I started running in 2009. I found it to be a great stress reducer, as well as an efficient way to drop unwanted pounds. It took a while to really learn to love it, but I did learn to love it. I would hate to miss a run. There were times that runs just couldn't happen though.
I ran two marathons. I am not a fast runner. I have never professed to be fast. I guess I might even be slower than average. I enjoy running though. I knew I would never qualify for Boston. I have never set my sights on running the Boston Marathon because I would be a distant last place, I am sure.
Seeing the attacks on Boston today, really stirred some strong emotions in me. I sat, in complete horror, with goosebumps covering me, for at least an hour. I watched it playing out on the screen. The older man, I just now heard on the television that he is in his 70s, falling over just a matter of yards from the finish line. The woman falling right at the finish line. My heart was breaking for the people.
When I ran the SunTrust Richmond Marathon, my three young children, my husband and my mother were there. They had made signs for me to hold at the finish line. When I was nearing the finish line, I saw them. I saw them holding their signs and cheering me on. When I saw the explosions on television today, that would have been exactly where my family was in relation to the finish line in Richmond. I knew there would be injured children. Children are their parents biggest supporters. My children, at least, are mine. I can't imagine the horror that parents were feeling, knowing that their children were probably close to the explosion.
I wouldn't have been near the finish line with 4:09 on the clock. I would have still been an hour and a half away. Like I said, I am not fast. I just enjoy running. I am sure the people today that were running today were doing it because they enjoy it. I don't know anyone that would sign up to run 26.2 miles just to torture themselves. Lives changed today. Lives ended today.
As I did my three mile run tonight, my thoughts were on Boston. My thoughts were about the people that have been training for so long for this race. Some people train a lifetime for it. It is not an easy race to qualify for. It takes a lot of dedication. I prayed as I ran. I prayed for the injured and the families of the dead.
My prayers are with Boston. Although I will never run Boston, my heart is there. May God Bless the people that lost loved ones. May God Bless the people that were injured, physically and mentally. I would not have done well if I had been there and seen what people saw. May God Bless America!
Monday, April 15, 2013
Thursday, April 11, 2013
A Four Mile Run?
Last evening, I was supposed to do a four mile run. It was my first run in a week. I had caught a stomach bug that was not willing to let go for a while. My energy was gone. I was needing more sleep than usual. I was trying to give my body time to recuperate before running again.
My husband got home from work. Dinner had been made, we had lemon pepper pork chops, asparagus, mashed potatoes and salad. It was on the table. I informed my husband that I had to do a four mile run. I told him he was in charge of my children, and then I left. I told him I would be gone about an hour, because after I ran, I had to buy some gas.
I got to the park that I was running at. It was supposed to be a four mile tempo run. With the two middle miles being faster than the first and last. This meant that I would have to do the 2/3 mile loop and the 1/3 mile loop, and then 3 times around the 2/3 mile loop and then repeat the first. I was ready to get started.
I did the first mile, which seemed to be much further than 1 mile. Judging from the time the first "mile" took me (13:58) it was at least 1.2 miles. I then did the next two miles. I was starting to think that I was over exerting myself at about 1 1/3 miles into the 2 mile segment. My stomach started to really hurt. There was a big part of me that wanted to quit the run. I think it was pretty much all of me that wanted to quit the run, except for my heart.
My heart winning over the rest of my body, I continued on. I finished the two-mile segment. Knowing that my first mile was likely 1.2 miles, I did one more 2/3 mile loop and then the 1/4 mile loop. By the time I was done, when I checked my fitbit, I had gone over 4 miles. That was enough for me. My legs felt like they were going to fall off. It wasn't a really good feeling. It was good to know that I could will myself to finish my goal, but I hurt. It wasn't just a little...
I was supposed to run with my sister after I finished the four mile run. By the time, I bought gas and got home, I could barely walk. I let her know that I couldn't run another step, then went upstairs, put on my pajamas, and then ate dinner.
In New York, where I used to run, there was a trail in my hometown, that had each 1/4 mile marked. It made it really easy to train for races. I knew how far I had to run, so I would do out and backs to the distance I had to. I am hoping to discover a place like that around here.
I got to the park that I was running at. It was supposed to be a four mile tempo run. With the two middle miles being faster than the first and last. This meant that I would have to do the 2/3 mile loop and the 1/3 mile loop, and then 3 times around the 2/3 mile loop and then repeat the first. I was ready to get started.
I did the first mile, which seemed to be much further than 1 mile. Judging from the time the first "mile" took me (13:58) it was at least 1.2 miles. I then did the next two miles. I was starting to think that I was over exerting myself at about 1 1/3 miles into the 2 mile segment. My stomach started to really hurt. There was a big part of me that wanted to quit the run. I think it was pretty much all of me that wanted to quit the run, except for my heart.
My heart winning over the rest of my body, I continued on. I finished the two-mile segment. Knowing that my first mile was likely 1.2 miles, I did one more 2/3 mile loop and then the 1/4 mile loop. By the time I was done, when I checked my fitbit, I had gone over 4 miles. That was enough for me. My legs felt like they were going to fall off. It wasn't a really good feeling. It was good to know that I could will myself to finish my goal, but I hurt. It wasn't just a little...
I was supposed to run with my sister after I finished the four mile run. By the time, I bought gas and got home, I could barely walk. I let her know that I couldn't run another step, then went upstairs, put on my pajamas, and then ate dinner.
In New York, where I used to run, there was a trail in my hometown, that had each 1/4 mile marked. It made it really easy to train for races. I knew how far I had to run, so I would do out and backs to the distance I had to. I am hoping to discover a place like that around here.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Illness
I haven't run since Wednesday because I got violently ill on Thursday. Wednesday, I did a four mile run. It was supposed to be four miles, but I am not sure it was, unless I did my tempo runs a lot faster than I have ever run a mile before. My children said the loop at their school was .25 miles, but I am thinking it may have been closer to .2. I am going to inquire at the school.
I have decided that I am not going to run again until Wednesday. My energy has been depleted by this illness. I don't feel great yet, but I feel much better. I was supposed to run yesterday and tomorrow, but I think if I take off about a week, I will be doing much better by then.
It is no fun losing out on a couple of runs, but I think it is wise in the long run. So far, my husband, my bro and sis, and two of my children have had this. I hope the other two avoid getting it.
I have decided that I am not going to run again until Wednesday. My energy has been depleted by this illness. I don't feel great yet, but I feel much better. I was supposed to run yesterday and tomorrow, but I think if I take off about a week, I will be doing much better by then.
It is no fun losing out on a couple of runs, but I think it is wise in the long run. So far, my husband, my bro and sis, and two of my children have had this. I hope the other two avoid getting it.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Easter Day and a Four Mile Run
Happy Monday everyone! My brother came to visit for the weekend from Washington State on Friday. We went down to Salt Lake City to look around Temple Square and see some of the other sites. I decided to put my four-mile run on hold until Sunday because I wanted to have fun.
It has been a wonderful weekend with him. He was able to get some good video of the children's Easter egg hunt. We enjoyed some good food. My children, my husband and I went to church in the morning. When we came home, the Easter Bunny had come. That is always fun. It is nice to see them running around and enjoying the time.
We went to Wingers and DP Cheesesteak on Saturday. I enjoyed a salad and shared a sub with my sister. We introduced my brother to the Godiva Shakes. He really enjoyed it. I knew that I couldn't skip my run on Sunday after all that delicious food and knowing what we were going to eat for Easter.
(It is Tuesday now, something came up and I had to stop my blog.) When I was ready to head out for my run, I asked my older children if they wanted to go to the playground. They all said yes. I left my toddler with my husband and we left. I had to do 6 laps around the park, each was 2/3 miles. Every time I would pass the children on the playground, they would wave and say hello. It was nice to see them.
On my fifth lap, I asked the children if they would want to run the last lap with me. They said yes. I was excited, since this was the first time I had run four-miles straight in a long time. I finished my fifth lap, when I got to the last lap and passed the playground, the children had decided they didn't want to run with me. That was fine. I supposed that if I was a child, I would much rather be playing on the playground. I finished the four-mile run in 46:47.74.
I walked to the playground after I finished the four-miles to cool off. I gathered the children together and we headed out after I watched them play for a little while. They enjoyed doing the monkey bars and the slide. It was nice that they got to play for about 50 minutes to let some of their energy out. We went to the Redbox that was located across the street and rented a movie. We then headed home.
All in all, it was a wonderful run. I was happy to have completed four-miles. I know I will finish it faster as time goes by, but for now, it was nice to just finish :)
It has been a wonderful weekend with him. He was able to get some good video of the children's Easter egg hunt. We enjoyed some good food. My children, my husband and I went to church in the morning. When we came home, the Easter Bunny had come. That is always fun. It is nice to see them running around and enjoying the time.
We went to Wingers and DP Cheesesteak on Saturday. I enjoyed a salad and shared a sub with my sister. We introduced my brother to the Godiva Shakes. He really enjoyed it. I knew that I couldn't skip my run on Sunday after all that delicious food and knowing what we were going to eat for Easter.
(It is Tuesday now, something came up and I had to stop my blog.) When I was ready to head out for my run, I asked my older children if they wanted to go to the playground. They all said yes. I left my toddler with my husband and we left. I had to do 6 laps around the park, each was 2/3 miles. Every time I would pass the children on the playground, they would wave and say hello. It was nice to see them.
On my fifth lap, I asked the children if they would want to run the last lap with me. They said yes. I was excited, since this was the first time I had run four-miles straight in a long time. I finished my fifth lap, when I got to the last lap and passed the playground, the children had decided they didn't want to run with me. That was fine. I supposed that if I was a child, I would much rather be playing on the playground. I finished the four-mile run in 46:47.74.
I walked to the playground after I finished the four-miles to cool off. I gathered the children together and we headed out after I watched them play for a little while. They enjoyed doing the monkey bars and the slide. It was nice that they got to play for about 50 minutes to let some of their energy out. We went to the Redbox that was located across the street and rented a movie. We then headed home.
All in all, it was a wonderful run. I was happy to have completed four-miles. I know I will finish it faster as time goes by, but for now, it was nice to just finish :)
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