This weekend the DFMC runners are scheduled to run 20-22 miles. Unfortunately, I will not be able to join them because I have to work both Saturday and Sunday for our Accepted Students' Receptions. I decided the only way I was going to get the mileage in would be to spend all day Friday at the gym. I was in Connecticut again for work on Thursday evening and drove back to Boston on Friday morning. My intention was to leave around 5:30am, but I did not end up leaving until 7:45am. My knee was bothering me in the car but I figured it was stiff from all the driving.
I got to the gym a little before noon and started my workout. I decided to do a combination of arc trainer and running as suggested by a few DFMCers on Wednesday. I started out strong 45 minutes arc trainer, 35 minutes run/walk on the treadmill. My IT Band was definitely sore, but I pushed through the pain. I was watching Kill Bill Volume 1 and the fight scenes helped push me harder.
My work out was this:
45 minutes arc trainer
35 minutes run/walk
1 packet mint chocolate Gu
45 minutes arc trainer
35 minutes run/walk
1 packet Tri-Berry Gu
45 minutes arc trainer
And then I hit my wall. I stopped the arc trainer to move back to the treadmill. I could barely move. The woman next to me asked me about the gu and the Gatorade mixture I was drinking. I explained that I was training for the marathon. As soon as I stopped, I started freezing. I tried to get on the treadmill and I couldn't run. My knee was killing me. I was soaked in sweat-everything was soaked: my shorts, my shirt, my sports bra. I pulled off my shirt b/c I couldn't bare the feeling of the cold damp shirt. I even took another GU. Nothing seemed to work.
I tried to get on the treadmill twice more, even just to walk for an hour. My legs refused.
I felt defeated. I was so excited to run and I had been feeling good all week, especially after my run on Wednesday morning. I choked back tears, but I just couldn't leave the gym after only 3hours and 25 minutes!! I got on the bike for another 30 minutes and then I stretched. I used to foam roller for my legs which did not seem to help. I laid down on the mat to do a full body stretch and wasn't sure I was going to be able to get up.
I went into the locker room grabbed my cell phone and did the only thing I could think to do. I called Chet and fought back tears. I felt emotionally and physically beat up. I could barely think. I decided to stretch more in the steam room and clear my head. The thing I did do before I went in the steam room was weigh myself. In order to see how much you sweat and how much water you lose, you are supposed to weigh yourself before you workout, workout and not drink water, and reweigh yourself. I didn't do the first part of it, but I did weigh myself again and I was several pound lighter. Clearly I was dehydrated.
After I stretched and showered, I got ready to leave. I sat down to eat some food and called Chet. I also made the mistake of checking my work email. I had several emails that needed to be dealt with immediately, including one that made me really frustrated and angry. I called Chet back and told him that I needed to go to the office. He agreed to meet me at the subway and go with me. As I sat their waiting for him, I had all these negative thoughts. I was feeling how I've felt the last two weeks. Chet showed up and I lost it. I couldn't talk and when I did I started crying. Chet was the voice of reason and comfort as I sat on the subway trying to form words through my tears.
I'm so emotionally drained that I'm not sure how to push forward. The wall sucks, but at least I know what it feels like. I need to figure out how to push through it. There were many factors yesterday that added to the wall (driving back and forth to Connecticut, not eating enough, not drinking enough). I know it will be different on Marathon Day when the crowds are there and the adrenaline is going. I'm just scared about not making it to the big day. Please let me make it to the big dance in one piece. Please let my knee and IT Band heal. Please help me push through the wall. Please help me complete this crazy adventure.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Subway Etiquette
This entry was written during my funk last week. I had an awful subway ride into work and this is what came of it. Although I'm in a much better place this week since my inner peace and happiness has returned, I thought it only appropriate to include it now. Hope you have a good laugh!!!
Perhaps it is me being overly sensitive, but people are inconsiderate and oblivious. I'm sick of being squished into subway seats, having people step on me, hit me with their bags, and have excessively loud cell phone conversations. So to remedy these problems, I have created a new set of rules for the T....
# 1) If you are too large to fit into one seat, do not take up two seats. You are required to stand and for that matter, you should be exercising more and eating less.
# 2) If you fail to observe rule #1 and decide to sit, the passenger on whom you are sitting has every right to elbow you. Repeatedly.
# 3) If you are sick or bleeding-please stay home. Everyone on that train will have to breathe your sick air. Please cover your mouth when you cough, please sneeze into a tissue, elbow, anywhere but your hand. And please carry sanitizing lotion.
#4) If you feel it necessary to ignore #3, please do not put your germy hands all over everything on the train and please do not sneeze on anyone.
#5) If you must talk on your cell phone (and we all do it), please be aware of your volume. There are inside and outside voices-please use the appropriate one for the subway (psst...that's your inside voice). I do not need or want to hear about your weekend escapades.
#6) Please be aware of your surroundings. Thousands of people commute to work using public transportation. Please realize you are not the only one-Your elbow, bag, and purse are often in someone else's face, eyes, stomach, chest, etc. If you can not be responsible or aware of your personal belongings or space, please go back to middle school where no one was aware of their bodies.
#7) Please let all passengers off the train before you board. If you are in such a rush and need to push people out of the way to get that perfect seat, please wait until an empty train arrives. You may be waiting all eternity, but at least you will not be in any one's way.
If you are unable to comply with these rules, you will be immediately removed from the subway by ME!!! I will have no problem telling you where to find a good gym, sending you to the sick ward, telling you where to shove your phone, bag, whatever you just stuck into my eye, or simply pushing you back down the stairs.
REMEMBER!!! Courtesy Counts.
Thank you for your patience and thank you for riding the T.
Perhaps it is me being overly sensitive, but people are inconsiderate and oblivious. I'm sick of being squished into subway seats, having people step on me, hit me with their bags, and have excessively loud cell phone conversations. So to remedy these problems, I have created a new set of rules for the T....
# 1) If you are too large to fit into one seat, do not take up two seats. You are required to stand and for that matter, you should be exercising more and eating less.
# 2) If you fail to observe rule #1 and decide to sit, the passenger on whom you are sitting has every right to elbow you. Repeatedly.
# 3) If you are sick or bleeding-please stay home. Everyone on that train will have to breathe your sick air. Please cover your mouth when you cough, please sneeze into a tissue, elbow, anywhere but your hand. And please carry sanitizing lotion.
#4) If you feel it necessary to ignore #3, please do not put your germy hands all over everything on the train and please do not sneeze on anyone.
#5) If you must talk on your cell phone (and we all do it), please be aware of your volume. There are inside and outside voices-please use the appropriate one for the subway (psst...that's your inside voice). I do not need or want to hear about your weekend escapades.
#6) Please be aware of your surroundings. Thousands of people commute to work using public transportation. Please realize you are not the only one-Your elbow, bag, and purse are often in someone else's face, eyes, stomach, chest, etc. If you can not be responsible or aware of your personal belongings or space, please go back to middle school where no one was aware of their bodies.
#7) Please let all passengers off the train before you board. If you are in such a rush and need to push people out of the way to get that perfect seat, please wait until an empty train arrives. You may be waiting all eternity, but at least you will not be in any one's way.
If you are unable to comply with these rules, you will be immediately removed from the subway by ME!!! I will have no problem telling you where to find a good gym, sending you to the sick ward, telling you where to shove your phone, bag, whatever you just stuck into my eye, or simply pushing you back down the stairs.
REMEMBER!!! Courtesy Counts.
Thank you for your patience and thank you for riding the T.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
An apology
Dear Faithful Readers,
I owe you all an apology. I have not posted in over a week and a half. While I have had plenty of ideas for posts and even some milestones to share, I have simply been unable to write. The reasons for my lack of words cannot be traced to one thing. Perhaps it is because I'm stressed about work. Perhaps it is because I am frustrated with my injuries. Perhaps it is because I've lost the other original member of team injured, my workout partner Brenda (Brenda, I am so glad you can run again!!!) Perhaps it is because all I want to do is give up and run away. Perhaps it is because I didn't really grieve for my Dad on his birthday. I've been questioning everything in my life, even the things I am sure of. Yes, my friends I have been in a funk.
There is no other way to describe it. I've really wanted to walk away from everything and wash my hands clean. My friend Marisa agreed to run away with me to a Caribbean Island and leave it all behind. I know that isn't a solution but I've been uncertain about what else to do. I have lost sight of why I am training for this marathon and often feel like I am just going through the motions.
Today, though I had a moment of peace. Perhaps this was because I was aways from all of the stress. This morning, I was driving back to Boston from my Mom's house. Somewhere between Connecticut and Massachusetts, I had a feeling that I haven't had in quite sometime: peace and tranquility. I'm not sure how long this feeling will last or if it will, but for the last few hours it has all started make sense again. I'm not stressed about the marathon. I'm not worried about it. I'm actually kind of excited. I know I'm not in the same shape I was a month ago before I stopped running. I know that this race will take me longer than anticipated. I even know there is a slim chance I might not finish. But I'm OK with whatever comes my way on April 21, 2008. And to reward myself, I went for a run.
Yes, you read that right. I am back on the roads. I only ran about 3 miles today but it felt great. A little trouble with my knee on the hill, sore hamstrings, but a feeling of freedom. A feeling of peace. A feeling that no one will ever be able to take from me.
Today, I've found myself again. I am back. There may be more obstacles. There will definitely be more tears. All I need to remember is this feeling.
And so to my faithful readers, thank you for your on going support. I look forward to sharing the new, renewed Marcy with you.
I owe you all an apology. I have not posted in over a week and a half. While I have had plenty of ideas for posts and even some milestones to share, I have simply been unable to write. The reasons for my lack of words cannot be traced to one thing. Perhaps it is because I'm stressed about work. Perhaps it is because I am frustrated with my injuries. Perhaps it is because I've lost the other original member of team injured, my workout partner Brenda (Brenda, I am so glad you can run again!!!) Perhaps it is because all I want to do is give up and run away. Perhaps it is because I didn't really grieve for my Dad on his birthday. I've been questioning everything in my life, even the things I am sure of. Yes, my friends I have been in a funk.
There is no other way to describe it. I've really wanted to walk away from everything and wash my hands clean. My friend Marisa agreed to run away with me to a Caribbean Island and leave it all behind. I know that isn't a solution but I've been uncertain about what else to do. I have lost sight of why I am training for this marathon and often feel like I am just going through the motions.
Today, though I had a moment of peace. Perhaps this was because I was aways from all of the stress. This morning, I was driving back to Boston from my Mom's house. Somewhere between Connecticut and Massachusetts, I had a feeling that I haven't had in quite sometime: peace and tranquility. I'm not sure how long this feeling will last or if it will, but for the last few hours it has all started make sense again. I'm not stressed about the marathon. I'm not worried about it. I'm actually kind of excited. I know I'm not in the same shape I was a month ago before I stopped running. I know that this race will take me longer than anticipated. I even know there is a slim chance I might not finish. But I'm OK with whatever comes my way on April 21, 2008. And to reward myself, I went for a run.
Yes, you read that right. I am back on the roads. I only ran about 3 miles today but it felt great. A little trouble with my knee on the hill, sore hamstrings, but a feeling of freedom. A feeling of peace. A feeling that no one will ever be able to take from me.
Today, I've found myself again. I am back. There may be more obstacles. There will definitely be more tears. All I need to remember is this feeling.
And so to my faithful readers, thank you for your on going support. I look forward to sharing the new, renewed Marcy with you.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Birthday wishes and green jello shots
This blog post started out as a letter to my father. His birthday was March 15th and his favorite holiday, St. Patrick's Day was two days later. When I sat down to write the post, I couldn't figure out what to say. This was all I came up with:
Happy Belated Birthday, Dad!! How does it feel to be 59, you old man?!?! You don't look a day over.....hmmmm...58!!!. Sorry for the belated birthday wishes...I had a dessert and drinks party on Saturday, March 15th (your birthday). The party was successful. We raised over $500 for Dana-Farber!!! It was a great.
And then I blanked. All last week I had thoughts of what I wanted to say to him. But when it came down to writing it-nothing came out. My friend Lauren who is also a DFMC member put it the best in her Valentine's Day blog: http://krzyrunner.blogspot.com/2008/02/call-of-whoopie.html. Lauren says that it is not the days you expect to be difficult, but rather those random moments when you think of the person that hit you so hard.
One of my Dad's friends told me that there are days when he thinks about him all day and then there are days when he is so busy he doesn't even enter his thoughts. I know how much my Dad meant to so many people and that is evident by the donations I have received. I miss him so much and some days are better than others. It is those random days that get to me: when a song comes on my IPOD or I see a father's day card. Or when I just want to ask him what he had to eat for lunch (something that became our routine in the end). It hits me that I do not have a Dad who is physically present anymore.
So although my birthday letter to my Dad was a flop, I did exactly what he would have wanted on his birthday. I had a dessert and drinks fundraising party. I raised over $500 that day alone for Dana-Farber. I know he was there that day, enjoying the party. It was exactly the type of party he would have thrown for himself. I know he wouldn't have missed it for the world.
A belated happy birthday Dad. I love you.
Happy Belated Birthday, Dad!! How does it feel to be 59, you old man?!?! You don't look a day over.....hmmmm...58!!!. Sorry for the belated birthday wishes...I had a dessert and drinks party on Saturday, March 15th (your birthday). The party was successful. We raised over $500 for Dana-Farber!!! It was a great.
And then I blanked. All last week I had thoughts of what I wanted to say to him. But when it came down to writing it-nothing came out. My friend Lauren who is also a DFMC member put it the best in her Valentine's Day blog: http://krzyrunner.blogspot.com/2008/02/call-of-whoopie.html. Lauren says that it is not the days you expect to be difficult, but rather those random moments when you think of the person that hit you so hard.
One of my Dad's friends told me that there are days when he thinks about him all day and then there are days when he is so busy he doesn't even enter his thoughts. I know how much my Dad meant to so many people and that is evident by the donations I have received. I miss him so much and some days are better than others. It is those random days that get to me: when a song comes on my IPOD or I see a father's day card. Or when I just want to ask him what he had to eat for lunch (something that became our routine in the end). It hits me that I do not have a Dad who is physically present anymore.
So although my birthday letter to my Dad was a flop, I did exactly what he would have wanted on his birthday. I had a dessert and drinks fundraising party. I raised over $500 that day alone for Dana-Farber. I know he was there that day, enjoying the party. It was exactly the type of party he would have thrown for himself. I know he wouldn't have missed it for the world.
A belated happy birthday Dad. I love you.
Friday, March 14, 2008
To my body
To my body,
I know that we have never seen eye-to-eye. It started off when I was born with a diaphragmatic hernia and flat feet. But I am asking you, begging you, pleading with you to please, please, please get better. I know you are mad at me for pushing beyond my limits and not listening to my aches and pains. I am sorry. You have always been so resilient. I thought that I could handle the grueling hours of training. I thought I was stronger than a little IT band and a toe.
Now don't get me wrong. I am in the best shape of my life. I am grateful for the progress we have made thus far. Still, I am begging you and I promise to do anything it takes to get better. I'll....I'll.....I'll even give up soccer (Did I just say that?!?!?) I'll workout more or less-which ever I need. I'll keep the house clean. I'll sleep more. I'll drink less...I'll do anything.
Body, how I heal emotionally if I can't heal physically??
Perhaps this is part of the challenge. Perhaps you and my mind decided this would be a good test, a fun experiment. A test of will, a test if integrity, a test of character. I honor your test and I challenge you to make me stronger, make me faster, make me better.
But please, above all-make me ready for this marathon.
I know that we have never seen eye-to-eye. It started off when I was born with a diaphragmatic hernia and flat feet. But I am asking you, begging you, pleading with you to please, please, please get better. I know you are mad at me for pushing beyond my limits and not listening to my aches and pains. I am sorry. You have always been so resilient. I thought that I could handle the grueling hours of training. I thought I was stronger than a little IT band and a toe.
Now don't get me wrong. I am in the best shape of my life. I am grateful for the progress we have made thus far. Still, I am begging you and I promise to do anything it takes to get better. I'll....I'll.....I'll even give up soccer (Did I just say that?!?!?) I'll workout more or less-which ever I need. I'll keep the house clean. I'll sleep more. I'll drink less...I'll do anything.
Body, how I heal emotionally if I can't heal physically??
Perhaps this is part of the challenge. Perhaps you and my mind decided this would be a good test, a fun experiment. A test of will, a test if integrity, a test of character. I honor your test and I challenge you to make me stronger, make me faster, make me better.
But please, above all-make me ready for this marathon.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Walk the Line
I will be the first to admit that I am hard on myself. I am my own worst critic. Perhaps this is why over the last two and a half weeks of not running I have started to question myself. I feel like my running could have gone smoother if I had taken care of my toe in October when the injury occurred, I wonder if I am buying the right shoes, if I'm eating enough or too much, and how it is possible that in just 6 weeks that I will be on the course running the craziest race of my life.
I have such amazing support and people who are behind me 100% of the way. I know that part of my emotions are due to my fear of failing. I am one of those people who completes everything I tackle and I am also a perfectionist. I have a hard time stepping back and just taking things in stride. But I am trying....
Yesterday, I decided to go to Marathon Sports on Boylston and buy a new pair of sneakers, the shoes I will be wearing to run the Marathon. Boylston Street is the last leg of the marathon and the store is right at the finish line of the marathon, across from the Boston Public Library. I took the bus over to the store. As the 39 bus turned down Boylston, I started wondering What am I so scared of? I will do the best I can and that is all I can ask. I also had a moment of calm knowing that when I run this road in a few weeks, there will be no cars, no buses, and no traffic. Just me, thousands of runners, thousands of screaming fans, and the jumbo tron.
When I got off the bus, I knew there was one more thing I had to do. I walked across the finish line. I looked at the faded paint, the BAA logo worn with the weather from over the last year and I smiled. I can't wait to see the finish line brightly painted. I can't wait to see the clock ticking down and I can't wait to run my first marathon.
I have such amazing support and people who are behind me 100% of the way. I know that part of my emotions are due to my fear of failing. I am one of those people who completes everything I tackle and I am also a perfectionist. I have a hard time stepping back and just taking things in stride. But I am trying....
Yesterday, I decided to go to Marathon Sports on Boylston and buy a new pair of sneakers, the shoes I will be wearing to run the Marathon. Boylston Street is the last leg of the marathon and the store is right at the finish line of the marathon, across from the Boston Public Library. I took the bus over to the store. As the 39 bus turned down Boylston, I started wondering What am I so scared of? I will do the best I can and that is all I can ask. I also had a moment of calm knowing that when I run this road in a few weeks, there will be no cars, no buses, and no traffic. Just me, thousands of runners, thousands of screaming fans, and the jumbo tron.
When I got off the bus, I knew there was one more thing I had to do. I walked across the finish line. I looked at the faded paint, the BAA logo worn with the weather from over the last year and I smiled. I can't wait to see the finish line brightly painted. I can't wait to see the clock ticking down and I can't wait to run my first marathon.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
The Comedy of Errors
I'm trying to learn to laugh at myself, but that's not an easy task. This morning has truly been filled with errors. Stemming from first thing this morning....
I woke up at 4:54am on Tuesday morning so that I could get ready to meet Brenda at the gym. The first train out of Porter Square was at 5:21am. I was aiming as best I could to make that train. I packed my bags and headed to the subway. I arrived on the platform at 5:30am. After sitting on the bench for about 5 minutes, I realized I had forgotten my pedometer. (The school that I work for is doing a fitness challenge. I'm pretty set to win the whole thing!!! More on that in another post.) I also realized that I didn't have another set of clean clothes to wear for Physical Therapy tonight. So I headed home...and as I was heading up the escalator they called the subway going into the city. Ugh....
I got home and ran around the house trying to get stuff together. I ran into the bedroom trying to find my pedometer in the dark. Chet didn't even stir as I dropped stuff on the floor.
I walked back to the subway and climbed aboard the train to the city. The worst part of the whole thing was I walked past the Cambridge branch of my gym like four times. I really wanted to meet Brenda though. I have great workouts when I am with her and I really needed that motivation.
I arrived at the gym at 6:25am and there was Brenda smiling and bright eyed on the Arc Trainer. She was already 40 minutes through her workout. I hopped on the machine next to her and we started chatting. It was great to have someone to workout with again after a few days apart.
Around 20 minutes into my workout, exhaustion and dehydration started to set in. I was having a really hard time continuing my workout and definitely considered giving up. Brenda was with me for about half of the workout and then headed upstairs to get ready for work. I did finish an hour of cardio.
I went to the locker room to change and get ready for work. I went to shower and hung my towel on the hook outside the shower. My towel had a mind of its own and I had to wrestle with it to stay put. When I finally finished my shower, I went to reach for it and it was on the floor. Damn Towel!!!
The rest of my day was ok. I had a very busy day in the office followed by a lengthy Physical Therapy session. Shellie worked me pretty hard but I left feeling good and optimistic (plus they put electrodes on my leg-cool!!!). I am really ready for someone to release me back onto the roads.
After an exhausting day of errors, I went home and had dinner with Chet. I know that there will be days filled with more errors. I know there will be days when I am frustrated with myself and the world. But I am learning to laugh...and I made sure I had my pedometer on this morning (Wednesday) when I left for work.
I woke up at 4:54am on Tuesday morning so that I could get ready to meet Brenda at the gym. The first train out of Porter Square was at 5:21am. I was aiming as best I could to make that train. I packed my bags and headed to the subway. I arrived on the platform at 5:30am. After sitting on the bench for about 5 minutes, I realized I had forgotten my pedometer. (The school that I work for is doing a fitness challenge. I'm pretty set to win the whole thing!!! More on that in another post.) I also realized that I didn't have another set of clean clothes to wear for Physical Therapy tonight. So I headed home...and as I was heading up the escalator they called the subway going into the city. Ugh....
I got home and ran around the house trying to get stuff together. I ran into the bedroom trying to find my pedometer in the dark. Chet didn't even stir as I dropped stuff on the floor.
I walked back to the subway and climbed aboard the train to the city. The worst part of the whole thing was I walked past the Cambridge branch of my gym like four times. I really wanted to meet Brenda though. I have great workouts when I am with her and I really needed that motivation.
I arrived at the gym at 6:25am and there was Brenda smiling and bright eyed on the Arc Trainer. She was already 40 minutes through her workout. I hopped on the machine next to her and we started chatting. It was great to have someone to workout with again after a few days apart.
Around 20 minutes into my workout, exhaustion and dehydration started to set in. I was having a really hard time continuing my workout and definitely considered giving up. Brenda was with me for about half of the workout and then headed upstairs to get ready for work. I did finish an hour of cardio.
I went to the locker room to change and get ready for work. I went to shower and hung my towel on the hook outside the shower. My towel had a mind of its own and I had to wrestle with it to stay put. When I finally finished my shower, I went to reach for it and it was on the floor. Damn Towel!!!
The rest of my day was ok. I had a very busy day in the office followed by a lengthy Physical Therapy session. Shellie worked me pretty hard but I left feeling good and optimistic (plus they put electrodes on my leg-cool!!!). I am really ready for someone to release me back onto the roads.
After an exhausting day of errors, I went home and had dinner with Chet. I know that there will be days filled with more errors. I know there will be days when I am frustrated with myself and the world. But I am learning to laugh...and I made sure I had my pedometer on this morning (Wednesday) when I left for work.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Ms. Unromantic Gets Romantic
For those of you who know me (or just happened to read my Valentine's Day blog), I am a self-proclaimed unromantic. That is not to say that I do not like romance or know what it is...it just isn't me. I find things that are nontraditional romantic (getting a Garmin watch for my birthday was the BEST present ever).
Saturday, March 8th marked Chet's and my 5th year anniversary (not married, just dating for that long). Time has flown by, some of it amazing, some of it not so great. But all relationships have their ups and downs. I have a philosophy about relationships; here it goes....
No relationship is perfect. There is no perfect person out there. Everyone has baggage and it is all about how your baggage matches with someone else's baggage.
I know that training for a marathon has put strain on the amount of time I spend with Chet. He has been more than understanding and supportive, but I can tell how frustrating it is for him to never see me. I spend 2-3 hours at the gym and then come home and fall asleep on the couch. I know other people struggle with being a "Marathon Widower" (even if just for a few months). I've often joked with Chet that he is my soccer mom as well (he hates that). But here is something I know after five years.....we have been through so much. From family issues, to job struggles, to illnesses, to my father's death, and now to the Marathon. I know if we can survive a marathon we can survive anything. And, so on our five year anniversary all I can say is I love you Chet and I know that you will always be there cheering me on.
Saturday, March 8th marked Chet's and my 5th year anniversary (not married, just dating for that long). Time has flown by, some of it amazing, some of it not so great. But all relationships have their ups and downs. I have a philosophy about relationships; here it goes....
No relationship is perfect. There is no perfect person out there. Everyone has baggage and it is all about how your baggage matches with someone else's baggage.
I know that training for a marathon has put strain on the amount of time I spend with Chet. He has been more than understanding and supportive, but I can tell how frustrating it is for him to never see me. I spend 2-3 hours at the gym and then come home and fall asleep on the couch. I know other people struggle with being a "Marathon Widower" (even if just for a few months). I've often joked with Chet that he is my soccer mom as well (he hates that). But here is something I know after five years.....we have been through so much. From family issues, to job struggles, to illnesses, to my father's death, and now to the Marathon. I know if we can survive a marathon we can survive anything. And, so on our five year anniversary all I can say is I love you Chet and I know that you will always be there cheering me on.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
This is all because of a TOE???
I start this blog by stating two facts about myself: 1) I am a klutz and 2) I am injury prone.
Those of you who have been following my blog (or have the pleasure of listening to me complain) know that I have been having knee pain since the end of January (see my post from January 28th). The injury has definitely sidelined me a bit, but I have still been going to the gym and doing other cardio and I even ran a half-marathon (in hindsight probably a stupid idea). I finally went to Physical Therapy on Tuesday night at met with a great therapist, Shellie. She stretched my legs and hips to figure out where the pain was. She watched me walk, She checked my flexibility, and then she got to my feet.
In my previous life (IE: Before this Marathon took over my life), I was a soccer player. Let me rephrase that....I LOVED Soccer. I used to play 3-4 times a week. When I was chosen to run Boston with DFMC, I gave up soccer to focus on running (and avoid injury). My last soccer game to date was October 28th, 2007. During the game, a player from the other team planted on my big right toe and it has never healed or been the same. I had it x-rayed and there were luckily no breaks, it was just badly jammed.
As Shellie was moving my legs and feet, I mentioned to her about my toe. She worked on my toe for 10 minutes, massaging it and trying to release it. Her response, "Well this may be part of the problem." A TOE?? Something so small but so powerful. Who knew that one last game of soccer would impact my running so much.
My grandmother has made the suggestion on a number of occasions, "Take up Tiddlywinks or maybe golf. You can't hurt yourself playing those."
Wanna bet??
Those of you who have been following my blog (or have the pleasure of listening to me complain) know that I have been having knee pain since the end of January (see my post from January 28th). The injury has definitely sidelined me a bit, but I have still been going to the gym and doing other cardio and I even ran a half-marathon (in hindsight probably a stupid idea). I finally went to Physical Therapy on Tuesday night at met with a great therapist, Shellie. She stretched my legs and hips to figure out where the pain was. She watched me walk, She checked my flexibility, and then she got to my feet.
In my previous life (IE: Before this Marathon took over my life), I was a soccer player. Let me rephrase that....I LOVED Soccer. I used to play 3-4 times a week. When I was chosen to run Boston with DFMC, I gave up soccer to focus on running (and avoid injury). My last soccer game to date was October 28th, 2007. During the game, a player from the other team planted on my big right toe and it has never healed or been the same. I had it x-rayed and there were luckily no breaks, it was just badly jammed.
As Shellie was moving my legs and feet, I mentioned to her about my toe. She worked on my toe for 10 minutes, massaging it and trying to release it. Her response, "Well this may be part of the problem." A TOE?? Something so small but so powerful. Who knew that one last game of soccer would impact my running so much.
My grandmother has made the suggestion on a number of occasions, "Take up Tiddlywinks or maybe golf. You can't hurt yourself playing those."
Wanna bet??
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Three hours later.....
I am one of those people who can go to the gym and spend about two hours between my cardio and strength training. Time flies by during my workouts. But I often wondered about people who would go and spend 3+ hours at the gym. How did they find time? Did they have jobs? Why did they need to spend a million hours? Was it healthy for them or was it an obsession? Were they sane? And then I became one of them yesterday.....
Brenda and I met at Healthworks yesterday afternoon around 3pm to do our long workout. Brenda and I each spent 3 hours on the arc trainer, chatting the whole time. At around two hours, I took a break to use the bathroom and grab some more water. I wondered if I was really going to be able to finish three hours or more on the machine. Brenda was still plugging away and I realized that I had to keep going. She stayed so positive the whole time, even though her feet hurt and she was exhausted (check out her account of yesterday at marathonbrenda.blogspot.com). Thanks Brenda for being such a great workout partner and friend. I can't wait to run together again.
I've been wondering lately whether or not I can actually do this. We have seven weeks until the marathon (even typing that makes me sick to my stomach). I'm scared and my fear is getting the best of me. I'm such a competitive person and a perfectionist. I try to remind myself that running is not about anyone except for myself. It is about me finishing the impossible. It is about me honoring my Dad and my grandmother. It is about (to quote Adidas) "Three words that every runner lives to say: I finished Boston". God, I hope I can!!!
Brenda and I met at Healthworks yesterday afternoon around 3pm to do our long workout. Brenda and I each spent 3 hours on the arc trainer, chatting the whole time. At around two hours, I took a break to use the bathroom and grab some more water. I wondered if I was really going to be able to finish three hours or more on the machine. Brenda was still plugging away and I realized that I had to keep going. She stayed so positive the whole time, even though her feet hurt and she was exhausted (check out her account of yesterday at marathonbrenda.blogspot.com). Thanks Brenda for being such a great workout partner and friend. I can't wait to run together again.
I've been wondering lately whether or not I can actually do this. We have seven weeks until the marathon (even typing that makes me sick to my stomach). I'm scared and my fear is getting the best of me. I'm such a competitive person and a perfectionist. I try to remind myself that running is not about anyone except for myself. It is about me finishing the impossible. It is about me honoring my Dad and my grandmother. It is about (to quote Adidas) "Three words that every runner lives to say: I finished Boston". God, I hope I can!!!
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