Too soon I find myself back in my study with my fingers poised above my keyboard, waiting for the perfect words to describe the race on Saturday. It was my very best marathon so far, and it greatly surpassed any expectations I had of what the day would hold.
I stood in the middle of a street packed with 12,000 runners. I was hopeful yet apprehensive. My miscreant feet were already starting to hurt and I’d not even begun to run. With only the cheers of the runners as my warning the race had begun, I placed my hand on my watch as we all began to inch forward.
A few yards ahead of me the leader of a pace team held a sign that said 10:18 on one side and GOAL 4:30 on the other. I wasn’t sure if I could run a 4:30, but I believed I could get close. I wasn’t sure what my feet had in store for me, but I felt the rest of my body was trained and ready.
I crossed the start line, hit the start button on my watch and began weaving in and out of slower runners to find the pace I wanted. It wasn’t long before I saw the goal sign bobbing up and down in front of me so I held my pace and kept the 4:30 sign in sight.
It wasn’t until mile 8 that I felt pain. It shot down my right leg all the way to my foot. This is too soon! I thought and I started to feel discouraged. But I knew this pain. I knew the source and I knew how bad it could get. And I decided I could beat it.
So on I ran. I got ahead of the 4:30 sign and it got ahead of me. As long as I could see it I was satisfied. My ipod played the songs I’d chosen to inspire me, and I allowed my mind to wander, all the while keeping my eyes on that 4:30 pace team and their little white sign.
The race course took us through gorgeous parks so that we were surrounded on all sides by lush greenery. It took us through old neighborhoods with quaint, stylish houses, and spectators cheering from their front porches. It took us through Churchill Downs and there I saw race horses being run and the places where wagers were made.
Eventually the pain in my leg ceased and my feet weren’t hurting that badly either. I was thrilled. I wasn’t tired and I still had the pace team in my sights. I watched the miles go by quickly and evenly, and as they passed I got more and more excited. When mile 20 rolled around, I knew without a doubt I had it. I was tired but too elated to care. I STILL had the goal sign in sight and I believed I could keep it there.
I looked at my watch and I was hitting each mile on the 7’s. 3:37, 3:47, 3:57, etc. I knew when each mile marker would present itself and sure enough I always saw it in time to pass on the 7. On mile 22 we got on a bridge that took us across the Ohio River to Indiana where we did a quick loop before crossing back over. By this point I was so excited that when Green Day sang in my ear “Can I get another amen?” I wanted to shout AMEN!
As I rounded one of the last corners I saw the marker for mile 26. I looked at my watch and sure enough, it said 4:27. I picked up my pace and scanned the crowd for Jason. I couldn’t WAIT to see him to tell him what I’d done. I wanted him to know by the gigantic smile on my face that I’d done something amazing. I didn’t leave it to my smile, however, because when finally saw him I yelled as loud as I could, “I DID IT! I DID IT!” I ran through that finish line with a chip time of 4:28:52, and there are no words in this language to express how I felt.
I was handed a medal and the chip was removed from my shoe. I saw Jason on the other side of the fence and went to him still grinning like a fool.
“I did it,” I said. “And I beat 4:30!” I showed him my watch and he smiled.
“I knew you could do it.” He said.
“I had no idea!”
I asked him how he had done and with tears in his eyes he told me he’d finished in 2:38. I wanted so badly to hug him but the fence was still between us. I asked after Jonathan, who ran his very first marathon that day, and Jason said he had done very well too. Could the day have gotten any better?
I grabbed a bag of salty potato chips and a diet coke, and the three of us made our way (very slowly and feebly) back to our hotel.
By the time we got back to his parents’ house in Glasgow that night I could hardly move. I took a bath in their whirlpool tub and went to bed. Two days later, I am still a little sore and stiff, but I’m still too excited to mind much. I still can’t help but smile when I think of Saturday and what an amazing day it was.
And I can’t help but feel empowered to set goals for the things I want to do and be, and to believe that I can reach them. All I have to do is believe, press on, and keep my eye on the goal.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Snotty Toes
If my feet could talk, I bet they’d tell me they hated my guts. I bet they’d put in a transfer to another human and leave me. At night they’d talk to each other about how pushy and ridiculous I am and how they are SURE other humans are much nicer to their feet. Their conversation might go something like this:
“Lefty, how are you tonight?”
“I’m tired, Righty. So tired.”
“Yeah, me too. It’s Jane. What is up with her anyway?”
“She wants to run a faster marathon, man. And she is going to kill us in the process.”
“That’s for sure. My tendons are so tight it isn’t funny. And when I complain about them, she sits me on ice! I hate that. I go numb.”
“That’s nothing, Righty, she put me in ice water the other day. It was horrible!”
“Man, that’s awful.”
“You’re tellin’ me! And what is with the greasy stuff her husband puts on her feet at night. That stuff is gross.”
“Well, at least she got a massage and pedicure yesterday. That was nice.”
“That was nice. I thought the massage might have helped me some, and the pedicure was great. All that warm, swirly water.”
“It would have been perfect if she has not painted us snot green.”
“It isn’t snot green, so much as mint.”
“Lefty, you are blind. It’s snot.”
“I think she did it to match her running outfit.”
“As if anyone is gonna see us while she runs.”
“Good point.”(Pause as they are taken to the kitchen)
“Lefty, what is she getting out of the freezer?”
“Man! It’s that stupid ice pack!”
“Oh great. Prepare for hypothermia.”
“No kiddin’.”(They sigh and wish for the tropics)
“So, Righty, when is this marathon we’ve got to run.”
“In a few days.”
“WHAT?”
“Yep. I think it is Saturday.”
“Man, I don’t know if I am ready for that yet.”
“Well, you’d better get ready cause she is going to give it all she’s got.”
“How do you know that?”
“She is always talking about minutes per mile and stretching and cross training and shoes, haven’t you been listening?”
“No. I’ve been freezing.”
Poor guys.
“Lefty, how are you tonight?”
“I’m tired, Righty. So tired.”
“Yeah, me too. It’s Jane. What is up with her anyway?”
“She wants to run a faster marathon, man. And she is going to kill us in the process.”
“That’s for sure. My tendons are so tight it isn’t funny. And when I complain about them, she sits me on ice! I hate that. I go numb.”
“That’s nothing, Righty, she put me in ice water the other day. It was horrible!”
“Man, that’s awful.”
“You’re tellin’ me! And what is with the greasy stuff her husband puts on her feet at night. That stuff is gross.”
“Well, at least she got a massage and pedicure yesterday. That was nice.”
“That was nice. I thought the massage might have helped me some, and the pedicure was great. All that warm, swirly water.”
“It would have been perfect if she has not painted us snot green.”
“It isn’t snot green, so much as mint.”
“Lefty, you are blind. It’s snot.”
“I think she did it to match her running outfit.”
“As if anyone is gonna see us while she runs.”
“Good point.”(Pause as they are taken to the kitchen)
“Lefty, what is she getting out of the freezer?”
“Man! It’s that stupid ice pack!”
“Oh great. Prepare for hypothermia.”
“No kiddin’.”(They sigh and wish for the tropics)
“So, Righty, when is this marathon we’ve got to run.”
“In a few days.”
“WHAT?”
“Yep. I think it is Saturday.”
“Man, I don’t know if I am ready for that yet.”
“Well, you’d better get ready cause she is going to give it all she’s got.”
“How do you know that?”
“She is always talking about minutes per mile and stretching and cross training and shoes, haven’t you been listening?”
“No. I’ve been freezing.”
Poor guys.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
House Cleaning as Cross Training
I’m a week out from the Kentucky Derby Marathon and my feet hurt. I have no idea why. I’ve asked Jason. I’ve asked my massage therapist. I’ve asked my mom. All have theories and things I should try, and I’ve tried them all to no avail. The pain persists.
SO, I decided I should probably stay off as much as I can before the race. I’ve worked really hard since my last marathon in January, and I believe I’m ready for another personal record. That said, however, my life is not very conducive to staying off my feet. Especially lately.
This thing called unemployment suits me well. I thought I’d hate it, but I have never had this much time to get so much done! I’ve mowed the yard twice. I’ve weeded flower beds and planted new ones. I’ve played in the woods with Mom and Dad, and romped in the Botanical Gardens with Julie and the kids. I’ve applied for numerous jobs, perfected my resume, paid my taxes, bathed Chance, washed a ton of clothes… and I’ve cleaned this house within an inch of its life.
And so at the end of each day when I haven’t run a step, my feet ache anyway and I wonder how in the world I am going to run 26 miles on these babies.
Well, yesterday I had the itch to do some deep house cleaning. A bit of mopping and a bit of dusting. I had a few plants to re-pot and a dog that needed a bath. As I began these tasks while trying to give my feet a break, I realized this very act of cleaning could be my cross training for the day. It made perfect sense! Here is my workout:
YOGA
Start the morning with the soothing rhythm of potting plants. Become one with nature by sitting outside in the sun surrounded by your plants, pots, soil, and fertilizer. Lift the soil (breathe in). Place it in the pot (breathe out). Stretch for the fertilizer (breathe in). Place it in the pot (breathe out). Move in a circular motion stretching the back and legs as you methodically choose your plant – and breathe in.
CARDIO CIRCUIT
After half an hour of replenishing yoga, move inside and pick up your dusting supplies. This must be done quickly, for there is really no way to dust these surfaces while staying off your feet. Hence the cardio. Select a wipe and begin. Wipewipewipewipewipe (sneeze). Wipewipewipewipewipe (sneeze). Quickly throw your wipe away or rinse your rage and make your way to the next piece of furniture. Wipewipewipewipewipe (sneeze).
(short break for peanut butter and jelly sandwich with sun chips)
STRENGTH TRAINING with CARDIO
Now it is time for the floors. This workout is customized for hardwood floors, but can probably be applied to carpets and tile as needed. Get a stack of rags and a chosen floor cleaner. On your hands and knees, apply the cleaner in a half-circle radius and begin. Scrub Scrub Scrub Collect. Really focus on those trouble spots - drool, food, whatever. Get in the resistance training you need by scrubbing HARD in those areas. Make sure to catch any sweat the drips off your nose with the rag. Workout may call for knee pads (as mine are kinda sore this morning). If you wish to increase difficulty, increase the size of your cleaner radius and assume the plank position when reaching those far-away spots.
RESISTANCE TRAINING
This workout is tailored for those with large pets, such as Chancey Pants the Boxer. Collect towels, dog shampoo, and a large cup. Run warm water in the tub. Using your knees, lift the dog slowly and place him in the tub. Don’t forget to breathe. Holding dog in place, use cup to wet fur thoroughly. Holding dog in place, apply shampoo and massage. Keeping dog from jumping out of tub, rinse using the cup. When shampoo is completely out of fur, hold the dog in place and dry with towel. Using your knees (and a smidge of your back) slowly lift dog out of tub, encouraging him not to shake. Holding dog in place continue the drying process.
And so, by the end of the day, my body felt a bit like jello, the tips of my fingers were dry and crackly, my knees were red, but my house and pup looked GREAT! AND by the end of the day, my feet did not hurt…. Just all the other parts of me.
SO, I decided I should probably stay off as much as I can before the race. I’ve worked really hard since my last marathon in January, and I believe I’m ready for another personal record. That said, however, my life is not very conducive to staying off my feet. Especially lately.
This thing called unemployment suits me well. I thought I’d hate it, but I have never had this much time to get so much done! I’ve mowed the yard twice. I’ve weeded flower beds and planted new ones. I’ve played in the woods with Mom and Dad, and romped in the Botanical Gardens with Julie and the kids. I’ve applied for numerous jobs, perfected my resume, paid my taxes, bathed Chance, washed a ton of clothes… and I’ve cleaned this house within an inch of its life.
And so at the end of each day when I haven’t run a step, my feet ache anyway and I wonder how in the world I am going to run 26 miles on these babies.
Well, yesterday I had the itch to do some deep house cleaning. A bit of mopping and a bit of dusting. I had a few plants to re-pot and a dog that needed a bath. As I began these tasks while trying to give my feet a break, I realized this very act of cleaning could be my cross training for the day. It made perfect sense! Here is my workout:
YOGA
Start the morning with the soothing rhythm of potting plants. Become one with nature by sitting outside in the sun surrounded by your plants, pots, soil, and fertilizer. Lift the soil (breathe in). Place it in the pot (breathe out). Stretch for the fertilizer (breathe in). Place it in the pot (breathe out). Move in a circular motion stretching the back and legs as you methodically choose your plant – and breathe in.
CARDIO CIRCUIT
After half an hour of replenishing yoga, move inside and pick up your dusting supplies. This must be done quickly, for there is really no way to dust these surfaces while staying off your feet. Hence the cardio. Select a wipe and begin. Wipewipewipewipewipe (sneeze). Wipewipewipewipewipe (sneeze). Quickly throw your wipe away or rinse your rage and make your way to the next piece of furniture. Wipewipewipewipewipe (sneeze).
(short break for peanut butter and jelly sandwich with sun chips)
STRENGTH TRAINING with CARDIO
Now it is time for the floors. This workout is customized for hardwood floors, but can probably be applied to carpets and tile as needed. Get a stack of rags and a chosen floor cleaner. On your hands and knees, apply the cleaner in a half-circle radius and begin. Scrub Scrub Scrub Collect. Really focus on those trouble spots - drool, food, whatever. Get in the resistance training you need by scrubbing HARD in those areas. Make sure to catch any sweat the drips off your nose with the rag. Workout may call for knee pads (as mine are kinda sore this morning). If you wish to increase difficulty, increase the size of your cleaner radius and assume the plank position when reaching those far-away spots.
RESISTANCE TRAINING
This workout is tailored for those with large pets, such as Chancey Pants the Boxer. Collect towels, dog shampoo, and a large cup. Run warm water in the tub. Using your knees, lift the dog slowly and place him in the tub. Don’t forget to breathe. Holding dog in place, use cup to wet fur thoroughly. Holding dog in place, apply shampoo and massage. Keeping dog from jumping out of tub, rinse using the cup. When shampoo is completely out of fur, hold the dog in place and dry with towel. Using your knees (and a smidge of your back) slowly lift dog out of tub, encouraging him not to shake. Holding dog in place continue the drying process.
And so, by the end of the day, my body felt a bit like jello, the tips of my fingers were dry and crackly, my knees were red, but my house and pup looked GREAT! AND by the end of the day, my feet did not hurt…. Just all the other parts of me.
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