Well, I am thoroughly ashamed to announce that this is the first time I've even attempted running -- or walking, for that matter--since waxing poetic in my last post.
As I was contemplating going out for a run, my 18-yr-old, feeling flu-ish, asked me to please get him some tylenol PM. I obliged, went out to start the car that he had used earlier in the day, and realized it wouldn't start because he'd left the lights on. Now I HAD to walk to the store, so walk I did. I went down to the store and then decided....'hey, I'm out here, why not try to run....so I did.
OH MY WORD. HOLY MOLEY. What kind of moron works up to 14-milers and then wastes all that training? This one. It was very discouraging. It was like starting from scratch while carrying a 25-lb sack of potatoes around my waist.
I have got some serious work cut out for me. I've got to lose 25 pounds and learn to run a stinkin' mile again. UG.
Thanks so much to those of you who have checked in to find out where I've been. I so appreciate the motivation and encouragement......even if it's taken a while for me to get started.
Jim has been working out of town for the last 5 months. In another week and a half, he starts a new position in Ann Arbor so we'll actually be able to run together again. It's been a very long 5-months.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
A Limerick for the Lame
IN NOVEMBER I DID MY LAST RUN
ALTHOUGH IT WAS ALWAYS SUCH FUN
I GAVE IN TO SOME STRESS
AND SETTLED FOR LESS
AS A RESULT I AM WEIGHING A TON
I’M SURE I COULD FIND AN EXCUSE
THAT WOULD SURELY SOUND RATHER OBTUSE
SO I’LL GET IT IN GEAR
AND WORK OFF MY REAR
SO I’LL HAVE A SMALLER CABOOSE
I FEAR THAT I’M STARTING ANEW
BUT THIS COMEBACK IS LONG OVERDUE
I’LL LACE UP MY SNEAKERS
EVEN THOUGH I’M MUCH WEAKER
AND FIND A GOOD GOAL TO PURSUE.
I NEED YOU DEAR BLOGGITY FRIENDS
TO STOP ME FROM MY BUTT-DRAGGING TRENDS
TO GET ME UP AND MOVING
AND MY RUNNING IMPROVING
SO THAT’S WHERE MY LIMERICK ENDS.
ALTHOUGH IT WAS ALWAYS SUCH FUN
I GAVE IN TO SOME STRESS
AND SETTLED FOR LESS
AS A RESULT I AM WEIGHING A TON
I’M SURE I COULD FIND AN EXCUSE
THAT WOULD SURELY SOUND RATHER OBTUSE
SO I’LL GET IT IN GEAR
AND WORK OFF MY REAR
SO I’LL HAVE A SMALLER CABOOSE
I FEAR THAT I’M STARTING ANEW
BUT THIS COMEBACK IS LONG OVERDUE
I’LL LACE UP MY SNEAKERS
EVEN THOUGH I’M MUCH WEAKER
AND FIND A GOOD GOAL TO PURSUE.
I NEED YOU DEAR BLOGGITY FRIENDS
TO STOP ME FROM MY BUTT-DRAGGING TRENDS
TO GET ME UP AND MOVING
AND MY RUNNING IMPROVING
SO THAT’S WHERE MY LIMERICK ENDS.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Tagged by Terri
1o years ago (1998)
1. I was a 39-year-old mother of 4 boys, and as a result, knew ALL there was to know about major league baseball, past & present. (now I couldn't even tell you who's going to the series)
2. My dearest husband had just put his resume on the internet to see what it would bring. (it brought us from NY to MI)
3. I had no energy and the thought of running more than 3 steps had never crossed my mind.
4. I was teaching the four boys at home. The oldest had just become a teenager.
5. I had tried the following diets to lose my fat rear....Atkins, Suzanne the genetically thin Sommers, Glycemic Index, and any other ridiculous thing I could find. I was somewhat successful on Atkins until I stopped and gained IT ALL BACK plus some! .....Those days are behind me(no pun intended)...whew!
5 Things on today's 'to do' list:
1. Organize all my paperwork
2. Plan out my meals for the rest of the month.
3. Go to the cleaners
4. Read 'A Whole New Mind'
5. Run on pavement for the first time in a few weeks.
5 Things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Pay off our house
2. Publish a book for my dh
3. Start the business that dh has always wanted to start. He's always wanted to start a business and use it to teach & mentor underprivileged young adults and bring them into being a productive part of the business.
4. Buy a house while the prices are low for Jim's parents.
5. I have two siblings either out of work or soon-to-be out of work. I'd love for them to not have to worry about their families while they're looking for suitable employment. (they're both great at what they do..it's just that Michigan is slowly swirling around the bowl, and a flushing sound is imminent)
5 places I have lived:
1. Saratoga Springs, NY
2. Antrim, NH
3. Livonia, MI
4. Jackson, MS
5. Chicago, IL
5 jobs I have had:
1. I worked cutting fabric at a fabric store.
2. Clerk at an insurance agency
3. Inside sales at a large electronic components firm
4. Admin for a VP at Brookstone's home office
5. A Mom (Head chef, short-order cook, baker, human pacifier, pet cleanup squad, maid, #1 fan, baseball card collector, pre-school, elementary & middle school teacher, referee, taxi-driver, photographer, gardener, lawn care provider, painter, plumber, accountant, activities director, travel agent, coach's assistant, frugality facilitator, burp cloth, birth expert, cake decorator, receptionist, barber, insurance agent, first aid administrator, high-school counselor, cobbler, quilter, librarian, snow removal specialist, laundress, party planner, costume designer, atm machine, driving instructor, substance abuse counselor {{eye roll}}, secretary, highly efficient worrier, and seamstress.)
Addendum to number 5 directly above......I don't know how any of you who work full time manage to do that AND be a mom. Hats off to you! Talk about juggling! I wish I had that kind of energy.
1. I was a 39-year-old mother of 4 boys, and as a result, knew ALL there was to know about major league baseball, past & present. (now I couldn't even tell you who's going to the series)
2. My dearest husband had just put his resume on the internet to see what it would bring. (it brought us from NY to MI)
3. I had no energy and the thought of running more than 3 steps had never crossed my mind.
4. I was teaching the four boys at home. The oldest had just become a teenager.
5. I had tried the following diets to lose my fat rear....Atkins, Suzanne the genetically thin Sommers, Glycemic Index, and any other ridiculous thing I could find. I was somewhat successful on Atkins until I stopped and gained IT ALL BACK plus some! .....Those days are behind me(no pun intended)...whew!
5 Things on today's 'to do' list:
1. Organize all my paperwork
2. Plan out my meals for the rest of the month.
3. Go to the cleaners
4. Read 'A Whole New Mind'
5. Run on pavement for the first time in a few weeks.
5 Things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Pay off our house
2. Publish a book for my dh
3. Start the business that dh has always wanted to start. He's always wanted to start a business and use it to teach & mentor underprivileged young adults and bring them into being a productive part of the business.
4. Buy a house while the prices are low for Jim's parents.
5. I have two siblings either out of work or soon-to-be out of work. I'd love for them to not have to worry about their families while they're looking for suitable employment. (they're both great at what they do..it's just that Michigan is slowly swirling around the bowl, and a flushing sound is imminent)
5 places I have lived:
1. Saratoga Springs, NY
2. Antrim, NH
3. Livonia, MI
4. Jackson, MS
5. Chicago, IL
5 jobs I have had:
1. I worked cutting fabric at a fabric store.
2. Clerk at an insurance agency
3. Inside sales at a large electronic components firm
4. Admin for a VP at Brookstone's home office
5. A Mom (Head chef, short-order cook, baker, human pacifier, pet cleanup squad, maid, #1 fan, baseball card collector, pre-school, elementary & middle school teacher, referee, taxi-driver, photographer, gardener, lawn care provider, painter, plumber, accountant, activities director, travel agent, coach's assistant, frugality facilitator, burp cloth, birth expert, cake decorator, receptionist, barber, insurance agent, first aid administrator, high-school counselor, cobbler, quilter, librarian, snow removal specialist, laundress, party planner, costume designer, atm machine, driving instructor, substance abuse counselor {{eye roll}}, secretary, highly efficient worrier, and seamstress.)
Addendum to number 5 directly above......I don't know how any of you who work full time manage to do that AND be a mom. Hats off to you! Talk about juggling! I wish I had that kind of energy.
I hereby tag anyone who hasn't done this one yet.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
The White Flag
The decision isn't one I'm happy with, but it is probably the one that makes the most sense in the long run(no pun intended). I've decided not to sacrifice the long term for the short term. There's no way I'll be able to run 26.2 this weekend without doing some real damage. This is killing my pride. I really wanted to do this.
I'm still so glad that I've had the marathon in front of me for the last 6 months. It pushed me to do things I never, EVER dreamed possible. Me, run 13.5 miles ? Never! But I did it. And did it more than once! Me, run four times a week? Never! But I did-----every week until I couldn't! This was an eye-opening experience for me. I've learned never to assume that I CAN'T do something.
Through this whole experience I've learned that lifetime runners are some of the most gracious people around. I've always wrongly assumed that they were an elitist group of Type-A's who thumbed their noses at us mere mortals. Boy, was I wrong! Everyone I've met through this blog has been encouraging, helpful, motivating, considerate, and lots of fun! I've learned that runners run for a million different reasons, and that they come in all shapes & sizes. I've also learned that they're a readily accepting group that loves to share their sport with newbies like me. It's been a great experience. Thank you!
I'll be posting periodically but mostly just checking in on how everyone's fall races are going.
I'm still so glad that I've had the marathon in front of me for the last 6 months. It pushed me to do things I never, EVER dreamed possible. Me, run 13.5 miles ? Never! But I did it. And did it more than once! Me, run four times a week? Never! But I did-----every week until I couldn't! This was an eye-opening experience for me. I've learned never to assume that I CAN'T do something.
Through this whole experience I've learned that lifetime runners are some of the most gracious people around. I've always wrongly assumed that they were an elitist group of Type-A's who thumbed their noses at us mere mortals. Boy, was I wrong! Everyone I've met through this blog has been encouraging, helpful, motivating, considerate, and lots of fun! I've learned that runners run for a million different reasons, and that they come in all shapes & sizes. I've also learned that they're a readily accepting group that loves to share their sport with newbies like me. It's been a great experience. Thank you!
I'll be posting periodically but mostly just checking in on how everyone's fall races are going.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
It's just a mile, but it's progress!
Guess what? I ran a mile at my physical therapy appointment the other day! This was encouraging to me no matter what happens with the marathon. I was scared that I was losing
all my cardio, etc. It felt so good to RUN! It didn't tire me out and my legs felt good. I think I might be able to do a little real running this weekend. Woohoo!
I'm not deciding anything for sure until the week before the marathon. Terri said "you only do your first marathon once"......and that really gave me something to think about. I don't want to start the marathon if I'm fairly certain I can't finish. I would rather do it next year, with Jim, and finish with my head held high than feel like I've failed because I stopped partway through this one. If I'm able to do a half decent run over the next week, I will consider going ahead and running 26.2 We shall see.
I've learned a lot over the last few months. If I do postpone my first until next fall, there are things I would change in my training. First of all, I would be cross-training from the start. I am convinced that not cross-training was probably responsible for both of our problems. The muscles we use for running were the only ones getting stronger. That's a problem seeing that I was fairly sedentary up to the commencement of my training. The PT has been having me to some exercises to strengthen my other leg muscles and I'm just like jelly when I'm done.....because I'm so darn weak.
The other thing I'd do is stretch after every run. I don't think I really ever stretched. Not good.
This has been quite an adventure and it's not over yet. It felt good to come home the other day from the PT and be all excited because I could run a mile. Being deprived of the running made me realize that I have fallen in love with it. I don't think I can go back to being a couch potato again.
all my cardio, etc. It felt so good to RUN! It didn't tire me out and my legs felt good. I think I might be able to do a little real running this weekend. Woohoo!
I'm not deciding anything for sure until the week before the marathon. Terri said "you only do your first marathon once"......and that really gave me something to think about. I don't want to start the marathon if I'm fairly certain I can't finish. I would rather do it next year, with Jim, and finish with my head held high than feel like I've failed because I stopped partway through this one. If I'm able to do a half decent run over the next week, I will consider going ahead and running 26.2 We shall see.
I've learned a lot over the last few months. If I do postpone my first until next fall, there are things I would change in my training. First of all, I would be cross-training from the start. I am convinced that not cross-training was probably responsible for both of our problems. The muscles we use for running were the only ones getting stronger. That's a problem seeing that I was fairly sedentary up to the commencement of my training. The PT has been having me to some exercises to strengthen my other leg muscles and I'm just like jelly when I'm done.....because I'm so darn weak.
The other thing I'd do is stretch after every run. I don't think I really ever stretched. Not good.
This has been quite an adventure and it's not over yet. It felt good to come home the other day from the PT and be all excited because I could run a mile. Being deprived of the running made me realize that I have fallen in love with it. I don't think I can go back to being a couch potato again.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Misadventures, Part II
Lest you ever get the idea that pathetic shouldn't apply here, note the following incident.
Upon taking my daughter to the park, I was promptly summoned to push her and two little friends on the tire swing. I must add here that my prowess in providing a wild & crazy tire-swing ride for the playground imps is, well, legendary. I got them spinning around in a rather nauseating manner, then went to change directions so my car would not be covered with regurgitation on the way home. When I grabbed the metal chain, it turned the tables on me and got caught on my wedding ring, dragged me to the ground, and nearly took my finger off. I had to get back up to separate said ring from the swing's chain. My ring now looks like a smushed lemon instead of a circle. I also should have removed my ring then because now my finger is so swollen, my ring won't come off.
However, I do know a little trick to getting the ring off. Windex. Yep. It makes it extremely slippery and off will come any ring. I should tell you how I know this even though it will make the Pathetic family look even more pathetic. A few years back, son#3 somehow managed to put his finger through a hole in his skateboard helmet....which is all well and good if you can get the finger out again. He couldn't. We ended up in the ER when soap, butter, etc. didn't work. Should people like us be allowed to reproduce? Sometimes I wonder.
Upon taking my daughter to the park, I was promptly summoned to push her and two little friends on the tire swing. I must add here that my prowess in providing a wild & crazy tire-swing ride for the playground imps is, well, legendary. I got them spinning around in a rather nauseating manner, then went to change directions so my car would not be covered with regurgitation on the way home. When I grabbed the metal chain, it turned the tables on me and got caught on my wedding ring, dragged me to the ground, and nearly took my finger off. I had to get back up to separate said ring from the swing's chain. My ring now looks like a smushed lemon instead of a circle. I also should have removed my ring then because now my finger is so swollen, my ring won't come off.
However, I do know a little trick to getting the ring off. Windex. Yep. It makes it extremely slippery and off will come any ring. I should tell you how I know this even though it will make the Pathetic family look even more pathetic. A few years back, son#3 somehow managed to put his finger through a hole in his skateboard helmet....which is all well and good if you can get the finger out again. He couldn't. We ended up in the ER when soap, butter, etc. didn't work. Should people like us be allowed to reproduce? Sometimes I wonder.
The Misadventures of the Pathetic Family
Since this is supposed to be a running blog, I suppose I should talk about running. Unfortunately, I have no actual running to report. Jim and I went to 'couples therapy' on Friday.....as in we both saw the physical therapist at the same time. She tortured his hamstrings while I was getting warmed up and then she turned around and stretched the backs of my legs until I was ready to kick her. Honestly, I have a love/hate relationship with that whole stretching thing. My legs feel great since then but oh, the pain at the time. Jim's legs have not improved much and it seems that one thing starts to feel better and something else gets whacked out. We feel decrepit this week. This is not good.
Then there are the Pathetic offspring. Ah. Bright children they are. Usually. Sort of. Anyway.....This week, the seventeen-year-old (son#4) did something remarkable. He lost the keys to his car (once again, I use that term loosely since not much about that pile of junk still resembles a motor vehicle). Now I realize that people lose their car keys all the time but in the Pathetic family, we don't do things like normal people. We do them BETTER. No, numero quatro didn't just lose his car keys ..........he went out two days later and lost the remaining set of car keys. The car has been parked at the grocery store all week. This, of course, made me extremely happy since then he had to use MY car all week to get to school (he's going to community college). I had to walk to work. What is wrong with this picture?
Tomorrow, he finally has a day off both school and work and he'll call Honda or a locksmith. I must post a picture of his car. It's an '88 Civic with royal blue hubcaps and no rear bumper. The old-lady-gold paint has dulled and it has bright Milford-Maverick-Red writing all over the hood and sides from when some of his high school friends used window paint to write on it before a football game. (not advisable)
Right now, I'm extremely busy and it's a good thing because it's keeping me from being too depressed about the running. I think I might be up and running by marathon time, but I will have lost so much of my conditioning. I refuse to sacrifice the long-term running for the short-term marathon goal, so when I go back to the sports medicine doctor, I will address those issues. I don't want to do even half the marathon if it means I'm going to be unable to run for the next few months. Jim and I are both anxious to get back to running together. We'll see what the Doc says. In the meantime, I just don't have the time, between homeschooling, mothering, and work, to always manage to get to the Y when there is lap swimming, babysitting, etc. I also am having trouble switching gears. It was tough enough to train my body to run double digits.....but to retrain it to do hours of swimming? Daunting at this point. Whine, whine, whine, and whine again. Excuse my hormones.
Tune in later this week when I will try to be a more positive person or at least post some pictures of Dave's car to make you laugh.
Happy Running! (or limping, as the case may be)
Then there are the Pathetic offspring. Ah. Bright children they are. Usually. Sort of. Anyway.....This week, the seventeen-year-old (son#4) did something remarkable. He lost the keys to his car (once again, I use that term loosely since not much about that pile of junk still resembles a motor vehicle). Now I realize that people lose their car keys all the time but in the Pathetic family, we don't do things like normal people. We do them BETTER. No, numero quatro didn't just lose his car keys ..........he went out two days later and lost the remaining set of car keys. The car has been parked at the grocery store all week. This, of course, made me extremely happy since then he had to use MY car all week to get to school (he's going to community college). I had to walk to work. What is wrong with this picture?
Tomorrow, he finally has a day off both school and work and he'll call Honda or a locksmith. I must post a picture of his car. It's an '88 Civic with royal blue hubcaps and no rear bumper. The old-lady-gold paint has dulled and it has bright Milford-Maverick-Red writing all over the hood and sides from when some of his high school friends used window paint to write on it before a football game. (not advisable)
Right now, I'm extremely busy and it's a good thing because it's keeping me from being too depressed about the running. I think I might be up and running by marathon time, but I will have lost so much of my conditioning. I refuse to sacrifice the long-term running for the short-term marathon goal, so when I go back to the sports medicine doctor, I will address those issues. I don't want to do even half the marathon if it means I'm going to be unable to run for the next few months. Jim and I are both anxious to get back to running together. We'll see what the Doc says. In the meantime, I just don't have the time, between homeschooling, mothering, and work, to always manage to get to the Y when there is lap swimming, babysitting, etc. I also am having trouble switching gears. It was tough enough to train my body to run double digits.....but to retrain it to do hours of swimming? Daunting at this point. Whine, whine, whine, and whine again. Excuse my hormones.
Tune in later this week when I will try to be a more positive person or at least post some pictures of Dave's car to make you laugh.
Happy Running! (or limping, as the case may be)
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