When Will the Hurting Stop?!

December 12

Delays, delays, deLAYS! Let's train already!

This week I was at the doctor's hoping to get an all clear on my training. Instead I got disappointment. X-ray images of my back show a laundry list of of bad, bad, bad. When Dr. Brady came in to talk about my x-rays he was really excited... he said they were 'COOL'! I thought, okay, he's seen the fused pelvis...no biggie! So I didn't exspect to see what he had to show me. What a MESS!

His diagnoses: Degrenative Joint Disease, Arthritis, & 3, THREE old compression fractures...on top of a fully fused pelvic joint, mis-aligned hips & the ankle injury (which was the original reason for seeing Dr. Brady)!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I was 'smashed' by a horse at age 15 breaking my back & dislocating my pelvis and knows I have bad knees, AND, knows that I don't put my injuries out in front of my goals. I've taken bad news before and kept trucking, why not this time?

Well, for some reason, I've been feeling quite down about this diagnoses. DJD & Arthritis?, that's for OLD people, not me...I'm only 31! I have dreams people, big, BIG DREAMS!

For a doctor to sit there and tell me that my aspirations will destroy my already bad back was rough to hear. As I sit hear, I fell the sting of arthritis reminding me of those words, "You'll never be able to do this.". It's enough to make me want to punch someone...and punch them HARD! -any volunteers ;) ?

So what do I do?

I'll tell you what I AM doing...

I'm running with my team this February, then, I'm racing with my sister this May, and after that... I'll pull up my wheel chair and knitt a sweater! WHATEVER! I'm going to RUN, if I have to replace both knees and end up pushing myself in a wheel chair...I'm going to RUN while I still can! I'm going to love every mile I get out of this body, and then I'll replace the broken pieces and get a few more miles.

...dang my back hurts. ;)

I learned a long time ago that I can do anything I work at, I'm just going to have to get creative.

Okay, I'm pumped and ready to figure this out...

...ANY IDEA'S???

Running Buddies

Why Did the Cat Cross the Road

Why?

I don't know why but I wish he wouldn't have! Sadly, that cat has crossed it's last road.

Yes, today I morn the loss of a familiar face on my running trail. The furry little guy, will be missed, except by that last car, it didn't.

As a runner (oh yeah, I'm claiming the title) you are often joined by some rather unwanted running buddies along the way. My cousin was unlucky enough to have a snake join her today! I myself & my sister have also had close encounters with a couple of belly travelers.
Other running buddies aren't so bad, like a rather well behaved dog that only glances as I pass, without so much as a long stare. But of all my running buddies, my favorite are the ferral cats that criss cross my path as I go.

Thus my sadness over the site of seeing black cat #2 (there are 4 total, 2 being black) adhereing to the pavement. It was bound to happen sooner or later, but I took note of the location of his demise. I couldn't help but note it's proximity to a semi-blind corner and a low-visablity hill.
(Update: since starting this post, sadly black cat #1 has met the same fate not two feet from #2.) =-(

This got me thinking, and I had a whole 3 miles to think about one very important aspect of running...saftey!

So, for what it's worth, here's 'Kelly's Run Safe Tips' Light, Bright, Tight!

Light-
I, seriously, almost flattened a lady who was running in ALL black, well past dark! Not the best idea for obvious reasons, so wear something LIGHT in color during the day & night!

Bright-
When running at night go for reflection or a flashing light. Shoe's have reflective panels, maybe that's what that lady was thinking. However, if you are running next to a curb, vehicle lights won't hit them until you are too close for comfort (especially true when turning corners)!

Tight-
Huh? Okay let me explain! Have you EVER not noticed someone in tight clothing? Wether they look disgusting or absolutly hot...a bet you saw them! So increase your eye catching visability by struting your stuff! Plus compression clothing helps muscles recover quicker after you run!

The tight clothes thing actually dawned on me during my run after a driver & his passenger looked me over as they past. I thought I was pretty hot stuff till I realized they where most likely staring at my "assets" that where uncomfortably bouncing along as a ran. And after I realized it, I didn't feel so hot anymore, just embrassed. It's not something I can help however and not something that I like to think about -oKAY! Next thought!

Other than the deep thoughts on safety & jiggling jubblies, I had a pretty good run! I had about 8 minutes of down time mid-run, while I got my pig-tailed cutie set at school...but I ran for the most part.

So, here I am at 8 weeks postpartum. I'm down from my delivery peak of 210lbs to 165lbs! That's 45 down and 15 to go to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight of 150lbs (however my goal is to lose 25lbs)! I've gone from XL maternity to a size 12, with a goal of size 8 (reachable with lots of hard work).
Two weeks after delivery I ran/walked 2 miles at 15 min/mi pace. (Panting, wheezing, kicking, screaming.)
Eight weeks after, I run/walk 3 miles at a 11:30 min/mi pace. (Energetic, motivated, excited!)

Looking back over the past year, I can't believe how far I let myself get out of shape & how fast I've been able to bounce back. I really felt down on myself, looking & feeling really bad. But I have remembered quickly the cure for those depressing feelings...and so I run!

I love the challenge, I love the trail, I love the race, I LOVE that post run high!

What are you waiting for?! RUN!!!! But keep black cats #1 & 2 in mind when you do!

(Sorry...I couldn't get my pics from my phone to my blog for some reason!)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Nothing Like the Real Thing

Soooo, the Halloween weekend was rough on my training schedule. Which in turn was rough on my body!
I had a great weekend with my kids and my SIL and her kids. We had a lot of fun! With that fun I consumed pizza, french fries, a cheese burger, ice cream, and close to my own body weight in candy!

I also skipped my Friday/Saturday runs due to our packed schedule. The combination was just brutal on me this afternoon as I jumped back into my running shoes!

If I learned one thing today it was get out on the pavement sooner rather than later! If I learned anything else, I learned not to skip training runs AND consume everything in sight! The two make for a miserable run after the fact!

About my Run

From the moment I woke up my run was endanger of being cancelled due to the sounds of congested, sick children. Jared (my hubs) suggested I run along side my daughter as she rode her bike to school. I expressed my concern that she wouldn't be able to keep up with me, she being five and just learned to ride without her training wheels a month ago. However, I didn't want to miss my run for the day (the longer I stay grounded the harded it is to get back to it) so I agreed to give it a shot.
Much to my surprise, not only did my five year old keep up, she sweetly paused at intervals to turn around and gesture to me with a small wave of her hand to hurry up.
Not exactly how I pictured my first road performance of my training season. Panting, aching and just plain miserable with a pinch of taunting every step of the way!

To make matters worse, I stopped at the school to check my Nike+ stats. When I glanced down I only took note of my pace, which read 15.56min/mi.

!!!!!WHAT!!!!!

I just about stopped right there, I just keep thinking, "Man! No way I can be ready by Feburary! How can I be running this slow?".
Now I was feeling the inadaquicy of both my knees and my motivation. The pounding impact on the pavement seemed to jar everything from the ground up including my confidence. I couldn't shake the number 15 from my head, it was as taunting as the innocent villian I struggled to catch! My thoughts kept returning to the past two weeks of training I did on the treadmill. No way could I be this slow! I can trust the mill to tell me the truth -can't I?! I was running at just over 11min/mi just the other day, could running outside really be THIS much harder?

As I allowed my thoughts to destroy all traces of enjoyment from my run, my pace slowed and I found myself walking. WALKING!!!!

I was beaten. Atleast I felt I was.

However, I have an uncanny ability to tap into my inner motivational speaker, which gave a small amount of silent encouragment.

I picked up the pace just a bit and just asked of my knees to get me home...and they did.

And, to my surprise, as I approached the end of my tourment I learned a small piece of infromation that would have been helpful about 20 minutes previous.
Nike+ keeps your overall AND your CURRENT pace. So after all of that, after the worse mental run ever, after all the head games... I had misunderstood the meaning of 15:56min/mi. I suppose I learned so much more about myself than I would have had I not realized it to begin with.

So here's a tip about your Nike+ incase you're as bright as I am... Don't stop to check your pace during your run, just push the button!
When all was said and done I had actually ran 2.55mi at a 11:56min/mi pace. Not bad for a miss guided head case such as I!

So overall, this tells me a few things that I wish to impart to whoever may still be reading this nonsense.
Get on the road as soon as you can, the earlier you train on a hard surface the sooner you will get use to it. Treadmills by design propel you along at a steady pace and work different muscles than road running. They are great for developing strength, endurance and hill training. Don't expect to do the majority of your training on the mill as it cannot fully prepare you for your event.

In short... There's nothing like the real thing baby!

Happy Training!

I Never Knew It!!!

Stupid!

Okay, you have my permission...call me stupid, but I never realized how important shoes really are! Well, I did know that heels were bad and cheap shoes were not the best, but I didn't think about the construction of shoes in relationship to my feet and exercise.



Today my feet love me (thus the heavenly glow about them)! In fact my legs in general love me...and my new shoes! Yesterday I went to Runner's Corner to get fitted for running shoes, what a novel idea, running in shoes made for running! Funny things happen when you have to right equipment for your sport...or miracles!



My feet, ankles & knees have all sighed a BIG sigh of relief! Ahhhhhhhhh...



Truthfully, today's run wasn't as awesome as I imagened it would be, in my excitment to try out these bad mama-jama's, I forgot about my Nike+ sensor which was still tucked away in my once coveted Nike's. Therefor, I don't have an accurate number to post as far as my pace is concerned. And, I did have some pain in my foot which lasted for the first half mile and happily faded away! AND, I had a twinge of pain threatening to turn into a full blown cramp in my side.



So why am I so pumped about my tiny run? Why does 25 minutes on a treadmill turn me into a song bird, endlessy chirping my excitement while annoying all in earshot?!



SHOES!!! For the first time in my life I am feeling a deep effection for my new found metatarsal apparel! (Unlike most Shela's, I'm not ga-ga over shoe's or shopping for them. Which stems from my childhood, another tragedy I blame on my mother!)



Here's a suggestion for all those novice or want-a-be runners (like me) who are as clueless as I was...find your nearest RUNNING store and have a professional fit you for a new pair!



Back to my run...



I have found over the years (before I found running shoes) that I needed to center myself before and during my runs in order to push through that desire to stop running. Mostly it was pain in my knees and ankles that inspired this feeling, sometimes it was muscle fatigue, often it was the lack of motivation to keep going!



Here's my trick.



First, I set up for my run by having a mental fuzzy fest, where I think all sorts of warm thoughts about running... Okay that's BS, but I thought it would be funny.


So really, I turn inward, but I leave the warm fuzzy thoughts for the pansie's! I think, "Kelly, you get those shoes on and run that fat bottom into extinction!" or anything else you may imagen a trainer or drill sargent would scream at me. Second, I see myself running. I get the visual, and I keep that image with me (only in my head I'm ripped and my bottom resembles Jillian Michael's) until I'm on that treadmill. Third, I stretch briefly, and do a easy 5 minute warm up, and may even stretch again if I'm feeling a little tight (even though they're covered in cottage cheese, these muscles are tight)! Last, but most importantly, I find a point in the distance that I focus on when I need and extra boost. I stare that spot down like it was the mirror image of myself in top form and I give everything I've got to get it!



Does that make since? Well...that is what works for me. Lot's of images of how I want to look & thought's of how far I want to be able to run! Couple that with great tunes with heart thumpin' beats and it gets me though those first runs that are so difficult when starting back or starting for the first time! This technique also worked really well for me during my last race.



I hope this is helpful for any novice that feels defeated before the first week of training is even over. We CAN do it! We ARE amazing! Sick with it and kick those feelings or defeat to the curb...strength comes from the inside first, heart, mind, muscle. Go TO IT!



Today's run: 30 minutes/2.07 mi/275 cals burned



5 min warm up
20 min Hill intervals (4.0-5.5)
5 min cool down



I feel pretty darn good about running for 20 minutes straight, and if you took out the 10 minutes of up and down time, I even had a pretty good pace. Looking forward to tomorrow's road run! (Or maybe I'll go find a trail...any suggestions?!)

Grandpa Dan & Crazy Conger Cousins

Uck.

That's what I was thinking this morning as I held my daily fashion show. Only, this show was terrible, complete torment for this postpartum soul. Spandex?...no. Lycra?...no. Stretch pants?...NO. Damn. I have lumps & bumps everywhere & rather huge..."tracks of land"! This is embarassing, how am I suppose to go to the gym and get in shape when I look this bad? I feel too fat to go and I need to go because I am too fat! I am completely racked with the depressing sensation of back fat and sadle bags.

...Surely there must be something in this closet I can hide in?! Ah! T-shirt and...compression shorts!
Yes, just what I need! Hmmm, do I even own a T-shirt? Why yes I DO!

How appropriate.
Grandpa Dan & my Crazy Conger Cousin's, hanging right were I need them!
On with my reunion shirt, the last time I had worn this I was 7 1/2 months pregnant and running my first 5k. I instantly felt the effects of this ultralight suit of armor. Crazy Conger Cousin's running free, Grandpa Dan at my back, now I'm feeling empowered!

Let's do this!

I hit the treadmill with a bang, besides a few shoe issues I felt pretty good. Well, okay...honestly I was feeling the sadle bags, and a few other things bouncing uncomfortably and that made me a little hesitant to go all out...at first.
However, after my transition from warm-up into a full stride my ipod went to work and I found my groove. The only disappointment was a small cramp in my side that gradually became an intensely painful cramp.
But, I was feeling something I haven't felt in a long time...drive! I was actually enjoying myself! I felt good, my knees felt good my back felt good, and I was loving it!
Before I knew it I was running at a good pace and fifteen minutes went by in a flash! I wasn't satisfied with just fifteen, I needed a few more, so I cranked it up and ran five more!

I was pretty happy with myself and I realized that I am making good progress! My pace has gone from 15+min/mi to 11+min/mi, which puts me on track to run at my goal pace of 9min/mi...and that just makes me happy!

Well, I'm not looking forward to tomorrow's wardrobe saga, but If I have too, I'll bring Grandpa Dan & those Crazy Conger Cousin's on every run! What better way to stay pumped than the very thing that started all this madness?!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Terrible Truth

One Day Postpartum
Horrified.

That's the feeling I got the first time I looked in the mirror. Postpartum depression? I certaintly feel something pressing. Maybe it's the button on the only pants I can squeeze myself into, the same pants I wore just days ago, at 210 pounds.
Okay, so I know it's not the end of the world, I know I can work this off! I mean, I've done it twice before, I can do it again...right?

Step on Scale.
More Horror... 180 pounds.

WHAT?!! You mean I didn't have 50 pounds worth of kid in there?!

Bummed.

Two Weeks Postpartum
Step on Scale.
Deep breath in, look down.
175 pounds!!!

Now this is a number I can deal with, where's my Nike's?! Excitment is starting to set in! Okay, shoe's on, heart rate monitor on, cell phone..fuwie it's dead, Nike +ipod...dang kids, ipod is dead!, okay no ipod. 9:10am, setting out for the trail, little stretch here, little there...and we're off! 9:12am, ouch!, oh man... that hurts! My back is killing me! This is not familiar to me, something is missing? Something...
OUCH! What is THAT?! Serious pain in my... OH, that's what's missing. The past 10 months have robbed me of my support structure! In other words, I HAVE NO AB'S!!!

Well, no wonder my back hurts! Okay, hold ab's in if possible, keep running. 1/2 mile marker in site, I can do this! 9:20am... where in the world is the next marker?! I'm DIEING! 9:26am finally, 1 mile marker is reached, okay turn around I'm halfway there.

Oh MAN! This is much harder than I remembered, much much harder! Wheeze, pant, cough cough cough, HACK!!! Okay, now I'm dieing for sure. Let's call home just incase I stop breathing... oh man, NO CELL PHONE! Let's just walk.

Ahhhh, back home. Wheeze, pant, INHALE...cough cough HACK! Colaspe.
Somewhat satitsfied.

Okay, so that was exactly what it was like doing my first postpartum run. I only ran 1ml and walked 1ml, but overall I feel pretty good that I got out and gave it a go. I now realize I have a long road ahead of me.

The pregnancy weight is coming off but my muscle tone is slow in coming. I'm excited to get back to it, but very nervous about the up and coming race!

Oh, and for those of you who don't know... Myself, my sister, my cousin's & my friend's are training to run the Del Sol Ragnar this Feburary! It's 212 miles from Prescott to Mesa, Arizona in 24 hours... divided between 12 crazy die hards! It promises to be the best and worst experiance of our running lives!

Detoured, but still Determined!!!

What HAPPENED?!!

Okay, so I got this question a few times, "What happened with your blog?". So I'll tell you what happened (for those of you who aren't in my inner circle)!

It's called pregnancy, pregnancy happened! I am currently 30 weeks and 4 days into my third pregnancy. That's 7 & 1/2 months, for those of you who don't count in weeks! In 9 weeks and 3 days we will expect the arrival of our 3 child, a little boy we plan on naming Jesse. (Thanks to my iPhone I am constantly reminded of every detail of this blessed event!)

However! I have not let my condition derail my plans of running a triathlon! I'm just on a small detour! I have attempted to keep myself in shape, but have found, like most, that it is extremely difficult to eat right, and exercise when all you want to do is lay around and eat anything that makes your stomach feel better.

GOING for it!!!

So far, I have kept up a little running, and even ran in the Freedom Run in Provo, UT. I ran the 5k, finishing in 42 minutes, and even came in ahead of 20 or so women in my age group. (Yes, I'm going to take any credit I can where I can... that makes me feel better about gaining all the weight I have!)

For now, I'm being forced by nature to cool it, running is not agreeing with my body right now. Which is a sign to me that I'd be stupid not to listen to what my it is telling me!

GOALS for the Future!

Thanks to my sister, and a bunch of my crazy running cousins, I am excited about throwing everything I've got into running come October 2009.

We all planned and raced the Freedom Run together and had a blast! It was motivating and emotional for me every step of the way! In honor of our late Grandpa Dan, we ran our hearts out on his favorite day of the year, July 4th!

It felt so good to cross that finish line, and see those who finished ahead of me, and then turn around a wait for the rest to come running in! It effected me on a very deep level, and not just due to hormones, I was really moved by the reality of our eternal lifes.

This has inspired me higher... as soon as my cousin Shannon said the word RAGNAR, I knew I was in!

So that's the goal, another run with the Crazy Conger Cousin's + some really awesome friends! Only this time, we will be pushed to our max. Sharing close quaters for 24 hrs, running to the breaking point, and pushing each other past limits that are unknown. ...It's going to be amazing!

RAGNAR Feb. 2010, Prescott, AZ

180 miles, 24 hrs, 12 runners, 2 vans, 1 goal... FINISH!

Can't wait to blog all about it! See you in October!