Getting Better...

Thanks to everyone who posted a comment to my last blog. This group is awesome! I can say that the hurt has lessened some this week, but there have still been plenty of tears. But, we've been able to also smile and laugh when we remember Dante and some of the things that we loved about him. Today will probably be hard, though, because we're supposed to pick up his cremains. :-(

My "crud" seems to be better but not completely gone. My training this week has definitely been affected by it. I ran outside twice this week and both times were tough. My legs felt a bit weak and my lungs were burning. Plus, the dreaded side stitch reared its ugly head. I've got ice on my shins at this very moment. After my run yesterday, I noticed that my legs were pretty achy, so I came home and got in a tub of cold water. That helped. I iced my shins a little while later. I'm hoping that this isn't the beginnings of shin splints. So, I'm going to run tomorrow and see how I feel. If necessary, I guess I'll rest for a few days. But I'm hoping I don't have to.

Hope everyone has a great Friday. Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow!!

Heavy Heart...

Where do I begin? The past several days have been very hard, emotionally. My 16-year old cat, Dante, started acting odd a couple of weeks ago--wasn't eating as much as normal, throwing up, staying under beds more, etc. I took him to the vet a week ago last Friday. He pumped him up with some B12 and fluids and sent us home with some hairball remedy. (His symptoms apparently suggested that he may have a hairball that he was having trouble "coughing" up.) Anyway, he really didn't get much better so we took him back to the vet last Wednesday. His diagnosis this time was that it was probably intestinal cancer--but he wanted to try one last thing. He said if he wasn't better by Sunday, then it most likely was cancer and there really wasn't much we could do--considering Dante's age.

Well, the medicine didn't work and on Sunday we had to make one of the hardest decisions ever. I know it was the right decision and the best thing for him, but OMG was it hard. I can't really seem to stop crying. I know it'll get easier with time, but right now it just hurts. I just wasn't ready to let him go.

And, on top of all of that, I've been sick since I came home from Atlanta last week. Diagnosis was strep throat so I'm on antibiotics for 10 days. It didn't keep me from running 6 miles on Saturday--just didn't do it in Clinton as I was one of the few who didn't read my email. :-) I showed up at the Rez, along with a handful of other people who didn't read their email. It was o.k. though. I came home and ran 6 miles on the treadmill. I actually felt pretty strong. But, it's always easier on the treadmill.

Yesterday, however, was a different story. I did my running outside and it was tough. Maybe because I'm more congested than I was on Saturday--I'm not sure. I had to do run/walk intervals. So, this afternoon I chose to do my running on the treadmill. I did 3 miles in 30 minutes, so I was pretty pleased. I just wish I could perform as well outdoors!!

I hope everyone's past few days have been better than mine. I'm looking forward to running with the group on Saturday---7 miles!!!!! Wow. We are actually doing this, you know?! See you all Saturday. (I'll be sure to check my email this time...)

I'm Back...

I just flew in this afternoon from Atlanta. The trip was good and we learned a lot of valuable stuff. I'm a little tired and I think I'm getting sick. A co-worker of mine, who was in Atlanta also, was quite sick. I think she was contagious! My throat is pretty sore and I'm a little stuffy. That's how hers started, too. :-( But, I'm going to keep a positive attitude.

I did run while I was in Atlanta. Yay, me! :-) But, I'm pretty tired and I've just come from taking my kitty to the vet so I doubt if I'll get my XT in today. I will be ready pretty soon to just get in my own bed and get some good sleep. (I never sleep very well in a hotel room.)

I hope everyone is having a good week. Stay focused and don't let negativity anywhere near you! :-) We are marathoners!!!!!!!!

What a Day!

Wow. Yesterday was an amazing day. I made it to the Rez on time :-) ---unfortunately, so did the rain and lightning. (I read Mark's blog that said things cleared off in 20 minutes, so I hate that I didn't stick around.) But, I really needed to go by my office and do a couple of things that I failed to do on Friday, in preparation for my trip to "Hot-lanta" on Monday. So, I did that and headed home--getting rained on the whole way. It was still pretty nasty when I got home, so I waited a while (to let the lightning ease up) and then I did my 5 miles on the treadmill.

The first mile was a little slow but I seemed to start feeling my groove after that. Robin is right--it seems that if I can stay focused until I reach mile 3, then things start feeling good. I ran my 5 miles in a little over 55 minutes. I did my stretching and then I did something that I had also heard Robin say--I got in a tub of cold water!! I did NOT add ice, however. :-) I took Robin's advice and got in first and then ran the water. Man, it was cold. But after a few minutes, it really wasn't that bad. And I really do believe that it made a difference later in the day. My legs weren't really even tired. So, I think I've added a new component to my routine after a long run.

Yesterday afternoon, I ran in the "Run from the Sun" 5K. The weather was perfect, as it turned out, even though I was a bit chilly before it started. I was afraid, after running 5 miles earlier, that I might be too tired or that I'd have to walk quite a bit. But, I felt really strong. In fact, the pace I ran was much faster than any other pace I've run so far. I felt really good at the end and I kicked it up a notch. I think I remember seeing the board say "30:28" as I ran under it. That was amazing to me. I was really proud of myself.

I saw several MM members there and actually got to meet and talk to a woman who ran Chicago with the group 2 years ago. She is a very cool person. She set a goal for herself to run a marathon on every continent--and she did it! Wow. How cool is that? My cousin, Kinta, who walked 5K yesterday introduced me to her. Kinta and I lost an aunt to melanoma a few years ago, so we both ran/walked with her in our hearts.

Enough for one blog. I've got to go pack for my trip. And, yes, I'm taking my running clothes and shoes--the hotel has a very nice fitness room according to their website. :-) I probably won't be able to blog again until I get back. Hope everyone has a great week and I'll see you all Saturday!

Hump Day!

Today was another crazy day at work. There's so much to do and of course everything is "top priority." Yesterday, I came home and ran 50 minutes on the treadmill--about 4.5 miles. I felt really strong when I finished. On Monday, my legs were a bit achy so I was concerned that my run yesterday would be difficult. But, it wasn't. I'm really happy with my progress.

Today I came home and mowed the lawn. I knew it was a cross-training day, but my yard was looking pretty bad. So, I decided to cross-train by pushing a mower around the yard. :-)

I'm really looking forward to the weekend. See everyone Saturday!

Typical Monday!!

Today was definitely a typical Monday. I've been working on a project for a couple of years and everything is finally coming together. I've got to go to Atlanta next week and this week will be totally crazy because of that.

My plan was to leave work a few minutes early and come home and do my 50 minutes of running. But, I had to go by the bank, and the tax assessor's to get my car tag, AND the grocery store. I still had plenty of time to run but my legs have been bothering me today, so I decided to ice instead of run. I'm feeling a bit guilty about that, but I really don't want to injure myself. Tomorrow will be a better day! :-)

I signed up for the Run From the Sun 5K run on Saturday. I'm sure I'll see some of you there.

Cooking salmon for dinner tonight so I'd better get started. See everyone Saturday!

Nice and Chilly!!

This morning's run was good. COLD but good. :-) This past week I only ran once, so today's run was a little harder than last Saturday's. The main problem I seem to continue to have is that dreaded "side stitch." Some days, I can run the entire distance without getting one. Other days, like today, I get one and it just seems to stick with me. So, today I had to walk several times. But, that's o.k. I finished strong!

I enjoyed today's meeting. I was glad to see Lori Fulton back out there--yay Dr. Fulton. :-) I'm very excited about going to Chicago and crossing that finish line. There have been things that I've done in my life that I'm really proud of and I know that crossing the finish line in Chicago will be in the top five. ;-)

Gotta go eat some lunch now. And my grass needs mowing--but that may just have to wait until Monday! :-)

I Finally Got My Blog On!!

Well, guys, I've finally broken down and set up my blog. My friend Pam said, "It's about time." But, she's only blogged once so I don't feel so bad! ;-)

Growing up, I was always outside playing--whether it was playing football with the neighborhood boys or softball with the Pearl Youth Association. But, I've never been a runner, even though I've always wanted to be. I just never had enough confidence, I guess, to think that I could actually do it. My side would start hurting, or my legs got tired. There was always an excuse.

Then, I got old. :-) And my excuse was just that--it's too late for me to start now. I have always tried to at least walk, though. And, I do weights (not like I should) and I have a Life Cycle. But, for some reason the beginning of the year brought about a change in me. I decided--I guess as part of my "New Years Resolutions"-- that I would start running. I set a goal for myself of running a marathon by the time I was 45. Well, that gave me almost 2 years. I thought, "It will take every bit of that time to get ready for a marathon!!"

Then, something wonderful happened. I was leaving my house for work one Thursday morning when I noticed a newspaper in my driveway. (I only subscribe to the weekend paper.) So, I picked it up and threw it in my car. At lunch, I pulled it out, started reading and right there on the front page of one section was a story about "Marathon Makeover." How freaky was that? So, I decided to go to the meeting on Saturday. I mentioned it to my friend Pam, who already knew about my "resolution," so the two of us decided we'd go together to the meeting. We both joined the group.

Now, it's 10 weeks later and I'm feeling really good. I do have bad days when I get discouraged. I was feeling sorry for myself last week and complaining to my best friend. I had just completed a fairly easy 45 minute run on the treadmill. But, I was complaining about how much harder it is for me outside. I usually have to walk some rather run the entire time. She quickly reminded me that just a few short weeks ago, I couldn't even run 2 minutes without sounding like I was having a panic attack (heaving breathing and lots of moaning)--and she would know because she witnessed it. :-)

She really did help me see things in a whole new perspective. My gosh, I'm running 4-4.5 miles now!! That's amazing to me. And, even though 26.2 miles is MUCH more than what I'm doing now, I feel in my heart that I can do it! We all can. :-)

Well, that's enough for one blog session. See you all on Saturday!