The Good (and bad)

It’s been a while. When I last wrote I was struggling with an unexplained cloud hanging over my athletic ability caused predominantly by my anemia. I am happy to say that those problems seem to be resolved. I haven’t had a blood test or anything, but I have made drastic improvements in my fitness and am slowly clawing my way back up to where I was before.

I wish I could tell you exactly what helped, but I don’t know if it was any one thing. I have been taking iron pills, trying to eat more green and leafy things and just trying to eat more overall (more healthy things – eating more sugar was never a problem). I’ve been more conscious of getting rest that I need and taking a day off when my body or mind is too tired. I think more than anything I have just been DETERMINED. I love running. Even though it was hard I never stopped exercising and I think that has made bouncing back a little easier.  As with most things running has been a battle of good and bad. Here are a few running related items I’ve had some polarized feelings towards:

GOOD: I was able to have a REAL run outside for the first time this year. I tried a few weeks ago but most of the sidewalks were still covered in ice and snow so I ended up just running to the gym and doing the rest there. It was an enjoyable run and went much better than I expected my first non-treadmill run in quite some time to go. I did 6 miles in a little under 55 minutes (9:09 pace). I even threw two hill repeats in there! 

BAD: I tripped and fell a half mile into my run.

After falling, I got up, brushed myself off and kept running not realizing I was bleeding somewhat badly on my knee (I spared you the bloody photo). I also shattered the corner of my phone. So – that sucked. 

GOOD: My brother Philip is training for a marathon and is just doing absolutely amazing. He is hoping to run the Minneapolis Marathon in June as long as he doesn’t get injured.  I am so proud of him and so happy that I finally convinced someone to run a marathon. 

BAD: I won’t be able to run it with him like I originally planned. With the cost of a plane ticket and marathon entry as well as the time I’d need to take off work I just can’t make it happen. It makes my heart so sad that I won’t be there to see him cross the finish line, but maybe I’ll convince him to run another with me one day? 

GOOD: I ran 18 miles Saturday with a 9:21 overall pace. I was even able to go to a work event afterwards where I was on my feet for 3 hours and felt really good!  

BAD: They were treadmill miles and outside miles are so much better for training. Sometimes I feel like they don’t count as much when it comes to running that distance because really all I’m doing is watching TV. 

GOOD: Did you hear me throw in the bit about training? That is because I maybe just signed up for another marathon…

I ran this marathon last year and it was great. It is much smaller than the Chicago Marathon, but has just as much course support and an awesome finish line party (Creamies!!!!). I like the idea of running a course I know, because I can prepare better for it. Last year I thought the course was entirely downhill and was not ready for the few big climbers there were. Additionally, my quads were totally trashed after all the downhill running so I have to not only add it a lot of uphill running, but a lot of downhill running, too.

I should also mention that the decision to run this marathon did not come lightly. After watching me suffer through my running dry spell Ben was not anxious for me to start training again so soon. He saw me come home from the gym crying almost every day and complain about chest pains, difficulty breathing and dizziness. I’ll talk more about our decision that I would be ready in June later, but it was something we have been talking about for a long time before I registered.

BAD: I could say the weeks and weeks of insane training, early wake up calls and the actual running of 26.2 miles, but I’m looking forward to every second of it. 

Now that I am training for another race and have actually returned to training I am hoping I’ll be motivated to post more.  June 8 still seems so far away, but I know that in no time at all I’ll be at the starting line in Wallsburg, UT ready to run a marathon.