Today's experience convinced me that running tracks are better for hamsters than people. Short spurts are fine, but lap after lap after lap is just no way for anyone to live their life! I went over to a local park where there is a paved path around a small lake. It is the perfect place to try out the different lap settings on my new Forerunner 405 (which I love, by the way). Well, after a pleasant drive in the morning sunshine, I arrived at the park, only to discover that every piece of pavement was blanketed with a sheet of black ice. Mind you, I came here for a RUN not for a SKATE.
Sooo, not wanting to make excuses for myself, I decided to drive a mile down the road to the YMCA. I decided to hit the indoor track so I could get some miles in without cracking my head open. I made it through 15 laps and then I just couldn't take it anymore. The tight corners, lack of fresh air, minimal scenery, and constant need to tuck in my elbows to avoid wacking into other people...that's just not for me. So then, I took a quick water break and figured a good 30 minutes on the eliptical machine would help fulfill my cardio needs for the day.
I'm still a little worried, because this is only my third run after a 3-week bronchial infection. I have a 5-mile race the day after tomorrow. I'm not worried about covering the distance. I've learned from marathoning that I am truley capable of pushing the distance quite far. I'm worried about how I will feel during and after the race. Fortunately, I am very familiar with the course. One step at a time, I guess.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Back in the wagon
The best way to describe where I am at right now is that image of an old pick-up truck driving down the dirt road and the faithful dog galloping as fast as he can to keep up...well, I guess right now I am that dog. Fortunately, I feel like I am getting pretty close to that tailgate. I just have to find that last bit of "push" to jump back in.
It's been an interesting 1 1/2 years. It's been even longer since I have done any blogging. I figured that if I get back into the habit of keeping a journal about my running experiences and goals, then I can get back into the habit, or rather the lifestyle, of running. So, how did I lose it anyway??
Well, I ran a P.R. in one of my favorite cities (Eugene). Minutes after this marathon, I had an experience that was very frightening and difficult to explain. For a couple of months I was convinced by medical professionals that I had over-hydrated and that I had bad kidneys. Umm...yeah, not really, Doc...I did my own research. All of those tests that revealed irregularities seemed to convince the doctors that I should never ever run again, but those irregularities just happened to be natural bodily responses to marathoning. I guess that's what I get for depending on non-marathoning/not sports-related physicians. It took me a few months of probing into my family/genetic history, brain research reports, and a little bit of human biology to realize that I have been perfectly healthy the whole time. Well, physically healthy...mentally, I had been blessed with depression, anxiety, and panic disorder. Yippee!
So, after a year and a half of experimenting with some horrible medications, continued personal research and self-prescribed exercises to manage my disorders, I finally feel like I have control of my life again. Just to prove it to myself, I ran the Victoria Marathon. It was my record slowest time and possibly the most painful, thanks to a looming respiratory infection, but I am proud of myself nontheless. I have learned to identify when I am in "panic mode" and am armed to deal with it - sometimes so well that no one around me even notices. I have even cut my medication doses in half! Woot! My goal is to get off the meds completely and let running and the arts be my maintanence therapy.
Getting back on board in running is pretty tough, though. It sucks trying to get back into that lifestyle, but now I have a few pounds to shed along with it, thanks to the meds. My lovely husband gave me a Garmin Forerunner 405 for Christmas, so that will be a good motivator, I'm sure. I'm going to kick off the new year with the good ol' Ft. Steilacoom Resolution Run Series, but this time with my new technology strapped on the wrist and the only goal is to feel good. There are alot of stressful times coming up in the next 12 months (thanks to Uncle Sam), so I think focusing on just being healthy is a good idea.
Pfew! Glad to be back.
It's been an interesting 1 1/2 years. It's been even longer since I have done any blogging. I figured that if I get back into the habit of keeping a journal about my running experiences and goals, then I can get back into the habit, or rather the lifestyle, of running. So, how did I lose it anyway??
Well, I ran a P.R. in one of my favorite cities (Eugene). Minutes after this marathon, I had an experience that was very frightening and difficult to explain. For a couple of months I was convinced by medical professionals that I had over-hydrated and that I had bad kidneys. Umm...yeah, not really, Doc...I did my own research. All of those tests that revealed irregularities seemed to convince the doctors that I should never ever run again, but those irregularities just happened to be natural bodily responses to marathoning. I guess that's what I get for depending on non-marathoning/not sports-related physicians. It took me a few months of probing into my family/genetic history, brain research reports, and a little bit of human biology to realize that I have been perfectly healthy the whole time. Well, physically healthy...mentally, I had been blessed with depression, anxiety, and panic disorder. Yippee!
So, after a year and a half of experimenting with some horrible medications, continued personal research and self-prescribed exercises to manage my disorders, I finally feel like I have control of my life again. Just to prove it to myself, I ran the Victoria Marathon. It was my record slowest time and possibly the most painful, thanks to a looming respiratory infection, but I am proud of myself nontheless. I have learned to identify when I am in "panic mode" and am armed to deal with it - sometimes so well that no one around me even notices. I have even cut my medication doses in half! Woot! My goal is to get off the meds completely and let running and the arts be my maintanence therapy.
Getting back on board in running is pretty tough, though. It sucks trying to get back into that lifestyle, but now I have a few pounds to shed along with it, thanks to the meds. My lovely husband gave me a Garmin Forerunner 405 for Christmas, so that will be a good motivator, I'm sure. I'm going to kick off the new year with the good ol' Ft. Steilacoom Resolution Run Series, but this time with my new technology strapped on the wrist and the only goal is to feel good. There are alot of stressful times coming up in the next 12 months (thanks to Uncle Sam), so I think focusing on just being healthy is a good idea.
Pfew! Glad to be back.
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