile the next. Frustrating? Oh yeah! But it's an adjustment I have to be willing to make if I want to continue training and running.
So far CHF isn't stopping me- it is making me think. And it is making me be smarter in my exercising and running. I'm just stubborn enough to never give up...but I am also slightly apprehensive about my appointment next week. It's not that it will really change anything, really. I just don't want to have to fight off what the cardiologist might say about training because I will continue to the extent my body lets me. Today was a good day. Not only will I enjoy the good days- I'll use them as fuel on those days I have to pull back because I'm not doing as well. Forward motion continues.
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