One day
my knees will give out
my lungs won't be able to take it
my legs won't move as fast
my body will fail me
It's a day I think about
when I don't think
I can run any farther
run any faster
take one more step
For now I run with everything I have
I run to enjoy myself
I run to feel better
I run for me
to feel the wind in my hair
everything in me working together
And if I do it enough
maybe I will remember
what this feels like
and keep it with me
until the day I leave this earth
For now, I run.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
A Beginning
When I started running almost 5 years ago, I intended to make it not only part of my life, but a part of my children's lives as well. I understand that not everyone is made to be a runner...and that might be true of my kids. But, I wanted to show them that physical fitness is important (whether it's running, biking, swimming) and Mommy is dedicated to keep herself in shape. It became part of our daily routine. We would get up, spend the morning playing, and then every single day at 10 AM I would load both K and L in the double jogger and head out for my 3 miles. They have grown up thinking that is just part of life...Mommy runs.
I don't know what sparked it, but my little princess asked me yesterday if I could help her "get in to running". Without hesitation my answer was obviously "yes". Since they are on Spring Break, it makes it all the more easier.
Well, today after lunch, my princess picked out her running outfit with extra care (although she's a tomboy...she has a really girly side too). I helped her tie up her shoes and we headed out the door. My littlest man wanted to ride his bike. My middle man, however, wanted no part of the physical activity and decided he was going to ride in the jogger. We walked to the end of the drive and we were off. I told my little girl to pace herself. It's not about how fast you can go, it's about going the distance set out before you. She did great for her first little run...at only 6 years old. She was able to make it a half mile straight. After that we walked on and off another half mile home. Her goal is to be able to run a whole mile.
On the way back, I told her that we needed to finish strong. She wanted to stop so bad...but it was pretty cold out there and Momma just wanted to get home....C was complaining of frost bite and difficulty holding on to his handle bars...and L was comfy cozy. I thought back to when my family and I would ride about 20 miles on our family bike rides when I was little...and we swear that my little brother was all of 3 when my parents made him go the distance. Huge hills would be in my sight and my mom would start chanting, "I think I can, I think I can". Until we were all up. It's something I still run through my head when I want to quit....and I used it today too. I started chanting and we started to pick up a little speed. She held on to the jogger and we finished strong. She walked to the mailbox and then sprinted the rest of the way home. I was one. proud. momma.
I don't know what sparked it, but my little princess asked me yesterday if I could help her "get in to running". Without hesitation my answer was obviously "yes". Since they are on Spring Break, it makes it all the more easier.
Well, today after lunch, my princess picked out her running outfit with extra care (although she's a tomboy...she has a really girly side too). I helped her tie up her shoes and we headed out the door. My littlest man wanted to ride his bike. My middle man, however, wanted no part of the physical activity and decided he was going to ride in the jogger. We walked to the end of the drive and we were off. I told my little girl to pace herself. It's not about how fast you can go, it's about going the distance set out before you. She did great for her first little run...at only 6 years old. She was able to make it a half mile straight. After that we walked on and off another half mile home. Her goal is to be able to run a whole mile.
On the way back, I told her that we needed to finish strong. She wanted to stop so bad...but it was pretty cold out there and Momma just wanted to get home....C was complaining of frost bite and difficulty holding on to his handle bars...and L was comfy cozy. I thought back to when my family and I would ride about 20 miles on our family bike rides when I was little...and we swear that my little brother was all of 3 when my parents made him go the distance. Huge hills would be in my sight and my mom would start chanting, "I think I can, I think I can". Until we were all up. It's something I still run through my head when I want to quit....and I used it today too. I started chanting and we started to pick up a little speed. She held on to the jogger and we finished strong. She walked to the mailbox and then sprinted the rest of the way home. I was one. proud. momma.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Never Again
There have been many, many times that I have left home with nothing electronic on my person...no fuel belt...I just wanted to run and not feel held down by anything...including my cell phone.
On Saturday morning, Jamie and I set out on our weekly run. Her sister was in town and came along. It was a gorgeous day. For the first two or so miles, we were keeping a steady 10 minute/mile pace. It was really comfortable and felt great. At about 2.4 miles, Jamie and I both looked back and didn't see her sister. We waited for about a half minute and decided to back track and see where she was. When we came around a curve, there she was...and she was not smiling or running anymore. She had taken a fall and cut up her hands and messed up her leg...and none of us had a cell phone.
It was decided that Jamie would stay with her sister and I would run the 2.2.miles back to the house. I was determined for it not to take me more than 20 minutes to get back there. My average pace for those two miles was 9:03/mile...and at one point my fastest pace was 7:17/mile. My lungs and legs were burning...and although I knew that nobody had life threatening injuries, I wanted to push myself and see how fast I could make it...especially since I had 2.5 miles already under my belt.
I got back to the house and made the trip by car (with Jamie's husband driving...I was jello) to pick them up. Jamie's sister apologized for ruining our run. I actually thought of it (for myself atleast) as the total opposite. I still ran the same distance that I set out to run...I just ran it faster...and I was pretty pleased with my run that day. Not ruined at all...and my cell phone will now be with me at all times.
On Saturday morning, Jamie and I set out on our weekly run. Her sister was in town and came along. It was a gorgeous day. For the first two or so miles, we were keeping a steady 10 minute/mile pace. It was really comfortable and felt great. At about 2.4 miles, Jamie and I both looked back and didn't see her sister. We waited for about a half minute and decided to back track and see where she was. When we came around a curve, there she was...and she was not smiling or running anymore. She had taken a fall and cut up her hands and messed up her leg...and none of us had a cell phone.
It was decided that Jamie would stay with her sister and I would run the 2.2.miles back to the house. I was determined for it not to take me more than 20 minutes to get back there. My average pace for those two miles was 9:03/mile...and at one point my fastest pace was 7:17/mile. My lungs and legs were burning...and although I knew that nobody had life threatening injuries, I wanted to push myself and see how fast I could make it...especially since I had 2.5 miles already under my belt.
I got back to the house and made the trip by car (with Jamie's husband driving...I was jello) to pick them up. Jamie's sister apologized for ruining our run. I actually thought of it (for myself atleast) as the total opposite. I still ran the same distance that I set out to run...I just ran it faster...and I was pretty pleased with my run that day. Not ruined at all...and my cell phone will now be with me at all times.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
"Running Free"
Yesterday morning, when I drove by the bank, the thermometer said fifty-eight degrees. It was an ideal day for a run outside...temps that I have been waiting for since the beginning of November. I saw a bunch of people all over taking advantage of the beautiful weather. My time came during the two hours I have alone every Wednesday evening...a wonderful break in the middle of the week. I didn't even think to charge my Garmin after my five miles on Sunday. I was bummed when I strapped it to my wrist, waited for a signal, and the message popped up saying "low battery". I guess every runner needs to "run free" every now and then.
Since I wasn't going to have my Garmin to keep track of my distance, I decided on a usual route that I knew...a route that I haven't run in a few weeks. I have run this route so many times that I can actually imagine in my head the exact spots where my watch beeps to let me know another mile has gone by. I started out fast and decided just to go for it. The last half mile was difficult to keep the pace, but I finished with my usual sprint. It felt good...and it felt fast...one run that I wish I would have had my Garmin for. Which reminds me, I need to put him on the charger right now.
Since I wasn't going to have my Garmin to keep track of my distance, I decided on a usual route that I knew...a route that I haven't run in a few weeks. I have run this route so many times that I can actually imagine in my head the exact spots where my watch beeps to let me know another mile has gone by. I started out fast and decided just to go for it. The last half mile was difficult to keep the pace, but I finished with my usual sprint. It felt good...and it felt fast...one run that I wish I would have had my Garmin for. Which reminds me, I need to put him on the charger right now.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Trail
Sunday, I went out with my marathon running buddy (and good friend) and ran my first trail run this year. To our surprise there was still quite a bit of snow left on the trail that made some parts of it a really good workout...almost like running in sand. It was nice to be outside in the sunshine...with my friend who has been beside me for some of the hardest miles of my life. After we finished our 6 miles and said goodbye, I called my sister (who I miss terribly) and told her that I loved running again. I am thankful that I am able to hop on a treadmill and get my run in that way, but my eyes were opened on Sunday to just how much it's been cramping my style...and boring me to death. When we had one more mile to go, I let loose and upped my speed...and it felt great. So great, that we're going to make a habit of it now that it's March and the weather is supposed to be getting nicer.
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