I RAN a half marathon!! 2 hours 32 minutes and 20 seconds

Anxiety

Being mindful. Finding calm. Enjoying peace.

These are things that I'm having trouble finding in the last 24 hours.

I am so incredibly nervous about Sunday's race. I know rationally that I'm ready, but there is a side of me that is a bundle of anxiety. I have worked really hard in my life to let go of those feelings, because they are slightly destructive...and I'd say I've been successful. But when I'm hit with something new, or maybe challenging, I switch to my inclination to worry.

I am reminding myself to breath. To enjoy the ride. If y'all could send some of those vibes my way I would be eternally grateful. The more the merrier in an attempt to calm down and just run; to enjoy the ride.

California in about 24 hours!!

<3 to you all

The Two Week Mark

So in the last week, I've been to the doctor dealing w/ asthma issues. My asthma had improved with my running, however, after getting a cold after Christmas, I have since been super congested and had difficulty breathing. Which meant using my emergency inhaler too often. I registered a fairly low peak flow and am now on a five day pack of a steroid called prednisone. As a result of this ROID, I have been experiencing anxiety, difficulty sleeping, and having difficulty relaxing. My breathing and running, however, have never been better.

I ran 7 miles yesterday so easily and did not have to use my inhalers at all. Brilliant!! I am ready for this race in about 2 weeks...officially two weeks from Sunday. Very excited.

The rest of my runs:

Friday-5 miles

Sunday-5 miles

Monday-3 miles

Wednesday-7 miles

Friday-4 miles

Sunday-3 miles

Monday-3 miles

Wednesday-4 miles

Saturday-1 mile

SUNDAY---RACE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10 miler # 2

I haven't updated in awhile...I guess that's what happens with Christmas and having a foreign exchange student living in your home.

I have been learning some valuable lessons about children, some little wonders to lock away for the day when I have one or two or three of my own...(or four? let's not get carried away). It's interesting dealing with a child anyway, but one where there is a language barrier and some spoiled issues?? Makes it difficult and throws in some extra challenges. But I found out that she was having her, what I like to call, "Chocolate Week," so that explains a lot of the moodiness. Not to mention that she's 12 and thousands of miles away from home. Sigh. Lots going on there.

ANYWHO on to the running portion. Last week I ran ten miles. Yes, you read that correctly. I RAN TEN MILES LAST WEEK ON WEDNESDAY. Yes. Victorious. I am so ready for this race on Super Bowl Sunday, I can't even tell you. What will make me feel more ready? Running my last ten miles tomorrow. That will really be my peak. After that, I get to pull back on the mileage for the next 2 weeks before race day.

I am almost there! I have almost reached my goal. It feels good.

I am annoyed though that I had to buy wide leg dress pants bc my old ones don't fit. Too much muscle.

Peaking...

I am getting ready to peak in my training in a few weeks and I'm pretty stoked but also super nervous...

This week, big week, 8 miles. Then the next four weeks' long runs look like this:

9 miles

6 miles

10 miles

10 miles

After that the training pulls back anywhere from 5-7 miles max at a time. Obviously the next five weeks are crucial, including this one. So crazy. One day at a time, I suppose.

Today is pace training w/ a distance of 3 miles. 6 X (1:00 at a fast comfortable pace, 1:00 in-between each 10:00 jogging/walking easy). I love pace runs, they are so fast and intense, but then before ya know it you've ran such a long way in a short time.

Tomorrow: 30 mins nonrunning cardio

Wednesday: 8 miles easy conversational pace

Thursday: rest day

Friday: Pace run 4-5 miles (3 X 10:00 fast, 1:00 slow)

Saturday: 30 mins nonrunning cardio

Sunday: Easy 2 mile run

So that's this week! Have a wonderful day and Merry Christmas!!!

7 Miles

I am not kidding you, people, this was the easiest run I have had YET in my training. I was like, no problem 7 miles. I really love this program that I'm doing because I think it really works. It takes your goals, how much time you have and gives you training days that pay off. Otherwise, I know I wouldn't feel this wonderful...it's just super awesome. I'm starting to see that they key to the training are the pace runs. The pace runs don't have high mileages, but twice a week I run in interval paces for 2-3 miles, next week it will bump up to 3-4, but the point is those speed intervals make the long run on Wednesday like NOTHING.

If you're interested in this training program, it's called FocusNFly and the web address is www.focusnfly.com

I swear by this. I started the program only being able to run 2-3 miles at a time and today I just ran 7 miles. I'm so excited!!

I think that ANYBODY can do this. I have asthma and not just mild asthma, I use controller medication and emergency inhalers from time-to-time. I'm not saying that other conditions won't prevent people from training like I am, but I am making a point that with the proper training, an average person without major medical conditions could really DO this.

(Sorry, I'm a little amped up...must be the long-run endorphins, lots of coffee, and I'm seeing Star Wars live in concert in about 3 hours)

Training for a long race is hard, yes, however the benefits outweigh all the reasons not to. Here are some benefits I've seen so far:

1. I have already seen my wheezing get better after and during exercise. Granted, I still use two puffs of albuterol before every run, but that seems to do the trick. Before training, I sometimes would use my inhaler after climbing a flight of stairs...this doesn't happen to me anymore

2. I can eat more carbohydrates! Especially on long run days. I love this benefit. My diet is so much more fulfilling and yummy because of my running habits now.

3. Holiday weight gain is just not an issue anymore. Training in the winter is a great way to not only keep the pounds off from cookies and frivolity, BUT it also...

4. Keeps ya happy. With all that running, I have endorphins like crazy. On top of the craziness and sadness of life, running helps maintain a source of endorphins that is consistent.

5. Routine! I have such an organized daily routine because of my runs. It's great for people who are in school, like me, so that I can stay on task, on time, and just more focused.

6. Spiritual. I know it sounds cheesy, but I have started to pray more, think about my actions, and feel more connected to God. It may be because I have like an hour on the treadmill with just my music and my thoughts, but I also think it has to do with discipline and the excitement of making myself better in a way. I don't want that to sound strange, but since I've been running, I feel more self-confident and proud of what I'm doing...I think this also goes hand in hand with nurturing my heart and soul.

Connected to running or not, I'm trying to be more understanding this Christmas season. Recently, I've found myself yelling at inanimate objects. For example, when I check my email and there are no emails, I am literally angry at my inbox...or...construction signs when I have to drive a different way...or...the door behind which the professor who teaches before me takes too long to leave the classroom and I don't have time to get ready to teach...or...yelling at other cars because they can obviously hear through glass...or...the television when a dumb commercial comes on and I just say something rude or make fun of it...you get the idea. Some of these things are funny and none of them really are that bad, HOWEVER I get worked up over nothing and that's just not worth it. So I'm trying to calm down and use some understanding and common sense when it comes to inanimate objects. :)

I'll end on that. No run tomorrow...it's a day of rest. Run on Friday!

Later!!

Erin

Race Idea

Here goes.

Most of you know that my dear friend Ben Sullivan passed away a few weeks before Thanksgiving. Some of you may have been close with Ben too. If you aren’t, here’s some background. Ben and I went to High School together and remained good friends beyond that. Ben was an incredibly generous soul, a good man, and a person that loved others they way God commissions us to. I thank God everyday that I was blessed enough to know Ben. He taught me many things and I was just lucky to be friends with him. Although the tragedy of his death will continue to challenge my faith and to burden my heart, I have to do something positive for myself and more importantly, for Ben.

Ben’s parents established the Ben Sullivan Memorial Fund to provide money for researching and understanding depression better; to help others understand that depression is a disease, not a character flaw.

I think of the Beatitudes...Matthew 5:1-13 a lot lately. Another helpful article if anyone else is dealing with the loss of someone by suicide is by a Catholic priest named Father Ron Rohlheiser, a theologian and teacher. It's very smart and straight-forward. http://www.ronrolheiser.com/columnarchive/search_detail.php?rec_id=102

Since I am running my half marathon in February, I thought that in-between now and then I would try to gather donations as sort of a pledge drive. Whatever amount of money I have raised by the date of the Huntington Beach half marathon I will donate to the Ben Sullivan Memorial Fund. I will also be making a custom race shirt with Ben’s name on it. Ben was a competitive cyclist during his time at St. Louis University so I think it only makes sense that I will honor him by racing for him. Only I won’t be biking…close enough though :)

More details on how you can donate to come.