Rest

Monday: 4 miles
Tuesday: off
Wednesday: 4.5miles
Thursday: 6 miles
Friday: Snowboarding
Saturday: off

This week in my training was suppose to be a "rest week". I ended up resting more than planned. Saturday's long run was suppose to be 9 miles (I know this doesn't sound like a rest to some, but it is a rest from the double digits it has been the last month). Anyway, I hurt my arm snowboarding Friday night. Of course, it was on the last run, right near the bottom of the hill. I wasn't even doing anything stupid (unless you count trying to learn to snowboard at 36 stupid). I really thought it was broken due to the funny pop I felt when I landed on it. Luckily, it is just a sprain and feels much better already. So now the question is, do I still do the nine miles today, and then run the 14 scheduled for Saturday, or just start where I would have normally been today. Maybe an in-between 7 miles today would satisfy the missed miles, but not add too many miles in one week. Running makes you think.

So, then comes the other question. Is it time to give up snowboarding? At first, I figured I was finished. I can't afford to get hurt. Now, I keep thinking, "I got bucked off. I just need to get back on the horse." When is it wise to quit? Should an old woman like me stick to what she knows, and not try something new? Am I just asking for an injury? I remember when Nathan blew out his knee playing ball. It upset him the first time. However, when he did the same thing to the other knee the day he went back to playing, he said he was finished. I remember telling him it was worth getting hurt every once in awhile when you are doing something you love. I told him I wouldn't be able to just sit on the couch and do nothing. Am I actually ready to do that now? Give up snowboarding because I got hurt once. The bad thing is, I am actually thinking maybe I will give up snow sports altogether. I guess I need to decide if the potential of injury is too great to even try. I hope not. I hope I go back on the hill, if not this Friday, then next. I am scared though; scared of really getting hurt. Scared of Nathan's reaction if I do. (I can't handle an "I told you so." I don't deal well with being wrong.) For now, I think my arm is well enough to run. Friday is in the future, today I run.

Meant for This

Monday: 5 miles
Tuesday: 1 mile; weights
Wednesday: 4 miles
Thursday: off
Friday: 13 miles
Saturday: off

Seems I took a lot of days off this week. It was Ethan's birthday, so we partied a lot. My cousin also came to visit, so I did my long run on Friday instead of my usual Saturday because I knew I wouldn't fit it in. We were to go skiing on Saturday, but life got in the way. Oh, well, we had an enjoyable visit anyway.

While running on Friday, I thought about how people are so amazed when they find out I have run a long run. As I thought about this, I realized that our bodies are meant to do this. They are made to run, to work physically. They are machines, and very efficient ones at that. They were not made to sit around in front of a computer or television all day. They were not made to eat excessively. But all of those things I do. This gave me motivation. I was doing what I was meant to do. To run, to labor, to work hard and enjoy life. Depression is so common today, and I believe it is because we are depriving our bodies of what they need, what they crave. I will remember each time I run that I am meant for this. Go out and do something physical today, sweat, get physically tired, and see if it doesn't feel great. I don't know what you will do, as for me, I will run.

It is All in Your Head

Distance:
Monday: 5 miles
Tuesday: 4 miles
Wednesday: 3 miles
Thursday: 6 miles
Friday: Snowboarding
Saturday: 12+ miles

Friday I went snowboarding with my sons' school. They both board, so I have taken it up, too. It is quite enjoyable, and makes me work hard mentally and physically. I love to learn something new, and to challenge myself to get better at it. I really enjoy snowboarding for this reason. The school will go three more times, and as much as I am enjoying snowboarding, I think the last time I will ski, it is also fun to do something that you haven't done for a long time.

Our snowboard instructor's name is Joe. He is a really great teacher. I had him a couple years ago when I was very first learning to board. (I have now boarded a whole two times since then.) He really has a way of helping his students understand what to do. One of the girls said he was the best snowboarding instructor she had, I know that is the case with me. Anyway, in the process, he said something profound. He told the kids that snowboarding, and everything in life, is mostly mental. If you believe you can do something, and go so far as to visualize yourself doing it, 90% of the work was done. He told them to go through the motions in their heads before they tried it for real. This was most of the battle. The other 10% was practice. Now, that is one smart snowboarder. I thought of that wisdom all night that night, and the whole time I ran the next day. I did just as he said as I snowboarded, and as I ran. It really worked. I saw myself doing what needed to be done, realized I could do it, and then went ahead and did it. What great words of wisdom.

Because of Joe, I would like to celebrate teachers. I have had some teachers all my life, like my parents. They have taught me about love, family, and all that goes with it. There are others like Joe who I have only known for a short time, but have taught me concepts that will stick with me my whole life. Life is a teacher in itself, and we learn something new from each person we meet, and each experience we have. Our job is to learn what is being taught, and to use it to better ourselves and others. I would like to thank all of those who have taught me, in school and in life. I am who I am because of you, and will continue to be molded by others along the way. In turn, I hope to be a teacher to other's in my life.

Is it Determination or Stupidity?

Distance: Thursday: 6 miles (200 route)
Friday: off
Saturday: 10.5 miles (Skagg's and back)
Weather: Beautiful high 30's to low 40's

This is the question of the day, is it determination or stupidity? Saturday I spent the day with the boys at Pomerelle. I did not get to ski or board, I just watched. I had planned a long run for Saturday, because I need to start logging miles if I truly am doing a marathon in May (I have not signed up yet, how is that for dedication). When I got home, I was tired and cold, and only wanted to sit on the couch. It was getting late, and the wind was blowing. Really, I pulled out every excuse in the book. I finally decided I would run with the wind, that way, I wouldn't get any colder than I already was. I asked Nathan to pick me up in an hour at Skagg's, and somehow we got to talking about the marathon. Nathan said, "Good luck with that." When I asked him what he meant, he said he didn't think I would be able to finish a marathon because I did not have enough miles under my belt. Now, he was not trying to be rude, or discouraging, he was just trying to be realistic and logical. As I started out to Skagg's, I felt slow and heavy. Once I got to the base of the hill, I started to feel great (it is amazing how that happens) and felt like I was running pretty strong. It was there that I decided that when I got to my turn around spot where Nathan was to pick me up, that I would start to run home. If the wind was not too hard, and I didn't get cold before he picked me up, I would run all the way home. I got to thinking how I did not want to be realistic and logical, I wanted to be crazy and fearless. Was it determination or stupidity? It may be crazy to run the marathon, but I am determined to do it. I noticed the wind had died down, and realized it didn't matter what the weather was like when I turned around, I was running home one way or another. I would prove to myself and to Nathan that I could run this course, and I will run that marathon course. I had thoughts on the way back about how amazing our bodies are, and how they will do things we don't know they can do.

Nathan was worried that cars would not be able to see me on the way home, however, he didn't even need to, because I ran so fast, no cars even passed me. This is one of the thoughts I had while running, it made me laugh. I mention this little side bar about the cars not passing because I have said before I have great thoughts while running. Anyway, when I got home, I was reading Readers Digest, and in an interview with Dr. Oz he mentioned that he used to try to do his thinking when he was on the treadmill. He would keep hoping off to jot down some terrific idea he had while running, only to find out later they weren't so great after all. Hum, could be my problem, too. He suggests yoga, but I might stick with my less than great thoughts I have while running.

I will celebrate my body today. It is amazing. It can take me anywhere I want to go. I am strong. I am healthy. I can run. Thank you body. Please hold our for ninety more years! I want to run again tomorrow, and forever.