Spring has definitely sprung in Spokane, and we are taking advantage of the warmer weather. With our new little one now adjusted to the jogging stroller we are getting out-and-about on most days. While it will be a while (if ever) until I get back into racing form, I am starting to feel a bit more optimistic.
As I mentioned last fall, the year of 2012 will go down in my book as the worst year for my asthma - ever. I spent the first part of the year fighting it and the second part of the year visiting doctors, specialists and pharmacies. By December I had been diagnosed with a steroid-resistant form of exercise-induced asthma. It was a frustrating experience to have my medication adjusted, be sent home for 8 weeks, feel no relief, and return to the doctor's for more advice. (Pay money, Repeat.) I am not anti-medication so long as they do their jobs, and mine clearly were not. Then on December 26th we got "the call"... Our adoption paperwork had completed the last stage of processing. The next few months became planning, travel and adjustment with a new child in our lives. During that time I let my medication regimen fall to the wayside. I had just lost the desire to do it. I spent a lot of time pondering what to do next.
In the end (which is, as is every spring, also a beginning) I decided to let nature have her way. I am starting to train without the use of any steroids, and keeping tabs on how it feels. I am mixing jogging with hill-walking (usually while pushing a stroller) and each day I run a little more of the ascents and walk a little bit less. My only goal for the rest of the season is to find the joy in training and feeling strong again. It has been about three weeks now, and I can finally feel my motivation starting to build. There are no guarantees as to how this will go- but when does life ever offer guarantees?
Stay tuned!
Friday, April 5, 2013
Friday, October 12, 2012
I'm Not Dead
I know that this blog has been pretty quiet for a while. First of all, reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated. (Thank you Mark Twain.)
In fact, this year has been a whirlwind that just did not revolve around running. I started training in the spring to get back in shape and seemed to be on track, but I noticed that I was struggling with my asthma far more than I have in the last few years. I don't know what is going on, but I can tell you that I am now several months into medication changes and doctor's visits with no relief. By August I had worked myself up to 19 mile long-runs in preparation for Portland, but it was obvious I was fighting an uphill battle. For the sake of my health and sanity I decided to stop training for the marathon and instead just support my husband and friends who were running. (And they all did great!) It was disappoining, but the right decision. I have been jogging on and off since then, but I'm hoping that my latest medical-specialist-referral will produce some better results. If I can get the situation under control I hope to be back on the race circuit next spring. I'm cautiously optimistic... because that's the way I am!
The other major influence on my life for the past year has been our on-going adoption process. We started filing paperwork last fall and at this point we now know who our future child will be, and roughly when we will bring that little one into our home. For a zillion reasons I won't be publicly posting more on the adoption, but I can tell you we are thrilled, excited, and have already picked out the jogging stroller. And we are happy to talk about our little one with you any time... we just aren't broadcasting all the details to the world.
I hope that if I have good running news to report I'll be active on this blog again. In the meantime I hope this blog continues to be a good resource to everyone out there. Enjoy!
In fact, this year has been a whirlwind that just did not revolve around running. I started training in the spring to get back in shape and seemed to be on track, but I noticed that I was struggling with my asthma far more than I have in the last few years. I don't know what is going on, but I can tell you that I am now several months into medication changes and doctor's visits with no relief. By August I had worked myself up to 19 mile long-runs in preparation for Portland, but it was obvious I was fighting an uphill battle. For the sake of my health and sanity I decided to stop training for the marathon and instead just support my husband and friends who were running. (And they all did great!) It was disappoining, but the right decision. I have been jogging on and off since then, but I'm hoping that my latest medical-specialist-referral will produce some better results. If I can get the situation under control I hope to be back on the race circuit next spring. I'm cautiously optimistic... because that's the way I am!
The other major influence on my life for the past year has been our on-going adoption process. We started filing paperwork last fall and at this point we now know who our future child will be, and roughly when we will bring that little one into our home. For a zillion reasons I won't be publicly posting more on the adoption, but I can tell you we are thrilled, excited, and have already picked out the jogging stroller. And we are happy to talk about our little one with you any time... we just aren't broadcasting all the details to the world.
I hope that if I have good running news to report I'll be active on this blog again. In the meantime I hope this blog continues to be a good resource to everyone out there. Enjoy!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Adventures in Cross Training
As part of my long road back to fitness this year I have realized that a one-sport approach (just running) isn't the best option for my body. For one reason, I know from experience that I have to exercise at least five days/week to keep my metabolism up, control my weight, appetite, etc. and to generally feel fit. For the past three-plus years I have kept a four day/week running schedule with other activities (swimming, biking) on several other days of the week. Without any motivation to get in the pool or on the bike this year I decided to start going to a strength-training class at the YMCA that uses that TRX suspension system. TRX is essentially a big set of nylon straps that hang from the ceiling, and you use your own body weight for resistance while moving through a wide range of exercises. The straps take the place of free weights, pull-up-bars, balance balls and just about every other piece of gym equipment I've messed around with over the years.
I have been attending the class 3 days/week for about 4 weeks now, and I am a big fan! The exercise is challenging and each movement can be adjusted to an appropriate intensity just by choosing your own body position. It also allows you to switch between motions quickly; just when you think you can't stand another minute of triceps work, suddenly you take a few steps, move your arms and are working a different muscle group. The trainers at the Y change the class through the week so you might focus on abs one night and legs or arms another. All this variation has really alerted me to exactly how weak some of my muscle groups have become... (I'm looking at you core!) It is great to have found an exercise that is working all the muscle groups in my body and bringing me into better balance.
I still get sore after most TRX sessions, but much less so than my first couple weeks. And I can now do some of the moves and exercises that left me quivering on the floor during my first few attempts! Best of all, having a guaranteed strength, core and flexibility workout in my schedule means that I can focus on quality (not quantity) running. I am starting to feel a little spring to my step again. Granted, I thought I'd be at this point about three months ago, but better late than never!
I have been attending the class 3 days/week for about 4 weeks now, and I am a big fan! The exercise is challenging and each movement can be adjusted to an appropriate intensity just by choosing your own body position. It also allows you to switch between motions quickly; just when you think you can't stand another minute of triceps work, suddenly you take a few steps, move your arms and are working a different muscle group. The trainers at the Y change the class through the week so you might focus on abs one night and legs or arms another. All this variation has really alerted me to exactly how weak some of my muscle groups have become... (I'm looking at you core!) It is great to have found an exercise that is working all the muscle groups in my body and bringing me into better balance.
I still get sore after most TRX sessions, but much less so than my first couple weeks. And I can now do some of the moves and exercises that left me quivering on the floor during my first few attempts! Best of all, having a guaranteed strength, core and flexibility workout in my schedule means that I can focus on quality (not quantity) running. I am starting to feel a little spring to my step again. Granted, I thought I'd be at this point about three months ago, but better late than never!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
My Slowest "Race" Ever
This past weekend my husband, mom and I made our annual pilgrimage to Missoula, Montana to take part in the Missoula Half and Full Marathons. This year was my sixth running the half. (Steve also did the half, mom ran the full for the second time in two years.) My goal at this race was very conservative; I just wanted to run 8 minute-miles to test my general fitness. This seemed like a reasonable goal given that I averaged 8 min/mi at my 10-mile race two weeks ago. That race, the Justin C. Haeger 10-mile, is a very hilly, challenging course. Missoula, on the other hand, is very flat and fast. So as we headed to Missoula on Friday I was equipped with a plan to run a 1:45 half-marathon... and come Sunday I woke up, headed to the start line... and ended up running MY SLOWEST RACE EVER. I was 25 minutes off... how did this happen?
Friday, May 25, 2012
Sedona
Last weekend I was lucky to spend a few days in Northern Arizona to celebrate my cousin's wedding. My family and I stayed near the wedding site in the town of Sedona. This area is as famous for its new-age, artistic culture as for its iconic red rock scenery. Local tour agencies market trips to visit the many energy "vortexes" of the area, while the main road through town is filled with pink jeeps ferrying tourists on 4 x 4 tours into the hills. (The tours are actually much more exciting that you might think.) It is a fun place to be, and especially good if you like hiking, trail running, and getting caught up on sunshine. Steve and I were able to take one ~6 mile trail run into the red rock hills outside of town on Sunday morning and we spent most of the miles trying to figure out how soon we could come back to the area to do more running. It was beautiful. And thanks to the resort we stayed at (Hyatt Pinon Point) I was also able to cram as much swimming and hot-tub-ing as possible into our two day trip. After returning to Spokane on Monday night the rest of the week has seemed unseasonably cold, wet and windy. Fortunately I have a few photos to remember the sun... Check out the pool I spent a few hours enjoying in below.. and check out Sedona some time if you have a chance!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Amazing Amputees
There is a great story online at the New York Times right now about the ever-improving world of prosthetic limbs. The story includes several profiles, one of which is a video of Amy Palmiero-Winters, a below-the-knee amputee and competitive marathon runner. The video is really amazing. You can watch it online by clicking this link. What a testament to the modern era of medical science as well as good, old-fashioned human dedication. Check it out!
Monday, May 14, 2012
Running vs. Life
As my mileage slowly inches higher and my weekly "long runs" start to sound legitimately "long", I'm experiencing all the usual highs and lows of training. Last week I covered about 34 miles during four separate runs, including a 13-miler on Saturday. It feels good to see those numbers. But being in the 30+ mile weekly territory is a mixed blessing; my body is starting to respond to training, but the training is also starting to feel tougher. In some ways these 30 - 35-mile weeks feel tougher than what I experience during most 45 - 55 mile weeks. The fact is, by the time I reach that type of mileage I am in pretty good shape. Right now I know that I am making good progress, but the process does feel a little bit like turning a rusty wheel.
The 13-mile run I did on Saturday was over a very hilly course on one of the warmest mornings this year, and it felt downright tough. Everything from my shoes (old) to my hydration and nutrition (non-existent) was less-than-optimal. It was a "beginner's mistake"... which even a more experience runner has to make from time to time.
This week I have some other committements that will cause me to have to shuffle my normal schedule a bit, and in it I'll lose some of the weekly miles that I've been working hard to maintain. That is a little frustrating in itself, but as long as I'm back to a typical schedule next week it won't be a big deal. And honestly, having a lighter mileage week is probably just as a valuable while I continue to adjust.
The 13-mile run I did on Saturday was over a very hilly course on one of the warmest mornings this year, and it felt downright tough. Everything from my shoes (old) to my hydration and nutrition (non-existent) was less-than-optimal. It was a "beginner's mistake"... which even a more experience runner has to make from time to time.
This week I have some other committements that will cause me to have to shuffle my normal schedule a bit, and in it I'll lose some of the weekly miles that I've been working hard to maintain. That is a little frustrating in itself, but as long as I'm back to a typical schedule next week it won't be a big deal. And honestly, having a lighter mileage week is probably just as a valuable while I continue to adjust.
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