Time to close the chapter on the running blog....................................

When I started this blog, the purpose was to keep a journal of the days leading up to my first marathon. I didn't think or plan on what would happen to the blog once race day came and went.
Having set with things for a bit, I have reached the conclusion that I don't need to keep the blog any longer. It served me well, both in regards to documenting and in bringing some new friends into my life.

Ending my running blog in no way means I am ending my running career, just that it has gone back to the place where it started; a personal outlet and growth avenue. I no longer feel the need to track my runs or put that much focus on one race. Nothing wrong with this, it is just time for me to have a different focus than running.

I am leaving the blog up because the day may come when I pick it up with a renewed focus on a particular race. That is the coolest thing about life, it is always changing.

In the meantime, you can keep up on the happenings in my world, along with my running in my original blog Patty's Perspective at; www.neoblast.blogspot.com/ as I will continue to keep up with your worlds through your blogs.

Happy trails!

A wake up call....................................

As a post marathon treat I went and had a live blood analysis done last Saturday. It was really cool to watch my blood cells swimming around. Unfortunately I also saw a few fungus cells, and a couple of uric acid crystals from undigested protein in my blood stream. All in all, I fared pretty well on the test and with a low carbohydrate, IE:no white flour, sugar, mostly green leafy veggie diet I can easily turn that around. Oh! Ya! And chew my food better. My youngest also had the tests done, and it totally cracked me up when her answer to the question, "Do you chew your food well?" was EXACTLY the same as mine: "Probably not. I am always grabbing something and shoving it in as I don't have time for a real sit-down meal." Something to work on...

Besides the blood analysis, we also had another test done that measured the way our heart is pumping the blood, and the rate at which it flows through the arteries.

I am in great shape right? One can't be in too bad of shape and complete a marathon right? Well, not exactly. According to the test, I have the arteries of a seventy (70) year old. Twenty (20) years difference.

One can look back on my diet and lifestyle and see times in which I didn't care what I put in my mouth. Still, for the most part, I have had a fairly healthy diet, at least in regards to most Americans. The really shocking part is my youngest has the arteries of a thirty-four year old (34), and she is ONLY eighteen (18)! She has always ate a great diet, and is also thin and in great cardiovascular shape. So what's up?

The family tree card is a big part of it. My father died of a stroke at age sixty (60), my brother had a massive, fatal, heart attack at age fifty-two (52), and my sister had a heart attack at age fifty-five (55). Okay! They all smoked, and the guys drank pretty heavily, and we don't, but it still means we are going to have to work harder to avoid going down the same path.

What does this have to do with running. Well, for one thing I am REALLY glad I didn't have this information before the marathon. Especially on the heals of the news that the Chicago runner's death was heart related. Would it have stopped me? Of course not, but it might have added to my worries. The other thing it has to do with running is knowing that I would be in much worse shape if I had not started running. I almost wish I had a comparison test to see what an improvement I have made over the past three years.

Another interesting thing I thought I would pass on is that my blood cells showed that my lymphatic system was a little sluggish (my youngest's was worse than mine. I run more). This is the system that flushes toxins out of the system, and who wants their blood sitting in toxins? Yuck! Anyway, the recommendation for this problem was to bounce on one of those little mini trampoline/rebounders for fifteen minutes a day. Apparently the lymph system needs to be shaken up with the up and down motion to get kicked back into gear. Since it can't hurt me, I will give it a try and see if it helps.

Good health tends to be one of those things that we take for granted until we don't have it anymore. Most of the time a runners wake up call comes in the form of a running injury that takes them off the road/trial. I am grateful that my wake up call will not take me off the road. I received it before suffering any permanent damage, with time to reverse the trend and stay on the road for many years to come. One more of my many life blessings.

Pondering............................

It has occurred to me that not feeling the need to share the details of the marathon represents great personal growth.

I have been working on being true to my inner self and not being concerned with other people's opinions of me and my behavior. I don't need validation of sharing the marathon details with others. Having ran the race, and completed the journey is fulfillment in and of itself.

I also think some of the tears I shed were for the woman that was brave enough to step out and take the first step. I am so damn proud of her. You have no idea how many times people told her she was crazy to even want to try and do something so insane. The woman, who over the years yearned for acceptance into an inner circle where she truly felt she belonged, again set out on her own because she knew it was were she needed to be. What she discovered was that her own inner circle is a really great place to hang out.

Today someone ask me how I was going to top the completion of the marathon. My answer:

"You know me, I'll think of something. And it will be great!"

The ending of the marathon is so just the beginning of the next chapter of my life. I am purposely trying to let my mind flow open-ended for a few weeks. The possibilities of where I am heading to next are endless, and I want to be sure that I pick the best of the best choice because that is exactly what I deserve.

Promised Pictures........................................................

Our (REALLY) cool marathon socks.

Over the bridge at sunrise.
The Detroit skyline.
Almost to the tunnel.
The US/Canada border in the tunnel.

Welcome back to Michigan.

FINISH STRONG!!!

Just about to set off the final mat of my first marathon.

I still have no memory of posing for this picture. I do remember taking the gallon of water(on the ground in the picture) off the table. Like one little glass would do. And I remember making sure my food bag came complete with potato chips (that I still have not eaten, but it seemed important at the time), as not all the bags had them. And I remember getting my yucky pants off and then having to call my youngest because I couldn't bend down enough to get the clean one on. But nope...No memory of this picture at all. But it is a pretty great picture isn't it, with all of us metaled up? I also like the background with all the porta-potties. I see it as a jab, a pun, and ironic after what I had just been through. A VERY fitting ending don't ya think?

Marathon details...............................................

In case you haven't heard, I finished, with a time of 6:21:45. I am still emotionally raw (and physically raw in a couple of places), and am not sure how much detail I will go into, but since you have all traveled the past six months with me I didn't want you to have to wait for too long.

I woke to the sound of my oldest (who did the full marathon) in the shower around 4:30 AM, and when she bounded out of the bathroom, the first words out of her mouth were, "It's fate, I woke up and the clock on the microwave said 4:20, then I came over to the bed and that clock said 4:20." 4:20 happen to be the time she had set to finish the marathon in.

It was just chilly enough for us to wake up as we walked to the start line a little over hour later, and just a little bit more windy than we had hoped. Not gonna let a little wind get in the way of enjoying this day, that was for sure.

FINALLY, the gun went off and I crossed the start line a few minutes later and did an easy jog to the first corner where I waited for a couple of minutes to pick up my youngest, the first member of my "Fab Four" relay team. We started with a nice easy pace, and I felt great, except for the fact that I am one of those people that are potty trained, for 7:15 every morning, which happen to be the start time of the race. Some things can't be rushed, so before we really got started we were having to stop.

The first couple of miles to the bridge I felt strong, and my running felt effortless. This continued over the bridge and I had a great time crossing the bridge, my youngest by my side, her only disappointment that she couldn't get the truckers to honk their horn at her.

Due to not understanding the way the transportation for the relay teams worked my youngest ended up having to run the first two legs of the relay instead of the first and last, essentially a half-marathon. She had not trained to run seven miles let alone a half, but she is a trouper and young so she did great.

I am not sure why everyone says the tunnel is cool to run through, I found it quite hot and stuffy, and about half way through it, my youngest started to get a little claustrophobic, and her feet were numb. I told her to imagine that the tunnel was a really long isle in the shoe store and at the end of the isle there was going to be a really great pair of high heels...With four inch high heels! She told me when we met up at the finish line that even though she knew better, she was a tiny bit disappointed that there was a pair of heels waiting at the relay stop for her. You better believe if she ever does this for me again there will be, no matter what I have to do to make sure of it!

I picked up (my) Mister and crossed the thirteen mile mark just a ways down the road. I was pretty amazed at how good I felt. Still having some bathroom issues, but that is what Depends are for. Right. It was getting warm by the time we hit the bridge up to Belle Isle, and about a quarter of the way up the bridge, (my) Mister decided to take off and head to the relay exchange on the other side of the bridge. I guess he was worried about changing the ankle chip or something, but it was a huge mental loss being alone and watching him leave me in his dust. This slowed me down some but I was still feeling physically pretty good. All the training and the pain related medical events of the past year really served me well in being able to tune out the aches and pains as I picked off the miles.

Picking up the third member of my Fab Four (my youngest's boyfriend) gave me a little lift at mile seventeen, and then there was eighteen. Heck, I can do this, so what if I am off my time because I slowed down, and then stopped at a potty to try and clean up a bit? I have plenty of time to finish.

After that potty stop I began to realize how tired I was getting and all I could think was "I REALLY need to see mile 19. My relay partner did a fabulous job of lying to me and telling me there it was, up ahead, and before I knew it, there it was. Then all I could focus on was "I love you dearly___, but I can't wait to see ____, because then I will only have 6 miles to go. Also at mile 19 was where I started counting backwards. "Seven miles to go, anyone can run seven miles. I have ran seven miles countless times." And on and on until I could see the final relay station just ahead. By this time I was definitely at the back of the pack and the trucks were coming along to remove the road blocks. Like the pain, I pushed this out of my mind and let my new partner talk me into picking up the pace through mile 20, and on towards mile 21. By this time I was feeling pretty sick to my stomach, and somewhere between mile 21 and 22 I started getting stomach cramps to the point that they doubled me over so I had no choice but to walk. No porta-potty to be found I finally gave in and just filled my pants. Then it took me about a quarter mile to figure out how to run with the load in my pants, but I finally managed to get a slow steady pace going, and mile 22 pasted, then somehow 23, 24, and there by 25 FINALLY a porta-potty, but I had adjusted and didn't want to stop because now I was under the gun to finish in the 6.5 time limit. Mile markers, 24, and 25 brought tears and statements, "They have to let me finish now. I made it this far, they can't take it away from me now."

My oldest called her partner (my final relay team member) at mile 23 to check on us. She had made her goal time with ten or so seconds to spar. When she called back just before mile 26 it was with more concern that I would not make the time limit. ____ was wonderful at reassuring both of us I would make it in plenty of time.

From reading past accounts of my races you all know I am a talker. This left me somewhere around mile 23 and from that time I was pretty much inside my head talking to myself, muttering a thank you to the police officers that were controlling traffic for us. So now I know the limits I must go to to shut myself up.

And let me take a minute here to applaud the great job they did. The entire course of well marked, and well staffed for both fluids and safety. And every single one of them cheered for us as we passed. Think about that, six hours of sitting around, much of it in the sun (with the officers in full uniform), having cheered for thousands of people, and still showing us a good time when I am sure all they wanted to do was pack up and go home. I think that might be my favorite memory of the entire race.

My youngest and her boyfriend joined us just before mile 26 and she ran with me talking me through the last little distance. "See Mommy, there it is. The finish line. Honestly the only thought I could muster was, "They can't kick me out now." Having the time limit took the joy out of race for me (ya, I know if I ran faster it wouldn't be an issue, and I am not blaming the race. I just learned that a time limit race is not for me. I don't like the pressure).

I had joked to my oldest that I expected her to have a microphone and be singing We Are Family when I crossed the finish line, and she actually did it. She said, "Happy birthday Mom, and then sang a line of the song. Then she gave the microphone back to the "real" announcer and he repeated the sentiment as I actually crossed the finish line. I was feeling too sick at that point to feel anything except relief that I could stop.

I made my way to the porta-potty and got my clothes off, but had to call my youngest to put my pants back on because I couldn't bend over. Talk about love.

I made the walk back to the hotel before the vomiting started, and I am pretty proud of that. And now, my youngest has to give me that honor of having ran hard enough to throw up. So there.

As if I hadn't suffered enough, when I undressed to shower I found three bloody spots on my back from my bra and HR monitor rubbing, and of course my entire bottom was raw. I didn't feel any pain in my legs compared to the pain in my butt, so I do have that to cling to.

Made it home and I was still an emotional mess. Heck, I am still an emotional mess, and I have been crying the entire time I have been typing this up.

As tired as I was, even with some left-over pain medication from my surgery I was not able to stay asleep for more than an hour at a time last night. I think every time I moved in my sleep the movement cause my butt to hurt and this woke me up. When I WAS asleep, I was dreaming of running the marathon over and over and over. All in all, a pretty horrible night. I am doing better today but I still have 1/4 inch high welts on my butt from the experience. OUCH! I have figured out a way to avoid this in the future with Vaseline and layering, so it was a learning experience, abet a painful one.

When I couldn't sleep, I picked up a book to read, and it was a book about running marathons (stories of one woman's runs). At the start of a chapter she had quotes and this one from Frank Shorter hit the mark for me:

You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind can't know what's coming.

While I am fairly certain there will be another one in my future, don't you dare ask me when it will be! I still have lots of processing to do on this one.

P.S.
Imagine my shock at reading the official time this morning and finding out that I was third from last in my age division! I was sure I was dead last in the entire race not just in my division, but as long as they didn't kick me out I didn't care one little bit at the time. I still don't.

Some advice from a veteran..................................

I think I mentioned that I met a woman when I did the South Dakota race that had ran Detroit as her first marathon, at age 50. She continues to run marathons, and has several under her running shoes. I decided to write to her and ask her if she had any last minute advice for me. I was so touched by her advice that I thought I would share it with all of you. I have learned that in general runners are good people, but the fact that she took the time to send me this note puts her in an even higher class in my book. Thanks XXXX, you are a doll!

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Patty, I am sure that you will do well in Detroit. I will be looking for your results. By now, you should be tapering, resting and probably going crazy. You will probably also be thinking you are ill, have lots of aches and pains, and so forth. Do no worry about that - it is to be expected.

I love the marathon route. The bridge will be especially beautiful, as you will be able to see the sun rise as you cross it. I think that is the prettiest part of the route. The tunnel is also so neat, when you come out and see a lot of people there screaming and yelling.

When you finish this first marathon you will have such strong feelings. The first is always the best! And then within a few days, yes, there may be a let down. So rest up for a short while, and then aim for something. There are generally a few shorter races during the holiday season. Some have cute shirts too. I always do the Run like the Dickens in Holly every Dec.

I expect a note telling me all about your experiences shortly after the race!

Oh yes, get a good sleep Thurs or Fri. You probably will not sleep on Saturday!!!!

XXXX

In hiding.....................................

The last two days I have been avoiding interaction with the general public. Those people that are in my inner circle fine, but I don't want to chance hearing anything that might upset me. No news, no weather reports, no attitudes, nothing.

The logical part of brain knows this is silly, but the biggest part of brain doesn't see any point in chancing it. It is sorta like when I was in labor with my children. I tuned out the world in order to fully focus on the task at hand. I had no idea that I would be doing this for the marathon, but here it is.

I have been doing silly little indulgent things like taking color baths and burning yummy smelling candles while I fiddle with my guitar. I deserve this time to myself, and am taking full advantage of it.

I think a part of me wants to savor the last little bit of time I have before the big day. I want to bask in all I have gone through to get to this point in my life and all the positive changes that have happen to me over the past three years.

I know I am still going to be me when the race is over, but I also know I am going to be different, and maybe I need to mourn the passing of that me.

Maybe I just have too much time on my hands!

Regardless, I just wanted to check in and now that I have it is back into hiding.

Om..........................

One week from this moment and I will be someone where on the course of the Detroit marathon, having a blast, and living out a dream. How freaking exciting is that thought?

Had a nice 8 mile run yesterday, and did a nice consistent 12 minute mile pace. Now my schedule calls for a couple of two mile distances and resting this week. I am trying to fill the extra time with lots and lots of positive, relaxing thoughts. I am pretty much doing only fun things. Like Kate, no house cleaning for this lady. How often does one have the excuse not to clean. Well, come to think of it I have been having quite a few excuses the past months. And our since we brought the outdoor plants in for the winter the kitten has been in heaven playing in the pots and throwing the dirt all over the floor in the process, but heck, it goes quite nice with the leaves that blow in when the door is open. Maybe I should market it to interior decorators, like those bars that have the peanut shells all over the floor and are considered cool. Probably not...

I took a color bath with lots of essential oils in it last night to balance my energy levels. I slept like a baby, and feel all calm and patient this morning. Think it will last until noon? Wouldn't want to bet on it, but there is always a chance now isn't there!

Thanks again to all of you that have been supporting me over the past months, through the ups and downs of my training. It would not have been the same without you, and you are are going to be sharing in my victory, because you are a big part of it. Huge love and gratitude to you all!

The good, the bad, and the scary.......................................

Granted I am not familiar with the Detroit area, but I never in a million years would have thought driving the marathon course would take us close to three hours. Even that fact that it took us a good thirty minutes to get out of the tunnel due to traffic, that still seems like a long time. When you think about the fact that the winner of the marathon will most likely take less time than that it IS a long time.

Driving the course did give me new appreciation of those course Marshalls (and having been one I actually know what they are called now), and how important it is having someone there to make sure you are going the right way.

When we came up to the bridge into Canada I had a total freak out and cursed my idea of driving the course. That sucker is BIG, and LONG, and UP HILL! And did I mention I am afraid of bridges? Has to do with a re-occurring childhood dream. But after I called my youngest (she is running that portion of the race with me) I calmed down and now I have the picture in my head to be able to meditate on and visualize me running fast and strong over the bridge, all the while having a great time.

In my mind, the race is made up of three parts. Downtown with all the concrete and buildings. This is the beginning and the tail end of the race. Then there is the exciting part, the bridge and the tunnel. Not being a normal running path it is going to be neat to be able to say I ran over and through them. The final part is the pretty part. Running along the water, around Belle Isle, and the residential area after Belle Isle is pleasing on the eye and will be great for keeping your mind off any aches and pains as you take in the scenery.

Even though it was hot and humid, we did stop and run the three miles around Belle Isle. I was glad that leg wasn't longer.

All in all I can think of a better way to have started my fiftieth year. We even managed to fit in ice cream and a movie (with a small popcorn, but heck it WAS my birthday, and my HR monitor said I had burned close to 4,000 calories the day before, so I figured the splurge was okay) before having to be home to relieve the OP caregiver substitute.

I think one more day and I will be back to walking normal after Saturday's run. Funny, this morning I work up and my forearms are achy. Since I didn't do anything that I can think of to cause it besides Saturday's run, it must be from the position I had my arms in for almost six hours, but it is just showing up three days later. Maybe my body couldn't spare any pain signals for the forearms as they were all busy letting me know how much my quads didn't like what I put them through. Get over it quads, we are doing it again in less than two weeks! And I can't wait!

It's taper time......................................

Being two weeks behind schedule, I planned to do a long run today, but didn't set a goal in stone in case my wrist acted up or the down time had taken more out of me than I thought. Had one in my head (don't we always), but told myself I would be happy with anything in the teens. I ended up completing what I wanted to do:

TWENTY FOUR (24) MILES!!!

YES I DID!

Okay, I completed twenty two (22) running, and walked the last two, but I am counting it.

I started out slow and steady. Then the sun came up (which by the way was beautiful and very entertaining for a mile or so) and made it feel more humid, more like it really was. What is up with 85 and humid in October?

By the time I met my youngest at mile seven I was feeling pretty nauseated, and moving like a turtle. I had been out for 4.5 hours and still had seven miles to go to make my hearts desire.

I know all the books say if you do one or two twenty milers then you will be able to finish the marathon. I also know in all the stories I have read the people really struggled mentally with the last six miles. I figured if I did twenty four once it would be a mental boost. Heck I know I can CRAWL two miles if I had to.

I am glad I did, because the last two miles that I ran I WAS having trouble ignoring the aches, the nausea, the heat. My face felt like it was literally on fire and of course the water I had with me was warm as bath water so that was no help even though I kept making myself drink it. This ended up being good practice for my youngest to get my mind off things and for me to stay focused on moving my feet. At one point she said, "Okay. We are going to pick up the pace when we get to that tree." For the first time (I can remember anyway) since beginning this training the words, "I can't" came out of my mouth. I alternated between I can't and I'll try until we reached the tree and I did indeed try, and even managed to do so for a short distance.

Had today's time been the marathon, I regret to tell you I would have been kicked out by about 8 minutes (this comes from the 5:40 time for the 22 miles and then calculating what the other 4.2 would have taken me) from their 6.5 hour cut-off time. I will say I did leave the clock running while I was collecting my Gatorade from the side of the road and when I went potty (only twice. Now that I hope is exactly the same on marathon day). I am not really worried about this as I am sure race excitement and running with a partner will easily absorb that. Really nothing I can do at this point so what happens happens whether or not I invest time worrying about it.

So now, with one last long run behind me I can turn my mind towards relaxing and getting well rested and well fueled for the big day. Sometime this turns out to be harder than a long run, but I plan to give it as much effort.

Almost to the starting line of my goal, this will be the last post I write as a forty-nine year old. Tomorrow I turn fifty, and move up in age category. Too bad all those other forty-nine year old women in my area, the one's that are way faster than me, move up along with me. Doesn't make me any less a winner in my heart or in my soul. I am totally content to just be able to be a part of it all.

Runner girl is back.........................................

Had my two week check with the surgeon this afternoon and the news is wonderful. Details...

First the nice young nurse(?) took off the splint. I was so busy pretending it was the first time I had it off that I forgot to rescue the dirty ace wrap that the family had put their signature drawings on. But she was none the wiser that the splint had been off so my model patient status remained intact.

Next came X-rays...the wrist was a lot straighter today than the last time it was X-rayed (before surgery).

So, the doc comes in and asks how I was doing so I turned it back on him and ask him to tell me since he was the one with the X-rays in his hands. He said I was doing well, and healing great. Then he came over and ask me to squeeze my hand shut. When I did it with ease (I have a little decreased range, but not much) he was REALLY impressed. Then he says, "I should take you next door and show you the lady in there. I did her the same day as you." I replied, "Only if I am doing better." He says, "Oh ya! W-A-Y better."

I had met this woman on my first visit to his office. Her name is also Patricia, and she is two years younger than me (48 to my 50). I fractured my left wrist and am right hand dominate. She fractured her right wrist and is left hand dominate. Yes I'm bragging, but apparently I kicked her ass when it comes to bouncing back/recovery! Woo! Hoo!

Back to my story... As the surgeon is telling me he wants me to start ranging the wrist and using the hand more, he stands and is heading to the door. I am patient, not saying anything. Then he turns around, looks at me with this little smile, and says, "Yes. You can run, but wear the splint for two more weeks." Containing myself I ask about transferring my resident, and proceeded to show him how I had been doing it (he ask if we were going to dance), and then ask if I could use Theraband to strengthen my elbow and shoulder (he said that would be fine). Then I ask if I had any restrictions. He said, 'NO PUSH UPS!" I could contain myself no more and started to laugh with glee as I crossed my heart and promised no push ups OR downward dogs.

When the assistant came in my wrist brace he told me no lifting anything heavier than a coffee cup (and having heard me before added, "and not the big jumbo one either).

So, I wear the brace for an additional two weeks, watch the lifting, exercise and range four or so times a day without the splint on, and go back in a month. I even get to start showering my arm tomorrow. How great is that?

I came home and went out for a nice relaxing five mile run (57 minutes) and I can't tell you how wonderful it felt to be out of breath and sweaty. We will see how I feel tomorrow, but today it feels like I didn't lose too much during the time off. My quads felt a little tired by the end, but that could be from the stupid bike riding. I figure I can make up a bit of training this week and then turn the focus to my taper so I am well rested and ready to run nineteen days from now.

Thank you for all of the prayers and good wishes. As I told everyone in the surgeon's office I am doing as well as I am due to the power of prayer and positive thoughts. I could not have done this without all of you. May you be blessed beyond measure for your goodness!

Volunteering.................................

It continues to be frustrating to type, which is the reason for the delayed update, but here it is...

I ended up getting assigned to a spot only about 1/2 mile into the race. It was very "interesting" to watch the front of the pack as they passed me. They were so serious looking I almost felt like I should be standing at attention.

There was a camera set up right by me, and at about the 8 minute pace group people began to look more relaxed, some of them raising their hands or smiled at the camera, so I began to voice encouragement.

By the time the 10 minute pace group went by the people were interacting with me so I felt it was okay to bring out the cow bell to up my encouragement.

By the time the last couple passed (walking, were well into their sixties), about fifteen minutes into the race, I was really having fun and we had a little mini conversation about the great pink shoelaces the Mrs. had in her shoes. She told me she picked them up at a race for breast cancer the day before. I can only hope that is me when I am her age (not that far away mind you).

When I was finished with that task, I walked back to the finish line just in time to see the first 5K finisher. (they started the 5K about 10 minutes after the half. He finished in about 17 minutes. WOW!) I ask for an additional task and was ask to remove chips. I did pretty good considering I had only 1.5 hands. Taking care of myself, when my wrist began to tire I went and found a new job guarding the bags people had left their belonging in, and did this for about an hour until my wrist told me it had had enough and it was time to go.

I was feeling pretty good about my day, and how well I had handled not participating in the actual race as I was walking back to the car. Unfortunately my path took me past the finish line, and the announcer that was congratulating people as they finished. I burst into tears thinking about how badly I wanted to be out there. Poor me!

If nothing else, this two week hiatus has reinforced how much this running thing is in my blood, and how committed I am to staying healthy and in shape. The little Miss Couch Potato in me still finds this a little hard to believe, but am I ever grateful for this life change I have made. I was talking to Random last night and she was telling me how she came back from the SD race a completely changed person. Who would have thought putting on a pair of shoes and running for a couple of hours could have such a positive effect on one's life? I am so blessed to be a part of it.

And now for the REALLY exciting news..............................................

October is my birthday month, and this Sunday is my actual birthday. I have someone to watch the OPs for the day(which is a HUGE gift in itself) so (my) Mister is going to drive me to Detroit and we are going to drive the marathon course and hopefully be able to run a bit of it. This is going to be such a mental boost and I can't think of a better way to spend my birthday. I know, you're all jealous...It's okay!

And I have picked out our race days shirts. The same brand (race ready) as we had for the trail race and I love it. It feels like you are wearing nothing at all. Our shirts are going to be white and my oldest is going to have something cool put on them for a little surprise for me. I also found some socks with 26.2 on then on the web site that I am getting for myself and my oldest, and ones with four little people on the cuff for my relay team. I also found a belt that holds your number instead of having to pin it on. This will solve the layering problem as it can clip it on over the windbreaker and unclip it quickly when I want to take it off the windbreaker into the race. I am going to give it a try and make sure I like it before using it as I have heard too many race day horror stories of trying something new on race day to chance it.

I go to the doctor today so I WILL be reporting good news to you tomorrow I am sure.

Gonna be a Course Marshall........................

Otherwise known as those great people that tell you which direction to go so you stay on course during a race.

I know it is a great thing to volunteer and all that, but this is all about me, and knowing myself. Now, for sure, I won't give in to the temptation to run the race, but I will still get to be a part of it! Talk about your win-win situation.

Never volunteered at a race before. It will be fun.

Never thought part of my training for the marathon would include that, OR navigating my way through a broken wrist.

Tells you what I know!

Checking in.............................

Yesterday was ugly.

One of those days when the negative slips in and takes over your entire existence. I wanted to escape my body and be me again. The me that is physically active, and can run for 4.5 hours and live to tell about it. Not the current me that is dragging herself into an upright position to do twenty squats and being able to literally feel the muscle wasting that is underway after such a short time of being out of commission. Not the me that lays around and sees all these things that need doing, but can't face tackling them with one hand. I was so wishing that it were the end of October so I could tell everyone all the cobwebs are my creative, inexpensive Halloween decorations. But it isn't, so they are just plain cobwebs, the sign of a lazy housekeeper.

I am tired of that nagging, constant pain. Not so bad that I want to take the pain medication that don't really take it away, but do make me itch because my body is very sensitive to chemicals/toxins and I itch like crazy while it is expels the built up toxin through my skin.

The best way I have found to get rid of negative feelings is to express gratitude, and I don't know anyone that has more to be grateful for than I do...

It bears repeating that it could have been my right (dominate) wrist that I broke which would have been much more frustrating.

It could have been my sacrum that I broke if I wouldn't have shifted all of my weight onto my left wrist, which might have made doing the marathon impossible.

I have acute pain, not chronic pain. I WILL heal and get better. Many people will not. And the itching... I am grateful that my body has a way of getting rid of the toxins so they don't hang out in my cells for a lot longer.

I am grateful that I WILL run again. I will get my base level of fitness back up, and I will continue to gain strength both physically and mentally, for many years to come.

I am beyond grateful for the loving, supportive family I have been blessed with. My youngest gets up at 5:30 in the morning to transfer, dress, and/or shower residents as needed. She brushes/washes my hair, and assisted me with my bra/dressing until I was able to again do it myself. (My) Mister works his day job, then comes home and takes over my job. He listens to me whine and bitch without taking it (too) personally, which is a HUGE growth for him, and what I need more than anything else in the world from him.

I am grateful for the ability to be continuing to work. I have a couple of residents that can't be safely transferred with one hand. It has just worked out. Either an extra arm showed up just at the right time, or the residents have been patient in waiting to be transferred to their more comfy chairs. Being self-employed means I don't get paid if I don't work, and at this stage in our (financial) lives we still depend on my income.

I have insurance. Yet to receive any statements, but I know the cost is going to be high, and I am grateful that the charges will not set us back financially us as they might have without coverage.

Those are a few of the big things I am grateful for. There are all those silly little things I am grateful for like the fact that I didn't gain ANY weight while on the steroids. Or the fact that (my) Mister is a superstar at recoding the ends of TV shows that I fall asleep watching, or just shows he knows I enjoy. Using the remote control seems to be one of a very small number of things that I do just fine with one hand. Having helped out with the Ops for some time now, (my) Mister is VERY good at fixing my plate to make eating more manageable with one hand WITHOUT me having to ask, or having the food get cold while he cuts it up into stabable and/or scoopable bites.

I could go on, but this has been enough to even out my mood, and I have some dirty dishes, laundry, and a floor that I need to tackle so I will end for now.


I hope every one's training program is going well, goals are being reached, and new ones are being set. Remember I have one more week to live vicariously through you, so GET OUT THERE!

Update............................

One really ugly looking plate, four screws, and lots of anti-nausea medication later, I am home and recovery nicely.

Taking today off to elevate, ice, and medicate. Tomorrow I will be back to work.

P.S.

I don't remember much about what he told my daughter when he talked to her after surgery, but I do remember her telling me he told her he would make me a running splint in two weeks. I might just have to make that man brownies and lemon bars for being so sweet!

Quote Of The Week.....................................

Maybe I am so into my training, that I translate everything into it, but I think this has value for running, as well as for life in general. Take what you need from it, leave the rest.


single footstep

As a single footstep
will not make a path on the earth,
so a single thought will not
make a pathway in the mind.

To make a deep physical path,
we walk ceaselessly again and again.

To make a deep mental path,
we must think over and over the kind of thoughts
we wish to dominate our lives.

~ Henry David Thoreau

Tomorrow I have surgery, so today I ran...................................

I did the wrist up so well that I have to go in tomorrow and have an O.R.I.F. (open reduction internal fixation). in other words, he is putting a metal plate in my wrist. Apparently my radius is now tipping backwards instead of forwards. Gotta say I am pretty proud of how well I have been functioning with it being so messed up.

The nurse came in first and told me I would not be running with my arm, and when I told her I had done the race on Sunday it appeared to me she wanted to run out of the room and tattle on me. Instead she started to say something else and I told her I preferred to argue with the doc about whether or not I could do the marathon.

After she left I really wanted to get upset, but I forced myself to be "zen" and think only positive things. I kept saying over and over, "Please let the doctor be a runner."

When he came in he was telling me about the surgery, and then I said, I guessed he heard about my running with a broken arm, and God bless that man he said, "So, are you doing Chicago or Detroit?" I could have kissed him! He went on to say he had done a marathon when he was 39. His concern for me is getting infection, but he told me if I gave him two weeks he would get me out there in October. What a deal.

I won't be doing my scheduled 24 miler this weekend, or the capital city half in two weekends, but I can live with that. I am going to be a model patient and be back on top by the first of October!

Think good thoughts for me tomorrow ( 9/19/07). Surgery is at 3:30 PM E.S.T. Pray for blessings for me and the surgeon, Doctor Russell.

Thanks.

P.S. He said two weeks after surgery and nothing about before, so I did a short three miles tonight. It was a bitter sweet run, and knowing it will be my last for a bit made it really, really special. For the next couple of weeks yous will have to take me out on your runs so I don't get out of shape. At least not mentally.

You're darn right I did it.................................

I showed up at the start line with an open mind, not sure if I would run or walk, just sure I would cover the distance somehow. And I ran the full five miles with (my) Mister. He actually slowed me down (good thing he's cute) a bit, but we finished in just over an hour. Good job honey!

Had someone snap this action shot of us during the race for proof (not that there is really any doubt to those that know me) that I am a crazy runner.

In the end, I literally dragged (my) Mister over the finish line with my good arm, he nearly collapsed, doc was called, but he is fine. He just gave it everything he had and needed a little sugar back in his system. But I LOVED it when we were coming in and they called out our names together. Yes it was so worth the discomfort in my arm. We will be victorious in the marathon as well.

You won't believe this one.....................................

When I went in to tell my youngest I was heading out for a run earlier this afternoon (my first since Saturday), she ask me to stretch her hamstrings. I stood on the bed with her to get good leverage and when I took an adjusting step I caught mt heel on the railing, fell backwards, caught myself with my hands, and felt my left wrist break.

Drove myself to urgent care, drove home with a splint and can't see an ortho until next week, but yes, it's broken.

Good news...I'm right handed, and I'm already thinking up ways to cross train to keep up my strength base. I might be running my marathon in cast, but I AM RUNNING IT.

Unplanned hiatus..............................

With the involvement of my vision I have not been running as I have fallen a couple of time around the house and I don't think it would be smart to chance a real injury this close to marathon day.

I was doing well on my own until yesterday afternoon when I noticed that my right eye was beginning to puff up, so I gave in and went and got a dose of steroids. Fruits and veggies a few whole grains, no junk, and lots of prayers please that I don't pack on ten pounds like I did the last time I had to do this. I am slow enough as it is.

Check out the latest eye pictures on my other blog, www.neoblast.blogspot.com/ for my eyes in full bloom. My youngest had her boyfriend drive me to her job at the pizza place for show and tell last night. I look hideous I tell you, hideous, and how often does one get to show off and laugh about looking hideous? Ya gotta take life's moments when they come. My youngest's boss was very impressed with my ability to laugh at myself, something else that I have developed as a result of running. I would go into examples if I had two working eyes, but my frontalis muscles are getting tired from keeping my eyelids open allowing me two slits for typing.

Don't worry if I don't post for a couple of days. I will be back with a report of this Sunday's 8K race.

Mystery rash continues it's rampage.................................

After my (literal) brush with something (I know it isn't poison ivy, because I am VERY allergic to that and know what that rash looks like) on the side of the road on Saturday my body has kicked into high gear to rid the stuff from my system. Apparently, my behind wasn't the only thing to come in contact with whatever, and then I must have used my hand to wipe the sweat from my forehead. Got to be sure to wash my hat.

First the rash arrived, then the itching, handled cold turkey since studies have found a direct link between Benadryl and Alzheimer's disease. Now the puffiness has arrived, as the body calls in all of it's fighters to go to battle against the foreign body in my system.

I couldn't resist the photo opt to go along with the picture of my skinned knee from a while ago. All in the name of training. I am torn, wondering if I should go get my new drivers licence picture taken today, just to make people take a double take when they ask to see it. Probably not a real smart idea...But it could prove to be very entertaining.

Too bad it isn't the end of October. Can't you just see all the great things I could be for Halloween with an eye like that?

For the record...........................

I didn't talk much about mileage last week, and someday I might want to refer back to this journal, from my nursing home bed, when I am trying to impress my new boyfriend in room 379. So....

I was suppose to do 8, 6, 8, 5, and I did 8, 6, -, 5. Wednesday I did -, because I HAD to go to the grocery store. Since it took me four hours (and five hundred dollars) I really think it should count for something, but I will be content to hold off on bragging about it until the day when I can no longer throw around cases of green beans and peaches like it's nothing. Curb side pick up? Not this girl...I can and DO use my muscles! Anyway, consider the miles recorded.

Friday night, in prep for my long run on Saturday, on my way home from the grocery store... What could I possibly need two short days later??? You would be surprised. Actually, I had drove in to a pharmacy to pick up some medication for a resident as her son was out of town. The day before another resident had said to me, "Can I ask you a favor?" Of course he could. His favor? He ask me if I could sift the pancake flour before making his pancakes. I replied sure, turned around to go do so, and turned back around and said, "I lied. I can't do that because I don't have a sifter." I had one years ago, but must have used it for some craft project. And who sifts flour anymore these days anyway? So I went to the grocery store (it is one of those one stop shopping places) to pick up a sifter for his pancake mix. And on the way home from there...

I dropped off a couple of Gatorades for my eighteen miles. As I was making the drive I kept thinking about how far from home I was going. My other routes had including running up and down side roads off the main road, but this new one was more like a giant square so seemed farther. The more I thought about how far it seemed driving, the more powerful I started feeling about the fact that I could actually cover that distance on foot. Not that long ago, I would have been intimidated by the distance, and I wasn't. Way cool!

Speaking of cool... When I took off at 5:45 AM it was a wonderful 62 degrees, not a hint of humidity in the air. Since this route started out going through, and then out of town, I had street lights to help my vision, and it was starting to get light by the time I was away from them (I was going slow, but not that slow... the lights go a good distance out of actual town).

Funny thing about this run. It seemed to fly by. Of course it didn't, and it actually took me four hours to do the eighteen miles which is w-a-y slow, but my mind was very entertained and that made all the difference in the world. Here I was, traveling down roads that I had been traveling down for a good twenty years and it was as if I had never been down them before. There is a HUGE difference in traveling at sixty (plus) miles per hour and snails pace. I saw beautiful flower beds that I had never noticed before, lawn art, and very creative house number signs. Heck I even saw a couple of small cross roads that I didn't know existed. It was quite the adventure.

I made it home safe and sound, AFTER most of the morning care was done (thanks honey), feeling kind of crappy. I had needed the side of the road several times (and have a wonderful mystery rash to prove it), and the tummy was churning. I was well hydrated and had eaten well, but did have a salad on Friday, so I am going to blame that.

Did I mention that I was feeling not so great after this run? Well, not so great, but not so bad that I had to cancel double points shoe shopping afternoon. I found the MOST ADORABLE pair of red and black argyle shoes (see my other blog for pictures). So worth all the trips to the public restrooms!

By the time we got home I was about done. I had promised my youngest I would make her pasta, and after that was done I went to bed (again, thanks to (my) Mister for doing OP care) and slept for eleven hours. Not straight, but I was able to go right back to sleep when I woke up which is great for me. I had not had much sleep during the past week, and with the mileage I really needed it. I felt like a new woman on Sunday morning (with old feet and ankles, but one can't have everything now can one?). One more thought before I end this post...

Do you think they are going to let me store all of my shoes under my bed in the nursing home or if it will be considered a fire violation? I might not be able to use/wear them (then), but it sure aint gonna stop me from looking (at them).

About that yoga article......................................

Towards the end of the article the Author shared the following words:

Pride is a terrible, terrible quality to have too much of. And when coupled with fear, it prevents us from doing things our spirit wants us to do.

Stop for a minute and think about it. Maybe even go back and read it again.

Is it pride that keeps me lined up in the back of the pack so I don't have to endure all those people passing me? Pride, in disguise, that has convinced myself that I don't care about my time when I run/race? Pride that makes me tell strangers on the street that I am running a marathon, believing the more people I tell the less likely I am to drop out and embarrass myself?

Maybe it is, but if one looks at the last part of the quote, maybe not...

For years pride kept me home, on the sofa. I had convinced myself that I couldn't do it, and so I didn't even try, least I prove myself right. Since I had tried and failed so many times in the past, history didn't seem to be on my side... and yet...

Whatever the reason, this time I have written a different ending for the beginning, and boy am I proud of that! My fear of failure (at least when it comes to running) has vanished. Maybe I line up at the back of the pack, because I like the atmosphere that resides there, or I am being polite and staying out of the fast lane for the speedsters on the course? Maybe I am not interested in pushing myself to run faster because if feels so dang good being right where I am now? Maybe, one day, I will have the desire to join the speedsters in the front, and strive towards an ever new and amazing PR. My only hope is if and when I do it is because it is time for me, and not because I think I have something to prove to others for the sake of my pride.

Why am I (really) running a marathon?...................................

In the on line Yoga newsletter there was an article about what a woman learned about herself when she decided to take Salsa dance lessons. Yes, she learned a step or two, but what she came to understand was something much more important than how to dance. The following is a quote from the article:

When you give all your attention to an activity, you can learn a lot about yourself—the ways in which you are growing, the ways in which you are not. You might be learning to dance, how to break forward on the count of “2” and back on the count of “6,” and how to do an inside turn, but you are also learning how you relate to others, how kind or unkind you are, how forgiving, how comfortable with imperfection—in yourself and in others.

As soon as I read that I translated it to my training for the marathon. Actually back to three years ago when I was just starting to run. Yes, my running posture has improved. I know better what my body likes to eat before, during, and after a run. I have learned what parts of my body are prone to chafing and what parts don't. All important things, but they don't begin to touch on how running has changed my life.

When I first started running it was for one simple reason; to burn more calories so I could lose more weight. At the time, I had no idea of the gift I was giving myself. During that time in my life I was massaging a couple of people that were training, and running marathons. I can remember as clear as if it were yesterday all the thoughts I had about never (and I mean never with a capital N) being able to complete that kind of distance. And in all honesty all the thoughts I had about not being able to "get" why they would want to put themselves through that kind of torture?

Running has helped me gain patience. Not that I am anywhere near mastery over the P word, but as I slowly began to see (actually I felt them before I saw them) the changes within I began to get a grasp on the concept of enjoying the journey and not always rushing onto the next goal. Heck I finally got that sometimes one doesn't even need to have an end goal in site as long as they are having a good trip. Amazing thought isn't it?

For the first time in my life I began to truly be okay with letting others be who they were. What they wanted for themselves was finally okay by me. Did it change that I would never want those things for myself? Not one bit. But if they could accept my new-found craziness without understanding it who was I to want something different for them no matter how well meaning my desires?

With a less than stellar childhood I always knew I was made of strong stuff, but the more I run the more I find out just how strong I am. Ya I'm gaining in muscle strength, but what I'm talking about is the kind of strength that makes me believe there is no such thing as an impossible task, nothing that can't be worked out if one wants it badly enough. I've always been stubborn, but this is stubborn in a good way. Stubborn in a problem solving way, in a look at it from all angles way.

Don't get me wrong and believe that since I have been running I have figured out how to always get my way( Think of how rich I would be if that were true and I could market the formula). Percentage wise I am sure I am averaging about the same as before. What is different is my ability to let silly things go. It is easier for me to put things in perspective as to what is important and what simply isn't since participating in a thirteen hour long trail race. Think how zen-like I will be after participating in a twenty-four hour long trail race (did I just say that out loud? That's still suppose to be my little secret since I don't want to scare my oldest off before she completes the marathon. Any takers in doing it with us?).

I would be fibbing if I said I wasn't running the marathon so I could brag about having done it. Fortunately for me as I have been training and preparing to do so (wouldn't the last laugh be on me if I didn't take it seriously and fell short of my goal) I have been given a plethora of other gifts, all much greater than bragging rights! Though bragging rights can be pretty cool...

Speaking of bragging, there is another quote from the article that I want to mention, but this post is long enough so keep an eye out for part two.

Group run...............................

Having wanted to do my long run on Friday (unable to because (my) Mister pulled a muscle and couldn't transfer one of our OPs), I was worrying about fitting it in on Saturday. Don't worry about the Mister, he will be fine. Had he been continuing to do his exercise program it would never have happen so he gets only minimum sympathy instead of boat loads. Saturday (my) Mister and youngest went to get their hair cut first and then it was my turn and I was taking a resident with me to get a perm (my in-house hair dresser can't do them here because one of our resident's can't handle any kind of strong odor). This definitely made any early morning run out of the question. It is lots cooler outside now, but was it cool enough to run for four something hours straight? I was about to find out.

The plan was for my youngest to be here to take care of the OPs, and I had her BF come over to help with any overflow needs. Normally she works for me and I pay her (community) college tuition, but when I went to get my hair done, the hairdresser was telling me about the products the youngest wanted but wouldn't buy because she is keeping a tight hold on her funds until she builds up her emergency fund. Sometimes I think she should get a FOURTH job teaching teens how to handle money. She is so good at it, and most of her friends could really use the advice since they are still living totally off mom and dad. We don't charge her room or board for continuing to live with us, but we also don't give her money for anything else (except I will sneak an occasional pair of clearance shoes into her closet, as according to the two of us shoes go under room and board because they are a life essentials). What does this have to do with my run?

I picked up the thirty dollars worth of products for her and slipped the BF forty bucks (he did some lawn work why he was here too), so my run cost me seventy bucks. It was so worth it to get out and get it over with so I had Sunday to rest. My hairdresser is so good that we were out of there in just under an hour and a half. I was home and ready to run by 1:30 PM. I actually got going a bit closer to 2:00, because I kept coming back for things. A towel, ace wrap in case the ankle acted up, ibuprofen 800 for the feet/ankle/knees. The last time I came back I was beginning to wonder if these were stall tactics? My youngest said, "Hey mom. Did ___(the oldest) call you on your cell phone?" Nope. "Well she did her twenty miles today and she was telling me what a great sister I was and all this stuff and then she said, "Being out there that long gives you lots of time to think about things. I guess I'm just being emotional."

Hearing that little message from her was just what I needed to send me off on a high note. She is doing all this hard marathon training for one reason, to support me and make me happy. Yes, she loves me that much.

Even though I run slower when I listen to talk radio while I run I started out with it playing in my ear buds. I like to listen to "This American Life" which is a group of stories centered on one theme. The theme for the first group was, "Something for nothing." As in, "Is anything really free?" The lead in was talking to some dude that played the lotto, trying to hit it big. When ask how much he thought he spent in a year his reply was three to four thousand dollars a year! What's free about that the narrator ask him.

The first story was about the contest in which several people begin placing their hands on a brand new truck (or car) and the last one left standing wins the vehicle. You've heard about this right? The interview was with the guy that won and as the hours went on, and more people dropped out, he talked about having to want something bad enough to work through the pain, numbness, and desire to quit. He talked about having hallucinations while standing by that truck, how he played his competitors to get them to drop out, and how he could tell when his opponents began to lose control of reality and (in his words) go insane.

As I listened to the show there were so many parallels that I could see with this marathon training, and definitely with training for those ultra distance races. The hour show was an enjoyable way to spend the first five miles.

If you read these posts regularly you know that mile seven seems to be my golden mile. The one in which I get inspiration. Today was no different. I have begun to think about how I am going to dress for the marathon. Early morning in late October in MI could be any kind of weather. I know once I get going I will warm up but do I want to be shivering during the line-up, or toss clothes on the side a few miles in? I think I will plan wearing my number on my leg (and have actually been practicing this) as the rules are VERY insistent that the bib number be visible at all times due to the fact that it is an international race and tight security since 911. If I toss I still have to take them off with as little effort as possible so this is what I came up with during mile seven: I can take a long sleeve running shirt, take the sleeves off at the seams, and take apart the shoulder seams. I can put the shoulder seams back together with Velcro, and put some soft elastic in the top of the arms to hold them up. If I want to lose them along the way a tug or two and it is off. Sound like it could work great doesn't it. Of course I will try it out before race day. I am also in the process of designing my own running shorts, ones that don't bunch up between my thighs and have pockets in front rather than at the back waist.

I always have a little lag around mile 8 or nine, and again at this particular route (I only did it once before) I was checking my time, thinking I was worse than snails pace, rounding the corner and catching a glimpse of the stop sign that signaled ten miles. I was only about seven minutes slower than I had done my last ten (at the Crim), so this jazzed me up again. Miles eleven and twelve are done on a kinda busy road, so I run on the side/stones a lot. By the time I turned off my feet were hurting so this made me think of my new running buddy, Nanc. I took strength from the way she has been bravely working through her foot pain, while continuing to train towards her goals. No matter how busy she is (Full time mom and full time job with travel is pretty darn busy. When you through in training for a marathon...) she ALWAYS takes time to leave a comment on a new posts, and is always supportive and encouraging. I don't think she can know how much this has helped my training, and what a big part she is playing in my making it to the end of this goal/dream. Thanks Nanc.

Mile thirteen I was just plain giddy. I had slowed down to pretty slow, the knees were bothering me just a tad, and I needed a little joy to keep me going. This brought Kate to mind. I kept picturing her description of one run in which "she might have at one point been down on her hands and knees laughing hysterically, but couldn't be sure as it was all a bit fuzzy." This would make me laugh hysterically, but sorry Kate, I refused to fall down on all fours as I knew I would never be able to make myself get back up.

I was well into mile fourteen when it occurred to me that I kept replaying what I planned to have for dinner if I ever made it home (we were at three plus hours by now, and it WAS dinner time). What is up with that? I normally don't think about food while I run. Then it occurred to me that the only thing I had eaten that day was about 1.5 ounces of fresh mozzarella, my morning coffee, and a couple bottles of water. Since I normally do my long runs in the morning I don't worrying about eating before a run. Fortunately for me I had a pack full of food so stopped for a walk/food break at 15.5 miles.

I had also finished all my fluids. I didn't take the time to hide them and ran out just before the last hiding stop which tells me I am understanding when and how much fluid I need/take in on any given run. Being waterless reminded me of Randoms brush with dehydration, not pretty but a great learning experience for her. Fortunately for me mile sixteen is through the East end of our small town so I stopped at the ice cream shoppe, filled up my eight ounce Gatorade bottle a couple of time to drink and then once more to carry.

The last four miles were uneventful is you discount the fact that by this time I was moving so slow one of my neighbors commented on my "shuffling along," and I couldn't get out of the way of a passing lawnmower fast enough to avoid being covered in tiny specs of grass clippings and dirt. Nothing got in my eyes so no harm done.

While the completion of the second twenty miles (4:28:something) did not hold the excitement of the first, it was still mighty rewarding. As I was walking the last few yards to my house I had the thought that six more miles seems like a lot more to have to add to the full marathon distance, but I will take on that challenge when I get to it. With the love and support of my family and all my new running buddies there ain't nothing I can't accomplish. Thanks everyone for sharing the things you are learning so I might benefit from them as well. They are more helpful than you will ever know.

Another month bites the dust............................

Well I've added up the miles logged for the month, and lesser gals than I would be disappointed to see it equals one hundred (100). That would be twenty-two (22) less than last month, and seven (7) less than the in June. Isn't it suppose to be going in the other direction?

But it is what it is, nothing more, nothing less. It's mine, and I will wear the total proudly! Heck, a hundred miles isn't anything to sneeze at. And you can be sure it is a hundred more than I ran in August 2005.

So, I am officially one hundred miles closer to the full 26.2. How exciting is that? Almost as exciting as seeing what September has in store for me in regards to my running...

Worked like a charm.......................

My offering to the Ice Goddess that is. THE HUMIDITY BROKE and IT IS COOL OUTSIDE! Thank you Goddess (and you too Nanc).

Even though I was jolted awake by a huge thud over my head (don't worry, he is fine and couldn't wait to tell his wife I gave him a black eye, but it was the bedside table. Honest!) at 3 AM, and seemed to go non-stop until I made my way outside at 2:45 PM I was pumped to be running in better weather.

The first half mile went well and then, for whatever reason, I got shooting pains in my (left) ankle and up the leg. Cover your ears because I was pissed. NO WAY was anything going to ruin this run for me. I slowed to a walk and in a few seconds the pains reduced. Then, as I walked, I sent my ankle a vision. Picture this... Patty sitting on the side of the road, the ankle pain similar to being caught in a trap, so Patty reaches down (with her mouth) and proceeds to gnaw off the offending ankle, gets up, and continues her run with just a stump. Scared the pain right out of that ankle let me tell you (and made me laugh), and when I started running again in about fifty feet ankle stayed in line.

I did the eight miles that I was suppose to do last night (but opted to go out to dinner with a friend instead. Ethiopian. It was interesting?) and with the nice breeze I didn't feel sweaty (except of course for that constant trickle down the spin and into the small of my back... Always a constant stream...Maybe I should stock it with fish...Okay now I am just getting silly). Just?

During the last little bit my ankle was getting a tad grumpy, but I had my youngest stretch me when I got home and I am doing okay now.

The weather is suppose to hang around like this for several days. Makes me wonder what other kind of Goddess I should have had Nanc make me?

Thanks (non-runner) Nanc......................................

She will spur me on to victory, I know she will!

If I only knew how much longer (for sure).........................

I went out for a six miler last night. The ankle didn't complain too much, if it did I slowed down and between the two of us we worked it out. The humidity, however, was an entirely different thing.

I could hardly breath, and I don't have allergies or asthma. It was in the eighties but it wasn't the heat, but the thickness in the air. I couldn't help but think the long line of "Why am I doing this" questions and ended up shortening the six miles to four.

It's summer. Humidity is normal. What isn't normal (for me anyway) is running crazy, insane mileage in the humidly. From the beginning of summer I would hear those announcements on the news to "not go outside unless you absolutely needed to," and out I would go anyway. I guess I am just tired of dealing with it. In all honesty I am getting tired of the training period. I can't tell you how much I wish the marathon was next month instead of October. Maybe I need the extra month to train, but mentally I just want it done and over with so I can go onto something else.

This might have a bit to do with my ADD. I LOVE coming up with ideas and turning them into realities. Once I have I get bored and want to get on to tackling the next idea or goal. I will know this for the next race and plan a four month training plan instead of a six month plan.

I've made it to the end of August, and one would think the humidity will be winding down very soon. I am thinking positive thoughts, and trying not to dwell on the fact that we could just as easily have the hottest fall on record....Just my luck! Does anybody know the name of a good ice goddess that I could make a sacrifice to as extra insurance? And what kind of an offering would make an ice goddess happy?

Passed by thousands, finished strong...........................

The Crim ten miler was a totally different feel than Sunday's Leading Lady. Thousands of people crowded into a downtown street, not a mountain in site. This was by far the largest race I have ever done, and yet all the people I mingled with were just as kind and jovial. Some guy bumped into my camel bac and said, "Oops. Sorry." which set off a conversation about my reasons for carrying so much crap while I run. It started to sprinkle as I was extending an offer to share food along the route if they got hungry and one of the guys says, "No food, but if you happen to have a rain poncho in there I might take you up on that." Sorry boy, I like running in the rain, so gloves maybe but no poncho.

So, the gun goes off, and a minute or so later I crossed the start line and was off. Many minutes later, when normally I would be one of a few, the streets were still crowded and wall to wall people. I focused on running MY race as I was passed again and again until finally the crowd thinned to the point that I could stretch out my arms in all directions without touching a fellow runner.

Being a long standing, city race the spectators were out in mass with wonderful things like sprinklers and bowls of ice cubes. They banged pots and pans, blared music, clapped and cheered, how fortunate I was to be able to be a part of it all! After passing by a high school band, I came upon a group handing out Crispy Creme donuts. If there is a better brand I haven't met it, but I still passed them up not trusting what the fat content hitting my stomach might stir up. Some things I just don't need to find out.

A half mile or more I saw another group that I thought was handing out water cups, having my pack I passed on the other side of the street and rounded the corner. As I did I caught the sent of a strange smell. I had smelled it before, but where? Oh! Right! At parties! They were giving out beer to the delight of many! I guess some people can carb-load on anything!

At one point I came upon another lady that suffers from the same gastric distress from running distance that I do. We were comparing notes, and she told me she too freaked out the first few times there was blood in her stool until she realized it ONLY happened after a long run. I felt pretty terrible when after a few minutes of shared war stories she said, "speaking of diarrhea," and veered off the road and into the bushes. It wasn't a dirty race tactic. Honest!

I ran a good race, strong, consistent, and fun. I can't tell you the rush I got when I crossed the mat at the half-way point (five miles) and was under an hour (with over a minute to spare). Even more thrilling I kept up close to the same pace for the second half of the race and was able to finish with a time of 1:59:16. The first time I broke two hours for the ten mile distance. I finished 236 out of 345 in my age division, and I am happy with that.

I really wanted to go out for a four mile run this morning, but for some reason the ankle that I rolled on my first eighteen miler has reared it's ugly head. I wrapped it in an ace bandage as I did for the half, as a precaution, but by the time I got home it was almost double the size of my right ankle. Last night I had trouble falling asleep due to the throbbing, but I still set the alarm, thinking that maybe I would just walk for the four hours. Hope springs eternal... When the alarm went off, and my ankle was still tender upon impact, I decided sticking to the plan was not worth the potential risk of a real injury, so I put myself on the R.I.C.E. diet...Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. Twenty plus mileage in one weekend will just have to wait a while. Now that I am a runner I am healthy enough to have that future in front of me and know, with confidence, that the opportunity WILL come around again.

P.S.

(my) Mister did his first 8K (five miles) yesterday and I could not be more proud. He came in at 1:07:15. For the marathon, the leg he is doing with me is 5.1 miles and he has close to two months to get a tad faster so he can pace me at the speed I want to travel. He is working so hard to give me my birthday wish, totally out of love for me. I am so very blessed!

Racing in Spearfish...............................................

By the time we had pottied, and walked down to the start line the sun was up and the weather was perfect for running. The atmosphere of the group was relaxed and supportive. This was my second "all women" race, and again I was struck by the difference in the nurturing level, much higher than in a mixed race.

Random and I took our comfort spot at the back of the pack. Since this was her first half, I wanted to share in some of it so I decided to do the first mile with her. We walked a little, ran a little, and laughed a lot! At mile one I was itching to run and see what I had in me so with one final hug, and a, "See you at the finish line," I picked up my pace. The strangest thing happened...

I began passing people! Ya! I know! The people at the back of the pack were walking. Of course I would pass them. But I kept passing people. Here, one MUST understand, I get passed. I don't pass. This was an amazing mental boost let me tell you.

Like I said, I took lots of pictures along the way. A couple of times I would snap the back of my next "victim" just before overtaking her. Not in a mean way, but in a "I have to get proof of this because I don't know why it is happening and it might never happen again way. See...

As I approached a woman to pass her I would say something to her, if she didn't answer I figured she was busy focusing, but if she smiled I would pull up beside her and holler, "Photo Op", hold the camera in front of us and snap a picture while we continued to run.

Remember how I have said in the past if I'm not having fun then I am not going to be out there? We didn't have many spectators, but the few we did have did a fab job of cheering us on. One guy suggested that I "had w-a-y too much energy so I flung the above line on him. A few miles up the road (they would get in their cars and drive up ahead) he saw me running with a partner and hollered out, "If you are running with her, you are bound to go faster." And just in case there is any doubt, yes he WAS talking about ME! I WAS PULLING PEOPLE! Fantastic thing number four (if I remember the correct count from yesterday's post).

Me, who is always the one trying to let the energy of the gal/guy in front pull me. I was pacing people and getting them to the next water stop before they took a walk break. I was encouraging them, and telling them, "Don't talk, just listen and I will entertain you with stories and keep your mind off your struggle." IT WAS AMAZING!

And the miles literally flew by. I really wasn't keeping track of time (no surprise there) but the mile markers seemed to just pop up one after another until it was kick time. During the last 3/4 of a mile I got emotional, and started sobbing I was so proud of myself as I passed one more person. I didn't care that I was crying so loud, but I was a bit concerned that someone would think I was crying because I was in distress so I pulled it together as I heard, " The finish line is just over the bridge." As I came around the corner and reached the top of the bridge I could see the finish and I swear I almost had an orgasm it felt so good. I finished strong in 2:36:33 (chip time if I am remembering correctly), only a couple of minutes better than my last half, but I felt like I had done it much faster and I think this is because of what happened out on the road.

I saw Elaine a bit later and she ask me how the race was. I told her it was the most fun I have had to date during a race and went on to tell her the reason was because for the first time I was helping others reach their goals instead of using them to pull me to mine. We both started to tear up as she said, "Yup! It's all about the giving back." and she was exactly right! When I have long since forgotten my time, I will still remember the interactions on the course and hold those ladies near and dear in my memories. No one can take that away from me.

So onward to tomorrow when I am doing the Crim, ten mile race. There will be thousands of people, the race will have a totally different feel, and I will be out there,running my race, in my way, smiling, laughing, having fun. Who could ask for more than that?

An official Leading Lady......................



And I have a fabulous purple finishers medal to prove it! But every great story should start at the beginning, so...



I flew into Denver on Friday morning. Not only was I arriving for a race, but was about to meet my online running buddy, Random, for the first time. People in our worlds were worried about what we would do if we didn't hit it off, but neither of us were concerned. I had talked to Random a few times, and I told her I was going to make a sign so she would know who I was, but I wasn't going to tell her what it was going to say. The night before I flew out I talked to her on the phone and she said she had tried to find us scarfs like Thelma and Louise. She didn't know it yet, but the sign I had made said, "Move over Thelma and Louise...Random and Patty have arrived!" Like minds and all that... Our entire time together was like that, and right from the beginning it was as if we had been friends for years. As we unpacked and hung out we found that we used the same brands of certain things, and that we could finish each others sentences without missing a beat. I told her if she were twenty years older I would totally believe we were twins that had been separated at birth! Fantastic thing number one...

Saturday morning we got up and headed to the expo to pick up our packets and meet some other leading ladies. I had had something brewing in the back of my mind, but needed to check it out before I said anything. In March of 2006, when my oldest and I had done the MORE half-marathon, we were standing in line at the Tavern on the Green for the pasta dinner chatting, and I was telling her I was too old to even think of doing a full marathon, and this lady leans over and says to me, "Of course you can do a full. I have done ____(I forget the exact number, but it was at least in the thirties at that time), and I didn't run my first until I was fifty years old!" She then went on to tell me that she does an all woman's run in South Dakota and to come out and run it sometime. As it got closer to race day this conversation came back to me and I wondered if this race could be her race. When I saw her I realized it was indeed so I went up to her and said, "You might not remember me, but we met in line," and she interrupted and said, "Waiting for the porta-potty?" Which is a perfect example of how the entire weekend was; women bonding, laughing at themselves, and holding one another up in love and support. Elaine loved hearing my story of how what she had said to me played a roll in giving me the courage to go for the full distance, and repeated the well known phrase, "Always keep your stomach tucked in as you never know who's watching," which you might know as, "You never know when you are going to say or do something that will touch and make a huge difference in another person's life." She also loved the story of Random and I meeting for the first time to do the race, and was telling all the other ladies about it, making me feel like the celebrity. A pic of me and Elaine. Fantastic thing number two...

Saturday evening Random and I sat down at a table with three other women to find that they too had all met online through a running site and meet and do races together. When we were introducing ourselves I discovered that one of the women lives about an hour from me. Cue the song, "It's a Small World." She ask me if I was doing the Crim (this coming Saturday), a ten mile road race, and I said, 'Yes I am." She is working packet pick up for the race so I am sending (my) Mister to pick up our packets today and meet my new found running friend. Fantastic thing number three, and yes I AM getting to the actual race...

After visiting the expo I suggested that we drive the race route so we would be familiar with it when we did the actual race. Random was game so we checked out the map and headed out. Towards the end of the 13.1 distance Random was wishing we had not driven the route as the race that was suppose to be all downhill seemed to have the last two miles going up hill. We also had some trouble finding the park that the race was to end in, but we figured in the morning we would just be able to follow the other cars heading to the race. The plan was to leave the car at the finish line and catch the bus to the start so we would have the car when we wanted to head back to the hotel.

Race morning we got up about three AM and headed to the finish line. In the dark we could see the water stops set up, but I couldn't quite figure out why they were on the wrong side of the road, as were the mile markers. Remember that last two miles uphill? When we got to that area the water stops suddenly stopped. And why was it that we didn't see any other cars on the road? Mmmm... We continued to drive up and down the route, and when it was past the time we could have caught the bus to the start line we determined we should just go to the start line for the race (fortunately we had found that), and worry about how to get back to the car after the race. Have you guessed it yet? We had totally turned the race course upside down and where the water stops ended was part of the full marathon course that started up the road a bit. Fortunately, we finally found one of those cars we were counting on and got straightened out and headed to the start of the race. Made perfect sense NOW, why the water stops and mile markers were on that side of the road! Let me just interject here that for never having met one another Random and I worked through this little goof with lots of humor and no panic, which I think says a lot about how we were getting along. We made it to the start line not only in plenty of time, but before the bus and were able to use the porta-potties before the lines formed. Bonus! And yes, I know I am a brat, but I have to do some work now and you are going to have to come back tomorrow for race details. Trust me, it will be worth your time. So you don't get made I will leave you with a picture I snapped along the course.