MAC's blog

One Year Later

April 1st 2012.  The year is up.  I have not blogged about my running for most of February and all of March.  I just wasn't able to keep up to it, and then with other things going on in my life, I decided to just write a final blog.  So, here goes.

The final two months of running had its moments.  No matter what, I just tried to keep running.  It wasn't until the near end of March that I had a week off of running.  Vegas.  I wish I could have counted all the walking that we did. My legs and feet could not have handled a few miles on the hotel treadmill.  No regrets.  Also, I had a huge distraction with a big project I was working on that rendered me useless blogging, but did in fact help my running.  What takes your mind off of stress and anxiety better than running hard down the road?  Nothing. 

I reflect back on this whole year.  I weigh less than when I started.  I have more energy.  I had some downs with losing some wonderful people this past year.  My kids all got the chicken pox.  I had tons of stress.  I had some great things happen to me as well.  I have a wonderful group of friends and I would say we have gotten even closer this past year than we had ever before.  I have surrounded myself with people who have lifted me higher and I hope that I do the same for them. 

Running.  It was the sweetest moment that my last run be shared with my family.  They have had to deal with my absence when I went for runs.  They continued to support me and understood that mom was needing her time to go.  We went for a run last night.  The girls were on their bikes and Bubby was in the stroller.  He begged me to push him on his bike the whole way, but that was a negatory!!  I jogged along with my Hubby.  I loved it.  They were the perfect someones to be with to end this whole year of my running challenge.  So, I give thanks and all my love to Hubby, Bee, Honey and Bubby.  You are what makes my heart skip and my soul brighter.  Thank you all for being part of my life.

The conclusion.  I ran 703.5 miles for the year.  A far cry from 1000 miles.  I am not disappointed.  I could mix this all up with an excuse or I could say I could have tried harder, but I am not disappointed with my result.  My result was a result of my actions.  I am completely okay with it.  I ran 700 miles.  That is so awesome!!  I am proud of myself.  It was a tough challenge and it got tougher not easier as the year went on.  I had no idea what I was getting into in 2011, but I did arrive in 2012 with a smile on my face.  Bee asked me, "What now?"  I don't know, I replied.  She said that I should keep running to get to my 1000 miles.  And that is what I am going to do.  I will see how long it takes me to get there.  Happy trails!

Gross Running

Will the coughing never end?  I can't believe the amount of grossness coming out of my face.  The runny nose and the wet cough.  It is gross.  I am tired of it.  I can't seem to get that to quit.  It takes me a large amount of tissues to where I feel like I can breathe through my nose again. 

 I ran 1.4 miles in laps with Bubby playing outside.  I coughed and blew my nose a few times.  I waited until later and got 1 more mile in to round it up to 2.4 miles.  I coughed some more.  I am feeling a bit better every day, but c'mon.  I would like to turn the tap off and stop the need for tissue.  Here's to rest and wellness.

Running Nose

I went for a run after 2 days of really sick.  I will admit I am still stuffed up and coughing.  I realize that others would scoff at my willingness to go for a run at all.  I am not under any medication and I feel more like myself. 

I ran 2.9 miles and had to blow my nose numerous times.  I had to have a few coughing fits.  Yes, it does start to sound a bit stupid.  The truth, after running and getting all the mucous to move, I did feel better.  I did take it easy, and continue to take extra vitamin C and my pro-health pills.  I am getting extra rest.  I may not be able to run as much these next few days, because I want to monitor my situation and keep from putting myself into harms way.

Rise and Fall

Mama is sick or atleast starting to be sick.  I have been taking extra vitamin C, anti-cold pills (which I renamed pro-health pills) and drinking lots of water.  I feel a bit run down and as always can usually fight it. 

I saved my running for the evening when I would be in town alone after dropping off the children.  I started running and was thinking that since I felt run down that maybe I shouldn't be doing this.  I did some positive affirmations about my good health and kept going.  I got a call from Hubby and he asked about giving some medicine for Bubby.  Bubby has a cold and had been sleeping when I left for town.  He had woken up and was coughing, so Hubby thought he'd give him some Tylenol.  Bubby had other problems because he took the medicine and ended up throwing up. 

As a mom, I am thinking "Poor baby is sick.  I have another hour 'til I have to deal with it.  I will enjoy my time."  I didn't say I was a good mother.  I would like to point out I did ask Hubby if I should come home and if he wanted to come back and pick up the girls but he said he could handle it.  I asked. 

I continued running.  I was thinking about poor Bubby.  It was a cold night and I had forgotten my gloves.  In retrospect, I should have just sat and read a book, but at the time I felt my body could handle it.  So, I ran 2.1 miles.  I stretched and grabbed a warm drink and waited for the girls to be done. 

It was a difficult night.  Bubby did go to sleep, but woke up every hour for 3 hours in the middle of the night asking for something to drink.  It nearly killed me.  I was so done by morning, but Bubby was feeling good except for his cold.  I am glad he bounced back so quickly.  I did not.  I fell hard and didn't get up for 2 days.  No running.  No nothing.  I was really sick with runny nose, sinus pain and a bad cough.   I stayed heavily medicated and would not run until I felt better without any medication.  It was the worst cold I had in a long time.  My whole family just came to a stop and gathered around my bed.  It appeared to be a candle lit vigil, but maybe that was a hallucination.  I did finally recoup from my illness.  I am continually grateful for good health and for really good drugs.

60 Days

Oh yes, there is only 60 days left of this challenge.  It is the beginning of February and I made sure I ran today.  No exceptions.  2 months left, I can hardly believe I have done 10 months of running.  I will not lie, it seems longer.  I am ready to move on from this and start off on new adventures.  I know, I need to finish one before I start another.

I ran on my snowplowed track and made a run to the corner and back.  I have been feeling not very enthusiastic about running.  I try to tell myself that the faster I go the faster I will be done.  It isn't helping.  I feel with the cold weather my muscles don't want to cooperate very well.  I feel that the ground I am running on is not secure at all times.  I can't seem to make it all jive.  I hope this is just a phase and it improves as it warms up in weather terms. 

I ran 2.5 miles. 

 

My Dear Lady

This is the last day in January that I ran, meaning, I ran on the 30th but did not run the 31st.  I see that I have 2 months left of my challenge.  I am tired.  I am glad I did this, and there are still moments when I say wtf? was I thinking.  But, most of the time I am glad I did this.

Bubby was in his daddy's care.  Girls were in school.  I was free to go.  I went running and as always my pal came with me.  My dog is always so excited.  Her and I have bonded many times with my running.  She loves that I go.  I love that she keeps me company.  I tell her a car is coming she trots right beside me.  She stands at a corner to see if I am turning there and I point in what direction and she goes that way.  She is so smart.  I couldn't ask for a better running companion.  I race her at times.  I, of course, wait until she is behind me and I yell "go".  She always beats me, but that bitch has always been fast. It is good fun. 

I ran 3.1 miles and my grand total for the end of January is 612.1 miles. 

Simple

The girls came home today from the camping weekend.  I missed them.  We got them home and showered and unpacked.  They were all relaxed and looking tired from lack of sleep and tons of fun.  They were settled.  I didn't even want to go for a run, but silence had been broken in our home and as always running is a good escape from the sounds of 3 kids.  Hubby was home and I got a 2.4 mile run in.  

And that's all I have to say about that. ;)

Looking At Me

Have you learned anything about me after all these months of blogging?  The truth is that I am not one to reveal too much of my heart.  It hurts when the words leave my mouth.  I can't fathom that words are really enough to explain how the heart feels and I gladly refuse to try.  It makes me private.  It, at times, makes me feel alone.  But, if anything I have learned is that I cannot blame anyone but myself on my choice to remain closed.  I do appreciate that others wear their hearts on their sleeves.  I really admire the quality in any person when they give.  Giving a bit of yourself to help others.  It can be a very rewarding to your heart. I will say this; I really appreciate people who put themselves out there.  Volunteering.  Giving up their time.  Reaching out.  It truly is the kindest act that anyone can do.

So, speaking of volunteering, I think the Girl Guide leaders are awesome.  They took 26 girls on a camping weekend for 2 nights.  I didn't run the first night the girls were gone because I wasn't home during the day and then had to finish packing to get them to their weekend away.  The next day, I went and helped with lunch for the Guide's.  I truly respect the women who do this so effortlessly in helping with children and leading them.  My girls love it so much.  So, after I performed my mediocre deed I had the afternoon free and I went running. 

It is peaceful running when there is no where to be or no one to worry about.   It was a warmer winter day, which is great for running in.  The ground is still icy in areas.  I fell some hesitation in going full out.  My legs never seem to really warm up which seems to limit your stride.  I ran on the road since running laps can be so mind numbing.  I like feeling free.  I don't mind the appearance of the sameness of the road because atleast when I look ahead I see so much in front of me.  It is a powerful moment.  A moment that transcends into feelings of how the world should be; that there is so much ahead of you and so much can change.  I've seen this same road transformed from the new grass in spring, to the heat of summer, change in color in fall and the sparkling snow in winter.  The same never is the same.  I guess that is how one would look at themselves in the mirror.  The child that catches their reflection in the mirror for the first time and senses they are looking at their "me" and then as you age and you change in appearance, but you remain "yourself" inside.  The same person that you saw as a child in your reflection is still within you and will continue to remain all the days of your life but, nothing on the outside is the same.  But, with all the changes there is beauty everywhere which is wrapped in joy and happiness.  No matter where life takes you; you will be fulfilled by looking for the beauty in even the mundane moments.  It really will be what carries you through.  And yes, that would mean seeing yourself and seeing your own beauty.  Easy peezie, lemon squeezie, right?

I enjoyed my 4 mile run.  I spent the rest of the day enjoying time with my hubby and Bubby, of course.  I hoped the girls were enjoying their time as well.  Again, thank you to the volunteers and lovely humans that give so much without asking for anything in return.  Truly admirable.

 

High-Jacker

I went running in town.  It is dark and cold.  I think that I am crazy for running at night in town.  I run only on lighted streets which many would probably say is not wise either.  I can only go with the hope that I will remain safe and that with traction on my shoes I can evade any scary lunatics that could be lurking the streets.  I get strange looks from people.  I think they are either thinking that "she's crazy" or "get a description in case there is some petty crimes in town they got their suspect".  The biggest crime that I could have committed was high-jacking a fitness class that night.  I feel the instructor punished me enough with her plyometric drills and her joyous laughter at our quivering muscles in the plank position, which she just so happened to walk around for and not participate in herself.  Huh!

I did run 2.8 miles before I joined the class.  I am now at 602.6 miles for a grand total.  Over 600 miles!  Another milestone.

 

A Day of Silence

"You don't stop running because you get old.  You get old because you stop running."  Jack Kirk

There are days I feel old.  My body creaks and cracks in the morning.  I run and I feel like I have weights dragging on my feet.  I don't feel rejuvenated.   I feel old.  There are days that I am counting down when the challenge is over.  I start dreaming of a time that I won't have guilt over not running.  I can give my body a proper break between workouts.  I shake my head, because truly this can never happen.  I have a wedding to stay in shape for and a lot of stressful things coming up this year.  Now is not the time to give up hope.

Hubby was home so I ran 3 miles in the morning while Bubby stayed with him.  Then after I got back he had decided that he needed to get some parts so he took Bubby with him and I was left alone.  I was startled by the silence.  It was barely unrecognizable.  Quiet?  It usually only happens around 8:30 at night when the kids are in bed.  So, I ran again.  I ran 1 more mile to make a total of 4 miles.  I enjoyed my stretching, which my old bones need to be able to function later in the day. 

I got a few things done around the house.  I did GST.  It was awesome.  I don't think my husband understands how grateful and happy it makes me to have peace and quiet.   Thank you, thank you!