Long and hot

My two words to describe today's run. I got through it, but walked a great deal more than usual. I've run in the summer for years, and just don't remember it being this warm this time of day, typically. I hope I'm not wrong about that. I felt pretty good at the end, just hot. Started having a bit of sciatic pain about mile 6 and got worried that I'd have to walk the entire rest of the way (not that I didn't walk the majority of it anyway), but it gradually went away. I can tell I was well hydrated. I've gone to the bathroom at least 20 times since I left the Park this morning.

Went to Cracker Barrel for lunch (used the restroom 4 times there) and I felt like I was pregnant (based on my food choices). I got chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and fried eggs. I just wanted more protein and that sounded good. The waitress was very understanding, but no telling what she said about me back in the kitchen. Doesn't matter. I burned 1700 calories this morning, I can eat eggs with my chicken fried steak and potatoes if I want to. Dangit. Then had to shop for a suit for an interview this afternoon, and was dreading that. Went to Dillard's (and it's bathroom as well) and 40 minutes later, walked out with 2 suits. Check that off. One can be very efficient when one wants to go lie in her recliner. Going to a small cookout this evening with a potential flag football game, so I'm expecting to be VERY easy to catch. Kayaking tomorrow for XT, then sitting still. In the words of Sir John Guilgood, "it's what I live for." (from Arthur).

Cheers to Mandy and Kayra for blogging so quickly after the run --- I'm sitting in the recliner with my laptop relaxing before gearing up for my football game. I think I'll volunteer to be a blocker instead of a wide receiver. Or maybe quarterback. An immobile one, like Peyton.

Everyone did great today, no matter how you may feel about it. It was hot, and just being out there and completing 12 miles is a BIG DEAL. No matter the method, no matter the time it took, it is a BIG DEAL. Be very proud of yourselves, you earned it. Just think, next Saturday is merely 6 miles, a quickie. No prob!!

For my next trick . . .

I will finally add some true crosstraining consistency and strength training. I just joined Baptist late last week and went this morning for the first time. I spent 37 minutes on the elliptical and then did some weights. And then I came home and walked with Sandy (the doggie) for 30+ minutes. I know I'll be sore from the weights, but I tried to go light and not do too much. I'm excited to be back at the gym -- I used to teach classes there but have missed being there. I'm just excited I actually did it, got there at 6:00 am, and then later found myself thinking about getting there even earlier so I could spend more time on the cardio machines. Is that sick or what? AND a sweet little man brought me a gardenia bloom at the gym too. Could there be a better way to start one's strength training? I just can't think of a better way. Have a great day, and I will too.

Don't Get Cocky

I hope this doesn't sound like an emotional rollercoaster blog after my blog yesterday about the endorphin stage, but this is a reminder for me to keep close, and it may help you as well. I have a close friend who just graduated from a Masters' program, and has been wanting to hike the Appalachian Trail for years. Well this is a 2,000+ mile trail from Maine to Georgia, with very tough terrain. It takes people an average of 6 months to complete the whole thing. And this guy is in his early 30s, in great shape, knows how to live outdoors over time, etc. He was going to hike this trail in order to try to figure out what he wanted to do with the rest of his life, hopefully get a vision (like the Indians did) as to what his future held. He was fully invested in this trip as the turning point for the rest of his life. Well, he went to Maine, started it a couple of days ago, and tripped on a tree root and really messed up his knee. He's on the way home, and doesn't know what is going to happen (surgery, etc.). I found out last night at church, and I cried through the whole service. I could feel what he must feel right now, knowing it's over, at least for now. I feel so horrible for him, and at the same time I think that is what I'd feel like if I was unable to follow through with this marathon.

This gives us two lessons: first, for those of you who are struggling with ailments, illness or pain in various areas, know that there is a tomorrow. There WILL BE time for you to get there this year, and if not this year, then in January, or next October. Do not give up -- if this is your goal, make it happen. Stick to it. God gives us challenges for His own reasons, but He NEVER gives us more than we can handle.

Secondly, for those of us who are running along, feeling great right now, DON'T GET COCKY. It's weird that yesterday afternoon (before I found out about my friend), I was just looking myself in the mirror, saying this very thing. Anything could happen. No matter how prepared you are, no matter how Lance Armstrongish you are, anything could happen. We are all here by the grace of God. So now my marathon rubber bracelet also serves as a reminder that I Am a Marathoner by the Grace of God, and not just a marathoner. So if you are feeling great, running like the wind, stop your mind long enough to appreciate it, thank God for it. Remember that in order to achieve this goal, you have to take care of your body, but also your mind and your heart and your spirit.

I believe there is a reason for everything that happens, and there is a reason that Jeremy can't complete the goal of his life right now. But his lesson applies to us too, that there WILL be a day when you can run like the wind. And from here on, I will be running for Jeremy as well as for me. His trail name is Angel, and I will be running with an Angel on my shoulder and in my heart.

Forgot to mention the cell phone/mp3 issue

I had blogged earlier about trying out my cell phone's mp3 player for yesterday's long run, and have to report that it worked perfectly well. When I needed to pause it, I fumbled less than those I passed with ipods. It has plenty of battery power for the time I'll need in Chicago, and plenty of music storage to keep me going through that time as well. And the cell phone covers 3 main things I'd love to take with me on the marathon course, a cell phone, a camera (although it's not super at that) and the mp3 player. I also liked using just one ear piece because of safety factors (hearing the traffic) and being able to converse with others on the course, hearing the birds, etc. I hear the music, but am also very aware of my surroundings. Anyway, the phone worked very well, and my current goal is to find a skin/cover/clip thing so I can free up my shorts pocket for the goos I'll eventually need more of on longer runs. I'm also going to add a "cooldown" playlist to my phone to have some of my favorite relaxing stuff to walk to at the end, after my hard jamming is over. I'll continue to refine this stuff (mainly tune choices), but the cell phone worked great and eliminates the need (for me) for a second item for music. two thumbs up!!

Saturday was a super duper day

I have to say (now) that I love running. When I'm not doing it consistently and not in decent shape to do it, I have to admit that it sucks, I dread it, I will do anything not to go for a run, and when I do run, it's miserable for me. My heartrate gets too high, I get a headache, I whine, etc. But if I stick with it, I get to a point (really without realizing it) where I look forward to the running, I enjoy it while I'm running, and I feel great afterwards. I've made it, and am so excited to have already met the original goal of my joining this program. I wanted to get past the miserable point and be consistent again with running. For me, the rest of this is gravy, and I'm enjoying every minute of it.

If you feel fretty on the days you aren't supposed to run, then you're there. You've gotten past that point, too. If you look forward to running, then you're there. And if you aren't quite there yet, don't lose hope. Don't give up, because it is just around the corner. All you have to do is run tomorrow. Face each day, do your thing, and suddenly you'll realize that you wouldn't miss that run for anything in the world. If it takes getting up at 4:00 am to squeeze it in, you'll do it. And you'll smile and say, "you know, that runs with Sandy girl was right."

And for the biggest piece of advice I could ever give (or have received earlier in my life), once you get there, don't ever stop. Not ever. Because it is easy to lose, and then you have to go through the process of being miserable again. I've done that, stopped, and tried on multiple occasions to get through the miserable stage, and this is the first time I've managed to do it. So I'm not letting go of this stage, the endorphin stage, I'll call it, where every day is an endorphin. And sure, there are days that aren't as easy running as others, but they are less frequent, less whiny, and then you realize that it's automatic. It's not about feeling good or bad, it's just like brushing your teeth. It's something you do every day, automatically. Now that's a wonderful feeling. It's not a conscious process, you just wake up one day and realize it. You're there!!!