Today's Run

Today was a 6 mile run. I miscalculated and it ended up being 6.2 miles. My watch told me that my pace was 9 minute 14 second miles. I love running in cool weather.

I experimented with the run/walk thingie. At the 4 mile mark, I walked for .2 miles. I gotta say, I saw a difference in how the last 2 miles felt. I did feel more energized and like I had an easier time. I have not uploaded my NikeSportsBand yet to see of my speed reflects how I felt.

Now for the feet issues. Both of my feet were sorta kinda yelling at me during my cool down. I walk about .6 miles after my run is over. I didn't have to limp or anything, they just both talked to me with each step. The left foot's voice came from it's extensor tendonitis, the right foot's voice came from it's achilles tendontitis. The rest of my body felt powerful and strong.

So..... I have a new plan. After each run, I will plunge my feet into an ice bath. I have the prefect vessel for it - wait 20 minutes and voila! I did that this morning and I do not know that my feet have a voice yet.

I will continue to do my stretches, just later in the day, after I warm up on the elliptical for 5 or 10 minutes. I am also going to try a different pair of running shoes on Monday - they seem to give me more room across the top of my foot.

I will not tough this out - I will find a solution!

Entry # 464073

That's Me!

I thought I was already an official entrant in the NYC Marathon, but apparently that just happened yesterday afternoon. Good thing Erica sent out an e-mail alerting us all that it was coming, as mine went directly to spam and I would have deleted it.

That woulda been a big oopsie.

On the "how's my body doing front" - looks like I am developing a case of extensor tendonitis in my left foot. I just might have been lacing my shoes too tight after I got the new orthotics, so I am icing it 3 times a day and will loosen my laces for my run on Saturday. In the meantime, my achilles tendontis on my right foot is not bothering me.

A Fourth First

When I first started this marathon project, I knew I would have many firsts. To review, the firsts so far:

1. I got bit by a dog

2. I fell while running

3. I wanted to smack a doctor

My fourth first happened during this mornings run. I ran in the sprinkles and cooled down in the rain.

A while back, I was talking to Doreen about all of the things that concern me about this training. One was the weather I would have to venture out in. I remember a course leader I had say something interesting. He said that there is a difference between a runner and a jogger - and it wasn't their speed. He said that a jogger wakes up, looks out the window to see what the weather is to see if she will run that day. A runner wakes up, looks out the window to see what type of gear she needs to wear to run that day.

That was an aside to what I want to say today.

So, I tell Doreen I am really concerned about running in the rain. I don't have many health concerns - I don't get many colds, I have yet to have the flu, I don't get headaches, my back doesn't bother me and so on. I do have skin concerns. I will be the first to get a blister. I have contact dermatitis and have regular break-outs, especially during the summer. It seems my skin erupts from my own sweat. I smear myself with vaseline in areas that I get the slightest chafing and I still have skin erosion. So, I am really worried about wet clothing smacking against my skin, at the same spot, over and over again for miles and miles. I am concerned about my feet being in wet socks in wet shoes and whatever rubbing that will cause.

Doreen says that she loved running in the rain, that the rain cooled her off, that she even ran through puddles in purpose to cool off, that she would run through people's sprinklers to get cool.

I go "hmmmmmm'.

Today, I loved running in sprinkles, it does have a cooling affect. I even liked the rain while I cooled down. The rain got rid of the sweat that was getting in my eyes, so I really enjoyed my cool down.

Maybe rain is not to be feared.

Yard Sale Work

Amy's house is a perfect place for a yard sale - garage sale - tag sale - whatever the heck people like to call them. We never have to place an ad, Steve just goes out on Saturday morning and puts a sign on a specific telephone pole and then a few "No Parking" signs on the corner and a few Yard Sale signs and we get more traffic than we can handle.

The thing is, her house is an hour south of me. My 'mini me' (it's what I call the CRV because it replaced the Pilot and the CRV is a mini Pilot) can hold stuff but one load does not a yard sale make. So, I go and pick up the donated stuff from where it was donated - this latest time, Emmy's house in Hopewell - and bring it home, unload it, price it, reload it and bring it down to Amy.

Yesterday was the unloading and pricing and reloading. Today is brining the car load down to Yorktown.

Tomorrow, I go into Poughtown to Robin's and get another car load and do the same thing. Not sure yet when I take that load down to Amy.

Very Fun Run!

I had a 4 miler this morning. I got to the school where I park at about 6:30AM. It seems that I will be meeting a guy and his dog each morning. They have been circling the school's driveway every day so far. For a country guy, he seems a bit non-friendly. I will take on having him smile at me and acknowledge my presence. Today he did sorta kinda grunt back after I said "Good Morning".

I completed my run in 9 minute 16 second miles. I am not going to fret about that time being too fast right now. I will see if my body lets me maintain that pace on short runs.

It is absolutely fabu weather for running!

Glorious Run This Morning!

A cold front came through and it was glorious this morning! This was a short run - just 3 miles and I finished and thought "I could do 3 more!" I will not listen to that voice, as I am promising to do the training as it is designed.

I am loving my new route. i gave up dealing with my fear about running into the dogs on Stissing Road, so I get in my car now and drive about 3 miles to a school where I feel safe parking my car. The route for 5 miles is gorgeous and I have seen one vehicle in the two days I have run there. I love the rolling hills - no real uphills, like Mountain Road has, which is way better for my achilles.

I am thinking of doing my 4 milers tomorrow, rather than Thursday, as the weather is suppose to be like today. I like that I am free to switch those days up. The only rule I have is I take the day before and the day after a long run off.

WE DID IT!!!!

Our goal to raise $10,000 for Alzheimer's research and education has been met! I am in awe of the accomplishment, I am moved by the generosity of people who know me, the generosity of the people who know my siblings and the generosity of people who know people who know me.

We all feel the love.

I had wanted to get this goal met before my training gets hard and by gosh, I did that. I will make a new goal over the next few days. Now is the time for me to relish in the accomplishment.

Thank you for your support - really, really, thank you.

Training

I am starting to get it. Training for the marathon is really about training for the marathon. I know, D'Uh. It's not only about being able to get your body to complete the marathon - it is about being open to learning what your body needs so you can get your body to do that.

I am certain my body will tell me. I just have to listen.

I am certain that when I change what I think made one run hard, it might not always be the thing.

I am certain I will keep on experimenting.

This morning's 5 miles was a bitch for me.

Changes for the future:

1. Make sure I am hydrated the night before. If I don't get up to pee in the middle of the night, I failed at that.

2. Drink at least 8 ounces before I start my run.

3. Begin my run before 7:00AM.

4. Drink at least 8 ounces every 3.5 miles. Time to start wearing my water belt.

My total time was a surprise - 9'48" miles - I went out too fast or something. I was sure it was going to be 11 minute miles.

It's all training and development.

Travel Day

Heading back to New York this afternoon. Last time I took this flight, I talked myself into doing my stretching regimen when I got home. I had 2 glasses of wine with dinner and then blew off the stretching. It cost me the coveted hand bag.

I will not be making that deal with myself today. I will do my stretching and weight work before I finish packing this morning.

Making mistakes, human, repeating the same mistake, stoopid.

Milestone!

I just got an e-mail from the Erin, she is the President of the Junior Committee of The Alzheimer's Association. The Junior Committe is accountable for the Run2Remember team for the marathon.

We passed the $50,000 mark!

Woo Hoo!!!!!

Last Florida Summer Run

I head home tomorrow, so this morning's run was the last one in the Florida summer heat. I did the entire run in the dark. It wasn't really in the dark, as there are street lights, but the sun was not up. In fact, I had finished my post stretching and my icing before the sun came up.

I felt fabu the entire run.

Today's Run

At 5:10 this morning, it was 76 degrees. Holy Crappola, Batman!

My 4 miles today was great. I am training myself to be calm and focused, especially if I get a twinge in my achilles. I am also noticing that I start to have "I am tired - thank god this is almost over" thoughts when 1 miles remains. Funny how I had those same thoughts after 2 miles yesterday and they did not kick in today until 3 miles.

Thoughts are funny thing.

After stretching and icing, I do not know I have an achilles!

Yippeeee!!!!

Twinges

I had twinges in my achilles this morning. If this were not a time when I was looking forward to major usage of my achilles, it would go unnoticed.

Today is a day off, so I am doing my normal stretching and all - three stretches on the achilles itself, plus the 40 minute stretching routine I do every day.

Tomorrow is a 4 mile day.

I will work on being calm and relaxed.

Two Sleeping Parents

That's what I have here right now. Both are in their respective chairs in the living room, both snoring up a storm. It is 1:00 in the afternoon.

I am a fix-it kinda gal.

Okay, if you are reading this, your probably know me enough to be saying "D'Uh - that is like saying your name is Lynn."

I think I should be finding out why they both sleep so much and we should fix it.

They are not bothered by sleeping so much, so I am doing nothing.

Maybe that is growth.

My achilles is still great!

It was awful hot this morning at 5:00.

Oopsie

Yesterday, I wanted to get up at 5:00 to go for my run before it got hot. I set my alarm, which means my cell phone alarm. I woke up before it went off, so I just turned the phone off, thinking that the alarm would be cancelled.

WRONG!

My dad woke me up this morning at 5:04AM. He wanted to know what that noise was coming from my purse in the living room.

We all got back to sleep and no one was mad.

Still a big oopsie.

Gorgeous Morning!

I set my alarm for 5:00AM. I was awake at 1:20AM and then again at 3:45AM. I decided to just get up at 4:45.

My parents sleep with their bedroom door open, so I didn't want to make noise or light while I stretched and got ready to go out for my run. Good thing I put my running shoes on before entering the living room, or I would have really hurt a toe. Somehow, a dining chair jumped out in front of my foot!

I headed out at 5:10AM. There are some street lamps on but not really enough light for me to see my Nike SportBand watch, so I really couldn't monitor my speed. I finally just surrendered and concentrated on my breathing and form.

It was an awesome run. I thought I was running 4 miles and my watch says I did 4.2. My speed was what I am calling my conversational speed - 10 minute miles, but we shall see about that as I add distance.

My body is good, my achilles is not crying about anything.

Dad's Memory

I think I have mentioned that my dad is showing signs of memory issues. I think I have mentioned that his memory issues sometimes causes problems.

The latest problem it caused was financial.

He gets dividend checks however often he gets them. He got the checks earlier in the month and the amount of one was not what he expected. He called the place where the check comes from and they got to the bottom of the problem and told him it was their mistake and they would issue another check.

He decided to wait for the third check to arrive before sending in the two he had.

You guessed it - the third check arrived and he could not find the two others.

He told me about this soon after I arrived. I sleep in the 'computer room', so he asked me if I happened to see two checks 'around'. I did a 10 minute search and found no checks.

Then we were talking about the Run2Remember fundraising and how it was going and how much more I needed to meet my goal. I told him I needed about $1,700 more to get to the $10,000 goal. I told him I wanted to have met the goal by the time the training gets 'hard'. I would like to have only one big thing on my mind then - putting my miles in.

Then he told me that if I found those two checks, he would donate the smaller one to the fund. I said how much is it? He held up two fingers. I laughed and asked "Two dollars?" He said "No, $200."

You guessed it.

I started a search. I thought like a Daddy. I tore that computer room apart. I got down on my hands and knees and looked under things that hadn't been looked under in years. They were not in the computer room.

I moved out into the living room. I looked through the desk in there, I looked through the new computer table. No checks. I looked through the hutch. No checks. I looked through the 'crap' that sits on the top of the table that sits between their two chairs. SCORE!!!!! TWO CHECKS!!!!!

He immediately wrote a check to the Run2Remember Fund for $237.05. Not bad for 45 minutes work on my part.

Less than $1,500 left to go!

Posting While Icing and Watching Golf

Seems I can do three things at the same time.

Finished my 3 miles, while stretching, I remembered that the British Open starts today. Do you know they start TV coverage at 4:00AM?!? They do!

So, I finished my stretching and starting my icing of my achilles.

Rory McIlroy is leading. Baby Boy (Phil Mickelson- for those of you who are unaware of my love for him) has not even teed off yet. Tiger is playing well - 2 back from the lead. I also saw John Daly up there on the scoreboard as well.

If I were home, I'd be obsessed about this, but I am not, so I will let my folks lead the way.

Running in Florida

Holy Crappola, Batman. Running in Florida in July is like nothing I have ever experienced. Even when I ran here in September was not like this. I went out at 6:20 this morning - I only ran 3 miles and I was drenched when I got back. I mean D-R-E-N-C-H-E-D!!!!

Tomorrow I will be out by 5:30.

My achilles is doing great!

Staying Away From the Slippery Slope

Slippery slopes - I know them well. They are the places where I get close to going all the way down hill. Worse than that, they are sneaky in that they are not 'in my face' that I am screwing up.

My most frequent slippery slope includes the thought "I'll do it later." RED FLAG! DANGER WILL ROBINSON! SLIPPERY SLOPE AHEAD!

So, the training is really beginning. There is no room for slippery slopes. There is no room for not doing things. This is it!

I had to leave home this morning at 6:00AM to get to the Albany Airport for my flight to Tampa. Today is a day off from running and I still do a short warm-up and then my stretching regimen and today was an upper body weight work day. That takes about an hour.

Rather than surrender to the "I'll do it when I get to Sun City Center.", I got up an hour early and did it all from home. There is one less thing on my "to do" list and I don't see a slippery slope today!

My Run Today

I ran 3 miles today. My pace was faster - more like 9 1/2 minute miles. I felt really good the whole way. I am starting to think about pace.

I am reading this book - The Non-Runner's Marathon Guide for Women. She is really funny, so I have to wade through the jokes to get to the real advice. She said something about 'conversational pace' - that being the pace at which you know you can run for miles and miles. That pace is one that you could carry on a conversation while running.

My mind says "Who the hell wants to talk while you are running?" I want to train while I am running - not talk. I will talk while taking a walk.

So, I may need to give something up.

Not sure yet, but I do love that I can tell the pace I am running while running. Once I add miles, I will begin to see what pace is good for the long runs. I can then 'push it' on the short runs.

After stretching after my run and icing my achilles, I hardly even know I have one!

Strangers Can Sure Surprise Me

I am in the process of finding a place to stay in NYC the night before the marathon and the night of the marathon. I have to be at Union Station at an ungodly hour on the morning of the marathon. They have to get us all across the Verrazano before they close it. There is no train from Poughtown that will get me into the city in time. I also want to walk around the city all day long on Monday showing off my medal.

So, I have looked into hotels and also renting apartments. There is this website I have used before called HomeAway. I e-mailed close to 20 places asking if their apartment was available for November 6 and 7. In each e-mail, I said that I live in Dutchess county and will be coming to NYC to run in the marathon.

Everyone who has responded has wished me luck in the marathon. Then, I got a response back from someone who said she was not planning on renting her apartment that weekend and shared about running in the half-marathon recently. She said that was no easy feat, so she admired me for doing the full marathon. What with me being an over-sharer and all, I wrote back to her and told her I was running to raise awareness and money for Alzheimer's, as my mom has the disease. She wrote back and wanted to know if I had a website where she could donate. I sent it to her.

Now.... how cool is that?

Back in Training!

I was surprised how nervous I was starting out for the 3 mile run this morning. I was nervous about my achilles, I was nervous about the dogs, I was nervous about having to pee and I was nervous about the rain. Ultimately, I was most nervous about being so nervous.

I started out at 6:45AM. I woke up later than I had 'planned'. I never set an alarm, I am just always awake by 5:00. Not this morning, I slept until 5:50. In my 'what do I think it will look like tomorrow' thought - I was going to step outside at 6:00 - trying to get into the habit for when I start my long runs and it is ungodly hot out.

My being nervous is so silly - I know that being nervous does nothing to make any difference in the thing I am nervous about - big deal, knowing that had no impact on being nervous. All I did was laugh at myself - like "stoopid silly girl" kinda laugh.

So, my achilles is fine - it is not non-existent and it is fine. I am icing it as I type. I saw no dogs and no dogs saw me. I made it without having to pee in my shorts. The rain came 30 minutes after I got home.

Not a bad start at being back in training.

The Step Stretcher

This is what I credit for healing my Achilles Tendonitis. Obviously, I had to use it and I did - three times a day. It allows me to stretch my achilles tendon far more than I could by doing my regular stretches just using the floor. It also allowed me to stretch further up my leg, into my calf as I allowed the stretch to work. I do a 30 second stretch and then go to neutral of 5 seconds, repeat 6 times. By the time the 3 minutes is up, I am still amazed at how much deeper and further the stretch goes.

I got smart -D'Uh and have started doing it on my left leg during my stretching regimen.

Tomorrow is the big day! I am going to run 3 miles tomorrow morning. I can not yet use my new orthotics. I will be wearing my old ones with the heel lift. I can use the new ones on Friday next week.

April's Article

April is someone I have 'known' for a few years. I like April, in so many ways, I want to be April and we really haven't been friends, more like acquaintances. I had an opportunity to speak with April earlier this week. I was reminded that she ran the NYC Marathon a few years back. I discovered that she was in the middle of writing an article about that experience. She was kind enough to send me that article to read.

First off, the article was not really about the marathon. Yes, there was training and there was running and the article was not about running the marathon. It was about relationship, it was about distinguishing what our 'little voice' says to us, it was about doing what calls to us even when the little voice says something different. It was about being bold and digging deep.

There was one sentence in the article that had me throw up in my mouth a little bit. Here it is:

She told me about blackened toenails and barfing and blisters

Okay, I have now been told. More firsts are coming my way!

Gladys

Gladys is a friend who has taught me something great. She is someone who had been smothered by the "stuff' in her life. Her home was cluttered and she was overwhelmed by the things she was holding on to. She took on a project to de-clutter her life, to get freedom from the things that were constraining her and to make room for what is important in her life.

She took the first steps. She hired someone to assist in going thorough her things and boxing up those things that thwarted the kind of life she wanted. Her porch was then filled with boxes. Prior to learning what Gladys taught me, I would have just taken them all to Goodwill at best and the dump at worst. Not Gladys.

While Goodwill is a great choice, Gladys waited until an opportunity to make a difference in an area that is important to her came along. Amy told Gladys about our Yard Sale, about my mom and my marathon and the Run2Remember team.

Gladys gave us all of her things to sell at our Yard Sale.

Gladys having the purpose of her project - not just the de-cluttering, but also the making room for what is important to her - that is the piece I would have lost. It is important to Gladys that she make a difference for her loved ones.

She did. She is the reason we raised over $1,500 at our Yard Sale.

Our next one will be during the first 2 weeks of August.

Gladys is now tackling her shed.

Dedicating A Specific Mile

As we continue our fundraising for Run2Remember, I am learning how many of my friends, my family's friends and friends of friends have been touched by a dementia diagnosis. Many of our supporters have donated in honor of a loved one.

I came up with a way to honor each and every one of them. I have dedicated a specific mile of my marathon to each loved one. I will have a note about each person, who they were and who loved them. Each step I take during that mile, will be for them.

I am so fortunate to be able to do this marathon.

Amy

Amy is my bestest girlfriend. She is the one I was going to run this marathon with. She can be counted on to be my partner in almost anything. People confuse us, like I get called Amy and she gets called Lynn. People think we are sisters or even in a gay relationship.

When Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer in May, it was no longer a good idea for her to train for the marathon. I knew we would still support each other. I had no idea how huge Amy's plan of support was for me.

Yesterday while we were out for a walk, she told me that she plans on being with me during my long runs. She doesn't know how she will be with me, whether she will be on a bike, in a car or what and she is going to be with me.

That is partnership.

Yes it is.

Took Them Out For a Spin

I am down at Amy's this weekend. She is recovering from her breast cancer surgery. I brought food for a few days and want to take care of both her and Steve. After helping Amy bathe and wash her hair for the first time since her surgery, she wanted to go for a walk.

We drove over to a nearby park and I wore my new orthotics. We probably walked at a 3.5 mph pace and we walked for an hour. It was prefect for me building up time with them. They are way different than my first pair and I like the way they make my feet and ankles feel.

I'm off to warm up and do my stretches.

Getting Adjusted

So, it seems that I should not just jump in and start running in my new orthotics. I have to build up time, an hour a day. Crap. So, I will follow those instructions and I think I will start running again next Monday. He says I shouldn't run in the new ones until I have walked in them for 10 days or so. That is what I will do. I still have time before I need to start the 16 week program.

Meanwhile, I am going to get some cardio on my elliptical and do all of my stretching.

New Orthotics Today!

I am amazed at how excited I am to be getting my new orthotics and to hopefully (hope! hope! hope!) get the okay to start running again. Not until I ran those 3 miles the other day (Bad Lynnie), did I realized how much I am missing it.

Skoop asked me about making another goal for getting my coveted purse. I am not sure and I am thinking I will get it when I finish the marathon. I will continue the stretching routine - it really makes a difference.

No Coveted Purse For Me

I didn't do my stretching routine yesterday. I knew I didn't do it, I knew it would cost me that gorgeous purse and I just didn't care.

I will now remove the countdown to the coveted purse.