Every time I see an article about someone losing weight, they inevitably have starting running. Running is an amazing way to get fit - it's easy, it's fun, you can burn a LOT of calories, and you can either do it alone or with other people. And there are plenty of gadgets to help you fit in with the other "elite" runners.
I have lost about 35 pounds in 18 months. Basically, since my second son was born, I have worked really hard to lose weight. I have reached my goal weight, and even though I can stand to lose a few more pounds, I have stopped keeping track of my weight.
Over the years I've tried many things to lose weight, and after my first son was born it took me three years to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. One more year and my other son was born and I had gained more weight than I had ever had before.
After three months I joined a gym and started walking and doing the elliptical machine. My husband started running. I thought he was crazy since we were both operating on very little sleep due to the new baby; but he swore that he had more energy after he ran. It didn't take long for him to become addicted. He says it is all my fault. The first time he spent $90 on a pair of running shoes (I called them tennis shoes!), I said that he had better use those shoes after spending so much money on them. So he did. Now he's a running fanatic and his primary goal now is qualifying for the Boston Marathon. He's run four marathons and is training for the Columbus marathon in October.
When he was on his way to becoming a real runner, I started walking longer distances and faster, and thought, what the heck, why don't I try running? After a lot of short intervals of running then walking, I finally was able to run a mile, then a mile and a half, and so on. I didn't have to be too coordinated to run nor did I have to play on a team.
You don't have to strive to win a race to enter and run in it. People even cheer you on, and if you are in the right races, you get medals, T-shirts and even wine! After my first real race, a four miler on Thanksgiving Day, I was hooked. I never thought I'd be running half marathons. That was 3 of those four mile races! Nevertheless, I kept running, and running, and soon had finished my first half marathon. I was hooked.
I now have muscles in my legs that you can actually see (and some that are pretty pissed off at me right now). I like the way I look and feel. I can find clothes that fit and I'm not embarrassed to wear a bathing suit. I still will NOT wear a bikini, though. Too many stretch marks.
Even though I still have shin splints (the physical therapist said I was bowlegged but that's another post), running has been good to me. I hope to be able to do it for a very long time.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Saturday, July 14, 2007
A Good Run
I have a theory that in my training, I have to have at least one bad run to bring me back to basics and teach me to be better prepared for my long runs. I remember having at least one bad run during my last training cycle that caused me to doubt whether I could do the upcoming race.
My 8 miler two weeks ago was one of those runs. I was already tired when I started because not only did I wake up at 5:00 to meet my training group at 6:30, but I hadn't slept very well the night before. Both boys woke up at least once during the night and the dog was adamant that I let her out into the backyard around 4:30 a.m.
I wasn't mentally prepared, either. I was tired and cranky and didn't really think what faced me. I had just had a great 7 mile run the week before and felt great after that run. One more mile would be no problem, I thought.
At the training, we heard a lecture on types of training, mostly focused on heart rate monitoring. I felt like I was nowhere near that kind of training. We didn't get any time to warm up or stretch; immediately after the lecture it was time to run.
During the run, I didn't stop. I had a water bottle, and I had never stopped for water or breaks in any training before. I had done 8 miles before; I did a half marathon before! The last part of the bike trail I had to run was to the deck to a lake and then turn around. Heading to the lake I ran down a hill and didn't feel too bad. I turned around and had to run back up the hill. But I couldn't; I was exhausted and my legs really hurt. I walked up the hill and forced myself to run one painful step after another back to where our training group was. My legs fought me every step of the way and I was so tired. If this wasn't hitting the wall (at least mentally) I hate to see what it really is.
When I got home, tears welled up in my eyes when my husband asked how it went. I felt so defeated. I was depressed for days, and my legs really hurt. I couldn't get in all of my weekly miles either, and didn't get a boost in confidence until the next weekend.
So I really tried to mentally and physically prep for this weekend's long run. I carb loaded, I was ready to stop at the gatorade stations, I was not going to let that hill kick me in the butt. I had the Garmin so I could pace myself and know exactly how fast I was going. And I had the run/walk strategy to give my shins a rest.
I still wasn't sure I could do it but I was prepared. I was even prepared if I couldn't do it; I was ready to give up the upcoming half marathon in favor of physical therapy and doing more gradual training for the next half marathon race in October if I had to. This run would be the test to see if I had it in me to keep going and to see if my shins would hold up.
Much to my joy (and relief) I did have it in me and my shins were fine. I felt pain in various parts of my legs but the run/walk strategy enabled my legs to rest a bit after each mile. I think my new shoes helped a lot too. And I had a running partner for 6 of the 10 miles. When I got to the green trash can on the trail (the only green trash can and the turning around point for the 10 mile run) I shouted out "the green trash can!" and then looked around to make sure no one heard me. No one had, thank goodness, but I really didn't care at that point. I had a mile and a half to go and I was going to do it!
I took a cold bath when I got home. We went to the pool and had a great time. Tonight my husband made pizza, and tried a new chicken barbeque recipe which was fantastic. And finally, I had told my older son that if Mommy did 10 miles, we'd go out for ice cream. The toffee chip waffle cone was fantastic!
Daily Running Log: 10 miles. 12:45 m/m but felt good! One more long run until the race!
My 8 miler two weeks ago was one of those runs. I was already tired when I started because not only did I wake up at 5:00 to meet my training group at 6:30, but I hadn't slept very well the night before. Both boys woke up at least once during the night and the dog was adamant that I let her out into the backyard around 4:30 a.m.
I wasn't mentally prepared, either. I was tired and cranky and didn't really think what faced me. I had just had a great 7 mile run the week before and felt great after that run. One more mile would be no problem, I thought.
At the training, we heard a lecture on types of training, mostly focused on heart rate monitoring. I felt like I was nowhere near that kind of training. We didn't get any time to warm up or stretch; immediately after the lecture it was time to run.
During the run, I didn't stop. I had a water bottle, and I had never stopped for water or breaks in any training before. I had done 8 miles before; I did a half marathon before! The last part of the bike trail I had to run was to the deck to a lake and then turn around. Heading to the lake I ran down a hill and didn't feel too bad. I turned around and had to run back up the hill. But I couldn't; I was exhausted and my legs really hurt. I walked up the hill and forced myself to run one painful step after another back to where our training group was. My legs fought me every step of the way and I was so tired. If this wasn't hitting the wall (at least mentally) I hate to see what it really is.
When I got home, tears welled up in my eyes when my husband asked how it went. I felt so defeated. I was depressed for days, and my legs really hurt. I couldn't get in all of my weekly miles either, and didn't get a boost in confidence until the next weekend.
So I really tried to mentally and physically prep for this weekend's long run. I carb loaded, I was ready to stop at the gatorade stations, I was not going to let that hill kick me in the butt. I had the Garmin so I could pace myself and know exactly how fast I was going. And I had the run/walk strategy to give my shins a rest.
I still wasn't sure I could do it but I was prepared. I was even prepared if I couldn't do it; I was ready to give up the upcoming half marathon in favor of physical therapy and doing more gradual training for the next half marathon race in October if I had to. This run would be the test to see if I had it in me to keep going and to see if my shins would hold up.
Much to my joy (and relief) I did have it in me and my shins were fine. I felt pain in various parts of my legs but the run/walk strategy enabled my legs to rest a bit after each mile. I think my new shoes helped a lot too. And I had a running partner for 6 of the 10 miles. When I got to the green trash can on the trail (the only green trash can and the turning around point for the 10 mile run) I shouted out "the green trash can!" and then looked around to make sure no one heard me. No one had, thank goodness, but I really didn't care at that point. I had a mile and a half to go and I was going to do it!
I took a cold bath when I got home. We went to the pool and had a great time. Tonight my husband made pizza, and tried a new chicken barbeque recipe which was fantastic. And finally, I had told my older son that if Mommy did 10 miles, we'd go out for ice cream. The toffee chip waffle cone was fantastic!
Daily Running Log: 10 miles. 12:45 m/m but felt good! One more long run until the race!
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