See Nat Run

Pumpkin Run

One of the issues with being a working mom, (and the guilt too) is that I just can't make it to all the school things. (I make it to a lot of them.)

For the last few weeks, The Boy has been going on and on about the running they've been doing in gym class. They were training for the Pumpkin Run. His age group 7-8 was doing the 1500m. He also said he comes in dead last every time. (But really seemed ok with it, much to my surprise really.)

Today was the big event, and I couldn't make it. It was clear across town (30 minutes from my office) for what (should be at most a 7-minute event.) Le sigh. But I felt very bad. (Yes, I realize I am making excuses.) So I pick him up tonight, and two girls from his class come up to me à propos of nothing and say "The Boy did really well today in his run." From what I can gather he just kept running and passed a bunch of kids who just couldn't do it anymore, and finish well ahead of at least a 5 or six kids. "Well Mom, I said thanks for stopping as I passed them..." (guffaw.)

"Well, Mme Cheryl (Gym Teacher), said all she cared about was that we finished and that we ran the whole thing. I knew I could do it because I'd done it with you guys."

I must admit that when I dropped him off this morning, I was a bit concerned that he'd be crushed by his performance. But he's really really proud of himself. He had fun today. He did what he wanted to do... and he's ok with that. We talked about my coming in last prior to this, I'd like to think he was listening.

More than this though, given the hellish, awful, dreadful, cruel, sadistic, gym teachers I have had. I think Mme Cheryl really deserves a big nod for making sure all the kids understood about effort and talent. I remember the running block (fuck I hated them) in grade school. And I remember mandatory running in gym in high school and the pressure to keep up. (It's why I chuckled to myself when I run now.) The pressure to always win. Don't get me wrong, the kids are stoked their other classmates came in first (boys and girls) -- but it was really sweet that they were impressed that The Boy did so well and they recognized his effort. That's not the kind of thing you can teach, I think that's the kind of thing you show. And for that Mme Cheryl is elevated to one of my favourite teachers. I think I may write to tell the Principal about it.

Coulda been a contender

Distance: 5.1 miles
Time: 1h04 minutes
Song of the run: Violet, Hole
Yes I listened to it twice: WMA, Pearl Jam (it's got this crazy running beat.)

The plan was to run along that mall thing in Philly up to the Museum of Art, then do the Rocky thing again on Friday morning. The Man traveled early last week and we're too busy at work to sneak out for a run otherwise.

Jewel and I were on a pilgrimage to Pearl Jam. They were playing Camden. She talked me into it. We had a blast. Unfortunately the running thing didn't happen. Call it, too much beer. Getting slightly lost on the way home. But we did get out exploring on Friday morning. Then she took a nap.

Me, I walked around some more, checked out the running stores in the area. You know you're a runner when you get excited about running stores in different cities. The prices not too good, quite a bit steeper than Boston (funny that I know the price of sneakers in various cities eh?)

Jewel is not a runner, not into regular exercise either. (She's had some health issues of late too, poor kid.) I wasn't surprised she needed a nap. But I was surprised how much stamina the running gives me. How I react to heat when walking (not so much), or how I can stand for a three hour concert and feel fine. You know it's that kind of life altering benefit that we don't talk about so much. I remember feeling tired and winded when we traveled and were on our feet all day. I remember feeling sore and wanting to sit half way through a concert. Now it's really not a big deal. I can shop all day. Catch a show, all on my feet. And it feels ok. I'm not bone tired by the end of it. And that gives me inspiration to keep going.

But some things don't change, some things get worse as I get older. For instance, we failed to take our livers into account. We grabbed a late lunch and headed off to the venue. For Supper -- a pretzel and three or four (not sure to be honest.) 20 oz beers. It was hot so we packed them back. In about 2 hours. Hence, we were a touch intoxicated. (I think it was only three... but well... not sure.) Hmmmm... no wonder we had to pee.

But the hangover the next day. Fucking brutal as ever. In fact, I'm pretty sure my liver has yet to forgive me. Concert though... totally worth the liver damage.

And today was an easy 5 miles in the humid. A penance and a catharsis to wipe off 14 hours in the car. And just move... :) Thought about Mike McCready while I did it, apparently he's a runner too. See it's not all sex, drugs and rock 'n roll. There's a few good miles in their too.

TiART8: Forever may not be long enough

Today TIART topic is building the distance.

And honestly I'm full of pre-marathon jitters so it may not be the most coherent thing you've ever read. Every comment makes me cry, and I love you so. Sorry I am so sappy. I cried like this through my entire pregnancy too. When I trained for the first marathon, the woman I trained with said getting ready for a marathon is like being pregnant. I sit here in this thought, and must say that I disagree. You finish a marathon and you aren't faced with breastfeeding, and a new life to take care, love, adore and snuggle. A marathon is fundamentally just ONE run. (An fun exciting important run -- sometimes in far flung location.) But it's just one day (a momentous one) but just one day.

Running is more like a marriage. It's like you develop a relationship with your body. It has it's up and downs. Some days you can't live without it, some days you feel a oneness with it that transcends everything. (It happened once in 1995 -- of course, it may have been dehydration -- one is never sure about this things.) Sometimes it's not the body that let's you down. It's the mind.

Like all good relationship, they take time to develop and if you rush things sometimes you have to take a bit of break to fall in love again. You need to take the time to develop a good running base. Get to know how it feels to run a good 10K, a good half marathon -- to feel the elation of a really good long run. (And a really good run may not be about time.)

So how do you work up from the 10Ks to the longer distances? Slowly. Adding a little bit at a time, and every two three weeks, taking a slow week. That part is easy. There are many plans online (and if anyone wants a look at my marathon training plan for grannies -- leave me a note in the comments, I'll send you the spreadsheet. ) If you are doing it right, when you taper it's going to feel like you are turning into a massive heap of jiggling jello -- green jiggling jello. (What's that on the couch, it looks like green jello.. oh that's just Nat, she's tapering.)

Step 1: Get a program and make sure it fits your level. (Adjust it to make it fit.)

Step 2: Commit to it. Make it a priority. What things in your life are going to take precedence over getting the long runs (and training runs too) in. Really have a good look at your life. Really look. So what is going to stop you from getting that run in? My long runs are sacrosanct. Very little stops me for getting a long run in. Not weather, not a fight with the man. You just have to suck it up and do it. I am however more fluid with my weekday runs -- life happens in the evenings so sometimes, I need a night off. In the last 20 weeks, I have missed none of my long runs. (I've moved a few to either Friday or Sunday.)

Step 3: Make sure the family understands how important this is to you The Man and I both run so he understands. I am very lucky. Saturday morning work best for my long runs. So that's when I do them. (It's also when they have jui jitsu so it works out well.) This gives me Sunday for family stuff (it's also a rest day.)

The weekday runs can be a bit trickier. I find it easier to run in the early evening prior to dinner. The Man is involved with any number of volunteer organizations. I try to run at lunch when I can't fit it at home in the evening. (Really it is a priority. You have to sign off on it.) Now there are days when I will wimp out on a night run. Usually this is when the man gives me a talking to... and I do. And I am really happy I did.

Step 4: Believe you can. (You are allowed to have doubt. But know that if I can do 26.2 (and I have in the past), you certainly can. )

Step 5: Follow the plan. Rest when it says to rest. The rest is when you build the muscles that will take you through the longer miles. Rest does not mean: spin class, elliptical training, step class. It means rest. Take it easy. No workouts. (Maybe some light stretching.) I'm all for cross training but I have had to accept that I can't do it all AND marathon train. The other fitness stuff has to wait. That's all.

Step 6: Have fun. Remember during the long runs, it takes the time that it takes. It's not about speed, it's about distance. There'll be time to work on speed later. It's just one step in front of the other.

So that's it. I packed my running bag. (I have to do a short run today but it's cold -- brrr... I am hoping it warms up a bit. Still -11C.) We leave this evening. So a bit of radio silence on this end. I promise a race report when I get back.

TIART: Greetings from the bottom of the motivation well

This is part of a series being hosted by The Runners Lounge called Take It Run Thursday. This is week's topic is motivation.

You wanna know something ironic: I ended up staying home from work yesterday because I couldn't find it in me to drive The Boy and myself to work/school in the freezing rain. So low was my motivation that I decided to keep him home with me. The idea was to take a full mental health day. The reality was a stress filled day of work from home. The plan went even further awry when The Man asked me to take him swimming because he's sick with a cold. (The one I do not have the congestion.) As far as motivation goes, it does get much more lethargic than this.

So a big hallo from the bottom of the motivation well. It's a bit dark down here and I'm looking for the bucket to climb my way out.

There are very few things that hamper my get up and go: Freezing rain and flash freezes do. I don't like to run in this weather nor do I ike to drive in it. What I like to do in this situation is put on my yoga pants, big comfy (race) shirt (from Where's Franktown it's an XXL. I'm a Medium), and watch BBC murder mysteries all day.

Normally, I'm out the door and doing stuff. But from time to time, even I play the "pansy-ass" and want to sit on the couch all day. Unfortunately, yesterday was not the day. All I did yesterday was skip the workout because of (unexplainable) snot. Cold, snow and rain aren't really an issue (when I don't have mysterious snot issues). What takes a long hard "Come 'on girl" are treadmill runs and crossing training at the gym.

I see motivation as a number of things.
1. The enchilada as big as your head.:(Like Hillary I've been comparing things to Tex Mex food. Primaries confuse me.) This is why I run at its most esotheric level. I run for solitude, I run for stress relief, I run in order to be able to play tag with my son and not get winded after 30 seconds. I run for health. I run to make me better.
These are good to keep the run going. The long runs. Mile 1 is because I can. Mile 2 is for The Boy... etc. etc. At -25C, warm in my house I am more than likely to say "Screw it I am staying in.

2. The bribes: These are the little deals you make with yourself. "So if I run, I can have another two (or four) chocolate chip cookies." "I'll just do half..." (then you pull out the enchililadas.) The bribes have a habit of sometimes starting VERY early in the morning.

3. The Big Race: I find it's much easier to get out the door if I have something big coming down the pipe. It works if I stick the plan on the fridge and colour in the sessions I've done. (This is totally stupid but it works.)

I am an outdoor runner. And my hardest challenge is usually getting out the door. (This is true even when there isn't weather.) Once I am moving, it gets done. So I need the little bribes. The funny thing is, even if I say to myself, I'll only do half or I'll reduce the number of intervals or whatever. Odds are that I will finish it. (I am like that, I have a degree in political science for this same reason. Well, you are almost there... you might as well.) At the end of the run, well, odds are I won't make good on the bribe.

In fact by the end of the run, I am usually pretty happy at the accomplishment. (Even when it doesn't go well.) But, I will cheat on the program if it is not tied to a race. So if I am between races, I still look ahead and try to find something tangible to run towards.

Funny, the games we play. Now what did I do with that bucket.

He's running again...

The Man has been nursing a hamstring injury since last May. So I was so thrilled to hear about his first treadmill run earlier this week (2 miles). And today, he's back on the trails, he put on his ninja gear. (I like men in the ninja gear-- this one especially because I get to grope. Oh shush...) Headed up onto Byron (the path is plowed) and he did a nice three miler outside. Beautiful running weather today.

Me, I am still completely freaked about Hypothermic. Maybe it's the fear of the marathon manifesting in weird ways. Don't know Just seems to me they could do much more creative 21.1K instead of 2.5 back and forth eight time (+1.1 k and the end.) Anyway, I have my bib and I have my stuff. Loaded up the Shuffle with some fun stuff to carry me through for at least 15K.

I think for this run I will focus on form, and not worry about speed. I did some form work on Thursday and I think I can push it a bit. I will not worry about time. And I will not worry about distance. I will just get it done. The goal is to finish the same day I start. And to retreat to me happy place.

In other news I got a comment from Academom who said she had a great time at Shamrock back in 2005. And that the course is VERY flat. Now I excited and freaked out and scared and really I just need to get a hold of myself. Somebody slap me.

And on Friday, I rest

Just a quick note that I'm guest posting at Runner's Lounge today. As part of their Friday Open Mike series. (Thanks Amy and Tom.)

Yesterday's Run Report
Workout: R4W1 x9 + F
Distance: 4.2 miles (shortish)

Wow a weekday run at dusk. In winter I run at night a lot. The Boy had an appointment so we got home early, The Man did too. The 45 minutes made the difference. (And the days are getting longer.) Yeah for running in daylight. A bit cold yesterday with the mercury dropping even more as the sun set. I wore a lot of gear. I morphed from the ninja into the Micheline man.

Shoes/sock
lined running tights
wind pants
bra
Under Armour Cold weather gear (love this piece of clothing)
Lined running jacket
shell
and the fleece touque.

Thought process goes something like this: "I think I'm too hot." "Do you think you should be too hot or are you too hot." " hmmm... good question." "That's sweat" "Wow, that wind is cold." "But am I too hot?"

This weekend is the Hypothermic Half Marathon. Four bloody 5 K loops. (I don't like repetitive loops anyway.) I'm slated to do 16 miles this weekend. Which means I'll probably run to the start (it's about a mile away and call it even.) M. is supposed to join me for the last few. Wish us luck.

It was half my fault, half the atmosphere

Distance since last update: 13.75 miles
Number of runs: 2
Number of days since last update: 9
Number of scheduled runs since then: 6
Song of the moment: The Traitor, Martha Wainwright (Leonard Cohen cover)

I meant to this earlier but somehow life escaped me these last two weeks. Think of me as the friend who hook up with the during the break between Christmas and New Year (even though you called her before.) I'd be remiss if I didn't sent a massive shout out to everyone out there in the running community. This was going to be quiet little blog about my obsession about going really far on my two legs, and doing it at my own pace, on my own terms. (There is a story here. It's long boring and speaks of a time and place I am no longer in. It bores even me.)

Not sure how but the community found me (it started with Amy from Runners' Lounge I think), and you've been wonderful, supportive, inspirational. Honestly, if anyone needed a reason to get into this, a community filled with people like you would be it. To you all a belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you just doesn't seem like enough. I hope you found lots of chocolate mint Gu and other running essentials under the tree.

Bit of health set-back, I ended up back at the doctor's office on Friday because my throat was feeling streppy again. (Trust me there is little out there that feels like Strep throat.) Convinced it was all in my head, I decided to get it checked just so the doc. could tell me to be I was being a hypochondriac. Unfortunately, it is strep. So another course of antibiotic which is making me feel crappy. But I did get my 3.65 miles on Christmas day (nice run) and my long run last Sat (10.1 miles). Why? Because, I am stupid. (I also need to work off the poundage from the non-stop food fest that are the holidays.) I am not entirely sure if I should have run as much as I did last time. Soooooo.... taking it easy.

I also have the Resolution Run on the 31. A little 10K, hopefully the lovely and talented Ms. K will run with me. The Man still not running, has decided to sit this one out.

I raise a glass to you all: "May the wind be at your back. May the Body Glide reduce chafing, and may the bushes be where you need them."

That's Lady to you bub...

Workout: R4/W1 x 9 (plus warm-up and cool down)
Distance: 4.27 miles (not bad)
Song that should have played: Frosty the Snowman
Song that Played InsteadMeltdown, Live

What kind of lesion in my brain caused me to put on a pair of unlined running tights and forget my hat and gloves tonight? Really it is a bit beyond me. But all the signs point to winter:
-- I can see my breath.
-- Definite accumulation of snow
-- Large number of people walking around today saying "My, it's a bit nippy out there."

So it was good run. It was what I needed. But I also needed a pair of mitts, and a hat. All in all it makes the treadmill workout seem a little less of kilter.

P.S. Well a huge huge thanks to Nancy and Vicky for the fun reading that 8 and the 8th was. :) Here's to making this an annual event. I would like a fanfare and to be addressed as Nat, a Lady of Longevity. Too Funny.

Tramps like us

Distance: about 3.0 (GPS issues.)
Time: 44 minutes (including 5 minute walking warm-up and cool down)
Interval: Run 5/ Walk 2
Favourite Song: Why Can I be You? The Cure
Motivational Song: Sun, Live
My-iPod-Shuffle-is-laughing-at-me Song: Born to Run, The Boss

So after a week of the woozies, congestedness -- today for the first time I feel completely human. Been a very rough couple of weeks at work (not letting up), and the mystery virus is more than likely stress-related. I realized tonight that I really need to runs to sort through the aggravations of day/week. It was an ease-back-into-it run and it really was lovely. I am going to have to get back into the swing of running in the dark. (I may need Nancy's club...)

Marathon training starts on the 28th, with a celebratory 10K called Rattle me Bones. Money raised goes to the orthopedics department at The Hospital. (Need new knees, give me a call ;) )

For the marathon training, I have decided to modify John Bingham's Marathon for Mortals program. I like the 5 minute interaval but find anything shorter than that and I can't find a decent stride so no intervals shorter than five (it's like a speed up/slow down thing.) I think I may consult a personal trainer at work, see if we can work out good core strength training to fit into the running. (Or I could save myself the cash and buy a pilates DVD. I am still debating the best cross-training options.) Options... choices...
Isn't this all too exciting!!! Bring it on!

Hearts and thoughts they fade... fade away

In a bit of an unplanned fashion, I ended up taking a week off. These things are necessary sometimes I guess. I've been nursing a cold, or some weird allergy thing. The shoulder is still not feeling any better and in all honesty, I just don't feel like doing it.

I remember reading in my dear Friend Suze's blog, about how she feels it somehow unfair that she has to work this hard to stay healthy. (I'm paraphrasing she is one of the most beautiful intelligent people I know, and I'm really not doing her justice.) This week it just all felt like too much. The Boys were gone, in spite of healthy eating and exercising the scale is still going up. And this whole business about the pain in my side is causing me more concern than I'd like to admit. There seems to be no progress in my running, and with the heat I've had to slow down considerably and don't seem to be able to pick up the pace. In short, I'm frustrated with my body. Very frustrated.

The Man tells me I'm beautiful. Told me the other day my legs looked awesome. I smile, say thanks and don't believe him.

My birthday is coming up. I was watching a show about plastic surgery, and the fight against time, the fight to stay young. There were three women, who were all getting botox for wrinkles I couldn't see -- all at least five years younger than I am. We had an event at work with a local celebrity (read has-been). He attended with his much-younger and VERY surgically altered wife. You know the kind of face that has gone beyond human and looks like a cross between a bald cat and an aardvark. To what end? As a male friend once said, you don't look younger, you just look like you had work done. The fight to stay young is a fight we are all going to lose. Because as we all get older, our voices seem to fall on deaf ears. It becomes clear that if the system is going to change. We are the ones who are going to have to do it. The time for talk is over. It is time to do. Maybe that's what being an adult is all about. No one is going to do it for you.

I looked in the mirror, along with my graying hair, my wrinkles, and all that. There are definitely fashions that have become too young for. (Seriously short shorts are just a bad idea if you aren't Beyonce.) I am, in fact, approaching that age in which I am no longer young. And all these things I am doing now, will in fact make a difference in the long run. Logically. I know this. For the most part, I am ok with who I am. I am ok with my size. And I hate that I feel this pressure. I hate that I am so hard on myself. It's stupid I know that. What is a number on a scale. What is it? It doesn't mean much. But all I can think, in spite of the new muscles of the feeling powerful and strong. is that, damnit I'm getting fat. And that really ain't right... I should be proud of the lines from laughing and smiling. I should be humbled by where I am in the journey, and the people who have made a difference in my life. Instead of focussing on the vain... yeah so I'm not 20. Deal with it.

So right now, I am trying to build a bridge and get back to where I am not so damned obsessed with the trivial and the mundane. Where I can devote the time to goals for the right reasons. I have all the tools, but in all great projects sometimes there are delays in construction.

Stay strong, and be kind.