A joyful thing happened in South Carolina, in addition to my son's wedding. I discovered once again how enjoyable it is to share a run with those you love and admire.
I have quite a few nieces who are becoming runners. Sometime back we discussed getting together in South Carolina while we were all there for the wedding and going for a run. I took the liberty of finding a good route that would provide us with a loop to stop for water and bathrooms. This happened to be my son's future in-laws neighborhood.
Saturday morning we rose early and drove over to park in their drive to begin our run. My brother joined us as well. All running different paces I showed them the route and we all took off on our adventure. It seems simple and uneventful, nothing really to write about, nothing is further from the truth!
Sharing a time with my family, who are now on a quest to be more healthy, who are there to share in our joy later in the evening, well it was more than just a "run" to me. As I think back on it I needed that run and that time to share with them more than they realize. They may have been there for reasons that have nothing to do with me but in the end they gave me a great gift. A gift of camaraderie, the gift of calm and joy in sharing my passion with them on a day when instead I could have been a bag of nerves.
This is one of those runs that will make my list of my best runs. Thank you all for making such a wonderful memory with me.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Swim team
I've now been officially told that I can move to lane 2! I started this swim team last year with a lot of fear, and no skill. I've now learned the basics and the fear is gone.
Through the winter season I will practice endurance and continue to practice my stroke mechanics and then for next summer I will be in lane 2.
This shows that no matter what the age you can improve, learn new things, and grow in many ways both physically and mentally.
It really is a wonderful feeling that can be carried to many areas of life. Putting yourself in an uncomfortable situation and getting through it is something that everyone should go through, it makes life easier to handle.
Through the winter season I will practice endurance and continue to practice my stroke mechanics and then for next summer I will be in lane 2.
This shows that no matter what the age you can improve, learn new things, and grow in many ways both physically and mentally.
It really is a wonderful feeling that can be carried to many areas of life. Putting yourself in an uncomfortable situation and getting through it is something that everyone should go through, it makes life easier to handle.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Relativity
Yesterday we ran the Freedom 5K here in Granbury and while I got 3rd in my age division my time was slow in comparison to what I've run in the past. Terry came in 2nd and likewise his time was slow in comparison to the past.
I was not going to run this 5K. I've not been running hard since Cowtown and I know I am not in race shape so my decision to run the 5K was to simply run it, not race it.
Then the race comes. I simply cannot just RUN in a race and I push, not hard enough, but still I push. And then when it's over I am upset with myself that I didn't train hard for the race. And yet it's all relative right? I've learned that for me it's best to train for specific races and then allow my body to rest and do some cross training. And so my PRs came in the spring. It was time to let my body recover and get ready for knee surgery so that I can run the Missoula Montana Marathon next July.
In the end getting 3rd place which used to be exciting and amazing to me, has become mundane when I KNOW I could win 1st if I really trained. And so my attitude must change. I can run, and I run a pretty good pace even when I am not in race shape and my knee is hurting and so it's all a matter of relativity.
And now I'm on to the next phase in my running/swimming/biking endeavors.
I was not going to run this 5K. I've not been running hard since Cowtown and I know I am not in race shape so my decision to run the 5K was to simply run it, not race it.
Then the race comes. I simply cannot just RUN in a race and I push, not hard enough, but still I push. And then when it's over I am upset with myself that I didn't train hard for the race. And yet it's all relative right? I've learned that for me it's best to train for specific races and then allow my body to rest and do some cross training. And so my PRs came in the spring. It was time to let my body recover and get ready for knee surgery so that I can run the Missoula Montana Marathon next July.
In the end getting 3rd place which used to be exciting and amazing to me, has become mundane when I KNOW I could win 1st if I really trained. And so my attitude must change. I can run, and I run a pretty good pace even when I am not in race shape and my knee is hurting and so it's all a matter of relativity.
And now I'm on to the next phase in my running/swimming/biking endeavors.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Behind on Blogging!
I've learned so much over the past couple of years in regard to excersize, it's hard to know how to begin to share what I have learned but I shall give it a try.
1. Running with no cross training will eventually lead to injury
2. Cross training is fun and I've learned that swimming (and I mean REALLY swimming), learning all of the strokes, doing tough drills, and sprints, plus distance swimming, has helped me in a number of ways. I've also learned I really won't drown if I push hard swimming!
3. Cycling is very hard, much harder than running in my opinion. But also very rewarding and exhilerating.
4. Yoga/Pilates provide a very tough but cleansing workout while allowing me to gain strength I never got with lifting weights.
5. Most of all though I've come to the realization that all of these activities (and others) have become such a way of life that they are no longer just "workouts".
When we begin working out we have to plan and think about when we will get our workouts in, it becomes a hassle to make sure we get just enough time in to counter our calorie intake. While it is positive and we enjoy it, it is "exersize".
No longer do I feel this way, these activites are a way of life, they are what I do, just like brushing my teeth, doing my hair, eating. It's just the way we live and with it comes freedom.
In a few weeks I have knee surgery, nothing major, I am worried about how I will fill my time while not being able to fully live they way I have become accustomed. I guess I will just have to work hard to get myself back better than ever!
Last I want to express how exciting it has been to see family members beginning the quest for health, and you know who you are! Congratulations and know that I am here to support you in any way I can. Looking forward to a "family" half sometime in the future!
1. Running with no cross training will eventually lead to injury
2. Cross training is fun and I've learned that swimming (and I mean REALLY swimming), learning all of the strokes, doing tough drills, and sprints, plus distance swimming, has helped me in a number of ways. I've also learned I really won't drown if I push hard swimming!
3. Cycling is very hard, much harder than running in my opinion. But also very rewarding and exhilerating.
4. Yoga/Pilates provide a very tough but cleansing workout while allowing me to gain strength I never got with lifting weights.
5. Most of all though I've come to the realization that all of these activities (and others) have become such a way of life that they are no longer just "workouts".
When we begin working out we have to plan and think about when we will get our workouts in, it becomes a hassle to make sure we get just enough time in to counter our calorie intake. While it is positive and we enjoy it, it is "exersize".
No longer do I feel this way, these activites are a way of life, they are what I do, just like brushing my teeth, doing my hair, eating. It's just the way we live and with it comes freedom.
In a few weeks I have knee surgery, nothing major, I am worried about how I will fill my time while not being able to fully live they way I have become accustomed. I guess I will just have to work hard to get myself back better than ever!
Last I want to express how exciting it has been to see family members beginning the quest for health, and you know who you are! Congratulations and know that I am here to support you in any way I can. Looking forward to a "family" half sometime in the future!
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