I just finished up a 5K and had a blast! I was a little concerned about the heat tonight but it broke right before the race started and there was a breeze so it didn't end up being much of a factor. This is the first race I've done since I stopped taking the blood pressure meds. And you know what? I felt great!!! One thing I wanted to do was listen to my body and I really don't know how it's going to act  until I get on the course. I walked quite a bit and went out slow. Once I got warmed up and crossed the halfway mark - I experimented with pushing it a little. I think this is the first race in the last 18 months since all this actually started that I had absolutely no  issues. No shortness of breath, no chest pains, no dizziness, no chest tightness, no left arm pains.. nothing, nada, zero lingering signs of congestive heart failure. As I was pushing along I thought about my mantra - every step a victory  I kept my mind on it as I thoughtfully felt for each step ...

My head is going about 900 miles an hour! That may or may not be an exaggeration. I have a 10k tomorrow afternoon but with the last year's events and the latest diagnosis my head starts running long before the race. I have all these questions like Will I be okay this time? or Will I have a rough day tomorrow or a good day? What will I do if I'm having an issue? How much will I need to walk? These are all on top of the "normal" questions runners have prior to races. You know, like figuring out what to eat when and sorting through all our regular pre-race rituals. This race is an afternoon race so that by itself has its own dynamic. One second I feel prepared for anything and the next I do not. I worry that I've overdone it - then worry that I didn't train enough. - Just normal racing stuff! Add all the health issues on top of the normal stuff and my mind is a mess. lol! I have actually done well this week with my eating and I think I have finally adjusted...

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...

Well I have been officially training again for about a month. I guess in light of all I've been through with the busted knee cap I am not doing too badly! I have learned a lot about my body. That's one thing I have really enjoyed about running - learning about myself. Although I basically had to start over I did not have to start at zero with nothing like when I first started running nearly 3 years ago.  I learned a lot by having some forced down time . I learned that I am in pretty good shape for 51 years old! That the world didn't in because I couldn't run (but that was challenging!), and that you can really start over - but it's not easy. One of the most difficult things is knowing my potential. Don't take that as being cocky - because my potential is still slow! lol! But I know I can run a half marathon - I've done it. However, I am having to start with 3 mile "long runs" all over again! Next week - 4... I think! I cannot risk injury.  The ...

At the race the other night I had a very unique experience. There was a lady who seemed to be competing specifically with me. As I would get close to her she would run ahead a ways and then walk until I got close again. She kept losing a little advantage on her position each time I got close. I chose to just keep my pace as it was working for me.  I kept reminding myself that in racing I am only competing with myself so I kept it all under lock. I thought she was a little younger than me anyway so I chose to not compete but just keep running instead. Finally, I passed her for the last time and didn't really think about where she was as I got sick to my stomach because of the heat. I figured I wasn't dizzy, so I wasn't close to passing out - so I kept going. I thought that it would simply be a new experience if I threw up.. but I figured I would throw up and then finish the race!  When I got through the lady came over to where we were standing and congratulated me on a ...

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...

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...