It was about a month or so ago that I was picking up the boys at daycare and there was another mother there picking up her children, and you could tell she was very upset. Her daughter said something about the happenings for the evening and you could tell by her mom's response that she was in distress. And then I heard the word "Cancer" and "Mom" come out of her mother's mouth and it was instant the feeling in my gut. Those tears welting up in your eyes. Knowing--that someone else was being so closely effected by this horrible disease called "cancer."
Last week a friend of mine lost their Aunt so suddenly no one saw it coming. Today-she posted that it was lung cancer that took her. Her aunt had only been dealing with a cough since January--nothing else that would point to cancer.
It seems everyday I am reminded of the struggle cancer gives. Not only for the person who is battling cancer, but for those around that loved one. The thought of knowing there are so so so many people hoping and wishing for "just one more" makes my heart hurt.
And then I realize--THIS is why I run. The battle I wage on the road is NOTHING compared to that of fighting cancer--or trying to make the most of those "one more's" while watching a loved one slowly pass away from this horrible disease. However--the awareness to cancer's unknown, the fundraising for cancer research, and the opportunity to provide "just one more" is like nothing else. Its what fuels every mile--even at 5:30am.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
Motivation...
So.....I decided that I needed some motivation for running! So--here I come to my blog and fellow blog readers! Because well--as much as I love running--life has been getting in the way. Particularly the dizziness I have been experiencing full force the last few weeks :(
Each week I will post my plan for the week--and update throughout the week to keep me going! :)
Up this week:
3 miles: Today?
4 miles: Mid-Week
3 miles: Mid-week
8 miles--Sunday
I am also going to give a shot to running in the AM vs. PM! We shall see! :) I look forward to blogging my journey along the way! :) My 1st 1/2 marathon is July 22nd! With a fun mud-buddy race the day before!
My full marathon is October 21st--and so I am going to mesh my 1/2 marathon training with my full marathon training! Should be interesting! :)
Until next time! :)
Each week I will post my plan for the week--and update throughout the week to keep me going! :)
Up this week:
3 miles: Today?
4 miles: Mid-Week
3 miles: Mid-week
8 miles--Sunday
I am also going to give a shot to running in the AM vs. PM! We shall see! :) I look forward to blogging my journey along the way! :) My 1st 1/2 marathon is July 22nd! With a fun mud-buddy race the day before!
My full marathon is October 21st--and so I am going to mesh my 1/2 marathon training with my full marathon training! Should be interesting! :)
Until next time! :)
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Plugging Along!
Sort of! :)
The past few weeks have been interesting! I have really enjoyed getting my run on! Last Sunday on Mother's Day I completed race #5 during a 7 mile training run! (It was a 10K)--and it felt GREAT!!
However, I have been dealing with some health issues! Back in January I suddenly got hit with some CRAZY dizziness. And unfortunately--it hasn't gone away. It had gotten better--but within the last few weeks it has gotten way worse again :( In fact--last week it has been at its worse since the first onset. But that's not the only thing I have been dealing with---exhaustion, headaches, and upset stomach also make this list! I was talking with a friend and she mentioned to have my iron levels checked. This had never occurred to me before she had mentioned it! I decided that before I went into the Dr. I would do some research--no use in taking a trip to the doctor if I don't NEED to! We still have craptacular insurance (until June 1st!)--so I wanted to make sure I was pretty sure this would be something I could fix easily--and simple to determine. Upon my research I found that--ALL of my symptoms fall into this category--INCLUDING the increase in time per mile! Basically--when your iron levels deplete--your body can't effectively run fast! I have been seeing a decline in my running speed and it has been bothering me! I have increased my mileage and the number of times that I run--and my base is pretty solid! So I should in theory be getting faster and more efficient at running! Although-I am not :(
My dr's appointment is on Wednesday! :) They will be checking my iron levels for anemia and iron depletion (which, oddly enough is 2 different issues! From my understanding--Anemia is a basic how much iron is in your blood--and depletion is the amount of iron in your muscles/bones/ect.--there is a different hormone/chemical they have to test the amount of to determine depletion!) Hopefully it will be simple and I will know what the next step is by the end of the week!
This weekend I am hoping to get out for some training miles! And then next week I am thinking about switching over to morning miles vs. evening miles since I am basically done for the school year! The last week of school is pretty much dead for substitutes! :)
Have a fabulous week everyone!
The past few weeks have been interesting! I have really enjoyed getting my run on! Last Sunday on Mother's Day I completed race #5 during a 7 mile training run! (It was a 10K)--and it felt GREAT!!
However, I have been dealing with some health issues! Back in January I suddenly got hit with some CRAZY dizziness. And unfortunately--it hasn't gone away. It had gotten better--but within the last few weeks it has gotten way worse again :( In fact--last week it has been at its worse since the first onset. But that's not the only thing I have been dealing with---exhaustion, headaches, and upset stomach also make this list! I was talking with a friend and she mentioned to have my iron levels checked. This had never occurred to me before she had mentioned it! I decided that before I went into the Dr. I would do some research--no use in taking a trip to the doctor if I don't NEED to! We still have craptacular insurance (until June 1st!)--so I wanted to make sure I was pretty sure this would be something I could fix easily--and simple to determine. Upon my research I found that--ALL of my symptoms fall into this category--INCLUDING the increase in time per mile! Basically--when your iron levels deplete--your body can't effectively run fast! I have been seeing a decline in my running speed and it has been bothering me! I have increased my mileage and the number of times that I run--and my base is pretty solid! So I should in theory be getting faster and more efficient at running! Although-I am not :(
My dr's appointment is on Wednesday! :) They will be checking my iron levels for anemia and iron depletion (which, oddly enough is 2 different issues! From my understanding--Anemia is a basic how much iron is in your blood--and depletion is the amount of iron in your muscles/bones/ect.--there is a different hormone/chemical they have to test the amount of to determine depletion!) Hopefully it will be simple and I will know what the next step is by the end of the week!
This weekend I am hoping to get out for some training miles! And then next week I am thinking about switching over to morning miles vs. evening miles since I am basically done for the school year! The last week of school is pretty much dead for substitutes! :)
Have a fabulous week everyone!
Friday, May 4, 2012
Oh My goodness I almost forgot!!
I TOTALLY almost forgot some super exciting news!!! :)
Ashley, owner and photographer for Ashley Heim Photography, will be photographing me in my running gear AND tutu coming up very soon! :) I am PUMPED for this! And I can't WAIT to see what fun we have out and about!! She is such a talented photographer (not to mention an amazing mother, wife, AND daycare provider to my boys!)
So yes.....look forward to some awesome pictures and fun new designs coming to my blog soon! :)
You can find the awesomeness of Ashley right here at http://www.ashleyheimphotography.com/
Ashley, owner and photographer for Ashley Heim Photography, will be photographing me in my running gear AND tutu coming up very soon! :) I am PUMPED for this! And I can't WAIT to see what fun we have out and about!! She is such a talented photographer (not to mention an amazing mother, wife, AND daycare provider to my boys!)
So yes.....look forward to some awesome pictures and fun new designs coming to my blog soon! :)
You can find the awesomeness of Ashley right here at http://www.ashleyheimphotography.com/
1/2 Marathon Training!
I embarked on my 1/2 marathon training a few weeks ago, however, I haven't been sticking to the "plan" very well. In particular--the last few weekends have been EXTREMELY busy so long runs have been lacking! However....
This week I put in 2 runs (1 not-so-good run and 1 better run!) and I also put in an additional workout both nights! :) Tonight I am going to do a workout and some agility drills instead of running. Tomorrow I hope to log in a few miles--and Sunday I hope to put in 6 miles! :)
Mother's day I am scheduled for 7 miles! Crazy! That will be my farthest distance yet!! :) I can't wait! I actually have a race that day (which reminds me I need to register for it!). Its a virtual race I found--and I really liked the shirts! (LOL right?!) and the race entry goes to a good cause--so I figured why not! The race distance is a 10K! So I will go ahead and just record the time when I made it to 10K and then continue with the last .9 miles of my long run!! :)
Overall training has gone well. The only exception is that my pace has somehow managed to slow significantly since I started running :( I am definitely incorporate some speedwork into my exercises--but I am thinking I need to add some strength/agility training as well. Part of me feels my lack of speed is from the sheer weakness of my leg muscles. They are moving as fast as they can carry my body--and I need to strengthen them in order for them to be able to carry my body faster. I could be totally wrong--but I figure its not going to hurt anything right!? Now if I could only have the cool machines at my house--it would make strength training that much easier!! :P
With the school year coming to a close--and the days getting longer--I feel a longing to be out running and I just LOVE it! :) Honestly--its fabulous! I enjoy working out in the evenings--however, I think I am going to try to start getting my runs accomplished before my husband leaves for work/I have to get ready for work in the mornings. In reality--that will mean I have to get up at 5:45 vs. 6:45 (and that's only when I have to work!)--which may prove to be a BIT difficult--but I think that I will really enjoy the morning runs! :) IF I run in the mornings--it will give me extra time in the evenings to not only enjoy my family all that much more--but this also opens up the opportunity to take 30 minutes in the evening to get a strength work-out in! :) Which is what I need! I find it VERY difficult to run AND work-out in the evenings!!!
There you have it! Look forward to updates weekly (I am going to try!) from here on out! :)
(PS>>>>There are some major changes going on with the American Cancer Society's DetermiNation program--so there have been some changes and I need to make some ultimate decisions about my fundraising. I would LOVE to fund raise for both races--but combined that would mean about 2,000.00--which is just plainly AMAZING--however, I am worried that I won't be able to raise that much money---and then have to pay it out of (my) pocket. If you have any thoughts--please let me know! I am really going back and forth!)
This week I put in 2 runs (1 not-so-good run and 1 better run!) and I also put in an additional workout both nights! :) Tonight I am going to do a workout and some agility drills instead of running. Tomorrow I hope to log in a few miles--and Sunday I hope to put in 6 miles! :)
Mother's day I am scheduled for 7 miles! Crazy! That will be my farthest distance yet!! :) I can't wait! I actually have a race that day (which reminds me I need to register for it!). Its a virtual race I found--and I really liked the shirts! (LOL right?!) and the race entry goes to a good cause--so I figured why not! The race distance is a 10K! So I will go ahead and just record the time when I made it to 10K and then continue with the last .9 miles of my long run!! :)
Overall training has gone well. The only exception is that my pace has somehow managed to slow significantly since I started running :( I am definitely incorporate some speedwork into my exercises--but I am thinking I need to add some strength/agility training as well. Part of me feels my lack of speed is from the sheer weakness of my leg muscles. They are moving as fast as they can carry my body--and I need to strengthen them in order for them to be able to carry my body faster. I could be totally wrong--but I figure its not going to hurt anything right!? Now if I could only have the cool machines at my house--it would make strength training that much easier!! :P
With the school year coming to a close--and the days getting longer--I feel a longing to be out running and I just LOVE it! :) Honestly--its fabulous! I enjoy working out in the evenings--however, I think I am going to try to start getting my runs accomplished before my husband leaves for work/I have to get ready for work in the mornings. In reality--that will mean I have to get up at 5:45 vs. 6:45 (and that's only when I have to work!)--which may prove to be a BIT difficult--but I think that I will really enjoy the morning runs! :) IF I run in the mornings--it will give me extra time in the evenings to not only enjoy my family all that much more--but this also opens up the opportunity to take 30 minutes in the evening to get a strength work-out in! :) Which is what I need! I find it VERY difficult to run AND work-out in the evenings!!!
There you have it! Look forward to updates weekly (I am going to try!) from here on out! :)
(PS>>>>There are some major changes going on with the American Cancer Society's DetermiNation program--so there have been some changes and I need to make some ultimate decisions about my fundraising. I would LOVE to fund raise for both races--but combined that would mean about 2,000.00--which is just plainly AMAZING--however, I am worried that I won't be able to raise that much money---and then have to pay it out of (my) pocket. If you have any thoughts--please let me know! I am really going back and forth!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)