Maybe days like today are good for me in the long run. It was a frustrating day, culminating in me cussing and swearing under my breath about one particularly pig-headed attorney, and all of humanity in general. Fighting battles on every front, I come home to spend another hour doing paperwork. How could this day get any better?
Let me tell you how. After the kids were down for the night, I changed my clothes and set the treadmill timer for one hour. I ran forty-five minutes last night, and just wanted to see how much more further I could go before nearing collapse. Started okay - spaced out thinking about this one case, got fired up AGAIN over the conversation with opposing counsel, went over a million possible responses in my head, and counted the songs on my Ipod, all while trying to remember to breathe evenly, and not push myself too hard for fear of an injury - got kinda bumpy in the middle because I wanted to check the timer but did not want to know - and then it was over! Five miles in one hour - a new personal record for both time and distance! And I have my pig-headed opposing counsel to thank for at least two miles of that ~ reliving that argument took my mind of my run/the infamous timer/ect.
I definitely feel better than if I had just gone to bed irritated. I hope I can get into a habit of running when I am frustrated - I have definitely had some less positive responses in the recent past (eating comfort food being the one that jumps right to mind), and I highly doubt my work will magically become less stressful at any point in the foreseeable future. Well it is time for my shower ~ and maybe one more victory dance past my treadmill :o)
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Overcoming the excuses..
Yesterday was a long day, even by my standards. Five hours of driving, three hours of work ~ all to come home and pass by the treadmill on my way to my office space. I tried to rationalize taking another day off from running - it was already nearly nine pm, and I would have to change my clothes. There was nothing good on television and I barely got any sleep the night before.
And yet, in spite of all of that, I knew what I had to do. So, I set the run for 45 mins and made myself promise not to look at the timer (I usually put a towel over the display anyway). I could tell when I hit three miles. I could literally feel it ~ and it flew right by! It's all downhill from there, because that meant that I was nearly done.
Just fyi: I actually googled "sweating while exercising" last night. I figured a person would sweat less as their body adjusted to regular beatings, runs, and other general forms of exercise. Apparently, it is just the opposite. An athlete will sweat more because their bodies are actually more efficient at keeping cool. I wonder if that means that as my body becomes more efficient, my face will become less red after my runs? Right now, I look like a beet when I am done!
Back to my run ~ I cheated and checked the timer. Still 8:10 to go, ughh. I figured that was three songs on my Ipod and used that to ignore the clock. Sure enough, I finished up in the middle of the third song.
My goal for this week is five days of running - a total of 20 miles for the week. My first week of training: 13.8 miles. My second week of training: 9 miles (what a crappy week that was). Now, I am aiming for 20 miles.
I also need to get started on my fundraising. I have set up a Facebook group ("Race to Las Vegas to cure Crohn's disease and Colitis"), a Twitter account, and my activegiving.com website. I have been holding back on fundraising to make sure that I was going to be able to do the training. I am in week three and holding steady, so now it is time to combine my physical energy with my passion for a great cause!
And yet, in spite of all of that, I knew what I had to do. So, I set the run for 45 mins and made myself promise not to look at the timer (I usually put a towel over the display anyway). I could tell when I hit three miles. I could literally feel it ~ and it flew right by! It's all downhill from there, because that meant that I was nearly done.
Just fyi: I actually googled "sweating while exercising" last night. I figured a person would sweat less as their body adjusted to regular beatings, runs, and other general forms of exercise. Apparently, it is just the opposite. An athlete will sweat more because their bodies are actually more efficient at keeping cool. I wonder if that means that as my body becomes more efficient, my face will become less red after my runs? Right now, I look like a beet when I am done!
Back to my run ~ I cheated and checked the timer. Still 8:10 to go, ughh. I figured that was three songs on my Ipod and used that to ignore the clock. Sure enough, I finished up in the middle of the third song.
My goal for this week is five days of running - a total of 20 miles for the week. My first week of training: 13.8 miles. My second week of training: 9 miles (what a crappy week that was). Now, I am aiming for 20 miles.
I also need to get started on my fundraising. I have set up a Facebook group ("Race to Las Vegas to cure Crohn's disease and Colitis"), a Twitter account, and my activegiving.com website. I have been holding back on fundraising to make sure that I was going to be able to do the training. I am in week three and holding steady, so now it is time to combine my physical energy with my passion for a great cause!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Three Miles OUTSIDE!
I have always been a treadmill runner. Something about the predictability of my pace, surroundings and sure footing made it easy to plant my treadmill in front of my big screen television, grab a bottle of cold water and put it in the cupholder, turn on the fan and run. Seems simple enough.
Unfortunately, this marathon is outside. Beyond the walls and comforts of my family room. So in addition to adding on the mileage and muscles, I need to face the weather, uneven ground and general unfamiliarity of the great outdoors. Even saying those words makes me cringe a little. It is hard to believe that running on my treadmill is a luxury, but compared to bugs, slippery pathways and August humidity, I would take that any day.
Today was our first group run ~ outside nonetheless. I think my greatest fear was pacing myself. On that front, I think I did well. I found a runner who was going what I figured to be my treadmill speed and kept up with her as best I could. Next time, I will definitly wear a watch. Either way, I managed to run the entire three miles in spite of the humidity, some rain-slippery boardwalks and general feeling of inadequacy when being passed by men and women twice my age.
I think this is a milestone for me because it proved that maybe..just maybe..this outside thing will work out. I will definitly continue to train on my treadmill but at least I know that I can manage some mileage outside.
Now, if I could only convince myself that I look like running comes naturally, rather than appearing disheveled, sweaty and ready to collapse.
Unfortunately, this marathon is outside. Beyond the walls and comforts of my family room. So in addition to adding on the mileage and muscles, I need to face the weather, uneven ground and general unfamiliarity of the great outdoors. Even saying those words makes me cringe a little. It is hard to believe that running on my treadmill is a luxury, but compared to bugs, slippery pathways and August humidity, I would take that any day.
Today was our first group run ~ outside nonetheless. I think my greatest fear was pacing myself. On that front, I think I did well. I found a runner who was going what I figured to be my treadmill speed and kept up with her as best I could. Next time, I will definitly wear a watch. Either way, I managed to run the entire three miles in spite of the humidity, some rain-slippery boardwalks and general feeling of inadequacy when being passed by men and women twice my age.
I think this is a milestone for me because it proved that maybe..just maybe..this outside thing will work out. I will definitly continue to train on my treadmill but at least I know that I can manage some mileage outside.
Now, if I could only convince myself that I look like running comes naturally, rather than appearing disheveled, sweaty and ready to collapse.
Friday, August 28, 2009
A Quick Lesson on the Definition of a "challenge"
If you consult a dictionary, a "challenge" is "a call to battle, as a duel". Or perhaps it is "something that by its nature or character serves as a call to battle, contest, or special effort". In my case, Team Challenge is both of these things.
So what is Team Challenge and what brings me here? Team Challenge is an endurance-training fundraising program designed to benefit the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation provides invaluable research dollars and programs for patients in search of a cure to end the endless "flare-ups" and all-too-brief remissions which mark their lives. Research is a key to ending these chronic illnesses, and the CCFA is a key organization providing the needed funds to continue these efforts. The current race CCFA is sponsoring is a half-marathon as part of the Rock N Roll Las Vegas marathon scheduled for the first weekend in December, 2009.
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, under the more general term of "inflammatory bowel disease", affect nearly 1.4 million Americans, 150,000 of whom are under the age of 18. And yet, these disorders are rarely front page news. Patients suffer in silence due to the sensitive nature of the symptoms and their treatments.
Enter stage left: me. I am a married mother of two beautiful toddlers in the process of starting my own law practice. My days are filled with my kids, the practice of law in all areas and arenas, the maintenance of a household and on the rare occasion, a few scattered moments with my dear husband. Knowing all of this, why would I decide to devote my precious free time to the grueling work of training for a half-marathon? I am not even a runner...yet. The furthest I have ever run was five miles consecutive, and that was before the birth of my son and the additional weight I added on while attending law school.
Let's review the definition of the word "challenge". Team Challenge is by for me a call to battle. I am battling my own demons of self-esteem, self-image and the physical limitations of my thirties. Somewhere on my "bucket list" is No. 2,000,004,000: Run a marathon". Coming out of law school and passing the bar took a few things off said list, and left me looking for "what's next". But more importantly, it is "by its nature or character, [Team Challenge] serves as a call to battle..or special effort". There are so many people who suffer on a daily basis from the unrelenting symptoms of Crohns and/or ulcerative colitis; their health is something that is threatened on a daily basis. So where they may not be able to devote themselves to this particular call, this is one area where (with a whole lot of personal effort, good will, the absence of armegeddon, gallons of Gatorade and zillions of burned calories) I can devote myself to helping them. Remember, I have always wanted to run a marathon; if I can do so while helping others, then so be it.
My aim in this blog is two-fold: (1) to provide an inside glimpse at the blood, sweat, tears, successes and failures for which I have held out my arms and said "bring it on" on the journey to Las Vegas and (2) attempt to share current and accurate reflections of how these diseases affect their victims and what we can do to find a cure. Not all of my posts will be this lengthy - I congratulate those who made it this far. And right now, I am off to put in my 3+ miles for today on my trusty treadmill.
So what is Team Challenge and what brings me here? Team Challenge is an endurance-training fundraising program designed to benefit the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation provides invaluable research dollars and programs for patients in search of a cure to end the endless "flare-ups" and all-too-brief remissions which mark their lives. Research is a key to ending these chronic illnesses, and the CCFA is a key organization providing the needed funds to continue these efforts. The current race CCFA is sponsoring is a half-marathon as part of the Rock N Roll Las Vegas marathon scheduled for the first weekend in December, 2009.
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, under the more general term of "inflammatory bowel disease", affect nearly 1.4 million Americans, 150,000 of whom are under the age of 18. And yet, these disorders are rarely front page news. Patients suffer in silence due to the sensitive nature of the symptoms and their treatments.
Enter stage left: me. I am a married mother of two beautiful toddlers in the process of starting my own law practice. My days are filled with my kids, the practice of law in all areas and arenas, the maintenance of a household and on the rare occasion, a few scattered moments with my dear husband. Knowing all of this, why would I decide to devote my precious free time to the grueling work of training for a half-marathon? I am not even a runner...yet. The furthest I have ever run was five miles consecutive, and that was before the birth of my son and the additional weight I added on while attending law school.
Let's review the definition of the word "challenge". Team Challenge is by for me a call to battle. I am battling my own demons of self-esteem, self-image and the physical limitations of my thirties. Somewhere on my "bucket list" is No. 2,000,004,000: Run a marathon". Coming out of law school and passing the bar took a few things off said list, and left me looking for "what's next". But more importantly, it is "by its nature or character, [Team Challenge] serves as a call to battle..or special effort". There are so many people who suffer on a daily basis from the unrelenting symptoms of Crohns and/or ulcerative colitis; their health is something that is threatened on a daily basis. So where they may not be able to devote themselves to this particular call, this is one area where (with a whole lot of personal effort, good will, the absence of armegeddon, gallons of Gatorade and zillions of burned calories) I can devote myself to helping them. Remember, I have always wanted to run a marathon; if I can do so while helping others, then so be it.
My aim in this blog is two-fold: (1) to provide an inside glimpse at the blood, sweat, tears, successes and failures for which I have held out my arms and said "bring it on" on the journey to Las Vegas and (2) attempt to share current and accurate reflections of how these diseases affect their victims and what we can do to find a cure. Not all of my posts will be this lengthy - I congratulate those who made it this far. And right now, I am off to put in my 3+ miles for today on my trusty treadmill.
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