Skinny Tuesday

Can I get a WWWOOOOHHHOOOO!!!

I ran 13.1 miles in 2 hours 29 minutes 51.8 seconds

I finished 293 of 440 women

Us after the race. L to R: Dwight, Me, Mike, and Lori

Lori never ceases to amaze me she finished 168th with a time of 2 hours and 7 minutes

Rock on Sista!!

This was probably one of the hardest mental challenges I have ever faced. After mile 10 I hit a wall, the mind starting convincing me of my weaknesses and the muscles started to follow suit. My legs were so tight I could barely pick them up off of the ground. However when the 57yr old passed me on the final hill, somehow I managed to get those knees lifted!! The grandma beat me to the finish, but I thank her for the motivation she gave me to not walk!

Monday I really felt the result of those tight muscles - sore quads and glutes, with several inflammed tendons. Despite all of this, I COMPLETED A HALF MARATHON!!!!

The best part of the race was the reaction of Noah. See, we have been really wrapped up in the Olympics. Noah knows all about Michael Phelps and his gold medals. Well, at the end of the run we were given gold medals - see the group pic. Noah's eyes were as big as those Olympic golds when he saw that around my neck. "Moooommmmm! You got a golden medal! Oh my gosh Mom you are so awesome, you have a golden medal just like the Olympics! Mom, you are my best friend. I am so proud of your golden medal." Ok - I would have cried but I had no more to give - I had sweated out everything I had in those thirteen miles. That was one of the best days I have had as a mom. My boy thought I was an Olympian.

So Skinny Tuesday this week is all about rewards. I know y'all have been working hard. Reward yourself. Have some frozen yogurt. Take a day off from the gym. When you meet your goals you should give praise to God and give yourself a little love!!

Thank you God for giving me a strong body and getting me across that line!!!!!

What we have been up to....

Skinny Tuesday

Ok short and sweet this week folks.

Just to sum up my last week.........

Only one training run happened, the one on tuesday Aug. 5. Then that was it. I got some kind of something that killed me for a WEEK. At first I was blaming Eve, but then I went to the thought of kidney infection, kidney failure, to meningitis. Needless to say I still feel like crap today, but with the race looming only 5 days away I forced myself to the gym and forced out a 35min run. I thought I would DIE! Sweat pouring off my face, heavy breathing, and just a poor poor run. I then realized how dehydrated I was. This is going to be a struggle on Sun.

On the upside the compression band around my knee helped. I just need rest, fluids, and good food. 3 things that have not happened the last week.

I have plans to run 2 more times this week. I am going to push a 45min run on Thursday, a 15min run on Friday and the meet the beast on Sun.

I have not had time to research tips or exercises, cause all I have wanted to do was curl up and die for the past 7 days. Next week, hopefully, we will pick it back up and I will have news that I am not on the front page of the paper for dying during the marathon, but news that I made my goal - finish without walking and hopefully make it in 2.5hrs. Wish me luck and please PRAY for me. I am gonna need it.

Also, on another front. Keeping your heart healthy is so important. My mom is having surgery this Thursday and is having a pacemaker/defibrillator combo implanted. Please PRAY for her as well. Women are hugely impacted by heart disease and this should be on our minds at all times. Strong HEARTS!!!!

See you on the other side of the finish line!!

Skinny Tuesday

A little reflection......
If you noticed last week's list of training runs, you noticed I ran three days in a row. This was stupid on my part. I knew better, but my desire to run with friends took precedence over my need to stay healthy. That third day of running resulted in shin splints. I had to ice my shins two-three times/day Tues, Wed, Thur, and Fri. They were sore when I started my monster run on Sat but the soreness went away and they seemed to have recovered well. My knee is the newest concern right now and I am wondering if it is directly related to me improperly resting my legs.
I am putting heat on my knee and taking ibuprofen for inflammation. This is not my idea of running for fun. Lesson learned.

Let my mistake be your reward. Don't work your muscles several consecutive days in a row. It can result in injury. A healthy runner is better than any injured runner, 100% of the time.
Be smart while training, use self-discipline.

I am anxious to run tomorrow to see how the knee is going to work.

Ok - now that the poopy smoopy part is over. Let's give some *claps* to those runners in the heat wave of summer!!! I am cruising along with superb weather: highs of low 60's and overcast skies with no humidity. My fellow runners are in heat indexes close to triple digits and humidity that can smother a mosquito. I think my running skills would seriously falter in those conditions. So you all get *high-fives* and know that YOU ROCK!

I think most of you who read this have children, even if you don't, these websites are loaded with info and fun to read.
*Moms that Run* - CLICK HERE and *Marathon Mommies* - CLICK HERE

Moms that Run just had a piece on gels. My piece was small so, check it out. Good stuff.

I never thought in my life that I would ever be a runner. Accomplishing 10 miles in one day just has me amazed. Our bodies are so much stronger than our minds allow us to think. Sure, about mile 7 I was thinking I wasn't going to make it, but I did not allow my brain to talk me out of it. I just kept telling my muscles to keep going, knowing that if I stopped, restarting was going to be much tougher than just keeping myself going. I don't think those prayers for help went unanswered, they carried me on through!!!

I must take a minute and give God all the praise for my achievements as of late. On those longer runs all I am doing is asking God to help me push through the pain and not to quit on myself. He is the only one providing me with the strength and motivation to see this through. Without His help I wouldn't have done this:

- Lost 16lbs
- Able to run for almost 2 constant hours
- Learn to eat better
- be in tune with what my body wants and does not
- seek Him when I want to quit
- praise Him for what He has given me - the strength to do this!!
- the desire to pass on this to others whether you want to read it or not!

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him - Psalm 28:7

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. - Psalm 73:26

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. - Isaiah 40:29

Training Runs this week

Thursday - 45min pushing the stroller - thought I would die!!
Sat - 115min
Tues - 60min
Wed - 45 min
Fri - 40 min
Sat 60 min

EXERCISE OF THE WEEK:

Because of the my injury I am going to stress the importance of stretching. Stretching feels good and helps muscles to be not so sore after a good workout. I do a great 15min stretching routine after every regular workout and most of my runs (I know, I need it every time!!)

See some great stretches and their demos HERE

TIP OF THE WEEK:

If you don't know ASK!! This is so important, even for me. How did I learn about all this stuff?? Reading, asking, watching. If you aren't sure what to eat, ASK. Don't know what to ask? Define some goals. When talking with friends and family they always say "meal plans don't work for me" That is fine. Find some where you can plug in what you eat on a day-to-day basis and look at how many grams of fat, carbs, protein, cholesterol, sodium, you are eating. Every label on food gives you a standard qty to consume based on a 2k cal diet. This is a start. Start somewhere. Next week, but skim instead of 2% milk. The internet is a great resource, and can help you learn some basics. Knowledge builds STRENGTH!!!

A long show

More from the beginning of July

Ouch

Sat 9am

I ran and ran and ran and ran

10:55am

I am home

10 miles, a sore knee, feeling of accomplishment, screaming quads - calves - glutes, and the confidence needed to face the half marathon in 2 weeks.

I'll take it and do it again - in two weeks.

Fourth of July Seward - Part 1

I said it was coming. More later

~mj