One Year Anniversary

Today, the Spring No Boundaries 2015 program kicked off their season at Fleet Feet Sports. 

Today, so many people began a journey they know nothing about.  They don't know that if they stick to the program and believe in themselves, even at the toughest moment, they'll achieve so much more than just the "ability to run".  They'll realize that  by taking the first step, it will give them more than they ever asked.  They'll probably meet a friend and once they meet a few, SO MANY will just appear in their life without them even knowing it! And it will continue for the rest of their running adventure in life.

Today, as I sit here all cozy next to a warm fire, I wish I could have been at the Culver Road Armory, welcoming those people as they begin a life changing event. Roughly one year ago today, that was me. I was alone and scared beyond belief while walking into 5K orientation. I pretty much had the mentality that I had just paid $100 for a program to confirm I was NOT a runner. Even the merchandise in Fleet Feet intimidated me. It was cold outside, much like today and boy did I have my doubts! (Even then my mind was already trying to beat me down... what the heck?!)

Today, I can't imagine how much I would have missed if I didn't participate in in some sort of running program. Doing things you never thought you could, for the first time with new friends, creates such a special bond. I'll always remember what it felt like the first time I ran 5 miles with Pina... or 7.5 miles in Mendon with my girls Carrie, Tanya and Melinda. It's hard for me to describe how it feels, but I'll never forget it. It's emotional and crazy and hard but somehow you look forward for the chance to do it again...even if you hated life the entire time while you did it last time!  (Okay, maybe it's just me, but it's my blog, ha!) 

Today, 7 miles was on the "to do" list for the Half Marathon workout plan. It's been done before and will be done again. Last week I had issues with the cold, my stupid PF that's hitting my left foot something fierce and my MIND.  (Why can't I just leave my mind in the car before a run and then pick it back up as I buckle my seat belt?)  I was angry that Pina and I only got to 5ish  mileage on our GPS watch when SEVEN was the set plan.  

Today, mile 5 was again tough. It was like deja vu, only add a shooting jolt pain in my right calf.  I wanted to just stop... and I did.  I walked a handful of steps to get my momentum back up and to see where I was with the pain. I sucked it up, and then tried with all my might to get back in the groove.

Today, thanks to facebook, I didn't have to do this seven mile task alone. If I wanted to avoid running in the frigid temps tomorrow, these seven miles had to happen today. Pina wasn't free this afternoon so I reached out to people in this "Moms on the Run" facebook group to see if anyone wanted to run. A coach from NoBo and a complete "virtual stranger" said "YES". I was super lucky and very appreciative! 

Today, I had some great company and when we needed to stop for a bit to walk around mile 5, they were there to help keep me motivated.  We turned around and headed for our cars. When we got near the car, Christine checked in and asked about the pain.  It was still there but I wanted to keep going.  I HAD TO. And so we did.  Thanks to her and the awesome support from Leah, we ran passed the cars.  We only had a little more than a mile, and by that time it seemed doable. The weather was crazy at times, the snow kept falling and we kept running.  I was pretty lucky with the company I had the whole way through and look forward to running with them again! See... that's what I meant when I said before that other runners, (soon to be friends), will just appear in your life.  They too are on their own running adventure and once in a while you get to share the same path. It's pretty darn cool!

Thanks No Boundaries (for the 365th time and counting).  Running changes everything!!

"You better...

"...lose yourself in the music, the moment, You own it, you better never let it go whoa, you only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow...This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo!"

I don't know what it is about this song but it really has carried me away at the hardest points of the three mile assignment... especially today while completing it on the treadmill at the gym. "This opportunity" is the here and now. The chance to forget the fatigue, sweat and desire to quit and finish the last little bit. "To own it" and "never let it go".

Thanks Eminem. Today's workout is because of you and your words. It's tough running without Pina and my girls at times, and I really appreciate your motivation. I know I have written about music before, and how beneficial it can be at times. Today was one of those times.

Slowly, I'm brainwashing my mind for when I need to tap into it during way longer runs. When I HAVE to ignore the negatives and push to that glorious end. This brain of mine can be so stubborn, just like my son... but my heart is stronger. Take that!

The Number SIX

The last time I wrote, it was sunny and warm and I had the Rochester Relay Marathon on my Bucket List. It was about SIX months ago.  I was fit, prepared and ready to tackle that race and "graduate" No Boundaries 3.0 my own way, since I wasn't in town to graduate at Summer Fest.  I was scheduled to run the 7.5 third leg of the relay on a team with a great group of runners. We called ourselves "3's Company", and nothing stood in our way... MY WAY.  The leg was hard and lonely and it was the best way to prove to myself how far I had really come!

 

Today, as we embrace a 'Snow Day', ironically on Groundhog Day,  I find myself lost in thought, reflecting on what has happened over the past SIX months. Maybe it's because the number SIX has been on the brain? Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and now were stuck with SIX more weeks of winter.  Yay! Not.  Running outside this past month has really been torture at times and I'm so over it!

(Okay, enough about that. I'll have another paragraph coming up where you can listen to me moan about the weather.  Oh yeah, and that number SIX will come up again)  

After the Rochester Relay in September, I teamed back up with No Boundaries.. but this time on a different level.  I joined the Mentor team and was extremely eager to help others who were just like I was realize that they too could learn to run! It was an amazing three months.  I was able to coach new people (some who hated the fact that they were up early, running intervals on their coveted Saturday) and make them slowly realize that anything is possible if you have the drive to make it happen!  They had the same fears, excuses I did... but now it was my turn to ease their worries and make them realize that they were doing a great thing for themselves.  I never once doubted that they couldn't do it, just like my mentors and coaches believed in me. This whole No Boundaries experience was coming full circle and it was so much fun!

I ended 2014 satisfied and so proud of everything I was able to do.  My husband and I are so close on a new level. I've never really understood him as a runner and why he did the things he did before races, while training... and now I do.  It's given us new things to talk about together.  It's allowed us to share this sport with our children which ultimately is one of the reasons I ever started this journey. The kids have participated in a handful of races this past year.  I'm such a proud mama!

 


Fast forward to today. A new session of No Boundaries is about to begin and last year at this very same Spring session, I started my journey. The goal was to learn to run, and graduate at the Rochester Flower City 5K.

What moves me today? Setting my NEW GOAL to complete the Flower City Half Marathon on April 26th!  

Yep, I'm back to training and feeling very similar to the way I did last year, but this time with a whole new set of lesson plans in front of me! While mentoring, I took a big step back in the miles I logged each week. I realized early on that I'd need to make even more of an effort to get them in, but didn't really do much to make it happen. I know "shelfing" my mentor shirt this season is the right choice so I have limited distractions and enough time to get on board with Half Marathon Training! It pains me to do this, but I can't give this wonderful program the commitment that I would want to receive as a participant. There's always next season!

The best thing about training for this next goal is that I have my partner in crime with me, Pina! Her and I have been through so much and I can't even express the excitement I feel knowing we'll cross that finish line together.  It will be her first half marathon too.  We have come such a long way!!! I still think about last summer when I was waiting the SIX long weeks in between the end of 5K and beginning of 2.0.  We accomplished so much, getting up to our very first 5 mile run. 

This past Sunday our schedule had us run SIX miles. (I told you that number would come up again). It was HORRIBLE. I pretty much hated life for 75% of the time and was very emotional. We had hills, ice and slushy snow covered the street. We were vulnerable while running on main roads to cars who were also dealing with these conditions or that weren't awake just yet. The temperature wasn't too unbearable... for I've now lowed my standards that 20 degrees or higher is "warm enough to run".  Crazy, I know!!!

The only reason we are smiling is because the stupid sucky snowing 6 miles in Spencerport are finished. 

During the run, my left foot really started to bother me.  Unfortunately, I'm currently dealing with a flare up of plantar fasciitis (again) and is causing a bunch of pain. It makes running on the snow more difficult and unfortunately makes me the most anxious as well. I have taken strides to help the pain and to prevent it. I have switched to new sneakers and have been icing, soaking and massaging my foot before and after runs. I'm about to get the Strassburg Sock to wear at night that can help stretch the muscles and tendons. I'm hoping this will also help decrease the flaring in my heel spurs. Hopefully things will really turn around soon. The pain is manageable, but would like it gone! 

Hopefully Punxsutawney Phil was wrong and Spring will show it's beautiful face in a month or so! Regardless, there are miles to log.  Until then, here's to the next three months of getting back to where I was last September, and then move ahead to being even stronger.

"I've got this"... right?