May the wind stay at my back and may angels give me wings to fly.

I started avidly running in April of 2007, 8 weeks after my little boy was born. I was only running about 15 miles a week just to lose baby weight but a friend of mine was thinking of running the Honolulu Marathon. I made the bold move of doing it with her with the simple goal of just to finish. I finished my first marathon in 2008 with a time of 5:13. In 2009 I started running more miles, up to 40 a week when my schedule would allow that much. I signed up for my second Honolulu marathon and finished with a time of 4:48. That was with only 6 weeks of training, two of them being taper weeks. I finished with tears of joy and one other thing, the strong desire to run every runner's dream...BOSTON! I have some real good days and some real bad days but I hope someone finds inspiration in my spirit and strength. If you dig deep enough you will find the strength to do whatever your heart desires. "Don't follow your dreams...CHASE THEM!"

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Recharged!

So the past week has been a week of recovery for me for both body and mind. I had one heck of a semester this fall with college, kids school functions, marathon prep, stress of moving and a bit more. Although we have no moved yet, we will be by the end of January after we hear back about bids on houses.

As for my training, and yes, to me I am always training, I needed to stop for a week to just let my body and mind completely relax and recharge. As much as I wanted to get out, I just couldn't. I was napping every day without choice. I needed it badly. So now that I am recharged, I headed back out today with the intention of doing 5 miles. Instead, I made up my mind to do 6 and get some hillwork worked in. I am taking off from running until March 1st and power-walking instead to keep myself in shape and to keep the hips going. It's killing me not to run so I'm walking as fast as I can without actually running. I must look pretty silly but who cares! It does make me feel good and to pass the time I think about what I need to get back into order with my training. My nutrition has been lacking, or I should say, has been bad with the holidays around. But, I am back on track as of this week. I've cut out my breads and sweets again to get myself lean again like I was in the summer. Eating my protein and veggie packed meals and healthy snacks. This past week I've already lost half an inch in my hips and waist so I'm feeling better about myself already. I only want to lose an inch more in my hips and I will be happy. I don't think it will take me very long to get there either, a month maybe.

I have 3 marathons I want to do next year and the first one is in June. That being said and knowing I have to hold off on running for a bit means I really have to stick to the walking and get miles in as best I can so that once I start running again it won't be hard for me to get my speed or endurance back. I have a great coach. I also think that after what I went through for this year's marathon, my husband has a new found respect for me and what I love to do. I can't count how many times he has told me how proud he was of me for doing what I did with the injury.

So, here's to a new year with hopes and dreams.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Body against spirit

Well, this was not the marathon I was wanting this year at all BUT, I am very grateful to have finished it. After having a great summer of training towards a Boston qual, I ended up with plantar fasciitis and then a nasty lower back muscle spasm. Both of which knocked me out of the streets for about10 weeks leaving me 5 weeks to prepare for my 26.6 mile quest. My mileage was cut down drastically to one run a week then a long run on the weekend. I managed to squeeze in one 20 mile run on Thanksgiving weekend very successfully and with no problems. Two weeks before race day I had mentally come to terms that a finish was what I needed to focus on, not speed, for now. I had my strategy and was hoping for at least a 4:30 finish.

I woke up today at 2am and was at the race site by 4am and took my time making bathroom stops, stretching, and relaxing before line up time. The weather turned out for the best for us today too. The rain cleared and the roads were dry and the sun looked beautiful coming up by Diamond Head. I told myself to just enjoy the race and nothing else. I started running and had absolutely no pain in my heel for the first 11 miles but then it started. I kept pace as long as I could stopping only at aid stations to drink and walk through them. Mile 13 I had Bon Jovi blaring "halfway there..." Ha! Unfortunately the firey pain started to get worse in my foot and I found myself having to walk more frequently but still managing pace. Mile 15-16 it became even worse and my left leg and foot were now taking the slack and they started to feel pain. At that point I just kept telling myself that I will not quit. If I can walk then I can finish. So I had to think of something to ease my pains so I started motivating others and at times that provoked me to run again. My foot collapsed on me about 3 times the last 7 miles so I sat for a minute then got up and continued on. Tears were flowing for a couple reasons, pain, not having a finish that I wanted, and that finish being my worst one. However, it still did not defeat my spirit and the last half mile I literally gimped my way to the finish but tried to cover it up as much as possible, lol!
The marathon spirit was strong with me today as I ran. It is my last marathon here in Hawaii but all three have been an amazing experience.
Now it is time to put my running shoes away for 2-3 months to let my PF heal then it will be time to start working on that Boston qual again. I have my eyes set on 3 marathons next year if time allows for me. They are all part of the Rock n' Roll series, San Diego, LA, and Vegas! This year just was not my time for a BQ and I've accepted that. So with much needed healing time I will come back strong and continue my quest for a shot at Boston.
To my Dailymile friends, thank you for believing in me even when I didn't believe in myself. Mickey, thank you for standing by me and my decision to run and being a great coach all along the way. To my friends here in Hawaii, thank you for supporting me and believing in me as well.

God Bless and here's to recovery!