End of the Year

I'm ending the year 2010 with 551.7 miles. Turns out it was not as impossible as I thought even with a rather lackluster November and December. However, I've learned some important things and some were even about runnng:

- the hardest part is always gonna be getting out the door

- no matter how bad I feel, I never feel worse after the run (note I just stopped short of saying I feel better)

- my body isn't nearly as strong or persuasive as my mind, but it's getting there

- goals are paramount to success for me

- I know I can do so much better

With all that in mind I'm formulating my new goal for 2011. Happy New Year!

What was I thinking?

After a lazy November, I'm gearing up for the P.F. Chang Rock N Roll Half Marathon Relay which is Jan 16th. I'm running with Janice and I think we're undecided who will run the longer leg........I ran 5.7 miles one day and 5.5 a few days later-- slow pace but without stopping. Trying to get my legs (and brain) used to some longer distances. Weather is in the high 70's with very cool mornings, can't ask for much better training weather.

After the milestone

It's a little harder to feel motivated to run since I've met my goal. But I'm determined to keep at it because I'm still deciding on my 2011 goal and it's gonna involve running. (No sense in wasting a perfectly good blog title.)
During the last race and today my legs felt leaden. Don't know what's up with that. Some new ploy no doubt to derail my efforts. Mind and body, can't we just work together?

Made my goal!

Well, it's been a long month and I've not run consistently but long story short, I went over my 500 mile marker today at the 23rd Annual Thanksgiving Day 5K Run at the Peoria Sports Complex. A great way to start Thanksgiving and although I didn't run my best time, it was better than last year when I did this race for the first time. But the most awesome part was that Brigette ran the 10 miler and finished in 1 hr 28 min and 24 seconds. That's faster than a 9 min mile, for 10 miles! (Yes, running is fun, but running vicariously, can't be beat!)

Gotta have that

Brigette ran a 5K in 27 min with a 19 lb vest. And I'm thinking, hmmmm....I need a weighted vest. But I soon come to my senses. There are a few steps to take before I consider adding "accessories" to my running. Such as: maintanining an even pace during runs, bypassing the water stop on a 5K, incorporating sprints into daily runs, strength training. In other words, running for non-police officer types. (At least until the next gadget catches my eye.)

The numbers game

My Sept total (54.5) beat August (43.9) which had beaten July (33.3) but the Oct total (45.2) bucked the trend. So I really need an all-time monthly high in Nov. Currently I'm just over 475 miles for the year.

Taking a dive

Today while running I tripped on the uneven pavement and went crashing down. I literally dove into the patch of grass bordering the sidewalk cushioning my fall. But then my first instinct was to think, I'm glad I'm not timing this today. (Not who saw that or what's the fastest way to get my bruised ego back home.) And that roughly translates into "I'm a runner." Maybe it isn't about distance or speed but a frame of mind.

Six miles or bust

Today I wanted to run for length of time and not distance. But due to some miscalculations about which way was back home, I ran my longest time without stopping and a distance of 6 miles. This was at a comfortable pace and it never felt too bad, except for the last mile or so my hips and the soles of my feet ached. This puts me over 466 miles and makes the goal seem very possible. Knock on wood.

Family and friends run

Whoohoo, my chart is fixed! I made it go to 600 so I don't stop in mid-run just because I've reached 500. Today Nancy and I did the 19th Annual Frank Kush 5K and the best part was all 5 grandkids (Claire in stroller)did the 1 mile with my daughters.

Finally Fall

The next whole week's temps are not going to be 100...do we dare hope, it's fall. Feels great in the morning. Something happened to my 500 mile chart and my computer guru isn't due out for visit for a few weeks. It's still accurate, I'm just over 426 miles, but it doesn't show the whole chart.

Goodby September

This was a really hot month, but I was able to get more distance in than I did in the past few months. Looking forward to some cooler weather, and signing up for more 5K's. Not ready for anything longer. And I'm over 411 miles with 3 months to go.

No fall here

Somehow it seems harder to run when you know it's supposed to be fall and yet we can't get a break in the triple digits.

If you can't be fast, be old.

I ran the 6th Annual Run to Remember 9-11 at Westgate. Not a big crowd but very enthusiastic and patriotic. Still feeling sluggish as the race began, I could not seem to get a good pace. As everyone passed me by I did notice that no older people were running past me. I had really hoped to do better than 34 minutes but ended with a 34:41. And first place in my age group of 2. It's hard to feel too disappointed with a medal, a free banana, and muscle milk. I will persevere. I will get faster. And I will definitely move up in the age groups.

Not just wishful thinking

It was actually a cool morning. No lie. I didn't run til almost 7. Fall is in the air.

In the event of . . .

I told my daughter I got one of those runner's ID's. I'm always reading how they've saved someone's life in Runner's World. Brigette suggested that I used dark soled shoes when running on the sidewalk and light soled shoes when on asphalt. "Because then it's easier to determine when and where the vehicle hit you and the direction and speed of the vehicle." (She's a detective with a Vehicular Crimes Unit.)
I love these helpful running tips. And no, I'm not getting two different colored-soled running shoes.

Running Club

I've joined the running club at the gym and this is my third Sat 6 am run. We did just over 5.5 miles, certainly more than I'd do if left to my own devices. So now my daily runs can be preparing me for the longer weekend one. And I signed up for a 5K on 9-12, my first since April.

Finally September

Again I arrive at the cusp of a new month,filled with good intentions, and actual races to sign up for. The weather was pleasant at 6 am. I've run over 368 miles with 4 months to go. My immediate goal is that my 3 mile (my usual long)runs become my norm and I work in some longer distances.

Gotta get that boom, boom

It's not my imagination. My hips, knees and legs are aching when I run. Humidity, extreme earliness of the day, bad vibes.....I don't know. Oh, and I have a new Ipod with most of Brigette's cardio workout music.

End in sight?

I'm running but not blogging. The weather is hideous. Even by 5 am. At least August will soon be over and eventually this summer.

Still August

Ran 3.2 miles at 5:30 am. It's 90 at that hour but humid and it's rough going. We're still in monsoon season so hopefully we get some rain and get rid of this mugginess. More than half-way through August, eventually the nights/early mornings will get cooler. Until then, I gotta push on.

Group drills

We were up at the track doing a crossfit drill with Brigette and team, including all 5 grandkids. Run one lap and then do 25 "Burpees" (squat, push-up, return to squat and jump up.) After my first attempt I just resorted to the basic squat. This whole exercise is repeated 6 times.
On my last lap, Hayden asked, "Grandma, why aren't you running?"
"I AM running."
"Well, you LOOK like you're walking," he replied as he jogged off.

Say what?

"Gotta get outside before sun up," I tell myself everyday and then turn over and try to sleep a bit more. What difference will a few more minutes make? And everytime I run and the sun breaks through, I remember. Any running is more bearable without the blazing sun. After next week when school starts, I won't have the track available in the mornings. I could hit the gym but I'm not that desperate yet.

It's August

I like to think of a new month as a clean slate. So I went for a run. It rained steadily and felt great. But hey, folks, what's with the windbreakers and umbrellas? It's RAIN not radiation. (Admittedly that makes no sense but it's RAIN and this is PHOENIX.) Let's enjoy.

Another Sat morning

I ran in some rather humid weather at a nice track outside the MCSO Training Center while Brigette did CrossFit. I was highly motivated to keep running so as to appear too busy to do training with her. But after 3.5 miles I had to quit and go get her. She is accomplishing great things and I'm just over 320 miles.

It's raining

Is there a more welcome site in Phoenix in the summer than rain? Tonight I ran after our little storm and it started raining. I debated about turning around but decided, as my mom used to say, I wouldn't melt. I did 2.5 miles which, sadly, is the longest distance I've run in a while. Oh, these lazy days of summer, when will I get my mojo back?

Early birds

There are a lot of people out 5:30 am. Everything is still shaded but the sun is up and trying to get through the clouds. Landscaping being done, dogs being walked. Walking doesn't feel so bad. Running not so good after a mile or so.

Summer whines

The weather just keeps getting worse. Seriously, forecast calls for 116, 119, 116, 114 for today and next 3 days. I'm trying to remember if the other side of the calendar really makes up for this. And if I've ever been so fixated on the temps. Maybe because I never ran outside in the summer. I think I joined a gym last year for just this reason. But I hated the treadmill. And going to the gym. The gym itself was awesome, I just hated going.

Slow going

I take a few days off from running, then I try to get back in the flow. I skip a few days, then I try to pick up where I left off. Summer pattern. It's like I'm trying to to propel some upright foreign object through space and time and it's a struggle to keep it going. (foreign object being me) Looking at the weather forecast, I note 111, 114, 118 for the next 3 days. Yuk! On the brighter side, I'm past 300 miles.

Phoenix after dark

Brigette asked me to run with her one evening by the canals. The only thing that seemed crazier than this was when we got there the place was crowded with people runnng, biking, walking along the well-lit pathways north of the Glendale Stadium. I ran 2 miles (Brigette did over 3) but the sweating and a hot breeze made it bearable.

Seeking shadows

They've repaved the high school track. All new lines and lettering. Nearly one-third of the track sits in shadows if I'm out early enough. That's what it's all about, seeking shade. Pushing ahead to the next spot of shade. I'm at 294 but still not over this cold and cough.

Trying to outrun a cold

Finally got out before 6:00 am and it's actually pleasant out at that time. Four days not running and fighting a cold. I felt sluggish and I didn't have much strength.

Claire

Only ran one mile because today is the day my grandchild will be born. I was invited into the delivery room as I was with her two siblings......more later.....
Things progressed quickly and by early afternoon, Claire Brigette was born weighing 7 lbs 9 oz with healthy lungs. I've promised to stay in good shape for her (and my 4 other grandchildren) What a day!

In the summertime

Noticeable differences between running in the summer and running at other times:

1) after one mile sweat is running into my eyes
2) walkers seem overdressed
3) air is less easily inhaled
4) creativity dries up

Just plugging along

Running at 7 am is not comfortable but it's hard to get out earlier. We've had a string of 111 temps but not sure what it is in the early morning. Definitely not friendly terrain anymore. I'm not going for distance and certainly not for speed.

It's only June?

I'm struggling to get in miles. It's not that hot before 7 am but I want to quit after each half-mile. The days are ridiculously burn-your-hands on the steering wheel hot.

It's a dry heat

After a week in Ohio, it's nice to run without humidity. It seemed to make my joints ache more, although it was nice to not get up real early. I enjoyed mapping out new routes and for someone as direction-impaired as me, helpful for finally learning my way around my sister's neighborhood. I'm just over 275 miles.

The day the music stopped

My Ipod stopped and I didn't know what to do. It's funny how you get conditioned. My legs wanted to stop in mid-stride.

There's something to be said for running like a 3 year old. You just have to know when to channel your inner child. For instance, tugging on someone's leg and asking to be picked up during a race doesn't work. (Unless you're Brigette who might allow it with her son and get a new PR.)But for the most part runners tend to be very focused.

Personalized cross-fit

I have this plan for making my own cross-fit training routines and naming them after my daughters. For instance "The Brigette" would be the hardest, most intense one. "The Eileen" would concentrate on abs because after giving birth you tend to think about your abs and rediscovering them. "The Kate" would be a test in discipline and upper body strength and "The Elizabeth" would be, um, just something that would have been much easier to do in my 20's. With an element of fun. I'm still working out the details. Oh, and not to be forgotten, "The Toby" would be my rest day. "The Five", my inspiration.

250 mile marker

I'm at my half-way point, which has arrived without fanfare. So many starts and stops and restarts. Being dedicated and lacking commitment, bursts of energy and energy-sapping days. Short hard-to-get-through runs, and longer ones and all the others in between. There's a lesson in here somewhere, about keeping going or one step at a time. But it makes me wonder about other milestones. What if we knew the half-way point of our life? Would we say, got this much done and half left to accomplish? And then I immediately thought, I'm not at my half-way point yet! And then laughed because that would mean living til at least 112. (The hard part about living in denial is that you really have to stretch to make it all-encompassing.)

Sign of the times

Triple digit weather is back. Or as my husband likes to say, the time of year my golf score could match the temperature.
I need to start running earlier because even at 7 am, it's getting hot. I'm seeking the shadows along the paths like an Arizona driver in a parking lot.
(That's my son and husband.)

Cross Fit for Grandmas, anyone?

Brigette has been showing me her cross fit workouts, which are strengthening and conditioning programs sometimes combined with running. She scales them down for me but there're still pretty intense. I like the idea of improving overall fitness because it will help with my running. Recently she showed me "Cross Fit Mom" which is designed for all 3 phases of pregnancy and postpartum workouts. I'm trying the third trimester workouts. Don't judge.

Pulling a fast one

There's 100 yd section without sidewalks right before our subdivision. When I'm running I sometimes tell myself that that can be my cool down walk. But when I got there today, I said, "you have to sprint!" This appears to be the only way I can incorporate sprints, by tricking myself.

It's all in the approach

I ran with my youngest daughter, Elizabeth, today. As she bounced along ahead of me I noticed the difference in our gaits. She has what can only be described as a joyful, carefree rhythm and I have the grim demeanor of someone running the treadmill stress-test in the doctor's office.

Reluctant Runner

At my one mile mark I decided it's never going to get easier. The only difference is now when I whimper, "I can't," that little voice says, "Um.. actually, you can. And you know you can."
That voice is not nearly as negative anymore.

Polling the experts

Who's more of an expert on running than kids? They run in small confined spaces, they run for fun without plans or routes. So I asked my grandkids to find out the secret of running fast.

Hayden said, "Use about most of your energy and think of winning a big trophy at the finish line. And that makes you happy. And happy makes you run fast."

Walter said, "You gotta make your legs run fast!" Then he added, "It takes practice, Grandma."

And from Killian, "You can run with your legs up. Um, like you run up with your legs."

Molly, wise beyond her 3 years said, "I can't tell you."

"Before the next teardrop falls...."

Today I ran for 66 minutes straight. I think that's a record. I've run longer, but not without some walking. (Thanks to Patsy Cline and Freddy Fender who got me through with some well-placed lyrics.) I told my grandson but he seemed unimpressed. Then I said, "That's a long time. That's like Maggie and the Beast and Lil Bill cartoons." (Everything is relative.)
It was just over 5 miles which puts me at 214 miles.

Springtime

After a great Mother's Day and drop in temperature (temporarily out of the 100's) I went for a 3 mile run. Right now I have the luxury of running at any time of the day but soon I will have to get up early to be able to run before it's too hot. Spring is fleeting in Arizona.

Semper Paratus

After a week away from running (but not away from exercising) I did a 4 mile relaxed run. And I carried with me my daughter's Coast Guard OCS Graduation ceremony and preceding activities like a mental video. I coaxed myself out to run by promising myself I could rerun all the scenes of the past week in my mind to the tune of my Ipod songs. Therefore combining running with a purpose and new insights on songs.

Not timed, kinda

I went for a 4 mile untimed run along a new route. If my brain is so easily influenced by thoughts and sights, I decided to give it some scenic views running along Crystal Gardens Lakes. It is enjoyable to not have a watch. But when I got home I had to map it out and figure my time. (I ran at a 13 minute mile pace.)

Run for Literacy Race

A beautiful Sunday morning 5K at Westgate. My 2 grandsons, Hayden and Killian, were signed up for the 1 Mile Fun Run along with their mom and my friend, Luanne. Hayden finished in 11 minutes and will be giving Grandma a run for her money. Then he rejoined his brother to encourage him to the finish line. Priceless. Luanne set a new PR. And I took first in my age group with a time of 33:41. (there were 2 of us)

No speed, no worries

Ran 4 miles today without worrying about speed and checked my time later. Ran at a 13 min mile pace and felt like I could go at that pace for much longer.

Run For Hope 5K

Last night I started thinking, maybe not a good thing to run the day after the 4.2 race but this morning I felt okay. Eileen and I took the 3 kids and having them there makes a big difference. This was almost an entire route done in the parking lot of Westgate, not my favorite place to run. Walter, Molly, and Killian high-fived me at the half-way point which helped fuel me. You have to wonder how much is physical and how much mental. (and how great it'd be if they would only work together) I finished in 34:06 and placed 2nd in my age group (50-59) and the kids all took turns wearing the medal. Also, free Diamond Back tickets for all runners. (and I'm officially over 170 miles for the year!)

6th Annual Pat's Run

I ran the Pat Tillman 4.2 mile race this morning in 47:10. That's 25 seconds slower than last year but it was not as taxing and I felt pretty good afterwards. There were 19684 finishers and I came in 10907 overall and 186th out of 841 in women age 50-59. This is another thing I like about running, stats. So while I'm on the subject,I was 1.5 min behind Lori last year and this year about a minute. (so there's my improvement) This race is the second largest one in Az (I'm guessing P.F. Chang is largest) and the entire race is pretty much elbow-to-elbow but you'd be hard pressed to find a more enthusiastic, patriotic group of runners.

Obit

When I was running today I was thinking about those runner's ID's that you see advertised. As the trucks whiz by I was thinking I wouldn't be identified if I got hit while on a run. Or maybe it was the song on my Ipod, "we plan for tomorrow but today is all we have." And then I thought, please, please don't let my obituary read, "she was an avid runner." Perhaps something like, "she tried running, and like many other things she tried, she really stuck with it." That would be fine.

A New Game Plan Daily

I'm asking myself as I went out for a run, could I just enjoy it and not worry about how slow my pace is? After all, my goal this year is to run a 500 miles so can I just concentrate on distance and not speed? Um, no to both. (I don't make the rules those little voices in my head do.) So then I thought maybe I will concede to being the slowest in my age category now but in my 80's I will plan to be the fastest. Ok, there's something we can both agree on. (me and my voices)

The many measures of a run

I was complaining to my son-in-law about my ever decreasing pace and he asked, "Does it always have to be about speed?" So today I decided to do my run without a watch and just try to enjoy it. Bleah! Could I work up to enjoyment? Maybe that could be goal.....and how do I measure quantitatively enjoyment?

A World Divided

And now my world is divided into 2 types of people:

1) those who run (and I'm embarrassed for them to know my pace)

2) those who don't run and think every race I run is a marathon (for the record, I have never done nor do I ever intend to do a marathon, half-marathon or anything remotely connected to the word, marathon.)

Being the spectator

Today my daughter, Brigette, ran the Phoenix Zoo "Run Wild" 5K and she did her best time, 30:45. (We both ran this last year and she took almost 5 minutes off her time!) Her boys and I cheered her on, the route looped through the zoo twice. Then the boys did the Kids 1K with everyone cheering them on.
At home I ran my 5K route, at Brigette's finishing time I was only at 2.6 miles. She attributes her improvement to cross-training. Competition never felt so good.

Plateauing

I'm at a little over 135 miles and it's slow going. That's because I don't do long runs; sometimes I have to talk myself into going out at all. Runs are not getting easier. It must be time to incorporate some core training. Something to push me through this phase.

Nun Run

A beautiful Sat morning for the First Annual Nun Run. Money is being raised to build a new monastery for the Poor Clares. And yes, nuns running in full habit beat me. (In my defense, they were wearing tennis shoes.) I ran 34:40 and finished 154 out of 490 in the 5K overall and finished 8 out of 55 in the 50 - 59 women age group. Afterwards Brigette offered a drill to help me with my pace. I did six 440 yd sprints with a 90 second rest in between. Did I mention I retired at 6 pm this evening?

Puddle jumping

Running early today with sprinklers on, I tried to avoid puddles on the sidewalk. Having found myself suddenly sprawled onto the concrete on more than one occasion, I don't like taking any chances. It's as if I'm afraid my body would use that as an excuse to take a fall. And so the battle rages on, between mind and body.

Sprinting along

I'm trying to incorporate some sprints into my runs. It's difficult so I'm concentrating on just using the lower circular part of the track to sprint. That gives me nearly 2 minutes to recover. I feel like I would rather run twice as far than sprint at all but it's supposed to be integral to improving pace. And my pace has been getting slower. Apparently my body has gotten complacent with longer distances so the goal is to push out of that mode. But isn't complacency sort of what it's all about in your 50's? I'm just saying.....

Mixed Blessings

I'm not sure how people run without music. I need something to keep me going. And in between songs I might offer up a prayer. For balance, for perspective, for perseverance if not speed. Sometimes a chant works well. Today my silent refrain sounded like "Father we adore You, lay our lives before You....Jumping Jack Flash it's a gas, gas, gas....." I probably need to stick with one or the other.

Forecast: sunshine

Back in Arizona, back to beautiful weather running. You can pick any time of day, not like the summer where if you don't run early you won't want to run. No excuse for not running. No reason to run fast though.

Me, a runner?

At the Museum of Science and Industry we walked through the section on the human body. One exhibit measured your standing heart rate. A young man's was 66, the next woman's was 83, so I tried and mine was 51. The demonstrator said that was good and asked, "Are you a runner?" I was surprised. I guess I think of myself as a psuedo-runner, a wanna-be runner, maybe even a run-to-blog persona. But he actually asked if I was a runner. Ya hear that, heart?

The Do-It-Yourself 5K

We're in Chicago for the National Association of School Psychologists conference where my daughter, Eileen, is presenting and we've got the option of running the "guided" 5K at 7 am on Weds, Thurs, or Fri (read temps in the low 30's) or running on your own anytime. So guess which one I chose (I'm from Phoenix, the 50's is cold to me!) It's a scenic path along the Lake Michigan with views of downtown Chicago past the museums and back. My friend, Nancy, joined me and we layered for the weather and settled on a noonish time frame. The hardest part was deciphering the map route and since it wasn't a timed run we made a detour to a museum lost and found where I'd left a hat the day before. But we accomplished our Windy City 5K and celebrated with Chicago-style pizza.

The Essence of Running

My daughter,Kate,sent me this quote: "Running is a road of self-awareness and self-reliance...you can push yourself to extremes and learn the harsh realities of your physical and mental limitations or coast quietly down a solitary path watching the earth spin beneath your feet, but when you are through, exhilarated and exhausted, at least for a moment everything seems right with the world." Two points seem obvious here: 1)I'm more the coaster-type runner 2) My daughter "gets" me.

Fun in the rain

Today I did the 3.3 ISES Run (International Society of Endovascular Specialists) at the Scottsdale Phoenician. It's a scenic, hilly run along the golf cart paths. I was so ill-prepared for the hills and need some exercises that will help me power thru them. Afterwards they have a spread of muffins, danish, bagels, croissants, jellies, fresh fruits, juices.....perhaps this was what I was remembering instead of the hills. They also give 3 medals for each age group and I won silver with an abysmal time of 39:03. Gotta love a run sponsored by a classy resort.

I got nothin

I ran at the high school track today. Tried to work in some speeding up intervals. Really tough for me. I have 2 discernible speeds: slow and walk. Also I'm sorry to relate that nothing crossed my mind during all my treks around. How is that possible?

Just why

This is one of those days that I understand the wisdom of setting a long-term goal. Otherwise I can think of no earthly reason why I would want to run. As my feet pound along, "No, still not thinking of one." And why is the first mile so much longer than subsequent miles? (I'm at 83 miles.)

Physics for runners

It's hard to be in a bad mood for very long when you run but I continue to test that theory. Possibly it takes energy to maintain negativity and that energy is displaced by the energy it takes to run. Newton may even have come up with a formula for this.

Fun Run

"You're going down, Grandma!" is what my son-in-law (affectionately) told me at the start of our 5K Fun Run to benefit my grandson's school. Hayden's parents ran it with dad pushing Killian and my job was to run alongside Hayden. Different strategy from my usual races and a lot of fun. We'd run to a predetermined spot and then speed walk until he was ready to run again. He wanted to know how long it would take as he'd only run one mile prior to this. I thought maybe 40 - 50 minutes and told him that, like 12 and a half times around the track. Then wanted to know how long we'd been running already. "3 minutes." He did awesome though, never giving up and sometimes running for longer periods than he'd planned. We passed 2 miles at about 1/2 hour and by the time we got to the 3 mile marker his mom was there to cheer us on to the finish.
Hayden got first place for the 12 and under group! I think he'll be running again.
(I'm at almost 80 miles.)

Army of One

Some 35 years ago I was in the Army so if needed I can conjure up my old drill instructor's voice when I'm ready to give up on a run. "Quitting is not an option, Private! ......ain't no need in looking down, ain't no discharge on the ground ......your left, your left, your left, right, left ..........." and the like. Sometimes that's enough to defeat the part of me that wants to wimp out.

Hiking Superstition

We hiked the Siphon Draw trail in the Superstition Mtns yesterday. Three miles up to the Flatiron at 4861' that took us 3.5 hours of (some)strenuous climbing. There's an awesome 180 degree view from on top. Going down took 2.5 hrs and was grueling on the knees. Harder than any run I've done but totally worth it.

Back at it

Running doesn't get easier just because I passed another milestone (the 10K). But it is nice to have a friend to run with for a few days. We ran 2 miles yesterday and 2.5 today in beautiful spring-like weather. She lets me set the pace and runs a few steps behind me. When we pass someone on the sidewalk I want to say, "Is she still chasing me?" but I can't really converse while running yet.

10K: Mission Accomplished!

We did our Lost Dutchman 10K. The event features a marathon, half-marathon, 10k, 8K, and 2 mile walk/run. Weather was in 50's (going up to 70's) and the event was really well organized. I struggled through almost the first 2 miles but at our halfway marker turn around point I started to feel better. Kept my pace up through the 4 mile not feeling too bad. By the time I hit the 5 mile marker I was walk/running and energy level was on "low battery." It was all I could do to run the last section to the finish line but I kept my daughter in sight and plugged on. They actually have bleachers set up near the end with spectators cheering so it makes you want to run to the finish. My daughter, Brigette, finished 1:14:41, I finished 1:16:23, and Nancy was 1:20:36. My friend, Luanne, set a new PR for the 2 miler and we were a happy group going through the food line. Then we all helped each other up and headed home.

I Love Icons (no, not that kind)

So my friend, Nancy, is here in Arizona to run the 10K with me and I'm excited. She told me maybe she could put some little icon in my blog that will show the progress on my running 500 miles in 2010. And that makes me really excited. I love checkpoints and calculations of all sorts. I've been known to make a "To Do" with a few items on it that I've already accomplished just so I can have some things crossed off. Today I coaxed myself to do a two mile run by telling myself I could think about these little icons and whether they would be pie-shaped or bar graphs or maybe a map with my distance markers. As I neared 2 miles I was thinking that if we were only doing the 2 mile run tomorrow I wouldn't have any qualms. But I realized that I wouldn't run any faster and when it was done I could have still run another 4.2 miles (theoretically.) And I thought that maybe with my relaxed pace, I'm better off doing a longer distance. Could it really be as simple as that? That all I have to do is keep running? Tomorrow will tell.

"It's Gonna Take Some Time . . ."

I was going to complain about my 2 mile run today -- how I felt disjointed, my hips and knee ached with the each pound of the pavement and I wanted to quit the entire run. But by the time I showered and had coffee I felt pretty good. I need to remember that the benefits of running are not always immediate (or obvious.)
I found a 5K Nun Run in March. My first impulse was to make sure I'd read that correctly and my second was, oh, I gotta do this! I've never done a run sponsored by nuns I told anyone that would listen. It's for the Poor Clares who are raising money to build a chapel. They have a website called "desertnuns." How cool is that?

Blogging about it does not a runner make

I realized that I haven't posted my distance as it pertains to my goal of 500 miles. Currently I'm at 61.3 miles. I only count the miles I run without stopping, except for races, which will include the whole amount even if I have to walk some of it. This just keeps me honest. I use mapmyrun.com to check out any variations from my run routes which are mostly in our neighborhood or at the track. So today when I ran my 2 miles I was almost surprised to still be struggling. Apparently having finally blogged about running does not make one a runner.

Race thoughts

Sometimes at the larger races there will be paramedics positioned along the route. It has not escaped my notice that as I run by they slowly assume full alert status undoubtedly thinking, "I won't be caught flat-footed if this 55 year old collapses. Not on my watch!" And sometimes a concerned runner passing me will ask, "Are you okay, ma'm?" I have found that a grimace or a short exhale will suffice. The exception to the rule is if the finish line is in sight. Then I can smile and have been known to high-five bystanders.
Did I mention my anxiety increases as the race date draws near? Five days and counting til the 10K. Currently my buddy signed up to run with me is snow-bound (all flights canceled.) And my daughter who was also going to run is now pregnant.......geeeez, what people won't do to get out of a run.

Fakin it

When I start to run I feel stiff and awkward. Like my feet are being forced to bend and my gait is unnatural.It's like I'm trying to imitate someone running. It takes me at least a half mile and sometimes almost a mile before I feel like I'm running and not play acting running. Around that time I can feel that it's not getting worse with each step. And I actually tell myself, "it's not going to get any worse than this." At least there's some comfort in the routine, knowing I just have to fake it until my running becomes real.

Those little voices

I swear the hardest part of running is mental. I have trouble getting motivated and trouble starting out. My reluctant heart does not like to be pushed and sometimes my mind tries to suggest "dire health consequences" if I exert myself. Ignoring this, the little voices start in with "what about your knee? That knee is not good and it's starting to really ache" (I have a bad knee and my alternate blog title was "Run Missing Meniscus Run" but it felt too cumbersome) If this isn't enough, then I get "maybe your hips aren't just sore, they could actually be deteriorating, afterall you're losing bone mass." I just think that maybe older runners have it tougher because all of these things make a lot of sense. But then I get a good Rolling Stones or Billy Joel song and just drown them out.

The 10K looms

About 8 months ago I signed up for the Lost Dutchman 10K because last year I did the 8K and it seemed like a good idea. It seemed possible. A few months ago it even seemed plausible. And now it seems sort of crazy and approaching way too fast. I also realized that I don't want to do any distance longer than a 10K. This is why I came up with my 500 miles in a year --it's an achievable goal and should increase my consistency. I figure that I should average 42 miles/month but running in the summer (about 6 mos long in Phoenix) is KILLER so I need to get some big numbers on the calendar during the early part of the year and make adjustments late in the year.

Signing up for races

In 2009 I ran ten 5K's, one 8K, and a 4.2 mile run. I've run with all 4 of my daughters and I've run alone. I have a cheaper generic version of an Ipod and running clothes. And I felt like if I wasn't signed up for a race it was hard to get out and run. My pace varies from 12:30 to 10:45 and at some point I hope to get faster but I'm just happy to complete the races.

And then there were 2

In 2008 another daughter,Eileen, agreed to join me in running. We signed up for two 2 mile runs and I had a new partner. The variety of runners is amazing and everyone is so supportive. At the beginning of a race I'd wonder what I'd gotten myself into but after I crossed the finish line I couldn't wait to sign up for another race.

When will I like it?

I ran off and on that year and struggled to get any faster or go any further. I dreaded running but was determined. I got fitted properly for running shoes and never wanted to take them off. But I still had to force myself to run. I finally asked my brother-in-law who's been running for 30 years and has several marathons under his belt, "When will I start to like it?" He replied, "Oh I hate it. I just like what it does for me." and it was like I had permission to just run and not worry about being a big fan. Because I did like how I felt afterward and it always felt good to stop running.

In the beginning

Ok, so first a little on how I got started running. I'm not a runner, not particularly athletic or should I say, active. But a few years ago my daughter signed us up for a "Learn to Run" class. Yep, they have classes for everything. She was about 4-5 weeks postpartum so I thought it would be just sad if she could do it and I couldn't. Not to mention I was the oldest in the class and nothing motivates me like trying not to be pegged as middle-aged and slow. I did my homework (ran daily) so I wouldn't be the slowest in class. And after 6 weeks I could actually run a mile. I even signed up for the second class, "Ready to Run a 5K."
I ran my first 5K (with another daughter,Kate, running every step of the way alongside) in January 2007, downtown Phoenix, and was hooked.