I’ve come across some great giveaways in the blogoshere lately and wanted to spread the word. So be sure to check out:
Running Diva Momma – Chill Towels (5/27)
Running Off at the Mouth – Sof Sole and Rock N Roll (5/28)
I Run Because…I Can – Endorphin Warrior (5/28)
Tall Mom on the Run – CEP Compression (6/1)
Running into Happyness – Gift cards (6/3)
As I come across more giveaways, I’m going to list them in the sidebar in the future.
Good luck!
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying that “age ain’t nothin’ but a number” or “you’re as young as you feel.” They’re nice feel-good phrases, and generally I’ve always believed there’s some truth to them. Well, now I’ve come across a woman whose achievements just prove that the abilities of one’s body are driven far more by the strength of the human spirit than any number on a calendar.
Harriet Anderson is the Women’s 70-74 Ironman World Champion. She won this Championship, by the way with a broken clavicle that she sustained during the race! I have been haunted…in a good way…by Harriet’s story ever since I read about her a couple of weeks ago. In fact, I was thinking about her this morning as I was lacing up to head to the track before my boys were up and needing my attention. And I’m sure I’ll be thinking about her for many, many mornings to come. Her efforts are nothing short of inspiring and I think after you read her story, you may be “haunted” by Harriet too.
You can check out her story here.
Just about a month since I started this blog and I have my first award! Big shout out and thank you to Erica at I Run Because I Can for sending this my way! So I’m suppose to list 7 things about myself and then pick 15 bloggers to pass this on to.
7 things about me?
Now being relatively new to bloggy land I have to be honest and admit I don’t know 15 bloggers yet. But I continue to come across new and inspiring sites all the time now and am happy to pass this on to:
Sea Glass and Heart Stones
Two Runners and A Brown Dog
Running into Healthy Happyness
Fitness for Foodies
Healthy Stride
Moms Home Run
Running with Sass
Run Like the Wind (Or Shuffle Like an Old Lady)
Endurance Isn’t Only Physical
Running Off at the Mouth
Tall Mom on the Run
Run Faster Mommy
Run to the Finish
So I haven’t been able to run or cross-train for 3 days.
Why? Because a stomach bug set up shop at my house uninvited and is taking it’s sweet time finding the door! And this bug has a twisted sense of humor as demonstrated by the fact that the only healthy ones in my house right now are my very energetic 4-year old and the equally (if not more so) energetic German Shepherd! C’mon now, that is just wrong!
When I went to bed last night I was determined that no matter how I was feeling this morning I was going for some kind of run…walk…shuffle. Well, that bug must have heard me cause by about 2 this morning it was clear to me that I was going to have to let go of that plan. Now one interesting thing about having this uninvited guest show up is finding myself actually missing going for a run….that’s a first for me! But while I can lie here and try to appreciate this revelation, the bottom line is it’s time for this bug to move on! My C25K plan is waiting and I have some catching up to do! Wish me luck.
One of the big questions I’m trying to figure out is what to eat before and/or after a run. Most of the time I don’t eat in the morning before I run and occasionally I’ll try half a banana. I’m wondering if I’m hurting my ability to run stronger or faster by not eating before hand? I feel pretty dehydrated after the run and drink a ton of water….should I be downing a sports drink instead? Usually I feel ok post run but find I’m crashing late in afternoon.
I’ve been feeling like my running needs a little focus – a plan – if I’m going to make some progress so I’m going to try Cool Running’s infamous Couch to 5K Running Plan . For those who don’t know, this plan has a ton of fans for it’s gradual progression to move the beginner from 0 to 3 miles in 9 weeks. My first thought was this sounded painfully slow to me (have I mentioned that I have no patience!) But I think part of the problem in my past efforts to start running is my lack of patience. I start out too hard, too fast and end up injured, frustrated or both. Slow and steady might be the answer, especially since I’m dealing with an “angry” left leg. Since I am already doing some running, I’ve decided to pick up the plan at week 4 — seems like a good compromise. On my non-run days, I’ll cross-train either a pilates class or weight-training.
So I returned to the track on Monday for my first attempt. The good news is there was once again no knee pain and I comfortably completed my 2 miles. This morning felt even better. For both runs, I felt like I could have done more, but I held off….hoping that my patience will eventually pay off.
“He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying.” – Nietzsche
I don’t know about the rest of you, but Monday mornings are hard for me. Hard to say goodbye to the weekend, the time with family and friends…and of late, hard to get out of bed for a run. This morning my motivation comes from this quote that came to mind as I was struggling to open my eyes much less to get out of bed. It reminds me to be patient with myself…the distance and speed will come. It reminds me that the race I will run in the future (the 5K, the 10K and eventually the half marathon) all begin with one step, one run.
