The Training Blog of newbierunner

OK, so I’m nuts…got my newsletter from the local track club, and though I said the kids and I were done running races for the year (I’m three weeks out from surgery), I was soon poring over the fall race schedule. There’s a bunch of short ones…I’ll be ok for a little ol 1k in a few weeks, right?
I know…I’ll square it with the doc on the 8th before I go blowing stitches in front of a horrified crowd (though it would be just the thing for this halloween run). But what’s buzzing round my head isn’t so much the races, it’s the need to be in the race loop. I was talking to a friend just recently who is going through a process I am well familiar with, the road to a gastric bypass. I told her that one critical step to success is to *replace* that food addiction with something positive, citing things like running, martial arts and yarn that have worked for me. I only credited any of those three with partial addiction, but as I sit here and try to will my incisions to heal, I know I’m totally hooked!

Health:

• Date: 08/31/2008

America is a country that is eating itself to death. I just read an article that predicts that almost 90% of Americans will be obese by the year 2030. Why does this happen? Some of the answers are pretty obvious…food is readily available, with little effort required on our part to get it. Foods with high sodium and saturated fat have longer shelf life than healthier alternatives, adding to their broad appeal. Many highly processed foods are cheaper to manufacture. More jobs involve sitting in an office or cubicle all day. Driving is easier and more comfortable than walking or riding a bicycle. As I mull it over, there are more factors that contribute to the overeating issue, factors that affect us on a more personal level.
I’m working another night shift (yes, on my fanny much of the time….sigh) in the midst of a busy time for myself and co-workers. One of my colleagues took me aside…she wanted to bring in some kind of food for us, as we’ve been working so hard lately, and asked me to choose something for her to bring. This is not a comfortable topic for me. I have had issues with junk food addiction, so I really try to avoid rewards and comforts that are edible. While I tried to decline my friend’s offer, she insisted, to the point where the conversation was becoming awkward. While she was offering things like ice cream bars or trays of cookies, I finally caved and suggested a veggie tray or melon salad that we could all pick at. My friend meant well…it’s been busy here, and she wanted to provide a comfort to all of us. What do we do when we have guests to our homes? We see to their physical comforts first, making sure our guest has a seat, something to eat/drink..then we can relax and enjoy the visit. The intent is to be thoughtful and generous to people in our home, just like my friend is looking to provide for her co-workers. We want to be seen as kind and able to do for others. We become uncomfortable when our generosity is declined, and sometimes even take it as a personal rejection. I think of the holidays…my husband and I would visit his mom, his dad, then my grandmother, all on Thanksgiving day. If we didn’t eat at every visit, things would get awkward, even unpleasant! “Why did you eat supper at your father’s, when I baked this pie just for you?” Relatives would work for hours preparing outlandish feasts, only to feel unappreciated, as though their very worth was undermined. The pressure to overeat can be a difficult hurdle. I know…we should politely decline, or take something “for later”. I’ve even accepted food on occasion, only to discreetly dispose of it (a desperate move to be used with utmost caution). Our holiday dilemma was further eased when my husband and I moved to another state (because of new jobs, not the food issue!)
I don’t know of an easy answer. Our need to provide for friends and family is deep seated, and we can’t “cure” everyone who feels compelled to force feed us. As for tonight, my generous co-worker brought in a meat and cheese tray. I enjoyed a reasonable amount at my normal mealtime, checked the nutrient label, and made sure to compliment the turkey. Hopefully she feels appreciated, and I am happy to have ducked an ice cream attack!

Well, I’ve had my couple days of rest after the long run of the week, later today I start again with the shorter runs for a few days (3-5 miles a day). Thing that makes this week seem endless is, I’m working four 12-hour night shifts in a row, wahhhh! What they say is true, a little lack of sleep will goof you up in a bad way! I know what I need to do…sleep all I can, then quit whining and run. That nine-minute mile keeps getting closer. I might not hit it this week, but I’ll keep chasing it!
We got back pix of the kiddos from their run a few weeks ago. What a pair of hams, with their huge grins, waving their arms in the air, cheeks all flushed and squishy! I can’t wait to take them to their next race on the 4th. My little bugs are growing so big….sniffle….maybe one of those pictures should come along on my run today. Might give Mama the boost she’s gonna need, hehehe!

Well, I’m sitting here watching Deadliest Catch (or as my son calls it, the Crabby Patty Show) and thinking about..you know..stuff. Like how I can sit here under a blanket, watching the tube, my husband next to me, our sons and daughters upstairs, all of us safe and warm. Meanwhile, someone else’s sons and daughters are stuck in a country far from home. They are surely never safe, and likely a lot less comfortable. Some of them will never return, and they all know that. Whether any of us agree with what is going on in Iraq and Afghanistan doesn’t change the gravity of what these people are doing to let us keep the way of life that we often take for granted. What kind of thanks is good enough for the soldiers when they come home? What do you say for the people who don’t come home? What words can even begin to be worthy? I hope they can hear our fumbling attempts at gratitude and know what we are trying to say, and that the appreciation can help repay them for their sacrifices, if only a small part.
This being said, I have to give a nod to our leaders, as well. I can’t remember a president in my lifetime who hasn’t fried my bacon in one way or another, but at the end of the day, I wouldn’t want their job. Imagine the havoc of the post-Sept 11 tragedy, knowing that over 250 million people are wanting to know what *you* are going to do about this. Our country’s leaders may not always do what makes us feel good, but I’m glad someone is willing to take on the job.
Enough said..I’ll get off my soapbox and go kiss my little bugs goodnight. Everyone have a great Memorial Day!
Newbie and crew

For no really sound reason, I like to go flipping through training plans that are well out of my league. Though I’m a beginner trying out a half marathon plan, I was looking at triathlon plans, full marathon, even 5k for advanced runners. Curiosity perhaps, or seeing what’s down the road, I don’t know why. Anyway, I’m trying to understand the “shorthand” in the advanced 5k plan. There are notes about “6×400m” and “2×800m”. Can anyone explain that? I’m baffled.

Watching the half marathon training unfold has been interesting. Being pretty new yet to the sport of running, I’m still feeling around for those limits. Each time I’m sure I am about to hit the wall, a pleasant surprise awaits..I get through that level and feel ok. I’m starting to feel like a braggart, so let me explain the fascination. In late 06, I weighed 215 pounds, which is a killing lot for a female as short as me (just over 5 feet). My blood sugar was rising, as well as my blood pressure, and sleep apnea had me tethered to a breathing machine at night. I enjoyed exercise in those days, but was confined to a moderate walk, and would only do that in private…Heaven forbid anyone should have to tolerate seeing a heavy woman move around, right? Sigh….
Anyway, in December of 06, I had gastric bypass done. While I respect and salute folks who get the weight off by other means, this was absolutely the way for me. Getting my beastly appetite under control opened the door to getting the extra weight off. After nearly eighteen months, I’m holding in the mid 120s, with 14% body fat. With the weight loss being pretty dramatic, every new athletic undertaking puts the same thought in my head; “you mean I can actually do this??” The feeling is best described as insane elation! I wonder at times if the history of being heavy poses one advantage for a runner..that my bones are still used to carrying around a much bigger person, so the impact of running isn’t as harsh as it might have been. It’s a theory!
Anyway, that’s my pre-running story, and the reason why I am eager to see what else I can do. I hope that heavy woman is gone forever! For the moment, I’m close to nodding off on the keyboard, so I’ll say goodbye for now. Mother’s 5K tomorrow!

Well, I’d mentioned on a previous post that my eight year old daughter wanted to run a race, and now she’s done it! When she told me what she wanted to do, I went online and searched for a 1k or 1mile, especially one geared for kids. We ended up taking a ridiculously long drive (90 minutes) to join a race that was raising funds for the local school system. My seven year old son decided at the last minute that he wanted to run also. That put a smile on my face, as he is beginning to struggle with weight trouble, and I want to steer him towards healthier habits without being overly pushy. My girl finished her mile in 11 minutes 17 seconds, and my son finished in just under 16 minutes. All the kids who finished got medals, though runners who placed first through third got little trophies. I liked that the kids got recognition for coming and trying, but that those who excelled got something extra. As we were leaving, we passed the registration table, and a woman who was officiating produced a box of stickers and tattoos and offered to let our little crew have some loot, which they loved! I think they really liked the experience. Yesterday they both took their medals into school for sharing time, and my daughter wants to make a scrapbook page about her race. We stopped at a restaurant on the way back for a late lunch, and while I sat and beamed with pride at my little runners, they drew pictures of our cat’s nether region…that’s right, they were drawing kitty butts, and laughing hysterically. They even indicated that the cat was having a little…um…gas trouble. Sigh…OK, so they’re still goofballs, but it was a great day overall. As for the rude drawings, I’ll tell that story at their weddings, and claim that I was tipsy when they threaten to sew my mouth shut. Ah, they joys of motherhood…

Well, this is a development I wasn’t expecting. My eight year old daughter wants to run a race with Mommy! How proud am I!! She continues to surprise me with her athletics…though she is a *lot* like I was at that age, I was too shy to pursue any kind of sports. She has gotten a taste of cheerleading, soccer, t-ball, taekwondo, and now running. I wanted to make a point of keeping it fun for her, so I searched the event websites and found one that looks ideal for her. I normally wouldn’t bother to drive almost 90 minutes to participate in a one mile race, but this one gives medals to every kid who finishes. A little recognition would be a big deal to her, so off we will go! I have to say, I am looking forward to seeing the sparkle in her eye when she crosses the finish line. Hopefully she won’t work her aging mama too hard, hehehehe.

Well, so things are plugging along. I’ve survived blog entry #1, as well as race #3. It’s neat to see a growing number of people stopping by to read my yakkings. Oohhh, and a comment! Thanks, Michelle!
I guess I’ll talk about my second and third races. I really dove in feet first, signing up for more running so quick. Three weekends in a row! Well, the second race was much closer, and a bit smaller….and shorter. It was a choice between a 20K (ahem..maybe next year) and a 2 mile. After an 8K, I figured two miles would be pretty easily managed, right? I forgot one critical point…this is Minnesota, and it’s only April. Snow, icy wind, and open fields on either side of the route can tip things a bit! Go on, have a laugh, I sure did! But it’s all good, I learned a couple things..
1) Have some kind of hat or earmuffs for occasions like this.
2) It’s ok to want to grab your t-shirt and sneak away…but get to the starting line and do it anyway.
3) Even sneakers with good tread have limitations on a slick road. I managed to not wipe out, but it was a near thing…
I also learned just what a beginner I am. Out of the 20 people who finished before me, almost a dozen were pre-teenage kids! What a hoot it was to watch those squirts, with their spidery little legs cranking along. Tomorrow’s marathon runners? I bet there were a few there.
I met a nice lady at the finish line. I’d seen her during the run, and she had a smile on her face, despite the cold and wind. That smile was still there when we dug into the free Propel and Clif bars that awaited us, and it wasn’t long before we were making small talk. That day was her first race. Her sister had long been an avid runner, and had tried to get her to come along for years, to no avail. Three months prior to our race, that sister had been killed in a car wreck. Now she was running for her sister’s memory. I bet that sister is smiling down and saying “I finally got you out there!” I suppose it’s a reminder to never assume that we always have tomorrow, cause you never know… I didn’t find out the woman’s name, but I’m sure I won’t forget her. Hopefully we’ll meet at another race soon…
My third run was just this past weekend, April 19. My co-workers were good enough to let me leave a few minutes early to get to the park where the run was to start in just a short time. I had just worked a 12 hour shift, so they did think I was off my kicker for doing it (no arguments from me!) This was to be a 5K, with proceeds going to support the local youth orchestra. There was a little havoc just before the start, as my number bib had been misplaced, but that was soon sorted out. While it was pretty wet and chilly, there was no snow on the ground this time, so my feet stayed where I put them, and my dignity stayed more or less intact. Oh, and I learned yet another practical and handy tip…pace yourself!

(I will now pause for a moment so that other runners can slap my forehead and say DUH!)

It really made a difference! I think that in the first and second race, I had been exceeding my training pace, so I would fizzle out and have to walk for short stretches. This time, I had a better feel for what I could maintain. I was able to run the whole 5K without walking breaks, and shaved about 25 seconds off my one-mile pace, though I was striving for a slower speed.
While I didn’t meet any new people or hear any life stories this time, it was another fun race, and I walked away with a door prize. A one day pass for the athletic club! While I enjoy the more *affordable* gym that I’m in, this place is fairly spendy and fancypants, so I’m looking forward to the visit.
No race this weekend coming up…I think a trip to the park with the rugrats is in order. The following weekend is the Spring Classic, and I’m going to try and shave a few more seconds off my pace. We’ll see what happens!

Well, it’s a whole slug of firsts this month! My first running race was just three weeks ago, my first *attempt* at running any sort of distance was just a week before that, this is my first running forum, and my first attempt at any sort of blogging activity. I fear my head might just cave in from all the confusion!
Anyway, where to start my ramblings…I guess I’ll go back to that first day when the article caught my eye…
The Source is a publication sent out by the hospital where I work. It’s a nice perk, just a bunch of tidbits about what’s going on in and around town, and where employees can get discounts at this or that. I flip through it on occasion, but that is sporadic at best. It’s in the Source that I noticed an ad for the Fool’s Five race in Lewiston, just a week hence. It was an 8K race, which is respectable for someone who barely runs a mile or so in a given workout (usually for warmup). Up until that point, I’d have scoffed at the idea of such a run, but for some reason, I felt compelled to read the whole article.
Some people say that we really have very little choice in the paths our lives take, that some unseen hand guides where we go and the choices we make. While I tend to believe more in free will, it was as though someone else was steering my thoughts about that run. I began wondering if I could actually finish an 8K, how long it would take, how would I fare? The next day I went two miles on the treadmill, and managed it fairly well. On my next workout, I did three miles. Hmmm…
As one might have guessed by now, I signed up for the race. My husband, Jim, was a bit surprised, but willing enough to come along and snap some pictures (for the scrapbook, of course!) I began working harder at boosting my distance, finally managing an 8K run at the gym just two days before the race. As the Fool’s Five is a fundraising event for cancer research, I sent an email to my co workers, nudging them for pledges. That turnout was as positive as was the running! Nearly a dozen people came to me with a donation and well wishes, and that with just a few day’s notice. It was fast becoming a huge reality for me…I was really going to run a race! Then came the setback that nearly kaboshed the whole thing…
Since Jim was coming with me to the race, my mom was going to watch our four kids. They are all young, and one is disabled, so finding child care can be tricky. Mom is able and almost always willing, but less than 48 hours before the race, she called me, her voice wracked with excruciating pain. A trip to the ER revealed a kidney stone. I brought her back home with a bottle of oxycodone and instructions to flush her system with gallons of fluid. Fortunately this was a problem that would pass for Mom. What stood in question was the race? How could she watch our tribe of rugrats when she is taking painkillers that make her loopy? How could she watch them without taking the pills? Anyone reading this who has had a kidney stone knows about pain! It may sound odd, but it really weighed on me. Some of the people who had donated for the race were telling me about people they knew who had died of cancer, some of them very recently. The stories were so sad…it’s not as though my humble effort was going to save the world, but I felt I owed it to my co-workers to do my part. Sure enough…a couple phone calls secured alternate daycare for the monkeys, and at 1:00 on Saturday, April 6, I was at the starting line, questioning my sanity!
It’s really something to be in a race that is for a cause, the way this one was. Runners who were cancer survivors were in abundance. They were acknowledged by the announcer, while the rest of us took a knee and applauded them. A local schoolteacher had apparently made a wager with his crew of fourth graders..if they raised a certain amount of pledges, he would show up at the race in a wedding dress. Those kids must have come through…how painfully hilarious to see this burly, rugged looking man, strolling around in a dainty frock! Imagine a slightly older Vin Disel all in lacy white…
As all things must, the race came to pass, and I managed to drag my sweaty, whimpering carcass across the finish in a little under 55 minutes. Not a horrible pace, but one that I’ll try and improve on as the fair weather wears on. I think I would like to take on a half marathon, but not until I get a little proper training under my belt!