I am not a jogger!

I was reading through an old Runner's World magazine the other night and came across an article by John Bingham about why he calls himself a runner. He mentioned an ad that ran in the magazine months before that tried to distinguish between those who are runners and those who are joggers. Many people were offended by it. I guess technically there is a difference, but he, like many of us, calls himself a "runner" for his own reasons. Here are the ones he listed. I agree with so many of them!

I am a runner because my runs have names. I do tempo runs and threshold runs and fartlek runs. I do long, slow runs and track workouts. My runs are defined, even if my abs are not.

I am a runner because my shoes are training equipment, not a fashion statement. The best shoe for me is the one that makes me a better runner. I choose the shoe that goes with my running mechanics, not my running outfit.

I am a runner because I don't have running outfits. I have technical shirts and shorts and socks. I have apparel that enhances the experience of running by allowing me to run comfortably. I can say "Coolmax" and "Gore-Tex" in the same sentence and know which does what.

I am a runner because I know what effort feels like, and I embrace it. I know when I'm pushing the limits of my comfort and why I'm doing it. I know that heavy breathing and an accelerated heart rate-things I once avoided-are necessary if I want to be a better runner.

I am a runner because I value and respect my body. It will whisper to me when I've done too much. And if I choose to listen to that whisper, my body won't have to scream in pain later on.

I am a runner because I am willing to lay it all on the line. I know that every finish line has the potential to lift my spirits to new highs or devastate me, yet I line up anyway.

I am a runner because I know that despite my best efforts, I will always want more from myself. I will always want to know my limits so that I can exceed them.

I am a runner because I run. Not because I run fast. Not because I run far.

I am a runner because I say I am. And no one can tell me I'm not.

Taken from Runner's World magazine November 2007.

Half Way There

Pic of some the NW YMCA Land Sharks who ran the Iron Girl 1/2 or 5k. Nancy, my running coach, is right behind me. Iris, in front with the purple outfit, ran with me. Monica, behind Iris, is an amazing runner. She won a 1/2 recently and has done multiple marathons. Angie, the red-head in the back is the lady who "healed" my legs. She does massages at Advanced theraputic massage of West Chase.

With Iris after the race

A spur of the moment decision led me to an amazing new accomplishment this weekend. I conquered the Iron Girl half marathon with a time of 2:18:15. Because I decided on Thursday to do the race, I had not actually "trained" to do the half. Of course, I have run enough to be considered ready to do it, but mentally it was a little scary to jump into that. After a less than great performance at Gasparilla, I had no idea how this race would feel.

4 a.m. comes very early no matter what time you go to bed. That's what time my day started and I think I am still feeling the effects of not only the running, but the extremely early morning. The ride to Clearwater was fun since I was in good company, but the long wait for the trolley to the starting line left little time to adequately prepare for the start, if you know what I mean!! Opening ceremonies always get me a little emotional and now that I am signed up for my marathon, silly little things get me teary eyed as I daydream about January. The upbeat music helped to get me pumped up, but when the national anthem began to be sung and I contemplated the upcoming challenge of the day and of the year, it almost brought me to tears.

There was not as big a crowd for this race than the last that I did, so after 20 seconds I had crossed the starting line which was right beside the beautiful Clearwater Beach. The course was very challenging and after less than a mile, we were tackling the first of three bridges. It was a challenge, but being able to fly down the other side gave time to recover. From the beginning I knew it would be a good race for me. I felt much better than in February and for the first 10 miles, I never had to stop to walk or even really slow down. I averaged a 10:35 minute mile during the race which is a great time for me while going that distance. (If I can do that at the marathon I will be one happy lady!!) We passed many beautiful houses along the way. The unfamiliar scenery helped to keep my mind busy since I had no music with me on this race. The smell of flowers filled the air a few times and people cheering along the way gave an extra push when needed.

The second bridge was steep but I passed over it without having to walk. I tried not to look to my sides much to see all the water, but stayed focused on the course ahead of me. When I finished mile 9 I looked down at my watch. I had beat my 15k race time and I had not even pushed myself to the limits yet!! It is great when you can get to the point of 9 miles and say to yourself , "only 4 more, no big deal!" even if you have no idea if that is true. Mile 10 felt great too and I was talking myself into speeding up when I reached mile 11 and then to do even more til the end. At mile 11, I grabbed a little to drink and suddenly the cramps hit me. It slowed me down quite a bit and then I saw the bridge that I had forgotten about!! I took a few sips of my own water and decided to tackle it head on. Cramps and all, I was not going to walk any of this. I think I was going as slow as possible, but still jogging, all the way up the bridge. It was not pretty and it was not fun, but I made it and recovered on the way down. I was ready to finish.

The rest of the race was amazing for me. Tears tried to come, but I held them back so I could focus. I skipped the next water stop to try to make up for time on the bridge and started to push myself. This was a total turn around from Gasparilla where I was crawling through the finish line. I kept a quicker pace, but knew that the last bridge and the cramps would probably keep me from beating a 2:15 time which three miles before I thought I could do.  My first goal was a 2:30 but the pace I kept during the first 10 miles made me feel like I could crush that time. Once I saw the 13 mile marker, I pushed as hard as I could and was able to sprint to the finish. I don't think I saw the right clock, but my watch said 2:18 and something seconds. I had done 13.1 miles with very little stopping (by that I mean for water and potty breaks), no walking, and with enough energy at mile 12 to push myself faster! My running buddy, Stephanie, yelled my name as I was getting my time tracker off my shoe. I was never so glad to see her. She did amazing and finished with a time under 2:10. Then I heard my running coach and other fellow YMCA runners call my name. I walked over to them and received hugs from some of them. When someone is willing to hug you after you've run 13 miles, you know they love you!

If you have never run a race, you can not understand the emotion that you feel to be at the starting line, to be running during, and to cross the finish line. This was truly the most emotional race I have done so far. I am finally thrilled with my results and can't believe how good I felt for most of the race. I think back on the last year and a half since I started running seriously and can't believe I am at this point. I was happy with doing 5k races for the first year and never thought that my body could get to this point. I thought that runners were born runners and that I just was not one of them. Now I realize that some may be born with the talent of running, but the rest of us can make ourselves runners with hard work and dedication. 13.1 was AMAZING and now I can not wait til the 26.2, well, I can wait a little. I felt good during the race, but it's going to take a few days for me to recover!

It's Goal Time

How many times have you made a New Year's resolution and then failed to complete your goal??? Happens all the time right? This year my main resolution was to stay away from soda all year. So far, so good, but the problem is that I am making up for it in other ways. My major downfall right now is sweets in the form of sweet tea and candy. Yeah, I make cakes, but I don't crave them since they are around all the time.

I had decided that I needed to put some things in writing for all to see to make sure that I complete some more small goals of mine These are things that I want to accomplish to help my body to be in better shape and to help me fulfill my big  goal, the marathon. That is the point of this blog anyway, right?

So, I was planning on starting today, but I actually got a couple of extra days in since I have been "sober" from my sweet tea since Sunday. My goal is to stay off of it at least until the end of May.  As far as the candy, I say "one step at a time". We'll work on that next month!!

My other goal for this month is to complete the Tri-Y at the YMCA. It is like doing a olympic distance triathlon but you have two months to complete it. I finished it in one month last year so my goal for this year is to do it in 3 weeks or less. I already got rained out of the pool this morning so I feel like I am a little behind!

I want to hear about your short term or long term goals. Is there something that you have been trying to talk yourself into doing?? It does not have to be something that is a huge deal, just as my sweet tea is not. For you it may be similar, some food or drink addiction that you know is hurting your body, or it may a goal of walking around the block everyday. It may be something bigger like running a 5k or joining the gym. Whatever it may be, help yourself by telling someone about it. One of my good friends called me last night to tell me that she had started her running program !!! First of all, I am so proud of her, and second of all, I am so glad she told me so that she feels the accountablilty she needs to keep with it. That may be whats pushes you to conquer your goals as well.  Find someone to push you and encourage you. No matter what you goal may be, it will feel great to say, "I did it!"