A lil part of 1000 Miles

~~~Not your typical blog...these are my thoughts in the moment after my run...and that.is.all.~~~

There is a man named James Mangini that is doing something spectacular for Parkinson's Research (aka CURE). He is running. Running for 30 days until he reaches 1000 miles while detouring at his father's home to pay respect to the man who began this tremendous climb. 
 I became aware of this from the local news and immediately went to my computer to further research this INSANE idea to run 1000 miles. As my computer was warming up, I tried to grasp 1000 miles. How on earth? How fast was he gonna do this? Is this physically even possible? All I had heard was the last part of the broadcast that summed up this guy running from Charleston, SC to NYC. What for? Was this guy an Idiot? I knew there had to be a cause. I was right.

 Parkinson's Disease was not close to my world personally. But once I threw the link on my facebook wall, I got several private messages asking me to holler and cheer on James for them too. I realized, in those moments, that sometimes we forget EVERYbody is fighting a battle of some sort. Some fight for cancer, some for diabetes, and some for Parkinson's. Now Parkinson's is part of my world, because people shared what the disease has done to their family. And since it's now part of my world, I felt the need to represent in the best way I know how. Cheering!!

 I made some most excellent posters, if I do say so myself. One poster exclaimed, "When your legs get tired, Run with your Heart." My other was a mile marker. "MILE 13.35 ONLY 965.65 TO GO!"
 I grabbed a pal, we went down to the road from my place to sit by the road and wait...patiently. I had estimated if it started at 10:30ish that James and Crew (Gene) would be coming up the road around 1:30ish. I was warned thru facebook that I was slightly ahead of their schedule. Gonna be a little later. Whatever, we went out there at 1:45ish and waited. And waited. And waaaaaited. 
 I checked facebook to see if there were any updates. I was wanting to jump in on the run for at least a little way. Even if it was just to show support and cut up the monotony. At 4 o'clock, I couldn't take it anymore and asked my pal to run me up the road to see if we could find them. Besides, that would be the perfect run with them...I'd basically be running home, and so we did. We found them a couple miles down and circled back. I practically jumped from the car because the light was turning green again, but I made it without injury. Excellent, now to introduce myself!  I had the opportunity to hear, in the moments of his long run, exactly why he was doing this. I was also filled in on why he was so darn late. There's a lot of updating and pic taking and documenting going on along the route. Each mile that is "bought" is owned by special people who get a sincere shout out from James. He doesn't claim this is going to be easy, but neither is Parkinson's Disease which has affected him and his entire family. Very humble, but determined, is how I would describe James. 
 I enjoyed the 1.48 miles I had with James and Gene. I came armed with running jokes just to make them both smile. I wanted to be a encouraging light, with a bright side for both of them. 1000 miles is a lot of time with ones thoughts and if even ONE of my jokes helps James move a lil bit further, then my job here is done. 
 My lower leg was aching after this morning's run and after throwing more mileage on it this afternoon, it's really mad at me. But that's ok. I will rest tonite and then I will tinotridemosbur and see how it feels in the morning. Two miles ain't nothing...I'll walk it if I have to.

Oh and for us younger folk who seem to think that Parkinson's is an "old persons" disease....Watch the movie "Love and Other Drugs" with Anne Hathaway. It will smack you in the face with the reality of how many lives this is touching. Young, old, in-between...

Three Years Today

~~~Not your typical blog...these are my thoughts in the moment after my run...and that.is.all.~~~

On May 2, 2009, I ran in my first race ever. May Day 5k in Republic, Mo. 
 I am positive, looking back, that I did everything wrong for that race. Oh, I had "trained"...on a hamster wheel. Heck, I had done 10 miles in 2.5 hours just one month earlier to raise money for St. Judes. So I was ready, right? WRONG!
 I was so excited the night before that I couldn't sleep. I awoke at 5 in the morning...dragging. I ate my normal breakfast~~scrambled eggs with my spicy concoction that consisted of tabasco, jalapenos, cayenne, pepper and cheese, with turkey bacon on the side. (I'm from New Orleans, that's just how we do breakfast :)
 On the way to the race, I was convinced that there was no way I was going to have the energy to do this race without some help. Another major mistake then happened...I asked my hubby to stop at a convenience store so I could grab a Monster. And I chugged it on the way to the race which was about a 40 minute drive.
 My gym manager, Amanda, was there when I arrived. She was my super partner for this go. She was also in way better shape, and half my age...I wanted to impress.
 Having never been to a race, I was surprised at just how many people showed up to this sucker at 7 in the a.m. on a Saturday, no less. My hands were shaking while attempting to get my bib all even and un-wrinkly and such. It was cold.
 Waiting for the race to start seemed to take FOREVER. But finally we were all released and I shot out of the start like an Arabian Horse that had just been spooked. We hadn't even gotten out of sight from the start/finish line before I had to stop and walk. Embarassing. I was cursing myself for many things. Lack of sleep, eggs, bacon, MONSTER. 
 Amanda was totally calm. Jogging in place next to me while I caught my breath. Really, I thought to myself, she is doing circles around me and I can't even attempt to run right now. RUN, ALI, RUN! So I did.
 I would all but sprint for a few blocks, and commence to walking again. I have no clue what pace I was going, or what pacing even meant at the time. I was just trying to go fast! This was not going like I had planned. At all.
 Amanda started coaching me...Run to that stop sign, she said, then you can walk 1 block. So I did. 
 I remember watching little children pass me, with much shorter legs than I. I remember a senior citizen with bright blue spandex from head to toe pass me and I continued to curse myself out. 
 Amanda never left my side. She gave me tips to work out my 3rd side stitch. She kept giving me mini-finish lines to reach and I finally reached the real finish line.

6Th Annual Republic May Day 5K 2009

MO

5/2/09

14

63

124

9:53

30:43

  I entered several races after that. Loved them all. Dressed as a cat for Halloween at the Bass Pro 5k, dressed as a reindeer for Run to the Lights at Silver Dollar City...however, I was never able to grasp that first race PR. 
 I battled with ITBS that took me out of the game for a few months, and then in July of 2010, I tore my meniscus. I was pretty stubborn about surgery, so my doctor and I waited to see if this was a real injury or just in my head. After 10 weeks of being in a knee immobilizer from hip to ankle, we decided that I was losing way to much muscle mass on my right leg and it was time for an official MRI to see what was going on. Yup, officially a torn meniscus. 
 On October 7, 2010, I went in for surgery. Absolutely terrified, but just wanting to be able to walk normal again. I had steadily been getting crankier and crankier from lack of running, so at least there was some hope that I would be able to get out there again eventually. 
 I endured months of physical therapy. MONTHS! The muscle I had lost on that right leg was the major culprit in slowing up my recovery. It would be almost a year before I would be strong enough to hit the streets again. I would try a lil run here and there and just never felt as strong as I once did. Wonder why...
 In August 2011, we moved to Charleston. I'm not certain if it was the change of scenery, the loneliness (didn't know anybody), or just my own stubbornness that got me back out on the streets but I could RUN! It hurt. I had to concentrate HARD on every step I took. It was HOT. But I hadn't felt this good in over a year. YAY! 
 I had always adopted the "Run for Fun" motto. Stop and smell those flowers that caught your nose...stop and look at the lake in the wee hours of the morning. 
 But I wanted MORE...I DID want to be faster. I DID want to kill that PR from 3 years ago that always seemed to elude me. I started reading about training. I filled out my training book, and I followed it. I did speed work for my first time ever in January of 2012.
 I signed up for the Save the Light 5k at Folly Beach. My husband was there to cheer me on. I was ready, I was willing, and I was nervous. I had on my Idiot's Running Club shirt and stuck out from the crowd compliments of the retina burning bright color. My husband gave me a sweet kiss and said, "Now, go run like an Idiot." So I did.
 My lungs burned, my heart raced, and my legs went numb after the first mile. I heard so many quotes and motivations that I had come to love... Pain is temporary, Pride is forever~~ No pain, No Gain~~ You get what you give~~ 
 They kept pushing me forward. Pushing, pushing, PUSHING me not to slow down, not to say "Ow, side stitch." The words that I had read and written and burned into my head were working...and they were on MY SIDE! 
 As I came around the last corner and saw that finish line, I sprinted. I left it ALL on the street. I couldn't breathe fast enough, I was grunting, but all I could see was that my time was in the 20's...I passed several people that had passed me earlier because I was going to make my goal of 28 minutes. So I did.

Save the Light Half Marathon & 5K 2012 - Run-5K

SC

2/4/12

4

27

75

9:00

27:59

My Cuppa Joe

~~~Not your typical blog...these are my thoughts in the moment after my run...and that.is.all.~~~


 So I woke up way late today. 
As I watched my computer slowly come to life like a flourescent light that can't decide if it's going to come to full fruition, I debated my run. I could just get the coffee going and chug-chug-chug it as fast as possible leading to shakes and irritation. Or...I could just go run. I could make it a short run. Just enough to get the blood pumping. I could make it a fast run so time would be on my side. I could.....
 And so I did. I laced up my kicks, headed out the door and as soon as the crisp, cool, clean air hit my face, legs, and arms, I knew I had made the right decision. 
When in doubt, just go run!


**I used to run with doubt. Now she can't keep up!**

Ahhhhhhh :)

~~~Not your typical blog...these are my thoughts in the moment after my run...and that.is.all.~~~


 I said I was going to get up this morning and get back out there. And I DID IT!!! 
I'm often surprised, although I shouldn't be anymore, at just how great I feel after a run. I had been in a funk since hubby left to go halfway across the continent and I had let it get to me pretty hard this time. It doesn't get any easier, but my runs do make it more tolerable. 
Clears the head. Opens the lungs. Gets the heart beating.
 I feel great today. Sure the run was a little bit of a struggle but I was expecting it after about 3 weeks of sitting on the couch and sleeping in until 7. While it may have been a struggle, it also felt so natural...so right...so nice!
 As I predicted with yesterday's "blog with myself", I did puke (more like dry heaves bc there was nothing in my tummy), but I did not pass out! Score for Team Me!
 Today is going to be a great day!! :)


**If you're sick of starting over, stop giving up!**

To Blog, or To Run

~~~Not your typical blog...these are my thoughts in the moment after my run...and that.is.all.~~~


Haven't run in 3 weeks. I'm totally in a funk and ache and hurt. Getting out of bed is a pain, much less getting up to go run.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?!? What have I been afflicted with? Are there signs of a worse thing? 


NONONO! What is wrong is that I'm sad. With hubby halfway across the continent for weeks on end, I'm friggin sad. Is that so wrong? 


NONONO!! What is wrong is that I'm letting it get to me. THAT! is what is wrong with this picture.


As I drown my sorrow in homemade lasagna that hubby made last time he was here... I vow, once again, to run at least 2 miles per day. I'm 87.79 miles behind for my goal for the year and with  257 days left in the year, I must add .34 each day to reach the 782.


I WILL get out of bed in the morning. I WILL run. I WILL probably throw up and I MIGHT pass out, but I can guarantee I will look at myself in a different light when I take a shower. (mostly because it'll still be dark outside :)
 Real glad I had this blog with myself.

** Running is the greatest metaphor for life because you get out of it what you put into it** Oprah

So I'm not a blogger...I'm a runner

~~~Not your typical blog...these are my thoughts in the moment after my run...and that.is.all.~~~

So....I logged 67.8 miles for January 2012 =) Couldn't be happier!
Last year in January, I was released from PT for my meniscus surgery. 2011 was a very helter skelter running year for me and it took at least 9 months to start feeling normal again. I continued to use Sept, Oct, Nov and Dec as my "healing" runs.
I've started out 2012 with a vengeance and am feeling really strong. I'm excited to see what I can accomplish when I really set my mind to it. I've decided I will not be "training" for any races because every time I say I'm in training and get signed up for a race, I get injured. My races will happen when the wind blows one my way. Random.
So far, my "not training" is KILLING IT!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOx67.8
**Don't look up, don't look down, keep looking forward!**

Am I a Rugged Maniac

~~~Not your typical blog...these are my thoughts in the moment after my run...and that.is.all.~~~

Well, we have already determined that I am officially an idiot (I took the oath, after all), but am idiotic enough to be a Rugged Maniac.
Ya know, one of those 5k's that also has one climbing walls, sloshing & crawling thru mud, running on tree stumps in a pond....hmmmmm.
This is going to require some real soul-searching. Getting dirty is not my thing. But I do love to climb, and jump, and run...can I get past the other hurdles this race throws at me?
I don't have that answer yet, but when I decide, I will know then. :)
**Run one step at a time...FAST!**