1000 lbs

Wow, what a beautiful day today. There were blue skies, sun shining, warm but a nice cool breeze...it was B-E-A-UTIFUL! I was so excited to get home, put on my running shoes and hit the pavement. As I was stretching, I couldn't help but admire the gorgeous spring flowers and green all around. It is always nice to go run with white, red, pink, and yellow blooms as your scenery.

Okay, so I'm finished stretching and still feeling good. I put some tunes on (I was feelin' Linkin Park today). I start running and running and running. I notice the more I run the heavier my legs seem to get. I reach my mile marker and my legs feel like they weigh 1000 lbs. I'm seriously dragging ass at this point and thinking there is no way I will finish another mile. My strides are getting shorter, my feet are barely leaving the pavement and the end of my run doesn't seem to be getting any closer. My strides were so small that I at one point had to look down at my feet and make sure I wasn't just running in place. I felt like I was going no where with my legs weighing a thousand pounds and my gluts being on fire. You would think with your ass being on fire, you might want to run a little faster. I just don't understand how you can feel so good but perform so poorly. Right now, I feel like Bambi trying to walk for the first time. My legs are wobbly and I just want to fall over. Not because I'm tired but because my legs feel like...... Jello. I had all the elements lining up to have a great run today but my body said, " I don't think so". If only the elements, my brain and my body could get synchronized. Oh well, I still finished my 2 mile run so chalk a bad run down and it's a new day tomorrow.

Now, me and my wobbly legs are headed for a bubble bath. =)

Finding motivation

I can't remember the last time I was up at 6:30 am on a Saturday. It's hard to find the motivation to get out of bed early on your day off knowing you are about to go train and run for 4 miles. Somehow I did that today and although I'm a little tired, I feel great.

For those that know me, you already know about my personal medical struggles. For those that don't, here is a short and sweet recap. This past year I was diagnosed with Scleroderma which is an umbrella disease with a bunch of smaller medical issues ( Calcinosis, Raynaud's Phenomenon, Rheumatoid Arthritis) under it. Just like anyone else battling a disease, I have good days and I have bad days. Since I've started training, I have not come across a bad day yet due to my condition. Now a bad day due to work and/or school is another story. Staying committed to my training has improved my range of motion, my immune system, circulation and decreased my inflammation in my joints. I mean I actually have an ankle bone when my ankles aren't inflamed and I can squat! Hooray! I know this may not be exciting to you but this is exciting stuff for me. At 25 years old, I should be able to squat, run , skip, and leap but that hasn't been the case for me. It's been a struggle to cope with the physical limitations and only being 25. However, training has improved it all and it is getting easier every day.

When I go searching for motivation, I think of why I signed up for this to begin with. I signed up to raise funds for blood cancer research and help save lives. The truth is this could ultimately save MY life and that's just icing on the cake. However, knowing that I don't have to go any further than my bathroom mirror to find motivation, helps with those days that I struggle to go run at six thirty in the morning. When you find yourself searching for motivation, it may only be a few steps to the mirror. On those tough days getting out of bed, remember to look within first. It may make the difference between a good day and a bad day.

Rain, Rain Go Away

Week one down for the count everyone. I have officially completed my first 8 miles of this training. I'm not going to lie that I am exhausted. Haha. That's okay though, I'm going to keep on, keepin' on.

I only have one complaint for this week. It rained all freaking week! I mean did mother nature not realize this was my first week of training? She could have showed a little mercy but no... there was rain, tornados, hail and now cold wind. Seriously, what's next? Snow? If so, can we wait until I'm a little more fit 'cause my lungs already fill like they're going to explode. Adding some nice 20 below temps in there wouldn't improve the situation. So here's my plea mother nature, at least for a month could you hold off on the rain and cold wind and if you have snow in the works, that too. I would greatly appreciate it. Sincerely, Marathon Trainee

Another day, Another Adventure

Here's the beginning of my first adventure with you.....

I recently decided to embark on an adventure to complete my first endurance event. I joined a program called Team In Training through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). It's a great program where I am given many tools to assist in raising funds for the LLS and train to run in a marathon.
When I thought of an endurance event, I thought exercise, a little sweat and get in shape. Oh how wrong was I. Training to complete an endurance event is a complete body and lifestyle overhaul. As I write this first blog, my legs and feet are screaming, "What did we do to deserve this!?" Throughout this adventure, you will be able to read about the aches, pains, and mental and physical anguish I endure in training. This is about pushing your body to your limit and when you get there, pushing right on past when you thought you could not do any more.

I like the physical challenge but my mentality needs some improving. Yesterday I completed my 3rd time to run 2 miles and I'm not going to lie, it was tough. I strapped on my running shoes and hit the pavement but after running the length of four houses down the block, I started looking for excuses to stop. I started off with the excuse, it's sprinkling and I don't want to get rained on. However, in the back of my mind I can remember my training coach saying, "We will run in the rain, snow and sleet. Just because it's raining doesn't mean we stop training." So I debunked that excuse and continued on my run. I went as far as stopping to help an old lady in my neighborhood take her trash out. Although it was a good deed that I had done, it was not a good enough excuse to stop. I kept running and eventually completed my 2 miles for that day.

Despite the physical turmoil, I'm enjoying this journey. I look forward to many more weeks of training and fundraising for the LLS. Until my next blog, shoot for the stars and make things happen.

<3
Tamara