After my last 33K run I kind of felt discouraged. It was so difficult and painful and the marathon is 9 more kilometers!
Last week I was reading my grandfather's memoirs. My Aunt had typed them up and made a book of it for everyone in the family. I found it so interesting and I couldnt believe what he has lived through in his lifetime. He lived through war, poverty, immigration to a strange country with 7 young children and a pregnant wife and had to work so hard to make it. It made me realize how easy our lives are now!
One of my favourite stories in the book was when they had their 8th child. It was shortly after they had immigrated from Holland to Canada and they were working and living on their sponsor's farm. When my grandmother went into labour the farmer would not take them to the hospital which was around 20 miles away. My grandfather went around to the neighbours asking for a ride. Finally he got a ride. They had a healthy baby boy but Oma had to stay in the hospital and Opa had to go home to their other 7 children. He had to figure out a way to get home. His son, my Dad, always says "There is no such word as Can't". Now I know where he got that from. What my Opa did was walk to his pastor's house and borrowed money to buy a bike. Then he rode the bike home...at night....and in the winter. He ended up going the wrong way and the trip ended up taking twice as long. He said in his book he was very happy to get home and the children were very happy to see him because they were very worried.
I couldn't help but think of this story when I was running 33K last Saturday. It was windy and cold and I felt nauseas. But then I thought of my skinny Opa riding on his rickety bike in the winter trying to get home to his children. Im sure he was cold and frustrated and wanted to give up. If Opa can do that whats a few more kilometers!
This week I am reading a book called "Run to Overcome" Its about Meb Keflezighi, the winner of the 2009 New York City marathon and silver medalist of the 2004 Olympic marathon. His story is similar to my Opa in that he lived in poverty, war and immigrated to a strange country and had to work very hard. Meb became a 5 and 10 K national champion but was encouraged to compete in the marathon. He was expecting to do very well in his first marathon, maybe even win like Alberto Salazar did on his first marathon. He came in 9th and was very discouraged and said he would never run another marathon. Weeks later he went back to his homeland, Eritrea and was humbled and reminded of how simple his people lived and how easy he had it in the US. How could he get so discouraged over a marathon! God had blessed him with the gift of running and training was nothing compared to how hard these people worked.
Its funny how I read these two similar stories within a couple weeks. Both lived through very difficult situations but worked hard, appreciated their blessings even in the tough times and trusted the Lord for their future. Sometimes I feel like Im making too big a deal of this marathon and Im not even raising any money or doing it for some noble cause. But the fact that I happened to read these 2 books in a row made me feel like God was speaking to me and encouraging me when I felt discouraged. He always does that! God is amazing like that. My life IS a big deal to God! He teaches me something in everything I do. He wants to encourage me, a back of the pack marathon runner just as much as He encourages Meb, a marathon champion!
Life is like a marathon. |Its difficult and painful at times, but if we appreciate what we have, do our best, work hard and trust in the Lord we will receive the prize at the end!
Running for Physical, Mental and Spiritual Health
Monday, April 30, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Nausea and Other TMIs
Last week I survived my first 30K run. I went with my running buddy, my brother-in-law Ed. It took us 3hrs 9 minutes which is pretty much on tract with my 4:20 marathon goal. We ran the waterfront trail in Pickering and the scenery was really nice. It sure beats my Oshawa city run. We went 15K out and then back. It was hard but when you are running with someone else you have no choice but to keep going. We had problems with clouds of little black bugs though that flew in our mouth and when I got home I noticed a dead one stuck in my eye.
This Saturday... I did 33K by myself. I did my 10K & 6.5K neighborhood route and then did them backwards. It wasnt as pretty and it was cold and windy and I felt nauseous the whole way, I'll take little black bugs over that. It took me 3 1/2 hrs too! I think it was because of the wind, plus my watch is crappy plus Ed makes me faster.
My hubby Don and I always go out for breakfast every Saturday morning. We've been doing this ever since our kids were old enough to babysit. The past ten years or so we started working out or running before we go. It feels great to have worked out and shower before our date. We say we have to work for it or it doesnt taste as good.
Last week when I ran with Ed I told Don I would do my run first and then we would just have a late breakfast and call it brunch. Well we had "brunch" at 2:00 p.m. Crazy I know but nothing stops us from having our breakfast out. It just doesnt feel like the weekend if we dont have our breakfast treat.
So this Saturday we had our breakfast at the normal time and then I did my run 2 hours later which is the usual time I have to wait after eating to run without feeling nauseous. Well 10K into it I felt like throwing up. I'd burp and then think - oh now Im going to feel better but the sick feeling never went away. I was also experimenting with these sport energy gummies and jelly beans but they just made me feel even more pukey.
I guess it was too big of a breakfast. I had 2 eggs, 2 slices of toast, tomato and a fruit bowl with strawberries, pineapple and bananas oh yeah and about 3 cups of coffee, maybe that was the reason. I wont be doing that again! On the morning of a race I always eat a couple hours before the race but I have half a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter and half a banana and a cup of coffee and it has never failed me. I'm ready to go to the bathroom right before the race and then Im good to go. I know thats TMI but its very important. I've seen runners in the bushes during a race and one time I saw a woman whip down her shorts and go behind a very skinny tree. Im not that hardcore! Peanut butter bagel from now on!
This Saturday... I did 33K by myself. I did my 10K & 6.5K neighborhood route and then did them backwards. It wasnt as pretty and it was cold and windy and I felt nauseous the whole way, I'll take little black bugs over that. It took me 3 1/2 hrs too! I think it was because of the wind, plus my watch is crappy plus Ed makes me faster.
My hubby Don and I always go out for breakfast every Saturday morning. We've been doing this ever since our kids were old enough to babysit. The past ten years or so we started working out or running before we go. It feels great to have worked out and shower before our date. We say we have to work for it or it doesnt taste as good.
Last week when I ran with Ed I told Don I would do my run first and then we would just have a late breakfast and call it brunch. Well we had "brunch" at 2:00 p.m. Crazy I know but nothing stops us from having our breakfast out. It just doesnt feel like the weekend if we dont have our breakfast treat.
So this Saturday we had our breakfast at the normal time and then I did my run 2 hours later which is the usual time I have to wait after eating to run without feeling nauseous. Well 10K into it I felt like throwing up. I'd burp and then think - oh now Im going to feel better but the sick feeling never went away. I was also experimenting with these sport energy gummies and jelly beans but they just made me feel even more pukey.
I guess it was too big of a breakfast. I had 2 eggs, 2 slices of toast, tomato and a fruit bowl with strawberries, pineapple and bananas oh yeah and about 3 cups of coffee, maybe that was the reason. I wont be doing that again! On the morning of a race I always eat a couple hours before the race but I have half a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter and half a banana and a cup of coffee and it has never failed me. I'm ready to go to the bathroom right before the race and then Im good to go. I know thats TMI but its very important. I've seen runners in the bushes during a race and one time I saw a woman whip down her shorts and go behind a very skinny tree. Im not that hardcore! Peanut butter bagel from now on!
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
My Schedule and Ice Baths
This has been my schedule since January and I've been sticking to it quite closely.
Monday: Gym - Bike 1/2 hour, 20-30 minutes weights for arms, legs, abs.
Tuesday: Running Free Marathon Clinic - 10-13K tempo run or 1K sprint repeats.
Wednesday: Gym - Bike 1/2 hr (if my shin splints are bugging me) or 1/2 hr treadmill & 20-30 min weights. (soon will be changing to 10K outside)
Thursday: 10K outside.
Friday: Off
Saturday: Long Run
Sunday: Off
I am up to 26K in my long runs. This week I have to do 30K and then every weekend in April it will be 30+K. I just have to make it through April and I will be good to go. Thats all. Its so hard and soooo time consuming!
Well at least I have lost 11 lbs ! (or more..I didnt weigh myself at first because I didnt want to know) and I am 1 lb away from my goal weight which is to be too light to be a Clydesdale. Last year I joked about being a Clydesdale but I dont want to be a work horse anymore. I want to be light and run like a gazelle...or somewhere in between.
A couple of weeks ago I took a whole week off of running. It was very hard to do but I have been suffering from shin splints in my right leg. The stinging pain was so bad when I ran it caused me to limp sometimes. I had been trying to convince myself it was getting better but someone said to me "Doesnt that mean you should stop running and let it heal?" and looked at me with a face that suggested I was crazy. Hmmm stop running, I never thought of that. So I decided to buy new shoes (my present pair are only a few months old) and take a week off to let it heal. My marathon clinic leader also suggested ice baths, anti-inflammatory cream, icing and compression. I have done all of the above and am happy to say it has gotten alot better. Im still wearing my compression strap around my shin when I run but it just hurts abit at the beginning of my run.
One thing that I am proud of is that I have conquered ice baths! I have tried taking them before and couldnt do it. This time I was determined. I wore shorts in the bathtub and a hoody with long sleeves. This really helped. At least my top half was abit warm. What a sight I am! I also used my stop watch to time 20 minutes and read a running magazine to pass the time and remind myself WHY I was shivering in a bathtub full of ice water. Once again going through child birth helped me to deal with the excruciating pain of first sitting in the ice water. I moaned and groaned my way through it! It helped.
Monday: Gym - Bike 1/2 hour, 20-30 minutes weights for arms, legs, abs.
Tuesday: Running Free Marathon Clinic - 10-13K tempo run or 1K sprint repeats.
Wednesday: Gym - Bike 1/2 hr (if my shin splints are bugging me) or 1/2 hr treadmill & 20-30 min weights. (soon will be changing to 10K outside)
Thursday: 10K outside.
Friday: Off
Saturday: Long Run
Sunday: Off
I am up to 26K in my long runs. This week I have to do 30K and then every weekend in April it will be 30+K. I just have to make it through April and I will be good to go. Thats all. Its so hard and soooo time consuming!
Well at least I have lost 11 lbs ! (or more..I didnt weigh myself at first because I didnt want to know) and I am 1 lb away from my goal weight which is to be too light to be a Clydesdale. Last year I joked about being a Clydesdale but I dont want to be a work horse anymore. I want to be light and run like a gazelle...or somewhere in between.
A couple of weeks ago I took a whole week off of running. It was very hard to do but I have been suffering from shin splints in my right leg. The stinging pain was so bad when I ran it caused me to limp sometimes. I had been trying to convince myself it was getting better but someone said to me "Doesnt that mean you should stop running and let it heal?" and looked at me with a face that suggested I was crazy. Hmmm stop running, I never thought of that. So I decided to buy new shoes (my present pair are only a few months old) and take a week off to let it heal. My marathon clinic leader also suggested ice baths, anti-inflammatory cream, icing and compression. I have done all of the above and am happy to say it has gotten alot better. Im still wearing my compression strap around my shin when I run but it just hurts abit at the beginning of my run.
One thing that I am proud of is that I have conquered ice baths! I have tried taking them before and couldnt do it. This time I was determined. I wore shorts in the bathtub and a hoody with long sleeves. This really helped. At least my top half was abit warm. What a sight I am! I also used my stop watch to time 20 minutes and read a running magazine to pass the time and remind myself WHY I was shivering in a bathtub full of ice water. Once again going through child birth helped me to deal with the excruciating pain of first sitting in the ice water. I moaned and groaned my way through it! It helped.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
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