Pie irons, banana boats, and s'mores...oh my!

More camping this weekend! This time we spent the weekend with my parents, one of my sisters and her family, one of my cousins and her family, and even a visit from one of my other sisters with her family!  It's an annual trip to attend the Black Iron Days at Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling, MI.  We've been going for about 29 years we figured... My family used to play music as part of the event; hammered dulcimers, autoharps, guitars, banjos, stand-up bass, etc...  That's another story for another time, though...

It's hard to eat healthy while camping, I think.  The desserts kill me! HA! I seriously indulged in all of the above and loved every single bite of it!  I DID get out for a run, though.  This summer has really spoiled us runners with pretty decent weather.  But this weekend, the humidity was nearly unbearable.  I haven't had to run in such weather since last year, and was not really conditioned for it. I only got in just short of 4 miles.  I'm not sure if that's really going to work off banana boats, s'mores, and junk food, but I'm proud I got something in.  

The trails are definitely worth the effort to get up and travel them!

So that was my weekend, in a nutshell.  How terrified was I to realize my Detroit Women's Half (DWH) is in just 4 short weeks!  So far this year, my longest run has only been 6 miles.  But since getting some new treatment, I've been able to be more consistent running, and am praying and believing I'll be able to safely increase my mileage (definitely not speed this year), enough to finish this race strong.  I learned my aunt just smoked the Crim this weekend, coming in under 2 hours, which was her goal!  Since we made a pact to run together during our DWH, I want to be able to run strong and solid so it's an enjoyable race for her, too!  = more motivation! :)

I have a 5 mile long run scheduled today, and am excited to see how it goes!!

"I Run This Body"

I'd like to dedicate this post to Dorothy Beals, of MilePosts, and her motto: "I Run This Body."  (She even has awesome merchandise!)  Find her at www.mile-posts.com and @MilePosts on Twitter.

I've always admired her signature saying, but didn't "get it" until last night.  I headed out for what I had already categorized as a "slow run."  I felt the nagging presence of my back pain, reminding me it is still there, I was aware of my labored breathing and awkward gait, and noticed the twinge of irritation in my shins beginning, as if to say, "We're next to start bothering you!"

I didn't have my head phones in, and was just holding my phone in my hand with RunKeeper actives and playing my "Running" Playlist softly.  The first mile I fought my desire to quit, chalking it up to, "Oh well, this is all you're going to be able to do now."  But I had an odd sense of energy that kept propelling me anyway.  As I rounded the lap in my neighborhood (1.25 miles), I shrugged and decided, "Ok, let's try another lap."  During that lap, I quit focusing on myself and worked through the issues of the day, clearing my mind.  Maybe it was freeing the garbage out of my head that lightened me, because I decided I could do one more lap!  Then, I noticed something amazing:  I found myself in sync.  My brain and my body were finally connected and we were flying (my new flying, anyway)!  It felt amazing!  I felt like I was hovering above ground as I ran that last mile.  It reminded me of last year's training, where I was feeling good and keeping up such a pace.  I ended up running 1:40 faster that last mile!  It was than that I realized:  MS is not running my body.  I AM!  I bet it in this battle round, because I am the one running it.  I've not felt this empowered in...I can't even remember.

So, today, I have a new perspective on my life and on my training.  I am reminded again that I do not have to fall "victim" to whatever nonsense is plaguing me (symptoms, work quotas, life's drama...).  I. Run. This. Body!  I do.  Nothing else but me.  So thank you, Dorothy, for helping me to understand and embrace this.  This is a gift I can only hope to be able to repay someday!

Look her up and follow her adventures in training and family!  She's a true inspiration!

Motivation Monday

So, I don't really have anything profound to offer up for "Motivation Monday," but I DO have a new-found motivator!

We went camping with my family in Caseville this weekend.  They are what I consider "real" runners.  They're fit, faster than me (not hard to do!), and don't have to schedule a run in the calendar to make it happen, it just does for them.  We decided that a Saturday run needed to happen, as we're all training for something (high school track, The Crim, Detroit Women's Half Marathon).  The guys took off and soon they were out of view.  My aunt stayed back with me.  It was so nice! We ran with no music or technology, and between small gasps of air (what I considered doing good-HA!), had conversation.  The longest she has run was last year's 10-mile Crim in Flint.  Early this year, she said she would run her first half-marathon this fall with me at the Detroit Women's Half.  Due to injury, she was losing confidence and admitted she did not think she would be able to run it.  After our Saturday run together, we found our pace was good for each other, and felt we could both keep it up together for the half!

I was struck with glee from having support, then fear; "Oh no! I really need to make this happen now!" HAHA!  It's just the motivation I need.  I want her first half experience to be positive, and I refuse to be an anchor.  I know you're supposed to make changes for yourself, rather than others.  But in this case, it works for both!

So that's my new motivation: I WILL be able to run and finish the Detroit Women's Half Marathon 9/21/14, and I WILL be able to keep up with my aunt!  I think the best part is, I'm excited again.  Running was getting daunting for me because I was being too competitive with myself.  Now that I can do it for fun and to help ensure my aunt's successful race, it's FUN again!!

What is motivating YOU lately??

Pinocchio hated wires, and so do I

Maybe it's the heat, maybe it's the extra 15 lbs I've put on eating like a runner and not being able to run, buuuut my back's really been giving me trouble.  Spasms make it feel as if I can't move my legs. Thankfully, I've been prescribed a pretty nice TENS unit that I attach and it provides me some pretty decent relief after some time.  I was told by the neurologist that I can wear it while working out.  No. Way.  It seems way too ridiculous to me.  There's four nodes that affix to my back, sending electrical pulses, with four wires trailing out, that attach to the machine that has to attach to my hip blah, blah, blah.  Seriously?  I don't really know who could work out, let alone run, with that thing on.  It made me mad and frustrated though, because I needed it in the first place to get going... I didn't want to do it at all.

But, this is what I've got, right?

So, I wired up for about 40 minutes to stimulate some muscle movement and try to right my mind.  I took off the unit, stretched, and set out for a run.  My nose would be growing if I said it was easy.  It was a slow, stiff run.  But I swear, with every step, I could feel myself loosening up.  My gait was awkward the whole run, but I got it out!  AND I felt great after!  And did I tell you I was on my annual Girl's Camping Trip in Muskegon, MI??  I took a dip in the 58 degree Lake Michigan later that day, and I have to tell you it felt great!

Vacation would have given me a great excuse to skip it...under the guise of "Mission: Relaxation."  But I'm so glad I didn't.  This was as much a mental boost as it was physical, and I really needed both.

Love-Hate intervals

Is there anyone who really loves interval training??  Blech...

I have gotten serious about my Half Marathon training, which I acknowledge needs to include some interval training if I want to at least maintain my time from last year's.  Part of my favorite aspect of running is the whole "losing yourself" thing that happens when out for a run, and I can't seem to achieve that doing intervals/speed work... I think because it really is so much more "work" for me! LOL!

Here's the moral of today's story, though:

I committed to it, I did it, I survived it...and I even feel better for it!  I scheduled out every day from now until 9/21/14 for the Half.  On the schedule last week, I realized I was dreading all week the day I had speed work scheduled.  I committed to 8x400s and was DREADING it.  What I found during each segment, though, was relief I had counted one down, focus to maintain the increased speed (at least less than a 10-minute-mile pace, as that is fast for me), and determination to get through all 8.  I didn't realize I had that in me!  How is running still teaching me things three years later?! I LOVE IT!

Ok, so not that I'm looking forward to this week's interval day, but I know it doesn't have power over me, like I tried to give it last week.

Said in "sing-song:" awe-sommmmme  :D

9 1/2 Weeks

Catchy title, huh?  ;)

Not the psaltry movie, but my remaining training time until my Detroit Women's Half Marathon !!  I don't feel nearly ready...or even on track for that matter. My spine issues really set me back both in physical training, and mental strength.  Fear is setting in..."Can I really do this this year?"  Does this make sense:  I have a strong desire...but little motivation.  How can I have both?? How do you get out of this funk and back to business??

In 10 1/2 weeks, I have a 60-mile BikeMS bike ride, too!  When I agreed to participate in it, (I wasn't having flare ups!) I figured that would be a great cross-training day for my running, biking for my ride! Great theory...not working so much in reality.

Oh, and did I tell you:  I don't have a bike! HAHAHA! (Picture a sinister laugh, because I don't have a hearty one in me right now!)  So today I'm on a mission, continuing to research for bikes (you know that's my second favorite hobby behind running: research!), and planning to purchase one ASAP.  I'm thinking I'd do well with a hybrid bike.  Bear in mind, I'm a runner at heart, so don't prefer to pay $1000 for a bike.  Anyone happy with a happy-medium bike?  A road/commuter style I think would be good for me.  To help get me on schedule, I've even enlisted a friend's help and scheduled a bike ride this weekend.  Of course in the meantime, I'll be actually scheduling my runs, too!

I'll tell you; it's really the oddest sensation inside of me.  My brain and heart really want to go out and run.  My body is telling me, "....are you sure??"  My brain starts second-guessing itself, and another day goes by where I don't get out there.  Is this a funk?? Have you ever experienced anything similar, and what would you suggest to get out of it??

For these next two months, I need to be training, not watching psaltry movies! :P

PT and TC

So, because of my lower back issues, I've been going to PT to learn proper stretching and strengthening exercises.  Since I had such a positive experience at Total Health Systems for my HIIT style FitRanX class, I sought Physical Therapy treatment from there as well.  I'm happy to report another very positive experience! I'm sure I'll always have a low-level back issue, but now I feel confident in working out the tightness in my muscles, as well as strengthening them to help avoid more serious issues.  This back pain has really inhibited my training, which is TOTALLY bumming me out...  AND, I keep eating like a runner (without the benefits of running) and gaining weight! UGH! I'm ready to get back on track, though, and feel physically able to handle it now that I can manage my back pain.  I was recently prescribed a TENS unit to help, and it has immensely!

So, that's the "PT" part of my entry today.  The "TC" section is that I got to go back to Traverse City for the 4th of July weekend! I totally love it up there, and am grateful I have the resource in my sister to frequent there! LOL!  Truth be told, I didn't get in as many runs as I had planned, buuuut...I DID get plenty of walking in as it is Cherry Festival there.  I know there are so many route options there, but stuck to the one introduced to me by Michigan Runner Girl's blog , which is near the ol' state hospital.  SO pretty!  Is it just another excuse to say, "If I had such options around me, I'd find it easy to run every day!"?? Seriously, though; awesome, motivating terrain.  It definitely makes the effort worth it.  Maybe the best part was being able to have my 4-year-old daughter along and actually enjoy it because she found exploring the woods more appealing than running circles around our neighborhood! HA! Can't say I blame her...

Have you had to make a come-back after injury/pain lately?  How did you get back into it?

Any favorite Half-Marathon training programs you prefer after such issues??

Did you get to explore any new holiday runs this last weekend?