Hello Friends, Family and Friends Considered Family,
So here I am, three weeks away from the big race day (May 8th). I'm to the point in my training where I'm, what the experts call, "tappering". I like to call it "taking it easy physically with a twist of mental torture".
A dear friend of mine, Stacy Leavens, ran the Portland marathon this past fall. I'll never forget her telling me that tappering was the hardest part for her. I remember thinking, "Oh crazy Stacy! I can't wait to get to the point in my training where the weekend long run says 7 instead of 17!". However, per usual, Stacy's wise words ring true. It's difficult to lace up for a two mile run for, well, two reasons. One - two miles seems worthless in comparison. Two - I find myself actually wanting more mileage. This isn't an attempt to brag, or self-aggrandize - or at least I hope it doesn't come across as such. It's more a commentary on the way running infiltrates your mental and physical being in a way that's inescapable. You love it, you hate it, you crave it. A recipe for addiction you say? You're 100% correct! Since I've been terrible at keeping up with this blog post I figured I'd use some of my extra time to re-cap some moments from my training.
#1. One of the first questions you get when you say you're training for a marathon is "have you ever had to [insert bodily function] while running?". Urination ain't no thang. Number two is a bit more embarrassing. Had you asked me 6 months ago about this topic, I'd have scrunched my face and said "Sick. no! that's only for, like, those crazy, extreme people, and I'm definitely not one of them! I'd totally just quit my run, go home, and do my business". Once again, running has humbled me. All I'll say is this: 15 mile run at home in rural Michigan, 7.5 miles into it, nothing but a corn field and a water tower to hide behind in sight, and a human urge that can't be denied. I have entered the ranks of "those crazy extreme people" and I'm not half as ashamed as I thought I'd be. Making mom and dad proud every day :)
#2. About five weeks ago, I headed out for a 19-mile run. Assuming that if I couldn't do this one, I couldn't run the marathon, I left the house with gusto and stupidly, in a brand-spankin'-new pair of shoes (top of the list for do-not-do's in running). I am not running this marathon for time, so for my long runs I simply head out without my i-Pod and pound the pavement til I've completed the distance. It's meditative in a way and keeps me from obsessing over my performance. I tell you this because I genuinely do not know what mile I had to stop the run. I believe it was somewhere around 13 or 14. Tendinitis in my right knee had me hobbling and people running along the Lakeshore Path here in Chicago were giving me the "why don't you just quit" look. So defeated, and shedding a few tears, I did. Dejectedly getting on the bus to ride home, I sat next to a 7-year old girl and her 3 -year old brother. Both had ice cream from Navy Pier and proceeded to tell me all about their day. The little girl claimed the Ferris wheel didn't go high enough and that no matter what, she wasn't scared. The little boy showed me how his action figure shot things and claimed he too was not afraid of some silly Ferris wheel. This moment made me realize that my run wasn't the most important thing and that simply sitting back and enjoying the small things, like ice cream and sophisticated conversations with little ones, was what made life worth living. Needless to say, I walked in the door, petted my two cats and scooped out a big bowl of ice cream myself.
#3. After taking a week completely off of running, I returned from a spring break trip to Washington, D.C. and decided to run my defining 20-mile run at home in Michigan. I love the scenery there and prefer it to urban running when I'm out for more than an hour or so. Unlike my previous 19-mile debacle, I started this run with the mentality, "Screw it. Just run". And so I did. At mile 17, exhausted and admittedly talking to myself (someone had to encourage me), I ran under a big shade tree near the side of the road. Feeling a warm sensation trickle down my right shoulder, chest, and eventually settle on my thigh, I convinced myself it was just gooey sweat and that I had to keep going. Three miles until I got home where I knew Mom, Dad, Leigh Ann, Thorsten and Kaia were waiting with the grill ready and the wine open (seriously, someone tell me this is waiting for me at the end of the marathon and I.WILL.FINISH). Then it clicked. Sweat isn't that consistency. Looking down, I saw what turned out to be a giant glob of, you guessed it, bird feces. Cursing, wiping bird poo off my body with dry leaves, I realized that sometimes you get the s*i# and sometimes, the s*i# gets you. Three miles and a shower later, I told the story with a glass of Merlot in hand.
Sooooooooo...now that I've shared my failures, successes and embarrassing moments, I will ask you kindly to share it if you got it. Donations to the YWCA, an organization I am personally familiar with and hold in the highest regard, go to help buy materials that are provided to women and children using the residential facilities and help keep the YWCA of Kalamazoo's programs functioning. You don't have to give much. You don't have to give anything at all. You can give 1,000's if you got em, we won't complain. All I ask is for your support of the Y's mission to "Eliminate Racism and Empower Women" as well as your support in my running.
All are welcome to the marathon. May 8, 2011 starting at 7:30am. Last I read, registration had tripled what they were expecting. I'd love to see you out there and THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS DONATED, SUPPORTED ME, LAUGHED AT MY STORIES AND ENCOURAGED ME TO KEEP GOING. Couldn't do it without you!
https://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=bpLJJTOvHmE&b=5282383&en=6eIFILOkH4JAITOzF8JAISMzGlKVLYNyEdKDISPzGfIIIQNxHsF
**Donate here and write "Laura's Marathon" in the "notes" section. AND THANKS! https://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=bpLJJTOvHmE&b=5282383&en=6eIFILOkH4JAITOzF8JAISMzGlKVLYNyEdKDISPzGfIIIQNxHsF
Winter Running Ninja Woman
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Waxing and Waning
May 8th, 2011. May 8th, 2011, May 8th, 2011. This is my mantra when I hit that hard spot on a long run or that time in during a sprint workout where the last thing I want to do is crank up the speed again. With graduation from my master's program looming, I have plenty on my mind besides this marathon. However, once I lace up those shoes, it's all about that race. I picture the finish line. I picture crying. I picture stopping to stretch as other runners pass me by. And somehow, in the sick head of an addicted runner, it motivates me more.
I've read (portions of) books on the topic, I've subscribed to Runner's World, I've told every friend who will listen that each time I run over 13 miles, it's the furthest I've ever gone in my life (thanks guys and gals for listening, you've been mighty generous with your praise). In the end, no matter how much you read and how much you talk, it's the action that counts. Not surprisingly, like many things you learn through pushing yourself to the limits, actions are what matter in most aspects of life. And this is why I appreciate running as an activity as much as I do. The lessons are often more two-fold, if not more, in applicability.
It's a fine balance between awareness of how you're doing, and telling yourself that no matter how you're doing, there's always a way to be doing better. In this way, the motivations wax and wane. The desire to achieve waxes and wanes. The desire to say "screw it" and get on the CTA (Chicago's bus and rail system) and ride home (yup - I run my long runs with my bus&train pass just in case) waxes and wanes. But it's usually the wane that I have to quell. When the wax dominates, I picture myself coming up to that finish line, finding that last bit of energy, and sprinting across.
So as I reach these next transitions in life and more questions marks than any other punctuation seem to end most of my sentences, I find that balance between focusing on the run and focusing on the finish.
Thank you to anyone and everyone whose already donated to the YWCA in honor of the women and men who face challenges above and beyond my training. For those of you who still wish to donate, your generosity would mean the world.
Thanks again and happy trails!
**Donate here and write "Laura's Marathon" in the "notes" section. AND THANKS! https://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=bpLJJTOvHmE&b=5282383&en=6eIFILOkH4JAITOzF8JAISMzGlKVLYNyEdKDISPzGfIIIQNxHsF
I've read (portions of) books on the topic, I've subscribed to Runner's World, I've told every friend who will listen that each time I run over 13 miles, it's the furthest I've ever gone in my life (thanks guys and gals for listening, you've been mighty generous with your praise). In the end, no matter how much you read and how much you talk, it's the action that counts. Not surprisingly, like many things you learn through pushing yourself to the limits, actions are what matter in most aspects of life. And this is why I appreciate running as an activity as much as I do. The lessons are often more two-fold, if not more, in applicability.
It's a fine balance between awareness of how you're doing, and telling yourself that no matter how you're doing, there's always a way to be doing better. In this way, the motivations wax and wane. The desire to achieve waxes and wanes. The desire to say "screw it" and get on the CTA (Chicago's bus and rail system) and ride home (yup - I run my long runs with my bus&train pass just in case) waxes and wanes. But it's usually the wane that I have to quell. When the wax dominates, I picture myself coming up to that finish line, finding that last bit of energy, and sprinting across.
So as I reach these next transitions in life and more questions marks than any other punctuation seem to end most of my sentences, I find that balance between focusing on the run and focusing on the finish.
Thank you to anyone and everyone whose already donated to the YWCA in honor of the women and men who face challenges above and beyond my training. For those of you who still wish to donate, your generosity would mean the world.
Thanks again and happy trails!
**Donate here and write "Laura's Marathon" in the "notes" section. AND THANKS! https://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=bpLJJTOvHmE&b=5282383&en=6eIFILOkH4JAITOzF8JAISMzGlKVLYNyEdKDISPzGfIIIQNxHsF
Monday, February 7, 2011
Protests Got Me Thinkin....
So I've been reading a great deal about domain expansion, issue making and policy framing. Social movements seeking equity, equality and justice are rare moments in time when a group of individuals are able to coordinate their activities in a way that is effective and has an impact on policy makers. When Washington seems impenetrable, these glimpses of hope make it seem like an unhinged door. That being said, it's no easy task to stage a revolution; be it major or minor. In reverence for those creating change in countries whose backgrounds I would be arrogant to assume to know (Egypt and Tunisia as immediate examples), I am aware that the investment of lives, families, opportunities and social status are necessary for movements to take hold. While to make a direct causal relation, but as a nod to those standing up for their beliefs and Polit(social,economic)ical desires, I read this bit of history on the YWCA's website:
"The YWCA is the oldest, autonomous women's membership organization in the world. As such, it has a strong and respectable tradition of social change, community service and advocacy. Throughout our history the YWCA has been in the forefront of most major movements in the United States as a pioneer in race relations, labor union representation, and the empowerment of women. The YWCA has actively worked to eliminate racism and empower women since 1858. We were there through the women's suffrage movement. We held the first interracial conference in the South in 1915 and fought for civil rights and affirmative action." http://www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=bpLJJTOvHmE&b=420731
This is why it is imperative to not only show your support monetarily to organizations that conduct sounds social practices with your fiscal gifts, but to support them in your every day interactions, activities and choices. Obviously, none of us are perfect and we live where we live. However, inaction is frustrating, and in the end, does nothing. I'll be chanting that as I hit mile 22, I'm sure!
Thank you for all your support thus far everyone! It is extra encouraging in this winter weather!
**Donate here and write "Laura's Marathon" in the "notes" section. AND THANKS! https://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=bpLJJTOvHmE&b=5282383&en=6eIFILOkH4JAITOzF8JAISMzGlKVLYNyEdKDISPzGfIIIQNxHsF
"The YWCA is the oldest, autonomous women's membership organization in the world. As such, it has a strong and respectable tradition of social change, community service and advocacy. Throughout our history the YWCA has been in the forefront of most major movements in the United States as a pioneer in race relations, labor union representation, and the empowerment of women. The YWCA has actively worked to eliminate racism and empower women since 1858. We were there through the women's suffrage movement. We held the first interracial conference in the South in 1915 and fought for civil rights and affirmative action." http://www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=bpLJJTOvHmE&b=420731
This is why it is imperative to not only show your support monetarily to organizations that conduct sounds social practices with your fiscal gifts, but to support them in your every day interactions, activities and choices. Obviously, none of us are perfect and we live where we live. However, inaction is frustrating, and in the end, does nothing. I'll be chanting that as I hit mile 22, I'm sure!
Thank you for all your support thus far everyone! It is extra encouraging in this winter weather!
**Donate here and write "Laura's Marathon" in the "notes" section. AND THANKS! https://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=bpLJJTOvHmE&b=5282383&en=6eIFILOkH4JAITOzF8JAISMzGlKVLYNyEdKDISPzGfIIIQNxHsF
Monday, January 17, 2011
Double Digits & No Turning Back
I am officially there. The double digit long runs have begun and the side effects are constant reminders that I need to care for my body throughout this training. If the daily soreness in my muscles are not enough to remind me, my voracious appetite is. My most recent accomplishment included a brunch at 12pm complete with oatmeal, omelet and toast, followed by a burger at Food Dance in Kalamazoo, MI at 2pm. And you better believe I turned around and ate dinner 4 hours later. Life's too good not to indulge and I can justify it - for now!
I've run up to these lengths before when training for a half-marathon, but for some reason, in relation to 26.2 miles, 12 mile training runs take on a new meaning. With the half-marathons, I could gleefully think "Oh man! I did 12 today. Only 1 more mile and I'll have completed that race". Now I have to pinch myself and remember "Right. 12 is good. 12 is great, in fact. But it's not even half of what you're going to need to do come May 8th". It's in these moments of realization that I have to tell myself to slow down, take it one run at a time, and remember that this was a choice I made. I find myself doing this in life with far more than just my running. My academic pursuits are time consuming and anxiety provoking and often lead me to moments of intense fear. I'm going to give away my mid-western roots and use the phrase - making a mountain out a mole hole and openly acknowledge that I do this more than I care to admit. For example, the knee pain I feel half-way into a long run sends my brain into a momentary tail spin. My immediate reaction is to create an imaginary catastrophe where, like the scene in Black Swan, my knees break, my legs bend backwards, and my self-imposed running "career" is through. ASIDE: I am not disturbed, I promise! This hallucination has never taken place, I'm just using extremes for comparison's sake.....maybe... :)
But these moments of worry are what make running so fantastic. As a largely solitary sport (of course you can be on a team, but ultimately, it's your legs that have to cross that finish line), you have to mentally battle your ever insecurity, be it physical or emotional, and keep putting the one foot in front of the other. Perhaps your run is only inspirational to you, and perhaps finishing it is only something you will celebrate with a burger and a beer, or a massage and an ice bath, but it is worth every step nonetheless.
So here's to the 15 miler I face this coming weekend and the 20 miler a few weeks down the road. Here's to every personal battle won and every inspiration acknowledged. I have many friends who are running this marathon with me, and when I hear them say they're excited, I remind myself that I am too. Then I picture the finish line and that's all I need. There's a distinct way in which running puts your mind in-tune with your body and your body with your mind. So every time those sneaky self-doubts emerge, I turn to that connection and (hopefully) keep going. Picturing that juicy burger and carb-laden beer doesn't hurt either!
Thank you again to all of you for your support and generosity!
https://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=bpLJJTOvHmE&b=5282383&en=6eIFILOkH4JAITOzF8JAISMzGlKVLYNyEdKDISPzGfIIIQNxHsF
**Donate here and write "Laura's Marathon" in the "notes" section. AND THANKS!
https://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=bpLJJTOvHmE&b=5282383&en=6eIFILOkH4JAITOzF8JAISMzGlKVLYNyEdKDISPzGfIIIQNxHsF
I've run up to these lengths before when training for a half-marathon, but for some reason, in relation to 26.2 miles, 12 mile training runs take on a new meaning. With the half-marathons, I could gleefully think "Oh man! I did 12 today. Only 1 more mile and I'll have completed that race". Now I have to pinch myself and remember "Right. 12 is good. 12 is great, in fact. But it's not even half of what you're going to need to do come May 8th". It's in these moments of realization that I have to tell myself to slow down, take it one run at a time, and remember that this was a choice I made. I find myself doing this in life with far more than just my running. My academic pursuits are time consuming and anxiety provoking and often lead me to moments of intense fear. I'm going to give away my mid-western roots and use the phrase - making a mountain out a mole hole and openly acknowledge that I do this more than I care to admit. For example, the knee pain I feel half-way into a long run sends my brain into a momentary tail spin. My immediate reaction is to create an imaginary catastrophe where, like the scene in Black Swan, my knees break, my legs bend backwards, and my self-imposed running "career" is through. ASIDE: I am not disturbed, I promise! This hallucination has never taken place, I'm just using extremes for comparison's sake.....maybe... :)
But these moments of worry are what make running so fantastic. As a largely solitary sport (of course you can be on a team, but ultimately, it's your legs that have to cross that finish line), you have to mentally battle your ever insecurity, be it physical or emotional, and keep putting the one foot in front of the other. Perhaps your run is only inspirational to you, and perhaps finishing it is only something you will celebrate with a burger and a beer, or a massage and an ice bath, but it is worth every step nonetheless.
So here's to the 15 miler I face this coming weekend and the 20 miler a few weeks down the road. Here's to every personal battle won and every inspiration acknowledged. I have many friends who are running this marathon with me, and when I hear them say they're excited, I remind myself that I am too. Then I picture the finish line and that's all I need. There's a distinct way in which running puts your mind in-tune with your body and your body with your mind. So every time those sneaky self-doubts emerge, I turn to that connection and (hopefully) keep going. Picturing that juicy burger and carb-laden beer doesn't hurt either!
Thank you again to all of you for your support and generosity!
https://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=bpLJJTOvHmE&b=5282383&en=6eIFILOkH4JAITOzF8JAISMzGlKVLYNyEdKDISPzGfIIIQNxHsF
**Donate here and write "Laura's Marathon" in the "notes" section. AND THANKS!
https://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=bpLJJTOvHmE&b=5282383&en=6eIFILOkH4JAITOzF8JAISMzGlKVLYNyEdKDISPzGfIIIQNxHsF
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Just a Reminder
https://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=bpLJJTOvHmE&b=5282383&en=6eIFILOkH4JAITOzF8JAISMzGlKVLYNyEdKDISPzGfIIIQNxHsF
Happy New Year Y'all!!! I hope 2011 brings happiness in all its various forms! I'm still doin this stuff - running that is - and loving it! I am getting a sports massage for Christmas and am worried I may find myself addicted. This is a quick appeal to ask if you have any dollars or cents to spare, if you could donate a few to the YWCA of Kalamazoo, MI. Their work is meant to make the world a better place and I don't say that lightly. Thank you for your continued support! I'll write more once the holiday madness passes.
Best Wishes and A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
**Donate here and write "Laura's Marathon" in the "notes" section. AND THANKS!
https://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=bpLJJTOvHmE&b=5282383&en=6eIFILOkH4JAITOzF8JAISMzGlKVLYNyEdKDISPzGfIIIQNxHsF
Happy New Year Y'all!!! I hope 2011 brings happiness in all its various forms! I'm still doin this stuff - running that is - and loving it! I am getting a sports massage for Christmas and am worried I may find myself addicted. This is a quick appeal to ask if you have any dollars or cents to spare, if you could donate a few to the YWCA of Kalamazoo, MI. Their work is meant to make the world a better place and I don't say that lightly. Thank you for your continued support! I'll write more once the holiday madness passes.
Best Wishes and A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
**Donate here and write "Laura's Marathon" in the "notes" section. AND THANKS!
https://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=bpLJJTOvHmE&b=5282383&en=6eIFILOkH4JAITOzF8JAISMzGlKVLYNyEdKDISPzGfIIIQNxHsF
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Social Action from the YWCA of Kalamazoo
| Hey y'all! This comes from the YWCA of Kalamazoo, Michigan homepage and is a list of efforts one can take to help eliminate hate. While an enormous task and one that may seem overwhelming, remembering that consistent and persistent efforts that seek long-term change while acknowledging opportunity for short-term gains are what it's all about!! information from (http://www.ywca.org/site/pp.asp?c=bpLJJTOvHmE&b=685943) accessed on December 14, 2010. "What can you do to fight hate and eliminate racism?
Tolerance, the important step is to begin... (source: Ten Ways to Fight Hate, (c) 2000 The Southern Poverty Law Center)" |
**Donate here and write "Laura's Marathon" in the "notes" section. AND THANKS! https://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=bpLJJTOvHmE&b=5282383&en=6eIFILOkH4JAITOzF8JAISMzGlKVLYNyEdKDISPzGfIIIQNxHsF
Monday, December 6, 2010
"Look at that crazy running in the winter!"
Those are the EXACT words I used to say when passing dedicated Chicago runners in my car. When the winds here blow and the snow freezes into ice within minutes of being on the ground, every instinct in you says, "Stay inside, wrap up like a taco in a blanket and sit still to preserve the warmth". Then there's those who invest in gear that makes them look ready to rob a bank, strap on their shoe spikes, and hit the pavement.
I consider myself somewhere in the middle. Like the adults in my life always say, "Everything in moderation". While I NEED a good outdoor run like I need a square of dark chocolate every night, I also need my earlobes and nose cartiledge. So I occassionaly dress up in full outdoor gear and brave the cold. I recommend to anyone interested in running through the winters the following essential accessories in addition to the usual pants, jackets, hats and gloves: a face mask like this one
And a reflective running vest. I'm struggling to upload the picture of me wearing one, but it's on my facebook if you're truly curious. Basically, you look like a running construction worker. It works like magic however, and makes drivers look (I wouldn't assume anyone would look for runners on a 20degree day so I make myself REALLY bright!).
I'm hoping to get a few good outood runs in while I'm home in MI for the holidays. The open fields and tree-lined roads make me remember why I started running in the first place; because being outdoors, moving your body and enjoying the fresh air is basic and almost instinctual.
I hope you all are having happy winter workouts and if you're choosing to stay bundled up inside...well...I'm jealous :)
Happy Holiday Season! And thank you again to anyone and everyone who's donated thus far!
**Donate here and write "Laura's Marathon" in the "notes" section. AND THANKS! https://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=bpLJJTOvHmE&b=5282383&en=6eIFILOkH4JAITOzF8JAISMzGlKVLYNyEdKDISPzGfIIIQNxHsF
I consider myself somewhere in the middle. Like the adults in my life always say, "Everything in moderation". While I NEED a good outdoor run like I need a square of dark chocolate every night, I also need my earlobes and nose cartiledge. So I occassionaly dress up in full outdoor gear and brave the cold. I recommend to anyone interested in running through the winters the following essential accessories in addition to the usual pants, jackets, hats and gloves: a face mask like this one
I'm hoping to get a few good outood runs in while I'm home in MI for the holidays. The open fields and tree-lined roads make me remember why I started running in the first place; because being outdoors, moving your body and enjoying the fresh air is basic and almost instinctual.
I hope you all are having happy winter workouts and if you're choosing to stay bundled up inside...well...I'm jealous :)
Happy Holiday Season! And thank you again to anyone and everyone who's donated thus far!
**Donate here and write "Laura's Marathon" in the "notes" section. AND THANKS! https://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=bpLJJTOvHmE&b=5282383&en=6eIFILOkH4JAITOzF8JAISMzGlKVLYNyEdKDISPzGfIIIQNxHsF
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