Stop and Go

For the last few days I've been having some difficulty running a full mile let alone two or three. My lungs had been giving me fits and just when that obstacle clears another seems to fall right into it's place. My left knee has been bothering me a bit and, more than that, my shins have been screaming incessantly.

What is the deal?!

Saturday I ended up having to call my husband to pick me up because my knee started popping when I would put pressure on it. I figured I'd better not push my luck so I gave up and sat on a rock while I waited for him to rescue me.

Sunday I felt like I was starting to get shin splints or something. I've had them before so I can recognize the feeling. However, this doesn't entirely feel like that. I stopped multiple times and stretched my calf muscles and attempted to continue my quest of running a full three miles. No luck. I opted not to push myself to the point of injury and walked the rest of the way. I ended up running and walking a total of 1.47 miles.

Running is still fairly new to me. I've only been doing it for about three months now. In that time I have learned that there is no such thing as a bad run. The fact that I lace up and get out the door earns me big points. I'm really not beating myself up over these runs at all. However, I would really like to run more than a mile or a mile and a half at a time. It's something to continue to work for. I know.

This morning I got up, ate a banana, laced up and took off. I ran about 3/4 of a mile before I stopped and walked. I stretched my calves, caught my breath, and took off again. My lungs felt really great. No burning and no panting like a dog. Wooo! I continued to walk/run until the one mile point.

I turned around and began walking back. I was pretty much resigned to walking all the way home. "I want you to run." a voice in my head said. Now, being a Christian I've had multiple conversations with God. Sometimes I know it's Him by the things that He says and other times I question if it's me. Today, I questioned.

"Is that me?" I thought. "No, you already quit." the voice responded. Yep, that's not me. That's God.
"I want you to run." He said again.
"Will you be with me?" I asked.
"Yes."
"Will you give my body strength when it's tired or hurting?" I questioned.
"Yes."
"Will you give my mind what it needs to keep my body moving?" I asked.
"Yes." He replied.

"Ok, then. Here we go!" I shouted as I began to run. I ran. And I ran. And I ran.

Just when I felt like giving up, a song that I've never heard before started playing on my iPod. It's on an album that's been there forever, but I've apparently never listened to the whole thing before. It started, "On and on and on and on she goes. Where she stops nobody knows!"

I felt a huge smile make it's way across my face as I realized that song was meant for me. I kept running. I ran all the way home.

Dueling blisters

I've taken the last two days off running. Not because I wanted to or needed to, but because of unforeseen circumstances. Blah. So, Nadia and I set off for a run this morning at the camper. My youngest, Lily, has been showing an interest in running so we invited her along. I figured she'd peter out after a hundred yards or so. Nope! That little thing just kept right on going!

I'm still struggling with my lungs. Even though the cold symptoms have pretty much dissipated, I still have that horrid burning sensation. Feels like death, actually. So, I ended up run/walking a mile. My other issue today comes from two huge blisters on the bottoms of my feet. Ugh!

Yesterday, the girls and I drove down to Duluth to see the Tall Ships. We ended up parking 65 miles away (ok, I exaggerate a bit. It was 62.) and had to walk all the way there. I had no idea we'd be walking that far and was unprepared in my flip flops. By the time we got to Canal Park, I had a huge blister on the ball of each of my feet. Yeeouch!

We watched a couple of the Tall Ships arrive and ate a stale buffet at Grandma's. We all decided we'd rather move on than continue to stand in the sun watching the rest of the ships come in. I explained that the walk back would be excruciatingly long as the blisters on my feet were competing for my attention. We slowly walked all the way around the DECC and I saw a line of people boarding a school bus. I remembered seeing something on the Tall Ships website about shuttles running from the parking lots and I suddenly had a brilliant idea.

I gingerly stepped toward the line and asked if this was the line for the shuttle. A woman replied, "Yes, if you're parked at the last lot." Yes! We did park at the last lot! So, the girls and I got in line and waited for the next shuttle.

After a few moments, my new hero arrived. He was a dashing old fella with silvery white hair. He rode in on the most majestic yellow bus I had ever seen. Ok, I'm being dramatic. I was hot, tired, and my dogs were barking.

We boarded the bus and sat quietly as we were driven far, far away from Canal Park. As I looked out the window I realized that I had no idea where we were going. Uh-oh! Nadia and Ivy turned to me with looks of panic and concern. I reacted in my normal, motherly way and proceeded to burst out laughing. "I have no idea where we're going!" I exclaimed. I have no idea why it was so comical, but it was.

By this time we had reached our destination. We were in a parking lot. The last parking lot. But it wasn't the lot we parked in! Once again, my children looked to me for direction. "What do we do?" one of them asked as they all three looked at me. "Just sit still and be quiet." while I try to think of how the heck to get us out of this predicament!

We waited until everyone else got off the bus. I headed up toward the driver and explained, "We thought you were going to our lot. We thought our lot was the last lot."

"Nope," he replied, "This is the last lot." Ya think?!
"Just sit down right there." he said as he motioned toward the seats directly behind him.
We sat. Nadia says, "What are we doing?"
"I don't know! He said sit so I'm sitting."

We waited until the bus driver returned with more passengers heading to Canal Park. "Now, what lot did you say you parked in?" asked the driver. I explained where we needed to be. He told me just to let him know when we got close as he would ensure we got there safely. WHEW!

So, we rode along in silence while the silvery-white haired hero drove us to our lot in his yellow chariot. As the bus came to a stop and the man opened the door, I could almost taste the relief I was feeling. I thanked him profusely and said, "God bless you, sir!"

The girls and I scurried off the bus. As our feet touched the grass we all grabbed our stomachs and proceeded to burst into laughter at the adventure we had just been on. At least we got a good story out of it!

Lungs ablaze

Yesterday I signed both Nadia and I up to run in the "Run Like An Animal" 5k at the Superior Zoo in Duluth on August 3rd! We are so excited about this run. It should be really fun to run through the zoo. I'm sure we'll see plenty of my husband's relatives there. *snicker*

We got up and went for a run this morning. I'm still battling this horrid cold which really makes it hard to breath normally. And I thought sucking wind on a healthy day was hard! I managed to run about a mile and then I was done. My lungs were on fire.

We opted to walk the rest of the way and ended up going 3.07 miles total. I'm pleased that I made it out to run today even though I'm not feeling that great. I probably could have pushed myself to run longer, but I really didn't want to risk getting more sick.

The walk was nice and I'm happy we covered the distance. Go us!

The Color Dash!

Today was the big day! We had an absolute blast.

A couple days ago I woke up with a terrible cold. I was hoping and praying that it would go away in time for me to be able to run the 5K. When I got up this morning, I could feel the cold seeping into my lungs which made breathing difficult. Ugh! No matter, though. I've been training for this run for 9 weeks and nothing is going to stop me from crossing the finish line!

Nadia and I got up at 7am. I scrambled us some eggs while she toasted a whole grain bagel for us to share. We each had an orange and some water. Pretty decent breakfast with plenty of time to digest since the run wasn't until 9am. We began hydrating and got our running gear on!

The whole family (my husband and other two daughters) loaded up in the truck and we were on our way. When we arrived the rest of our team was already there and waiting in line to get checked in. It was really exciting to watch so many different people preparing for the 5k. There was a band that was a little kooky, but pretty decent.

We got ourselves checked in and were immediately given packets of color and bright white t-shirts. Of course, our shirts didn't stay white for long.

Here we are, Spectrum Runners! I'm the one in the middle in the back row. My daughter is to my left.

As we stood around waiting for the run to begin, we chatted, danced, and threw color at each other. Finally, the announcement came that the Color Dash was about to start. "Runners in the front, walkers in the back." I'm a runner now, so I went right in front with my team members. My adrenaline was already pumping from the excitement. There was a countdown from ten and then we were off!

It took me a couple minutes to find my pace because there were so many other people running around me. Nadia stayed right with me even though I said she could run freely. What a good girl. You know, all through this process, she's been right by my side. I've given her permission to run off in the distance, and she did for the first couple runs, but since then, she's stayed right by me.

We ran for a little over a half mile when I could no longer handle the burning sensation in my lungs from this horrid cold. I had to start walking. I really wanted to run the entire 5k, but with this cold, there was no way it was going to happen. So, I ran when I could for as long as I could and then I walked. It worked out that I was running and walking in about half mile increments. So, I'm pretty confident that I ran half the 5k. And that's great for me!

As we approached our last color explosion zone, I told Nadia I was ready to run. I wanted to run from there all the way to the finish line. Just as we got through the blue zone, my dear friend Taryn, who had already finished the run herself, had run back to greet us and run with us. That was pretty awesome of her considering she's pregnant!

Here's a video of Nadia, me, and Taryn crossing the finish line! I'm in the middle, Nadia's on my left, and Taryn's on my right. The guy yelling so loud in the video is my proud and adoring husband.

Here's a great still shot of us crossing the line.

After the run was complete and we experienced the final color explosion, we were all completely covered in rainbows of various colors and shades. What an awesome experience!

Here's to many more 5k's! :)

Dropped off in the middle of nowhere...

Ok, now that I'm all caught up with the posts I created on the private Facebook group of which I'm a member, I can start posting original material here. Wooh!

In an attempt to run a whole three miles, I had my husband drive Nadia and I three miles down the road and drop us off. Because we're up at our camper and really out in the middle of nowhere, he stayed with us in case we needed a drink. Or a ride.

We got up at 6:30 this morning and had a light breakfast. We each had a banana, a glass of orange juice, and a handful of almonds. Of course, we started hydrating right away as well.

We sprayed ourselves with bug spray in an attempt to ward off the teeth with wings that are native to Minnesota. While it generally keeps the mosquitoes at bay, it does absolutely nothing for horse flies and deer flies. They are horrible this year!

Let me just tell you, three miles is a long way. A really long way especially when you're running and the humidity is at 88%. We started out strong as we generally do. I was listening to the new play list I created just for this run. About eight minutes in, I noticed the flies circling. I hate it when they do that. They actually fly in circles around me while I run. I swear they're taunting me. "Look at me flying around you as you run your pitifully slow run." Boy, would I love to have one of those electric tennis racket thingies to swat them with. Unfortunately, I barely have the energy to swing my arms during a run let alone an electrified racket. It's good to dream though, right?

We passed the one mile point and I'd like to announce that I shaved 30 seconds off my mile time. Go me! You may not think 30 seconds is a long time, but when you're nearly 100 lbs overweight and nine weeks into a running program, it's a lot. I should mention that I use the MapMyRun app that keeps my times in check for me.

It wasn't long after the one mile point that I needed a drink and had to start walking. I walk long enough to catch my breath and then I start running again. By this time the flies were ready to carry us away. They were seriously bad. After a mile and a half total, Nadia and I declared the flies the winner and hopped back in the truck. With the humidity and insect activity we didn't stand a chance.

My plan now is to drag my treadmill upstairs from the basement and plunk it down right in front of the air conditioner. I do believe I'll be running there until the heat and humidity go back down south where they belong. I'm thinking I'll be an indoor runner in the summer and most of the winter and an outdoor runner in the spring and fall. I just can't handle the heat! Or the bugs!

My post on 7/16/13

Nadia and I ran for 25 minutes last night. It cooled off enough for us to go but there was absolutely no wind which made it difficult. I ran through a sprinkler to cool off (which Nadia found hilarious) but it was set to spray so low to the ground that I was crouching and trying to cup my hands together to get enough to splash my face while still running. Do you see now why Nadia found it funny? LOL

So the next thing I need help with is how to deal with having a really dry throat while running. I've tried breathing exclusively through my nose but I can't get enough air that way. How can I keep some water with me without having to carry it in my hand? I was thinking about one of those hats with the beer cans (replacing beer with water, although... maybe... nahhh). Any other ideas?

(Note: It was suggested that I get a hydration belt. I'm looking into them!)

My post on 7/13/13

Nad and I ran on the treadmills at Anytime Fitness today. It was nice and cool when we went in but when we started running, it got HOT. FAST. Just over 17 minutes into my run, I hopped off the treadmill, ran into the bathroom. I felt so hot that I was sick. I actually threw up! I splashed some cold water on my face. Drank a few sips of water and got RIGHT BACK ON THE TREADMILL! I couldn't run much after that, but I walked the rest of the way. I'm really proud of myself for getting right back into it.

Apparently I need to carry a portable fan for my face every time I run.

My post on 7/11/13

Nadia hasn't been feeling well so I've been running by myself until she's feeling up to it. Yesterday I ran on the trail and managed to get just over a mile before I stopped. There was a strange man walking back and forth on the trail and he totally weirded me out. I wasn't focused on running and my paranoia got the best of me. I watch too many murder shows on tv. LOL I decided to add another run this week since I'm trying to build stamina and lose weight. I went out again this morning but instead of going my regular route, I opted to run in town. I ran down to the lake and around part of it before stopping. I learned that I do NOT enjoy running in town on the sidewalks. The curbs are not fun. Also, I'm not a fan of the crooked sidewalks and the slanted trail by the lake. I had issues with the sun again and think I may try to find a visor or something to wear to keep the sun off my face. I ended up walking the rest of the way and was pleased that I even went this morning. I'm feeling much better about what I can do and how far I've come rather than focusing on what I didn't do.

My post in the Facebook group on 7/8/13

I've really been struggling on my last few runs and I haven't been able to run the entire time. I'm not quite sure what the deal is. I managed to get just over halfway on this morning's 28 minute run but I had to stop to catch my breath and stretch my calves. I feel like I'm running out of energy and my legs are just flopping around. Maybe I'm not eating the right things? Maybe it's because I'm not getting enough sleep? I've been getting up early and heading right out to run. I will usually eat a banana or breakfast bar first but didn't this morning. The point of getting up early was to avoid the heat but I still can't manage to run more than a 15-18 minute stretch. Any advice or words of wisdom are appreciated! I could also really use prayer about this. I'm feeling a little defeated today.

My post on 7/1/13

Week 7! 25 minute run this morning. WE DID IT! Words cannot express the pure joy I'm feeling right now. I'm just amazed that God has brought me this far. I could barely run for one minute when I first started seven weeks ago and look at me now! I ran for 2.5 MILES!!!

My post on 6/26/13

Week 6, set 2 finished! Whew! Two 10 minute runs and I really feel good today! There was a point in the last run where I think I may have experienced a bit of the "runner's high" I've heard about. I wasn't focused on running or thinking about what I had to do. My body just kept moving. I felt no pain, strain, or stress. I just listened to my music, enjoyed God's beauty surrounding me, and felt really happy. Becky and Elise, you were right - I shouldn't worry about speed or what others think. (Oddly, I generally don't care what others think about me so why should that affect my running?) Thank you for setting me straight! Please continue correct me by gentle nudging or a swift kick in the can, whichever works. ;)

My post in the Facebook group on 6/24/13

Week 6, set 1 was not as awesome as previous sets. I made the decision beforehand that I wanted to lengthen my stride a bit and run a little faster to push myself and to save my calves a bit. I've been jogging really slowly with my feet almost directly underneath me. After researching proper running technique, apparently my stride is too short. So, Nadia and I ran faster than I've ever been able to run before for 5 minutes straight. It wasn't horrible, but I couldn't keep up that pace for the other two runs. The heat was really starting to get to me and I wasn't able to continue running at all. I'm praying hard for an overcast day on 7/20 with a gentle mist or sprinkle to cool us off!

My post on 6/22/13

Nad and I ran our own marathon of sorts this morning. We ran 20 minutes straight! Neither of us has ever run that long before so it was quite a feat. She stayed with me just as she promised even though I'm sure it was painful for her to run at a snail's pace. The good news is that I kept my pace throughout the time and Nadia said that toward the end I actually got faster. I thought that was awesome.

My post on 6/20/13

Nadia and I knocked out set 2 for this week earlier today! I'm absolutely thrilled that I was able to run for 8 minutes straight, twice! Woohoo!

My post on the Facebook group on 6/17/13

(Note: We went on a little family vacation hence the reference to the hotel.)

Week 5 set 1 done! Nadia and I ran on the treadmills at the hotel. It was great! I'm a little nervous about set 3 this week: 20 minute run. Eeeek! Nadia promised to run right with me for that one. I'm super happy about that. :)

My post on 6/14/13

Went for week 4, set 3 this morning. Much better! It was a lot cooler and I didn't feel like I was going to be sick. I ran the whole time I was supposed to. In fact, when my running times were up I could have continued but opted to stick with the schedule to avoid injury and/or death. LOL

Thanks so much for your comments and suggestions on Weds. It's great to be able to discuss my struggles with experienced runners and get great feedback!

My post on 6/12/13

Went for a run earlier today with Edeanne. I didn't do nearly as well today. I'm pretty disappointed. It was pretty warm and there wasn't a lot of shade, so I got extremely hot. I don't sweat like other people do. In fact, I barely sweat at all so I have a tendency to overheat. Looking back, I should have pushed through and continued, but in the moment I gave up. *sigh* I could use some prayer that I just let today go and that I continue with as much enthusiasm as I had before.

My post on 6/10/13

Just completed week 4, set 1 and I feel A-MAZ-ING. I'm super glad I found those podcasts. Boy, do they make things simpler! The songs are a little corny. In fact, I actually busted out laughing a couple of times. Ha!

I'm really proud of myself today. I thought those 5 minute runs would be impossible but I did it! I cried after each one. Tears of joy, relief, and PRAISE to Jesus for running beside me and giving me the strength I needed to finish. I'm so thankful for this group and my friendship with you all. I sincerely appreciate your support and prayers. THANK YOU!

My post in the Facebook group on 6/6/13

Week 3, set 2 down! I changed the way I laced my shoes and my toes felt much better. My calves are feeling much better. I've gotta say this is the first time I've actually felt really great and accomplished after completing a set. \o/ Thank you all so much for your support and advice. You're making a huge impact on this former couch potato's life! ;)

My post on 6/5/13

Week 3, set 1 done in my new shoes! So. Much. Better! I did notice that towards the end, a couple of the toes on the outsides of my feet were tingling and falling asleep, but I saw a post on pinterest where you could tie your shoes differently for certain things. So, I'll try that for my next set! The 3 minute straight run was killer for me, but I didn't quit and ran until the very end. And, I didn't die, so that's a plus. ;)

Aaaand, here's a picture of my new shoes! Saucony Kinvara 3's! I absolutely LOVE them.

My post to the Facebook group on 5/30/13

OK, week 2, #2 is done! I made the mistake of taking my dog with. I'll never do THAT again! On a positive note, I believe I burned more calories than I have consumed all week, and Samson is now worn out. That makes two of us. (For those of you who have never met Samson, he is a 150lb great dane, rottweiler mix with longer legs than mine and the drive and stamina of an angry bull. El Toro!)

 Samson is the large black dog in the photo above. The other dog, Skippy Joe, is a 67 lb. golden retriever and brittany spaniel mix. Skippy can actually walk under Samson and has on many occasions.

And here's what Samson looks like from the front. He's pretty intimidating to strangers, but to me, he's a big baby. I love him to pieces but will never, ever, ever run with him again. The end.

My post on 5/28/13

Week 2, #1 is done! Nadia and I went out this morning. It was really great! I stretched my calves after the walk and they still really tightened up. So, I kept stretching them after each run. They don't hurt at all but they get super tight and it's hard to flex my feet. I also tried to hit the ground with more of a flat foot. Any other suggestions?

(Note: Again, the problem was my shoes. I was running in shoes that I bought in 2005. Who knew they didn't last that long?)

My post to the Facebook group on 5/25/13

Week 1 complete! Nadia and I just finished the 3rd set. Our plan is to rest tomorrow and start week 2 on Monday. I've noticed that about halfway through the set my calves lock up. Is that normal? During one of the walk periods I did some lunges to try to stretch them out. Is that OK or not a good idea?

(NOTE: Several of the runners in the group responded with tips and tricks on how to alleviate calf muscle issues. Turns out the biggest problem was my shoes!)

My post to the Facebook group on 5/24/13

Did my 2nd set for week one this morning with Nadia! She left my butt in the dust, but just when she would get out of sight she reappeared. She ran back to me to make sure I was OK. What a great daughter! I'm really proud of myself. I jogged the whole time that I was supposed to and didn't get a side cramp this time! I also felt much less winded. Wooohooo!!

My post in the private Facebook group on 5/22/13

First run yesterday with Becky, Taryn and Tina. I thought I would be sore and miserable today, but NO! I'm feeling pretty good! :) When I talked with Nadia last night about doing the 5k and training with me this summer, she was so excited! I'm absolutely thrilled to be a part of this and to be able to share something special with my oldest daughter. So, thanks for letting me join your running group and double thanks for your patience as I find my stride!


(Note: Nadia is my oldest daughter. She is much more of an athlete than I am and has agreed to begin training for the 5K Color Dash with me.) 

C25K Program

On May 21, 2013 I began the Couch to 5K running program. You can find information about it here. It's a nine week program that gently eases you from couch potato status to being a 5K finisher. I am currently in week nine. I completed my second run of the week this morning. My third run will be the 5K Color Dash this Saturday, July 20th.

As I said, the program is designed to last nine weeks. There are three runs in each week. It really is a gradual progression and, if properly followed, can help alleviate injury. Additionally, I found a guy who created Christian playlists to correspond with each week. I listened to them for several weeks and then finally started creating my own playlists based on personal preference. You can find his website with the Christian Indie tracks here. The music is pretty interesting. Some of it actually made me laugh out loud in the middle of my run.

If you've never run before, or it's been a long time, I highly recommend the C25K Program. It really does work!

What's the point?

It's me again, Margaret. (What? No Ray Stevens fans?) Well, here I am starting yet another blog. Each of them started the same way. Ok, not all of them reference Ray Stevens, but they all basically started by saying "Here I go again."

What's different this time? Why will this blog survive? Let me tell you, my friends. There are no guarantees! However, I'm feeling good about this one. This one has a purpose.

This blog is about my journey to becoming a runner. It's never ending, really. Each time I get out and run I learn something new about myself, about running. It really is amazing. So, I'm planning to share the entries I made in a private Facebook group which detail my running experience to date. From here on out, I'll be posting right here.

My hope is that someone who reads this will somehow be inspired to lace up and get moving.