Some observations I've made about myself when it gets down to the wire in the days before a big race:
I enter the zone. Any and everything bouncing around in my head has to do with running. Bottom line. I am a woman obsessed. There's no getting around it and there's no erasing it...it is an all consuming fire that is out of control and a thirst that can not be quenched.
I get lazy. For some reason, instead of bumping things up a notch, I seem to want to slow it down...doesn't have anything to do with tapering...the tapering itself makes me crazy. I get lazy in my workouts and slip into a weird fog. Maybe it has something to do with that zone thing.
I want to eat non-stop. I went to an event last night and had a field day. Geez Louise. Caffeine and chocolate. Party central. SPLEEEEEEEEEEEEE..........................
I seem to notice any and every little thing that has bothered, hurt or annoyed my body since 1984. Ping, ping, ping. 8 days before the race? Well, let's start to hurt Amy now and make her paranoid that there will be a problem race day!
Round and around and around we go. The pattern is the same. This is my 3rd half marathon. I noticed these things for the marathon and for all 3 half marathons. Funny.
When push comes to shove, though, I get the job done.
Friday, April 26, 2013
Saturday, April 6, 2013
The Secret Place
It has been forever since I've blogged. Life is a whirlwind and it spins out of control most days. Yet, there is one constant. I run.
I ran my first marathon last fall. Marine Corps Marathon. It has been over 5 months. Hard to believe. A week or so ago registration opened for this years MCM. It killed me not to sign up. I made a deal with myself that I would do a marathon every other year, and yet, as I received numerous notices "reminding" me to sign up for this years MCM, I couldn't help but get a sick feeling in my stomach that I needed to...wanted to...had to do one this year. But, I did not sign up. Too many things on my plate this next year. A friend of mine, Debbie, did, though, and I am thrilled for her. It's her first marathon!! Tough broad. You have to be to do MCM. You have to be to do any marathon, really. I will do it again in October of 2014.
In one month I will run in Pittsburgh's Half Marathon for the 3rd time. I love running through the streets of Pittsburgh...my hometown. The people are tremendous, VERY enthusiastic and supportive. The live bands and the groups cheering throughout the neighborhoods are unmatched. I am also running for my favorite charity, Genre's Kids With Cancer Fund. As I said to a fellow runner today, to be able to do something you love is wonderful...to be able to raise money for an outstanding charity that helps raise money for children with pediatric cancer and their families while doing it? Well, that's the icing on the cake.
Today I ran 12 miles at Boston Trail. When I do my longer runs, I hit the trail. An added bonus was seeing my friend Samantha...my running buddy...who is also doing Pittsburgh's Half...for the first time!! She brought along Stacy, who rode alongside Sam on her bike, while Sam knocked out her miles. I'm so proud of Sam...she's a die-hard runner and such an inspiration to so many. Another tough one.
When I run, whether it's 3 miles, 12 miles, or 26.2 miles a million things run through my mind. What I think is particularly funny is all the math calculations I do! I, who detested math in school, am constantly figuring out mileage and pace...adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, calculating, calculating, and recalculating!
I think about Genre Baker. When he was diagnosed with A.L.L., a 5k was scheduled to raise funds. I had recently started my journey to get healthy, HOWEVER, I did not exercise. At all. I did not like to exercise. I did not like to sweat. I secretly thought I probably would walk the 3.1 miles. But, I cared deeply for Genre and his family and I was motivated to make a difference for this boy...his family...other families. Thankfully, Genre is doing well. I think about Jodi Fowler. She is a runner. She was one of the first people to inspire me to run. I think about my brother Doug. He's a serious runner. He's getting ready to run Boston in a couple of weeks. I think about many other runners and athletes...friends of mine...who inspire and motivate me on a daily basis. I think about all the children down at Children's Hospital dealing with pediatric cancer. I think about their parents. Their families. I think a lot about my father. I think about my family. I think about my friends. I think about my life...past...present and future. I think about all I've accomplished and I think about all the miserable mistakes I've made. I think about my dreams...those that have come true, those left in the dust...and those I keep secret in the corner of my mind. So many things run through my mind...when I run.
The run. It is my secret place. It is mine. I own it. It is the one place that I go, that I experience, that I get lost in...I adore it.
The run. It brings me peace. It gives me strength even when I am at my weakest. When my feet start hitting that surface, and the rhythm of my feet fall into their pattern, all is right with the world.
The run. In the world of the run, I go places I have never gone before...in my mind, I push myself and achieve things I never dreamed possible. I am constantly amazed at what I am able to achieve. I have a strength...not a physical strength...but a mental and emotional strength that I have never seen. It has helped me in the past 4 years through some take your breath away situations in my life. It has helped me see...that I am...One Strong Woman.
I ran my first marathon last fall. Marine Corps Marathon. It has been over 5 months. Hard to believe. A week or so ago registration opened for this years MCM. It killed me not to sign up. I made a deal with myself that I would do a marathon every other year, and yet, as I received numerous notices "reminding" me to sign up for this years MCM, I couldn't help but get a sick feeling in my stomach that I needed to...wanted to...had to do one this year. But, I did not sign up. Too many things on my plate this next year. A friend of mine, Debbie, did, though, and I am thrilled for her. It's her first marathon!! Tough broad. You have to be to do MCM. You have to be to do any marathon, really. I will do it again in October of 2014.
In one month I will run in Pittsburgh's Half Marathon for the 3rd time. I love running through the streets of Pittsburgh...my hometown. The people are tremendous, VERY enthusiastic and supportive. The live bands and the groups cheering throughout the neighborhoods are unmatched. I am also running for my favorite charity, Genre's Kids With Cancer Fund. As I said to a fellow runner today, to be able to do something you love is wonderful...to be able to raise money for an outstanding charity that helps raise money for children with pediatric cancer and their families while doing it? Well, that's the icing on the cake.
Today I ran 12 miles at Boston Trail. When I do my longer runs, I hit the trail. An added bonus was seeing my friend Samantha...my running buddy...who is also doing Pittsburgh's Half...for the first time!! She brought along Stacy, who rode alongside Sam on her bike, while Sam knocked out her miles. I'm so proud of Sam...she's a die-hard runner and such an inspiration to so many. Another tough one.
When I run, whether it's 3 miles, 12 miles, or 26.2 miles a million things run through my mind. What I think is particularly funny is all the math calculations I do! I, who detested math in school, am constantly figuring out mileage and pace...adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, calculating, calculating, and recalculating!
I think about Genre Baker. When he was diagnosed with A.L.L., a 5k was scheduled to raise funds. I had recently started my journey to get healthy, HOWEVER, I did not exercise. At all. I did not like to exercise. I did not like to sweat. I secretly thought I probably would walk the 3.1 miles. But, I cared deeply for Genre and his family and I was motivated to make a difference for this boy...his family...other families. Thankfully, Genre is doing well. I think about Jodi Fowler. She is a runner. She was one of the first people to inspire me to run. I think about my brother Doug. He's a serious runner. He's getting ready to run Boston in a couple of weeks. I think about many other runners and athletes...friends of mine...who inspire and motivate me on a daily basis. I think about all the children down at Children's Hospital dealing with pediatric cancer. I think about their parents. Their families. I think a lot about my father. I think about my family. I think about my friends. I think about my life...past...present and future. I think about all I've accomplished and I think about all the miserable mistakes I've made. I think about my dreams...those that have come true, those left in the dust...and those I keep secret in the corner of my mind. So many things run through my mind...when I run.
The run. It is my secret place. It is mine. I own it. It is the one place that I go, that I experience, that I get lost in...I adore it.
The run. It brings me peace. It gives me strength even when I am at my weakest. When my feet start hitting that surface, and the rhythm of my feet fall into their pattern, all is right with the world.
The run. In the world of the run, I go places I have never gone before...in my mind, I push myself and achieve things I never dreamed possible. I am constantly amazed at what I am able to achieve. I have a strength...not a physical strength...but a mental and emotional strength that I have never seen. It has helped me in the past 4 years through some take your breath away situations in my life. It has helped me see...that I am...One Strong Woman.
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