Week 4 - Fear as Fuel

Retail Therapy - Earthy Vibes

Week 4 was something...but I got through it...by doing what I always do...keep smiling...keep moving forward...keep it in perspective.  Maybe I went shopping too...and got a new bracelet...natural wood beads...which felt grounding.  I needed grounding.  It worked.  

It was a tough work week but also a tough life week.  I have to preface that statement with the perspective thing...I am lucky to know amazing people who kick so much cancer ass it is ridiculous.  So part of what made me so upset this week was how upset I was about something.  Something I have always feared.  Surgery.  Surgery with anesthesia.  

I feared it because it will make me dependent on others.  I will have to ask for help.  I won't be able to manage my T1 diabetes...even if for just a day or two.  I have been doing it everyday for almost 28 years.  I don't ever want to be a burden.  I had accepted that surgery for my "frozen" shoulder was going to have to happen at some point.  What I wasn't prepared for was that doing it sooner rather than later would be necessary.  It through off my whole plan...I was going to get my 26 miles on January 2...and then have surgery shortly there after.  I know...plans...but I also know that everything happens in the right time, space sequence.  So a date has been set - - Friday, October 16th at 6:30 am.  I'll be home and in PT that same day.  I got this.     

The other thing I got is my miles...since I can walk no matter what is happening with my shoulder...I'm going to do my best to keep up with my training.  I may flip a week so that I can do 12 miles just before and only 6 miles the day after surgery.  I'll play it by ear...it will all work out...I got no worries.  

Week 4 Data

Total Week 4 Steps:  102,042
Total Week 4 Miles:  44.09


Total Overall Training Steps:  409,751
Total Overall Training Miles:  180.35

2013 Rewind (October): The Day I Got My 26.2 Miles

It was just over a year ago when I registered for the Baltimore Marathon.  I had always thought about doing one.  Wondering if I could do it.  Visualizing it.  I remember mentioning it from time to time over the years...but I would always say...it would probably be too hard with my T1 Diabetes.  That was an excuse. After registering, when asked why I decided to do it, I would always say that it was something on my "list". That is true, but there was something more.  Not many knew the real reason why I decided to do it.  It was simple.  A few weeks into 2013 I knew I could not decide to have a boyfriend, but I could decide to get myself 26.2 miles.  So that is exactly what I did...

When I mentioned doing a marathon to my trainer/friend Stacy K...she didn't doubt that I could do it.  In fact, she agreed to do it with me.  She had never done a marathon before, so it was something new for her too.  To test the waters...she twisted my arm and got me to agree to do a half marathon in June.  I had never trained for anything...I had never considered myself an athlete...but 2013 changed everything for me.  I trained on my own...but on both race days...Stacy K and I...walking/running...got 14.6 miles in June and then 26.2 miles in October.  Stacy could have easily run the whole thing...but she held back to slowly get each mile.  I can still hear the sound of her Garmin watch with each passing mile. 

 

It took me 7 hours, 30 minutes to finish...that is almost a full work day.  It was bliss.  I was lucky.  I never hit a wall.  I just kept moving forward.  My mind was clear.  It was zen.  I felt fantastic.  I never needed my headphones to pump pulsating music through my ears.  I was able to run/walk the first 12 miles...and then my right knee pain got to a point where I felt like it would be safest to just walk to finish versus risking being in so much pain that I couldn't finish. Not finishing was not an option.  It was cloudy.  It was cool.  It rained a bit.  It was really perfect.  I just kept moving forward.  One foot in front of the other. I had five Gummie Lifesavers every hour.  My non-working pancreas was never an issue.  I listened to my body.  I trained hard.  I trained hard so that I could enjoy each and every moment of race day.  I did.  26.2 miles...through the streets of Baltimore. It was bliss. I had a smile on my face the entire time.

Here is the pictorial documentation of my long weekend...

 

Only one more thing to cross out on the training plan...

All my gear...

Hitting the Road...with my biggest supporters!!

The lucky charms for the journey...my first Camp Fantastic Badge, Camp Bracelet,
Shamrock "Lucky" Earrings (so my Gma would be with me), Charm Bracelet (with Owl...so my Gpa would be with me).

Still running...I think this may have been around 7/8 miles...

Dynamic Duo...

Moving Right Along...

I have no clue what I am looking at...maybe a Starbucks sign?

Shortly after hitting 13 miles...

Getting close to 20 miles...a little bit of rain...determination face...

Getting close to the finish...

Dynamic Duo...Camden Yards...the end is near!!!

 

Just before crossing...they had already closed down, but I moved the barricade...nothing
was standing in my way!!!

My Medal and Me!!!!

My Family and Me...

We did it!!!

Made it to RFK...slightly bleary eyed...but I got there!! Those stairs though...

The next day...at my favorite pub in Baltimore...

My Medal, My Pub, My Magners...

2013 Rewind (August): Chelsea and the Beach

I had not ever taken a true summer vacation before...usually I go to camp and that is my summer vacation. Given my training schedule, I made the tough decision to not to go to Camp Fantastic this year.  Instead, I booked a family vacation in Virginia Beach.  Given the Chicago excursion, I ended up taking 12 days off of work and it was fantastic.  As it turned out, I readjusted our vacation plans twice due to soccer...extended vacation to go to Chicago and then left a day later for the beach so that my Mom could see one of her favorite  teams (Chelsea) play.  The joy on her face seeing all of her favorite players walk right in front of her and play...there are no words for how incredible it was.

It was fun to be at RFK for once and not be stressed at all.  It was also weird to be there in normal summer clothes...no DC United gear at all.  I can't even remember how many miles had done earlier that day...maybe 14...like many Saturdays this past summer...I was limping but happy.  My sister and I surprised my Mom with a scarf...while she was watching the match.  Our seats were spectacular...we were right up in front not too far away from where Chelsea took the field.  We are very lucky in all of our soccer pursuits.

Here are some pictorial flashbacks from the Chelsea game on August 10...

It was a takeover...

Another beautiful night at RFK...

Crazy to be so close...

Mom's Favorite...

Michael Bradley

 

Juan Mata!!

And then the next morning we left for the beach...it was an easy trip...made even easier by a little rest stop in Williamsburg to visit with one of my favorite families...The Baillies!! My Mom and Sister had never met my friends Nate and Karen or their sweet Joelene.  We had a fantastic afternoon...lots of quality time with Joelene and swapping Joel stories.  It is always nice when your friends become instant friends with your family.  I'm so lucky!!

The beach was fun...but I have to be honest...I ended up working on my laptop way too much. I was a bit bitter about it...so I had to keep reminding myself that at least I was at the beach.  There were moments when the whole thing felt like a disaster, especially since both my Mom and Sister were sick with cough/colds.  But, staring for hours at the water always does me good.  Running on the board walk and on the beach was good for my soul too.  Even with the work interruptions...I felt rested and yet not lazy because I was still able to keep up with my marathon training.  I (of course) negated this with too much good food and drink...but that it is what vacations are all about.

The other highlight was being able to see my childhood friend, Bianca, who is a newscaster on the local news. I have never had a chance to see her do her thing on air (well other than on Cougar TV in High School)...and it was great.  With busy schedules...it was hard to find time to get together...but as luck would have it...we found each other for a quick visit.  I had checked in at the Starbucks near our hotel and she was at the gas station right across the street.  We were classy...she was all pretty for the shots they were doing and I was in my running clothes.  It was fantastic.

The Beach Life...I would do it again...

We are really bad at packing...I am the worst... :)

Rainbow...

Mornings with Coffee and the Sunrise....

A surprise from Bianca's Mom...TuTu...so sweet...

King Neptune...

Could stare for hours...so calming...

Yep...still staring...still calm...

Vacation Me...even though I wasn't at camp...it was with me...in the form of bracelets....

Mommy and Me after our walk/run together on the boardwalk....

Sissy and Me....

Evidently...Vacation Me gets Henna Tattoos too...A firefly...in honor of Chass...another Camp reminder...

More Water...and Walking along the beach...

Keeping up with Training and Starbucks Consumption....

Even found an Irish Pub to watch soccer....and they had Magners on Tap!!

Week 22 - After the 26.2

So if the first post race recovery week was sublime, maybe I should have expected that things would go awry in the second.  I thought it would be even better, so I was really surprised when things started falling apart.  I felt like I was getting a cold.  I was exhausted.  My knee was bothering me more than it did after the race. Everything seemed to hit me at once...and work was more hectic then normal...I was slogging through the days.  As a result, it ended up being a bye week. It would have been the week where I would have started run/walking again, but I knew I was not up to it.  I was really disappointed, but I did clock some time with Gym on Saturday...and that made me feel at tad better.  

I did make one big decision about readying myself for whatever new fitness-related goals I set.  I need to go back and finish physical therapy to fix my right knee/hip issue once and for all.  I abandoned PT in early July because it was cutting into my training time.  I decided that getting my 26 miles was more important then fixing the problem.  I accepted the risk knowing that (at worst) I would have to limit myself to just walking because of the pain.  Now, I want to see how well I can do with no pain at all or at least less pain.  I'm ready to take the time.  I need to take the time, because ignoring the issue isn't going to make it go away.  And I still have many more miles ahead of me...

Since I did not get any miles...I don't have a picture for this week.  Instead, I thought I would post about my favorite random happening in Week 22.  A spur of the moment visit to my favorite cupcake shop to pick up a dessert... 

Frostings...my favorite cupcakery...

Always let the Type 1 Diabetic pick out dessert...

Less than One Month...

Admittedly, I have been spending a lot of my time thinking about what I am going to do after October 12.  Since late February/early March I have been in training...first for the half marathon (14 weeks) and then for the marathon (20 weeks - with some overlap) which has been amazing.  I have changed so much, for the better.  I'm stronger.  I'm more confident.  The things that I used to think were so impossible...no longer seem so.  If I can get 26 miles...there is no reason why I can't accomplish all the other ideas swirling around in my head.

There is one line from my training book "Marathoning for Mortals" that I repeat constantly over and over...it is all about getting to the start.  

My favorite quote...

It is true...and the amazing thing is...I haven't even reached the start...and I am already forever changed.  It just feels good.  

So now, what am I going to do after October 12?  Here are some of the things taking shape in my mind.

In the After...

* Wearing fun/cute shoes again...high heels...wedges...boots...I can't wait...flats and flip-flops are getting so old!!

*  Writing, Writing, Writing...I have one novel in the works that I want to finish and a new one that will be born in November for NanoWrimo.  In typical style...I have no clue what it will be about...but that is part of the fun.  Blank pages offer total freedom...

* Friday Nights can be more about fun and less about hydrating...long distance Saturday AMs make for lame Friday nights. 

*  Watching soccer early on both Saturday and Sunday AMs...

*  Trying Cross Fit...

*  Traveling to write from more places...and to see soccer...and to see snow...and to see water...

*   Enjoying less regimented dates with Gym...

*  Wondering if I will keep walk/running...maybe do 6 or 8 miles for fun on the weekend every now and the?

*  Pondering what I might get myself as a reward for getting 26 miles...shoes - fun or running or both, a jersey, a purse, or something else? 

I think these two items might just win...perfect rewards...

Week 3 - The Road to 26.2

Week 3...how is that possible?  Well, technically it is Week 1 for me actively following the 20 week marathon training program...but it is the third week of the plan.  There was a bit of overlap with the half marathon training...but here I am...officially training for a marathon in October.  It is happening!!  My knee is much better and I just need to do some PT...still need to get that scheduled...maybe I will have to leave the office on time or earlier then usual.  Yep...there are worse things!!  I was happy to feel fantastic after my 7 miles yesterday.  It felt really, really good...and I was put at ease.  My new kicks are wearing in nicely...Nike+ band is up to 126 miles logged...and I learned how to treat a blood sugar low without stopping.  It was a good week.  During my seven miles my blood sugar dropped at around 3 miles...I treated with my Gummie Lifesavers...and like clockwork...15 minutes later...I was back at full power.  Because I was a bit panicked...I took a few extra.  Here is what I learned...I should pop a few every three miles...I surged with energy.  I walked faster in those later miles.  I ran faster in the those later miles.  I think next Saturday I will put this plan into place and see how I do.  That is what training is about.  Testing different things so that on game day you know what to do.  We are off...the road to 26.2 has begun!!

After the Road - The Journey to the Second Finish Line

So then there is the story about getting to the second finish line on Sunday, June 2...it was a labor of love...for two things...the sport of soccer and my family.  I signed up do to the half marathon back in February...long before a soccer match was scheduled at RFK...the US Men's National Team versus Germany.  Following the game of soccer changed my life over two years ago.  After going to a University of Maryland soccer game...a light switch flipped in my being...I remembered that work is not just at the office...the concept of doing work can be applied to anything...like getting to gym and being healthy.  I found it poetic that on a day where I was about to do the most physical work I had ever done...there was a soccer match that I needed to get too.  It was just meant to be.

I had to get to the game...but just like getting those 14.6 miles...the journey to get there was not going to be easy. 

Unexpected Tears

After crossing the finish line and before boarding the bus back to my car...I sent my Mom, Sister, and Bestie N a text saying that I finished with a picture of my medal.  I will never forget all the of great texts, tweets, and FB posts that everyone was sending while I was on the course.  And then there was my trainer/coach/friend Stacy K who was a rock on the course...always positive...always motivating...believing that I could finish.  I felt so special!!  To see all of  the messages afterwards was overwhelming.  The one thing that I had not expected was how my finishing the race was going to make people feel.  Especially my Mom...

With support like this...you can do anything!!!

It was the first time ever my Mom got to be a "Sports Mom"...I made her cry...which then made me cry.  Talk about never ending support...and then later that night she wrote this....

Not going to lie...seeing this picture of my daughter with her medal for not only her first half marathon but an endurance challenge (trails..inclines) brought me to tears...she had a plan and worked that plan...that is the definition of success!

My Boyfriend Gym

You didn't think I could do all those miles and not see him right?  I mean...I was covered in mud and needed to get into my USMNT gear before heading to RFK.  A quick pit stop to get game ready.  I can't imagine what I looked like as they swiped my membership card at the front desk.  I'm pretty sure I had mud smeared on my face.  It felt great.  As I limped along...with my gym bag at my side...I realized...this was what all of the hard work was for.  It was to get to the after and to wear a brand new pair of Nikes that I got especially for the game.  

Tweeting My Way to RFK

I did it!! A half marathon...that was on trails!! Now the race to RFK...for the love of the beautiful game!!

So I drove from Virginia to work so that I could park and then hop on the metro...on the Red Line.  The game was going into half time...so I figured I would get there just before it ended.  I was okay with this.  I was going to get there.  I wanted to hug my Mom.  I wanted to get a picture of us (my Mom, Sister, and I) in our matching jerseys.  It just had to be.

On the escalator...descending into the Metro...  

Did I mention that my right knee was still a problem?  I could not bend it...so I was dragging it along...determined to get to my destination...no matter what.  I should note that I was extremely grateful that my new shoes did not hurt...not that it would have kept me from wearing them.  They are that awesome.

I'm so driven that I don't even notice that there is a "special train" awaiting my arrival....it was only going to Woodley Park...but I didn't have time to hesitate so I just got on.  I found a seat...and started visualizing how amazing it was going to be to be at RFK with the stands full.  I was excited.  It was going to happen!!

As the doors close, the announcement about track work comes across the wire.  Stations are closed.  There is a shuttle from Woodley Park to Metro Center.  Yep.  I was in trouble.

Are these kicks gonna get to RFK?? All for the love of the beautiful game... #USMNT #thisdayisoneforthebooks

On the Metro...

Steadily we roll along...and arrive at the Woodley Park station...I hobble my way out of the Metro...I hobble my way up the metro steps...I ride the escalator up...I knew I had much more walking ahead of me...so I couldn't waste my legs...I had to prioritize every ounce of energy I had.

There were lines of Metro Buses ready to shuttle everyone to Metro Center.  It was amazing...well organized...but an additional 20 minutes...was an additional 20 minutes...and my time was fading fast.  I hobble to the bus...there is not much room...but the bus driver invites me on...I can stand right up front.  Pretty cool actually...I was at the helm!!

I am just a girl trying to get to a soccer match after doing a half marathon...just your average Sunday Funday!! I am crazy... #usmnt

At the head of the bus...

I was texting my sister...pleading that they wait for me.  I will get there.  I will get to our seats.  Even if the game is over.  Please. (Insert huge guilt here over my sister buying me a ticket...that I was not going to even use.)  

I'm the second person off the bus and I hobble my way across the street to Metro Center.  I'm making progress.  I'm going to get there.  Even if the game is over...I will get there.  This sounds familiar right?  Just like the half marathon...I may be slow...but I will finish!!  But reality sets in...

This is me not bursting into tears on the metro...I will set foot in RFK today!!!

I am heading to the Stadium Armory station...I am texting with my sister.  I am missing an incredible game.  I am missing an incredible atmosphere.  I'm trying not to think about it too much.  But there are no tears...at some point on that leg of the journey...it became all about wanting to hug my Mommy.  I needed to get to RFK...our home away from home...and hug my Mommy.  

I finally arrive at Stadium Armory...and Red, White, and Blue is already filling the station waiting for trains...it was beautiful.  Everyone was cheering.  We had won!!  I am hobbling my way in the opposite direction of everyone else.  If only I had a picture...but I will see it in my mind always.  Through the sea of people...as I made my way out of the metro and down the street towards RFK...was my second finish line of the day.  And at the end...was my family.

I was a ninja salmon walking toward RFK...when 40k were walking away. #visionquest

So there I was...weaving and bobbing my way through a swarm of people.  My legs are working overtime.  I don't feel any pain.  I am just focusing on the fact that RFK is getting closer and closer.  My sister and I had been texting and we agreed that at this point...meeting outside the Team Store made the most sense.  I crossed the last street and headed toward the store.  I could see my Mom and Sister...but they couldn't see me.  I was going to get there...the second finish line.  I had done it twice...in one day.

And so my family waited for me...and this was worth way more than any medal. I am so lucky...

My Family....